My iPod Shuffle is here!
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- Fireball
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My iPod Shuffle is here!
Just got it when I got home from work today. Very nice packaging, typical of Apple. It came charged at least partially. It's taking a few minutes to transfer over 512 MB of music, which is much slower than a regular iPod, but something to expect, given that this is running via USB and not FireWire.
Last night I set up a Smart Playlist in iTunes that should filter out all the songs I don't want on the Shuffle, and so now I'm letting the Shuffle randomly select from the songs that are in that list (it grabbed 117 of them). I'm giving iTunes the full 512 MB to play with, but in the iTunes preferences for this iPod I can tell it to reserve a certain amount of space for saving files to it like a thumb drive.
The lanyard is a bit shorter than I expected, but it seems to click well onto the Shuffle, so I don't feel like it's going to slide off. There's a two-color LED underneath the white plastic, which gives some feedback when buttons are pushed.
On the default volume, it seems to produce decent sound. I'm amazed at how little the thing weighs.
Because of the round control wheel, this thing still feels like using an iPod, even though it's nothing like the standard iPods.
On a related note, Apple's ads lie. This is my third iPod. I still can't dance.
Last night I set up a Smart Playlist in iTunes that should filter out all the songs I don't want on the Shuffle, and so now I'm letting the Shuffle randomly select from the songs that are in that list (it grabbed 117 of them). I'm giving iTunes the full 512 MB to play with, but in the iTunes preferences for this iPod I can tell it to reserve a certain amount of space for saving files to it like a thumb drive.
The lanyard is a bit shorter than I expected, but it seems to click well onto the Shuffle, so I don't feel like it's going to slide off. There's a two-color LED underneath the white plastic, which gives some feedback when buttons are pushed.
On the default volume, it seems to produce decent sound. I'm amazed at how little the thing weighs.
Because of the round control wheel, this thing still feels like using an iPod, even though it's nothing like the standard iPods.
On a related note, Apple's ads lie. This is my third iPod. I still can't dance.
Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:17 am
Zarathud: The sad thing is that Barak Obama is a very intelligent and articulate person, even when you disagree with his views it's clear that he's very thoughtful. I would have loved to see Obama in a real debate.
Me: Wait 12 years, when he runs for president. :-)
Zarathud: The sad thing is that Barak Obama is a very intelligent and articulate person, even when you disagree with his views it's clear that he's very thoughtful. I would have loved to see Obama in a real debate.
Me: Wait 12 years, when he runs for president. :-)
- ChaoZ
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Re: My iPod Shuffle is here!
Any experience with the new Mini-Mac?Fireball1244 wrote:Just got it when I got home from work today. Very nice packaging, typical of Apple. It came charged at least partially. It's taking a few minutes to transfer over 512 MB of music, which is much slower than a regular iPod, but something to expect, given that this is running via USB and not FireWire.
Last night I set up a Smart Playlist in iTunes that should filter out all the songs I don't want on the Shuffle, and so now I'm letting the Shuffle randomly select from the songs that are in that list (it grabbed 117 of them). I'm giving iTunes the full 512 MB to play with, but in the iTunes preferences for this iPod I can tell it to reserve a certain amount of space for saving files to it like a thumb drive.
The lanyard is a bit shorter than I expected, but it seems to click well onto the Shuffle, so I don't feel like it's going to slide off. There's a two-color LED underneath the white plastic, which gives some feedback when buttons are pushed.
On the default volume, it seems to produce decent sound. I'm amazed at how little the thing weighs.
Because of the round control wheel, this thing still feels like using an iPod, even though it's nothing like the standard iPods.
On a related note, Apple's ads lie. This is my third iPod. I still can't dance.
While I have never seen the need for Mac due to the price and limited software titles, as a mini PC for the girlfriend, that little svelt $499 box looks pretty slick. I think that there is an Apple store down at Lenox Square Mall, but I am pretty sure that the loyal legions of Mac fans will assault my WinXP lovin ass.
I am also considering getting one and taking off MacOS and throwing Linux on it and tossing it behind my flat panel with a KVM switch...
- Fireball
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The Shuffle is USB 2.0. However, perhaps the port on the front of my Power Mac G5 is USB 1.1. I should check it by plugging it into the back next time I sync the device.
As for the Mac mini, I haven't seen one yet. I think the Dallas Apple Stores will get them in this coming weekend. I plan to get one for my mom, so I will definitely be checking them out.
Toss a copy of MS Office 2004 on it, and the Mini should be a great computer for most non-demanding consumers. It's a bit on the slow side in today's market, but I was happily editing video and doing desktop publishing and photography editing on a much slower machine just a couple years ago.
As for the Mac mini, I haven't seen one yet. I think the Dallas Apple Stores will get them in this coming weekend. I plan to get one for my mom, so I will definitely be checking them out.
Toss a copy of MS Office 2004 on it, and the Mini should be a great computer for most non-demanding consumers. It's a bit on the slow side in today's market, but I was happily editing video and doing desktop publishing and photography editing on a much slower machine just a couple years ago.
Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:17 am
Zarathud: The sad thing is that Barak Obama is a very intelligent and articulate person, even when you disagree with his views it's clear that he's very thoughtful. I would have loved to see Obama in a real debate.
Me: Wait 12 years, when he runs for president. :-)
Zarathud: The sad thing is that Barak Obama is a very intelligent and articulate person, even when you disagree with his views it's clear that he's very thoughtful. I would have loved to see Obama in a real debate.
Me: Wait 12 years, when he runs for president. :-)
- ChaoZ
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- Fireball
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Why do you include masochist in that list (if that's what you were trying to spell)?
Personally, I would recommend Macs for almost any situation that didn't involve gaming or special, Windows-only software. The inherent security that comes from both the Mac's niche market placement and its excellent permissions model makes it a far safer platform to go romping about the Web in. And it's safer for using Microsoft Word.
At my office, before we wiped all the computers and moved from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X, we had a Word virus on our network. It had infected most of the machines' Normal.dot. It was a pretty nasty virus, too. We didn't worry about it, though, because we were on Macs. It could try to do all sorts of nasty stuff, but the moment it went looking for C:\Windows or the like, it would choke. At the other end of the office, our executive director uses a Windows PC which consistently gets clogged with malware. Mostly his fault -- he wouldn't move to Firefox when I moved the rest of the company to it, and unfortunately his job requires that he use Outlook, which is every virus' favorite playground.
One of the hidden benefits of having Macs is the lower maintenance effort required. I'm in charge of our ad production department, but I can also handle dealing with the software updating and maintenance needs of our 35-system Mac network, all by myself. I spend far more time dealing with the three Windows computers we have than I do with all of our Mac systems. If I could get the business office to move over to Mac, I'd have a lot more time for the important parts of my job. Unfortunately, our business manager's software system is built around... get this... MS-DOS, so there's no chance of moving her. And until Microsoft releases a proper Exchange client for Mac OS X, it'd be hard to move my boss.
I would be loathe to use Windows in any environment where control was essential, especially control as in security. I'm probably a few years out from running any political campaigns, but when I do, I'm going to try to avoid Windows systems at all costs. Macs are probably too expensive for campaigns, but hopefully something nice, secure and usable will emerge in the Linux market in the next couple of years. After years of dealing with Windows boxes in a variety of support roles, I simply don't trust them at all.
Personally, I would recommend Macs for almost any situation that didn't involve gaming or special, Windows-only software. The inherent security that comes from both the Mac's niche market placement and its excellent permissions model makes it a far safer platform to go romping about the Web in. And it's safer for using Microsoft Word.
At my office, before we wiped all the computers and moved from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X, we had a Word virus on our network. It had infected most of the machines' Normal.dot. It was a pretty nasty virus, too. We didn't worry about it, though, because we were on Macs. It could try to do all sorts of nasty stuff, but the moment it went looking for C:\Windows or the like, it would choke. At the other end of the office, our executive director uses a Windows PC which consistently gets clogged with malware. Mostly his fault -- he wouldn't move to Firefox when I moved the rest of the company to it, and unfortunately his job requires that he use Outlook, which is every virus' favorite playground.
One of the hidden benefits of having Macs is the lower maintenance effort required. I'm in charge of our ad production department, but I can also handle dealing with the software updating and maintenance needs of our 35-system Mac network, all by myself. I spend far more time dealing with the three Windows computers we have than I do with all of our Mac systems. If I could get the business office to move over to Mac, I'd have a lot more time for the important parts of my job. Unfortunately, our business manager's software system is built around... get this... MS-DOS, so there's no chance of moving her. And until Microsoft releases a proper Exchange client for Mac OS X, it'd be hard to move my boss.
I would be loathe to use Windows in any environment where control was essential, especially control as in security. I'm probably a few years out from running any political campaigns, but when I do, I'm going to try to avoid Windows systems at all costs. Macs are probably too expensive for campaigns, but hopefully something nice, secure and usable will emerge in the Linux market in the next couple of years. After years of dealing with Windows boxes in a variety of support roles, I simply don't trust them at all.
Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:17 am
Zarathud: The sad thing is that Barak Obama is a very intelligent and articulate person, even when you disagree with his views it's clear that he's very thoughtful. I would have loved to see Obama in a real debate.
Me: Wait 12 years, when he runs for president. :-)
Zarathud: The sad thing is that Barak Obama is a very intelligent and articulate person, even when you disagree with his views it's clear that he's very thoughtful. I would have loved to see Obama in a real debate.
Me: Wait 12 years, when he runs for president. :-)
- LawBeefaroni
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I'll buy the line about "more secure" for your typical user or newbie. But to say that Macs are better for enterprise or mission critical solutions because they are more secure is bunk. With the proper management Windows boxes are just as secure. And at the enterprise or mission critical level, you will have dedicated IS security staff. It is their competence that determines your security. Not your OS.
The iPod shuffle is kind of intriguing, but I just looked in my laptop bag. I have a Pogo RYW (radio/mp3), Archos JBMM, iPod (gen 1), Garmin Foretrex (GPS), cellphone, about 5 chargers/synch cables, laptop, PDA battery pack, and a tactical flashlight. That's just in my bag. Aww, hell, I'll probably end up with one anyway. Nothing like a new gadget.
The iPod shuffle is kind of intriguing, but I just looked in my laptop bag. I have a Pogo RYW (radio/mp3), Archos JBMM, iPod (gen 1), Garmin Foretrex (GPS), cellphone, about 5 chargers/synch cables, laptop, PDA battery pack, and a tactical flashlight. That's just in my bag. Aww, hell, I'll probably end up with one anyway. Nothing like a new gadget.
" Hey OP, listen to my advice alright." -Tha General
"“I like taking the guns early...to go to court would have taken a long time. So you could do exactly what you’re saying, but take the guns first, go through due process second.” -President Donald Trump.
"...To guard, protect, and maintain his liberty, the freedman should have the ballot; that the liberties of the American people were dependent upon the Ballot-box, the Jury-box, and the Cartridge-box, that without these no class of people could live and flourish in this country." - Frederick Douglass
MYT
"“I like taking the guns early...to go to court would have taken a long time. So you could do exactly what you’re saying, but take the guns first, go through due process second.” -President Donald Trump.
"...To guard, protect, and maintain his liberty, the freedman should have the ballot; that the liberties of the American people were dependent upon the Ballot-box, the Jury-box, and the Cartridge-box, that without these no class of people could live and flourish in this country." - Frederick Douglass
MYT
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Dude, you need a utility belt.LawBeefaroni wrote:The iPod shuffle is kind of intriguing, but I just looked in my laptop bag. I have a Pogo RYW (radio/mp3), Archos JBMM, iPod (gen 1), Garmin Foretrex (GPS), cellphone, about 5 chargers/synch cables, laptop, PDA battery pack, and a tactical flashlight. That's just in my bag. Aww, hell, I'll probably end up with one anyway. Nothing like a new gadget.

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