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iPod Hairline Scratches on iPod Gen5

i have had many ipod cases in the past. but i always come to the same conclusion after the ipod reaches a certain age:

it doesn't matter. i'll still be able to read the screen and the ipod will still be functional. the ipod will still look damn good. so what does it matter if it scratches?

the only case i will use on my soon to arrive 5G black 30gb ipod is the one apple supplies.

that is, unless, i see some ultra thin 1mm thick plastic sticky case--i just wont be able to resist that :D
 
I think the point of my complaint (and I think it's a valid one) is that these things are just TOO easily damaged. Sure, I realize that I'm talking about hairline scratches that, for the moment, are only visible when the light is right, but they simply shouldn't be there.

Seriously, as I've said before, I'd pay extra for an iPod with a crystal-hard face, like those found on high-quality Swiss watches. Polycarbonate has lots of attributes, but "cheap" and "easily scratched" are not what I'd expect from Apple.
 
wide said:
i have had many ipod cases in the past. but i always come to the same conclusion after the ipod reaches a certain age:

it doesn't matter. i'll still be able to read the screen and the ipod will still be functional. the ipod will still look damn good. so what does it matter if it scratches?

the only case i will use on my soon to arrive 5G black 30gb ipod is the one apple supplies.

that is, unless, i see some ultra thin 1mm thick plastic sticky case--i just wont be able to resist that :D
Click to expand...

I got something for you then if you are looking for something 1mm thick(it's actually thinner than that). According to this website http://www.theinvisibleshield.com/ there indestructible film is only .008 inches thick(=.2032mm) I'm going to buy one for my iPod Video as soon as i get paid on friday so hopefully i'll get it before or precisely when i receive my iPod because otherwise i'll be tempted to use my iPod without the shield!!!
 
I put an InCase case on my 40GB iPod Photo the moment I opened it. I was surprised to see that the case scratched the display at that very moment! All of the iPods scratch way easy. I think it's Apple's way of making sure the used market doesn't pull would-be buyers away from new iPods. Then again, I really don't mind that my iPod is scratched.
 
To remove scratches, this duuuuuude used brasso to remove scratches.

HHHHHhhmmmmmm... Maybe I should go to the Apple store and test this out?

Materials needed:
Brasso
Cotton Balls
sandpaper
display 5G iPod

step one: scratch the living crap out of an iPod
step two: make sure no one is watching before you start.. whoops.
three: OK, scratch it good, if no one is watching
four: apply brasso
5a: if still scratched, run like there's no tomorrow. Find a new apple store.
5b: if perfect, laugh because a $4 can of Brasso fixed their iPod you totally destroyed.

This sounds fun. Maybe I'll try it! :)
 
Apparently, the Brasso solution is a weapon of last resort, as it scours off some of the surface material.

The new iPods are simply too soft on the outside. They need to be made of tougher stuff.
 
katie ta achoo said:
To remove scratches, this duuuuuude used brasso to remove scratches.

HHHHHhhmmmmmm... Maybe I should go to the Apple store and test this out?

Materials needed:
Brasso
Cotton Balls
sandpaper
display 5G iPod

step one: scratch the living crap out of an iPod
step two: make sure no one is watching before you start.. whoops.
three: OK, scratch it good, if no one is watching
four: apply brasso
5a: if still scratched, run like there's no tomorrow. Find a new apple store.
5b: if perfect, laugh because a $4 can of Brasso fixed their iPod you totally destroyed.

This sounds fun. Maybe I'll try it! :)
Click to expand...

I say go for it just don't start asking for donations, "for destroying an iPod in front of everyone", we all know there have been enough of those threads and sites
 
iDM said:
I say go for just don't start asking for donations, "for destroying an iPod in front of everyone", we all know there have been enough of those threads and sites
Click to expand...

Oh no... nonono...

Those sites.. just don't make sense. That's $399+ you could be giving to a charity or something.. not THROWING AWAY.


...and that's why you "take care of" a store display..

/i KEED!! I KEED!!
 
WaxTheories said:
Clay... could you post some pics of your ipod with the scratches in view?
Click to expand...
I can maybe try this tomorrow... but the combination of trying to get a good focus with a digital camera plus the fineness of the scratches may not make it possible.

They're most definitely there, though... but only in the right light.
 
i just saw a commercial for the mr. clean magic eraser, do u think that would work.....? or damage it more.... :confused:
 
I had one of my "pelican screen guards" ( http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3657052) left over from my psp and noticed they are almost the same ratio and size as the 5g ipod. I cut a circular hole where the click wheel is and it seems to be doing the trick. the pelican screen guard does have a slight texture that is sold as "anti glare" that some may find obstructive but doesnt bother me a bit. I believe there are other screen guards (thin plastic sheets that adhere to the screen via static similar to the guard that comes on your new pod but stronger and more adhering) that are smooth and clear. im keeping an eye out....
 
clayj said:
I think the point of my complaint (and I think it's a valid one) is that these things are just TOO easily damaged. Sure, I realize that I'm talking about hairline scratches that, for the moment, are only visible when the light is right, but they simply shouldn't be there.

Seriously, as I've said before, I'd pay extra for an iPod with a crystal-hard face, like those found on high-quality Swiss watches. Polycarbonate has lots of attributes, but "cheap" and "easily scratched" are not what I'd expect from Apple.
Click to expand...

I agree that they're easily scratched. But I also would like to point out that this isn't uncommon in any given kind of personal goods--and the "I bought it for aesthetics" argument is a tenuous one. Silver tarnishes and requires regular maintenance (which involves using a cleaning agent which also removes some of the surface [as do car waxes]), and gold is relatively soft and easily scratched. iPods don't take on such hideous marring that it affects usability or causes chunks of material to be carved out of their surface.

Given the choice, I prefer minor surface scratching (which I can take care of if it becomes a distraction) to a greater likelihood of mechanical or more extensive physical damage if I happen to drop my iPod. A crack is far worse than some light scratching. If you prefer a cosmetically superior iPod to a more durable iPod, that's your prerogative, of course. There's not really a way to have both, given how extremely similar the plastics already are.

Those high quality Swiss watches cost hundreds of dollars and are nothing more than a luxury item. The iPod is a commodity item and the watch comparison just doesn't fit. Most consumers would not pay an additional $60 or more just to reduce the likelihood of scratches while adding thickness and mass along with that higher price.

As for the "cheap" part, Lexan is more expensive than Plexiglass (acrylic), so I'm not sure where that would fit in.
 
I'm looking at my year old nalgene bottle right now... it's like a haven for scratches.

But then it's been through ALOT more than I would let my ipod go though.
 
I used a microfiber (from an eye glass store) to clean my 3g & 4g ipods. That kept them virtually brand new looking and never marked them. This ipod case shouldn't even be considered a a case. Mission to put it in, mission to take it out. No button access. Most will just operate outside of case..
 
Stylez Cz said:
I used a microfiber (from an eye glass store) to clean my 3g & 4g ipods. That kept them virtually brand new looking and never marked them. This ipod case shouldn't even be considered a a case. Mission to put it in, mission to take it out. No button access. Most will just operate outside of case..
Click to expand...
That's what I've used on my nano and 5G... and they're both hairline scratched now.

I'm telling ya, there is NOTHING that can touch the front surface of these iPods that won't scratch them in some way.
 
clayj said:
That's what I've used on my nano and 5G... and they're both hairline scratched now.

I'm telling ya, there is NOTHING that can touch the front surface of these iPods that won't scratch them in some way.
Click to expand...

Now are these linear scratches or the circular whorl type ones?
 
matticus008 said:
Now are these linear scratches or the circular whorl type ones?
Click to expand...
They're linear, but they seem to surround whatever light source is currently reflected in the screen.

For example, imagine a clock face. There are 12 "x" lines, running from the center of the clock to each of the hour numbers (1-12). At each hour number, there is a "y" line which is perpendicular to the "x" line that radiates from the center of the clock.

The center of the clock face is where a light source is reflected on the iPod's screen... and the "y" lines are the scratches. They almost seem to shift, depending on the angle of reflection of the light source.

What I really need is to get an iPod, mint out of the box, and examine its screen carefully to see if this is just a natural attribute of these screens.
 
clayj said:
That's what I've used on my nano and 5G... and they're both hairline scratched now.

I'm telling ya, there is NOTHING that can touch the front surface of these iPods that won't scratch them in some way.
Click to expand...

WOW

That's just crazy. Can't even take finger prints off then. And being that there is no case you will get them.

Hopefully they will release some case before I leave next week. I'll just keep it home and use my ipod photo till then
 
clayj said:
They're linear, but they seem to surround whatever light source is currently reflected in the screen.

For example, imagine a clock face. There are 12 "x" lines, running from the center of the clock to each of the hour numbers (1-12). At each hour number, there is a "y" line which is perpendicular to the "x" line that radiates from the center of the clock.

The center of the clock face is where a light source is reflected on the iPod's screen... and the "y" lines are the scratches. They almost seem to shift, depending on the angle of reflection of the light source.

What I really need is to get an iPod, mint out of the box, and examine its screen carefully to see if this is just a natural attribute of these screens.
Click to expand...

Hmm. That could be. I've never examined my iPods that carefully when I received them, but I know that cars exhibit the same pattern (from buffing at the factory) and my printer does the same with round concentric "etchings" (it's a very glossy, white laser printer that has never been rubbed or polished, only dusted straight across with one of those fuzzy duster things).

I do know that the "whorls" are a natural effect of polishing both metal lacquers and plastic coatings...but it may be that it appears to be scratching as that factory gloss wears off over the first few days, exposing that pattern? I wonder how many people consider this scratching, and whether that constitutes a good chunk of the complaints.

You raise a very interesting issue. :)
 
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