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Nov
29
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The iPod Dock: A Pointless Existence

iPod Dock Apple USB iPod Cable: $17
Apple Universal iPod Dock: $35
A dock without a cable: Worthless

Some things you just can’t leave out of a package. For everything else, Apple does.

Since the FireWire bus shorted out on my iPod, I’ve had to borrow a USB cable to sync it. It’s slow (USB 1.1), but it works. Being a nice guy, I don’t want to indebt myself too much with use of the cable, so I paid a visit to the Apple Store today. My thought was that if I’m to get USB connectivity anyway, I may as well get a spiffy docking station. After all, there’s not much point to a dock sans connectivity without a video iPod.

Knowing Apple quit bundling accessories with the iPod a few generations ago, I should have figured they’d quit bundling essentials with the accessories. But alas, no cable was to be found in the (very thick) box. Looks like I’m going to have to keep borrowing for a while.

So my question is this: Besides being an S-Video adapter for the new video iPods, what’s the point of the dock? The IR receiver doesn’t do much good without a remote (sold separately, surprise!), the iPod still can’t be used while mounted, and it doesn’t even connect to the computer on its own. Except for the neato factor of having an upright iPod, it’s completely worthless.

It’s a shame I had to open the package before I realized that.







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