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First off, to all you Mac users, just save it. I don’t want to hear:
“It wouldn’t be a problem if you owned an Apple computer.”
All that means is that for the cost of the $600 I have invested in the iPod plus accessories I could have had a more hassle free deployment if I had gone ahead and purchased a Mac. And what that means for me is that my new iPod would have cost me over $2000 plus the cost of time and effort transferring my environment from Windows to Mac. Not really a solution, so STFU.
What brings this on, you ask? I’ll tell you.
In researching my options for media storage (I needed a way to offload my digital images while in Europe) I came to the conclusion that I would purchase a Photo iPod.
There are many options available for the price range of $200 – $600. These options include dedicated card readers capable of storing 20-40 gig of data or some type of portable media center device like an IRiver PMC-120 or the Creative Labs Zen.
Drawbacks…
DEDICATED DEVICE
It would be used on the trip and that would be that. I would have the investment in an item I probably would not use again until I went on vacation. And at the rate I take vacations that would be maybe two years from now. Plus the cost goes up for the rechargeable ones versus the ones you plug in.
PORTABLE MEDIA CENTER
These devices usually have a very poor form factor. Usually unwieldy and awkward and again, not much use for it once I am done.
As I am researching my options and time is growing shorter I have a bit of a revelation.
A host of heavenly nerd angels sang unto me! Apple Photo iPod!
Available in 40 gig and 60 gig versions. Compact, lightweight and proven technology. With the optional USB camera connector option it is a simple matter to connect your camera to the iPod and pull off your images for storage. It will hold thousands of pictures!
And the best part? At the end of it all I have an iPod! I can store my CD collection on one device that travels easily! Woo-Hoo!
And so you might well think, what’s the gripe? A solution was found that suits my needs and all is right with the world. Well, you might think that…but you would be wrong.
Step one. Go to Apple store and buy 60 gig Photo iPod along with additional camera connector accessory. Total cost right at $520.00. Suckin it up. Gonna solve my problems. It’s worth it. B-R-E-A-T-H-E.
Step two. Take it home and get it going.
Step three. Connect camera and pull off images to test the functionality. Instructions overly simplistic. Not getting response from the device that the camera is connected. Look at Apple site and see camera is NOT listed in support devices. Sinking feeling.
Step four. Bring full ability of my own nerdliness to bear on the problem. Come to the conclusion that camera must work and it is a defective adapter.
Step five. Go back to Apple store and explain problem. Apple rep suggests updating the iPod software. This fixes the problem and my hopes again soar.
Step six. Go home and connect iPod to laptop. Reading instructions it clearly states USB 2.0 is REQUIRED. All of my PC’s are USB 1.1
Step 7. Go to CompUSA to purchase USB 2.0 PCMCIA card for $39. Go ahead and grab a carrying case for the iPod for another $39.
Step 8. Install PCMCIA card in laptop. Install seems to go ok. Begin install of iPod and system crashes. iPod freezes up and I cannot even soft reset it.
Step 9. Call Apple Support. Get Sanjeet in India who verifies that I do have Service Pack 4 on my Windows 2000 and performs other useless checks on my system that have nothing to do with breathing life back into my one day old DEAD iPod. Sanjeet informs me that I will need to take it back to the Apple store for service.
Step 10. Drive to Apple store. On the way down the Westpark Toll Road I decide to try again to soft reset the iPod. This time it works. I make a u-turn after only passing two toll plazas and wasting a bit of my Easy Tag slush fund.
Step 11. Decide to use another laptop and install the USB 2.0 card on it. Perhaps since it is newer and running XP I will have better luck. Install of card goes well. Install of iPod causes exact same blue screen. Again, using my powers of dorkdom I conclude I have either got a defective iPod or a defective USB 2.0 card. Since CompUSA is closer than the Apple store I decide that the card must be defective and not the iPod.
Step 12. Fish the receipt, bag and packaging from the trash and go to CompUSA to exchange item for a Firewire card and a firwire cable for the iPod. I decided that I would avoid the USB 2.0 in favor of Firewire in hopes that it would work more smoothly.
As I am conducting the exchange/upgrade (this new solution is $100) I discover that somehow or another I have brought with me a CompUSA receipt dated March 23rd 2002 for a Canon ink-jet cartridge. As it turns out Cynthia was cleaning out her office and had just thrown some stuff away. What are the odds?
Step 13. Install Firewire card. Install goes well. Begin iPod install and it works! Huzzah! Start copying music. That works, too! Yippee! Decide to check the stats on the iPod. Total disk space 60 gig. 290 songs on device 15 gig available. WTF?!? 290 songs x 3mb each = lest than one gig. I figure something in one of the failed installs caused the drive not format properly or something. I do a total system reset and regain all my drive space.
Tune in tomorrow night when I attempt to load my songs back on and see what happens. I think I am past the worst of it but it remains to be seen.
You’ll want to read the battery info to learn how to better preserve your battery (once you get it up and running, that is!). Crappy battery lifespan is one of the most common complaints about the iPod…mine is already starting to go south, and I just got it in January. :-/
It wouldn’t be a problem if you owned an Apple computer.
sorry… i had to.
Silverman Sez:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/rssstory.mpl/tech/weekly/3153193
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Alexa – I would have to dispute the battery issue. I am currently on my second iPod – my original 1st generation 5gb iPod lasted for 3 years before I simply needed more capacity, but at the time I handed it down to a friend of mine, I was still getting a good 7-8 hours out of a battery rated for 8 hours three years ago. My current 4th generation 20gb iPod nets me anywhere between 10 and 12 hours of music, depending on the amount of time the hard drive has to be spun up. The trick is not to play the iPod for an hour, then plug it in to charge – rather, allow the battery to run down completely (or as far down as you can get it in the course of a day or two), THEN charge it. Your battery will last a lot longer.
Jay – I’m glad to see you were able to get everything working. In thinking about the battery for a moment, you should be aware that copying photos from your camera to the iPodPhoto will probably cost you a significant amount of battery time, since the hard drive will be spinning while it writes your photos. Make sure you have a decent amount of battery power left (at least 1/3) before you transfer.