Atomic Playboy

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.

So I finally ordered that iPod mini I’ve been drooling about. I was hoping that Steve would pull a new iPod mini model out of a body orifice during Macworld, but sadly he didn’t. So it appears that me and the rest of the world said “screw it” and ordered an iPod mini at the very same time.

Today I got the email that said they’ve shipped it. 8-9 days delivery time.

8-9 days?

Do they walk across the Alps with it? Through the Mines of Moria, into the fiery lands of Mordor where shadows rule, to cast it not into the fires of Mount Doom, but into my eager hands?

I can understand that it takes time to produce it, especially when there’s very high demand right after Macworld, and I had custom laser etching (for free, no less). But 8-9 days to deliver? Do Apple not use the same postal services as the rest of us mortals?

I’ll instruct my Uruk-Hai hordes to keep an eye out for iPod mini-wearing hobbits. If they spot one, grab him, tie him up, toss him over the shoulder and run through the Darkmere straight to my apartment. Should be faster.

I just need an impressive beard, then I can do a mean Saruman impression. Already got the hair part done.