# Is my iPod shuffle useless to me?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-ipod-shuffle-useless-to-me/337192>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 25, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-ipod-shuffle-useless-to-me/337192 "2005-12-25T22:10:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-ipod-shuffle-useless-to-me/337192/1 "2005-12-25T22:10:01Z")

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I use Windows 98. So, of course the door prize I win at the company Christmas party is an iPod shuffle, just the thing to give **kaylasmom** for Christmas. It’s Christmas afternoon, and I’ve decided to get a few CDs uploaded into the player. Unfortunately, the software CD tells me that I need either Win2000 or WinXP to load iPOD and iTunes.

Well, _surely_ the Apple website will find me a workaround. Umm, no it won’t, as it turns out. So I turn to the Dopers: Am I going to need to use a friend’s computer (assuming I can make friends with someone who runs a useable OS)? Or is there a generic mp3 program available on line that will run in the iPod?

Now, we all know the rules. I’m not looking for anything that could be construed as P-to-P file sharing software. I just don’t think upgrading my operating system just to be able to use a toy is a very rational approach to take to computer non-obsolescence issues.

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**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-ipod-shuffle-useless-to-me/337192/2 "2005-12-25T22:12:10Z")

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Check [www.ipodlounge.com](http://www.ipodlounge.com)

They are a fabulous guide to all things ipod, and there is almost certainly a solution to your dilemma there. Make sure to look through their forum too.

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-ipod-shuffle-useless-to-me/337192/3 "2005-12-25T22:29:52Z")

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I recommend [Anapod Explorer](http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/featpw.php), it’s cheap and I like it much better than iTunes. There is also a free [plugin](http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=138888) for the free [Winamp](http://www.winamp.com/player/) that supports the shuffle. You won’t be able to play protected files from the iTunes store though, just MP3s.

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-ipod-shuffle-useless-to-me/337192/4 "2005-12-25T22:38:33Z")

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> [@yoyodyne](#):
>
> I recommend [Anapod Explorer](http://www.redchairsoftware.com/anapod/featpw.php), it’s cheap and I like it much better than iTunes. There is also a free [plugin](http://www.winamp.com/plugins/details.php?id=138888) for the free [Winamp](http://www.winamp.com/player/) that supports the shuffle. You won’t be able to play protected files from the iTunes store though, just MP3s.

Worry not; I have not intention of getting anything from an online “store,” ever.

Thanks to both of you for your responses. Off to rip my CD collection.