some questions before I buy an ipod

[aromes]

Question #1: Can I simply drag mp3 files from my
pc to the ipod with no need of itunes
(as I would do with any conventional
mp3 player)??

Question #2: I have no mac computer.
Can I use it with my windows XP PC?

Question #3: I have a PC with USB 1.0.
Since ipod uses USB 2.0, can I still
use my ipod?

Question #4: Do I absolutely need itunes?
If yes, can I use it freely for basic tasks ( I just
want to transfer mp3 files from my PC to the ipod).

Question #5: When I buy the ipod, should I ask the venfor
for a USB cable (are there versions of ipod that are just
for firewire, other for usb?)

Question #6: Outhere in my town, the old 20GB ipod cost
$20 less than the mini ipod of 4GB !!! What worth buying the
mini ipod (are the advantages of the mini ipod so superior
to the original ipod to a point) ???

Thanks for helping
Craig Lloyd

[ECA]

1. NO
2. YES
3. should be no problem, but maybe others can answer.
4. yes.
5. Better come with one..Its not worth ANYTHINg without it.
6. ...........

OK,
1. its MADe by a company called apple, They want you to use there hardware with there software...only worse company to this is SONY.
2. Take in a Good pair of headphones, use on BOTH UNITs...DONT USE THE ONES THAT COME WITH THEM.....this is called a FAIR comparision. When THEIR HEADPHONE die, you will be left with OTHER headphones.
3. only REAL difference is SIZE. But, I DONT buy ANYTHING the first year of its release....PERIOD...Let them fix the flaws before I BUY IT.
4. Suggestion: When you GET mp3's they had TAG3 data, FILL it ALL out, USE SHORT NAMES. I would read ABOUT the software before you buy EITHER. think we had a discussion here someplace.

[aromes]

Thanks a lot for your reply.
I do really appreciate.
The fact that Apple tries to make heir stuff proprietary
is not that bad to me...but making an mp3 player tough to work
with..that's sad.

[dang]

Actually, you dont just need to use iTunes. RealPlayer 10.5 (the latest on their site) supports iPod as well.

3) USB 2 is backwards compatible, but transferring 4GB or 20GB of songs over is going to be extremely slow (Think hours.) Invest $20 in a USB2 card, you'll be glad you did.
5) I believe the iPod comes with a usb cable, but I maybe wrong. I know you can but a splitter that allows to use either firewire or USB.
6) the only difference is form factor. the mini is smaller in size. However, the normal iPod is already pretty small. I'd go for the larger capacity.