MP3? MD? I'm Clueless

You can't go wrong with an iPod. MP3 refers to various data compression formats used to reduce the size of music files. Typically people would convert a 16 bit/44.1kHz CD into an MP3 file in order to quickly transmit music over the internet, burn it on an MP3 CD or to port it over to a portatble MP3 player. The conversion process is flexible and allows the user to select from several different MP3 sampling rates with higher rates producing better fidelity. Nearly all MP3 players require an external computer or CD player in order to produce the MP3 files.

There are several archived threads on iPod here on Audiogon. Apple uses something call AAC data compression which is technically different than MP3, but accomplishes the same thing. One of the advantages of the iPod is that you don't have to use compresses song files. It will play back full format CDs. The larger 40Gb version can hold nearly 1,000 songs at full resolution.

On,

Do I have to pay to download the music I'd like on the iPod, or can I upload my own cd's on it?

Go to www.apple.com and download itunes, put a cd in your computer and click import, it will transfer compressed MP3 files to your computer, you can set the size/quality in the preferences 128k is standard, 190k is better, 320k higher quality... Also check out the Music store, you can click on a song to hear a sample and then buy it for $ .99 or the whole "CD" for $9.99. Then with an ipod, just plug it in to a usb or firewire port and it will sync all of the songs in itunes to your ipod assuming it has the capacity.