New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

[Dealin Rams]

I'm very interested in picking up the new 1GB Nano ($129 with the education discount), due to the increased portability it would afford me over my now two-year-old 40GB 4G iPod. The difference in storage space is not an issue for me, as I almost always have only 2 or 3 albums exclusively in heavy rotation at one time.

That said, when the 4GB and 2GB nanos came out, the major complaint seems to have been that they were very fragile - that in particular the screen, but also the entire iPod, would break way too often and easily. This is obviously my major concern.

Anyone have any experience with the Nano, especially the new 1GB models?

[BGarrett7]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Nano Durability Test

[Vince]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Nano Durability Test

Great find...

[dkgojackets]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

that was interesting

When I went skiing last weekend I was listening to it and took a nasty crash down Drop Off because some jackass decided to fall down right in front of me...and I could still listen to music as I hiked up to get the skis that fell off and poles that I dropped.

[Dealin Rams]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Thanks for the link. If they can run over it with a car and drop it 5 times with it still working, then why are so many people submitting customer reviews on sites like Cnet and Amazon saying theirs broke in half, or half the screen no longer works? I imagine maybe those people just got unlucky units.

I'd like to hear if anyone has any personal experience with the Nano, either positive or negative.

I know that I'd need to get a new iTrip for the Nano, but I also assume that I can't use my old 4G dock (purchased in early 2004) with the nano. Can anyone confirm that?

[GBrushTWood]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

That test was interesting, but I would not advise anybody to make purchasing decisions based from it, simply because there are many problems with the experimental procedures.

That said, I have an iPod nano black 2 GB model. It's pretty ******* sweet. I don't find any part of it to be fragile whatsoever. It certainly looks fragile, but I am extremely careful with mine, however. When I first got it, I noticed it accumulated thumb smudging and nastiness very easily, so you pretty much have to buy a case for it. I got mine from here: http://www.corecases.com/home.php?cat=489 . I didn't want the condom feel to my case so I got an aluminum one which I like a lot. Obviously case decisions are up to you...I found www.ilounge.com to be very helpful in finding a case.

Other than that, I don't know what else to say. I think it's totally worth the investment, because it looks so ******* cool, and it functions extremely well. It pretty much rules my ***. Then again, I got mine for free (as a gift), so I'm just grateful to even have one.

[Silverstring]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Thanks for the link. If they can run over it with a car and drop it 5 times with it still working, then why are so many people submitting customer reviews on sites like Cnet and Amazon saying theirs broke in half, or half the screen no longer works? I imagine maybe those people just got unlucky units.

I'd like to hear if anyone has any personal experience with the Nano, either positive or negative.

I know that I'd need to get a new iTrip for the Nano, but I also assume that I can't use my old 4G dock (purchased in early 2004) with the nano. Can anyone confirm that?

I think people get PO'd when they spend a lot of money to buy something and it breaks shortly thereafter. Instead of pointing the finger inward and looking in the mirror, it's alot easier to sAy that the unit itself was defective.

The nano is small and light which is both a blessing and a curse. PEople put it in their pocket without protection, then complain when coins, keys, and friction against surfaces like denim scuff and scratch the surface. Similarly, people put it in tight jeans/pants pockets because it fits, then acts suprised when extra stress/pressure(i.e. sitting down in those very same pants) causes the LCD to rupture. Its all very simple if you stop and think about it. People won't mention this kind of stuff in their review(tight pants/coins/keys, etc.) they'll just say something like "All I did was sit down and it broke!!!!!! What a POS!!!!!" or "I put it in my pocket and when I took it out, I couldn't read the screen due to scuffs!!!!" It's just human nature to become defensive and point blame outward.

The other thing? Apple sold over 14 million iPods in the last quarter alone, many of them nanos. When, say 212 people post negative comments about the unit's construction, take a minute to put it in to perspective. First, people with negative things to say are much more visible and boisterous than those with positive things to say. If you just dropped $250 on a nano and it broke after two weeks, you're much more motivated to go on to a website and post a diatribe about how much it's a piece of crap than someone who has had no problems. I, for example, have had no trouble with my wireless keyboard in the 2 years I've had it. Why would I go on websites to say "No problems"? Not much "motivation" there.

INstead of thinking of the small(relative) handful that complain about nanos(or ALL products for that matter) think about the overwhelming silent majority that has no incentive or impetus to post on these websites about how smooth their experience has been.

This is why I think Internet user reviews are possibly the WORST form of information. Too unfairly skewed. Think about any Amazon, YAhoo, or CNET user review list. It's ALWAYS ruined by the competing "high/low" masses(that what I call them, anyway). Too many people that give 5 stars or a 10 in everything to something they like, and too many people that give something 1 or 0 based on a negative anomaly. The measured, informed, even handed reviews are buried amongst the junk, but its hard for the searching user to ignore sheer numbers one way or the other.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

I got the 4GB Nano for a Christmas present and have had no problems with it, works fine, I'm cautious with mine so haven't done anything to try and push its durability. As someone said it does get fingerprints on it very easy (on the screen and on the back of it) so if you dont want prints all over it a case is a good idea.

[Vince]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Do you guys take off that adhesive that covers the screen and click wheel when you first open it. I don't, neither did my sister for her 30gb video.

[DickDalewood]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Buy this protective case for your nano:

http://www.everythingipod.com/produc...tarq=YES&max=1

I bought mine at Best Buy, and it's still the best ipod purchase I made. It's only 20 bucks, and it fits like skin over your nano, protecting it from fingerprings and screen scratches. I've got a black one.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Buy this protective case for your nano:

http://www.everythingipod.com/produc...tarq=YES&max=1

I bought mine at Best Buy, and it's still the best ipod purchase I made. It's only 20 bucks, and it fits like skin over your nano, protecting it from fingerprings and screen scratches. I've got a black one.

Nice, I've got a ton of Best Buy giftcards from my birthday and Christmas, I'll have to pick one of these up tomorrow since I have nothing better to do.

[bryan_05]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Education Discount? WHere?

[Dealin Rams]

Re: New 1GB iPod Nano - too fragile?

Education Discount? WHere?

Here:

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html

I'm pretty sure you can get the discount in-store as well. I think you'd need to present a student ID or transcript, or something.