iPod Fed up with ipod (warning- very hot vent)

[EJBasile]

Alright- I have had it with my iPod(s).

I got my first iPod in December 2003 - 2 Days later its HD Broke
---Got a Replacement----
In September 2004 my replacement iPod's battery almost started a fire
---Got a Replacement---
Got really annoyed with it because apparently it is "normal" for the backlight to not illuminate the entire screen.
---Apple Sent Me $150 Altec Lansing inMotion Speakers

Now in July, my current iPods problems (keep in mind I use my ipod rarely)

-Screen Illumination Sucks (not the entire screen is lit up-but that's "normal" according the apple)

-Contrast has to be all the way up to see anything on the screen (with or with out the backlight on)

-The battery lasts for about 2.5-3 hours with none of the extra features enabled

-Randomly changes settings (like disk use)

-Doesn't always like to connect to Macs or PCs (you plug it in and it says "Do not Connect" but nothing shows up on the computer/iTunes

-And the screen freezes quite often for like 15 seconds at a time
----------------

I have tried Restoring the iPod, its up to date, my computers software are up to date, and nothing seems to be wrong with my computers in general.

I am really pissed off with this $450 piece of SH**. Also this is my 3rd iPod that is out of warranty (the warranty ends the same day for the 1st iPod bought or 90 days if out of warranty) and does not meet the requirements of the iPod Settlement (iPod has to be aquired before march 31, 2004 or something)

I have had it with these iPods. Maybe it's just that I have bad iPod luck or what but all of the ones I have owned suck. Seriosuly if someone now asks me how I like my iPod I say "It works well with iTunes but the iPod itself is junk". As much as I love apple- the iPods are horrible IMO, they're nice when they work, but they never seem to work very long for me.

I'm sure if I call apple they will just say to bad- we sent you $150 speakers before and your iPod is not under warrenty. Does anyone know apples email address? I would honestly like to copy this post (edit a little) and send it right to them). I don't want to bother calling them and talking to some idiot that is being prompted by a computer screen, nor do I want to go to the apple store and talk to some arrogant employee.

I've just really had it!!!!!


EDIT: Ahh yes I did forget to mension that sometimes the buttons act as if the HOLD button is on but the HOLD button is turned off and there is no lock symbol on the screen.

 

[MacDawg]

Really sorry my friend... I suppose every product has its "lemons", and from time to time you get "unlucky" with a product. I love my iPod, and so do most of the people I know. I know that doesn't help you, and I'm sorry for your situation.

I hope you get it resolved, 'cause I know it can be quite frustrating.

Hang in there!

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[dmw007]

I find it hard to believe that iPods would be this bad. It seems that you have run into a string of lemons. I can definitely understand your frustration though, if I would have had this happen to me my response would be very similar. Sorry to hear about your iPod problems.

 

[EJBasile]

I find it hard to believe that iPods would be this bad. It seems that you have run into a string of lemons. I can definitely understand your frustration though, if I would have had this happen to me my response would be very similar. Sorry to hear about your iPod problems.

I think I've run into a small lemon tree! I think I might be sending them another letter.

 

[dmw007]

I think I've run into a small lemon tree! I think I might be sending them another letter.

Heck, a whole grove of lemon trees!

Yes, send them another letter - they owe you big time for these problems you have been having.

 

[rainman::|:|]

Were you using the same computer the whole time? Might the firewire bus on the computer be damaged, in turn frying the iPods as you plug them in?

just a thought.

i've had problems with them too, not nearly as bad as yours tho. Can't say I've ever seen the display problem tho, could you post a pic?

 

[EJBasile]

Were you using the same computer the whole time? Might the firewire bus on the computer be damaged, in turn frying the iPods as you plug them in?

just a thought.

i've had problems with them too, not nearly as bad as yours tho. Can't say I've ever seen the display problem tho, could you post a pic?

I mainly use the USB connecter with my powerbook (w/USB 2.0) but I also have tried it with the FW wire and there is not difference. I have also tired connecting it to multiple PCs and I have the same problem. I don't think its my PB thats burning it up. My first two were always synced with a PC and they had issues.

Do you think they will respond if I sent them a letter. I already sent them a complaint 10 monthes ago or so and they gave me a set of speakers. Now my iPod has seemed to accumulate and for the rare times I want to use my iPod- it never works right.

 

[dmw007]

Were you using the same computer the whole time? Might the firewire bus on the computer be damaged, in turn frying the iPods as you plug them in?

Scary, plugging in your beloved iPod and firewire toasting it.

 

[mrzeve]

I find it hard to believe that iPods would be this bad. It seems that you have run into a string of lemons. I can definitely understand your frustration though, if I would have had this happen to me my response would be very similar. Sorry to hear about your iPod problems.

Lol, no lemon tree my friend, just Apple.

The iPods are so poorly made (yet I still have one) and, obviously, they are the item that Apple troubleshoots, repairs, and replaces the most.

Just sit at a Genius bar for an hour or two and I gurantee about two dozen iPod issues all from different people.

A little, little, little, to much pressure on the iPod and your drive WILL break. It WILLLLLLL break.

But EJ it sounds like they kept giving you refurbished iPods which usually means an iPod with a new or slightly used battery and a new casing, along with a factory restore of the drive.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Apple

To bad I cant stop spending money in that freakin store. The white just attracts m e like a bug.

 

[EJBasile]

Lol, no lemon tree my friend, just Apple.

The iPods are so poorly made (yet I still have one) and, obviously, they are the item that Apple troubleshoots, repairs, and replaces the most.

Just sit at a Genius bar for an hour or two and I gurantee about two dozen iPod issues all from different people.

A little, little, little, to much pressure on the iPod and your drive WILL break. It WILLLLLLL break.

But EJ it sounds like they kept giving you refurbished iPods which usually means an iPod with a new or slightly used battery and a new casing, along with a factory restore of the drive.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Apple

To bad I cant stop spending money in that freakin store. The white just attracts m e like a bug.

My first one was new, my second was new, and my third one was a "replacement part" so I am guessing its a refurb. Quality of iPods are a joke. My 2nd and 3rd both didn't even have the casing fully fit together so I had to squeeze it gently to get the metal part to pop into the white part. Its about time they make the iPod iPod out of aluminum or something better than there cheap plastic that scratches from anything touching it.

I finished writing pretty lengthy letter to apple complaining of my past iPods and my current iPod's problems. I don't really know what I want from them but I ended my letter like this:

I am very disappointed and frustrated that even after two replacement iPods, I still don’t have one that works properly and now my warranty has expired. Is there anything you can do to resolve these problems?

Hopefully they won't say buy a new iPod lol. I think they should just let me send in my disfunctional iPod and they should just give me a brand new iPod or $400 to the apple store- I didn't say that but I would like to.

I am just annoyed. I have 2 British cars and at one point I had 3 and let me tell you they seem to be more reliable than my iPods.

 

[EJBasile]

Lol, no lemon tree my friend, just Apple.

The iPods are so poorly made (yet I still have one) and, obviously, they are the item that Apple troubleshoots, repairs, and replaces the most.

Just sit at a Genius bar for an hour or two and I gurantee about two dozen iPod issues all from different people.

A little, little, little, to much pressure on the iPod and your drive WILL break. It WILLLLLLL break.

But EJ it sounds like they kept giving you refurbished iPods which usually means an iPod with a new or slightly used battery and a new casing, along with a factory restore of the drive.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Apple

To bad I cant stop spending money in that freakin store. The white just attracts m e like a bug.

Then I must have a tree of dead apples.

 

[Counterfit]

My brother has had some problems with his iPod as well. It started freezing, so it got replaced, and it happened again. While mine, on the other hand, has been solid, even after being dropped onto a driveway from about 3', and gone flying from a table to about 4' off the floor, and landing face first onto tile. Win some, lose some

 

[EJBasile]

Does anyone have a guess of what apple would do for me. I mean my iPod is out of warranty but I have had three none of which have lasted 1 year. I am just tired of them crapping out on me.

I don't consider myself to be an unlucky person but in this case I do

 

[Heb1228]

I'm sorry about your problems, I'm sure I would be upset in your situation as well. However, it seems a little over the top to make the blanket statement that iPods are made poorly. Thats such a subjective statement anyway.

If you compare iPods to any other mp3 player on the market, they are made really well. I don't understand why it is that Apple is the only company that can make products that don't feel and look like cheap plastic.

A lot of us have had years of trouble-free iPod use. But I know that's little consolation to someone in your situation. I just hope your iPod problems get resolved or your experience is better with whatever iPod-wannabe you choose in the future.

 

[EJBasile]

I'm sorry about your problems, I'm sure I would be upset in your situation as well. However, it seems a little over the top to make the blanket statement that iPods are made poorly. Thats such a subjective statement anyway.

If you compare iPods to any other mp3 player on the market, they are made really well. I don't understand why it is that Apple is the only company that can make products that don't feel and look like cheap plastic.

A lot of us have had years of trouble-free iPod use. But I know that's little consolation to someone in your situation. I just hope your iPod problems get resolved or your experience is better with whatever iPod-wannabe you choose in the future.

I think in general they are not the best product made by apple. I love my iPods when they work as they should. I'm not suggesting that I would never ever buy an iPod again, its just that my luck with them has just been so bad. I know a person who uses hers all the time and shes never had a problem (1st gen. 5gb iPod) which must be 3-4 years old- and she puts it in her purse inside of a plastic bag-NO CASE and it has lasted her fine. Not to debate but the more recent iPods I think are made out very cheap plastic. Plastic that gets all scratched up if you put it in your Apple Brand iPod case just once. I think the iPods look cool in there plastic but I know everyone I know that has one says "they scratch to easily".

I'm probably getting this from my ingnorant father but how good can a product be when it is made for $50 in China trying to use the cheapest way of mfg possible while still keeping the "Apple status and design".

 

[BrianKonarsMac]

i work with apple, they have an unwritten policy of 'getting to yes' with the customer. i'd take this to your local apple store and bring all of your documented info. get a mac genius and manager involved. do not settle for anything less than full satisfaction, because you will get it.

My brother has had some problems with his iPod as well. It started freezing, so it got replaced, and it happened again. While mine, on the other hand, has been solid, even after being dropped onto a driveway from about 3', and gone flying from a table to about 4' off the floor, and landing face first onto tile. Win some, lose some

we seem to have the same luck. my ipod seems to have a desire for eating the cement, as it always finds the fastest route out of my pocket and onto the floor 3 feet away. the two ipods i've owned have never failed me (i still have my first generation 5 gb ipod). to the Original Poster, you have some seriously bad luck, but you will get it resolved if you cause enough noise.

 

[law guy]

One possible solution

Get a good CD player / with seperate tweeters for your car. Get a nice little shelf-system for your office. Get a decent stereo for home - I've found that paradigm (www.paradigm.ca) Reference studio series speakers with a HDCD or SADC source are amazing - a whole new experience for me when I first heard them (with audioquest gibraltar cables in a bi-wire configuration), and happy listening!

While there are portable options, I've always liked being out in the world when I'm out and about and listening to what's around me. It may not suit you, but it just might - and it'd address your on-going iPod woes.

 

[EJBasile]

Get a good CD player / with seperate tweeters for your car. Get a nice little shelf-system for your office. Get a decent stereo for home - I've found that paradigm (www.paradigm.ca) Reference studio series speakers with a HDCD or SADC source are amazing - a whole new experience for me when I first heard them (with audioquest gibraltar cables in a bi-wire configuration), and happy listening!

While there are portable options, I've always liked being out in the world when I'm out and about and listening to what's around me. It may not suit you, but it just might - and it'd address your on-going iPod woes.

Yea maybe I should just stick with CD players. I have nice Harmon Kardon systems in two of my cars, the other car I don't even know, and I have a bose wave radio and a bose surround sound system LOL

 

[Rovias]

I feel your pain. My first iPod (a 1st generation 5 gig model) gave me no trouble whatsoever, but ever since I upgraded the problems seem to get worse. My second iPod was a 3rd gen 10 GB model and after 4 or 5 months the touch-buttons stopped responding. Not entirely, mind you, but on and off on a daily basis. I dealt with it until February of this year, when I upgraded to a 40 GB iPod photo. Now, not even a full 6 months later, the scroll wheel is behaving erratically. Sometimes the volume will go all the way up if I barely touch it, and sometimes it doesn't respond at all. Keep in mind I baby my iPod, keep it in a protective case at all times, and have never dropped it once. I just sent it in to Apple today for repairs, so we'll see what comes of it.

I think the iPod is a fantastic device, if only it would work properly half of the time.

 

[Sedulous]

Lol, no lemon tree my friend, just Apple.

The iPods are so poorly made (yet I still have one) and, obviously, they are the item that Apple troubleshoots, repairs, and replaces the most.

That hasn't been my experience at all. Not even remotely.

 

[ewinemiller]

I've just really had it!!!!!

Mine hasn't been quite as bad as yours, but I'd have to say they aren't the most reliable pieces of hardware.

I bought a 30gig 3G, the first one lasted like 2 days then would no longer boot. I don't know what the problem was but Apple replaced it.

The replacement has the problem connecting to itunes too. It's about a 50/50 chance. The last couple of times I've just left it connected to the firewire cable and wandered away, when I came back itunes had found it. So it probably would connect every time it's just taking a really long time to do it. Windows does find it as a drive immediately though so I'm not sure why itunes has such a problem.

Also the next button often stops responding. After a while it will work again. Since 95% of the time I'm using the next from my CD changer controls now, it's not really an issue.

Now after the last ipod update, it keeps forgetting my settings. Sometimes, but not always, when I boot up it asks me for my language preference and all my customizations are lost. Music/playlists/etc are all still there. I may try to wipe it and run through the update again this weekend.

Functionally they are nice and I'd certainly buy a new one if this one died completely, I'm too addicted to always having a good song to listen to in the car, but quality is lacking.

 

[gwuMACaddict]

my brother is on his 4th(!!!!!!) replacement pod from apple and it just broke again- won't boot, gets the error screen with the folder and the exclamation point...

i love all things apple, but they need to do something about the reliability issues with their iPods

 

[XNine]

Yea maybe I should just stick with CD players. I have nice Harmon Kardon systems in two of my cars, the other car I don't even know, and I have a bose wave radio and a bose surround sound system LOL

Bose is about the worst system you could possibly own. As the industry motto goes "No high's, no low's, it must be Bose!" Proprietary pieces of crap all the way around.

The person that mentioned getting a genius and a Manager involved is correct. Apple will find some way to make it up to you. I saw a customer get a 60 Gig color iPod for a 40 gig click-wheel (non-photo) that kept failing him. He talked to a manager and a Genius and got it solved that same day.

 

[EJBasile]

Bose is about the worst system you could possibly own. As the industry motto goes "No high's, no low's, it must be Bose!" Proprietary pieces of crap all the way around.

The person that mentioned getting a genius and a Manager involved is correct. Apple will find some way to make it up to you. I saw a customer get a 60 Gig color iPod for a 40 gig click-wheel (non-photo) that kept failing him. He talked to a manager and a Genius and got it solved that same day.

I could try doing that but I know when I get to the store everything will be working normally. I'm sending a letter out to them at the end of the day- hopefully they will respond.

 

[FoxyKaye]

One of my co-workers is on his 6th iPod, only one of which he actually busted himself (shattered the LCD screen by sitting on it - whoops). He definitely feels your pain.

My 2G so far seems pretty sturdy - I actually just put a replacement battery in it last night (one of those newfangled 18-hour types). However, I've carried it and cradled it like an uncooked egg wherever I go: It's always in the belt clip carrier buried deeply inside my backpack where it won't get smooshed by anything that happens to my bag.

I'm waiting for the Minis to get more capacity in the next couple years, and then I'll trade up.