iPod/PC/Mac question

[The111 1]

I have an iPod, but for the purposes of this question I'm guessing it could be any mp3 player or external HDD.

I use it with PC's exclusively, and this question is in regards to using it as an external HDD. When I plug it into a PC with XP, it is autodetected as an external disk and I can use it to transfer data.

If I hook it up to a Mac, will it be a valid external disk, or not? I seem to remember reading something once about needing a different type of format for each system. I've also never even used a Mac so even if this does work, who knows if I'll be able to figure out how to browse the file system.

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[murrays 0]

Windows uses FAT32 file format and Macs use HFSPlus. The Mac _may_ recognize a Windows formatted iPod as an external drive but Windows won't recognize HFS Plus.

Macs have always been able to read PC Formatted floppies, etc.

I bought a flash drive a while ago that came formatted for DOS...it would be recognized on my Mac as long as the file names were compliant with the 8.3 convention.

Browsing the Mac is easy..double click on the icon for the iPod which will show up on the Desktop and then double click on the folders you want to look into. Give it a go....I think it might work for you.

--
Murray

"No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets." - Edward Abbey

[Nightingale 0]

Yes. My iPod is windows formatted, because I didn't have a mac when I got it. I've since bought two macs, an iMac and an iBook, and the iPod works perfectly with both of them. I didn't have to change anything. I doubt a pc could read a mac formatted iPod, though, but I can't say for sure.

iPod really is a gateway drug...

[The111 1]

I actually use NTFS for my PC disks, but I just checked and the iPod is FAT32, so hopefully it will work.

Thanks for the answers guys!

www.WingsuitPhotos.com