Have you got a duff iPod?

[editor]

Interesting article in the Guardian looks at how complaints over iPod durability are "pushing at the margins of users' patience, DTI guidelines - and the law."

If you've got a knackered iPod, it's well worth a read:
http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1784400,00.html

 

[King Biscuit Time]

I just got myself a new iPod, and was surprised at how little you can get accidental damage cover for.

As soon as mine gets iffy, it may well find itself having an unfortunate 'accident'!

 

[Guineveretoo]

I bought my daughter one for Christmas which broke a few weeks ago. Of course, she can't find the receipt, but I am hoping that we will get it sorted anyway, and this article helps! I will pass it on to her.

 

[jæd]

Interesting article in the Guardian looks at how complaints over iPod durability are "pushing at the margins of users' patience, DTI guidelines - and the law."

If you've got a knackered iPod, it's well worth a read:
http://technology.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1784400,00.html

And interestingly enough I have a four year old 20Gb iPod that works perfecty... I wonder if I could get the Guardian to write about that...?

 

[editor]

And interestingly enough I have a four year old 20Gb iPod that works perfecty... I wonder if I could get the Guardian to write about that...?

Probably not, but if I was one of the (many, apparently) people who'd been lumbered with a duff one, I'd be very grateful to read an article giving me some legal advice on the matter.

Quite why such an article should warrant a 'rolleyes' icon from you is anyone's guess. Already one poster here has found it to be useful.

 

[DG55]

And interestingly enough I have a four year old 20Gb iPod that works perfecty... I wonder if I could get the Guardian to write about that...?

What a suprise!!!

Not.

 

[jæd]

Probably not, but if I was one of the (many, apparently) people who'd been lumbered with a duff one, I'd be very grateful to read an article giving me some legal advice on the matter.

Quite why such an article should warrant a 'rolleyes' icon from you is anyone's guess. Already one poster here has found it to be useful.

Well... I've no problem with the advice given... Just that they appear to be saying that since they've had many complaints from a self-selecting sample that many ipods are "duff"... Not the greatest sampling techique there, is it...?

 

[editor]

Just that they appear to be saying that since they've had many complaints from a self-selecting sample that many ipods are "duff"... Not the greatest sampling techique there, is it...?

The fact that they've had so many complaints might possibly serve as a good enough reason to justify the article for their readers, no?

 

[pinkychukkles]

Built in obsolescence, unless you're one of the 'lucky' ones that they tweak so they last for longer so it's not so obvious. Where's me tin-foil hat?
Or perhaps these mobile HDD's just aren't up to it? They all have moving parts, one reason why I chose the w810i Walkman phone with expandable solid-state flash memory...well, it's not 40GB but...

 

[scathed]

Built in obsolescence, unless you're one of the 'lucky' ones that they tweak so they last for longer so it's not so obvious. Where's me tin-foil hat?
Or perhaps these mobile HDD's just aren't up to it? They all have moving parts, one reason why I chose the w810i Walkman phone with expandable solid-state flash memory...well, it's not 40GB but...

I was just about to say something on the similar lines. The guy who stuck a sharp pencil up his bum and came out with the idea that to attach a display and a battery pack to a hard disk (which has an array of spinning disks read by a highly sensitive laser reader). Should be shot.

It should be strictly defined in shops whether the mp3 player you're about to buy is a solid state or comprises of mechanically moving parts. I have asked in shops just to be pedantic, and have been showered by either lies or ignorance about the product being contrary to what it actually is. Fact of the matter is the shop clerks don't seem to really know what the product is, which is no use to the buyer.

 

[Bob_the_lost]

I found someone who managed to break an ipod shuffle!

Thankfully there were some medical students who'd done a bit of time in A&E so they managed to keep the CPR going untill the defrib got there.

 

[subversplat]

Is jaed actually Steve Jobs in disguise?

 

[Mr Retro]

I bought my daughter one for Christmas which broke a few weeks ago. Of course, she can't find the receipt, but I am hoping that we will get it sorted anyway, and this article helps! I will pass it on to her.

As per the Guardian article you are within the year guarantee and if you bring it in to the Apple store they will replace it for you no problem without a receipt. My wife did this and had no probs. I think they can tell from the serial number but I might be wrong on this.

We bought our iPods at the same time in the states and my wife is on her second replacement. My original is good as gold but (not wanting a soundtrak to everything I do) I don't use it as much as she does.

My wife used to use hers jogging and I think with the moving parts in an iPod this is not a good idea.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

I'd like to see some figures on how many iPods are "duff" compared to total sold with no problem and then a comparison with other mp3 players. It'd be interesting to see whether Apple has a serious problem here or if it's just they're the biggest target on the field...

 

[pinkmonkey]

My wife used to use hers jogging and I think with the moving parts in an iPod this is not a good idea.

I bought a 2GB Sony Bean for jogging, the moving parts in a Ipod was the main reason for not buying one, that and the fact it's white (mug me!). Great! I thought! .....and so discreet I could stick it down the centre of my sports bra!

But the fucking slidey lid which is held on by a piece of metal about the same size and weight as a staple broke off and I've now been waiting over three weeks for the repair!

 

[jæd]

I have asked in shops just to be pedantic, and have been showered by either lies or ignorance about the product being contrary to what it actually is. Fact of the matter is the shop clerks don't seem to really know what the product is, which is no use to the buyer.

Shop staff not knowing everying about what they are selling...! Call the BBC, call CNN... This is major breaking news...!

 

[Lava]

I hoped this thread was about a limited edition simpsons ipod

 

[Mr Retro]

I bought a 2GB Sony Bean for jogging, the moving parts in a Ipod was the main reason for not buying one, that and the fact it's white (mug me!). Great! I thought! .....and so discreet I could stick it down the centre of my sports bra!

But the fucking slidey lid which is held on by a piece of metal about the same size and weight as a staple broke off and I've now been waiting over three weeks for the repair!

I got my wife a Sony ericsson walkman phone for jogging and it's brilliant. It comes bundled with 512 megs of memory and the sound is better than the iPod. I would highly reccomend it.

Saves bringing a phone and a music player too when you go out jogging.

 

[DG55]

MP3 phones are the future, and Apple aren't invited.

 

[tarannau]

I got my wife a Sony ericsson walkman phone for jogging and it's brilliant. It comes bundled with 512 megs of memory and the sound is better than the iPod. I would highly reccomend it.

Saves bringing a phone and a music player too when you go out jogging.

TBH, I've got both an ipod and a Sony Walkman phone, and I simply don't agree about the sound quality - put a pair of decent phones on the ipod and there's no comparison. There again the proprietary port on the Sony makes it difficult to compare exactly.

I'm also not convinced by mp3 phones - until battery life notably improves it's too much of a compromise for me. A friend's got one of those blocky new Nokia's with a hard drive in - it's permanently charging.

I do agree that solid state players are the way forward though. The big flaw with the older format ipod is the hard disk. Some people are lucky, others not so - but that hd is always the weakest link. I'm not sure Apple's any worse than the other manufacturers on that score - everyone uses largely the same compnents, and I've yet to hear of a company's that's leaping out to fix products out of the nominal 12 month guarantee without complaint.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

MP3 phones are the future, and Apple aren't invited.

Erm given that it's almost certain that they're in the middle of making one right this moment how can your statement be true!?

 

[Mr Retro]

TBH, I've got both an ipod and a Sony Walkman phone, and I simply don't agree about the sound quality - put a pair of decent phones on the ipod and there's no comparison. There again the proprietary port on the Sony makes it difficult to compare exactly.

But comparing the bundled headphones on both devices the Sony Walkman wins easily. Agree about the proprietary port, it's the worst thing about the phone. Am I right to say the newest Walkman phone has a universal port?

I'm also not convinced by mp3 phones - until battery life notably improves it's too much of a compromise for me. A friend's got one of those blocky new Nokia's with a hard drive in - it's permanently charging.

For the moment a dedicated device is always going to be better than mp3 phones. But we're talking about being out jogging and for situations like that, when you're out and about, wanting to carry minimal luggage mp3 phones excellent.

 

[Structaural]

Well... I've no problem with the advice given... Just that they appear to be saying that since they've had many complaints from a self-selecting sample that many ipods are "duff"... Not the greatest sampling techique there, is it...?

What about the fact that Apple themselves have said they expect these devices to last only a year? Do you think this is good practice?

 

[pinkychukkles]

But comparing the bundled headphones on both devices the Sony Walkman wins easily. Agree about the proprietary port, it's the worst thing about the phone. Am I right to say the newest Walkman phone has a universal port?

Whilst the Sony phone does have a proprietary port into the phone it has a universal 3mm headphone jack further up the cable, so you could attach your own choice of headphones should you wish to...then again you would be practically skipping with the unduly long lengths of cable flapping about!

 

[jæd]

What about the fact that Apple themselves have said they expect these devices to last only a year? Do you think this is good practice?

Linky link for this "fact"..?

 

[Structaural]

Linky link for this "fact"..?

(alright anedotal evidence) it's mentioned in the article (twice):

'At this point, Mr Edwards contacted Guardian Money and we took up his case. But Apple repeated the same message to Mr Edwards - that the machine is only expected to last one year and no more.'

Why are you such an unwavering defender of a multinational, hugely successful company?

 

[jæd]

(alright anedotal evidence) it's mentioned in the article (twice):

'At this point, Mr Edwards contacted Guardian Money and we took up his case. But Apple repeated the same message to Mr Edwards - that the machine is only expected to last one year and no more.'

Why are you such an unwavering defender of a multinational, hugely successful company?

Of course they will say it will only last a year... They want to sell you another one then...!

Unwavering defender of a multinational, hugely successful company : I'm not, I'm just questioning people who blindly assume that since a company is "successfull" that they must be ee-vil. And since when was being successful "bad"...?

 

[Structaural]

Of course they will say it will only last a year... They want to sell you another one then...!

Unwavering defender of a multinational, hugely successful company : I'm not, I'm just questioning people who blindly assume that since a company is "successfull" that they must be ee-vil. And since when was being successful "bad"...?

But no-one is assuming anything here - they are pointing out legitimate bad practice by Apple.

What I meant by that is do you think Apple really need you to stick up for them?, they are hardly the underdog here.

Success entails that others must suffer to make others succesful, so being massively successful in a capitalist society is always 'bad' inevitably.
My iPod is made in China by highly succesful workers yes?

 

[jæd]

Success entails that others must suffer to make others succesful, so being massively successful in a capitalist society is always 'bad' inevitably.
My iPod is made in China by highly succesful workers yes?

Sorry, I forgot that iPods are made in China by slave labourers... I will therefore buy my portable music players from who actually pay their workers and don't torture them daily... Ho-hum...

 

[Structaural]

Sorry, I forgot that iPods are made in China by slave labourers... I will therefore buy my portable music players from who actually pay their workers and don't torture them daily... Ho-hum...

yeah comment on the aside rather than the main point.