ReadyBoost and iTunes: bitter enemies

Posted on July 24, 2007

Wondering why iTunes video on Windows Vista is a stuttering, unwatchable nightmare? Try this experiment:

  1. Unplug your ReadyBoost flash card.
  2. Start iTunes.
  3. Start a video.
  4. Plug in your ReadyBoost card.
  5. Wave goodbye to iTunes as it comes to a sudden and complete stop. OK, not complete; I get a framerate that’s around 30secs/frame. Yep, that’s 30 seconds per frame, not frames per second.

    That’s a pretty nasty failure mode for ReadyBoost. OTOH, I’m in general not a big fan of iTunes (terrible performance and a horrid UI), and it could easily be Apple’s fault.