Is there anything better than MusicMatch for PC iPod users?

Factual Questions
1

The MusicMatch software that ships with iPod for Windows is a huge pain to use. Is there anything better out there?

2

Look for a product from MediaFour called XPlay. I’ve never used it, but I’ve used their MacDrive product, and it’s very well done. Good luck…

3

I believe the XPlay is for accessing the original Mac-only iPod from a Windows PC. It probably isn’t compatible with a Windows version of iPod, since the two use different filesystems. (Or so I hear - I can’t find a reliable cite for this, just a couple of UseNet posts.)

4

Thanks for the responses. XPlay is just for using macpods on PCs, a windows version may be coming out but its going to cost $40, another message board directed me to Ephpod which is free and works very well in case anyone else is interested. Also a program called MP3 Tag Studio 3 was an ad based app that is very handy for auto filling in ID3 tags.

5

If I may be permitted a brief hijack, from what I’ve seen, the PC iPod will only work with a firewire connection. I only have a USB. Am I out of luck?

6

With only USB, yes, you’re out of luck. Of course, you could always install a FireWire card. They run about $50 or even less if you shop around.

7

Hijack away.

You are out of luck, but not entirely. The iPod only takes firewire and I don’t know of an adapter that converts it to USB (maybe someone else does though). However, if you have an available PCI slot on your motherboard you can easily install a firewire card which are quite reasonable these days. I got mine for $25. Firewire is much much faster too, I transfer about a song a second.

I really can’t recommend this product enough. Its simple to use and feature packed. Not only does it hold 400 albums, it has an address book and calendar. One caveat though, the new models have replaced the mechanical scroll wheel with a solid state one that works like a laptop touchpad. It’s been taking some getting used to.

One last note, If you’re interested in watching color mpeg movies on a portable hard drive mp3 player Archos just released a Multimedia Jukebox that is a $100 less than an iPod of the same capacity. If I had known about it earlier I may have thought twice about buying the pod.

8

DAAAA-YAAAAAM!!!

That is very very cool. I could load on a pile of MST3K episodes and watch them at work…

Must…resist…temptation…