Becky

You CAN use the iPod as a portable hard drive, and in that mode, you can download files from the iPod to the computer. But you generally can't download music to listen to from the iPod to the computer. Check this link for a detailed explanation of the difference and how to use your iPod this way.

Beginners guide to using ipods as hard disks

And iLounge.com is a great site in general for anything about iPods and iTunes.

Zhenya