Personal Computing is Social, and Rotten Apples

Apple was built on piracy.  The first personal computer was social.  Computer clubs sharing 5 1/4 floppies I, II, Lisa.  Like Post-It notes, the invention relied on innovative use by users.

Apple has grown out of the garage since then.  Lately they have provided the simply the best in computing.  But my recent experience is the epitome of Apple's plight. 

The casing broke on my 15' Powerbook and I upgraded to the 17'.  The one constant in computing is change, and perhaps the greatest user challenge is grappling with it -- be it transitions, upgrades, positive and negative network effects.  Apple does this really well.  The transition was seamless, my desktop reappeared -- even with unsaved email drafts as open windows.  Sure, Mail.app and other things were are slower with Tiger, you can sense the cruft creep -- but it is one of the best experiences I have ever had as a prosumer.

That is, until, I started using iTunes.  Paul Okenfold's Bunkka and other albums I purchased from the iTunes store now require DRM re-authorization.  They reached back in to my otherwise personal computer to remind me that I don't really own what I bought, can't play it elsewhere and certainly can't share. 

Bunk.  Immediately I remembered that Apple sues bloggers and my love for their innovation goes unrequited.  Steve, my good neighbor, pay attention to this plight.

Comments

[Michael Parekh]

I guess that's not surprising, but even Apple can slip on some details...curious if you find a solution for this via Apple or the forums.

Do let us know if you're able to find a solution.

thanks,

michael

p.s. congratulations on the recent news on the Socialtext funding side.

[Greg Balanko-Dickson]

As for DRM on an Apple, when you upgrade an OS or change computers, you first need to de-authorize your computer. Then reauthorize the new one.

If your mail is slower in Tiger, you may want to consider cleaning up your cache with a cache cleaner, repairing permissions and do it from the DVD of the OS by holding down the C key while rebooting which will cause the machine to boot from the DVD abd allow a proper repairing of permissions.

[ken t.]

I thought you could authorize your downloaded iTunes songs to play on three different computers. If you've hit this limit and you've gotten rid of a computer that is authorized, you can write Apple and they'll begrudgingly deauthorize that computer for you, thereby freeing up one of those slots. Copy your songs over, try to play them, and you'll get a prompt to login. I hate DRM as much as the next guy, but it could be far worse.