Chicago Tribune | Steven Johnson
Originally posted: February 8, 2006
No, no, Nano
Apple is the computer outfit that's all about simplicity and logic, if you believe its corps of cultists followers.
How, then, to explain the nightmare in our home occasioned by the arrival of a brand new iPod Nano portable music player? Call this a cautionary tale about believing the Apple-simplicity hype.
I am reminded of this mid-January disaster by news that Apple has introduced a new, cheaper, smaller-capacity Nano: $149 and 1 GB of storage, or about 240 songs at the assumed rate. It's a smart play by Apple because people will like the machine but soon grow frustrated by the limited storage space. And that means upgrade, a second purchase.
In our house, though, we almost didn't make it to the stage where you can actually listen to the songs.
My wife had tired of the limited song collection on her 512 MB iRiver player. So for her early January birthday, I set aside my aversion to Apple orthodoxy and surprised her with a sleek, black Nano, 4GB (8x the iRiver capacity).
There were things we didn't like, especially the lack of a radio, which meant that you couldn't tune in to the TV channels at the Y where she works out, and the machine's utterly preposterous failure to ship with a plug-in charger, a $30 add-on at Apple store.
I told her I had seen that Sandisk will have its own 4GB flash-memory (meaning that, like the Nano, it has no hard drive) player that would include a radio, but it wouldn't be out till March, and it was, while still ultraportable, twice as thick as the Nano. After a week or so of mulling it over, she decided to go with the bird in the hand, the hip consumer accessory, and the uncontestedly first-rate sound and interface. She opened the Nano box.
She did, as near as I can tell, everything right. She read the manual first, didn't try to start setting up the thing until she had a comfortable bloc of time available, etc. This is not a woman who is a neophyte; she has successfully managed and resolved complex issues with various PDAs over the years. So the Apple ought to have been a snap.
Several hours passed, however, before she came down from the computer room, steam, rather than earbuds, coming out of her ears. The installation program kept telling her to reinstall iTunes, the computer-based Apple software/music store through which you load music onto iPods. It kept telling her that the iPod software had not loaded properly.
She did this four or five times, she said, restarting the computer every time to no apparent effect. She appeared to be stuck in some kind of horrid installation loop from which there was no exit.
She tried it on our second desktop computer and also on the laptop and, again, no progress. I gave it a try and entered into the same waking nightmare. Eventually, through poking around on online user forums and such, I figured out what might be going on: This brand new product, purchased right after the super-busy selling season of Christmas, had shipped with old versions of iTunes and of the iPod software, and the automatic installation program was smart enough to recognize a problem but too dumb to fix it. How that fits into the idea of ease-of-use, I do not understand.
Anyway, after her three hours, I spent another three going at it and at some point after 2 a.m. got the machine (sleek, to be sure, but by that point many times over cursed into the firepits of the digital underworld) communicating properly with the iTunes on one of our computers. My wife made further progress the next day and now happily totes it to the gym, the difficult birthing process nearly forgotten.
But will it come rushing back when it's time to get a new player?
UPDATE: And now -- I should have originally ended this post with, because I knew it was coming -- let the abuse begin.
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Comments
I have the SanDisk player you mention and while it's not perfect I like it alot. I seriously considered the Nano despite the $70 price difference (unlike the Nano, the SanDisk goes on sale) but Apple's insistence on using their software and the fact that I can only add music that I own (or 'borrow' from friends who own it) made me wait for the SanDisk player.
With my Sansa M260 I updated my Rhapsody online music subscription to Rhapsody-To-Go and can download as much music as I want to my player for the flat $14.99 monthly fee (Yahoo and Napster offers similar services). True I don't own the music, but the five diverse albums I added to the player last month would have cost me at least $50 to buy, and this allows me to sample music that I might not otherwise have tried without committing to owning the disk.
The superior design of the iPod just wasn't enough to offset the lack of music service compatability.
Posted by: Dan Palmer | Feb 8, 2006 12:07:27 PM
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Steve,
The problem you and your wife had was not that you were working with an iPod. The problem is that you were working with a PC, and that is your sin, not Apple's.
First, Apple doesn't ship the Nano with a charger, because if you use a Firewire port, it will charge the unit. Second, if you think that the software drivers for the iRiver would just stand aside and let iTunes take over, you're naive. Finally, if you think that Microsoft is thrilled to be losing money to Apple over iTunes and iPods, introducing them to truely intuitive software and music downloads, you are incredibly naive. Microsoft will attempt to make EVERY install of non-Microsoft software into EVERY version of Windows difficult.
Next time you have a problem, go to the Apple store and check out the looks of bliss on the recent converts from Microsoft's stupidity, I mean technology.
Posted by: Tom Wardzala | Feb 8, 2006 12:35:08 PM
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It took you both 6 HOURS!? It literally takes 5 minutes to download/install the new software from Apple's website. You forgot to include that neither of you are computer literate in your "article"! By the way im no cultist.
Posted by: JT | Feb 8, 2006 12:49:15 PM
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Here's a novel idea. If you don't like it, take it back....If enough get taken back and if you complain about the lack of FM radio, etc, mayabe Apple will get the point.
I had a 4 GB creative Muvo 2 for 2 years now and love it. It didn't come with a radio, but they have a earpiece addon that gives you that capability and the newer models have it built in. It was a snap to install and I didn't have to have a engineering degree to install it.
Kevin
Posted by: Kevin | Feb 8, 2006 12:49:23 PM
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Did you try to install on a Windows machine? Yeah, I thought so...
Posted by: Jeremy J | Feb 8, 2006 12:49:53 PM
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maybe your woman isn't as tech savy as you thought. My girl figured her's out in a few minutes and has been on it ever since. sad thing is, she can barely turn on her laptop so I know she's no geek. your problem lies between the keyboard and the chiar.
Posted by: erik | Feb 8, 2006 12:52:18 PM
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I think I know the root of your problems, its called Windows. Just get rid of that grey box relic from your desktop, hook up the fantastic (simple to install and easy to use iPod) to a nice new apple Powerbook and away you go. Of all the millions of iPods sold your report is the ONLY one I have ever come across where the user has had ‘problems’ installing the device. Is this the device or the user? You decide.
Posted by: Jason Vicinanza | Feb 8, 2006 12:54:41 PM
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It took me 5 minutes to install iTunes and have my nano up and ready to go. I'm not really too happy about having to use iTunes to play my music, but I think that your installation problems are the exception, not the rule, and most likely are the result of existing problems with your personal computer, such as interference from antivirus software (which is notorious for botching other app installations).
The nano comes with a cable that will connect it to USB, which is a powered bus and can be used to charge the nano. The nano charges fast and keeps that charge for a long time. Since you have to have a computer in order to make the nano at all useful in the first place, providing an AC adapter is redundant.
The biggest problem I see with the nano is the fact that it is impossible to use it to synchronize between multiple computers without 3rd party software. This is the direct result of interference by the RIAA, which is a corporate evil eclipsed only by that of insurance companies. It probably cost Apple more development hours to CRIPPLE drag & drop functionality at the RIAA's request, than it would have to allow it. Bah!
- Lee
Posted by: Lee | Feb 8, 2006 12:55:01 PM
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I sense that this ?review? started with a bias as indicated by the "cultists" reference (never write a review when you are mad if you want to be taken seriously). That aside, the Nano does come with a charger (it plugs into a USB port and syncs and charges from this connection). Johnson does not say, but I suspect he was attempting to use iTunes and the Nano with Windows machines (I own Windows machines, iTunes, and an iPod). I sympathize with Johnson's difficulty with Windows but what does one expect from an operating system that has the user click on START to turn the computer off? Six hours total time spent seems to an awfully lot to figure out the solution to the installation problem and probably speaks more to the experience of the computer users than the software.
I would suggest a different title for this piece: "No, No Windows iTunes " as it was the software, not the Nano, that turned out to be the stumbling block.
Posted by: Robert Miller | Feb 8, 2006 12:55:16 PM
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Seriously man. It ain't that hard.
Posted by: chinamink | Feb 8, 2006 12:55:32 PM
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I find it hard to believe that the Chicago Tribune employs a man who struggles to set up and iPod as a tech writer.
Posted by: Derek | Feb 8, 2006 12:57:34 PM
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Idiots. You had to read user forums to figure out that you needed to download the most up to date itunes software? Instead of trashing Apple reconsider your own tech saviness.
Posted by: Jake | Feb 8, 2006 1:00:09 PM
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"Unlike millions of other users, I can't figure out how to use an iPod" is news? Seriously...what's the take away here? Is your editor on vacation? And how does the release of a 1 Gig model factor into this in a way that would make anyone other than you care?
How 'bout writing something that matters? How about some news or insight? Just a thought.
Posted by: James | Feb 8, 2006 1:03:18 PM
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You mean a Windows system gave you an error message??? NAH!!! Never! I don't believe it!
In all honesty: was this the first time you had problems installing softare?
This is not an issue most Apple users encounter.
Posted by: Apple Cult Member | Feb 8, 2006 1:04:14 PM
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This was a packaging error, nothing to do with the iPod itself.
I can garauntee you that after 10 years of using multiple OS's and every techno gimmick under the sun, Apple's products make whatever they do seem like a walk in the park.
But hey, that's just my opinion, which in this case is correct.
Posted by: James Kenny | Feb 8, 2006 1:06:18 PM
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It's hilarious when people whine about their computer illiteracy.
Posted by: joebob | Feb 8, 2006 1:06:44 PM
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Hmm.
I am guessing you are on windows, but no matter what OS, iTunes should have popped up and told you a newer version was availble for download. it does/has on every windows PC I have seen it used on.
My mac at home keeps itself updated so I rarely have to manually update any of the apps. I went from a creative nomadII, to a shuffle, to a Nano with zero issues, as far as iTunes is concerned.
Glad you got it to work.
BCA
Posted by: bca | Feb 8, 2006 1:07:04 PM
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I fail to see why everyone in the industry gives apple so many kudos on these pieces of ****. Sure, they are pretty, and I absolutely love the design and user interface of their products, but there are two crucial features that apple ipods lack (as well as most other players as well:
OGG support: both for ogg-Vorbis and ogg-FLAC. This is a superior format than MP3 and other proprietary formats, I'd love to rip all of my collection to FLAC (which is a non-lossy compression) and then convert it to vorbis (lossy, but better quality for space than MP3) for my player
Gapless play. I absolutely hate what my player (an iriver U10) does to any classical music, pink floyd, concept albums or any other piece of music where the artist MEANT to have one track flow into the other. I understand the ipods are just as bad.
Sure, many other features would be nice, upgradable memory, replacement batteries, etc. but these two things are crucial. Please don't cut apple any slack for these lacks.
Posted by: Roberto Leibman | Feb 8, 2006 1:07:04 PM
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You can't be serious. This is the most assinine topic to write an editiorial about. So... Apple made a mistake and Steve Johnson had a hard time with installing the itunes software; boo frickin hoo. Get over it.
Posted by: Ben | Feb 8, 2006 1:09:48 PM
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Steve, Why not try calling Apple support after the first failure? I know how the "help desk" can often be the "helpless-desk" but my encounters with Apple support have been nothing but inspiring. This from a guy that has been building and using PCs since before Windows. I've used other MP3 players...highly rated ones...but even the best are more difficult to maintain then the Nano. I have the identical 4Gb Nano and it has been painless for me since day one. Granted, I have switched my wife and daughters from custom built PCs to Macintosh portables and bought all three iPod Mini's so I'm experienced with iTunes and iPods but all four iPods have been less trouble than the Creative Zen Micro or the Rio Carbon. They both have built in radio circuits but the performance is less than spectacular. I gave the Carbon to my sister who is happy with its Audible book performance and I use the Zen as a 5Gb hard drive. Other than the bios update did you have other problems with the Nano?
Posted by: Bruce Burkhalter | Feb 8, 2006 1:10:21 PM
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Oh sure, like any time you install anything on a PC it's really easy. I took my iPod out of the box, plugged it into my mac, and away it went. I now own two after my wife bought me a new one to replace my original first generation 1GB, which still works fine after five years. We have it in the kitchen hooked to some speakers.
A software mix-up doesn't make the product bad. Although I would never consider moving the iPod from my mac to my PC. Everyhting on the PC is a headache.
Posted by: dan stiles | Feb 8, 2006 1:10:28 PM
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Steve-
? Eliminate all of your Microsoft equipped machines (donate them to a non profit)
? Replace your machines with Apple product.
? Research the features before you purchase (ie radio compatibility)
? Understand that when a company, such as Apple, is at the top they can and will control the market.
o The iPod is a profit vehicle.
o Apple will change the iPod design as often as possible to touch as many price points as they can.
o Apple will drive the digital music market with one goal in mind: Dominate software, content, and hardware sales in the digital music market.
o Apple will not make everyone happy.
o Apple will, like any intelligent business, use one product, for instance the iPod, to sell you a large amount of accessories at a high profit margin.
Buy your wife the iPod Radio Remote for Valentines Day. I suggest you accept Apple for what they are and what they are not. They are not out to save the Manatee. There in business to make allot of money.
thirty7
Posted by: thirty7 | Feb 8, 2006 1:11:00 PM
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If you tried it on a Mac you wouldn't have had that problem. They just come up straight away.
I blame your other OS.
Posted by: apple d | Feb 8, 2006 1:11:57 PM
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You should turn off your computer and never touch it agian. You are far too stupid to ever make any good of it.
Posted by: Scott | Feb 8, 2006 1:13:07 PM
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Didn't the insturctions actually say to run the update first thing? I usually never even bother with the disks, just go to the web site and get the latest. Production timelines are far longer (make the thing, box the thing, ship the thing, sell the thing.....) than posting a bug fix to a server.....
Posted by: jcoop | Feb 8, 2006 1:13:17 PM
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your column is full of intellectual dishonesty
Posted by: somebody | Feb 8, 2006 1:14:29 PM
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Finally somebody is coming out and speaking against the most inferior and crooked product of 21st Century. IPODs are nothing but money traps.
Posted by: Poli | Feb 8, 2006 1:17:25 PM
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I have had trouble with getting music on my nano i have had it since Christmas and the screen will say do not disconnect for like 2 hours so if you could help me figure out the problem then email me at niniluvu2@yahoo.com
Dominique
Posted by: Dominique | Feb 8, 2006 1:17:36 PM
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I have come across another major stumbling block as well. My fiance' and I both share the same laptop. I have had a 20GB ipod for awhile now and she recently got a nano. The problem: I have about 4000 songs on my laptop, which is no problem for my 20GB, but her nano cannot automatically update the songs because it is only a 4GB. She has to manually pick and choose SONG BY SONG, (up to 1000) what she wants on her nano every time she connects to itunes. This is absolutely ridiculous and Apple should know that 2 people might be using the same computer with two of their devices. Very frustrating indeed. I consider myself somewht computer saavy and have yet to find an adequate solution.
Posted by: Jason | Feb 8, 2006 1:18:10 PM
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I had a similar problem with the shuffle that I received for Christmas. However, after spending several hours trying many of the same solutions (i.e. different computer, reinstall, etc), I elected to take it to the Apple store. At the Apple Store, a techie took about 5 minutes to get it working and since then I have had no trouble. In the future, I may just take all subsequent Apple purchases to the store for set up!!
Posted by: Mike | Feb 8, 2006 1:19:45 PM
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I'm glad to see some real life experience doled out in regards to the iPod line of players.
I, too, dove into the hype of the 4GB black nano, and have rued the day ever since. To sum it all up, I've had times where the nano is completely dead and won't do anything; only a subsequent "waiting period" seemed to bring the little bugger back to life (which doesn't make any sense).
The battery is horrid and only seems to last a coupld of hours at MOST. Also, the backlight function seems to have changed as well. I used to be able to press the menu button for a few seconds to bring the backlight on at will...now, however, I am stuck with either on and subsequent timed off, or off. No in between. I can no longer call the backlight into action by pressing the menu button.
I've had this nano at Apple's service center once already, and they sent the same one back with no repairs done. They stated that it passed all their tests, which I cannot understand. The battery is still anemic and I still can't turn on the backlight like when it was brand new...two things which I detailed in a letter sent with the nano.
Now, after an email to their customer service department describing my unhappiness with their player and service, I have to send it back again. IF they determine any problems, THEN I'll either get a new or refurbished replacement. I'm not so sure that, after the first round, that it will be any different.
Shame, Apple, shame. I have always been impressed with Apple technology and used Apple computers for several years but it seems that quantity has won over quality in yet another good company.
Posted by: Nigel Holderby | Feb 8, 2006 1:20:03 PM
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FWIW, I had used Red Chair's software to (greatly) simplify using my previous Rio Sport mp3 player, so when I got a 4gb nano, it only took a small dose of itunes to convince me to get Red Chair's Anapod Manager. in myo opinion, so much simpler esp. for loading songs from m3u playlists already created with winamp.
Posted by: josh h | Feb 8, 2006 1:20:47 PM
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To call Apple's decision to not include a completely superfluous "plug-in charger," as you inexpertly put it, preposterous is, in fact, preposterous. If you are one of a few who go on long trips without access to a computer, buy one for yourself and leave the rest of us the hyper-competitive nano pricing.
Are you actually suggesting that Apple include an FM tuner in the miraculously small engineering marvel they call the nano? Your example of workout room TV-watching is contrived, and an fm tuner is cheap. Why don't you glue an fm radio to your nano and discover the drawbacks of adding all that weight and size and power consumption.
Further, your anecdotal evidence of Apple's failure to negotiate your PC's setup is silly - the nano works out of the box for 99% of consumers. If you already have itunes, it's a matter of plugging it in. If you don't and can't figure out how to install it, please buy a phonograph and listen to some Glenn Miller. Just don't blame Apple.
Posted by: A. Mayer | Feb 8, 2006 1:21:22 PM
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So that makes about 4 known issues with an Apple product in as many years. I guess I would see that as a real blemish on Apple's record if the Windows world hadn't been making headlines nearly every week for problems during the same period.
Posted by: Nathan | Feb 8, 2006 1:21:23 PM
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Zen Sleek, 20GB, radio, record from radio, make voice recordings, upload into *.mp3, *.wma, or *.wav format. Works with Creative Media Source or WMP 10, not sure about other programs. Not as small as the nano, but it is 20 gigs and has a radio and about the size or smaller of the 20 gig iPOD. Installation was a pain, but that was due to the lack of proper instructions, but if anyone needs help on that, I finally figured it out! Now it's a dream, so glad I didn't go with the standard iPOD!
Posted by: JennsZenn | Feb 8, 2006 1:21:32 PM
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WOW...you certainally harbor quite a hatred for Apple, though you never explain why. I surmise from your article that you are a PC user, which makes me wonder why you were so frustrated with the problems the Nano presented you with--in the PC world, aren't problems like that everyday occurances? From my experience with windows and windows-compatible computers, they certainly are--and that's why many people, including myself, switch to apple. My Nano, a christmas present, had no problems and was up and playing music within minutes after plugging it into my eMac. Considering that Microsoft almost never makes it's software or hardware apple-accessible, how bout cutting the guys at apple a break--if their products don't work perfectly on windows machines, maybe its because they are programming for a horrible operating system and just aren't used to working in such a confusing environment.
Posted by: Kendal Richer | Feb 8, 2006 1:24:06 PM
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bla, bla, bla, another feeble attempt to knock the best mp3 player on the market.
Posted by: mike | Feb 8, 2006 1:24:16 PM
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Good to hear you got the player working, Steve. Could you maybe describe how you fixed this in case any others experience similar difficulties?
Otherwise, for anyone else, here's what I recommend:
0.) Do not, do not, do NOT plug in your new iPod until you've completed these steps.
1.) Before you do anything, head to apple.com/itunes and download the latest version. Do NOT use the CD that came with your player.
2.) Download and install iTunes and then follow the onscreen instructions until you have a library filled with the music you want to play.
3.) Plug in your iPod.
Not sure what happened to Steve, but none of my iPods have ever presented me with such a problem. Then again, I've always instinctively followed the above steps. If you work with the unfriendly Windows OS for long enough, you find out that not downloading the latest version of a product can really set you back 10 minutes (or, in Steve's case, 6 hours). That's why I switched to Mac last month, and found I didn't have to follow steps 0-2, step 3 was all it took...
Posted by: Joseph | Feb 8, 2006 1:26:45 PM
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What? You lost me after the first paragraph. Sounds like you've been spending too much time with your wife's friends. Go have a beer and watch some porn.
Posted by: J V | Feb 8, 2006 1:26:56 PM
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As someone who loves my ipod, but had 2 hard drive based mp3 players before the ipod (my 6g archos was stolen and my 20 gig archos stopped working). --- I'd have to say that the facts in your article are accurate.... but the tone unfairly singles out Apple.
the facts-- yes, Apple and the ipod are not for everyone and even for those with a lot of experience wih the products a lot of troubleshooting and patience is often required (when I upgraded from itunes 4.0 to 5.0 I had to re-import a large chunk of my music, when i recently upgraded the firmware on my ipod things with audiobook playback seeed off -- so I had to learn a new trick to using the device, and most recently when I've been experimenting with downloading video the itunes servers seem overtaxed and it sometimes takes a day more before my downloads succesfully come through....
apple is not for everyone--- while the price has come down a lot the ipod isn't always the cheapest, and is missing features (radio) important to some people--- unfortunately for those who don't read up on various mp3 players before rushing off to buy an ipod just b/c it is "the device" the ipod really ISN"T for everyone
-- it was 'for me' because it syncs easily with audible content (I've been getting audiobooks through audible for years), I love podcasts of all sorts (admittedly podcasts will play on any mp3 player-- but itunes functionality for podcasts is really nice, and I like the itunes store
--- however, for those who don't care about such features, and/or who miss things like radio functionality, atrac/wma playback, etc.... then the ipod is probably as much something to be avoided as sought after....
that being said.... increasingly I find myself having to basically "do my own tech support" for a myriad of devices... our time warner dvr, the cell phones, our printer, our digital camera, etc.... so while the ipod and itunes do have their glitches... my expeience is that these glithes are no worse, and perhaps significantly better (i can no longer get my drm to function properly for musicmatch and the songs i purchased through them) than other simila services/devices
just my 2 cents
Al
Posted by: Al | Feb 8, 2006 1:27:03 PM
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Not a neophyte? May I recommend that next time you buy a device you skip the installation CD and go to the manufacturer's website first? Software often moves faster than the CD manufacturing process. I thought that was pretty much common sense nowadays.
Posted by: Scott | Feb 8, 2006 1:27:41 PM
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I have an older generation ipod but there was never a problem like this, and doesnt itunes automatically update the software if there is a newer version? Wouldn't that have resolved the issue?
Posted by: David Radloff | Feb 8, 2006 1:27:48 PM
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Come now, you should be careful when revealing your failures. My respect for your "expertise" has dropped dramatically. I'm just a lowly carpenter and I thought of the need to up date immediately. And I use a Mac where I typically don't have to worry about such things; Software Updater takes care of it for me.
Posted by: Peter K Martel | Feb 8, 2006 1:27:54 PM
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I love my nano. If you had problems installing itunes- go to the website or google it.....
Posted by: Kevin | Feb 8, 2006 1:27:55 PM
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Boo Hoo Hoo! You poor thing -
they didn't make it idiot proof! Shame on apple.
Posted by: Jason | Feb 8, 2006 1:28:10 PM
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I purchased an iPod for my husband this Christmas and he hasn't had a single problem with it. He uses it everywhere, it's easy and convenient. I don't think Mr. Johnson's personal experience(which could happen with any electronic devise you buy) outweighs all the good things iPod has to offer. iPod is great.
Posted by: Caitlin | Feb 8, 2006 1:29:43 PM
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what you have described is the normal procedure to install ANYTHING on a windows machine
SORRY FOR YOUR LOT IN LIFE
Posted by: Not Surprised | Feb 8, 2006 1:30:03 PM
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You're kidding, right?
First: Someone who writes for a tech column starts by calling Apple product users 'cultists'? Please, that hasn't applied since the iMac sold millions of units to the general public back in the 90's. Let's not label the millions of iPod users, be they PC or Mac users.
Second: (Again, you are a tech writer?) You don't know by now to go to ANY manufacturer's website to dl (that's Down Load, if you don't know) the latest drivers/programs when you purchase new hardware? I am guessing you use a PC. Do you? Have you ever tried to install any hardware? Maybe plugged in a printer to find it not working with the latest Windows Update? This is pretty standard stuff. Something I have had to do many times. You would think you would have as well.
Perhaps you should look into some experience in the 'tech' field. Maybe use a computer and buy some hardware. Is it that you don't set it up yourself? The Tribune has 'tech support' for you? Here's a suggestion; try running the stuff yourself before running your mouth (fingers) insulting a product.
(On a side note: If you did install an older version of iTunes, when you run it while online, it will tell you automaticially there is an update available.)
Posted by: Timothy B Hewitt | Feb 8, 2006 1:30:56 PM
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dumb dumb dumb. get a clue.
Posted by: robert | Feb 8, 2006 1:31:00 PM
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I notice that you don't mention that you are using the iPod with a PC. It is, however, obvious that this is the case. Maybe the problem isn't the iPod? Now your wife knows what it's like to have to try and install a Microsoft software product on a Mac.
Posted by: Chuck Taylor | Feb 8, 2006 1:33:53 PM
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Sounds like you/she neglected to read the instructions.
Posted by: Chris Pope | Feb 8, 2006 1:35:41 PM
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Pound out more drivel like that and one day you may have my job.
Posted by: David Pogue | Feb 8, 2006 1:36:09 PM
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I have to think, based on your general tone, that you hate apple. However, I find it very disingenuous of you to depict an experience with an iPod as a nightmare. If your wife has problems installing software, that is a different problem, and it may be more a Windows problem than anything. If the iPod shipped with old software, it should have still worked without a problem. I have owned three different iPods and my wife owns one and I have NEVER had any problems setting them up. I have always thought that its setup was fool-proof... well, maybe not 100%. Apple's current offerings are 2 different types of Shuffles, 3 different nanos and two different iPod Video. Your inability to process that information seems to shed some light into the problem. Let me finish by saying that I think being an Apple "cultist" is not nearly as bad as having a column in a newspaper where you spread misinformation about a product.
Posted by: Iara | Feb 8, 2006 1:36:28 PM
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Hi, yeah, it took me maybe 5 minutes to connect my iPod, install itunes, copy music to the iPod, disconnect it, and start enjoying the music. It took my dad maybe 10 minutes to do the same with his. Your story, or "cautionary tale," warns that people should be ready to spend 6 hours getting their iPod to work. True, some users will have trouble. People have old computers, old operating systems, and lets face it, some people just cannot follow instructions. You should really talk to others who have installed their iPods, find out how their experiences were, etc., you know, sampling basics. Keep this "focus group of one" to yourself.
JOHNSON REPLY: Actually, if you read between the lines, it warns that people should make sure they grab the latest software first, not just trust what's in the box.
Posted by: David | Feb 8, 2006 1:36:43 PM
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Genuis...
It's the PC, not the iTunes software...
If you were hooking it up to a MacIntosh computer, you would have NO PROBLEM...
Keep buying Bill Gates crappy machines, and you will continue to have these issues... Every iPod that I have worked with (6-8 Units)has set itself up with my Macs... No drivers, no set-up procedure
It sets itself up!!!
You get what you deserve when using the Microsoft garbage products and software... Don't blame Mac..
Posted by: Kelley N. Shepard | Feb 8, 2006 1:37:18 PM
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Perhaps you and your wife didn't realize that you don't need another lumpy plug-in charger in your life. The Nano comes with a slender docking cable that recharges fully from any handy USB port.
Posted by: Steve Jobs | Feb 8, 2006 1:37:20 PM
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Bigges anticlimax in an article ever. the intro is twice the actual story's length.
Simple problem, simple fix.
Nano still rules.
Posted by: jedd | Feb 8, 2006 1:38:10 PM
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"4GB flash-memory (no hard drive, like the Nano"
The Nano uses Flash memory also, no hard drive. Yo might want to fix your article.
JOHNSON REPLY: Meaning "like the Nano, it has no hard drive." Could be worded better.
Posted by: E.J. Coughlin | Feb 8, 2006 1:38:20 PM
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Hi. I had the same problem with a Sony MD Player about 4 years ago. Back in the days, I wasn't such a computer nerd. But now, if there's something I know, and if there's something I can advice you, it's to NEVER use the installation CD that comes along with the product. These installation CDs are, most of the time, not up to date. It's why you should always go directly to the company's website, and search for the needed software/driver.
Hope it helps :)
Jacob
Posted by: Jacob | Feb 8, 2006 1:39:29 PM
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How strange. Someone opposed to Apple design (but sees no cultish commitment to Microsoft, despite it clearly being poorly designed and executed product that survies based on previous market-share. If rolled out today as a competitive product no one would look at MS twice.) can't seem how to figure out how to make itunes run. My nanny from Columbia got an IPOD from her mom (she does not even have a computer) and figured out how to load music from my Mac with no assistance at all. Go figure.
Perhpas the problem is MS trying to undermine your purchase, as it has with so many of software products that did not serve its bottom line.
Posted by: miles black | Feb 8, 2006 1:39:59 PM
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I must say, this is quite a negative article towards the ipod but have you discussed with your ipod peers the troubles they have encountered?
I received an identical 4gig black ipod nano for my birthday in mid-december. I found the software to be simple and easy to install -- had more than a gig of music installed within 1 hour of opening my present.
I was aware of the lack of plug-in charger and radio, although upsetting, anyone who did a minimal amount of research (I would have hoped you would have done a little considering the price) before purchase would have discovered this.. and the current system of charging the ipod isn’t really that inconvenient.. at least for me!
I, personally, am extremely satisfied with the ipod nano. I never would have purchased one on my own, but after receiving one as a gift, I couldn't imagine life without it!
Posted by: Justin B | Feb 8, 2006 1:40:33 PM
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I certainly hope that every time one of the author's possessions malfunctions he writes a scathing editorial. One wouldn't want to think he was using Apple's success to simply get his name out there.
Posted by: Juston | Feb 8, 2006 1:41:38 PM
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Yet another example of why I never install software/drivers included with any piece of hardware I purchase. I don't care who makes the hardware in question, I immediately go to their website and download the latest version of said software/drivers. This has saved me many hours of grief over the years.
Posted by: Kirk | Feb 8, 2006 1:42:54 PM
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Love ya man!
Posted by: loveya | Feb 8, 2006 1:43:05 PM
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If you and your wife aren't smart enough to complete a simple task like downloading the new version of itunes, you shouldn't be using an ipod. iPods may be marketed as easy to use, and by comparison to other products they are. Like any electronic device, however, there will be issues that come up that require a software upgrade or a trip to Apple Genius Bar for service. Just because you had some problems in the beginning doesn't mean you should give iPods a bad review.
Posted by: Adam | Feb 8, 2006 1:43:50 PM
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You are a dumbass and so is your wife. You should basically discard any software that comes with electronics and simply download the latest drivers/software from the manufacturers website.
cheers
Posted by: JN | Feb 8, 2006 1:45:07 PM
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You horrible person you. You have said something not entirely positive about Apple. Die die die, etc.
Don't you know, infidel, that it is an integral part of the worshippers of Jobs, praise be unto him, that any criticism of an Apple product, no matter how mild, is blasphemy?
Do you have a personal flag I could burn? ;-)
PS: You're not alone.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2004-10-15-kantor_x.htm
Posted by: Andrew Kantor | Feb 8, 2006 1:45:51 PM
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I bought the 4GB Ipod Nano for my Wife's birthday back in October. When it arrived, I had my 12 y.o. daughter set it up on her laptop and load songs for her mother. My daughter had absolutely no problems or hitches whatsoever. In fact, within about 20 minutes she had already set it up and loaded a few songs. I would suggest that it might depend up the computer you were using vice anything wrong with the Apple Itunes software. By the way, we used a Dell Laptop running Windows XP Home Edition.
Posted by: Rob Sipes | Feb 8, 2006 1:46:44 PM
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It sounds like a error on your part. Itunes automatically alerts you when a newer version is available.
Posted by: tnek | Feb 8, 2006 1:46:54 PM
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i dont think that is fear on all the buyers they are all to lazy to just fix it
Posted by: ryanforde | Feb 8, 2006 1:47:23 PM
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So, your saying a small bug in the programming is makeing the nano a horrible product? All hardware / software products will occasionally ship with bugs, thats why they have updators, maybe thats what the bug was about, but can you strike down a product as bad by just the initial setup? You said your wife now "happily totes it to the gym" which doesn't line up with the point your trying to get accross that iPods are bad, you have left me confused...
Posted by: Michael Gillogly | Feb 8, 2006 1:48:07 PM
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Anyone who has installed a video or sound card in the last 10 years should be familiar with the truism that you should always go internet-first when installing drivers or other software that comes with your devices. Otherwise, you stand a very good chance of having to uninstall to update with the latest stable version. Even worse, you may find yourself having to edit registry entries or run third party driver cleaners if you go straight to the CD with a graphics card.
It is easy to play the angry consumer, but this is simply par for the course when dealing with PC software. Even brand new devices (perhaps especially so) often ship with bugs or incompatibilities that are fixed post-release. If you are blaming Apple for this practice, please don't forget to include NVidia, AMD, Creative Labs, Microsoft, and any game publisher/developer in your rant.
Posted by: JB | Feb 8, 2006 1:48:25 PM
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So your getting pissy at apple because your windows operating system is a piece of crap?
Posted by: Rocky | Feb 8, 2006 1:51:24 PM
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No abuse, but the Nano doesn't have a hard dive...
JOHNSON REPLY: You, and others, misread me on that. I was saying that the Sandisk has no hard drive, like the Nano has no hard drive. I've fixed the wording to make it more precise. Thanks.
Posted by: paul | Feb 8, 2006 1:51:30 PM
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1. Install iTunes.
2. Update iTunes (1 click if I remember correctly).
3. Plug in Nano.
Took me all of 3 minutes when I got one last week.
And implying that it is some sort of sneaky ploy by Apple to sell a 1gb device, which will frustrate consumers with its lack of storage space, is like me blaming Poland Spring when I was still thirsty after drinking the 1/2 liter bottle of water I bought at lunch.
Posted by: Matt Pegan | Feb 8, 2006 1:52:07 PM
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The evil of the Nano is the market strategy you mentioned: they discontinued the Ipod Mini, which was 4GB for $200 and provided a good halfway point. What I don't understand is why someone would pay $250 for an 4GB Ipod mini when $50 more would get you a 30GB, slimmer, video-enabled regular Ipod. Now they've forced people to go that route or the ultra-minimal route.
Posted by: Jake Hewitt | Feb 8, 2006 1:52:23 PM
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I have experienced problems like this with Apple products. If they are aware that there will be issues when trying to install on Windows machines and they are so thoughtful in their designs, why have they not designed software that will get around this issue?
Posted by: Joe James | Feb 8, 2006 1:54:03 PM
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I did experience some problems at first using a pc but it sounds like it was outside Ipod contol bottom line is that the nano is the best out there period.
Posted by: ben | Feb 8, 2006 1:56:14 PM
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I bought an iMac a year ago and went through a three-month nightmare in which the machine kept crashing. It was repaired a couple times and replaced twice, but the problem remained. No one could figure it out. During that time, Apple was extremely supportive. Finally, an operating-system upgrade mysteriously fixed the problem. Permanently. Now everything is fine, and I'm looking forward to purchasing a Mac laptop.
So I sympathize with your problem, because I had a similar one. Yours will probably have a happy ending too the next time iTunes is updated. That probably won't be a very long wait.
The Nano does not use Firewire, by the way. It charges while it's plugged into your computer's USB port. It will charge from any powered USB port, even if iTunes isn't installed. In other words, a charger is redundant unless you are taking your iPod with you on a long trip where there are no computers.
Posted by: Ken | Feb 8, 2006 1:56:20 PM
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I side with Apple on the issue of AC adapters as I use the USB port to charge and including an accesory that many will not use is not environmentally friendly. Were you installing on a Mac or PC? Many issues installing iTunes on a PC have to do with conflicting software such as AnitVirus, AntiAdware, firewalls, etc. There's lots of information and community help at discussions.apple.com.
Posted by: George Creedle | Feb 8, 2006 1:56:24 PM
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Steve,
I feel your pain and most of these comments are nothing more than a good illustration of the poor reading skills, and assumptive nature, of the modern American. However I do think that Apple was right to not include a charger, and the cost, with the Ipod when people that are using a truly beautiful machine would not need it.
Sorry that your IPOD's software was out of date.
Posted by: GL | Feb 8, 2006 1:56:41 PM
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Are you running Winblows 95? 2000, XP, do you have service pack 3? All these variables that may drive you crazy are the reason people buy macs... you'd probably have same problems with any device, it's windows, not the ipod.
Posted by: Vax | Feb 8, 2006 2:00:23 PM
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Gosh, Steve...good luck. Lots of zealotry out there.
Posted by: Robert Pyle | Feb 8, 2006 2:00:30 PM
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Something is wrong with your wife. My 15 year old son had his black 30g ipod video going in about 15 mintues. I had mine going in about 5 mintues. We use an inexpensive dell laptop. Good luck.
Posted by: MG | Feb 8, 2006 2:01:15 PM
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Well, actually, one of my friends had the same problem with the iTunes and iPod software with her nano too
Eventually I just uninstalled iTunes and the iPod, restarted then reinstalled everything, and it seemed to correct itself.
I'm not exactly sure the exact reason it iTunes wouldn't work with the Nano at first, even though it fixed itself.
Oh, and by the way,
I don't know if this is some kind of bug with iTunes or just at Apple's fault, but there was a moment (I don't know if it still going on) that the iTunes software wouldn't tell the user it needed and update (to 6.0.2)...
Posted by: Dan | Feb 8, 2006 2:01:20 PM
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I spent the holidays working at a college computer store. The kind of place where you get customers who ask questions like "Can you charge the iPod without plugging it into anything?" One particularly bright customer not only didn't know if she had a PC or Mac but needed me to tell her what semester it was. (This was not mid-December, it was mid-November.)
In other words, I worked at a place where many, many customers were extremely unskilled with their computers, and where a hell of a lot of them bought iPods for Christmas.
And wouldn't you know it, NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON came back to our store complaining of difficulty setting it up.
People who don't know what OS they run and don't understand basic thermodynamics can set up an iPod. What's your excuse?
Posted by: Thad | Feb 8, 2006 2:02:03 PM
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"Perhpas the problem is MS trying to undermine your purchase, as it has with so many of software products that did not serve its bottom line."
Ah yes, the apple zealot. So entirely convinced the Apple is the greatest and most holy goodness on the planet, while MS is cerntainly the most evil and unholy company that only wants MS programs to work. The OS actively stops you from installing anything non MS.
Get a brain and grow some individuality you apple worshipping ...
Posted by: Gnaglor | Feb 8, 2006 2:02:20 PM
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Wow! A media-type that actually thinks before he buys into the slick Apple marketing machine. Good for you! Not that Apple products are all bad. In fact, I think most Apple products are wonderful for consumer use by those who need to be spoon-feed technology.
Posted by: kelly kimball | Feb 8, 2006 2:03:39 PM
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A co-worker of mine has an ipod shuffle, and i must admit i hate itunes, and was using the computer that i work on to manage itunes and that. Well, after i got tired of itunes / ipod services running in the background and that, i made him start using Rhapsody player to manage his shuffle.
Problem solved :D
Posted by: Darren Kopp | Feb 8, 2006 2:04:17 PM
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Wow. Judging by the replies to your article, I thought I missed the cartoon of Steve Jobs wearing a turban that was actually a bomb. I think when history remembers Steve Jobs in 100 years it will not be for his technology but for the cult-like following he created. Anyone care for some Kool-Aid?
Posted by: Craig | Feb 8, 2006 2:04:34 PM
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You Da Man,
Very brave of you to take on the cult. I am a SysAdmin and work both with Macs and PC's. Mac users love Mac no matter what Mac does. Now they have to grin and bear the new Mac's with Intel(speak of the devil) processors, you know the one's they said for years where no good. ;-)
Posted by: YouDaMan | Feb 8, 2006 2:06:41 PM
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Regarding Tom Wardzala'a posting:
Tom seems to be a little narrow-sighted in his posting. According to him, the answer to smooth computing is to use nothing but Apple hardware and software, but Microsoft's unforgivable sin is to try to get users to use nothing but Microsoft (PC) hardware and software.
He also reinforces my time-honored observations that Mac users are people who are not smart enough to use a real computer. This opinion has been confirmed during years of running a computer graphics company and having to re-do the jobs Mac users had started but were unable to finish.
Posted by: Rob Baitinger | Feb 8, 2006 2:07:49 PM
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Hmm... I didn't have any problems connecting my new iPod (5th Gen 30 GB with Video) to my wife's Windows XP machine... perhaps because I made sure I was using the most recent version of the software. Anyone who is not a neophyte should know that you should always check for an update to any software you install.
As someone mentioned above, I really hope that you blog every single instance of any appliance or electronic device not functioning properly. Otherwise you are just using Apple's and iPod Nano's names to make sure your name is seen 'round the world. I would've thought that the Trib would have sufficient marketing to keep you from having to sink to this type of Google-baiting.
Posted by: Jim Darkness | Feb 8, 2006 2:08:23 PM
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As a Mac user for 15 years I must now wish cancer upon you and your family (and in-laws). You must feel the pain of an eternal lake of fire. Pox upon your pets.
Phew...I feel better.
In closing, please know that you are morally and intellectually inferior. You undoubtedly posses a small penis also.
Thank you for your attention.
Posted by: Howie Felterbush | Feb 8, 2006 2:08:27 PM
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I love Apple products, but does that mean that there are no problems, and that these problems shouldn't be discussed? I am totally a Mac guy and yet... I could easily come up with a million and one issues. I think we should complain when Apple is not living up to it's promises so that it can work even harder to deliver an even better product. Right?
Posted by: Sam | Feb 8, 2006 2:09:08 PM
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I think we all know (even you, deep down inside) that no electronic product is fail safe and always easy, there are always some problem and there are always lemons. PC, Mac, windows, MS, it doesn't matter, they all have problems.
What I see is the larger issue is that you came into this already hating the product.
I had a heck of a time setting up my Palm two years ago and although multiple friends had the same model I found that I was the only one who had problems. Too bad for me, but in the end it was fine and it doesn't stop me from using it or if needed thinking about using another one of their products.
All I am saying is for someone who surronds themselves with technology you should know to relax a little more.
Posted by: Ann | Feb 8, 2006 2:09:20 PM
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Heh, the recent iPod Nano announcement was top tech link at Google news, and one of the links led to here, which reads like a student column at the Daily Northwestern.
"Steam was coming out of my wife's ears," she was fuming that she was unable to deal with her machine. Things were turning from bad to worse, involving evil cultists. At the end of the day, it required a simple update. Who would've thunk it??
Thanks for the quality journalism!
Posted by: John Evans | Feb 8, 2006 2:10:09 PM
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It's "utterly preposterous" to not include an external charger?
Take a breath.
Plug it into your computer.
Watch it charge.
If you need to be away from your computer (but require your iPod), buy a charger. Most people don't need it. That's why they're called "accessories". Otherwise, your $600 iPod would ship with a leather case, FM radio, extra battery, car install kit, external speakers, and God only knows what else.
I, for one, am pleased I'm not required by the manufacturer to subsidize your "utterly preposterous" need for an external charger.
Posted by: Nate | Feb 8, 2006 2:10:16 PM
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Try the Cowan/iAudio G3. or perhaps some of their other players. They show up as mass storage devices, which means they can be used with just about any computer (incl. Linux, etc.). They have a radio, they play MP3s and Ogg Vorbis files; and they use AA batteries - so when the batteries die, you just swap a new set in (though, you can use NiMH rechargables, if desired).
Apple and their products are pretty much garbage.
Posted by: AC | Feb 8, 2006 2:10:53 PM
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After selling the iPod all Christmas, I had a customer come back into the store with her laptop and Nano in hand. She said that she couldn't get it set up. I tried to set it up, and was not able to. We went over the included documentation and instructions and everything seemed right. But the iTunes software would not load on the laptop. She was using an iBook. What I found later, after an hour or trial and error, was that the iBook running MacOS9, doesn't support iTunes for iPod. I looked at everything included with the iPod, at everything in training for the iPod, and no where was there any warning that the iPod wouldn't work with OS9. Not until I got onto the Apple site and in the deepest recesses of support was I able to find out that the iPod is not compatable with OS9.
My error - Assuming that Apple, like Windows, would let you know when the software you are attempting to install on the computer is not compatible with the operating system. Instead, you just get to browse through the contents of the CD-ROM that is included, or through the contents of the install file that you download.
I personally use a Sony and love it. I wouldn't go to an iPod if you gave me one, because my 1Gb Sony player is smaller, easier to use, and has plenty of sound quality. And, I didn't need software to install songs on the unit.
After hearing for years about how Mac is so superior to Windows, I am inclined to stick with MS, in spite of the fact that it might be less stable, at least it tells you when you have a problem.
Posted by: Ben | Feb 8, 2006 2:12:08 PM
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We are all looking forward to the Intel Macs....every rabid mac user I know has already ordered one.....now we'll see how an Intel-equipped machine is supposed to work.
As for the Nano, you've heard it all in the quotes above....
Posted by: Greg | Feb 8, 2006 2:12:36 PM
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Just seconding everyone else's opinion...always download an installer when possible, never use the supplied CD. This rule is not recent...customers should be expected to know this...it goes back to installing printer drivers since the advent of the Internet. The supplied CD is simply included for the five people left in the world who don't have internet access.
Posted by: Arthur | Feb 8, 2006 2:12:54 PM
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Had the same problem with an Ipod Video. Sold it after 5 hours of trying.
Not easy to make stuff that works on a platform you don't own, but I admire Apple for trying.
Hans
Posted by: hans | Feb 8, 2006 2:13:07 PM
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Of course Apple isn't perfect, but you really put yourselves through the mill unnecessarily.
Lets say there are 30,000 nanos on shelves in stores and warehouses and apple updated it's itunes software today. Do you expect them to be unwrapped and updated?
Mine ipod prompted me to do the update when I plugged it in.
Now recently I bought an ibook and had an issue with connection to a wireless modem. Being a lazy mac user (most of us aren't in the habit of reading manuals,) I made use of the free telephone tech support. 10 minutes later, all was well. A day later I received a follow up phone call from Apple making sure all was well with my ibook.
No radio. If you wanted a radio, why did you buy the Nano and then complain about it. No external charger? I don't want a charger - USB ports are almost as common as plug outlets and don't want to pay extra for something that will lay in my unused accessories drawer. I'd rather use that money toward a car connection device like iTrip which also charges, or headphones, (I'm not a buds fan,).
It seems at the end of your piece you reluctantly admit that your wife actually likes her Nano. Glad to hear it. I expect that next time around you will indeed end up back at the Apple store.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 8, 2006 2:14:36 PM
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Ipods are terrible. Once you all come to realize this the better off you will be. Just because you have fallen for the trend, like many others, someday you will find that there are much better players out there. One very evident bad thing about the Ipod is it's lack of subscription service. If you all want to pay top dollar, which goes into somebody's pocket, then go ahead. I however pay $9.95 a month and have the ability to put pretty much whatever I want my MP3 player. Wake up, it's clear you have fallen for nothing more than a pretty face.
Posted by: dave | Feb 8, 2006 2:15:07 PM
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Steve,
Thought somebody should put a vote of corroboration here. My sister and I both recieved our choice of MP3 players at Christmas, herself a video iPod, myself an iAudio X5 by Cowon. I'm an IT student, have been working on computers and desktop support for four years, so its safe to say that I'm familiar with the technology and the operating systems. Low and behold, I ran into the same problem; the CD included with her iPOD did not want to install, so I had to go out to the Apple site to get it. The software that came with mine? Worked out of the box. Not that I needed it anyways, all I have to do is plug mine into a computer and it will be recognized as an external hard drive. Drag files into the music folder, and I'm done. And, it plays any file I throw at it (so long as I've used a DRM-less format), including lossless codecs like FLAC. Oh yeah, has an FM tuner too, and it came with all the accessories needed to get started with it. Charger, line-in/out cable, USB in/out cables (did I mention it has USB host, so I can plug a camera or other MP3 player into it and just grab files), and all for less than the cost of purchasing a comparable iPOD plus accessories. End of the story? Set-up time for my MP3 player: 5 minutes. Set-up time for my sister's iPOD? 20, and that's because I knew to just go out and get the newer software. Problems with my installation caused by Microsoft? None. Problems stemming from a poor CD installation design from Apple? Several. Nice article, it's nice to see someone willing to speak out against the otherwise dominant faction.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 8, 2006 2:15:41 PM
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Steve already tipped his hand by referring to consumers who buy Apple products as a "corps of cultists". By saying "I set aside my aversion to Apple orthodoxy", he again implies that Apple engages in cult-like activity, which is just plain silly.
I find that after dealing with all of the viruses, spyware and popups, Microsoft devotees become a little wacky!
Try this on for size; I've owned and worked on Macs for about 10 years and have never had to use anti-virus, anti-spyware or anti-popup software and have NEVER gotten a virus! I can only recall having to reinstall the operating system only once about 5 years ago. The OS X operating system is extremely stable has only crashed 3-4 times and that 3 years ago in earlier versions.
That's why people buy Apple products.
pxlmvr
(... oh crap. i sound like a zombie, don't i?)
Posted by: pxlmvr | Feb 8, 2006 2:16:23 PM
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This problem is nothing new. The Windows version of QuickTime (that's the core of iTunes) has always been a frustrating product. It's amazing to believe that the same company that produces all that lovely Mac software could be capable of delivering such garbage, but it's been that way since the beginning.
If it's any consolation, the Mac version of Windows Media Player is a pathetic shadow of its Windows counterpart. It's so bad, in fact, that Microsoft finally threw in the towel and asked a third party to take over.
Maybe Apple should do the same.
Posted by: cheesemaster | Feb 8, 2006 2:16:26 PM
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Steve,
I have an iPod Mini and had some problems when I first started out. I am not a MAC user and there are issues when using this device in a Windows environment. All iPods that I have ever seen are setup for use with MAC and need to be formatted (usually through iPod updater) for Windows. I did this process wrong once and I had to mount it on my Linux box to format it as FAT32 before it would work (OK I am a geek). If you want seamless integration then buy a Mac, I am in the process of getting one now.
As for the capacity issue you get what you pay for. I am happy with 1,000 songs on my 4GB iPod Mini although my library is over 5,000 songs. I think the iPod (Mini, Nano, and Full) are great in design and are the best players on the market. I am not excited about the iPod Shuffle design but want a second iPod for running. An iPod with no screen, lightweight, long battery life with low capacity is excellent for long runs (I will not be running for more then 8 hours when my music runs out).
Posted by: Mikel Finch | Feb 8, 2006 2:17:27 PM
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Hi Steve,
Wow, it is amazing the nasty remarks you get offering your description of what happened with you are your wife. No doubt some of the snide suggestions you have received are true, but what ever happened to civility in communication? Suggestions/points are most effective without personal slams...
My daughter recently received an iPod Nano for Christmas and I had no problem setting it up. That said, I found the iTunes software to not be the best. It did have some virtues though and I was flirting with switching to it on MY main PC (from MusicMatch 7.5 - I don't like the newer versions) until I discovered that there is apparently no way to display the artist as the first column in the display and that, to me, as a critical flaw in the software even though it otherwise works fine and my daughter loves her Nano.
I am confident that, if there is, a lot of people will correct me on how to display the artist as the first column correctly.
Sincerely,
Bruce
Posted by: Bruce Edwards | Feb 8, 2006 2:19:28 PM
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Poor guy, don't take all the bashers personally, wow people are just venomous and mean! Just because one person does not have problems with a software install in no way means that someone else won't either (and vice-versa of course).
Personally, I have issues with the iTunes program (I use generic players and old versions of quicktime to play video now because expletive Mac was forcibly bundling Quicktime + iTunes last I checked), so I refuse to purchase an iPod for myself or wife. I've got a Creative Zen Vision and she's got a little sandisk flash player - they both work like champs, without the hassle of iTunes.
Yeah, many people have no idea what hassles I'm talking about, but some will. Such is the way of software - especially on Windows. Not that I'd ever go back to Apple/Mac (I do miss my Apple 2e sometimes...) though.
Posted by: andy | Feb 8, 2006 2:19:47 PM
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Also... (I _am_ one of those Apple-loving fools...) Apple now sells an add-on for the Nano/Video, an FM reciever that plugs into the docking port. www.apple.com/store
Posted by: Mitch | Feb 8, 2006 2:20:14 PM
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the problem seems to be between the keyboard and the chair, not the product.
also, all you people saying its windows are n00bs. i dont even use itunes with my ipod, its a memory hog, a waste of space, and pretty much tries to voertake your whole computer with needless services running all the time. use anapod explorer or there is a simple plugin for winamp to transfer music.
Posted by: justin b | Feb 8, 2006 2:21:43 PM
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I have to say, Steve, I can't figure out how you and your wife managed to make the iPod setup as difficult as you recount. I had never owned an MP3 player and I did my setup on a three-year-old Dell PC. I had no problems at all. I was listening to my music and my precious Air America podcasts about an hour after I opened the little box on Christmas morning.
Now, one problem I did have was with those ridiculous ear buds. The first time I went for a run with them, I had a nightmarish time just keeping them in my ears. The next time I went for a run, I stopped off at RadioShack and bought a $20 pair of Sony behind-the-neck headphones. They work like a dream.
My nano is Da Bomb.
Posted by: UncommonSense | Feb 8, 2006 2:22:48 PM
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I have been a computer professional for a long time, and the one thing I can say for sure is that most people don't understand that the reason problems exist with any computer, PC or Mac, is because you are merging so many different companies products together. It is not possible to test every compatibility issue, although they do try their best. Software and hardware can evolve so quickly that when added to older versions, a conflict is inevitable. Personally, I picked up the Creative Nomad 6gb about 5 years ago, and threw in a 20gb laptop drive imaged with their device os, and use it to this day. I recently tried the IPod, and missed the ability to add to the play queue list on the fly while still listening to the song that is currently playing. I tend not to use play lists because I listen to so many different things depending on what mood I'm in. I do love the idea of a portable media player (audio/video), but I would prefer to have a pda/media player with say a 100gb drive. A mini computer if you will. No technical reason it can't be done, I'm surprised that while the larger IPods have 60gb drives in them, that drive based PDAs are only just now making an entrance, and tiny 5-10gb at that. I'm guessing it had to do with battery life, but if Ipod video can make it happen, I don't see why not.
Posted by: John McMillion | Feb 8, 2006 2:25:27 PM
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Your problem seems to be more fault of your computer than the software. I'm sure you not the first person having issues with loading software onto a Windows machcine and unfortunately you won't be the last.
We have experienced the following troubles loading various types of software on our Windows PC. Here is a small list of software we've had trouble with: upgrading from Win95 to Win 98, AOL, SBC DSL, Yahoo Messenger and Adobe Acrobat.
So we bought a Sony laptop with XP Home Edition solved most of the software issues except now we are having problem with our wireless router.
Good news was that iTunes ran without a hitch for us!
Posted by: Moses | Feb 8, 2006 2:25:55 PM
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EVERYONE WHO BASHES MICRSOFT SHOULD SHUT UP AND STOP WISHING YOU HAD BILL GATES MONEY, DONT HATE CUZ HE IS THE RICHEST MAN ON EARTH AND THAT HIS SOFTWARE IS ON TOP OF EVERY MACHINE PRACTICALLY. OH LETS HATE WINDOWS OR MICRSOFTS SOFTWARE CUZ ITS ALL BASICALLY A STANDARD.
Posted by: JOHN | Feb 8, 2006 2:26:37 PM
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I think the thing most people ought to keep in mind here, in both camps, is that the author's experince is just that, his own. One personal report on his own experince. A drop in the iPod bucket, which is some 42 million strong now, I understand.
To the Apple crew: please come on! Being on the Apple side of the fence myself, I have run ino many, many, many problems with Apple hardware and software. Fried G4 motherboards, kernel panics, iPods that die mysteriously... etc, etc. It isn't like any electronics/software products will ever be perfect. Apple's products may look perfect (hee hee, oh yes they do!), but you will always get some functional foo foos. So please stop with the hating on anyone who says anything negative about the products. Just grin and, well, YOU KNOW... ;)
To the PC folks: This one really got me:
"Get a brain and grow some individuality you apple worshipping ..."
Wow. Unless this guy is comiling Ubuntu kernels on his lunch hour, I'd have to say WHATEVER to that. I think the devoted Apple crew (yes, even through the horrible OS 7-9 days) have just a wee bit of bragging rights when it comes to individuality. We can't help it if Apple has an OS which has a clearly superior architecture (my persoanl opionon, form your own and blog it) and their products are catching on. Adapt or die, I guess.
But everyone should come to their own conclusions. Too many Apple fans bashing anyone who dares say a nary word, too many PC/anti-Steve Jobs types bashing the lemmings (as if!). This is merely one experince. If you disagree, get a blog. Whoops, too late...
And PS to people trying to say there is something wrong with this guys wife - go away! Gee willickers, Wally...
Posted by: Ralf Hutter | Feb 8, 2006 2:28:32 PM
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I am a PC user. I had no problem using my iPod. I can only assume that you set yourself up with a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or, you just have a bizarre neuroses against Apple, and wanted to whine.
You should get a Livejournal. Your post is about equivalent to the whiny, self-involved sophomoric crap that passes for intelligence.
Posted by: Emily | Feb 8, 2006 2:29:33 PM
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I am an ex-Windows user who fled that platform because of all the virus issues I had, and am pretty happy with my Mac products.
But yes, there are pitfalls to both. The iPod has had issues, and the unfortunate experience that your wife had was not the least of them.
It does sound, as many others indicated, that there was an issue of compatibility between the PC and the iPod. There are issues with batteries, and two of my friends who leapt onto the Nano bandwagon were disappointed when their display window imploded hours later. (Either they had a bad luck of the draw, or the number of Nanos impacted by that issue were MUCH larger than the tenth-of-one-percent Apple claimed it to be.) For me, I've found that it's been a challenge to try and get music from my old PC onto my iMac.
One of my wise techie friends is also a Mac fan, but has instilled in me that I should always wait before leaping - so that bugs can be worked out and compatibility issues can be resolved.
Posted by: Patrick | Feb 8, 2006 2:29:34 PM
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I've never attempted to install the iPod software onto my Windoze laptop running XP Pro. I have installed and used iTunes without any problem on same.
I thought I'd attempt the iPod software install just to see what would happen. First of all, the installer wanted to reformat the iPod. I decided to give that a miss and proceeded to the next step. The install was successful, but after rebooting and plugging in the iPod Mini, I was informed that the iPod would have to be reformatted to work on the Windoze operating system. I didn't want to bother with that, so gave the whole thing a miss.
But clearly, the software was working just fine up to that point, recognizing the iPod and all. Sorry that I couldn't be bothered to go any further with the experiment. I just can't care enough about Windoze, am afraid
Posted by: alank | Feb 8, 2006 2:30:33 PM
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arg.... i just typed up a 4+ paragraph comment and then it failed to post... now that i'm trying this in firefox and not the i.e 7 beta maybe it will work
preface:-- I am a devoted ipod/itunes user but had 2 previous mp3 players (my 6gig archos was stolen and my 20 gig archos simply stopped working)
I believe the author's facts are accurate (apple is not for everyone and itunes and the ipod do have their glitches) but the tone of the piece unfairly singles out apple
-- the facts--- apple glitches... i've had my own (updating from itunes 4 to 5 I had to re-import a large chunk of music from other folders on my hard drive, after a recent update to my firmware I had a glitch in the way my ipod plays back audiobooks, I've since figured out how to work around this but am still not sure whether I should have tried to reinstall the firmware an additional time or whether the "glitch" was actually just a modification to the way it works... and most recently the itunes store servers seem to be getting overloaded, as the videos (some not more than 2 min long) have taken sometimes over a day to successfully download
-- apple not for everyone... an ipod was 'for me' because itunes syncs well with my audible content, my podcasts (any mp3 player will play audio podcasts, but the bookmarking and other features inherent in the software itunes uses for podcast playback is really nice), i like the itunes store, and i really don't care about having a radio receiver (imho opinion that's why i'm using an mp3 player!) --- for those who don't care about the first things i mentioned and DO want a radio receiver, wma/atrac playback, etc... an ipod is NOT the best player
--- unfairly singling out the apple (ipod/itunes) increasingly I'm finding myself having to play 'tech support' for a whole host of devices... the time warner dvr, our cell phones, the digital camera, etc.... and while apple isn't perfect.... if anything in my experience i've had fewer problems with them than their rivals (i can no longer get musicmatch to play the music I bought through them and the google/yahoo/and aol video services are all extremely glitchy/os specific/or otherwise sub-par compared to the current video quality/ease of use found in itunes...
just my 2 cents
Al
Posted by: Al | Feb 8, 2006 2:30:53 PM
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Dude,
What gives? Insulting the nano and Apple? You might as well have drawn a cartoon of the prophet...
Of course you were in for a beating. Are you crazy? The iPod is by far the best consumer product in the last 15 years.
By the way, in XP machines, the nano can be temperamental, nothing a download cannot fix.
Sorry dude you just shown that YOU are the one that needs fixing.
Posted by: Luis | Feb 8, 2006 2:30:55 PM
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i'm not particularly a mac fan... i do like the fact that they are bsd based now. i am actually a mac to pc convert.
i must say though, is it really necessary to bash the ipod because you lacked the foresight to do what most people who aren't "neophytes" would have done right from the start? simply (oh so simply) update your software.
Posted by: Allen | Feb 8, 2006 2:31:00 PM
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Wow! People are really ANGRY at you! I had no idea people were so LOYAL to an operating platform...
It's a computer and a peripheral, folks. He didn't publish a cartoon with a religious icon or anything.
Jeez.
Posted by: David | Feb 8, 2006 2:31:09 PM
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There are some issues with setting it up mainly becauseof the clash of drivers. And personally, theres nothing new to the Ipod. The design is copied from a smaller Japanese company (filesuit pending) ..and the UI is copied from Microsoft (patent received0... Whats the fuss about apple ... vista is the new thing !!! ...
Posted by: Don | Feb 8, 2006 2:36:32 PM
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You are a stupid man. Ipods are revolutionary in many ways that you are obviously not aware of.
".. resolved complex issues with various PDAs..". If your wife was "smart", she would have uninstalled any clashing drivers and deleted any associated registry entrys.
I strongly believe the problem is due to your lack of computer "lingo" and common sense. Apple is a great company with a great reputation, don't try publishing a stupid article that attempts to tarnish it.
Posted by: James | Feb 8, 2006 2:37:29 PM
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whats the point to this article again? you didnt call tech support. oh, and people usually give up repeating the same process over and over after an hour of unsuccessful attempts. trying switching up strategies next time big guy.
Posted by: jeff bridges | Feb 8, 2006 2:37:30 PM
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"First, Apple doesn't ship the Nano with a charger, because if you use a Firewire port, it will charge the unit."
First response, most obvious "oops."
Sometimes the line between software error and user error is blurred. i was able to mate my Nano (first Apple purchase) to my Dell Dimension 8400 with no problems.
Did you get your wife a case, or will your next blog be about how terribly easily the Nano scratches?
Posted by: Dustin B | Feb 8, 2006 2:38:52 PM
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You should have waited for the SanDisk. I have one and love it, and it has FM radio (and a voice recorder). And there is no software to install! Before you Apple geeks begin to attack, I did purchase a Nano (4 GB) in October for my wife's birthday. Installed easily and she loves it. But I saved $100 and have FM.
Posted by: Kent St. Germain | Feb 8, 2006 2:39:24 PM
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Apple seems to have gotten it right - with the hardware. I grew up with a Macintosh; one of my first computers was an old Mac 512K back in 1985, so I hope none of the Mac cultists will label me as a PC using Mac hater, but seriously, iTunes sucks. It's the ONLY reason that I do not own an iPod. I hate hate hate every aspect of iTunes and refuse to use it. BTW, on the player that I do use, my WINDOWS OS recognizes it as a removable disk via USB. anything I drag over to it will be added to my device for playback. No special rights-management POS software filtering my mp3s. Yeah, that's right, mp3s actual mp3s, not m4p protected crap from Apple's online store that can't be shared with friends.
Posted by: James | Feb 8, 2006 2:39:47 PM
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I don't think you should blame the problem entirely on the iPod. Rather than spending hours repeatedly trying to install the software, you could have called Apple's tech support. It's likely that other PC users were experiencing the same issue, so you might have even found your answer on Apple's iPod support site.
The Mac OS includes a software update program that can automatically check for new versions. Maybe you and your wife should get a Mac.
Posted by: Pete Bucci | Feb 8, 2006 2:40:44 PM
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The Nano doesn't have a radio - doesn't play LPs or 8-tracks either - guess you might have read the box before you bought.
JOHNSON REPLY: You miss my point. It was bought as a gift, on the guess that she'd like the machine even without the radio. But before opening it up, it was worth her considering the value of a radio to her.
Posted by: David | Feb 8, 2006 2:40:59 PM
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anyways, thanks for wasting our time with your problem. i'll be sure to point this article out to the editor so she understands just how intuitive the people are that she has working under her.
...not very.
Posted by: Aiden Cyprus | Feb 8, 2006 2:42:00 PM
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This is the first time I'm hearing this problem, so I presume that it's an isolated incidence. Don't you think someone out there had problems with your old beloved iriver?
Did you even try to google the problem reports for ipod install problems? Or maybe you did and couldn't find anything because there aren't many people out there that couldn't figure it out.
Basically, you're saying ipod nano sucks because you spent 6 hrs installing it, but fail to mention whether you like using it after instalation. You know, the important part. Or was your experience positive afterwards, but decided to leave it out to hype up your anti-machead flame?
Your title is "No no Nano", but what then? Exactly what are you comparing it to? Can you recommend another player in that price range that is better in form and function? I may be trolling here, but so are you.
Posted by: Captain Obvious | Feb 8, 2006 2:42:50 PM
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Gosh there are some really rude people in the world! If you have problems with a computer/ipod/DVD/VCR/dishwasher machine it does not mean you are an inferior lifeform!
I dropped my new ipod into the wast paper bin after 6 hours on my birthday trying to get it to connect to my PC (having pre-installed the latest iTunes from the web). My wife plugged it into her identical Dell PC and it worked immediately.
So I retrieved it and used a rear USB port instead of the front port and all was fine.
Stuff happens!
Posted by: Gavin Davis | Feb 8, 2006 2:45:28 PM
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ARG! First time didn't work...good diatribe too..went something like this...
Thank you for finally calling attention to the Cult of Apple. This list of ridiculous responses perfectly illustrates my irritation. I'm so tired of seeing Honda Element-driving, bespectacled, hipsters (sometimes with a well-worn trucker hat)tooling around Coolsville (i.e. Wicker Park/Rosco Village) with white wires sticking out of their heads. So you insulted Apple?? You're going to find your tires slashed with the Apple logo spraypainted to your hubcaps. You use Windows? How unevolved are you???? BLAH BLAH BLAH (WinDOZE?? C'Mon now! That's just stupid.)
Next, go to the store and pick up an RCA Lyra with the same amount of storage, a radio tuner, and all the gadgets you need for workouts at the Y. Trust me. AND-I didn't have to sell my plasma to buy one. Easy installation and it's a pretty, pretty red.
There- better than the first.
Posted by: Cheryl | Feb 8, 2006 2:47:38 PM
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Hey , nice article. This topic is always sure to generate a lot of response, good journalism! It couldn't have been better if you'd added a Mohammed cartoon. As to the ipod? My two kids aged 12 and 14 have sole rights to their Nanos which includes installation and updating, and they had no problems. Mind you, we are a Mac-only house....
Posted by: Trvor Williams | Feb 8, 2006 2:50:04 PM
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Wah, you're an idiot, never use the CD it's always going to be an old version go to the website. Did I mention you're an idiot.
Posted by: ray | Feb 8, 2006 2:51:15 PM
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Man I sure hope that this Apple thing is a phase the market is going through so they can go back to serving their niche of ultra-style conscious people with money to burn. I am sure all the Apple laptops look great in their Prada cases.
Back in the real world, there are lots of companies truly innovating and offering products with better features at lower prices. Those of you who are willing to pay more (and deal with hassles like the one in the article) just to have the esteem of your clique make me laugh.
Posted by: Tom | Feb 8, 2006 2:51:52 PM
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Steve-
I think you need to stop taking payola from Microsoft and be a real tech, if it doesn't work the first time, look at the directions, if no luck, then look at Apple's support site.
Why don't you talk about all the problems people have with their non-iPod devices and the lack of support. I am both a Windows (XP and Vista) and an OSX user. Apple won this battle, deal with it.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 8, 2006 2:52:17 PM
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To Ben the iPod seller who wrote: "Not until I got onto the Apple site and in the deepest recesses of support was I able to find out that the iPod is not compatable with OS9.
"My error - Assuming that Apple, like Windows, would let you know when the software you are attempting to install on the computer is not compatible with the operating system."
Apple clearly lists operating system requirements on the downloads page...they are:
Macintosh Requirements
* Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later
* 500MHz G3 processor or better
* QuickTime 6.5.2 or later
* 256MB RAM
* Combo/Super Drive to burn CDs
* Broadband Internet connection (DSL/Cable/LAN) for buying and streaming music
See for yourself:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
I believe your problem may have been in going to the snapple, and not apple site.
Posted by: Jim | Feb 8, 2006 2:54:45 PM
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I love the comments by the Macolytes. "Your problem, Steve, is that you aren't drinking the Kool-Aid. You see, the problem is, you aren't an expert on digitial music, and I Am! If you buy everything from Apple, and only from Apple, you won't have these problems."
Thanks for the tip on the SanDisk. I am personally convinced that iPod People have been taken over by aliens from outer space. I see them walking down LaSalle Street with blank looks on their faces and little white wires extending from their ears, to control units under their jackets.
Posted by: David | Feb 8, 2006 2:55:49 PM
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I have two words.........Creative Labs.
Posted by: Bob Kessler | Feb 8, 2006 2:56:20 PM
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Buddy that writes this column is clearly a complete rookie. I've been through three iPods, an original, a mini and finally a video iPod. I'm even using Windows at home and have had no problems, all three were completely plug in and go. A month ago when I gifted my girlfriend a nano even she, an arts student without the slightest inclination towards technology, had it up and running within half an hour.
Trolling Apple to boost reads to your article is insulting to the Chicago Tribune.
Posted by: Chad | Feb 8, 2006 2:57:12 PM
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There is nothing wrong with sharing your set up experience, however, you are biased, and admit to being so. Accordingly, it discredits your experience because you are needlessly picking a fight with people who like Apple products.
Case on point you write, "I set aside my aversion to Apple orthodoxy and surprised her with a sleek nano." This implies you have something against Apple products just because they are made by Apple. If so, by itself, that is a silly sentiment. Moreover, you are insulting people who really like the products, and more importantly, what the company stands for.
To be fair, your wife's problem occured because she was using Windows, and never would have happened on a Mac. On a Mac, Apple's system updater would have looked at your version of iTunes, and the iPod software and informed you new versions were available. This feature is not built into iTunes, but into OSX itself.
If I recall, the instructions for my iPod warned users to check Apple's website for the newest versions of the aforementioned software. I would be very surprized if your's did not. If so, your wife's expereince, if partly her own fault for failing to abide by those instructions.
Posted by: terrin | Feb 8, 2006 2:57:43 PM
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If you take a step back and look at the Mac-Wintel debate for what it is, you'll all realize that bashing one another is a bit like WWE posturing...pointless, but also mildly entertaining in a brutish sort of way.
Apple needs Microsoft and Microsoft needs Apple. It's as simple as that. I know the zealots on BOTH sides will gnash their teeth, but that's mainly because they've all been polarized to one side or the other by anecdotal irrelevancies.
Posted by: freakengine | Feb 8, 2006 2:58:12 PM
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Still can figure out why anyone would buy any of these IPOD devices. I looked them over closely and realized that there is nothing to them that would justify the cost. The sound quality is a joke - it's earbuds for chrissake - and honest reviews show there are multiple players out there that support radio, voice recording and more space for the buck than the IPOD.
The cultists that are yammering at you, Steve, are likely upset because they bought the advertising, er, device and realize that can't do much more with it until they buy a bunch of other stuff.
Comments like "IPOD rules" are worth less than the time it took to type 'em in. It shows you exactly where Apple is placing its marketshare with this device - in the uninformed, lazy consumer.
Posted by: mrhobes | Feb 8, 2006 2:59:18 PM
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The iPod nano is an excellent product in my opinion.
I have a windows based PC, I installed the software straight out of the box, have never had a problem with getting music onto my nano, and I enjoy the product thoroughly.
I think Apple make excellent products
Posted by: James De'Bono | Feb 8, 2006 2:59:27 PM
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If your wife connected and then quickly disconnected the ipod, before it finishes reading the ipod contents, you can have the problem you mention. Apple warns not to disconnect until the computer is done checking, especially during initial setup. It should have given you the option to then erase the ipod contents and reinstall the drivers. This should take a few minutes but then go smoothly. (You don't have to worry about losing data because the thing was new with only driver information.)
Your wife may have tried to connect the ipod and then disconnected it while checking how it connects. This happens.
Posted by: Dan C | Feb 8, 2006 2:59:59 PM
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I have owned one Mac, numerous PCs and one Airport Express - hardly making me a mac cultist. I have installed an iPod mini and a Nano and have had no problems whatsoever. The Aiport was slightly challengeing, but nothing impossible - and I work in marketing. I think your expereince is a reflection on you and your wife more than Apple. "Internet Critic" - really?
Posted by: Greg | Feb 8, 2006 3:02:40 PM
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I love it. Apple Lovers cannot believe that anyone would have a negative experience with an Apple product.
Why do you folks bash the author and his wife for having trouble setting up a computer device? Why not just politely explain the correct steps to get the thing working?
C'mon Apple Lovers - welcome to the real world where no company produces flawless products - not even your beloved Apple.
Posted by: steve | Feb 8, 2006 3:03:17 PM
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Oh please so what you apple heads are saying is that you have to fork out over a grand for a mac too just to make the stupid ipod work? That’s a great business plan there. If apple wants there customers to be happy it's in there best interest to make it work on all systems MS included. You know I just replaced the motherboard on a broken PC in about 1 hour for under $30 problem solved... do that with your beloved mac LOL The thing that cracks me up about apple heads is that they think that MS is such an evil empire when given the chance (now) apple will dominate your world but I guess it's still cool to run a mac and dis pc users
Posted by: redir | Feb 8, 2006 3:04:27 PM
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What's most revealing about this article is the acrid hostility that the Apple faithful are showing toward the author.
The author doesn't need to bother calling you guys "cultists" -- you are revealing your irrational devotion to Apple with your own bile.
Lost of people, including myself, have struggled with iTunes and iPod installation -- even those of us who own a Mac. The product is far from being as simple and trouble-free as advertised.
Posted by: Burbank Sam | Feb 8, 2006 3:05:32 PM
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Wow. Wow. Wow.
This is more of a comment about comments rather than on the iPod.
This morning in my spare time I have read posts at crooksandliars.com, powerline.com (no comments though--not allowed!), the Trib blogs, dailykos.com, Illinoize.com and others. And the righteous-toned drivel of many (not all) of those on both sides of any of the debates raging in cyberspace is depressing.
"Cultists." "You liberals..." "Kool-aid drinker." "Dumbass."
What happened to intelligent discourse? Why are so many people so angry/petulant/condescending all of the time? In this case, Mr. Johnson, you set the table by your "cultist" crack in the very first sentence, but I see it every day on every blog I visit.
It's like reading the transcript of Springer every morning. I am going to wash my eyes out now and hope for a better tomorrow.
Posted by: Daniel Horvath | Feb 8, 2006 3:06:02 PM
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haha, man you just got beat up. maybe next time you put a little more thought into it before you write an arcticle that shows up on google news.
when apple is under attack, you better believe that a horde of cultists will spring to defend her. especially when it's obviously an end-user problem.
good luck in the future man. i hope you've learned a lesson from this.
Posted by: Aiden Cyprus | Feb 8, 2006 3:07:26 PM
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Is it so impossible for Apple fans to accept that the product just possibly might not be entirely perfect? This blind defense of all things Apple smells like you're just trying to make yourself feel better about buying the "cool" product. I have an Ipod and I love it, but I can also admit that there just might be another portable music device out there that is a little better at one or two things. I am also going to guess that the same jerks who are ripping anyone who's described a less-than-seamless experience with an Ipod have probably struggled with something that the rest of us found quite simple. Oh, wait, I forgot that Apple users are PERFECT and ALWAYS know the absolute BEST way to do things. And please do us a favor and pick a song or start a playlist and put the thing in your pocket. You putzes on the L don't need to stand there holding it the whole time, showing everyone that you were one of the 42 million people cool and edgy enough to buy an Ipod.
Posted by: Mike P. | Feb 8, 2006 3:09:58 PM
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Typical Windows users- neglects to even mention that the PROBLEM was with Windows Operating System. Never says the "PC" was Windows- the implication is that it happened on an Apple machine, which is wrong. Windows install failures are common and manifest in different ways. You can't blame Apple for everything that goes on with your personal home machine. In any event, your complaint is unrelated to the iPod Nano hardware.
Posted by: Stefan | Feb 8, 2006 3:10:39 PM
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It's the the end of the END TIMES. Who cares about toys soon to be obsolete. Priorities!
Posted by: Prophet | Feb 8, 2006 3:11:37 PM
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"It's hilarious when people whine about their computer illiteracy." - couldn't of said it better myself
Posted by: Nick | Feb 8, 2006 3:13:11 PM
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Apple's days as a PC manufacture are nearly over.
All you apple worshipers have let are these iPods.
LOL
Posted by: Orange | Feb 8, 2006 3:13:48 PM
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These Mac nuts aside, I've installed 5 iPods (some for friends) on my home PC with no problems. Why am I setting up iPods for friends? Well, a PC formatted iPod works on both PC & Mac. A Mac formatted iPod only works on Macs. So my friends with Macs have brought me their iPods so they can use them at places other than their homes. I have a Mac and a PC at home and work on a Mac at work, both have their positives and negatives. OS X.4 has a delightful bug in it where it won't even load the OS sometimes unless you start up in safe mode and delete your caches (the Mac keeps your cache in 3 places). My co-workers and I have had this happen about 8 times around the office since last November. The Mac is not foolproof.
Posted by: Dewey | Feb 8, 2006 3:15:33 PM
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"Ipods are terrible. Once you all come to realize this the better off you will be. Just because you have fallen for the trend, like many others, someday you will find that there are much better players out there." -Dave
While I don't agree with this statement the feeling is the same. Now you see how we Mac Users feel. Just replace the word "iPod" with Windows and the word "players" with OS's. Yup thats how we feel. Most of us use Windows too at some point (out of necessity from work or in my case fixing them for my friends, uggg). How many Windows users can say that? So how do you know which is better?
I can tell you that I will be purchasing an iPod based on what I have read here. Looks like plenty of happy Mac and PC users to me. Thanks!
Posted by: Foxxxy | Feb 8, 2006 3:20:49 PM
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Seriously, Steve, what is your problem? Do you actually get paid to write this crap? Can you start your car by yourself? Use the microwave? Tie your own shoes?
Did you RTFM?
They should fire you. Your writing is pedestrian at best.
Posted by: Eric | Feb 8, 2006 3:24:38 PM
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Alright, so, everyone here thinks this guy is stupid, however, I personally believe that proprietary software is another reason for junking the ipod line. Yeah, everyone loves the iPod. Very pretty, very popular. however, as a computer engineer, I see the nano as a good device, with one major bottleneck, transfer symplicity. Seriously, i've already got enough programs on my comp without dealing with another one. Let me drag and drop my mp3's, 90% or more of the os' out there have drag and drop capability. The iPod should behave like the storage device that it is.
If ipods were drag and drop capable this article wouldn't exist, no one would be angry, I wouldn't have wasted my time writing this.
for anyone who agrees with me:
http://www.mediafour.com/products/xplay/
It's really the only easy way to avoid itunes/quicktime. Oh yeah, the software costs money, and people buy it.
What?
People don't like apples proprietary software?
Go figure?
Posted by: Paul Lipton | Feb 8, 2006 3:25:38 PM
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I LOL everytime I see the Apple cultists come out of the woodwork to defend their "precious!" The louder the iLemmings scream, the more they sound like Lady Macbeth, or the more they hear the beating of the heart from under the floor. (Take whichever metaphor pisses you off more.)
Admit it: Apple is a niche that only makes sense to the most oddly-behaved humans in the world. The iPod is the closest thing Apple has ever had to a crossover product, and they shoot themselves in the foot by screwing up their port to Windows. Quicktime never worked well on Windows, and neither does iTunes. This is Apple's fault, and Apple's fault alone.
Like I said, the iPod is a niche product, and its success relies on two factors: 1. nobody knows better, 2. no other manufacturer is bothering to advertise their player. These are the days of the IBM PC. Everyone bought IBM because that's all they knew. It took years for the clones to catch up, but once they did, it was game over for IBM. And the same is true for Apple.
The iPod is not a superior product in any respect. And people are going to start figuring that out soon.
Posted by: RFJason | Feb 8, 2006 3:26:26 PM
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