Posted by Jacques E. Bouchard on 12/21/07 22:15

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xp7rt.net> wrote in
news:5t2k4lF1bh4noU1@mid.individual.net:

> My first data point was from initially installing iTunes on my PC.
> That was when it (automatically) went off thrashing my hard
> drive without asking permission (or even revealing what it was
> doing.)
>
> Additional data points from friends plugging their iPods into
> a computer (to recharge) when visiting another friend and
> having their entire content wiped out (automatically and without
> warning) by iTunes. I've vowed to never install it again as a
> result of both first-hand and close 2nd hand experience.

I got a free ipod from my bank for opening an account. I gave it to my
niece and bought myself a Creative Zen player that works fine with drag-
and-drop.

I loathe bloatware that tries to complicate simple tasks (even Creative
have their own). Because the average computer user can't tie his/her own
shoes without a 10-page instruction manual doesn't mean I need software
to hijack my computer, change file associations, and install a TSR in my
taskbar just so it can try to update itself every five minutes.

> I have a love-hate relationship with QT as well. It will play back a
> 24-bit WAV file (which WMP could, if MS hadn't artifically crippled
> it). OTOH, several versions on several different computers all
> play video (and frequently audio as well) very intermittently. None
> of my other media players seem to have this problem.

I swore off QT ever since I discovered VLC (the very spirit of open-
source embodied in a great multimedia player) and QuickTimeAlternative,
which either comes with Media Player classic or codecs only to use with
your favourite player (such as VLC).

There's also RealPlayerALternative, if you're tired of disabling
features, uninstalling accessories and deleting registry entries after
each "minimal" install.


jaybee

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