My Sister wants an i-pod

You rip the CDs onto a computer. There are some choices, but just use iTunes, which is free and runs on both Windows and Mac. Within iTunes, you have choices of how to compress (or not) your music. Apple Lossless is excellent. Synch to the iPod. (All of this is incredibly simple, you will see.) Getting a set of Shure or Etymotic earpieces is a substantial upgrade, but honestly, your sister will probably be very pleased with the earbuds that come with the iPod.

As for choice of model, get her the one she will like best (size, color, price). All except the Shuffle will hold all of her CDs.

Oh for God's sake, I have several good to very good stereo's, but my house owns 5 different iPods.

I don't expect them to be high end, but when I travel, they are a must!!!

I think we can all remember Sony's first Walkman's, and how popular they were... I owned several models of them, well, did they keep me from becoming and audiophile?? I would say quite to the contrary, they got me more in touch with the music, and made me appreciate it that much more. this may have even been part of the reason I have this addiction.

Secret sauce recipe.

Get iPod 40Gb 'cause it doesn't pay to underestimate the fun

Use iTunes - Apple Lossless/Error Correction on

I find it useful to clean the CDs but maybe she is neat

NOW for the secret part - which is going to cost you. You need to get an adapter that fits on the bottom of the unit in the USB/power jack. Three or four out there, basically all the same. (Google for SendStation Pocket Dock - there are others)

This gives you a line out signal - no doubt about it much better then the headphone out you get through the mini on the top. BUT there's a catch - there is no volume control for the line-out on the iPod.

BTW you plug mini to RCA into that. Or you can go to Drew at Moon Audio and have him build you a custom dock with a stereo pair which will sound great.... http://www.moon-audio.com/

But still no volume control

Point being that she'll be fine with a system that has a volume control but... For straight headphone use let her use the free earbuds and don't overanalyze it - she will be thrilled... 20+ million people are - when she loses them you can get her something better

BTW the very cognoscenti say that the iPod Photo (Gen 4) has a better internal DAC then the iPod Video (current) so if you are a really great brother you may want to hunt down one of those....

The rurmor is new models are coming out next month.
Good Luck

CD > iTunes (Apple Lossless Compression) > 40G G4 iPod (just sound; no photo or video) > HeadRoom Portable Amp (Airhead/Bithead of some sort) > Shure E3 or E4 earphones. Welcome to iPod nervosa!