iPod Nano May Have Some Big Problems

[ferrarimodena360]

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews
September 26, 2005, 9:56 AM

What some analysts have billed as the "top MP3 player this fall" may have just hit a potentially damaging roadblock - its own frailty.

Complaints have begun to circle on both Web logs and Apple's own support forums surrounding an issue with the polycarbonate plastic that covers the front of the iPod Nano. Some users claim the player scratches extremely easily, enough that it makes the screen difficult to read.

The problems have even led one anonymous Nano owner to set up a Web site to gather complaints of defects surrounding the diminutive player. flawedmusicplayer.com, was registered September 21 by Matthew Peterson of Hazel Park, Michigan.

While the site was originally created to demand some kind of recourse for what Park called a defect in the LCD screen that causes it to crack, in recent days reports of the scratching problem have become the primary complaint.

"My thoughts are that the nano is way too expensive to scratch so easily like this. In my case, the only thing my nano screen touched was the inside of my cotton shirt's pocket," a customer named Curt wrote.

Other users experienced similar problems to Park, with varying degrees of success in getting a resolution from Apple. "I have brought it down to the Apple Service Centre (and called Apple Customer Care Australia) and was told by them that this problem is not covered by Apple's warranty," a Nano owner named Ed wrote.

But some had their units replaced. "Went to the Apple store... and as clearly there was no sign of external damage, they agreed to replace the unit," Amanda from New York reported.

Microsoft even took time in an internal meeting with employees on the company's reorganization to mention the Nano issues. "I have to tell you that I did get the iPod Nano the first day it came out and it only worked one day," Windows chief Jim Allchin said. "True story. I think they have a moisture problem."

Apple has yet to make any public statement regarding the scratching issue or cracks in the Nano's screen. BetaNews had a request out for an official position on the matter, however no response was received as of press time.


http://www.betanews.com/article/iPod...ems/1127743011 :icon_blac

[Fudge Tunnel]

Completely unnacceptable especially from a company with the reputation of Apple. Their R&D Department should have seen this and incoporated a scratch resistant screen like those seen on many types of mobile phone. And how about the technology in those TDK tuff disk DVDs?

[Auggie2k]

They have scratch proof DVD's? About time!

[Heiro]

I read a nano test and review here: http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/nano.ars/3 from what they say it seems fairly durable. Are these scratches really dibilitating or just obnoxious? And if you can't stand scratches then wait for someone to make a case for it and then get your nano. I have had my g3 ipod for some time now and while its is battered and beaten to hell it still works fine.

[Fudge Tunnel]

This is what Apple need to use:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6583

[Auggie2k]

Originally Posted by Fudge Tunnel

This is what Apple need to use:

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6583

Right now Apple are stealing your idea behind your back!

[notbob]

Originally Posted by Fudge Tunnel

Completely unnacceptable especially from a company with the reputation of Apple. Their R&D Department should have seen this and incoporated a scratch resistant screen like those seen on many types of mobile phone. And how about the technology in those TDK tuff disk DVDs?

why is it surprising? quality problems are present in every major apple product (ipod batteries, fragile screens, chipset problems, etc.)

every new product line has bugs, sometimes just in the beginning, sometimes forever, and apple has certainly had their share. the people who think that apple is perfect often like to overlook these deficiencies, until they happen to them, then it's the end of the frickin world

want a good product? don't buy it day 1. it goes for cars, consumer goods, prescription drugs, everything.

the first kid on the block to have something is also the first one to discover the problems the engineers missed while they rushed it to market

[Auggie2k]

That's being very harsh on the nano. I held it, and it felt durable and my friend had dropped it already (funny how that always happens) and it left no marks. Just look at the testing and autopsy Heiro posted. Your being too mean on it. Why is there always someone to slate the newest products until they can't slate no more!

[Epitaph]

Just buy some of those sticky plastic protectors made for lcd screens on cameras and such.


http://cgi.ebay.com/1-8-LCD-Protecti...QQcmdZViewItem

[Fudge Tunnel]

Originally Posted by notbob

why is it surprising? quality problems are present in every major apple product (ipod batteries, fragile screens, chipset problems, etc.)

every new product line has bugs, sometimes just in the beginning, sometimes forever, and apple has certainly had their share. the people who think that apple is perfect often like to overlook these deficiencies, until they happen to them, then it's the end of the frickin world

want a good product? don't buy it day 1. it goes for cars, consumer goods, prescription drugs, everything.

the first kid on the block to have something is also the first one to discover the problems the engineers missed while they rushed it to market

Fair enough (or "Furry Muff" as I prefer), the thing I find surprising about this is that they appear to have changed the screen material from the last ipod. Now I could be wrong on this but if that is the case then surely whoever made the decision on the new material has clearly not investigated the essential issue of durability which surely is pretty dang important on a product which is going to be rested against a rusty set of keys in a mugger's pocket.

[notbob]

Originally Posted by Fudge Tunnel

Fair enough (or "Furry Muff" as I prefer), the thing I find surprising about this is that they appear to have changed the screen material from the last ipod. Now I could be wrong on this but if that is the case then surely whoever made the decision on the new material has clearly not investigated the essential issue of durability which surely is pretty dang important on a product which is going to be rested against a rusty set of keys in a mugger's pocket.

no doubt related to the same cause of all of apple's (and everyone elses') problems, cutting costs, new suppliers, streamlining processes, simplified B.O.M.s etc.

believe it or not, customers' needs are way way behind profit and shareholder expectations in the priority chain. luckily for apple, they have a rabid fan base that will buy any crap they can produce--however, if they keep this trend going, they are going to shoot themselves in the foot

[Fudge Tunnel]

believe it or not, customers' needs are way way behind profit and shareholder expectations in the priority chain. luckily for apple, they have a rabid fan base that will buy any crap they can produce--however, if they keep this trend going, they are going to shoot themselves in the foot[/quote]

This is true. I travel on one of the main hubs routes into London Waterloo everyday & Apple has literally bought almost every free poster space within the station & Tube for the Nano. Of course the majority of consumers do not investigate all the pitfalls of every gadget they buy for the understandable reasons of time, convenience, fashion, intelligence etc. I do believe that Apple's "rabid fan base" can be incredibly blinkered when it comes to viewing the product as a manmade device with its evolutionary faults. But then Apple is more like a Club where everyone can feel special (good special not bad special) and loved- and who would not want to be loved by Steve Jobbs and his merry band of designer elves? Awwwww

[isus]

Originally Posted by notbob

why is it surprising? quality problems are present in every major apple product (ipod batteries, fragile screens, chipset problems, etc.)

every new product line has bugs, sometimes just in the beginning, sometimes forever, and apple has certainly had their share. the people who think that apple is perfect often like to overlook these deficiencies, until they happen to them, then it's the end of the frickin world

want a good product? don't buy it day 1. it goes for cars, consumer goods, prescription drugs, everything.

the first kid on the block to have something is also the first one to discover the problems the engineers missed while they rushed it to market

Agreed. These things will happen to Apple, Dell, Microsoft, Ford, BMW, and any other company that sells a good.