Answers from AppleCare about Various TC issues

So I just had a 2+ hour conversation with Applecare (maybe 45 minutes of that = waiting).

My 3 issues I wanted to discuss:

1) when I use my MBP in closed-book mode (i.e. closed and connected to an external monitor and keyboard/mouse)my connection goes all wonky, with massively reduced transfer speeds, slower internet performance, etc.

ANSWER FROM APPLECARE: This is EXPECTED. I was told that closing the lid creates interferance with the wireless antenna, and this can often result in a wonky network. Interestingly, my problem always PERSISTS even after I re-open up the computer and use it normally as a laptop. I was told by Applecare that the interference will "stay with the wireless antenna" until you reboot the computer. That makes absolutely no sense to me, but that was what he said.

2) I had a problem where my backup would always fail unless I excluded my Downloads folder from the backup.

ANSWER FROM APPLECARE: When you backup using Time Machine to a directly-attached hard drive (that is, attached directly to your computer), Time Machine does a bit-for-bit backup with no compression. It does not make a disk image, it just backs up the files into a file tree. This is NOT TRUE for Time Capsule. When you use TC, TM DOES compress the data and create the sparsebundle disk images. This means that if TM runs into a file that is either corrupted or for some reason resists compression, Time Machine will be unable to back it up, and it will fail the entire backup.

3) I have had an issue where when I play video files off a USB hdd attached to my TC, I get 1-3 second stutters in the video every 20-30 seconds (sometimes more).

ANSWER FROM APPLECARE: I was told this was normal and to be expected. I was told that Apple's position is that no one should expect the ability to stream video files from a connected USB hard drive, and should only ever expect to be able to STORE the files and then move them to your local machine.

I've got to say I'm pretty dissapointed. The Clamshell issue is a big hit for me - I always use my computer closed and connected to an external monitor/etc. I don't like using dual screens. Now it appears I just can't do that. What's wierder is that my $5 trendnet piece of crap wireless router that I had prior to this TC never had a problem with this.

Anyway, thought you all might like to know.