Help -- Mini-iPod is Incompatible with the USB Port!

[On the Road]

My daughter Angie has been waiting months for a mini-iPod and finally received it today. However when she plugged it in to the PC (a notebook with Windows XP) via the USB port, she got a message saying that a "high-speed" USB port was required.

I wasn't aware of this distinction until now, but have been doing a little searching. Would the error message refer to USB 1.1 versus 2.0? The physical interface seems to be the same.

Without the connectivity the iPod is pretty much useless. What would be the best course of action? Would it be a software change or could a new USB card be installed?

By the way, apparently Firewire is also used as an interface. I'm not aware of any special Firewire capabilities on the Notebook.

Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[ET Awful]

1. You might be able to obtain a USB 2.0 card for the laptop.

The physical interface is the same between 1.1 and 2.0.

for example:

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=293596&pfp=SEARCH

$50 gets you a USB 2.0 controller card.

[MR. ELECTABLE]

2. If you're going to get a card, just get a FireWire one

FireWire is about 4 times faster than USB 2.0, which means your iPod will sync 4 times faster. The cards are the same price.

[ET Awful]

10. Ummm, USB 2.0 is faster than firewire.

Firewire has a max data rate of 400 Mbps, USB 2.0 has a max rate of 480 Mbps.

You also have to consider the fact that with USB, you have a million other devices you can use with it as well, firewire is somewhat limited.

[Renew Deal]

3. That's weird

I haven't heard that before and I have worked with lots of these. The apple website does hint to this though.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=32491
http://www.apple.com/ipod/specs.html
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93845

You should call Apple support. You may need to purchase a firewire or USB 2.0 card. You are correct, USB 2.0 is supposed to be compatible.

[On the Road]

8. Thanks -- Glad to Know It's Not Basic Ignorance

I just talked with her and her mother. They went to the Apple store and talked to the people there. The PC has a Firewire card, but they had to buy an adapter to plug the iPod in. If that's all it is, that's good news.

[GingerSnaps]

4. Is that one of the free ones?

Did you get the offer through an email?

[On the Road]

5. No, It Was Bought Online Through the Apple Wesite

chiefly because after several months of asking, Circuit City had no clue how many months it would take to begin receiving some. I was astounded by the demand, or by Apple's inability to meet it.

[GingerSnaps]

6. I would like to get one

Let me know if you get it working and how well it works out. I would appreciate knowing what they are like.

Are you near an Apple store? If you are you can go in and get help and tunes right at the store.

[truebrit71]

7. I got one for my daughter too..and got the same message..

I ignored it...and continued as though everything was fine.

It was.

It works just fine.

[On the Road]

9. Well, That's Interesting

I wasn't there so I don't know whether it was possible to continue. But I'll mention that, too.

On Edit: Apparently, it was NOT possible to continue in this case.