Today I got my iPod mini, and Magnus got his Mac mini. It was probably the same TNT guy who delivered them.

After putting it in my pants and taking a picture, just like Magnus did (yes, that’s an insider joke), I proceeded to plug it in.

So here are the steps required to install an iPod under Windows.

• Eagerly unwrap the iPod and the dock.
• Optional: put it in your pants and take a picture.
• Plug the Firewire cable into the PC and connect the dock, and put the iPod in the dock.
• Wait while nothing happens.
• Unpack the USB cable, and plug it straight into the iPod.
• Wait while nothing happens.
• Spot the “Install software before connecting iPod” sticker.
• Install software.
• Do the mandatory Windows™ reboot.
• Yay, is working! Format it, copy a few songs to it.
• Sigh at the crappy USB 1.1 on your motherboard.
• Put the iPod back in the Firewire-connected dock.
• Wait while nothing happens.
• Wonder if dock is broken.
• Realize that you need to push the iPod into the dock with holy crap, did I break it? force.
• Do the mandatory Windows™ reboot, since Windows needs to reinstall drivers every time you put external hardware in a port it hasn’t been connected to before. Roll eyes, think degrading thoughts about Gates, all that.
• All is well with the world.

The dock does look a bit flimsy and plastic, but it has some nice weight to it, is quite sturdy, and has a rubber bottom to prevent it from sliding around.