Re: [PLUG] OSX "middleware"?

[Art Alexion <art.alexion@verizon.net>]

Mark M. Hoffman wrote:

> Hi:
>
>
>  
>
> > On 24 Feb, 2005, at 09:26, Art Alexion wrote:
> >    
> >
> > > Carlos Konstanski wrote:
> > >      
> > >
> > > > Yes, gtkpod will get tunes on and off your iPod.  I will get that HFS
> > > > patch soon.  And you can always format the iPod as FAT32 if you wish,
> > > > which will circumvent all filesystem issues.  This is what Windows
> > > > (pardon my French) does to iPods.
> > > >
> > > >        
> > > Why does Apple's flagship product use a microsoft file system??
> > >      
> Small isn't always the last consideration though.  FAT can be a very
> bad choice of filesystem for a compact-flash or EEPROM type device.
> The problem is that the FAT filesystem writes certain parts of the
> device more often than others, which can cause the device to wear out
> prematurely.  There are F/OSS filesystems that support "wear leveling",
> [1] so you may wonder why you never see a digital camera using those
> instead... well, that would force the Windows users to install a new
> filesystem driver.
>
> I.e. (again) a worse choice wins based on market-share.
>  
Now that makes sense, FAT being used for compatibility with ubiquitous 
windows users, but how big a deal would it be for the iPod software CD 
to include a windows driver for a different FS?

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but these sorts of marketing 
decisions that override engineering considerations fascinate me.

--

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