There are numerous and varied attractions to putting your music collection onto an iPod or other type of high-spec digital media player using Apple iPod downloads.

Compared to other types of personal stereo, well frankly, they win hands down.

For one thing they are able to store an enormous quantity of music - in some cases several thousand albums. This gives you the possibility of listening to whatever you want wherever you want.

Secondly, since there are no CD’s or tapes to carry around all you have to take with you is a small self-contained digital device.

The other main attribute of the iPod is its flexibility, unlike other personal stereo’s they can be simply connected to your home hi-fi or car stereo. Imagine it, your whole music collection in its entirety, instantly accessible at home, at friends, while driving or on vacation.

iPods and the various Apple iPod downloads sites have opened up a whole new way of arranging and listening to music.

You can compile playlists of choice songs - a four-hour upbeat selection for your birthday party, or a short relaxing selection for your walk to work. Or have your player select your music for you, picking tracks randomly from your whole collection or from a selection of music from a chosen genre.

There is a selection of similar player devices, which have not reached the iconic status of the iPod, or for that matter its sales volumes. There are many brands available in the market, Creative Labs, who make the Zen, iRiver, Microsoft with the Zune player.

One of the major advantages of the iPod is the ease of use, downloading of music and other media to the player is very simple. In addition there is a plethora of Apple iPod downloads sites on the web from which to source material, be it music, games, movies, video or podcasts. The main problem today is to find reliable and value for money services.

Apple iPod downloads sites fall into two basic categories. These are membership sites where you generally pay a one off fee, which then gives you unlimited access, or sites where you pay per download.

Your choice of service will depend on how much you download; if you become a regular downloader (and lets face it we all do) the membership site option may well be more economic for you.