Today we bought 4 ipods. I know it sounds excessive but 3 of them are to be gifts. We would like to load them all up with some music so the kids who get them can listen immediately. If we load them all up using one computer will they have ownership dedicated to that computer? We dont want to spoil the experience of the other kids having the wrong name allocsted to their ipod. They are all shuffles. So there is no looking different between models.

Yeah, they could listen to the music on them, but as soon as they plug it in, iTunes will ask if you want to link the ipod to the computer (only one ipod can be linked or "associated" with one computer at a time). Clicking yes/OK will erase all the songs currently on the ipod.

So if you want to give them some music that will last longer, fill up some CDs/DVDs with MP3s or the like.

All they have to do when plugging the iPods into their own machine is to say they they do not want to autosync. They will then be able to manually drag their own music onto the iPod without removing what's already on there. Of course if they decided to sync the machine with the iPod then they will lose the music on the iPod. Perhaps you may also want to copy the music onto the iPod as data files so they can copy them directly off it into iTunes and they can sync away to their heart's content. BTW, if you're giving away iPods to kids do you want to adopt me?

adoption, maybe. I just cleaned out under the stairs & im sure a hammock would fit . Let see i have cable tv & broadband & am close to public transport. Nah i'll pass on your offer 'son' and i'll stitch up some uni student who needs a room.

No probs if the question was multiple iPods, one computer.

You could set them all up to sync to the one computer... BUT, have each iPod sync to a different playlist.

The playlist "Sarah's Shuffle" would sync to Sarah's iPod, etc etc.

That way they can all have separate music for each iPod. All easy to manage even when the iPods aren't connected. They'll all be synced to the one computer, so it won't hassle you about syncing to iTunes because they already will be.

FYI : Problems usually arise when you try and do things the other way (1 iPod, multiple computers).

Plase see marc's answer.
My wife and I have hers' and my ipods connected simultaneously
(separate docks of course) and synchronise different music Thankk God :P

Thanks Mrc, great suggestion about the different Playlists.

No probs