Another short item about iPods. When you get your iPod you actually cannot use it right out of the box. You need to install iTunes. Honestly, don’t bother with the CD. Just download it off the internet. You can find it here. It will install iTunes and Quicktime. Both programs are needed for your iPod. Now, one thing to remember is that iTunes and Quicktime periodically check for updates to themselves. Go ahead and download the updates but BE CAREFUL. Apple started a very bad habit a few months ago and they really haven’t been called out on it yet. They include things that you may or may not be interested in like their own web browser called Safari and MobileMe. Don’t bother downloading either one. Use Firefox for your internet and pretend MobileMe doesn’t exist(Apple probably wishes it doesn’t exist either!) Oh, and if you see anything about Bonjour it’s an Apple thing.
Once iTunes is installed it will ask you to reboot. Go ahead and reboot. After the reboot you can connect the iPod and it will automatically start to work!
Another tip: Use a computer that is only about 2 or 3 years at the oldest. USB 1.0/1.1 is really slow. New machines are all USB 2.0.