Using a laptop as an iPod

[colandsuey]

I'm at the age where I have a LOT of music on different formats - LPs, 7" vinyl singles, cassettes, CDs, CD-Rs etc - even some eight-track carts! 

It would seem sensible to get an iPod and transfer all this stuff onto that through my PC.  But what if I lose the iPod?  I would lose everything! 

Wouldn't I be better off getting a cheap laptop, costing not much more than a top-of-the-range iPod, and transferring all my music onto that via Windows Media Player or some other software to convert it all to mp3 or aac?  Then I could connect the laptop to my hifi in my living room and play all my music on demand. 

I'm not that bothered about the portability aspects of the iPod and, in any case, I could always take the laptop on holiday if I wanted all my music there.  And of course I could use the laptop for other purposes too. 

Is this a good idea or am I missing something?

[fo3nix]

well, to use an iPod you need to store the music on a computer it can be hooked up to anyway.

But yes the idea is fine. Store the music on a laptop (or a cheap computer such as the Mac Mini), and hook that up to your hifi. Then you could get an iPod if needs be, to have another copy of your music for portable use.

[Mattk]

the safest way to store music would be on disc be it cd or dvd as anything electrical can malfunction ie pc,ipod or laptop and take your entire collection with it.

[Tritan]

True, but CD's and DVD's etc can get scratched and damaged also. The safest bet, is to buy a cheap laptop or computer and store the music on that - and as a backup, write the music to CD/DVD etc. The more places you have it, the safer it'll be :-)

[blueseame]

Easily convert any music to ipod. try this software:
http://www.dvd-video-converters.com/ipodconver ter/soundtaxi.html