What I have:
2 laptops (ubuntu,linux mint)
1 desktop (linux mint)
1 ipad
no windows.

What I've tried:
I've have installed virtualbox-nonfree from the linux mint repositories. I have a Windows 7 64bit cd. I try to install the win7, but all I get is a blue screen error, every attempt.

I've tried wine and playonlinux to install the latest and an older version of iTunes. That doesn't work. As a side note, I've tried wine for things here and there for about a decade and it never works.

Searching this site, I see I'm not alone.

The majority of my digital music and books were purchased through Amazon, so I have access from any device and/or operating system.

The problem:
I did purchase a few things from Apple, and I can only access them from the ipad. At some point this ipad will no longer work, and I refuse to buy anymore Apple products.

this link seems related:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ux-4175536298/

does rhythmbox, banshee, gtkpod, ... do the needful.

This is outrageous and exactly the reason why haven't ever spent, and never will spend a single cent on any of Apple's products and/or services.

Very understandable.

My recommendation to you: Save yourself a lot of trouble and frustration, write off the money spent (wasted?) on Apple and rebuy what you need in an decent format.

1 members found this post helpful.

I concur 1000% here.

Apple has like a few dollars and change that I can never access in an iTunes account.

Couple of issues there in case you hadn't noticed. I long ago created that account so that my kids could use it on their precious iPods in order to keep up with the Jones' kids, albeit with me kicking and screaming and buying the cheapest alternatives I could for them. And this was back in the day when you didn't have to have a "form of payment" for the account. So as a result, I bought iTunes cards and fed the account when I felt it was merited. Well, over the years, the kids grew up, got their own widgets and discovered whatever they felt about that stuff. Meanwhile I ended up getting new computers from time to time. Eventually I found I cannot "validate" a computer for iTunes purchase, because I can't validate my iTunes account, due to me not having a "form of payment". While I can answer my 3 or so security questions fine, and can discuss all aspects of my name, address, ... whatever. That's not sufficient, so I can't "validate" my account. Someone from Apple suggested that I could put in a form of payment, validate, and then remove that form of payment, but that would get me there. I've never bothered and gone instead exactly down the path that joe_2000 is suggesting.

1 members found this post helpful.

I think you are correct. I think I'm better off letting it go. I stopped and added it up. It's a few songs and a few books. Thanks guys. I'll mark it solved.
Ron

I used to use Amarok 3.x to manage my iPod. Worked better than gtkpod in my opinion. When Amarok updated to 4.x, it didn't work as well. The 2 iPods I have it all I've ever bought from Apple, and now they're collecting dust somewhere, replaces by a simple flash drive.