Rob wrote:
Don Pearce wrote:
Rob wrote:


I'm not interested in genres, playlists etc. It is my music, and I
know what I have. All I need is a simple, logical way to find it. A
directory structure of my own devising is precisely that.


I've now lost track of my digital music - well over 1000 artists.


Are there that many artists? The number I consider listening to
doesn't exceed a few dozen, I think.


Well, I'd imagine the number that count *themselves* as artists probably
runs into millions ;-)

I have quite a few compilations - the Stiff record set is probably 40
artists for example.

I find iTunes a good method of organising, lossless compression and a
Mac Mini a good way of storing/serving, and an iPod Touch a good way
of accessing. The Touch is also a good portable device, although
storage is limited.

Rob

I just have this thing about software that tries to take over control
of me. I dislike it instantly. I did allow iTunes onto my machine
once, but I don't think it even lasted the day before I had kicked it
off again for being arrogant and rude. For example I have a few audio
books in MP3 form, and it wouldn't let me put them in the audio books
department - insisted they were unknown music. I won't put up with
that kind of thing.


Yes, it does have some highly irritating habits, and I've just had a
look and my audio books are podcasts apparently. But for listening to
music at the end of the day, about now in fact, I think it's great. I
can access anything by name in seconds. The latest update looks good,
and the Genius feature really does work (for me, so far, YMMV etc).

I don't find itunes as irritating as many people, although it does some
interesting things when you exceed the capacity of your iPod. I haven't
tried the "Genius" thing yet, it sounds a bit suss, a way to get you to
buy more from their store.

I have had a Mk 1 Nano (it is still the coolest of them all) for a
couple of years, it is great for long car journeys, run through the
favourite playlists, and if they run out stick it on random play. That
gives some interesting juxtapositions - Mozart bracketed between Pink
Floyd and ACDC. I recently bought a Touch, just before the Mk2 came out
, I see it as a completely different device, good for running apps and
multi-media stuff like video podcasts and carrying photos around.

Keith