Cant transfer playlist to ipod

just the playlist (ie., the contents of the CD) -does that help?

In case this helps.

When you plug in your iPod and you have your iPod selected (as oppose to other playlist or the library) in iTunes's lower right corner, you'll notice two new buttons. One that used to be the eject button now has an icon that tells you it will eject the iPod. The other one has an icon of the iPod. Clicking on it will bring up the iPod Preference dialogue box.

In this box you'll see options for ways of syncing/updating your iPod. The first will try to sync everything. The second option will allow you to synch specific playlists. The third will allow you to go in manually and update songs to and from you iPod.

Choosing either the second or third option will allow you to do what you want.

If neither of these work for you, then you have a problem. Check to make sure that the song files are where they are supposed to be and that iTunes is linked to it (are there "!" to the left of the songs in the library?). Aside from those I can't think what else would be wrong. If these don't solve your problem, you may need to call up Apple support for further help.

Update: I changed my iTunes Import pref back to AAC (prev set to Lossless) and voila! I was able to transfer the playlist.
If only I could get it to accept the Lossless encoded tracks...

I have tried - but it won't take...I tried deleting the extension and re-downloading iTunes, but the updater still won't do it's thing

I have tried that: it recognizes the iPod and then says "Do not disconnect, iPod needs to restart blah blah blah" but it has already disconnected and when I reconnect it goes through the whole "Updater has detected a need for new software" palaver again.
Is it me or is there a serious glitch here?
I have tried the procedure described here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61937, but am losing faith