[Jeff___R]

My dad recently bought the family an iPod as an early christmas present, and we were eager to get it up and running. However, apparently the iPod has some bullshit protection that only allows it to connect to a single computer (the first one you connect it to apparently). This is a serious flaw considering I connected it to my Mom's computer first. That was a mistake because she refuses to upgrade past OS 8.6 to maintain compatibility with the programs she uses and also the fact that her system isn't working too well right now (i.e. it only starts up with out the extensions.) So... Basically I now have this iPod that can only "synchronize" with a crappy computer that wouldn't even be able to install iTunes anyways.

How the hell could Apple have done something this stupid?? Honestly, what is the point of limiting the iPod to a single computer? More importantly, why isn't Apple advertising this fact a little more? I don't mean in their advertisements, but rather, in their ****ing documentation! The only mention of this god damn show stopping "feature" is buried in their knowledgebase with no explanation on how to do anything about it.

So, anyways, first things first: how do I change the dependencies of the iPod from my mom's computer to mine? Preferably, how do I get rid of this crap entirely?



Also, assuming the latter can't be done, and I'll have to host the entire family's collection of gigs and gigs of MP3s on my poor little Cube and have everyone hustling me about getting their playlist's synchronized, etc., is there a way to get a refund from Apple even though it's all unboxed and everything? I've never been seriously disappointed in an Apple product before, so I have no idea about the system, but if I could get a full refund, I'd send this shit back in a second.

[FXWizard]

Originally posted by Jeff___R:
<STRONG>My dad recently bought the family an iPod as an early christmas present, and we were eager to get it up and running. However, apparently the iPod has some bullshit protection that only allows it to connect to a single computer (the first one you connect it to apparently). This is a serious flaw considering I connected it to my Mom's computer first. That was a mistake because she refuses to upgrade past OS 8.6 to maintain compatibility with the programs she uses and also the fact that her system isn't working too well right now (i.e. it only starts up with out the extensions.) So... Basically I now have this iPod that can only "synchronize" with a crappy computer that wouldn't even be able to install iTunes anyways.

How the hell could Apple have done something this stupid?? Honestly, what is the point of limiting the iPod to a single computer? More importantly, why isn't Apple advertising this fact a little more? I don't mean in their advertisements, but rather, in their ****ing documentation! The only mention of this god damn show stopping "feature" is buried in their knowledgebase with no explanation on how to do anything about it.

So, anyways, first things first: how do I change the dependencies of the iPod from my mom's computer to mine? Preferably, how do I get rid of this crap entirely?



Also, assuming the latter can't be done, and I'll have to host the entire family's collection of gigs and gigs of MP3s on my poor little Cube and have everyone hustling me about getting their playlist's synchronized, etc., is there a way to get a refund from Apple even though it's all unboxed and everything? I've never been seriously disappointed in an Apple product before, so I have no idea about the system, but if I could get a full refund, I'd send this shit back in a second.</STRONG>

Don't blame Apple -- blame the RIAA and other fanatical anti-piracy groups that would probably give Apple supreme hell if they hadn't put that protection in. Who would you blame for the fact that you can't make backup copies of DVDs?

That being said, do some searching and you'll find ways around it...

[Jeff___R]

Please disregard above post! (edit: the above, ABOVE post)

Hehe, the problem was that I disabled my firewire extensions. I always minimize my extension set and I guess I sort of forgot about it. What really threw me off was the fact that the iPod still charged when I plugged it in and when I tested it on my brother's computer his firewire extensions were also disabled.

So yeah, everything works perfectly, I've tested it out on three computers. No weird single computer limitations. I'm not sure what that weird knowledgebase thing was and that macslash review were talking about.

Sorry for doubting you Apple! Never again!

[ 12-21-2001: Message edited by: Jeff___R ]

[jfischetti]

As long as the iPod is set to "manual" file transfer, any Mac can read the files and transfer them -- i don't think it was your "firewire extension set"