Ipod do I need USB2

[Maidenman]

I am looking at getting an IPOD and am currently using a PC running windows xp on a 2nd hand laptop I have just bought (no manuals). I have read that unless you have firewire or USB 2 it takes ages too download cd's onto the ipod. How would I know if I have either of these on my machine

[tvr]

The iPods only come with a 6 pin firewire(and 4 pin converter) lead.

You need to buy a special lead from Apple to use usb or usb2 on a PC.

My PC laptop has a firewire or 1394? socket (4pin). Which works with an Ipod straight out of the box.

I had to buy a firewire PCI card for my PC Tower (roughly £10 off ebay) so I can use this too now.

HTH

Regards

Ryan

[Maidenman]

thanks matey

ok so i need to get a cable for usb however will I be disadvantaged if my pc has usb as opposed to usb2

[tvr]

USB will be horribly slow!
For around £10 you could get a PCI firewire card in your PC, and use the cable that came with the iPOD to connect it. The PC will even charge the iPOD whenever it is connected!!

[Maidenman]

thanx tvr you r a top geezer

[ancientgeek]

Note tha you need 6-pin firewire to recharge the battery over firewire. Apple laptops all have 6-pin firewire, but I don't think any others do.

[MarkE19]

The standard firewire connecter on PC's & Macs is 6 pin. It's camcorders etc that have the 4 pin.

Mark.