Apple sez iTunes users should hold off on Vista

As if filming a commercial dissing Microsoft for Vista upgrade hassles wasn't enough, Apple has issued a warning to iTunes users that they should wait for Apple to issue a patch before making the switch to Vista. Apparently some users are encountering problems playing purchased music and videos, synchronizing address book contacts and calendar dates, and slowed response time, along with the occasional outright corruption of connected iPods. Such problems don't affect everyone, but they're pervasive enough for Apple to advise users to wait on the upgrade. According to Apple spokesman Derick Mains, "Although iTunes 7.0.2 may work with Windows Vista on many typical PCs, Apple is aware of some known compatibility issues and recommends that iTunes customers wait to upgrade to Windows Vista until after the next release of iTunes, which will be available in the next few weeks." We're guessing Microsoft is a tad bit miffed that one of the most popular pieces of software on Windows is incompatible with its fledgling operating system -- it's not like Apple didn't have ample warning of the launch -- but in all fairness, it took Microsoft's own Zune a few weeks to catch up to Vista, at least in the Business incarnation.

Update: Thanks to the comments below pointing out that Apple has indeed released what appears to be at least a partial fix to the Vista / iTunes problems, specifically to "repair permissions." So if after that dire warning above you're still willing to give it a shot, you can grab the iTunes Repair Tool for Vista 1.0 and give it a whirl.

[Blake @ Feb 3rd 2007 8:32AM]

Perhaps some proof that a "much lower-priced" Gateway beat the dual dual core Mac Pro?

Maybe some specs on this Gateway comp? I think you need to be a tad more specific there chief.
But if a cheep gateway can own 4 cores @ 3.0GHz each, i will have to buy one.

However, I smell bullshit blowing out of your mouth.

[robk @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:27PM]

wow apples pretty smart... they are slightly reducing the number of vista users by waiting to update their program.

[PeteC @ Feb 3rd 2007 7:49AM]

I don't think they'd give a crap about that, for now they're more interested in keeping market domiantion in the audio sector. They don't want loads of windows users deciding to try something else because itunes doesn't work well with vista.

[ryan Brown @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:32PM]

iTunes Repair Tool for Vista 1.0 you can downlaod it from apple. old news

[Anthony @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:41PM]

So this fix:

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/itunesrepairtoolforvista10.html

That was released yesterday isn't *the* fix?

[August @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:41PM]

Derick Mains: "Although iTunes 7.0.2 may work with Windows Vista on many typical PCs, Apple is aware of some known compatibility issues and recommends that iTunes customers wait to upgrade to Windows Vista until after the next release of iTunes, which will be available in the next few weeks."

Key word there being "customers".

Not at all surprised.

[azz0r @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:44PM]

Apple make me sick.

I hope someone kicks there ego.

[Richard Garfinkel @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:05PM]

Hopefully it will be someone with a proper grasp of the English language.

[mattstl77 @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:48PM]

Had to get some cut in on the Zune, huh? Go figure Microsoft bashers!

[errrduh.... @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:49PM]

This is so bogus. Apple has never irritated me until now. Real nice of them to make this announcement AFTER a number have already done the upgrade. And don't give me that "to be fair Zune" crap. Vista has been available to them long enough to prepare a fix in advance.

[Macview @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:03PM]

Well unfortunatly Apple did test iTunes on Vista and had no problems. Of course they were running Vista on Mac machines not the crapmaster PC's that exsist to the so called "90 percent of users" Bill refers to so willingly.

[Mickey Jones @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:53PM]

Microsoft sez Vista users should hold off on iTunes.

[Eh @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:57PM]

Apple telling people not to buy Vista? This is a sure sign that hell is still hot and will not freeze over anytime soon.

[Ratteler @ Feb 2nd 2007 8:58PM]

iTunes isn't the only reason to avoid Vista. Just look at the comments of M$ schills attacking Digg to block the truth about this spyware disguised an OS.

You know they have something to hide when they have an organized effort to bury the truth in comments.

I would rather rule in hell, than serve in Vista.

[gizmoguy @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:02PM]

I say hold off on shitty iTunes... Vista Ultimate rocks once you've had it in your hands!

[Ellianth @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:03PM]

Only thing that message says to me is: Hold off on Apple products because they don't know how to update them on time.

[BigZ @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:03PM]

I installed vista the day it came out. The first app I installed was itunes and I have not had a single problem with itunes or anything for that matter. Vista install is pretty much the same as a mac now and very very easy. Installed in 10 minutes and then it took about 5 to configure.

[JohnnyCashAK @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:09PM]

Vista user sez 'Apple has had months to get their shit together. Like this is anything new... you didn't even offer first party software or support for my first ipod, why should things be any different now? Your *fix* is real nice and all, but the only thing it actually does is something I've never had a problem doing in Vista anyway (playing your DRM'd music). Now how about spending as much time as you do thinking up all these clever 'I'm a mac' ads on getting your software to run faster on my vista box as it would on my 486 box? You've only had four months, why the heck do you need three more weeks?'

[tamarok @ Feb 3rd 2007 12:37PM]

So much can go wrong in software, especially when you are trying to deal with numerous types of hardware. In many ways Microsoft does a good job. I have never really had any issue with iTunes on MS-Windows.

Now DRM, that is is really what gets me. You may complain about Apple branded DRM, but DRM of any brand annoys the hell out of me. Apple's DRM is a bit nicer than most DRM, in what it allows you to do, but like all the solutions out there, its still an obstruction get doing what I want with my music. It is for this reason that I still buy CDs, since I get no DRM restrictions with any software. If you are going to complain to anyone make it be the record industry.

[Joshua @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:10PM]

You know who else is saying the same thing: a lot of people who paid money for Vista.

[arteekay @ Feb 3rd 2007 12:57AM]

Listen carefully and you can hear the sound of vista racing past the installed OSX userbase...

[sean @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:13PM]

Apple says I-tunes users should drink this kool-aid

[Echo_ @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:13PM]

Well unfortunatly Apple did test iTunes on Vista and had no problems. Of course they were running Vista on Mac machines not the crapmaster PC's that exsist to the so called "90 percent of users" Bill refers to so willingly.

You do realize the hardware in your mac and the hardware in any pc is more or less the same right now?
I hate fanboys of any kind... especially those who do not know what they are talking about like the Macview

[dvlk @ Feb 3rd 2007 2:20PM]

I guess you guys don't realize one thing. As it is mentioned in the article, Apple's comment was directed to their customers. Customers as in people that rely on iTunes as their primary source for music. Now they, if they wish to continue to use the iTunes service, should stay away from Vista. It wasn't targeted to every Windows user. Now, regarding Apple not updating iTunes in time, consider these:

1. iTunes worked fine with Vista, in some machines.
2. Apple isn't the only one not to support Vista straight away. See, Logitech, NVIDIA ...
3. They shouldn't have to support Vista rightaway. Who says that everytime crappy Microsoft dishes out a new version of its OS, all developers should adopt it and re-write theis software to run on it.
4. It only took MS over 5 years to finish Vista and we want Apple to go off their Course, stop the development of their projects, Leopard, iPhone etc and focus on crappy Vista. Isn't that a lot to ask?

[Macview @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:47PM]

Yes I do know what I'm talking about - it's called being a smart ass, stop taking it so seriously.

Fact is your all are complaining about nothing. Like it's never happened before on any machine (Mac or PC) that something has a problem that wasn't found and needs a fix - boo hoo. Windows has needed a fix every day of it's unatural life yet you don't compalain about that, huh?

The only reason you defend Windows OS is;
a) you have no clue of what benifits you gain from the other platform (that is to say you've never used it)
b) you assume the other "side" thinks they are better you, therefore you must condem and lash out against the supposed "enemy"
or
c) penis envy (so to speak)

I work in a mixed environment where most Windows users "Don't get it" when it comes to Macs, especially IT support (that's why they come to me of course) and 90% of the time they are looking for the hard way to find something or change something on a Mac when it's actually staring them in the face.

For gods sake it 2007 and the interface betqween users and computers as thought out by man should be much better than it is. And whether you believe it or not and no matter what you think of Apple in general, they are a company that's about making a profit, with the philosiphy of making inovative products to do so - even at the cost of "we know whats best for you" type of attitude.

Look at it this way, If there was no Apple, you'd still be using Windows 3.1 instead of it's OSX inspired dead twin.

[Christian Martin @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:30PM]

Mac user since OS 7 and PC user since DOS 3 says:

Wow, let me get this straight: I'm supposed to not upgrade my OPERATING SYSTEM because the authors of a free application can't be arsed to update their damn program, and I might not be able to use it to play my mp3s.

Yes. Except, no.

In the meantime, I'll continue not using iTunes, or Quicktime, or DRMed music as I sit here using my "spyware-ridden" free copy of Vista Business while those of you that know nothing more of Vista than a) it's made by Microsoft and b) you read an article about it linked through Engadget, once or maybe twice, and c) saw Billy-boy on the Daily Show, weigh in with worthless opinions when you've never gotten within 100 feet of someone who has a cousin that used the first beta release of Vista and haphazardly throw together a non-IE7-compliant website with some sound clips that are designed to make me rename all my system files and change my homepage to goatse.

[TorontoGuy @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:40PM]

Vista ain't done 'till iTunes won't run!

[runningfire @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:40PM]

thats like saying when leopard comes out, Microsoft says, " Oh yea, Office for the Mac is having problems when used in Leopard and we will provide a patch in the coming weeks." Then everybody would probably be talking crap about Microsoft for not having the patch ready when Leopard was released. Of course, this would never happen though, so no one has to worry about it.

[ScOObyDoo @ Feb 2nd 2007 9:59PM]

I'm sure Vista took Apple by surprise. Stupid Microsoft only gave them a year to get iTunes working on it, and that clearly isn't enough.

[Sean O @ Feb 2nd 2007 10:42PM]

Ya know, if I would tell the "Mac Guy" that I've never once had to repair permissions on a Windows system. It seems like on my Mac at work I have to repair permissions every other week.

[Tom @ Feb 2nd 2007 10:48PM]

iTunes sucks. Just use Anapod.

[Dixonij @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:01PM]

I've been having problems with iTunes ever since I installed Vista RC1. I cant get the stuff ive bought off iTMS to verify. Oh well...

[MrDiSante @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:03PM]

Couldn't agree with most of the above posts more! "Hi guys, why don't you hold off from upgrading to a new OS because we're lazy asses and couldn't be bothered to test our apps for an entire year. Heck, while you're at it, why don't you switch to a Mac - because Macs have so many more cool apps and especially games that always work, like Warcraft... and World of Warcraft... and... chess...".

[Richard Garfinkel @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:12PM]

By the same token, Microsoft has had a year and a half to make MS Office for the Mac Intel native, but I still don't see a Universal copy of Office on my Mac.

[Mark @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:41PM]

Ah of course, how could we have been so silly? Rewriting an office suite for a new architecture is definitely the same thing as fixing a few small bugs in a media player for the same architecture and largely the same API.

[Macview @ Feb 2nd 2007 11:49PM]

P.S., sorry about the spelling, I rushed a little on that.

[Echo_ @ Feb 3rd 2007 12:53PM]

Macview... there is a couple flaws in your statement, but the major one is that I use a Macbook Pro

[michael @ Feb 3rd 2007 12:17AM]

Well the whole iTunes/Office analogy is starting to wear thin. Think about it: who owns 95% of the market? Windows or OSX? It's Windows of course, so everybody who's smart enough would make things compatible with that OS. And what do the majoring of Windows users have? XP or course. Although Microsoft has let out a beta for a long time, Apple should have been more quicker to update it. And the only reason why they would be updating it, is because it's more likely that XP users will upgrade to Vista, when they're ready to upgrade, and not to OSX, because the only things that can use OSX are macs. So who would want to make Office on OSX? Nobody in particular. Don't mac users have the common sense to know that "PC's are for working" and "Macs are for fun" I thought that's what those get a mac ads said. Unless Apple fanboys didn't understand that either.

[xxdesmus @ Feb 3rd 2007 12:21AM]

What are they smokin? ... iTunes runs just fine under Vista on both of my machines.

[keith waddington @ Feb 3rd 2007 1:13AM]

listen carefully you can hear the sound of sheep racing past the shepherd straight to the knackers yard--which is cleverly disguised with transparent window frames (!) and looks like such a nice place.

LOL

Long live transparent window frames! now that's what I call logic man.

waddo
http://www.waddo.net/

[holyhell @ Feb 3rd 2007 1:41AM]

iSneeze just hit the market, Job's sneezes into the kleenex, get your wallet ready!

Hopefully a few sales people read this "warning" and let their customers know that while buying their new pc that Apple didn't bother to recognize the market shift, so they are better off with a zune.

[ChuxMix @ Feb 3rd 2007 2:32AM]

"Vista install is pretty much the same as a mac now and very very easy."

BWAHAAHAAA!!!!!!!

Some don't see the light even while it's being shoved down their gullets!

[crescentdavid @ Feb 3rd 2007 2:43AM]

What I like is the fact Apple is trying to discourage the adoption of the latest version of near-monopoly Windows by using their near-monopoly iPod as leverage. I'm not sure what's funnier- the fact they'll probably be more successful using their music player rather than their OS in discouraging windows sales or the fact people point to the Windows near-monopoly as a sign of mediocrity whereas the near-monopoly of iPod is, of course, due to superiority.

[jimbo @ Feb 3rd 2007 10:17AM]

Someone actually gets it...

[Aaron @ Feb 3rd 2007 3:40AM]

This story is amusing, but not at all surprising. iTunes is a piece of shit (the Windows version; can't say for the Mac version). Remember when 7.0 came out a few months ago? Lots of people (myself included) couldn't play music at all because it made this horrible scratching noise, and that was just one issue. They didn't acknowledge the various problems and then quietly fixed them a few weeks later. Yes, weeks. Now the program seems to work, but it's still slow as hell to start up and takes a good deal more resources than it should.

Oh well. I don't use it much anyway, but I do happen to have an iPod so... yeah. Vista's coming in the mail in a couple days. Let's hope I get lucky and iTunes works.

[BC @ Feb 3rd 2007 4:18AM]

MS should tell Mac users to use a registry cleaner the next time an OSX Security Update breaks Mac Office.

[DM @ Feb 3rd 2007 4:19AM]

Who needs iTunes anyway?

[ssuk @ Feb 3rd 2007 5:50AM]

Ratteler, oh well... Okay, keep with your Apple OS and enjoy your photoshop

[yet another Matt @ Feb 3rd 2007 7:44AM]

This would have been a very low swipe from Apple if they hadn't release the update so soon.

The beta for Vista has been out for years, and they have had plenty of time to put together a patch for the release because the corporate edition has been out since November - the point of which is to verify the compatibility of software.

At least they have resolved these issues.

[rainygrass @ Feb 3rd 2007 8:05AM]

wowhooooooohoho...what a narrow mind company...i'm using a macbook, but i won't consider to buy another apple product in future, not even an ipod...jesus