"I would expect, though, that if it wouldn't actually sync, the computer could detect it in "disk mode" which it doesn't, which makes me wonder if this is deliberate."

On what technically-sound basis do you wonder this?

"We have Nintendo Game Cube, Game Boy, DS, and Wii, and we are hugely appreciative of the seamless backward compatibility in those systems. It's a great example of doing it right."

Yes, it is. The difference is that Apple's old software continues to run on newer operating systems. To make your analogy work, you'd have to be able to use a Wii controller with a Game Cube. Let me know when Nintendo enables that for you.

"In answer to some others, I know that there is an attitude of entitlement on Apple's part regarding its users paying big bucks to upgrade to newer operating systems, and for some reason certain customers really buy into this."

"Entitlement"? What "entitlement"? Apple can employ whatever "expectation" they like. If consumers don't like it, they're free to reject it (your Cube is a perfect example). But you elected to keep your iPod and use it in a cripple manner, which tells Apple that all this is okay with you.

"The cube, when it was purchased, came loaded with system 9 software, in spite of the fact that OS X Panther was out already. Why were they selling a computer with obsolete system software right off the shelf?"

Again, your utter lack of technical knowledge is showing. OS 9 was discontinued in very early '02 or very late '01. The Cube was discontinued in July of 2001. Panther came out in October of 2003. Your comment is written in such a way as to imply that your Cube came NEW with OS 9 when OS X 10.3 was on the market, but (a) you said above that the Cube was a gift from a friend -- was it new or used? -- and (b) what you're proposing is a technical impossibility.

You might have gotten a used Cube running 9.x, or a new Cube out of some reseller's vintage stock still running OS 9.x (since that's what they shipped with). But what you did not get was a new Cube, from Apple, running 9.x while Apple was shipping 10.3, because this didn't occur (except insofar as Apple continued to provide 9.x as a _non-default_ OS to support Classic mode, because the switch from 9.x to OS X involved a wholesale change in the code use to run applications). Either you're misinformed, or you're being disingenuous.

"Not to mention that OS 9 was a horrible OS and they should have given everyone who had it a free copy of OS X just to make up for inflicting OS 9 on them."

This has nothign whatsoever to do with your argument, and is, again, just an excuse to use Wisebread to pee in the chili of a company who has affronted you.

"I paid the money for Panther, but no I will not pay an Apple Tax every couple of years just so that I can have the latest system software."

This might be a valid argument if the upgrades provided no additional benefits. As it stands, they do. It's not a tax, and such references only damage your argument.

"Eventually I will need a new computer, either because my current one died, or because the new technology really is too much for the old processor. How I've been treated by Apple will definitely influence my decision."

That's fair.

"If I expect that a new Apple is not only going to be more expensive, but is going to give me more headaches and cost me more money in terms of upgrades...well, the competition is starting to look a lot better."

To which I say "Good luck, my friend." Have actually read anything about Vista recently?

"Once upon a time, I chose Apple because I saw it working easily and intuitively while my friends with PCs were struggling with unstable software, having to hack their own machines and spend hours on customer support to get them to work. Now, the situation seems to be reversed."

In a tirade full of misinformation and opinion disguised as fact, this is easily the most outlandish comment you've made. I invite you to switch. Much good may it do you.