99 is a little much. First, is it a 1200 or 1500mah. You can get a 1500mah for 55 which gives a longer battery usage time. I am now over 10 hours. You mention the labor, my replacement took maybe 5 minutes and I was being extra ginger since I hadn't done it before. It really isn't a complicated process, you take off the cover, pop out the old one, out in new one, put cover back on.
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Official Apple iPod Battery Replacements?
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You guys are too much.
When Apple was close to bankrupt, everyone was freaking out that they would be bought by Sun or Oracle or HP, and that the good things we loved about Apple would go away.
Now they finally have something profitable and cross-platform and hugely successful (1/3 or the portable MP3 market) and you're complaining that it's too expensive.
"Evolve or die" is a popular business phrase these days, and in Apple's case it is almost a mantra.
I'd rather see Apple profitable and pay a little extra (do you think Mercedes and BMW owners complain about the price of their cars? They know what they are paying for, and their service appointments cost them a small fortune) then see them struggling to survive.
Plus, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives to the iPod - go buy 'em. But they're not as elegant or sexy as the iPod.
If the $99 inludes shipping, Apple labor, the battery, and a seamless replacement with no mars or dings in the case, it's worth every penny.
-gil
When Apple was close to bankrupt, everyone was freaking out that they would be bought by Sun or Oracle or HP, and that the good things we loved about Apple would go away.
Now they finally have something profitable and cross-platform and hugely successful (1/3 or the portable MP3 market) and you're complaining that it's too expensive.
"Evolve or die" is a popular business phrase these days, and in Apple's case it is almost a mantra.
I'd rather see Apple profitable and pay a little extra (do you think Mercedes and BMW owners complain about the price of their cars? They know what they are paying for, and their service appointments cost them a small fortune) then see them struggling to survive.
Plus, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives to the iPod - go buy 'em. But they're not as elegant or sexy as the iPod.
If the $99 inludes shipping, Apple labor, the battery, and a seamless replacement with no mars or dings in the case, it's worth every penny.
-gil
Li-Ion does not have memory and as such does not need to be trained. If you know different then please post a paper on it - I'd be curious to see. All the profiles of Li Ion I have seen show no memory effect. Of course they do age, but training will not help with this...
$99 seems reasonable. To all those who want Apple to offer this at or below costs, remember, if they do so, then they will not remain in business long...
Good point. Including shipping and labor then it would be a good price. But it is also nice to know that you can get it through third parties for those inclinded to do it yourself. I know many peope that would rather not do it themselves. Just a not, if that is you then pdasmart.com will do it for 69.
arnette
macrumors 6502
None that work with my AAC files bought from iTunes Music Store. The only 2 things that are keeping me from purchasing an iPod are PRICE and BATTERY LIFE. If they fixed at least one of the two, then I'd buy. And don't give me that crud about 8 hours being enough. Not when there are HD MP3 players out there with double that for the same price and just about the same form factor.
jxyama
macrumors 68040
at least with PB/iBook, it's not the memory effect. Li ion batteries in those machines should be regularly drained (and then charged back up) to keep the battery charging circuitry properly calibrated. Li ion develops nasty (poisonous) chemicals if it's overcharged, so there's a built-in circuits to make sure it's never overcharged. the circuit remembers when the battery is "full" and "empty" and it's a good idea to reset those values periodically with drain and charge.
i have reasons to believe iPod has a similar circuitry.
LUCKILY FOR US NORWEGIANS
... The law here in Norway says that these kinds of things is supposed to last for more than 5 years.
No matter if Apple says "Umh, the warranty is 1 year" or anything, our law COMPLETELY overrides that argument. If the battery is (nearly) flat (even after recharging) after 4 years of normal usage, Apple is committed according to our law to fix it without any costs for the end-user.
... The law here in Norway says that these kinds of things is supposed to last for more than 5 years.
No matter if Apple says "Umh, the warranty is 1 year" or anything, our law COMPLETELY overrides that argument. If the battery is (nearly) flat (even after recharging) after 4 years of normal usage, Apple is committed according to our law to fix it without any costs for the end-user.
Le Big Mac
macrumors 68030
Well, no. But $99 seems a bit steep. $49 or $69 would be more reasonable. For $99, they ought to replace the battery a second time for free.
Le Big Mac
macrumors 68030
Re: LUCKILY FOR US NORWEGIANS
Are you kidding? I'm curious what the law says? Do consumer products have to work properly for 5 years or be replaced?
Are you kidding? I'm curious what the law says? Do consumer products have to work properly for 5 years or be replaced?
100 bucks is still a bit steep
i can trade in my 5 gigger to powermax for 80 bucks and get a brand new one for 120 more than just paying for a battery.... too bad. Looks like I'm getting a 3rd gen.
i can trade in my 5 gigger to powermax for 80 bucks and get a brand new one for 120 more than just paying for a battery.... too bad. Looks like I'm getting a 3rd gen.
Re: Re: LUCKILY FOR US NORWEGIANS
Yeah, sure.
This thing does not differ from cell phones very much. Or a video player.
The law does not say "Consumer products have to work properly for 5 years", but "as long as the consumer can expect".
About how long a consumer can expect has in court been stated to 5 years.
Apple would NOT get away with "its supposed to last for 2 years". One don't pay 4-5000 NOK for something to last for such a short amount of time.
(Please excuse my bad english...)
Yeah, sure.
This thing does not differ from cell phones very much. Or a video player.
The law does not say "Consumer products have to work properly for 5 years", but "as long as the consumer can expect".
About how long a consumer can expect has in court been stated to 5 years.
Apple would NOT get away with "its supposed to last for 2 years". One don't pay 4-5000 NOK for something to last for such a short amount of time.
(Please excuse my bad english...)
Re: Re: Re: LUCKILY FOR US NORWEGIANS
BTW, they dont have to replace, only fix. Up to them what is economically... 😛
BTW, they dont have to replace, only fix. Up to them what is economically... 😛
I read a post like this a while back about batteries, and I stopped letting my iBook fully discharge for a while. My battery life dropped by probably 20% over a week or two. Going back to letting it fully discharge regularly brought my battery life back up to its recent norm (though still a lot less than when it was new. It's about 2 years old now).
I would love to see a paper on this, something definitive either way. Anecdotally, my iBook lasts longer if I run it all the way down and then back up. I'm no battery technician though ;-) I know nothing of the science.
Back on topic:
While I don't have an iPod, the first thing that I thought when I read this report was "I can't afford that." When I realized that I couldn't afford an iPod at all right now, it wasn't such a big deal... but $99 is a little steep for an iPod battery replacement.
Personally, I'd want the next revision of the iPod to be easily openable so the battery is a quick thing to get at, and then Apple could sell the batteries separately (perhaps even at different qualities).
ie., an 8 hour battery for $40... a 10 hour battery for $60... a 12 hour battery for $80... something like that. People who aren't away from iPod docks and car connectors very often could opt for the cheap one, people who like to go on long hikes in the wilderness could opt for the more expensive ones.
But, as has been mentioned, Apple is after iPod sales. This will help to placate people with dead or dying batteries in out-of-warranty iPods, but it's still enough to make them think, "Hm, or I could just pick up a new one!"
It's like when your car goes into the shop because it makes a funny noise under the hood, and it comes back that it'll cost you $2,200 to fix... so you start thinking, "hm, maybe I should just get a new car." Even if you weren't thinking of getting a new car before, you may very well end up driving off the lot with one 🙂 even if it actually costs a lot more than fixing the old one.
CORRECTED NORWEGIAN CONSUMER RIGHTS
If an iPod shuts down within 5 years because of a battery, the sales-person will have to proof that it is the consumers fault. Of course, what wrong can you do with a battery?
The consumer can choose between a new one or a fix. (Of course, if the sales-person has iPods in the store at the moment, on chooses a new one. If it is a special-built go-cart, you dont want to wait for a new one)
If the iPod shuts down totally 2 times for you - you can go back and say "I dont like this product, give me my money back".
If they repair, you are entitled to borrow another iPod.
Mobile-phone-salesmen, TV-salesmen, general electronic-salespersons don't like Noregian law very much... 😉
If an iPod shuts down within 5 years because of a battery, the sales-person will have to proof that it is the consumers fault. Of course, what wrong can you do with a battery?
The consumer can choose between a new one or a fix. (Of course, if the sales-person has iPods in the store at the moment, on chooses a new one. If it is a special-built go-cart, you dont want to wait for a new one)
If the iPod shuts down totally 2 times for you - you can go back and say "I dont like this product, give me my money back".
If they repair, you are entitled to borrow another iPod.
Mobile-phone-salesmen, TV-salesmen, general electronic-salespersons don't like Noregian law very much... 😉
QCassidy352
macrumors G5
got my last watch battery replaced for $12 including labor...
anyway, I think $99 is too much. By the time my 5 gig ipod's battery dies, $99 will probably be worth more than the ipod.
This battery life effect probably has more to do with the battery charging circuitry which determines the life of the battery based on current charge cycles. Constantly using only half the battery capacity calibrates this circuitry for a shorter predicted battery life. Your battery capacity, however, remains the same. This is why Apple recomends calibrating this circuitry with a deep discharge once in a while. They call it calibrating and not exercising the battery.
Considering my Nokia phone battery runs 60 bucks for normal talking time and to get 10hrs of talking time it cost me $75 bucks. To me 99 bucks isn't much considering a similar battery from Nokia cost between 60-75 bucks and they(Apple) installs it for you and you know it will be covered with warranty as well.
Some folks want a cheaper battery yea they could do that but when you go cheap you end up like Nokia having folks file claims against you because someon counterfieted your battery and it didn't last but a month or so before having big performance drop.
Battery for my watch was $35 with labor which as swatch watch.
Some folks want a cheaper battery yea they could do that but when you go cheap you end up like Nokia having folks file claims against you because someon counterfieted your battery and it didn't last but a month or so before having big performance drop.
Battery for my watch was $35 with labor which as swatch watch.
Instead of spending $99 on a new rechargeable battery, would it be ok to just use one of those battery packs that uses regular double A batteries. Will not replacing the battery hurt the Ipod. To me the size difference doesn't really matter.
Apple has a right to make a profit, like any other business. Whether they make it on iPods or computers doesn't matter.
I own a small Apple Reseller store in New Jersey. Our profit margins on Aple products are thin. I could not survive in a country with laws like Norway's, as the replacement costs of giving people new units all the time would overwhelm my cost of operations and I'd be out of business in no time.
Notice how Mr. Norway brags about him and his friends getting free "updates" all the time - he and other Norwegians know they are "getting over" on the retailers by exploiting this law.
I am not opposed to consumer protection, but I am oppsed to any law that restricts free trade and makes it harder for entrepreneurs to earn a living.
Many of the jobs, taxes, and job-related benefits in the United States come from the Small Business sector, it is important that we be allowed to thrive.
Norway is a beauftiful country with a rich history and wonderful people, I have no beef with Norwegians. But this winking attitude of "let's screw the retalier and manufacturer and get a new phone every 6 months" is wrong, and ultimately damaging to the marketplace.
I doubt that the Nokia phones are as cheap in Norway as they are here.
-gil
I own a small Apple Reseller store in New Jersey. Our profit margins on Aple products are thin. I could not survive in a country with laws like Norway's, as the replacement costs of giving people new units all the time would overwhelm my cost of operations and I'd be out of business in no time.
Notice how Mr. Norway brags about him and his friends getting free "updates" all the time - he and other Norwegians know they are "getting over" on the retailers by exploiting this law.
I am not opposed to consumer protection, but I am oppsed to any law that restricts free trade and makes it harder for entrepreneurs to earn a living.
Many of the jobs, taxes, and job-related benefits in the United States come from the Small Business sector, it is important that we be allowed to thrive.
Norway is a beauftiful country with a rich history and wonderful people, I have no beef with Norwegians. But this winking attitude of "let's screw the retalier and manufacturer and get a new phone every 6 months" is wrong, and ultimately damaging to the marketplace.
I doubt that the Nokia phones are as cheap in Norway as they are here.
-gil
