I got a 60 gig iPod precisely because I wanted to be able to consolidate
my music library which is split between a PowerBook and a desktop PC. I
ripped all my CDs with iTunes, but this is my first Pod.

It looks like I can't copy the libraries from both machines onto one iPod.
If I ccopy songs without using iTunes, they're not available in the
playlist menus, and if I move them from the Pod to the Windows machine and
attempt to sync them that way, I get an error saying they can't be moved
because the Windows machine isn't authorized.

Is there something I can do to try goving both the PC and the PowerBook
the same identity for iTunes? I can just re-rip, but one point of having
the iPod was, I thought, to avoid having to do that.

And if I can never transfer from more than one machine, it means I won't
even be able to fill the iPod. That's just maddening.

Taiyaki Daisuki <uguu~@kanon.hokkaido.false-trail.nyet.jp> writes:
>
> I got a 60 gig iPod precisely because I wanted to be able to
> consolidate my music library which is split between a PowerBook and a
> desktop PC. I ripped all my CDs with iTunes, but this is my first Pod.
>
> It looks like I can't copy the libraries from both machines onto one
> iPod.

You can, but not using automatic synchronization. If you configure
iTunes to use manual updating on both computers, you'll be able to drag
songs from both computers into the single iPod.

Note, howeer, that you will not be able to transfer songs out of the
iPod without some (admittedly minor) hacking.

> If I ccopy songs without using iTunes, they're not available in the
> playlist menus, and if I move them from the Pod to the Windows machine
> and attempt to sync them that way, I get an error saying they can't be
> moved because the Windows machine isn't authorized.

Authorization only applies for protected songs (those you bought from
the iTunes Music Store). If you play one of these songs on the Windows
machine, you'll be asked for your Apple ID and password. Then it will
be authorized and you'll be able to use it to transfer protected songs
into the iPod.

Songs that you ripped have no protection and require no authorization.

If you can not authorize the computer, then you've probably used up all
five authorizations. De-authorize some other computer and try again.
(Or use the "de-authorize all" option if you can't do this for some
reason.)

-- David

Taiyaki Daisuki <uguu~@kanon.hokkaido.false-trail.nyet.jp> writes:
>
> I got a 60 gig iPod precisely because I wanted to be able to
> consolidate my music library which is split between a PowerBook and a
> desktop PC. I ripped all my CDs with iTunes, but this is my first Pod.
>
> It looks like I can't copy the libraries from both machines onto one
> iPod.

You can, but not using automatic synchronization. If you configure
iTunes to use manual updating on both computers, you'll be able to drag
songs from both computers into the single iPod.

Note, howeer, that you will not be able to transfer songs out of the
iPod without some (admittedly minor) hacking.

> If I ccopy songs without using iTunes, they're not available in the
> playlist menus, and if I move them from the Pod to the Windows machine
> and attempt to sync them that way, I get an error saying they can't be
> moved because the Windows machine isn't authorized.

Authorization only applies for protected songs (those you bought from
the iTunes Music Store). If you play one of these songs on the Windows
machine, you'll be asked for your Apple ID and password. Then it will
be authorized and you'll be able to use it to transfer protected songs
into the iPod.

Songs that you ripped have no protection and require no authorization.

If you can not authorize the computer, then you've probably used up all
five authorizations. De-authorize some other computer and try again.
(Or use the "de-authorize all" option if you can't do this for some
reason.)

-- David