Could Microsoft help BMW?
 

Not sure anyone has raised this issue, so I'm wondering how people feel -

I'm not Microsoft fan, but reading about all the difficulties with loading Nav software makes it apparent that BMW is way behind the curve when it comes to software upgrades. The upgrade should be at least a 2 step process once the upgrade CD is inserted. The upgrades should have checksums that verify first whether ALL of the new code has been read properly off of the CD. Only then should the actual upgrade begin and at that point it should happen correctly unless power is turned off.

So the result should be that you insert the CD, and either you end up with a new properly functioning upgrade, or you get a screen that says upgrade was not performed due to data error (but you still have your old version working the same as it always did). No in-between black or white screens or performance problems

If MS was this bad at upgrades, there would be millions of people with dead computers every month when a new windows security update came out.

Fortunately MS doesn't design cars because we know those wouldn't work, but unfortunately BMW doesn't know how do design software, or at least software upgrades. JMO

BMW (actually VDO) upgrade procedure is not so bad as you think. It's already has CRC check, 2 step processing and recovery technique.

Sure Microsoft can if you want it crashing all the time :)

Not highly likely. The new iDrive system is Microsoft-based, and it is a disaster-- talk about the crash master of instability. The first two years of the E65/E66 model have been plagued with software problems.

Hahaha, wow... MS did all the underlying software of iDrive - look at the disaster that has been. I love iDrive and the concept (and contrary to what everyone says ITS NOT HARD TO USE!), but MS's execution was terrible. So many iDrive units have failed, and slowly deteriorate over time (slowless, lack of responsiveness, faults reported that aren't actually occurring).

What your also not understanding, is that the BMW nav system was never meant to be upgraded @ home by customers. It was set up originally that only dealers were supposed to be doing the upgrades with BMW APPROVED CD's (and then later I think through the BMW dealer online website). Then the nav images got out - and what do you know - now were all burning them and installing them ourselves.

The major problem with nav upgrades happens when cheap CD-R materials are used. Or cheap burners that make mistakes when writing fast.

Now why doesn't Apple do the installer? Now thats an idea !

Edit: Brian-BMW sorry didn't read all the posts before I posted... But you are spot on ! :)

And a good idea at that

Since BMW has inked a collaboration deal with Intel, maybe they could help.

Well that's a good point. But I suspect that the dealers have to redo this more often than they desire.

And hey - I dislike MS's faulty S/W as much as anyone else out there. I battle with their products hourly. Although Apple is no better - artificially keeping prices high, and doing annoying things like loading your computer up with itunes junk even if you're just trying to download quicktime. My only point was that MS has done a good job of making downloads relatively reliable in that they don't irrevocably crash your computer.

I was just interested in people's opinions. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

That would be the best software/car combination the world has ever seen. They could have smoothed out the iDrive interface and made it so much easier. Look at their computers and the iPod.. Everything is so easy to use and straightforward..

This is a BIG misconception about apple. Compare a Dell or a Sony to an Apple computer, spec to spec. The Apple is usually on par pricewise with the dell (+/- $100-150) and always cheaper than Sony.

The difference is that Apple doesn't suck you in with $300 budget machines that seem nice, until you find out the technology is 3 years old...