Scratches prompt Nano complaints
By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY

http://images.usatoday.com/tech/_photos/2005/09/28/nano180.jpg

Apple's tiny iPod Nano, expected to be the company's big hit this fall, has unleashed a firestorm on the Internet from customers complaining that their new units scratch too easily.

Additionally, Apple acknowledges that the screens on some Nanos have cracked and has agreed to replace the models with new units. The company says it hasn't received many complaints about scratches. "We do not believe it's a widespread issue," Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said Wednesday.

But on Internet discussion boards and blogs, iPod fans — who usually enthuse about the elegant design of the trendy digital music devices — are griping about a beautiful product they say doesn't look as good after it leaves the box. They talk of scratches on the screen and the body.

"I got my Nano a week and a half ago, and it was scratched within 30 minutes," says Tyler Hall, a Chattanooga, Tenn., Web designer who this week put up a site called nanoscratch.com. "I have three other iPods, and none have scratched like this."

Dowling says the plastic shell of the Nano is made from the same material used on other recent iPods. He suggests that if users are concerned about scratching, they should buy one of the many Nano cases that will soon be available.

Apple has a 74% market share of digital music players and has sold 27 million iPods.

MORE (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-09-28-nano-problems_x.htm)

by Apple spokesman:
...if users are concerned about scratching, they should buy one of the many Nano cases that will soon be available.
I can't see them getting away with that one in the UK.

...BE WARNED!!

Sony supplide a nice neoprane cover for the PSP which suffers from finger marks but nothing like a scratch if its looked after.

Anyway, these music players are portable so they are bound to get scratched in pockets etc...plus the nano is more likely to be put it the pocket and forgotten about, then someone sits down and "oops" its cracked :shock: My mp3 player is quite tough and I expect it to get scratched when out jogging.

I don't think the 'Nano Issue' comes under 'fair wear and tear' though, Kev.

Here's a piece from 'The Register':

...the post on Apple's discussion boards discussing the issue has grown from 188 posts to 583 (at last count), and now includes people who have cancelled their orders. Ooooh dear.

Indeed, the screen-scratching problems don't seem to be the only ones with the Nano. Some people have been complaining about wholesale screen failures and others about the battery life, which they say doesn't match the claimed 14 hours, even when you follow Apple's instructions (backlight off, no skipping songs). Except in the latter, Apple carefully claims "up to 14", and some have managed more.

More Here (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/27/ipod_nano_more_scratching/)

:thumbsdow

Apple Computer Inc. faced a lawsuit that alleged the company knew its nano (http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/comedy/morkandmindy.htm) portable music player was defective but still decided to press on with the product's release last month.

More (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/24102005/80/apple-faces-lawsuit-ipod-screen-scratches.html)....

A spokesman for Apple, whose main offices are in Cupertino, California, could not be reached for comment

Now ain't that a surprise!

When Apple first launched the G4 Powermac advertised as 450 mHz they had difficulty delivering the goods, so they cancelled all orders and prospective customers were told to re-order. however the machines they/I received were 400mHz. Same price....sort of, like it or lump it.

A contributor to a computer mag at the time, put it quite succinctly: Love the Product, Hate the Company. :disgust:

Has less Gigabyte than the MinI!

ezGear’s new ezArmor nano (http://www.ezgear4u.com/ezArmor_nano.htm) fits Apple’s iPod nano, and is made from anodized aircraft-grade aluminium, The new ezArmor nano costs US$29.98 and is available in standard aluminum and onyx black finishes.

MORE (http://playlistmag.com/news/2005/12/09/ezarmor/index.php)