[DM-MUG] Connect iPod to Blueberry iBook?

[CW Smith]

Does anyone know ... ?

My wife is "bumping up" to a 700 MHz iBook I purchased from a friend.  I
have backed up my friend's files to my 40GB iPod via FireWire, and am ready
to start backing up my wife's files as well.  Unfortunately, Blueberry
iBooks don't have FireWire.  Does anyone know which of the following will be
my best course of action?

1) Network the two iBooks via AirPort or Ethernet, turn file sharing on,
then copy my wife's hard drive to the iPod, which will be connected to the
700 MHz model.  This could be a very, very SLOOOOOW process.

2) Purchase the USB/FireWire combo cable for iPod, intended for Windows
users, to connect the iPod directly to the Blueberry iBook.  Unfortunately,
I don't know whether MacOS will even recognize the iPod via USB, and I'm not
sure I want to gamble 20 bucks to find out.

What I have learned:  I need to do the backup from OS9, which will copy all
files without question, regardless of permissions.  OSX wants to stop and
ask passwords every few minutes, and won't even let me copy some of the
files.  This adds to my worry of not being able to find the iPod via USB.

Anybody got any definite answers?

Peace,
CW