10gb 3rd gen ipod usb help.

I recently bought a used 3rd gen 10gb ipod. Much to my frustration I found out that i can only charge this with a firewire cable and while i have the firewire cable i don't have anywhere to plug it into. Now I will have to buy a wall adapter or something because i can't charge this model with the USB cable. But anyways I thought that i could still put music in it by connecting it through the usb but my pc won't even recognize the ipod. As soon as i connect it the ipod turns on and the hard drive starts spinnig (i'm assuming since i hear a buzz inside) but nothing shows up on my screen then i go to "my computer" and i don't see the ipod.

I read the manual and in the section where it says "connect ipod and transfer music" and it says to plug in my firewire cable and if i have a USB 2.0 port to buy an ipod dock. WTF!! I need to have firewire, is this apple's way to get at pc users or something. My computer doesn't have a 4 pin firewire port so i can't use a 4 pin firewire adapter. Do ineed to buy the ipod dock or is there something wrong with my ipod .