Why don't we have an 8-way idrive button?
03-13-2007 | 07:01 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
My Ride: 2007 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
Designo Graphite with white leather interior
Keyless Go, Heated/Ventilated seats, Parktronic
A co-worker just picked up an '04 7-series and he took me out to lunch today. I spent the entire trip playing with the idrive screen and I really liked the 8-way idrive button vs our 4-way. Why do you think BMW decided to implement this on the 7 vs the 5?
03-13-2007 | 07:19 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
My Ride: 2007 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
Designo Graphite with white leather interior
Keyless Go, Heated/Ventilated seats, Parktronic
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='402477' date='Mar 13 2007, 09:08 PM
Because J6P isn't sharp enough to deal with 8-ways so they had to dumb it down... :thumbsdown:
J6P?? Google it...
J6P?? Google it...
J6P isn't buying a BMW.
EDIT - thanks for the tip on googling "J6P"....I had no idea what it meant, but it makes sense.
03-13-2007 | 07:26 PM
#4
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA USA
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
Originally Posted by wasupdu' post='402480' date='Mar 13 2007, 10:19 PM
What does Joe SIx Pack have to do with it?
J6P isn't buying a BMW.
EDIT - thanks for the tip on googling "J6P"....I had no idea what it meant, but it makes sense.
J6P isn't buying a BMW.
EDIT - thanks for the tip on googling "J6P"....I had no idea what it meant, but it makes sense.
03-13-2007 | 07:58 PM
#5
Members
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by wasupdu' post='402475' date='Mar 13 2007, 10:01 PM
A co-worker just picked up an '04 7-series and he took me out to lunch today. I spent the entire trip playing with the idrive screen and I really liked the 8-way idrive button vs our 4-way. Why do you think BMW decided to implement this on the 7 vs the 5?
They are entirely different systems. The 5 series system is the more advanced. The original was not viewed by critics with open arms because the 8 directions made navigating very cumbersome and imprecise. The original system in the 7 was designed around Microsoft windows for auto, the newer gen in the E60 and E90 is based on Java technology......
There are lots of reasons, the main one being that the 5 is more advanced, the 7 is obsolete and they did not want to redesign the system midway through. The next gen will have the next system in the works...
03-13-2007 | 11:22 PM
#6
Senior Members
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,097
Likes: 0
From: UK
Originally Posted by mapezzul' post='402485' date='Mar 14 2007, 02:58 AM
The original system in the 7 was designed around Microsoft windows for auto, the newer gen in the E60 and E90 is based on Java technology......
BTW the iDrive controller in the e60 works 8-way just fine in at least one application. Try it Nav when you're pinpointing a destination with the crosshairs.
ABC
03-14-2007 | 02:00 AM
#7
Senior Members
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,097
Likes: 0
From: UK
Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='402529' date='Mar 14 2007, 06:22 AM
What's that got to do with the number of directions of sensitivity of the controller? Those are operating Systems.
BTW the iDrive controller in the e60 works 8-way just fine in at least one application. Try it Nav when you're pinpointing a destination with the crosshairs.
BTW the iDrive controller in the e60 works 8-way just fine in at least one application. Try it Nav when you're pinpointing a destination with the crosshairs.
ABC
03-14-2007 | 05:38 AM
#9
Contributors
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,298
Likes: 0
From: Winter Park, FL
My Ride: 2005 545i (SMG)
Titanium Gray
Black Interior, Anthracite Trim
M-tech kit
Sport Package
Premium Sound
Satellite Radio
Active Cruise
Comfort Seats
Navigation
Folding rear seats
The primary reason the 8-way was done away with was because it is very difficult to move the iDrive controller to the diagonal without inadvertantly triggering the wrong direction. (Try it on the E60 Nav map sometime)
One of the major complaints about the original iDrive was that people were constantly getting into the wrong menus because the controller was hard to use in 8-way mode.
One of the major complaints about the original iDrive was that people were constantly getting into the wrong menus because the controller was hard to use in 8-way mode.
