Thanks for all the responses!
get a different mp3 player and ditch vista
I might decide to get a new mp3 player, though my Sansa has worked out very well for me. I will definitely get Vista anyway, even if I only use it for gaming/other windows-only programs, because I can get it for only $15. I plan on keeping the same comp for the next 4 years at least, so I want maximum flexibility.
If Apple follows common sense (and they usually do), Leopard's built-in Boot Camp utility will simply recognize and support your already-installed Windows Vista partition. As it stands now, Boot Camp is a SEPERATE beta application. Come time for Leopard, it will be integrated into the OS, not seperate as it is now.
That's what I was hoping for. My past experiences with Microsoft have left me a bit wary of trusting that common sense will be followed!
You can install Windows Media Player for Mac, but you'd have to look at the features of that particular install to find compatability with 3rd party MP3 players. If my memory serves me correctly, as long as your MP3 files have their ID3 tags correctly edited, you do NOT need Windows Media Player to transfer your music to the player. You should be able to edit the MP3 file names/artists/albums/etc in iTunes, then drag all of the music files to the mounted drive name of your MP3 player on the desktop.
The Sansa website says that XP and WMP10+ are required. From what I've found, MS stopped making WMP for Mac after 9. I currently transfer music using the Sync function on WMP11, but I don't know if the analogous procedure is possible in iTunes. I know the sansa also supports the drag-and-drop method of file transfer, whose name I have forgotten, but I've never used it. I'll have to look into this a bit more.
Something else to consider would be an EXTERNAL hard drive to store all of your media on. This way, whether booting into Mac OS X or Vista, both operating systems would be able to access your media (music, movies, photos, etc). Windows Media Player in Vista for your MP3 player if required, and iTunes for when you're listening at your desk and using OS X.
This might be the best way to go. It would be good to have an external HD anyway. And Newegg lists a 500GB 7200RPM Seagate as cheaper than a new Nano. I assume I would have all the music as MP3?
Also, I've read about NTFS vs. FAT32 formatting for external hard drives and from what I remember, macs can write into FAT32 but not NTFS, but FAT32 is limited to 4GB. Is that correct? If so, what should I do? It's no use having an external HD if I can only put 4 GB of music on it.
If you have made it this far, their are rumors abound that with the recent "refresh" done to the entry level MacBook line, there will be a refresh to the MacBook Pro line of Macs come WWDC (World Wide Developer's Conference) which begins the 11th of June. Just an FYI that waiting another 2 weeks may be prudent to you getting the absolute newest you can for your hard earned money.
I'd heard about that. I was going to wait a couple of months anyway, since it seems you can always get something better for the same price if you wait. Plus, I need to see what the discounted models my school will negotiate this year.
One more question. I see that the 1.2 version of Boot Camp supports 32-bit Vista, any idea whether the final version will support the 64-bit version? I haven't decided which way I will go, but I at least prefer to have the option.
Thanks again for the help.
