Grr. So I got a new iPod nano and started setting it up tonight, and it's completely fucking my computer.

It did the initial charge and sync fine, but it also downloaded updated software, and when the computer did a restart, thing started going south. The computer got hung up during the restart process (multiple times, after I started yanking the battery to get it unfrozen.) Finally I yanked the cable connecting the iPod even though it said "connected - eject before disconnecting" and the computer was finally able to start up again.

Then I reconnect it, and now cannot start iTunes.

Disconnect again and iTunes starts up. But when I plug it back in, iTunes doesn't recognize that it's connected. Nor does My Computer. Close iTunes.

Now My Computer will recognized that there's something plugged in, but I again can't properly disconnect because every time I go to "eject this disc" (as the iPod manual states) it immediately goes in to "Not Responding".

This cannot be normal, right? Any suggestions?

(Also, this eject before disconnecting thing - really? I have to remember to make sure the iPod isn't connected any time I shut down the computer or finish charging? Do I go through this or risk damaging files every time the computer crashes or Microsoft updates force a restart?)

Hearting on my dinky little shuffle right now.

ETA: Oh god. Now it says it needs to be reformatted to run with Windows. I hope this doesn't fuck things up.

I have to remember to make sure the iPod isn't connected any time I shut down the computer or finish charging?

No, you have to "eject" the iPod if you want to disconnect it while the computer is still running. Shutting down the computer should "eject" the iPod during the shutdown process.

You can check whether it's been ejected or not (assuming it's working properly) by looking at the iPod screen. If it hhasn't been ejected it'll show the circle-with-a-line-through-it and say "do not disconnect". Once the computer is shut down it will just show its normal menu.

Disconnecting the iPod while it's still unejected can damage the iPod and/or the computer, though how or why is not clear to me.

If anybody here owns a Zune: [link]

(They're all suddenly screwed - I guess date related).

I think I finally am at the point where I could have a legitimate need to register a domain. What nonskanky and reasonably budgeted place(s) should I go to do this?

GoDaddy. I've used several and GoDaddy is both reasonable and efficient.

Theo,

What kind of things do you need with your domain? I like godaddy, but I have another domain registered with namecheap.com - just to park it.

I'd like to have email capability, and PHP/MySQL, since I want to be able to develop and test stuff, at least in small quantities.

I like Godaddy's prices, but loathe their web interface. For domain + hosting, I've been very happy with Dreamhost.

Theo,

go with godaddy then. btw, you can use gmail for domains with godaddy. There are instructions on how to set it up and may happen automatically if this is something you want to do.

dreamhost is great, but I found it to be far more expensive than what I needed.