iPods and formats This article from the NY Times makes a very important point: iTunes converts your CDs to AAC format sound files by default, a format not useable by most other players and consequently not ideal for archiving. There you are, feeling so good about ripping your whole CD collection, only not knowing that in doing so you are restricting yourself to using only Apple music products with those files. In a similar way, Windows Media Player defaults to ripping your cds to WMA format, which IS useable by most players, but not by iPods.

What format do pretty much all players play? MP3, of course. A solid, Chevy truck of a format, your CDs can be ripped into MP3 by both iTunes and Windows Media -- only you have to change the settings. And that is where most people fail.

By the way, I'm about to actually purchase a 60 gig iPod. I know, many people thought that day would never come. But, I'm taking a new job and gonna be on the road a lot, and I want my music to come with me (my current Samsung YP-7 is brilliant, but only 1 gig). The iPod 60 gig seems to be the best option right now.  ¶ 10:42 AM