OS X Alias = Windows Shortcut. That's all the average user needs to know.
The rest is pretty technical stuff, but the hard links with Time Machine are basically how Apple can get away with doing a "full backup" of 200 GB of data every hour and not fill a one terabyte hard drive in five hours.
On a side note, do you know anything about iTunes?
Just as a regular user. I've used most of the media apps out there, and it's my personal favorite, although others strongly disagree. A matter of personal taste I guess. I've never bought anything at the store, but my wife did once. You have to establish an account (which you already have if you've registered an iPod), takes under a minute, then I guess just try to load up your gift card and see if it works. Can't hurt to try.*
The help in iTunes tells you how to easily back up your purchased music with DRM (playing and transfer restrictions) in case your computer ever dies. The restrictions of the DRM are pretty loose, but I'd still stick with non-DRM music, especially if you have a portable player other than an iPod.
* Alternately, you could send me the gift card. :)
Got it. Thanks.
Can't hurt to try.
I'm not planning to use it for myself (I don't have iTunes, and I was told by a knowledgeable Mac person that I'd have to download the songs I want, burn them to a CD, and then rip them back to my computer). I'd like to give it to a friend of mine who does have all the Apple stuff, but I don't want to do that if it's expired.