iTunes is not reliable

re: iTunes is not reliable

johnpapola — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:14:59 GMT

Subzero,

Couldn't it be that iTunes on the Mac relies on OSX libraries located in the operating system whereas iTunes on Windows must bundle these re-written libraries with the application? I don't think file size and a metric for stability and reliability that has any merit unto itself.

Waethorn,

I forgot that Acer bought Gateway. The last time I even remember hearing about Gateway, they were selling about the same number of PCs as Apple sells Macs, hence my niche comment. Of course, Gateway couldn't survive on it's own while Apple is thriving.

re: iTunes is not reliable

subzerohitman721 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:38:30 GMT

I think this article has merit. Just looking over itunes downloads, you'll see what he's talking about.

The original iTunes for Windows version 4.1 for windows was a 19 MB download. At version 5.0 and 6.0 iTunes was a 33 MB download. At version 7.0, iTunes was up to 37 MB. The current version 7.7.0.43 is 60.5 MB.

On the Mac side, iTunes 1.0 on the classic is 3 MB. The highest the classic side's version of iTunes got was iTunes 5 at 14 MB.

On the OS-X side, Version 1.1 was 3 MB. Version 2 was 4 MB. Version 3 was 6 MB. Version 4 was 8 MB. Version 5 was 14 MB. Version 6 was 12 MB. Version 7 was 25 MB. The current version is 48.32 MB.

Now if we look at WMP, the orginal version 5.1 was a download of 156kb. Version 6.4 was 3 MB. Version 7 was 9 MB. Version 9 was 10 MB for XP, 13 MB for 2000 and 98. Version 10 was 12 MB. Version 11 is currently at 24.5 MB.

Winamp current versions are the free one for 9.08 MB and the full version at 12.7 MB.

This is a huge disparity. I too have notice iTunes ever slowing functionality. Even though its currently my main media player, its getting slower than previous version.

In my opinion, I believe iTunes is suffering from code bloat. If WMP can do almost everything iTunes does with less space, then Apple needs to recode the iTunes player for speed and less disk space. If Winamp can compete with both with less, both Microsoft and Apple have work to do. However, I think WMP size for a media player is reasonable.

I think since many people who are iTunes users are attesting to the same problem, then there's more to it than a simple "WinJihadist" argument. (Although I'd argue that Apple CEO Steve Jobs compares his work with a religious/mindexpanding experience, I"ve never heard Bill Gates utter anything like that. But I'll have that argument for another debate.)

re: iTunes is not reliable

lotsamystuff — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:41:01 GMT

"My "Vista reliability monitor" shows about the same as Paul's but with Excel.exe... Does that entitle me to publish something with the headline "Excel is unreliable"?"

Of course you wouldn't do that, because you're not an unreasonable WinJihadist.

re: iTunes is not reliable

Waethorn — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:46:25 GMT

"least a while, Vista 64bit had relatively poor driver and application compatibility"

That was also true of the 32-bit version, at least for some hardware. Neither is true now though - the market is flooded with "Certified..." hardware.

"gateway is a niche PC maker now "

WHAAAA....?!

Gateway is in the top 6 PC makers worldwide - at least, they WERE. Now they are part of Acer, which is #3 in overall systems worldwide, and #1 notebook maker worldwide.

"HP's "business systems" don't help your argument that 64bit isn't a consumer niche."

Maybe not, but if it's included in business machines (where compatibility is a much, MUCH bigger issue), then it doesn't mean much for consumers to adopt it - and they have, at least in compatibility respects. The amount of hardware on the market now that supports 64-bit versions of Windows Vista far outweighs what doesn't, and the hardware that's left that doesn't, probably never will be certified because the manufacturers are flat-out ignorant. Similarly, the unsupported and uncertified hardware is what causes 90% of problem on Windows.

re: iTunes is not reliable

johnpapola — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:40:05 GMT

@Waethorn,

I'm simply repeating what I've heard from Paul, which is that for a least a while, Vista 64bit had relatively poor driver and application compatibility. It seems like it's the better system, though and I am all for Microsoft's moves to break compatibility in favor of progress.

Still, gateway is a niche PC maker now and HP's "business systems" don't help your argument that 64bit isn't a consumer niche. That said... you're probably right and I defer to your expertise regarding Vista.

Regardless... the hyperbole and hypocrisy of this headline and post still stand. It's link-baiting at it's worst.

re: iTunes is not reliable

DRWAM — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:18:44 GMT

Thanks John. I was about to cry with my 3 little ones comforting daddy, the only non x-cabal guy in Jersey.

Currently I am experiencing problems updating to Vista SP1. screens behind the update window are appearing and need a response [OK or accept or whatever] but I did not see them as they were behind the Window and did not show in the task bar or whatever you call it. I was watching for progress for over an hour. Also. I installed Sun's Java software for the medical cloud, as it was offered at the initial sign on page at the hospital web, but it wanted to install an update, which Vista suspended the SP1 update because of it. Also, the box to install OpenOffice suite was checked off during Sun's Java update. I unchecked it, but think that was BS. I have Office 2007 anyway, but if you blinked, or you are a 6 or 7 yr old, you'd probably just accept or OK it and it's installed. I find that stinky. So I probably interrupted installation myself, but after a fresh restart, I finally manage not a screw it up.

re: iTunes is not reliable

Waethorn — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:39:44 GMT

"I have dreamed of the day when Microsoft added h.264 support and a podcast client so I could drop iTunes."

They do! -> http://www.zune.net ;)

"K-Lite Mega Codec Pack and the QuickTime Alternative"

....is actually illegal.

"64bit Vista which seems to be a niche product for consumers"

It seems that Gateway would disagree with that assessment, as do I. Most of their consumer systems that are sold today (and all of mine, ever since SP1), include the 64-bit versions by default. Even HP's business systems include Vista x64.

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re: iTunes is not reliable

johnpapola — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:50:18 GMT

Coming from a family of doc's in the PA/NJ area, you'll always have a place on my team, buddy.

re: iTunes is not reliable

DRWAM — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:31:08 GMT

Ah shucks, thanks for the support. But does this mean that neither the Wincabal or iCabal want me?;)

re: iTunes is not reliable

jeffhex — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:15:15 GMT

I was wondering if you checked your Outlook PST file with SCANPST.EXE to make sure there was not anything a little bit corrupted in it that might me causing iTunes to crash. I've found that my other sync applications (like my old Palm software) have had problems with my outlook files in that past when there is some data corruption in them, and SCANPST.EXE sometimes cleans that problem for me.

re: iTunes is not reliable

DRWAM — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:10:02 GMT

cgdams, Thanks. I will give it a try soon after I get home from vacation. My older Sansa's can just drag and drop music. However, I lost this ability on the newer c series with XP and Leopard, but I can still drag and drop with Vista. Can't do it on the iPod as you know without this, so thanks.

re: iTunes is not reliable

johnpapola — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:36:03 GMT

I will also defend DRWAM and Dipsht as being reasonable guys. They're not winCabal apple-bashing hacks like so many of the other members of this deteriorating blog's community.

re: iTunes is not reliable

johnpapola — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:34:42 GMT

Great title, Paul. You've really jumped the shark in your Apple product coverage on this blog.

So the title says categorically and unequivocally that "iTunes is not reliable"...

...and then it turns out that it could be your desktop PC, or 64bit Vista which seems to be a niche product for consumers, or who really knows. Weird, right?

How can you honestly lambast your fellow pundits about snark and hyperbole when you do this kind of thing on your own blog? Seriously. Talk about the absolute definition of hypocrisy.

re: iTunes is not reliable

Dipsh t Admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:46:54 GMT

Lump me in to the WinCabal if you like, but there is no absolutely no reason to include DRWAM.