Ipod Nanos

[CajunMama]

My kids both want an ipod nano for Christmas. Do i get the 500 song one or do i spend $50 more and get the one that holds 1000 songs? What accessories do i need to purchase also?

[kevin]

I've heard about screen problems with the ipod nano. You might want to check into that issue. People complaining that the screens become unreadable after use due to a thinner coat of protection.

[furluvcats]

We're doing the Ipod thing this year also, for the kids...of course mine want the 40 gig one...or whatever...but I'm leaning more towards the midsized one...I would love any feed back as well, as its a bit pricy and I'd want to make sure we got the one that best suits us...Kevin...tell us more!!!

[CajunMama]

I ended up purchasing them on circuitcity.com last night. I went with the 1000 song one for both...daughter got white and my son got the black one. I said what the heck! They don't really ask for much.

[pojo]

I have the 6GB mini and I love it. I currently have around 1000 songs on my Ipod... I use it wherever I go (workout, sitting outside reading, etc). I would highly recommend the Ipods to anyone.

[HurriCat]

Nobody get mad, but my niece claims that the iPod batteries are not replaceable. Once they poop-out and will not recharge, that's about it for Mr 'Pod. True? Is this an affordably-fixed item? Just thinking before laying out my hard-earned cash!

[lurkey]

I've heard about screen problems with the ipod nano. You might want to check into that issue. People complaining that the screens become unreadable after use due to a thinner coat of protection.

You can purchase screen protectors and sleeve jackets for the Nanos. Go to http://www.ilounge.com and they can recommend the best ones and where to buy them.


The only other accessory I will recommend is an iTrip or something similar, so you can listen to the iPod while driving.

[PurdueWx80]

I've had my iPod for two years and it still runs fine (minus a few glitches here and there that are easily ignored). I'm pretty sure the battery problem has been fixed in the newest generation - in fact, most of them run 10-14 hours without recharging. Mine is only on the order of 3 or 4.

As soon as this one dies, I'll probably go for the nano. It'd be easier for exercising and such since it has no moving parts (I have to be careful now - always afraid I might break the hard drive within if I go too crazy). That said, I've dropped it on hard surfaces roughly 10 times now and it's still kickin'.

furluv - I have a 10 GB iPod (they don't make it anymore) and it's not full - in fact, I have about ~1300 songs (4 days worth) of music on it right now. 40 GB seems like a lot, but if they are music lovers and have a large collection I guess it wouldn't be a horrible idea.

[lurkey]

Nobody get mad, but my niece claims that the iPod batteries are not replaceable. Once they poop-out and will not recharge, that's about it for Mr 'Pod. True? Is this an affordably-fixed item? Just thinking before laying out my hard-earned cash!

Your niece can have Apple replace the batteries for $59.00. There was a class action lawsuit against Apple because of this problem.

One more thing: Don't get the 40G iPod. I have had two 40G iPods get the "icon of Death" (ie hard drive failure) before the end of warranty period. Fortunately, I was to get a 60G (non-video) as an replacement. It is 50 % full with music, audiobooks, podcasts and photos. I still have my first iPod (10G) somewhere.
.

[JQ Public]

I heard they were recalled?

[lurkey]

I heard they were recalled?

Nanos or iPods with battery problems?

Ipods with battery problems - Not that I know of. Here were the terms of the settlement:

In June, Apple agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over battery problems in older iPod models. Under the terms of the settlement, owners of first-, second-, and third-generation iPods can choose either an Apple Store credit of $50, or a $25 check. In addition, the iPod’s one-year warranty is automatically extended for an additional year for third-generation iPod owners and Apple will replace the battery for free if it fails within the two-year period.

Apple are willing to replace any Nanos that have sustained irreparable damage to the lcd screen.

[furluvcats]

Thanks for all the info...Overstock.com has the small one for 89.00 right now...and I may just buy that shuffle for all the kids...My son says he doesn't want the shuffle bc it doesn't have a clock on it....sigh...isn't that what his cell phone is for??

[CajunMama]

As "in demand" as these nano ipods are i got notice today that my ipods shipped today!!! Now i just have to hide them till Christmas!

[JQ Public]

No i was talking about this defect. Supposedly the screen scratches and the nanos are quite skinny and can snap in half. Heres one of the links.

Motley Fool
Nano Trouble Could Bruise Apple
Monday October 24, 1:47 pm ET
By Alyce Lomax

Despite what has appeared to be the very early success of Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL - News) iPod nano product, there has been a less optimistic subplot ever since the device launched -- the one in which some customers have complained that the product's screen is too fragile. That controversy reared its ugly head again on Monday, when it came to light that Apple faces a lawsuit alleging that the product is defective and that it launched the nano knowing that that was the case.

As you may recall, the iPod nano was barely out of the gate when some uproar ensued over some buyers' claims that the screen on the tiny music player was just too easy to damage. Apple did the right thing pretty quickly by admitting that a small percentage of the players did suffer from easily cracked screens and saying that it would replace any affected nanos free of charge. (On the other hand, at that time I thought that Apple saying that the problem was easily rectified by buying a cover to protect the device was a little bit presumptuous -- there may be an iPod economy, but Apple shouldn't give the impression that it's expecting folks to clothe their iPods to protect them from normal wear and tear.)

Word around the Web is that Jason Tomczak filed a lawsuit alleging that the music players "scratch excessively during normal usage, rendering the screens on the Nanos unreadable." Apparently Tomczak returned a scratched nano, only to have the screen on his replacement nano scratch as well. He is suing for the $25 return fee as well as the price he originally paid for the nano. However, the lawyers filing the suit are seeking class action status.

On our own discussion board dedicated to Apple talk, some Foolish Apple fans saw the news as simply a good example of another frivolous lawsuit in a society where many such lawsuits exist. That may be true, and debate rages on the subject of the nano's tendency to scratch or not -- after all, some have subjected the nano to strenuous torture tests, with the guys at Ars Technica dropping one at various speeds and running it over with cars -- but I can't help thinking that continued buzz about the nano's propensity for scratched or otherwise damaged screens just can't be good for Apple.

After all, Apple has always been known for its elegant products, and the very idea that is being bandied about -- that the company knew the nano had a design flaw and released it anyway -- is just not good PR.

Will this hurt Apple? Well, the iPod is still the name in MP3 players at the moment, as is well illustrated by its recent earnings. And Apple recently gave us all food for thought relating to its deal with Disney (NYSE: DIS - News) to distribute some hit ABC shows using iTunes and its new video-enabled iPod, so its continued power is quite evident. However, I can't help wondering whether all of this bad press might frighten some shoppers away from the iPod nano and give the Apple brand a few scratches as well.

Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned.

[Miss Mary]

My husband buys all of our mac related products on refurb lists. So far it's worked out well too. They have macs in his office too, so again many come from refurb lists. Several of our iPods have as well. Not sure how you find this list, probably accessed from the apple website. It changes daily. He has it bookmarked. We've also bought digital cameras from refurb lists. Never market price!

Bill Gates who?

My hubby, always one to look for the best deal. We rarely run out and purchase anything, unless consulting Consumer Report's too!

LOL

[GrimReaper]

I got the color screen (expensive) ipod for my daughter for her birthday in September. Boy do I feel "i-tard". I couldn't figure out anything on it. "Little Grim" had it working and sucking songs off the computer in minutes!!! There were a few glitches with the software, and there was an update already available for this model, even thought it was brand new!!!

Hey... make a deal with your kids to let you download a couple of songs you like too, then transfer them back to cd.... and listen to them the old fashioned way.... in the house or car stereo....like OLD Grim!!!

[CajunMama]

The ipods came in today! I had this s2k open and this thread minimized at work today...my daughter came by work and read the thread! Now she knows she's getting the ipod! Bah humbug...might have to not wrap it up and put it under the tree...make her think she's not getting it!

[JQ Public]

I hope they fixed that default! Congrats

[lurkey]

No i was talking about this defect. Supposedly the screen scratches and the nanos are quite skinny and can snap in half. Heres one of the links.

Motley Fool
Nano Trouble Could Bruise Apple
Monday October 24, 1:47 pm ET
By Alyce Lomax

Despite what has appeared to be the very early success of Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL - News) iPod nano product, there has been a less optimistic subplot ever since the device launched -- the one in which some customers have complained that the product's screen is too fragile. That controversy reared its ugly head again on Monday, when it came to light that Apple faces a lawsuit alleging that the product is defective and that it launched the nano knowing that that was the case.

As you may recall, the iPod nano was barely out of the gate when some uproar ensued over some buyers' claims that the screen on the tiny music player was just too easy to damage. Apple did the right thing pretty quickly by admitting that a small percentage of the players did suffer from easily cracked screens and saying that it would replace any affected nanos free of charge. (On the other hand, at that time I thought that Apple saying that the problem was easily rectified by buying a cover to protect the device was a little bit presumptuous -- there may be an iPod economy, but Apple shouldn't give the impression that it's expecting folks to clothe their iPods to protect them from normal wear and tear.)

Word around the Web is that Jason Tomczak filed a lawsuit alleging that the music players "scratch excessively during normal usage, rendering the screens on the Nanos unreadable." Apparently Tomczak returned a scratched nano, only to have the screen on his replacement nano scratch as well. He is suing for the $25 return fee as well as the price he originally paid for the nano. However, the lawyers filing the suit are seeking class action status.

On our own discussion board dedicated to Apple talk, some Foolish Apple fans saw the news as simply a good example of another frivolous lawsuit in a society where many such lawsuits exist. That may be true, and debate rages on the subject of the nano's tendency to scratch or not -- after all, some have subjected the nano to strenuous torture tests, with the guys at Ars Technica dropping one at various speeds and running it over with cars -- but I can't help thinking that continued buzz about the nano's propensity for scratched or otherwise damaged screens just can't be good for Apple.

After all, Apple has always been known for its elegant products, and the very idea that is being bandied about -- that the company knew the nano had a design flaw and released it anyway -- is just not good PR.

Will this hurt Apple? Well, the iPod is still the name in MP3 players at the moment, as is well illustrated by its recent earnings. And Apple recently gave us all food for thought relating to its deal with Disney (NYSE: DIS - News) to distribute some hit ABC shows using iTunes and its new video-enabled iPod, so its continued power is quite evident. However, I can't help wondering whether all of this bad press might frighten some shoppers away from the iPod nano and give the Apple brand a few scratches as well.

Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned.

The white nanos are the ones with the screen problems and the blacks ones are the one that are having trouble with scratches. The scratches can be taken care of by putting a slip jacket or a case on the iPod and keeping it on. All iPods get scratched, the scratches are just more noticeable on the black iPod.

The screen defect? Considering how I seen some people take care of their nanos (ie tossing them in their purse / gym bag or slipping them in their pocket and then sitting down), I'm not surprised that they are having problems.

[rainydaze]

Well, here is my iPod story...my 11 year old son has been asking for one for awhile now and I pretty much made up my mind to get him one for Christmas.....after researching them, I decided the $129 shuffle with 240 songs would be awesome for him and I was very excited....so here is the catch...last night my son brings me an ad from the Sunday paper of iPods. He informs me that he wants the $200 iPod Nano....well I point out the $129 iPod and he basically gives me all these reasons why that one basically sucks! *Sigh* Then my husband shuts him down by telling him there is no way he is getting a $200 christmas present....and he gets upset. My son has always been the more selfish one when it comes to wanting things....no matter how many times we talk to him about appreciating things. So where does that leave me? I was so excited that I was going to buy him something cool....but now that doesn't seem good enough....any opinions on what I should do? (besides beat my kid senseless...lol)