iPod/Banshee

[MICHAEL J MARCINIAK]

First, Thanks for the help with wireless. I got it to work, but you really DO need to be online.
It was as I thought, firmware because the wireless button never lit up. Once I downloaded
the right stuff, it came right on and worked.

Next, in my quest to convert all my Windoze friends who will not stop bothering me to get them
to switch to Ubuntu (which is blazingly fast compared to anything windoze);

Getting an iPod to work with Banshee. It's a 1st gen shuffle I'm using to experiment with
(iPhone, iTouch, and iPad are out I know they do not work). I plug it in, Banshee says the "Apple iPod"
extensions are loaded (looks like by default), but it does not show up on the left side pane
as a device (much like iTunes). Under system in Ubuntu, it is recognized as an iPod, but Banshee
will not recognize it. I am limiting my iPod devices to try as "older ones", i.e. not devices I stated above.

The shuffle is up to date software-wise. I have a MAC as a desktop. I am doing Ubuntu on an older
Presario I have as a faster, more secure alternative to windoze (and I can't shell out the $$$ for a Powerbook).
Besides, I want the experience with various Linux flavors to pad my resume as well.

I did read about Miro as an alternative. Should I give up on Banshee and try that, or not?
It seems Banshee should "just work", but like my wireless issues, it just "didn't".

Thanks in advance for any help
Michael