What to do about iPod

[simon-says]

Alright I have a 40GB 4G iPod (non-color screen). I got it last December, so it's under a year old. I listen to it everyday, and love it to death. I carry it around with no case and only have one scratch on it, it's my baby. The problem is my battery. As of right now I've used it almost 3 hours and the battery icon is showing inbetween 1/4 and 1/2 of battery left. I listen to songs continously, so whole albums at a time. No pausing, volume is less than half way up, no eq, and no backlight, only use the apple headphones. The only time I touch the ipod is to put on another album when one is finished. What do you guys think my best option is for this iPod?

[jeremy.king]

What do you guys think my best option is for this iPod?

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ipod/batteryreplacement/#1299

[simon-says]

I've thought about doing this as well. Still kinda scared to open up my $400 iPod that's under warranty. I think I can do it though. I can solder modchips to an xbox or ps2 just fine. Is replacing the battery yourself that easy? I read the manual, seems easy besides pulling up on the battery.

[jeremy.king]

I've thought about doing this as well. Still kinda scared to open up my $400 iPod that's under warranty. I think I can do it though. I can solder modchips to an xbox or ps2 just fine. Is replacing the battery yourself that easy? I read the manual, seems easy besides pulling up on the battery.

If you read the manual you'll find it is quite easy - well, I guess easy is a relative term. To me it seems pretty easy.

[rdowns]

The battery icon is notoriously flaky. While my 3G iPod was recently replaced by Apple, my old one would show under 1/2 battery life in the icon but I'd still get my 7-8 hours in total.

[simon-says]

Eh, I just called Apple to see if they could help me. They want me to pay $37 for shipping for them to look at my iPod, or for me to buy AppleCare. Also if there is no problem I will have to pay for the technicians time. I'd hate to the $37 then find out I'm just out of the line for my battery to be replaced and have to pay an extra $100. Does this sound right to you guys? This sucks, my iPod is getting ~50% battery life it should be and is under warranty for 50 more days. I guess I just might pay the $47 for AppleCare and let them do it, even though I'd really like one of those NuPower batteries for the extended life.

rdowns: I get 6 hours before the dead battery icon appears. All the paperwork I have says I should get 12 hours. And my battery icon has always been dead on, still is.

[rdowns]

If you don't have an Apple store nearby, take it to the nearest CompUSA and see if they'll do a warranty swap or battery replacement for you.

[simon-says]

The nearest Apple Store is Houston which is around a 5 hour drive. The nearest CompUSA is 3 hours away. I don't really have the option of going there working 20 hours a week plus going to school for another 15.