I find Itunes interface to be obtuse. I have a number of devices: mp3 players, tablets, portable media players, etc. With all of the non-Apple products I simply plug them into my Windows computer and use Windows explorer to add and delete things. It's trivial.
The first problem with Itunes is that it's mandatory. I can't easily choose not to use it. I use my Itouch a lot and I suspect that when I get to know my Ipad more I'll use it a lot as well. That means I have to use Itunes a lot. This is made worse by how much I like the Itouch.
The second problem is that it's very slow. I can't use it casually. I can't decide to put a file on the Itouch (or Ipad) and plug it in and quickly transfer a file. I have to wait for Itunes to load.
I just tested it. I plugged in my Itouch, already turned on and timed how long it took before Itunes was loaded to the point that I could begin to manipulate files. It took 1 minute and 18 seconds. I also have a Creative Muvo MP3 player handy so I timed it from the time I plugged it in to the time I was looking at it in Windows explorer. It too 9 seconds. It took nearly 9 times longer for Itunes.
Granted I'm not using a fast computer. It has a core 2 duo ULV CPU at 1.66 mHz. But I used the same computer for both devices.
Yesterday I decided to put some episodes of a BBC audiodrama on the Itouch to listen to while walking. I used drag and drop to put them into Itunes. Then I had to find them. I have a lot of stuff in Itunes and since it didn't label them in any easily recognizable way it took a few minutes to figure out I had to add the "date added" column and sort with that. That found them quickly enough. I then had to create a playlist. Then I had to add these files to that playlist. Then I could copy the playlist to the Itouch. Leaving out the time it took to figure out I needed to use "date added", since that's on me, the entire process took probably 3 or 4 minutes.
I just tested this on that same Creative Muvo. They were on the player ready to use in about 30 seconds. There was nothing to figure out. I just did it. I could have carried on a conversation at the same time and it wouldn't have slowed me down.
ITUNES IS SLOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!
Now, accepting that it's slow, which in my case, since I'm retired, is only an irritation, it's also difficult to use. It's interface is nothing like that of most Windows programs. I'm used to the Windows way of doing things and it demands that I do things it's way. It's a being from another land who demands that I learn it's language! It's the Nazi in my Norway. :)
Who needs playlists? Not me! I never used them or felt any reason to use them on any other device, even those that support playlists. But with Itunes I've had to learn to use playlists. I listen mostly to classical music and some Jazz. I never know what piece I'll want to listen to till I'm done with the current piece. Those times that I do know ahead of time it's almost always the next song in the album. Playlists are just a way to complicate life. Except in Itunes, where they're the only way I've found to get anything done at all. I'm forced to use those silly things.
Getting back to that audiodrama: I have the genre set in them to Drama. I listen to music, audiobooks, stories, dramas and OTR and that's how I like to label things. Those are the genres I use for my MP3 files. Except in Itunes, where I can't. Steve has decided how I'll label my music and built it in. He's probably concerned that I'll get confused if I try to think for myself. :)
As for my experience level, I got my first computer training in the mid 60's before computers even had screens. I've programmed mainframes, mini-computer, micro-computers and calculators. I'm a gadget lover. I've been retired for over 15 years and I've spent much of that time playing with electronic gizmos. As a programmer I'm pretty badly out of date. As a nerd I'm the cat's meow. :)
Barry
--- On Thu, 6/2/11, Nicole Mathisen <gypsy1274@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Nicole Mathisen <gypsy1274@yahoo.com>
Subject: [iPad] iTunes
Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011, 8:05 AM
In light of recent discussions, I'm very curious what people think is difficult about iTunes. If you could also say what your computer ability is (beginner,intermediate, advanced, expert...) that would be great.
Sent from Nicole's iPhone
