n00b questions about ipods and linux (fedora 6 and 7)

[Michael A. Peters]

Dean S. Messing wrote:
> I am thinking about buying a 160 GB iPod for my daughter for her
> approaching golden birthday (she's turning 18).
>
> I know _zero_ about iPods (or any other external device toys).
I've had excellent luck with gtkpod - but with brand new models, it 
sometimes takes some time.
With respect to AAC - my experience is that Apple's AAC encoder is 
better than faac (linux encoder) but it's been awhile.

I myself just use lame to encode to mp3 -  I use preset-standard and the 
quality is fine, but if she has an excellent musical ear, she may want a 
higher bitrate. I prefer to use mp3 because mp3 works with everything 
out there.

As far as how it compares with AAC - that's something audiophiles argue 
about all the time.
I can't tell the difference between a 192VBR lame encoded MP3 and a 
192VBR quicktime (iTunes) encoded AAC. But I don't have a good musical 
ear, let alone a trained good ear.