[dickdail]

I have a first Generation IPod (I think) 20 Gigabyte and want to upgrade to a 5gth Gen 30 Gig with video. The clerks at Best Buy told me that the 8 or 9 thousand songs I have downloaded through P2P sites could crash the new IPod if I try downloading them to the device. All the music is MP3 converted and Itunes works just fine with my current IPod.
Any advice out there before I sink $300 bucks into something I can't use.

[brokenjago]

They're complete idiots. Don't listen to a word they say.

The chances of that happening for the reason they stated is about 0.00001%.

Even if it does happen (which it won't) Apple covers your iPod for one year after purchase, and will replace it free of charge.

I might add that a 30GB iPod won't fit 8 or 9 thousand songs on it (Maybe 8, but not 9, unless they're all really short.)

[stefanicotine]

Haha, they're full of it! If it's in mp3 format it will work. Even if it's a corrupt song, it still won't break your iPod.

Here's some advice, or really, shared knowledge:

1. iPod's themselves are far from perfect. It's almost a guarantee that at some point in your iPod's life, you will experience a crash, a glitch, and some other random qualm. But don't let this discourage you from buying one, because...
2. You will not find a better mp3 player then the iPod. You can come close. But anything as good as the iPod probably doesn't have the HD capacity or the price tag.
3. Any hard drive player will crash, or show off some strange behaviour. Considering the fact that they've shrunk a hard drive to the size they have, and then made it as stable as it is, is amazing in itself. So a few crashes every odd while should be accepted.
4. If your iPod ends up being something you can't use, don't blame Apple because most iPod's rock. You can take your iPod back if you don't like it or if it doesn't work.
5. Get a case. Preferably one that protects the screen. An Agent18 case or an iSkin Evo3 would be perfect. Both are amazing cases and really protect your iPod from scratches, dents, cracks, etc. iPod's are very susceptible to damage and blemishes. So make sure you take good care of it (and it will take care of you)!

I tell you this because, let's face it, now that you can watch movies and look at photos, the iPod's screen is more important then ever.

If you like your first gen then you'll love the fifth gen. Don't let any rumors or horror stories scare you away from buying one. For every bad iPod there's probably 10000 great ones.

Happy buying. Hope I helped

[ghporter]

What stef said. It's possible that you'll get a buggered song through P2P networks, but it's most likely that it just won't play right and you'll dump that file. The hardware and software inside an iPod is far from perfect, but it's not so delicate that a messed-with copy of a song will destroy it. If you're using a PC, that's not true about the computer-some MP3s CAN mess up at least player software (versions of WMP earlier than about V6 might just die if a file is messed up in certain ways). But an iPod can take it.

[kahuna]

i simply don't buy anything i dont understand from best buy. they have tried every trick in the book with me about service plans and upgrades. applecare is the only one i would pay for. as far as their experts... well, never mind. i bet you have a 3rd or 4th gen ipod if it is 20gb. but remember, ipods hold great resale value as well. even if you don't like it in a couple of months and resell it you will get back most of your money 2nd hand.