Others say...

"Helpful"
I found this book essential for the IPOD novice that I was when I bought both my IPOD and this book. Apple doesn't supply (yes I was quite shocked over that, especially since I had there top of the line IPOD)a manual with the IPOD I purchased. So I felt lost in terms of information and purchased this book. I found it to be very helpful and thus far has addressed and/or guided me through any problem or need for information that I have come across. A must for anyone with an IPOD put out by Apple.

"Trustworthy and reliable book, Get the most out of your iPod!"
You know how there are some actors whom you can trust re part of a great movie. If they are in it, you know it's good. Take Tom Hanks: practically anything he is involved in tends to be a great movie (expect of course for "Joe and the Volcano"). David Pogue and the Missing Manual series are the Tom Hanks of the technical publishing world. Even their mediocre stuff rises head and shoulders among the competition. "iPod & iTunes" is no exception to the long string of quality and informative manuals.

In particular, I was impressed with the flow of the book. Too often new iPod users feel they have to buy music from the iTunes Music Store to use their iPod and directly bypass their legal CD collection. Biersdorefer doesn't introduce the iTunes music store until chapter 7. She logically starts with the iPod itself and the proper care and maintenance thereof, making sure new users can properly use and understand their iPod before they even hook it up to the computer. The book then moves from the iPod hardware to installing the software, adding songs, photos, and videos. After the user understand all that he then introduced the music store along with advanced concepts like using the iPod as an external hard drive. Finally, she introduces basic and advanced troubleshooting. Other books I've read on iPods organize their concepts based on themes such as hardware and software, rather than the actual flow of how a user might use their iPod. While you can easily pick up any chapter and learn something, beginner iPod users would be best serviced starting at, well, the beginning (how's that for straightforward logic?).

Throughout the book, Biersdorefer uses extensive pictures and screen shots to illustrate the concepts described. I'm always impressed when an author does this, because not everyone likes to sit in front of a computer learning something. Good visuals help a reader learn a concept while not sitting at the computer. In addition, her explanations are clear and easily understandable without requiring knowledge of technical jargon.

Biersdorefer also included just about every iPod tip and trick I know such as all the idiosyncrasies of photo formats the iPod can display and how to put DVDs on iPods. I honestly can't think of a single iPod concept the beginner or intermediate iPod user needs to know that isn't covered in this book. While I consider myself an iPod expert, I still learned a thing or two and would recommend this to basic users as a book to read cover to cover to understand how to use an iPod. Intermediate users can use this manual as a reference for tools or procedures they don't often do and don't want to rely on the whim of internet searches. For example, I know I can use my iPod to do iPod presentations but I probably won't remember how to do it until my new presentation. Biersdorefer covers the topic extensively so all I have to do is pick up his book. The only iPod concepts this book doesn't cover is advanced tinkering such as installing Linux or how to boot your Mac off of it.

In general, this is a impressive book for the beginner that wants to know everything their iPod can do and a great reference manual for advanced users.

Pros: Covers it all in straightforward easy to understand language accessible to beginners without talking down to experts.

Cons: iPod not included. Waaah.






"Not Enough Information about Photo Features"
I have purchased other Missing Manual books and been very happy with them, but this one didn't meet my needs. I got my iPod in September as a birthday present from my kids, because my husband and I were preparing for a trip to France and they knew I'd take lots of photos. This seemed to be a great way to secure those images and free up room on my camera's memory card. However, the problems I ran into weren't covered in the book. On p. 143 it did mention the camera connector which I got through Apple, but it referred the reader to page 328 (which doesn't exist) presumably for more information. The manual that I downloaded online was much more specific and helpful about that device and how to use it to load photos directly from camera to iPod.

Once in France I made the mistake of filling my 512 MB card almost completely before transferring the material, via the connector, to my iPod. I found that first the iPod's battery drained and then my Nikon D70's battery fizzled before I could transfer everything. Luckily I hadn't enabled the erase-card feature, so I was able to start all over again, twice, and successfully get everything into my iPod after recharging both devices to the max. Would have been nice to know about that possible snafu up front, though.

I also can't find anywhere where it tells me what to do if I want to hand my iPod around to show people a specific photo, without having the screen go black or the slideshow take over. Maybe that's not possible. Anyway, I found the book short on information regarding the photo feature, which is the main thing I use the iPod for, and the references to the other models I don't own were a bit confusing. I wonder whether the latest version addresses any of these problems.

"VERY VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!"
Do you want to get the most out of your multimedia superstar? If you do, then this book is for you. Author J D Biersdorfer, has done an outstanding job of writing a 4th edition of a book that lets your inner designer come out and play.

Biersdorfer, begins by showing you what's inside the box for a full-size iPod Nano. Then, the author discusses the concept of iPod as a Satellite to Your Computer. Next, she shows you how to tap the full potential of iPod. Then, she covers MP3 and other music formats, including the main iPod-approved format. The author continues by exploring iPod's other treats for your ears and eyes. Next, she looks inside the iTunes Music store, and how to shop it. The author also explains the simple procedures for playing your iPod songs through the woofers and tweeters in your life. Then, she shows you how to take your iPod skills to the next level. Finally, she shows you how to troubleshoot the iTunes Music Store.

This most excellent book is a one-stop shopping for iPod reference and information. More importantly, you'll also find heaping helpings of the Three T's: tips, tricks and troubleshooting.

"iPod & iTunes: The Missing Manual"
"iPod & iTunes" is part of the "missing manual" series from
Pogue Press. Having valued David Pogue's "Mac OSX" for years,
I expected a lot from this book. I certainly learned things
about the iPod and iTunes, but I was partly disappointed. The
writing style is chatty and seems more like one of the popular
"For Dummies" books than a true manual. It doesn't even cover
the whole surface of the subject, much less delve into deep
technical matters. I can't recommend it.