iPod Nano formatation... which is the best?

You will need to have it formatted to FAT32 to use it to transfer data between your Mac and a PC.

This will mean that to do updates (for new software/firmware)/restores on it you will need to use a PC.

I don't do that so I can't tell you. Try it, you can always change the format if you need to.

Yes, you can have an iPod in FAT32 and the Mac will be able to work with the data... but as mentioned above, make sure that any updates or restores are performed using a PC, or the iPod will be formatted for use with a Mac and the PC will not be able to understand it.

> Yes, you can have an iPod in FAT32 and the Mac
will

be able to work with the data...

By saying that you meant Mac applications will be
able to sync data with an FAT32 formatted iPod nano?
Because the expression "work with the data" is a
little bit vague. Could you please be more accurate?

I don't know if that's really true...

Here's an indication that all is not as earlier suggested http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60920#faq7


Question: I have both a Mac and a PC. Will my iPod work on both?
Answer: No, not at the same time. iPod is configured for either Mac or PC. You can use iTunes 7 or later to restore iPod to work with a Mac or a PC. See "Restoring iPod to factory settings" for more information. Note: Using the iPod for Mac on a PC, or using the iPod for Windows on a Mac, is not supported by Apple. FAT32 is the format used by Windows, and while some FAT32 iPod models may work with your Mac, Apple only supports using the iPod shuffle in FAT32 format on Mac

And MORE relevant, is the following on page 49 of your very fine manual:

If you want to use iPod nano with a Mac and a Windows PC

If you are using iPod nano with a Mac and you want to use it with a Windows PC, you must restore the iPod software for use with the PC (see “Updating and Restoring iPod nano Software” on page 50). Restoring the iPod software erases all data from iPod nano, including all songs. You cannot switch from using iPod nano with a Mac to using it with a Windows PC without erasing all data on iPod nano.

Hum. That's wierd.

I wonder how iTunes allow something to take place,
like using FAT32 formatted iPod with a Mac, when
apple doesn't support it!

When I connect my old 20GB model to my Macbook, it
shows thats it's formatted for windows and still I'm
able to sync my music and podcasts automatically.

Forgive my little english knowledge, but what is the
meaning of this "support"? Does it relate to
warranty? I guess I won't be able to use it as an
windows compatible external HD...

That's wierd. Hum.

That's what I thought...

Forgive my little english knowledge, but what is the meaning of this "support"?"

As far as I understand in simple terms what this means is that you can update the firmware for the iPod shuffle on a Mac and it retains it's FAT32 formatting. The other iPods are unsupported in that you can't update the firmware on a Windows formatted iPod without restoring it and reformatting for Mac. However as Macs can read and write to FAT32 drives you can use a Windows formatted iPod on your Mac and load it from iTunes without any issue. I've never had the opportunity to verify this first hand as I don't own a shuffle but I have seen this discussed a few times on the forum.

Aw, I get it now! I mean, the meaning of the
"support" word. So, you're saying that I can
sync my music with iTunes without any issue, even
if I'm using a FAT32 iPod and a Mac, but most
probably other Apple applications may not support
it (sync)?

I must say I'm very curious at this point... It seems
my question is very particular, I've failed in
finding other users with simmilar questions.

Well... there's one way to find out. Restore (eg reformat) your iPod as FAT32 on a PC in iTunes and see what happens when you use it with those applications (iSync, iCal...) on a Mac.

Sounds like it is going to work for you.