Avi

About to buy an ipod mini for the g/f, she will be using it in the states. what do i need to get for it with regards to charging it over there?

Also, i'm sure her laptop only has usb1.. does it NEED usb2?
Thanks
Andy

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Travel adapter, as the AC adapter will cope with 100-250V

Avi

Thanks Andy

The Answer i was Hoping for with regards to charging , and i'm pretty sure it will work with usb1, just a lot slower ?

jbryant

If she's there for emore than a short holiday, you should get her a PCMCIA card (credit card sized) that gives her machine a USB2 slot. This will make the transfers to the device waaaaaaaaaay quicker (40x according to blurb), and should be a doddle to install assuming the PCMCIA slot is not already in use. Even the oldest of old laptops should have PCMCIA slots.

Do a search on your fave hardware site on "PCMCIA USB2" to find something like this... http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=98193
or this
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductsList.asp?Name=pcmcia+usb2

I use similar in an old laptop to attach an external USB2 hard disk for backup purposes. It was painfully slow before but now it just flies

Joolz

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

When I borrowed a gen4 iPod from my brother, it would charge with USB1 and USB2.

I assume it's the same for the mini?

And her laptop will need a travel adapter, as the AC adapter should cope with 100-250V

Avi

She's doing a term at Miami University, so i'll look into all these options, thanks guys.

Andy

carl

Although the theoretical transfer rates are 480 Mbps for USB 2.0 and 12 Mbps for USB 1.1, you won't be able to get the data off the HD at 480 Mbps. I used to have only USB 1.1 ports on my desktop. Now I've added USB 2.0 ports I would say that updating the iPod is around 4-5 times faster.

PS: Buy the power adapter in the US. It's much cheaper!

Wish

iTrader: (2)

Wouldnt it be cheaper to buy an Ipod out there ?

Avi

Yes it would, about £25 cheaper. ($199 = £115) But it's a gift for her so i'm not really bothered about paying £140 over here.

Wish

iTrader: (2)

fair comment !

darren...

All the specs with the ipod mini do say it needs USB 2 (high power) to charge - they even warn against low power USB 2 (i.e. on monitors etc)... So it looks like the travel adaptor will be your best bet (or the USB 2 card already mentioned)
HTH