2 iPod and 1 Bootcamp question

tilt · May 23rd, 2006, 05:01 PM

Hi,

First of all, if this post is in the wrong forum, pardon my ignorance and move it to the right one please. Plus, I have never used an iPod in my life, so if my questions seem too dumb, please bear with me. I have also posted this on Appleinsider.com.

iPod question 1
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I use a Mac at home and a Windows laptop at work. Can I use one iPod with both these machines or do I have have to choose between them? Meaning, if I format the iPod for Mac use, will I be able to hook it up to a Windows machine and sync the library and vice versa?

iPod question 2
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I have heard that the iPod, in addition to holding your music and photos, can also function as a PDA in terms of syncing with iCal and Address Book etc. I have also heard that it can be used as a backup storage device for other data.

I know that to use the iPod for data backup you would need to 'partition' the iPod with one 'partition' being music and the other for data. In order to just use the PDA capabilities (without needing to backup my data files), do I need to partition the iPod or do all of these work on the music and photos 'partition'?

Bootcamp Question
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I shall be given a laptop by my employer. This is a complete WIndows environment. Can I buy a MacPro and install Windows on it via Bootcamp and expect it to work on the corporate network as seamlessly as a Windows laptop would?

Also, Bootcamp is beta software. Would I be shooting myself in the foot by installing it on a corporate laptop? Is it possible that when Leopard is released (Bootcamp was supposed to be part of it, right?) that Apple would disable all beta copies of Bootcamp, thereby leaving me stranded?

Thanks and cheers

Macaholic · May 23rd, 2006, 05:27 PM

iPod question 1
-------------
I use a Mac at home and a Windows laptop at work. Can I use one iPod with both these machines or do I have have to choose between them? Meaning, if I format the iPod for Mac use, will I be able to hook it up to a Windows machine and sync the library and vice versa?

Not "out of the box", although I am sure that there are third party shareware hacks or something that can enable that.

iPod question 2
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I have heard that the iPod, in addition to holding your music and photos, can also function as a PDA in terms of syncing with iCal and Address Book etc.

yes. You should be able to do it in either iTunes' ipod preferences (available ONLY when the iPod is connect and "plugged into" iTunes -- which happens automatically when you connect an iPod. OR, you would need to boot Apple's iSync utility.

[B]I have also heard that it can be used as a backup storage device for other data. I know that to use the iPod for data backup you would need to 'partition' the iPod with one 'partition' being music and the other for data. In order to just use the PDA capabilities (without needing to backup my data files), do I need to partition the iPod or do all of these work on the music and photos 'partition'?

You do not need to ever partition the iPod's drive. just once again enable whatever options you desire in the iTunes iPod preference window.

Bootcamp Question
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I shall be given a laptop by my employer. This is a complete WIndows environment. Can I buy a MacPro and install Windows on it via Bootcamp and expect it to work on the corporate network as seamlessly as a Windows laptop would?

I.T. shouldn't have any problem with it. Just boot the Mac into Windows for them and let 'em at it **DISCLAIMER** I don't use Boot Camp.

Also, Bootcamp is beta software. Would I be shooting myself in the foot by installing it on a corporate laptop? Is it possible that when Leopard is released (Bootcamp was supposed to be part of it, right?) that Apple would disable all beta copies of Bootcamp, thereby leaving me stranded?

Maybe -- but remember that Boot Camp only works ON APPLE COMPUTERS; not whatever "PC laptop" your company gives you, and it only allows booting Windows or Mac ON A MAC, not on a "PC".

tilt · May 23rd, 2006, 08:14 PM

Thanks Macaholic. Perhaps "partition" was the wrong word to use. I remember (vaguely) seeing a screen on iPod preferences that had a field for something to the effect of "How much of the iPod do you want to use for data storage?". That is what I was referring to when I said "partition".

I assume that whatever value you mention in response, that much of space would no longer be available for music and photos, but instead only for data backup. Right? So in effect it is like partitioning, which is why I used that word.

Anyway, my question still remains: If all I want is to have music, photos and sync my iCal and Address Book, can I answer "zero or none" to the question "how much do you want to use for data"? Meaning, do Address Book and iCal events go into the "data" portion of the iPod or the Music portion?

Hope I have not confused the **** out of everyone here, sorry about that

Cheers

Macaholic · May 23rd, 2006, 08:41 PM

it's just all done through the prefs, as in you just tell it to add your PIM data to the iPod. no other screwing around, I belive. Ditto with photos.

tilt · May 23rd, 2006, 10:20 PM

Thanks again Macaholic

Cheers

Macaholic · May 23rd, 2006, 10:45 PM

np

I help where I can.