[mongo_jones]

it arrived today. i am pleased.

however, it doesn't work by magic the way it was advertized. for instance, when i plug it into my desktop (pc) it doesn't automatically launch itunes. i have to launch itunes separately (this doesn't actually bother me in and of itself but i wonder if it is a symptom of some deeper malady which will wait like cancer to display itself later). also, the minute i plug the pod in it displays the "do not disconnect" screen on its display. the manual gives the impression that after uploads/syncs finish this screen goes away; it does not. the only way to make it go away is to "eject" the ipod. (i am connecting via firewire, for what that's worth.) this is also not in and of itself an issue but see above. are these normal behaviors on the pc?

also, there's apparently a user guide to the ipod on the ipod cd. i realize more updated info is doubtless on the apple site but why is it that i can't get this cd to do anything other than try to install the software? and no, this guide is not part of the install package.

and here's a question that arises entirely from my being an idiot: while listening to a song how do i shuffle the playlist it is on, so that it randomizes from the next song on? no doubt i can figure this out on my own but i thought i'd ask.

finally (for now): if i load x songs onto the pod, and then remove 5 songs from itunes, so that itunes now contains x-1 songs, what happens at the next sync? will those 5 songs be deleted from the pod? or will itunes leave the existing, non-duplicate songs alone on the pod?

p.s: i am very glad i didn't spring for anything but the free shipping from amazon--it arrived in 2 business days anyway.

[winesonoma]

Are you using a Mac?

[mongo_jones]

let me also say that for all the admittedly brilliant interface and gui talk no one mentions at least two very stupid problems:

1. no battery charge status as you're charging. if my laptop can give me an indication of how much time i have left on its battery i can't understand why the ipod (or at least itunes) can't do it as well--at least an approximation. or can it? am i just not seeing where this is?

2. why no separate jack for the ac adaptor? is this merely to push the dock as a separate purchase? thanks to this and the design geniuses at dell (who put my firewire ports on the back of my tower) i'm going to have to crawl under my desk to get the firewire everytime i take the pod on a trip sans laptop.

2.1 as per the manual the usb 2.0 connection drains the battery if you transfer songs that way. so, how the hell are you supposed to prevent this if you're on a comp. without a firewire port? charge it up, transfer songs via usb 2.0 and then charge it up again? yes, yes, i know apple assumes you'll only use this with one machine. but i'm not. i'm going to use third party software to use it with my work computer as well--but that fucker has a 4 pin firewire jack and i'll be damned if i'll shell out for an adaptor (plus the 4 pins can't charge the pod anyway). if there was a separate jack for charging via ac this wouldn't be an issue--i could transfer via usb 2.0 while plugged into the charger, thus saving the battery. hell, even my ancient 2 megapixel digital camera has this capability.

but i still love the little bastard--and already i can sense that graphic designers everywhere are thinking lustful thoughts about me.

[mongo_jones]

winesonoma, on Mar 1 2005, 10:32 PM, said:

Are you using a Mac?

no, i am on a pc.

[SethG]

Mongo, glad you decided to go for the iPod. I'm pretty happy with mine. You said you didn't really care about the user interface, but I think the iPod's advantages in this area are very significant. The touch-sensitive click-wheel, after just a little practice, enables the user to scroll through thousands of albums/songs/artists very quickly. The other models I've seen have much cruder scrolling that takes forever. This alone is reason to stick with Apple, IMHO.

As for your questions:

1. "Do Not Disconnect." It sounds like you're in manual mode (which is better anyway after you've loaded in a bunch of stuff). If you're autosynching (sp?), I think it is supposed to allow you to disconnect once the sync is done. But if you're in manual mode, you must eject it yourself. You can check which mode you're in by going to the menu on the left of your iTunes screen called "sources" and right-clicking on your iPod. This will bring up a menu that includes settings/options for your iPod allowing you to switch modes.

2. User guide: I don't know. You don't need one.

3. Shuffle: go all the way to the top menu of your iPod. Click on Settings. Click on shuffle once, and it will change from "Off" to "Songs." Then anything you play, be it album, artist, or playlist, will shuffle songs. (This is for the 4th generation iPod, and maybe others too. The menus have changed over time.)

4. If you are in autosync mode, any songs you remove from iTunes will also be removed from your iPod the next time you connect. This is the main reason not to use that mode.

[SethG]

mongo_jones, on Mar 2 2005, 12:35 AM, said:

2. why no separate jack for the ac adaptor? is this merely to push the dock as a separate purchase?

The dock does not allow you to plug your iPod simultaneously into the wall and your computer, so I'd say no. You still need that firewire cable and the AC adaptor to charge with the dock.

Quote

2.1  as per the manual the usb 2.0 connection drains the battery if you transfer songs that way.

Wait, I'm confused. Is your iPod 3rd generation? Mine is 4th, and it charges over the USB 2.0 connection. (I have no firewire port.) Even when I'm loading songs, the little battery icon moves as if it's charging, and afterward my battery is more full than before, I believe.

Here's my pet peeve:

iTunes is smart enough to organize artists by their last names. Not so the iPod itself. Elvis Costello is under E, and Jimi Hendrix is under J. Stupid.

[mongo_jones]

thanks a lot seth. yes, it will be manual mode all the way for me. and i have to say it sounds really easy to use the pod itself to transfer songs from one comp to another using disk mode.

Quote

1. "Do Not Disconnect." It sounds like you're in manual mode (which is better anyway after you've loaded in a bunch of stuff). If you're autosynching (sp?), I think it is supposed to allow you to disconnect once the sync is done. But if you're in manual mode, you must eject it yourself. You can check which mode you're in by going to the menu on the left of your iTunes screen called "sources" and right-clicking on your iPod. This will bring up a menu that includes settings/options for your iPod allowing you to switch modes.

hmmm i believe i tried it in autosync mode as well--i'll check again

Quote

Wait, I'm confused. Is your iPod 3rd generation? Mine is 4th, and it charges over the USB 2.0 connection. (I have no firewire port.) Even when I'm loading songs, the little battery icon moves as if it's charging, and afterward my battery is more full than before, I believe.

4th--it charges it over usb 2.0 but the manual says that it loses charge when usb 2.0 is used to transfer songs. if your battery is low it says to charge up first to be ensured hassle-free transfer. probably not a big issue unless you're transferring many gigs but seems silly to me.

one last question: how do i know when the pod has a full charge? this thing's been plugged in for almost 5 hours now--the bar is almost full or maybe even full but that little lightning bar on the left is still there. am i correct in assuming it goes away when it is fully charged? also, why does "do not disconnect" come on when i connect it to the comp. even if itunes is not open?

i look forward to entering the next phase of ipod ownership: confidence that it makes me better than the average sack of meat on the street. this to be followed shortly by stage 3: paranoia that said sack covets my ipod and will kill me for it.

edit: yes, the click wheel is genius. i hope whoever came up with that is up for a nobel prize or something.

This post has been edited by mongo_jones: 02 March 2005 - 06:22 AM

[mongo_jones]

mongo_jones, on Mar 1 2005, 11:21 PM, said:

Quote

1. "Do Not Disconnect." It sounds like you're in manual mode (which is better anyway after you've loaded in a bunch of stuff). If you're autosynching (sp?), I think it is supposed to allow you to disconnect once the sync is done. But if you're in manual mode, you must eject it yourself. You can check which mode you're in by going to the menu on the left of your iTunes screen called "sources" and right-clicking on your iPod. This will bring up a menu that includes settings/options for your iPod allowing you to switch modes.

hmmm i believe i tried it in autosync mode as well--i'll check again

okay, checked. changed the preferences to autosynch and disabled "enable disk mode". this latter caused the "do not disconnect" screen to disappear--i liked this part. i then disconnected, quit itunes and reconnected. and nope, it didn't launch it for me. but "do not disconnect" returned. it went away after i launched itunes and it re-synced. now that i've changed the preferences back to manual it is taking forever with the "updating ipod, do not disconnect" screen. which reminds me: must train self to look at that bar on itunes--too used to pop-up alert windows.

Quote

one last question: how do i know when the pod has a full charge? this thing's been plugged in for almost 5 hours now--the bar is almost full or maybe even full but that little lightning bar on the left is still there. am i correct in assuming it goes away when it is fully charged?

whoops! just got the big notice saying "charged". yay!

[Stone]

mongo_jones, on Mar 2 2005, 01:21 AM, said:

4th--it charges it over usb 2.0 but the manual says that it loses charge when usb 2.0 is used to transfer songs. if your battery is low it says to charge up first to be ensured hassle-free transfer. probably not a big issue unless you're transferring many gigs but seems silly to me.

Transferring songs takes about 2 minutes. (Maybe the first massive dump takes longer.) It wont drain much of your battery.

I think it kind of has a battery status while charging. You'll notice the bars blinking over from left to right. As it gets more charged, the bars start staying lit, from left to right. (If that makes sense.) Why does it matter? Plug it in at the end of the day and let it charge overnight.

[GG Mora]

SethG, on Mar 2 2005, 12:58 AM, said:

iTunes is smart enough to organize artists by their last names.

It is? Mine isn't. Is there an iTunes setting that controls this?

[SethG]

GG Mora, on Mar 2 2005, 08:59 AM, said:

SethG, on Mar 2 2005, 12:58 AM, said:

iTunes is smart enough to organize artists by their last names.

It is? Mine isn't. Is there an iTunes setting that controls this?

Gee, I thought my iTunes does it. I'll check tonight.

So Mongo, what'd you name your iPod? Mine's called "Radio Radio."

[mongo_jones]

SethG, on Mar 2 2005, 07:30 AM, said:

GG Mora, on Mar 2 2005, 08:59 AM, said:

SethG, on Mar 2 2005, 12:58 AM, said:

iTunes is smart enough to organize artists by their last names.

It is? Mine isn't. Is there an iTunes setting that controls this?

Gee, I thought my iTunes does it. I'll check tonight.

my itunes don't do it.

Quote

So Mongo, what'd you name your iPod?  Mine's called "Radio Radio."

i ended up naming it "podzilla". my first thought had been "penis replacement" but that made me feel inadequate.

[mongo_jones]

Stone, on Mar 2 2005, 06:52 AM, said:

mongo_jones, on Mar 2 2005, 01:21 AM, said:

4th--it charges it over usb 2.0 but the manual says that it loses charge when usb 2.0 is used to transfer songs. if your battery is low it says to charge up first to be ensured hassle-free transfer. probably not a big issue unless you're transferring many gigs but seems silly to me.

Transferring songs takes about 2 minutes. (Maybe the first massive dump takes longer.) It wont drain much of your battery.

ah okay--maybe it only is an issue when the battery's really low. but still, would a separate jack for an adaptor have made it bigger? less cool?

Quote

I think it kind of has a battery status while charging.  You'll notice the bars blinking over from left to right.  As it gets more charged, the bars start staying lit, from left to right.  (If that makes sense.)  Why does it matter?  Plug it in at the end of the day and let it charge overnight.

yeah, i suppose--but a) it would be nice if when connected to itunes, itunes could give an approximate hours remaining count and b) since it only charges over firewire/usb while the computer is on (is this correct?) this would mean crawling under my desk to get the firewire cable out to connect it to the adaptor and then the reverse again the next time i want to transfer stuff.

[GG Mora]

And I can't believe I can't get mine to empty the dishwasher.

[mongo_jones]

don't make me come over there...it's cold in vermont.