NBC Nightly News "iDrive"

Syndicategt · 02-23-2010, 08:42 PM

Wow NBC nightly News just did a report on Toyota/Lexus and just drug BMW's name in by saying "BMW's iDrive is too difficult to use" and "some users cannot even turn on the radio". Have these "users" ever even used a computer? It's one of the easiest systems to use and navigate, they must be getting their info from the 70+ year old test drivers from Car and Driver magazine.

BayMoWe335 · 02-23-2010, 08:44 PM

The general news is too dumb for words.

bsamoul · 02-23-2010, 08:44 PM

thank you

MCMLXXXIX · 02-23-2010, 08:47 PM

yea it isnt hard to use at all. and im talking about the pre-09 version so i cant imagine how much easier the newer one is

John 070 · 02-23-2010, 08:49 PM

I drove the Alpina B7 back in 2008 and I gave up on trying to search for my favorite radio station. It was overly complicated. If the NBC nightly news were to say the turn signal stalk on a BMW is counter-intuitive, I would agree.

Kylekuu · 02-23-2010, 08:52 PM

idk, voice button "fm *channel" works fine for me. Can't get any lazier than that

+ turn stalk is actually perfect for me, my hand sits almost right above the stalks while on the steering wheel, i just stick a figure out and signal, i think just need time to get used to

DJKhan85 · 02-23-2010, 08:54 PM

the system is hard and takes getting used to. This is coming from some who's entire life(work and hobbies) revolve around computers and electronics. People who say it's easy and complete intuitive are lying to themselves.

wwjbd24 · 02-23-2010, 08:54 PM

i dont know. for us maybe. but for my dad (60 year old immigrant) on his 2009 535 he cant even do anything... we're probably just used to it because of the technology in our era (we're not the best sample set.... we use forums and probably have alot more internet experinece and tech experience than most)

Kylekuu · 02-23-2010, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJKhan85

the system is hard and takes getting used to. This is coming from some who's entire life(work and hobbies) revolve around computers and electronics. People who say it's easy and complete intuitive are lying to themselves.

that navigation itself sucks, but other stuff is pretty self explanatory i think

DJKhan85 · 02-23-2010, 08:57 PM

Yes I was mainly complaining about the navigation....I should have noted that. Somethings are in hard to note places. Like you would think the vehicle speed warning would be in the vehicle menu but it's in the navigation menu.

08-335i · 02-23-2010, 08:58 PM

it is the best and the easiest system out there

lawwailok · 02-23-2010, 08:58 PM

when i first got the car, i felt it was somewhat hard to use especially my other car has the toyota/lexus based touch screen navi. but once i get the drill of how to turn-turn-press- on the knob. i find it very useful.
i LOVE the inputting address while the car is moving!!!! my other stupid navi will lock everything out once the car is above 5mph......
my wife get used to that navi layout so whenever she rides in my car, she complains how difficult to use the knob.... the other way around, i can't do shit in her navi system, she has to guide me through..........LOL

BMWinNorthdakota · 02-23-2010, 09:09 PM

Gota love the older generation bitching about I-drive.

People who are not so "Tech savvy" always hate on new products and technology that is "Different" to them.

I find the I-drive to be quite simple, even on my 07 platform.

TWiTCHY · 02-23-2010, 09:14 PM

Who doesn't sit down and read their car's manual after dropping $35k+?

Learn to use the car's functions and get the most out of your money for god's sake.

Syndicategt · 02-23-2010, 09:15 PM

I can understand if you are a "baby boomer" or older. But really, if you have ever used a computer more than twice, this should be very intuitive. I never understand why C&D now the nightly news hates it. An I also beleive BMW should never, ever, be in the same sentence with Toyota (no thanks to Dan Rathers)

How hard is turning a wheel and pushing down on 2 buttons? I think you can train a monkey to do it

MCMLXXXIX · 02-23-2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawwailok

when i first got the car, i felt it was somewhat hard to use especially my other car has the toyota/lexus based touch screen navi. but once i get the drill of how to turn-turn-press- on the knob. i find it very useful.
i LOVE the inputting address while the car is moving!!!! my other stupid navi will lock everything out once the car is above 5mph......
my wife get used to that navi layout so whenever she rides in my car, she complains how difficult to use the knob.... the other way around, i can't do shit in her navi system, she has to guide me through..........LOL

lol i cant stand those touch screen systems

dimabimmer · 02-23-2010, 09:28 PM

I noticed, lately even most reputable news channels are giving bad publicity to foreign autos... it is almost like they are on the mission to eliminate All Competition.

dimabimmer · 02-23-2010, 09:32 PM

I noticed, lately even most reputable US news channels are giving bad publicity to foreign autos... it is almost like they are on the mission to eliminate All Competition. All we see lately is how wonderful Ford Focus is and how advanced "keyless entry" of a new Ford Taurus...

John 070 · 02-23-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimabimmer

I noticed, lately even most reputable US news channels are giving bad publicity to foreign autos... it is almost like they are on the mission to eliminate All Competition. All we see lately is how wonderful Ford Focus is and how advanced "keyless entry" of a new Ford Taurus...

Well at least the ex GM ceo makes $3000 per hour as a consultant. I heard he gets 60k per month now for 20 hours of work.

Vypurr · 02-23-2010, 09:42 PM

It's funny, when I got my 335 recently, I thought well OK I'll just need to deal with this crappy iDrive & figure it out, with all the bad press I expected the worst.

In about 10 mins I was programming my stations, my phone, set my home on the navi, I've done nearly everything it has to offer, have yet to open the owners manual to reference iDrive operation. My 16 yr old son took about 3 mins to get it down completely. Seems to be one of the easiest systems I've seen, better than 2 other touch screen systems I have in the other cars. And the mouse like joystick is awesome, the touch screen is so over hyped, in actual operation the joystick is much more practical IMO.

maswastage · 02-23-2010, 09:50 PM

I wouldn't say it's 100% intuitive, but then nothing is these days. Compared to the other systems out there, it's not only the original but still one of the (if not the) best.

JulieDriving · 02-23-2010, 09:53 PM

Never tried the previous gen, but the current generation is sooo easy to use, I can't believe it.

You know what they say about the difficulty in shaking a bad reputation... Remember what steep hill Hyundai had to climb after the Pony...

02-23-2010, 08:42 PM	#1
Syndicategt Brigadier General 153 Rep 3,730 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (11)	NBC Nightly News "iDrive" Wow NBC nightly News just did a report on Toyota/Lexus and just drug BMW's name in by saying "BMW's iDrive is too difficult to use" and "some users cannot even turn on the radio". Have these "users" ever even used a computer? It's one of the easiest systems to use and navigate, they must be getting their info from the 70+ year old test drivers from Car and Driver magazine. __________________ 2008 BMW 335i e90 - Sold - Rob Beck Turbos / PROcede V5 / Aquamist HFS-4 / AR Downpipes / AE Exhaust / ER Comp FMIC / ER CP / TiAL BOV / Custom Intake / RPI Scoops / Quaife LSD / Swift-Koni Coilovers / DSS HS / Morr VS8.2 Sig Black / Michelin PSS / P3 Boost Guage / M3 body / M3 steering wheel / Adam's Rotors / Hawk HPS / SS lines /
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02-23-2010, 08:44 PM	#2
BayMoWe335 Colonel 1176 Rep 2,132 Posts Drives: 2010 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: US iTrader: (0)	The general news is too dumb for words.
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02-23-2010, 08:44 PM	#3
bsamoul Major General 165 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	thank you __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
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02-23-2010, 08:47 PM	#4
MCMLXXXIX wat 238 Rep 3,406 Posts Drives: a gr3at whit3 5hark Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oct 2008 iTrader: (0)	yea it isnt hard to use at all. and im talking about the pre-09 version so i cant imagine how much easier the newer one is
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02-23-2010, 08:49 PM	#5
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	I drove the Alpina B7 back in 2008 and I gave up on trying to search for my favorite radio station. It was overly complicated. If the NBC nightly news were to say the turn signal stalk on a BMW is counter-intuitive, I would agree.
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02-23-2010, 08:52 PM	#6
Kylekuu Captain 30 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 08 328xi, 84 318i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kenosha, WI iTrader: (0)	idk, voice button "fm *channel" works fine for me. Can't get any lazier than that + turn stalk is actually perfect for me, my hand sits almost right above the stalks while on the steering wheel, i just stick a figure out and signal, i think just need time to get used to
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02-23-2010, 08:54 PM	#7
DJKhan85 Major 24 Rep 1,190 Posts Drives: 2011 4dr 6mt Golf GTI Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	the system is hard and takes getting used to. This is coming from some who's entire life(work and hobbies) revolve around computers and electronics. People who say it's easy and complete intuitive are lying to themselves. __________________ 2011 VW GTI 4dr-6mt-Sunroof-Nav-Xenons OLD: 08 335i AW/CR/Poplar 6mt-ZSP-ZPP-ZCW-iPod-iDrive-PDC-Style 230s w/FK 452-Dinan LSD
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02-23-2010, 08:54 PM	#8
wwjbd24 Private First Class 7 Rep 156 Posts Drives: e92 07 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mid Atlantic iTrader: (0)	i dont know. for us maybe. but for my dad (60 year old immigrant) on his 2009 535 he cant even do anything... we're probably just used to it because of the technology in our era (we're not the best sample set.... we use forums and probably have alot more internet experinece and tech experience than most)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-23-2010, 08:57 PM	#10
DJKhan85 Major 24 Rep 1,190 Posts Drives: 2011 4dr 6mt Golf GTI Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	Yes I was mainly complaining about the navigation....I should have noted that. Somethings are in hard to note places. Like you would think the vehicle speed warning would be in the vehicle menu but it's in the navigation menu. __________________ 2011 VW GTI 4dr-6mt-Sunroof-Nav-Xenons OLD: 08 335i AW/CR/Poplar 6mt-ZSP-ZPP-ZCW-iPod-iDrive-PDC-Style 230s w/FK 452-Dinan LSD
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02-23-2010, 08:58 PM	#11
08-335i Private First Class 45 Rep 148 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (2)	it is the best and the easiest system out there
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02-23-2010, 08:58 PM	#12
lawwailok Lieutenant Colonel 146 Rep 1,922 Posts Drives: E90 335i, E70 X5 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA iTrader: (18) Garage List 2007 E90 335i [8.00] 2009 E70 xDrive30i [0.00]	when i first got the car, i felt it was somewhat hard to use especially my other car has the toyota/lexus based touch screen navi. but once i get the drill of how to turn-turn-press- on the knob. i find it very useful. i LOVE the inputting address while the car is moving!!!! my other stupid navi will lock everything out once the car is above 5mph...... my wife get used to that navi layout so whenever she rides in my car, she complains how difficult to use the knob.... the other way around, i can't do shit in her navi system, she has to guide me through..........LOL __________________ -eric E90 335i TiAg STOCK see my garage for mod list.. E70 X5 SGM try to stay stock :/
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02-23-2010, 09:09 PM	#13
BMWinNorthdakota Banned 244 Rep 1,106 Posts Drives: 2007 bmw 335i e90 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Fargo ND iTrader: (0)	Gota love the older generation bitching about I-drive. People who are not so "Tech savvy" always hate on new products and technology that is "Different" to them. I find the I-drive to be quite simple, even on my 07 platform.
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02-23-2010, 09:14 PM	#14
TWiTCHY Colonel 376 Rep 2,526 Posts Drives: '13 AW E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: WA iTrader: (6)	Who doesn't sit down and read their car's manual after dropping $35k+? Learn to use the car's functions and get the most out of your money for god's sake.
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02-23-2010, 09:15 PM	#15
Syndicategt Brigadier General 153 Rep 3,730 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (11)	I can understand if you are a "baby boomer" or older. But really, if you have ever used a computer more than twice, this should be very intuitive. I never understand why C&D now the nightly news hates it. An I also beleive BMW should never, ever, be in the same sentence with Toyota (no thanks to Dan Rathers) How hard is turning a wheel and pushing down on 2 buttons? I think you can train a monkey to do it __________________ 2008 BMW 335i e90 - Sold - Rob Beck Turbos / PROcede V5 / Aquamist HFS-4 / AR Downpipes / AE Exhaust / ER Comp FMIC / ER CP / TiAL BOV / Custom Intake / RPI Scoops / Quaife LSD / Swift-Koni Coilovers / DSS HS / Morr VS8.2 Sig Black / Michelin PSS / P3 Boost Guage / M3 body / M3 steering wheel / Adam's Rotors / Hawk HPS / SS lines /
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02-23-2010, 09:28 PM	#17
dimabimmer Lieutenant Colonel 148 Rep 1,885 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 ZCP 6MT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Brooklyn to SoHo NYC iTrader: (0)	I noticed, lately even most reputable news channels are giving bad publicity to foreign autos... it is almost like they are on the mission to eliminate All Competition. __________________ '11 E92 M3 ZCP SG 6MT Tech Sound USB Heat Cloth Aluminium Sunshade http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422151
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02-23-2010, 09:32 PM	#18
dimabimmer Lieutenant Colonel 148 Rep 1,885 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 ZCP 6MT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Brooklyn to SoHo NYC iTrader: (0)	I noticed, lately even most reputable US news channels are giving bad publicity to foreign autos... it is almost like they are on the mission to eliminate All Competition. All we see lately is how wonderful Ford Focus is and how advanced "keyless entry" of a new Ford Taurus... __________________ '11 E92 M3 ZCP SG 6MT Tech Sound USB Heat Cloth Aluminium Sunshade http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422151
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02-23-2010, 09:42 PM	#20
Vypurr Private First Class 7 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 335Ci Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: MD iTrader: (1)	It's funny, when I got my 335 recently, I thought well OK I'll just need to deal with this crappy iDrive & figure it out, with all the bad press I expected the worst. In about 10 mins I was programming my stations, my phone, set my home on the navi, I've done nearly everything it has to offer, have yet to open the owners manual to reference iDrive operation. My 16 yr old son took about 3 mins to get it down completely. Seems to be one of the easiest systems I've seen, better than 2 other touch screen systems I have in the other cars. And the mouse like joystick is awesome, the touch screen is so over hyped, in actual operation the joystick is much more practical IMO. __________________ 07 335 Vert: 6MT, Sport, Comfort, Prem, Cold, etc. What's the difference between a porcupine and a BMW, the porcupine has pricks on the outside. Nice weather .. time to get my attention whoring on.
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02-23-2010, 09:50 PM	#21
maswastage Resident Diesel Junkie 56 Rep 1,070 Posts Drives: 2010 AW 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	I wouldn't say it's 100% intuitive, but then nothing is these days. Compared to the other systems out there, it's not only the original but still one of the (if not the) best.
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02-23-2010, 09:53 PM	#22
JulieDriving Female driving enthusiast :P 76 Rep 2,308 Posts Drives: Bimmer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 Coupe [10.00]	Never tried the previous gen, but the current generation is sooo easy to use, I can't believe it. You know what they say about the difficulty in shaking a bad reputation... Remember what steep hill Hyundai had to climb after the Pony... __________________ 2013 M3 coupe (Azurite Black, Black, Piano Black) + miata nut (2 miatas) + Mk6 GTI 5-door hatch (our mini-SUV )
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