Need advice from iOS users...can you live without iTunes??

[Silenus]

I need some advice/experience from iOS users (I am a long time Android/PC user so I figured this was the place to ask). I am trying to help out my father and his wife to fix up and/or replace their old laptop, which is aging and always getting gunked up by bloatware/malware/nagware/scareware ect. They are currently all iOS, with 2 iPhone 5 and an iPad. The computer hardly gets used and when it does it is only for going online, facebook, and doing taxes. But for my dad it is to sync podcasts from iTunes (he is a big podcast listener), and occasionally do a local backup of his phone through iTunes.

I need to help them get the computer fixed up and I'd REALLY like to get them away from Windows as their needs are simple and they are otherwise 'accident prone' with regard to getting unwanted software. The thing I don't know is how necessary iTunes is. Can they live without it? What functionality will they be missing if they don't have any computer with iTunes?

My current options are as follows:
1) Install one of my old SSD's and reload clean windows on the current old laptop. Keep iTunes and hope for the best in the future.
2) Install one of my old SSD's and reload current laptop with Linux (probably MINT). Install Chrome and have a perfectly usable desktop for web use. Should be safer than Windows, but no iTunes.
3) Replace the old laptop with a Chromebook. This is perhaps the ideal option IMO because they are perfect candidates for a Chromebook and it is by far the "safest" option and least likely to have malware problems of the three...but again no iTunes. It would be inexpensive and have decent battery life for use unplugged, both big pluses.

NOTE: I'm sure your thinking they should just get a Macbook...but I've left that out of the list simply because they looking to spend the least possible money (or none at all). Pretty much any Macbook would be too much cost for something that will barely be used.

 

[TheStu]

Well, if they have wifi at home (doesn't everyone?) then the podcast app can take care of syncing itself, and the iDevices can be backed up to iCloud.

So, iTunes is not a huge deal. You might want to consider installing Windows in a VM on Mint, then when they connect the iPhone/iPad it launches that. Then either teach them to shut that down when they're done, or have a script do it.

 

[JackBurton]

Just get them iTunes Match. Once you sync all your music for the first time, you'll never need iTunes on a PC again to sync your music. It's a $25/yr service, but well worth it. You can also you iCloud for your backups.

 

[Tegeril]

I recently decoupled my devices from iTunes. Moving actual music files onto the phone still requires me to hit iTunes, but I do everything else with iCloud. Too many songs for Match, but I think that's a rare occurrence

 

[TuxDave]

I think the last time I interacted with iTunes was to unlock my iPhone.

 

[Rakehellion]

You can get a used MacBook for about $200.

I use iTunes for backups and I'd prefer not to go without it.

 

[TheStu]

You can get a used MacBook for about $200.

I use iTunes for backups and I'd prefer not to go without it.

You can also do wifi backup, or is that what you were referring to?

 

[Rakehellion]

You mean iCloud? I don't know what you're saying.

 

[TheStu]

You mean iCloud? I don't know what you're saying.

No, you back up to the computer, over wifi. Same circumstances as iCloud backup... plugged in, screen off, idle for 10+ minutes

 

[sxr7171]

Yes now you can.

I don't use iTunes. I don't remember the last time I needed to connect my phone to iTunes. Everything is on the iCloud. And even though the instructions say unlocking requires connection to iTunes. Mine happened automatically upon putting in a different SIM.

Even all your library can be on cloud with iTunes Match. Yes you will need to download and set up iTunes to set up iTunes Match but after that it can be removed.

 

[sxr7171]

I recently decoupled my devices from iTunes. Moving actual music files onto the phone still requires me to hit iTunes, but I do everything else with iCloud. Too many songs for Match, but I think that's a rare occurrence

That 25,000 song limit is bad. Google I believe offers 4 times as much. I think amazon offers more as well.

What I had to do was create a new library and pare it down a bit and use that library for setting up iTunes Match. Then switch back to the main library. This unfortunately necessitates running iTunes on one computer in the home.

Something has to be done about that limit.

 

[Tegeril]

Google Music used to cap out at 20k. If they've increased it, that's great.

 

[sxr7171]

Google Music used to cap out at 20k. If they've increased it, that's great.

Sorry google is still at 20,000. Amazon is at 250,000. Huge difference.

 

[TheStu]

Sorry google is still at 20,000. Amazon is at 250,000. Huge difference.

The 25K limit is just on songs that aren't in Apple's store I believe.

 

[sxr7171]

The 25K limit is just on songs that aren't in Apple's store I believe.

It's all songs except those you bought from them.

 

[Rakehellion]

No, you back up to the computer, over wifi. Same circumstances as iCloud backup... plugged in, screen off, idle for 10+ minutes

That still uses iTunes.

 

[Rakehellion]

It's all songs except those you bought from them.

I've got 17k songs in my library and 3400 uploads. I won't hit the cap for a long time.

 

[sxr7171]

I've got 17k songs in my library and 3400 uploads. I won't hit the cap for a long time.

No doubt people like me are in the minority. It's just an inconvenience to have to have separate libraries. I would happily pay double for double capacity.

 

[Rakehellion]

I would happily pay double for double capacity.

Register two accounts. Done.

Or you could try one of the competing services that offers more space.

 

[Tegeril]

The 25K limit is just on songs that aren't in Apple's store I believe.

The last time I tried it, the process of trying to match wouldn't even begin if I had more than 25000 items in my library.

Has that changed?

 

[TheStu]

The last time I tried it, the process of trying to match wouldn't even begin if I had more than 25000 items in my library.

Has that changed?

I don't know, I have like 3500 songs. I just thought that was how the restriction worked.

 

[h9826790]

I am a Mac user, so iTunes are alway in my computer, but I have nothing in there. iCloud do the job very well.