You mean the iPod shuffle that accepts an external battery pack?
The Shuffle is just flash memory, so I'm guessing that its power requirements are much lower than a hard-drive powered iPod. So until we actually hear about batteries failing, it seems premature to whine about it.As has been stated in the past, making the ipod’s battery easily replaceable went against the design aesthetic of the device. And when Apple DID drop the ball with the original replacement policy (which I see they can NEVER correct, in you mind) other people took up the cause with a reasonably cheap alternative.
Then you complain that you don’t get your original ipod back - it’s a known fact that you can repair more units (of any kind) if you decouple the devices coming in and the devices going out. Then you further complain when it takes longer to keep the ipod pieces together if they’re engraved. Again, Apple can do no right. I don’t think anyone claims ipods to be disposeable, but they ARE a commodity (like cellphones) and the support structure is built accordingly.
Listen, everyone’s entitled to their opinion. Whether it’s ‘informed’ or not depends on who you ask. You don’t sell millions and millions of ANYTHING and not have some dissatisfied customers. IMHO, the battery issue is overblown by folks trying to find ANY traction against a device that seems resistant to competition.
You can make your device hold more, cost less, have a replaceable battery, have buttons and whistles out the wazoo and you STILL can’t overcome Apple’s marketing.
I’ll defend the iPod Shuffle. My wife has had one for 3 weeks now, and we are *still *waiting for the battery indicator to change from green.
OK Ok, I have been combining 3 seperate issues, but in some way they are related:
1- Battery issue, which is not really Apples fault, it is the chemistry of the battery technology.
2 - Customer service, Apple really wants no part of battery failure problem and tryes to deflect the issue and make replacement expensive at best.
3 - Design - Such a device that does tax batteries, to the point that totally draining them might be ‘normal’ under certain usage patterns, and BTW LI-ION should not be run down regularly - this is the most damaging state. AND making the batteries not easially replaceable is a design flaw.
Also I understand your point that it is faster to ship a refurb then repair the incomming one, but my point is the way they handle it. Palm will OVERNIGHT you a new pda with a box to RETURN yours postage paid. The time you are with out a palm is 1 day. With apple you must SEND your’s first, then AFTER they get it they will SEND it to you a WEEK later, so you WILL BE WITHOUT YOUR IPOD FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS, OR 4 IF YOU WANT IT ENGRAVED.
(adding)
This is terriable customer service IMHO.
I want to add something to what I said.
While I do believe there are real issues with the IPOD, I have gone too strong against Apple. When I feel attacked, like I felt here, I tend to go full out against the attack and that makes me sould like I am comming off bashing them.
Actually I think the IPOD is a great device, with limitations and as long as you understand them you can make an informed decision. Every device made has something that makes it not perfect for everyone and every device has a limited life span.
I think Apple is suffering from Palm’s excellent service. I’ve used Palms return policy and have received a replacement LESS THAN 20 hours after making a replacement call. I’ve seen similar performance from Motorola/AT&T. That, frankly, rocks!
Apple, who’s nominally in the computer business, is not particularly better or worse, than Compaq/HP, Dell, or others.
Does it suck that ipod’s aren’t field replaceable? Yeah, but only if you have to return something. I’ll agree that Apple pulled a bonehead move, then charged their usual boutique prices for the repair, but I think it blew up the way it did because everybody loves a soundbite, and Apple screwing people over ipod batteries is a pretty juicy soundbite.
(That’s all I’ve got left to say about THIS dead horse.)