No matter what, I've always defended my iPod and associated iTunes software. No matter how many of my tech savvy friends stated its design was inferior or, at best, fragile (hey, it works for me). No matter how many music-fans discussed how Apple will ram you up the ass with its restrictive file types and DRM (I could easily get around this with a few crafty programs). No matter how many angry consumers argued against its ridiculous price (well, I already paid for it). No matter how many computers suffered from the woes of iTunes (it's always worked in the past...). I still loved them, and have never had a problem with either of them. Until now.

Even though I hate Apple: its elitist culture, its overpriced products, and that annoying-as-fuck Steve Jobs (and fucking Bono), I still knew a good product when I see it. My iPod has yet to fail me, but today, I acknowledge that an intrinsic part of my iPod - iTunes - is very dead to me. It's time to find a replacement. Opening iTunes takes a good five minutes, and keeping it open consumes anywhere from 50% to 99% of my laptop's CPU. Typing in the search box, scrolling through my nearly 10,000 songs, or editing preferences and song information becomes nearly impossible. I am still exploring the possibility that my computer is to blame, but just in case, if any of you have had this problem (PC), tell me what you did to fix it, or suggest another music playback program that can sync with an iPod.

Any suggestions? I believe the problem to be one of two things, or both: iTunes is increasingly becoming a resource hog with each new version they come out with; I finally have too much music, and iTunes needs the extra CPU to deal with my library.

Have you defragged recently? And how much space do you have left on your hard drive?

I suggest another route; completely get rid of your ipod. I don't know how much you listen to your ipod, but everyone around here (especially high-schoolers) is addicted to them. every chance they get they opt to plug their ears and isolate their minds to any sort of interaction with the world. like anything else, music is only good in moderation. if you keep repeating a word over and over and it loses meaning. I couldn't really appreciate music the way I do if I listened to it every single waking chance I had. I believe there's much in life some people trade-off for their superficial music fix.

I digress; I'm pretty sure linux has a solution to your problem, but I doubt you'd want to go that far to get around it. these programs are dated, so I don't know if they work or not, but you can check them out:
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XPlay[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EphPod[/url]

edit: just noticed this link: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_iPod_Managers[/url].

So so wrong, sheer. A few things to address:
It's not elitist culture. Oh it's true you there will be an unbalanced number of "Mac crusaders" that try to convert people to using Apple's hardware, and devoutly stand by Apple's operating system and first-party software. I would call it somewhat of a cult. You may think it's somewhat silly, after all, it's just computer technology, right?
But for Apple's loyal fanbase (myself included), it's a bit more than that. With 5%-8% of the market share (depending on who you ask), Apple has always been the underdog. The "other guy". Apple hardcore-fans have always been the ones backed up against the wall when confronted with the constant PC-fanboy bullshit: "MACS SUCK BECAUSE U CNAT PLAY GAMES." Then, an OS-war will generally break-out.

They're devoted, but the "culture", is certainly not elite. I can definitely say that using a Mac has a fairly different feel to it. As opposed to using a PC, where people generally see it as a tool that needs copious amounts of protecting and micro-managing, OS X just [i]works[/i]. And many people who have had a decent amount of experience with it really do love it for that. What's wrong with honestly believing that the OS you choose to use is just plain superior.

I don't see where the elitism comes in.
Apple's products are almost always on the higher end of the price spectrum, yeah, no debate there. But as many will tell you, it's a situation of "you get what you pay for". I'm fine with paying extra if it means I can avoid all the shit that you get with using Windows (this is for another post/thread). One major reason Apple doesn't have cheaper prices is that everything pretty much stays first party to ensure quality control, and a user experience they feel confident about.

Knocks against Steve Jobs and Bono are pretty much ridiculous. I've heard Jobs can be an asshole, but you've got to admit he's good at what he does. Bono? I don't give a shit if you think U2's music sucks or that Bono is a terrible songwriter. Do you know anything about the humanitarian aid he's giving throughout his career? He's said a few big-headed statements in his life, and he does like to wear flashy sunglasses...but "that fucking Bono" just sounds drastically ill-informed about mostly everything about him.

Now, to your problem! I think you should take Terra's advice and de-frag. Here's an idea (something which I'll be doing soon). If you have an external harddrive, move your essential (and some non-essential) files off to it, and just defrag/clean install. You'll get rid of a ton of waste and it'll speed things up nicely.

If iTunes is the only application you're having trouble with, I don't know what the problem might be. Sounds like it's caching something, and taking a hell of a long time to sort it. I've never had problems with the program, and I'm typing this post on a 5-6 year old G4 iMac with iTunes in the background (at 4065 tracks). No problems.

If you have a problem with the actual core functionality of the program, then by all means, seek alternatives (I haven't used any). But to say "iTunes sucks" just because it's slowing down on you...it seems like you're jumping the gun a bit.

Oh, and about restrictive DRM-filetypes...you say it like it'll actually have an impact on the music you acquire and listen to. I enjoy music, I listen to music, I download it, and I buy it (CD form generally). Apple's 99c per-song and restrictive filetype "AAC" have never angered me in the slightest. Except for the time my mom downloaded an album and it refused to play on a computer a few years later because it had already exhausted the number of maximum allowed registrations...

Devotion + Beliefs and Claims of Superiority = Elitism

Seriously, if there is any better description of elitism, I have yet to see it. You can even feel it permeating your post. I never said anything was wrong with it, but it's just a pure and simple fact.

One of the main reasons that Apple "suffers" in terms of market share is because they charge excess prices for relatively similar products. Everybody learns in economics that if the price exceeds the equilibrium value, the quantity sold will suffer. This isn't inherently bad, in fact it is an intentional strategy. Apple bases its revenues off of...well, iPods. But iPods aside, Apple's strategy is to create brand loyalty and to target its repeat customers. Therefore, Apple users are willing to pay more for their products, and Apple can get away with low sales figures. Apple also has increased costs because it cannot achieve the same economies of scale that a larger firm, such as Dell, can provide. So that is what explains your low market share and high prices. You do get what you pay for - but what is it you're paying for? You're paying to satisfy brand loyalty, first and foremost. Then comes all the subtle differences between Macs and PCs, which are moot to argue, as we all know we've tried.

Jobs is an asshole. That is almost an encyclopedia-esque fact. As to your point, Barry Bonds is also good at what he does. They are both douche bags, and I can't say that I support either of them.

In my opinion, Bono's music does suck. I can't see how I would even need any other reason to dislike him. Those big-headed statements are just the push off the cliff. Just because he donates 1% of his time and income to humanitarian efforts doesn't mean I have to like him. Otherwise, we'd all be fellating Bill Gates. And I don't think anyone would want to fellate Bill Gates. Technological genius? Yes. Sex icon? No thanks.

I also said that DRM isn't a problem to me. At all. But to many people, who do not have the extensive anti-DRM software capabilities that I do, it is a big deal. I don't understand why Apple's 99c per song or it's restrictive filetypes would even anger you, though, since that's what you use. However, to some people, compatibility and versatility is important. DRM is the bane of human kind, and it's not only Apple that provides this problem (although, I must say, they are the most adamant and aggressive at enforcing it). However, as long as I have my tech savvy, I will have my music.

===

As to my problem, I never concluded that iTunes sucked. Secondly, as you are using a Mac, I understand that the way the program works is entirely different in a PC. However, I will eventually get around to putting all my music on my external drive, although I'll have to make room first. Lots of room. Then I'll defrag and clean up everything, and hopefully iTunes will once again be able to handle my monster library.

"Devotion + Beliefs and Claims of Superiority = Elitism
Seriously, if there is any better description of elitism, I have yet to see it. "

There needs to be one more thing in that combination to really be "elitism", though. Devotion (simply enjoying the product you're using, and feeling good about the company you're buying it from) and claims of superiority (valid) don't equal elitism.
I wouldn't call an SG-loving Gibson user an elitist simply because he says his guitar is better than my MIM Tele. For it to be elitism, in my opinion (we may have differing definitions), there needs to be some sort of high-horsed bullshit going on. Sure, you might see that with a few Apple fanboys, but you're much more likely to see them defending a product that they really do enjoy using.

"Apple's strategy is to create brand loyalty and to target its repeat customers."

That seems like the strategy of pretty much any company who wants to be successful. The differences between operating systems ARE large enough to create a divide between people -- otherwise, there wouldn't be so many infantile OS-wars plaguing message boards on the internet. If people only cared about liking Apple just because they're Apple, then you can bet I wouldn't be using a Mac. I'd be using a cheaper PC that I put together myself.

"I don't understand why Apple's 99c per song or it's restrictive filetypes would even anger you, though, since that's what you use. "

Oh, maybe I conveyed myself wrong. I've gotten music about...three times total from the iTunes music store (through gift cards). I really do hate DRM and this "5 maximum registered computers". It feels like renting music from Blockbuster. I really value the ability to download an MP3 and know that it really IS yours, and you can pretty much do whatever you want with it. I'm saying they don't anger me because it doesn't affect me. When I want to just acquire music, I turn to the internet, IM, torrents, soulseek, etc. When I want to buy music, I turn to the internet and music shops.


Also, when I make the decision to purchase or use an Apple product, my first thought isn't "IT'S MADE BY APPLE, I MUST HAVE IT."
My priorities are (in no particular order):
- Ease of use, hassle-factor (drivers, anti-spyware, malware, etc)
- Stability
- Security
- Usability (includes Applications, a field in which Mac OS X has significantly grown due to the Intel chips and Parallels/Boot Camp)
- Design, Interface, Aesthetics, etc.
- Expandability (sadly, where Apple could use some improvement)

To me, the choice is pretty clear. But again, it's really a case-by-case basis. I'd never recommend a Mac to the hardcore gamer, but everyone knew that already...

[quote="GoldenRhino"]"Devotion + Beliefs and Claims of Superiority = Elitism
Seriously, if there is any better description of elitism, I have yet to see it. "

There needs to be one more thing in that combination to really be "elitism", though. Devotion (simply enjoying the product you're using, and feeling good about the company you're buying it from) and claims of superiority (valid) don't equal elitism.
I wouldn't call an SG-loving Gibson user an elitist simply because he says his guitar is better than my MIM Tele. For it to be elitism, in my opinion (we may have differing definitions), there needs to be some sort of high-horsed bullshit going on. Sure, you might see that with a few Apple fanboys, but you're much more likely to see them defending a product that they really do enjoy using.
[/quote]

I think we merely have a difference in definitions. To me, elitism can be either justified or unjustified, especially since whether or not something is justified can be rather subjective. Let's take elitism in its most obvious sense: a nobleman might claim that his noble birth is justification enough for his eliteness, whereas people like you or I would immediately dismiss it as "high-horsed bullshit." Likewise, why some people think Apple products are "superior," can easily be dismissed by other people who do not have the same values.

Sometimes I find Thinliine's incessant Telecaster fappage to be elitist, but to be honest, he's defending an extremely excellent instrument.

[quote="GoldenRhino"]
"Apple's strategy is to create brand loyalty and to target its repeat customers."

That seems like the strategy of pretty much any company who wants to be successful. The differences between operating systems ARE large enough to create a divide between people -- otherwise, there wouldn't be so many infantile OS-wars plaguing message boards on the internet. If people only cared about liking Apple just because they're Apple, then you can bet I wouldn't be using a Mac. I'd be using a cheaper PC that I put together myself.
[/quote]

Brand loyalty has several psychological ramifications beyond "I like this because it is this." In fact, that is never the case. But brand loyalty does exist, and it is a very strong force. I know you read my post, and perhaps you thought that this statement was independent of the rest of the paragraph, but it wasn't. Apple tries to develop brand loyalty in a very small, exclusive market, where it focuses its marketing and strategic efforts. In fact, the #1 reason a person chooses an OS over another one is familiarity. The other differences, while more argued, are secondary, and are typically argued to defend the consumer's purchase choices.

[quote="GoldenRhino"]
"I don't understand why Apple's 99c per song or it's restrictive filetypes would even anger you, though, since that's what you use. "

Oh, maybe I conveyed myself wrong. I've gotten music about...three times total from the iTunes music store (through gift cards). I really do hate DRM and this "5 maximum registered computers". It feels like renting music from Blockbuster. I really value the ability to download an MP3 and know that it really IS yours, and you can pretty much do whatever you want with it. I'm saying they don't anger me because it doesn't affect me. When I want to just acquire music, I turn to the internet, IM, torrents, soulseek, etc. When I want to buy music, I turn to the internet and music shops.
[/quote]

That was my point too. DRM blows, and there's no question about it. But both you and me have found solutions to it, so we don't really care, do we?

[quote="GoldenRhino"]
Also, when I make the decision to purchase or use an Apple product, my first thought isn't "IT'S MADE BY APPLE, I MUST HAVE IT."
My priorities are (in no particular order):
- Ease of use, hassle-factor (drivers, anti-spyware, malware, etc)
- Stability
- Security
- Usability (includes Applications, a field in which Mac OS X has significantly grown due to the Intel chips and Parallels/Boot Camp)
- Design, Interface, Aesthetics, etc.
- Expandability (sadly, where Apple could use some improvement)

To me, the choice is pretty clear. But again, it's really a case-by-case basis. I'd never recommend a Mac to the hardcore gamer, but everyone knew that already...[/quote]

In no way was I targeting you, so an independent defense is not necessary. Like I said before, I have never heard someone say, "This product is [brand name], so I must buy it." Brand loyalty works on so many deeper levels. Many times it's like family. People don't say, "My uncle is a Morgendorffer, so I like him." They say something like, "I like Uncle Jake because he's nice, fun, and compassionate." Likewise, when children argue, "My dad is better than your dad," never are they going to say, "because he's my dad," although that is, in fact, the underlying reason. Once again, I have to say, that this is in no way attributed to you, GR. It is only human nature and psychological trend.

I have around the same amount of music on my PC and iTunes runs perfectly smooth on it.

I think terra, pretty much asked the right questions here.

To clarify, I've already decided to move all my music files to my other hard drive. The problem is that that hard drive is currently nearly full, so I may have to just buy another hard drive, a portable case, and a USB hub before I can use iTunes again. Luckily, I still have my magically black iPod.