Windows 7 - iPod Owners - Do you transfer from ipod like a hdd?

Question for iPod owners (I dont have one, but thinking about it)

When you connect it to your PC can you transfer files from the ipod like a flash drive? Or do you have to use iTunes to transfer music?

As far as I know you have to use iTunes and you can only use one iPod on one computer and the same exact computer each time. Don't expect to transfer music from a computer and then go to another computer to do the same. If you try it will request for it to sync the iPod...which will proceed to erase your iPod

you can turn the auto-sync feature off. my friends have always been able to plug their ipod in and get music from my PC

and like you said Itunes is pretty much the only software you can use, which sucks, imo

iPods are seen as mass storage devices (MSD) for file transfers/backup, but music must normally be transferred using iTunes. However, there are some 3rd party utilities around (Google search will find them) which enable transfers without iTunes.

The iPod Touch and iPhone are different, not being seen as MSD which is a real nuisance

I've got one. You have to have Itunes, Unless you get a third party program. IT isn't just drag and drop ,but you can enable disk use, so you can use it like a flash drive.

And yes, if you plug it into a foreign computer it will be erased.
I have done this

You can use Winamp to change all your music back and forward , if you want, and there are no restrictions, like there are on iTunes.

yes its done through itunes only. when you connect ipod to windows, the explorer just lets you view, copy and delete pictures. nothing else.

Then iPod sucks, never had one and never gonna buy one. There are lots of other mp3 and video players portable cheaper.

The New nano has a camera,Radio and pedometer. There is the App store too. You can get loads of stuff via itunes

I've found out the Zune makes you use software to manage your collection also. So basically there is no high capacity MP3 player to use as a big flash drive with music playing capability. Not to mention that the iPod Classic is now the only high capacity mp3 player still being produced, I found out the Zune 80 and Zune 120 are discontinued and only what remains in stock by retailers is what is out there.

I definately won't be buying either one, but there is no alternative, all I can do is wait another 3yrs before 64GB of flash memory is cheap and other mp3 players use it.