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P.S. I also would like to be able to change my OWN BATTERY!! apple idiots.

I think you're the one who's the idiot. First of all, if you have about 20 bucks, a little manual dexterity and the abilty to read and follow directions, you can replace your iPod's battery yourself.

Secondly, I don't recall seeing a battery hatch on the rear of the Zune, either-- but I do remember reading that it uses the same battery as the iPods.

thank god for third-party manufacturers

I second that. I bought a second gen iPod as soon as they were released (they finally had Windows support then). I personally thought they were pretty cool looking and functional. Also, quite compact.

The previous MP3 players I've tried (the old Creative Nomad anyone?) were garbage compared to this thing. Apple simply got it right.

I have been thinking about purchasing a new mp3 player (for reasons involving lack of space and battery issues... I know, there are places to fix your battery.) and was thinking about something like iRiver makes. Unfortunately, they are ugly as sin and the navigation isn't as easy compared to the iPod.

That said, when this thing officially dies, I will probably get another iPod. They just work. (Though I do wish for gapless playback and crossfading, but that isn't that big of a deal for me).

but at least Joe Consumer can go purchase a new battery after his ~320 Lithium Ion Cycles have been used up.

Really? I wasn't aware that Joe was banned from this site, or paying Apple $100 to do it for you.

In an ipod, however, until Apple started their exchange program, there was no way to replace the battery

Not really. And Apple never advertized the iPod as having a user-replaceable battery in the first place.

http://www.ipodbattery.com/

$30 or so. So simple even your mom can do it.

Oh, I know... feeding the troll. I shouldn't but this one's too obvious not to. I mean, seriously obvious. :)

I have a 2nd Gen iPod with a battery I put in myself. The battery came with its own pry tool (so you won't scratch the backing) and instructions (with PICTURES for you retards.)

The iPod's been through heck and back and still runs smooth on its second battery.

http://www.ipodbattery.com/

So much for disposable. And oh, I don't wash my iPod, my cell phone, my cordless phone, or my PSP. And I don't poke the battery with a screwdriver (remember the plastic tool that came with my iPod battery?) Ahhh... the smell of the obvious. It's almost sweet. Lawsuit indeed. ;)

This isn't even a new revelation. Spend $100 letting Apple put one in for you, or spend $30 + shipping and do it yourself.

iPods may be neat, fun, etc ... but when the battery wears down for the final time

...you spend the $30 to buy a new battery and install it yourself (or get a local geek you know to do it, if you're a ham-handed gimp.)

Still no user-replaceable battery, which is quite lame, my iPod now has about 90 mins battery life these days :( Come on apple, is it really too hard to let people replace batteries on their own?

Are you new to the Internet? Go buy a new battery you fool!

Besides I like to be in control of my music and my gear and I don't like when I can't replace the battery like the way the iPod is setup.

I think by now, anyone bitching that they "can't" replace an iPod battery is just looking for something to bitch about. Seems to me that there are more than one place to get replacement batteries for the iPod, and it even only takes about 5 mins to do the replacement yourself.

Umm, google for ipod battery and spend less time to find out than you spent typing your question.

OR just go to iPod Battery

Jobs should have had these folks work on his pancreas, he would have saved a bundle!

http://www.ipodbattery.com/

You can change the battery.

Yes, but by graduation the non-replaceable battery will surely be toast leaving you with nothing but an overpriced hunk of plastic to go with your overpriced degree.

Huh? Well, trollboy, once the battery's endurance gives out about three or four years from now you can always replace it with one of these, these, or these.

IpodBattery

Correct link :

http://www.ipodbattery.com/

Of course, Apple wants you to pay them to do it: http://www.apple.com/batteries/replacements.html. But if your iPod is out of warranty, and you're a DIY guy, you can try to replace it yourself: http://www.ipodbattery.com/.

I think i've had my ipod for like 2 or 3 years. I forgot. It was whenever the first $300 windows versions starting hitting the market. Anyways, my battery life is hardly any worse than when i bought it. Two brothers make a half-truth documentary and complain they couldn't figure out how to replace the battery themselves go and start that video/website (which did they mention they turned around and bought another $400 iPod right after?) which feeds the trolls for the next few years. Look, go take a peek at ipodbattery.com. For an operation you have to do once ever 2-3 (or maybe even MORE) years, i think holding off just because of a non replacable battery is stupid. i bet you'd get a new ipod just because's better within that span of time anyways, then ebay it for an extra $150 off your new iPod.

It costs $29-$49 to replace

More here and here.

The "Bug" part that I had heard about was that you couldn't replace the battery yourself. You had to send it back into Apple to get it fixed.

Can not be replaced, huh? Right.

Don't buy a iPod, that's fine. But why you gotta be a hata?

So, Dell might have an audience after all.

That is for the Apple replacement. If you are mechanically inclined, or have a freind who is, if can cost you as little as $30. And then if you(or your friend) fries the bugger replaceing it, well the Dell deal is pretty good looking deal. Mac compatability could be an issue, but I'm sure there is some way of hooking it up though USB to the Mac. (This post was by no means an attack on your ability to open an iPod, nor your freinds abaility.)

Well, there are always options:
Battery replacement
What's a better deal for you? Some might see a brand new unit (with warranty) a good deal for $100. Some might see extending the life of an old friend for $40 a better one.

The ipod has a 630 mAh battery. This is why there are reports that replacing the built-in battery with a third party battery, like at http://ipodbattery.com will result in greatly increased battery life - third party batteries are 20% better, or more, in the same space.

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/consumer_ele ctronics/stats/ipod_3rdgen.html

also

http://www.kernelthread.com/mac/ipod/

• That doesn't excuse the fact that the battery system was very poorly designed, and Apple overcharged to get a replacement battery that users shouldn't have needed so soon anyway.

Apple introduced a battery replacement program within days of the original complaint. Anyone who even bothers to look at the thing knows that battery replacement isn't going to be easy. It's something great grandparent should have known when he bought the iPod, and whining about it after the fact is simply that. 100 bucks ain't cheap by Slashdot standards, but the battery itself costs 40-50 bucks. 50-60 bucks for service is hardly what I would call unreasonable. A lot of your 'pragmatic' Windows users pay more than that to have their OS reinstalled every 6 months.

As for "shouldn't have needed so soon anyway", I'm no battery expert, but if you buy a brand new battery, it's only got a one year warranty. Do you think Apple products should defy science because they cost a couple hundred bucks? Better file a complaint about those Air Jordans then. The shoes are expensive but they don't allow you to fly!

I, for one, won't start saving until they come out with a replaceable battery...

Start saving!

You can replace an iPod battery yourself for $49, or pay Apple $105.95 to do it.

http://www.ipodbattery.com/

But in the midst of the rescue attempt, the battery died and couldn't be replaced!

aw, see this would have been funny only you went one clause too far: everybody knows iPod batteries can easily be replaced

shut up, fucko

They are user-serviceable, but I am fairly sure that it voids your warranty, which is crap. Don't get me wrong, I love Apple, and I'm not all that sure about the warranty thing :P For reference:
iPod Battery.com

User servicable in what sense?

Inside of warranty, you can send it back to Apple and have it replaced for free. Outside of warranty, you can have it replaced by Apple for $99 or you could do it yourself with a bit of technical know-how for less than half that price.

They're by no means meant to be "disposable".

Actually the Dell battery is not meant to be replaceable either (or at least I consider gluing the battery to the unit a sign that it is not meant to be replaced by the user... I could be wrong :)

Unlike Apple, Dell doesn't seem to have an official replacement program in place. I'm sure they'll institute one once the first wave of customers start finding that their Jukeboxes can't hold a charge, just as Apple did. Also, you can purchase replacement batteries and do the install yourself for about $50, just as for the iPod.

The point, though, is that the Dell is no better than the Apple in terms of battery replacement.

If they're anti-screw, does that make them pro-nut? But joking aside, I definitely agree with you. How is it that Apple, one of the big innovators in hardware designs and interfaces, was unable to provide easy battery access for its iPods? Of course, like you said, it's most overreaction and not that much of a problem, but you'd think that they'd make it easy on the consumer. The miPod I think will really show how much of an impact iPods have had on the market for portable music players.

Well then you better start buying cause you can replace the battery yourself for US $50

Owning an iPod player comes with a $50 per year maintenance cost of replacing the lithium polymer battery,

while the other players take a slight form-factor hit in exchange for the convenience of replacing rechargeable AA-size or AAA-size NiMH cells.

Oh, and the Dell digital jukebox and Samsung/Napster player (the two that are most clearly aimed at competing with the iPod) use... Lithium-Ion Polymer batteries.

Oh, and of course Belkin offers a little external pack that sticks onto an iPod and holds 4 AA batteries... but that's a form-factor hit.

In addition, the threat of planned obsolescence should Apple discontinue the iTunes Music Store's compatibility with older iPod hardware.

It's actually possible to replace the iPod battery, either through Apple or through DIY. Apple charges $99, so it might be better to just save up for a new one when the battery dies, especially with the new low-end iPods rumored to be around the corner.

Apple's iPod battery service: http://www.info.apple.com/support/applecare_produc ts/service/ipod_service.html

DIY iPod battery replacement: http://www.ipodbattery.com/

• Where by "unreplaceable" we mean "somewhat difficult to replace"
• I'm so fucking dumb I've not only videotaped myself committing criminal vandalism, I've released the footage publicly

But they ALSO say (immediatly following your quote):

But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions, with pictures: original, non-"dockable" iPod, new, slim "dockable" iPod) and PDASmart, for as low as $49.

But they ALSO say (immediatly following your quote):

But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions, with pictures: original, non-"dockable" iPod, new, slim "dockable" iPod) and PDASmart, for as low as $49.

But they ALSO say (immediatly following your quote):

But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions, with pictures: original, non-"dockable" iPod, new, slim "dockable" iPod) and PDASmart, for as low as $49.

iPod Battery FAQ

http://ipodbatteryfaq.com/

Q: Is the iPod's battery replaceable?

A: Yes. Apple has an official battery replacement program for $99. You send your iPod in (any model iPod), and Apple will replace the battery for $99. AppleCare programs for iPod will also soon be available in Europe.

Q: Is the iPod's battery user-replaceable?

A1: Yes and no. The iPod's case is not designed to be opened, so, in that respect, it's not what would generally be referred to as "user-replaceable". But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions, with pictures: original, non-"dockable" iPod, new, slim "dockable" iPod) and PDASmart, for as low as $49. Some will even do the replacement for you if you send it in.

A2: TechTV's Call for Help has a story, with video , discussing and demonstrating replacing an iPod battery (the video was produced before the Apple service options were available).

Q: What is the iPod's warranty? Does it cover the battery? Is there any way to extend it?

A1: The iPod warranty is one year. It does cover the battery.

A2: You can extend the iPod's warranty, including battery coverage, to two years with AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. Numerous retailers, such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., also have very inexpensive extended warranty coverage available for iPod. Often these plans simply replace the product with a comparable new unit.

Q: What's the deal? Does Apple think the iPod is disposable?

A: No. Like all Apple products, the iPod is engineered to last. This is why Apple is consistently ranked number one in product quality and support by leading consumer groups, such as Consumer Reports.

Q: I heard that the iPod's battery only lasts 18 months, and then you have to buy a new iPod! Is that true?

A1: NO! The vast, vast majority of even the earliest iPods, now over two years old, continue to function just fine. Some iPods, however, have had issues with batteries. Lithium ion batteries are only good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles (more). For this reason, certain customers' usage patterns may cause the batteries to degrade, or fail, sooner than others.

A2: If the battery does fail, and the iPod is no longer under its original one year warranty or $59 AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod, or any of numerous third party service plans, you don't have to buy a new iPod. You may replace the battery yourself for as little as $49, or have Apple perform the replacement for $99.

Q: Why didn't Apple use better batteries?

A: Apple uses the best lithium ion battery technology available from leading battery manufacturers. This is the best, most cost effective battery technology available given the requirements of the device.

iPod Battery FAQ

http://ipodbatteryfaq.com/

Q: Is the iPod's battery replaceable?

A: Yes. Apple has an official battery replacement program for $99. You send your iPod in (any model iPod), and Apple will replace the battery for $99. AppleCare programs for iPod will also soon be available in Europe.

Q: Is the iPod's battery user-replaceable?

A1: Yes and no. The iPod's case is not designed to be opened, so, in that respect, it's not what would generally be referred to as "user-replaceable". But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions, with pictures: original, non-"dockable" iPod, new, slim "dockable" iPod) and PDASmart, for as low as $49. Some will even do the replacement for you if you send it in.

A2: TechTV's Call for Help has a story, with video , discussing and demonstrating replacing an iPod battery (the video was produced before the Apple service options were available).

Q: What is the iPod's warranty? Does it cover the battery? Is there any way to extend it?

A1: The iPod warranty is one year. It does cover the battery.

A2: You can extend the iPod's warranty, including battery coverage, to two years with AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. Numerous retailers, such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., also have very inexpensive extended warranty coverage available for iPod. Often these plans simply replace the product with a comparable new unit.

Q: What's the deal? Does Apple think the iPod is disposable?

A: No. Like all Apple products, the iPod is engineered to last. This is why Apple is consistently ranked number one in product quality and support by leading consumer groups, such as Consumer Reports.

Q: I heard that the iPod's battery only lasts 18 months, and then you have to buy a new iPod! Is that true?

A1: NO! The vast, vast majority of even the earliest iPods, now over two years old, continue to function just fine. Some iPods, however, have had issues with batteries. Lithium ion batteries are only good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles (more). For this reason, certain customers' usage patterns may cause the batteries to degrade, or fail, sooner than others.

A2: If the battery does fail, and the iPod is no longer under its original one year warranty or $59 AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod, or any of numerous third party service plans, you don't have to buy a new iPod. You may replace the battery yourself for as little as $49, or have Apple perform the replacement for $99.

Q: Why didn't Apple use better batteries?

A: Apple uses the best lithium ion battery technology available from leading battery manufacturers. This is the best, most cost effective battery technology available given the requirements of the device.

iPod Battery FAQ

http://ipodbatteryfaq.com/

Q: Is the iPod's battery replaceable?

A: Yes. Apple has an official battery replacement program for $99. You send your iPod in (any model iPod), and Apple will replace the battery for $99. AppleCare programs for iPod will also soon be available in Europe.

Q: Is the iPod's battery user-replaceable?

A1: Yes and no. The iPod's case is not designed to be opened, so, in that respect, it's not what would generally be referred to as "user-replaceable". But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions, with pictures: original, non-"dockable" iPod, new, slim "dockable" iPod) and PDASmart, for as low as $49. Some will even do the replacement for you if you send it in.

A2: TechTV's Call for Help has a story, with video , discussing and demonstrating replacing an iPod battery (the video was produced before the Apple service options were available).

Q: What is the iPod's warranty? Does it cover the battery? Is there any way to extend it?

A1: The iPod warranty is one year. It does cover the battery.

A2: You can extend the iPod's warranty, including battery coverage, to two years with AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. Numerous retailers, such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., also have very inexpensive extended warranty coverage available for iPod. Often these plans simply replace the product with a comparable new unit.

Q: What's the deal? Does Apple think the iPod is disposable?

A: No. Like all Apple products, the iPod is engineered to last. This is why Apple is consistently ranked number one in product quality and support by leading consumer groups, such as Consumer Reports.

Q: I heard that the iPod's battery only lasts 18 months, and then you have to buy a new iPod! Is that true?

A1: NO! The vast, vast majority of even the earliest iPods, now over two years old, continue to function just fine. Some iPods, however, have had issues with batteries. Lithium ion batteries are only good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles (more). For this reason, certain customers' usage patterns may cause the batteries to degrade, or fail, sooner than others.

A2: If the battery does fail, and the iPod is no longer under its original one year warranty or $59 AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod, or any of numerous third party service plans, you don't have to buy a new iPod. You may replace the battery yourself for as little as $49, or have Apple perform the replacement for $99.

Q: Why didn't Apple use better batteries?

A: Apple uses the best lithium ion battery technology available from leading battery manufacturers. This is the best, most cost effective battery technology available given the requirements of the device.

iPod Battery FAQ

http://ipodbatteryfaq.com/

Q: Is the iPod's battery replaceable?

A: Yes. Apple has an official battery replacement program for $99. You send your iPod in (any model iPod), and Apple will replace the battery for $99. AppleCare programs for iPod will also soon be available in Europe.

Q: Is the iPod's battery user-replaceable?

A1: Yes and no. The iPod's case is not designed to be opened, so, in that respect, it's not what would generally be referred to as "user-replaceable". But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions, with pictures: original, non-"dockable" iPod, new, slim "dockable" iPod) and PDASmart, for as low as $49. Some will even do the replacement for you if you send it in.

A2: TechTV's Call for Help has a story, with video , discussing and demonstrating replacing an iPod battery (the video was produced before the Apple service options were available).

Q: What is the iPod's warranty? Does it cover the battery? Is there any way to extend it?

A1: The iPod warranty is one year. It does cover the battery.

A2: You can extend the iPod's warranty, including battery coverage, to two years with AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. Numerous retailers, such as Best Buy, CompUSA, Circuit City, etc., also have very inexpensive extended warranty coverage available for iPod. Often these plans simply replace the product with a comparable new unit.

Q: What's the deal? Does Apple think the iPod is disposable?

A: No. Like all Apple products, the iPod is engineered to last. This is why Apple is consistently ranked number one in product quality and support by leading consumer groups, such as Consumer Reports.

Q: I heard that the iPod's battery only lasts 18 months, and then you have to buy a new iPod! Is that true?

A1: NO! The vast, vast majority of even the earliest iPods, now over two years old, continue to function just fine. Some iPods, however, have had issues with batteries. Lithium ion batteries are only good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles (more). For this reason, certain customers' usage patterns may cause the batteries to degrade, or fail, sooner than others.

A2: If the battery does fail, and the iPod is no longer under its original one year warranty or $59 AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod, or any of numerous third party service plans, you don't have to buy a new iPod. You may replace the battery yourself for as little as $49, or have Apple perform the replacement for $99.

Q: Why didn't Apple use better batteries?

A: Apple uses the best lithium ion battery technology available from leading battery manufacturers. This is the best, most cost effective battery technology available given the requirements of the device.

The iPod battery is user-replaceable for $49. See below for a link to one vendor.

Adding an easily user-accessible battery door would (to my mind) break the seamlessness of the iPod's design and possibly require that it be larger as well (consider a door that's the size of practically the entire back of the device -- or whether the dimensions would change if some sort of snap-release tab-in-slot mechanism was added to the entire length and breadth of the current iPod back).

Given that the battery lasts at least 18-months, I'd prefer to have a seamless design, and then have a little fun with a screwdriver when the time comes (rarely) to change the battery. In addition, I wonder how long the tiny hard drive will last given the conditions in which it's used and the forces to which it's subjected -- it wouldn't surprise me if (had I an iPod) I'd only need to replace the battery once.

What's that, you didn't know the battery IS user-replaceable? See IpodBattery.com for details on the $49 ipod batteries they sell and to read the installation instructions. It doesn't look all that difficult for anyone who knows how to use a screwdriver.

People seem to like to pile on criticism of the fact that the iPod battery is not easily replaceable. But I haven't heard the same sort of griping about the non-easily-user-replaceable lithium-ion batteries built into most PDAs (Palm Tungstens, Sony Clies, RIM Blackberrys, Compaq Ipaq, etc). I doubt all these companies forgo providing easy access to the batteries as some conspiracy to force consumers to replace the devices or pay to have a new battery installed, but rather the devices are designed to be as small and tightly packed as possible, and given this concern less regard is rightly given to putting the battery in an easily accessible spot and adding a door.

It is worth griping a bit about Apple's previous battery replacement policy (they wanted $255 to replace the battery), but they've since changed their tune quite a bit and it'll now cost $99 to have them replace the battery for you. In addition, when buying an iPod, an additional $59 gets the warranty extended to two years.

'Course, the iPod is out of my price range. I spent less than the cost of a $49 iPod battery on my teensy 128Mb USB-memory-stick-mp3-player-voice-recorder toy (Andus resound, flashed with some similar player's firmware to allow it to be mounted on Macs, Windows, and whatever-else as a real generic USB storage device), and find that this is a more than adequate amount of memory for a few hours of jogging. But if I were to buy an iPod, it would be because I appreciate things that are well designed and a joy to use, and the battery issue wouldn't even be on my radar.

If users are complaining about it, it's a flaw. Because the flaw can not be fixed without significant re-engineering, it's fundamental.

Um, no, not everything that is complained about is a flaw. This issue affects a very, very small portion of iPod owners. The second part of that statement is rendered invalid. Additionally, there is an official program to replace the batteries, if need be, as well as numerous ways to do it yourself. Just because the Neistat brothers couldn't do it means nothing. The instructions are here, with pictures: old, new.

The vast, vast majority of iPod owners' batteries will last the life of the product. These premature failures are fringe cases. Lithium ion batteries are good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles. If you are a heavy user, i.e., recharging an average of once a day or more, and using the unit daily, AND are always running the unit down to completely dead (a big no-no for all lithium ion batteries) you could conceivably be in a situation where your battery has degraded prematurely. But the plain fact of the matter is that almost all first generation iPods, some of which are over two years old, continue to function just fine, and will continue to do so.

Other manufacturers are doing the same thing: integrating batteries on hard drive-based players specifically for the purpose of reducing the size.

Apple, your customers are speaking. Are you listening?

Apple, an extremely small, vocal percentage of your customers are making an issue out of nothing (since there are several reasonable ways to replace the battery, including official ways through Apple itself) - er, wait, some people who don't even own iPods, but just relish in anything negative related to Apple - are you listening?

Oh, wait...you already did.

(Note: if Apple's rumored new "cheap" iPods have easily accessible user-replaceable batteries, it won't be because of slashdot, the Neistat brothers, or "bad press", because the products have been in development for ages before this ever even came up.)

If users are complaining about it, it's a flaw. Because the flaw can not be fixed without significant re-engineering, it's fundamental.

Um, no, not everything that is complained about is a flaw. This issue affects a very, very small portion of iPod owners. The second part of that statement is rendered invalid. Additionally, there is an official program to replace the batteries, if need be, as well as numerous ways to do it yourself. Just because the Neistat brothers couldn't do it means nothing. The instructions are here, with pictures: old, new.

The vast, vast majority of iPod owners' batteries will last the life of the product. These premature failures are fringe cases. Lithium ion batteries are good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles. If you are a heavy user, i.e., recharging an average of once a day or more, and using the unit daily, AND are always running the unit down to completely dead (a big no-no for all lithium ion batteries) you could conceivably be in a situation where your battery has degraded prematurely. But the plain fact of the matter is that almost all first generation iPods, some of which are over two years old, continue to function just fine, and will continue to do so.

Other manufacturers are doing the same thing: integrating batteries on hard drive-based players specifically for the purpose of reducing the size.

Apple, your customers are speaking. Are you listening?

Apple, an extremely small, vocal percentage of your customers are making an issue out of nothing (since there are several reasonable ways to replace the battery, including official ways through Apple itself) - er, wait, some people who don't even own iPods, but just relish in anything negative related to Apple - are you listening?

Oh, wait...you already did.

(Note: if Apple's rumored new "cheap" iPods have easily accessible user-replaceable batteries, it won't be because of slashdot, the Neistat brothers, or "bad press", because the products have been in development for ages before this ever even came up.)

(Not in relation to the mini-iPods, as I don't know their specifications, but there seem to be enough idiotic battery posts, so...)

Q: Is the iPod's battery replacable?

A: Yes. Apple has an official battery replacement program for $99. You send your iPod in (any model iPod), and Apple will replace the battery for $99.

Q: Is the iPod's battery user-replaceable?

A: Yes and no. The iPod's case is not designed to be opened, so, in that repsect, it's not what you would generally refer to as "user-replaceable". But, the case can be opened, and there are several third parties that offer replacement batteries for the iPod, such as iPodBattery.com (instructions available at that link) and PDASmart, for as low as $49. Some will even do the replacement for you if you send it it.

Q: What's the deal? Does Apple think the iPod is disposable?

A: No.

Q: I heard that the iPod's battery only lasts 18 months, and then you have to buy a new iPod, is that true?

A: NO! The vast, vast majority of even the earliest iPods, now over two years old, continue to function just fine. Some iPods, however, have had issues with batteries. Lithium ion batteries are only good for 300 to 500 charge/discharge cycles. For this reason, certain customers' usage patterns may cause the batteries to degrade, or fail, sooner than others.

A2: If the battery does fail, and the iPod is no longer under its original one year warranty or $59 AppleCare Protection Plan, or any of numerous third party service plans, you don't have to buy a new iPod. You may replace the battery yourself for as little as $49, or have Apple perform the replacement for $99.

Q: Why didn't Apple use better batteries?

A: Apple used the best lithium ion battery technology available from leading battery manufacturers. This is the best, most cost effective battery technology available given the requirements of the device. The lithium ion batteries Apple uses are no different than lithium ion batteries used by anyone else. The battery should last most normal users several years.

Q: Why doesn't Apple make the battery easily replaceable, then? Or use different batteries, like AA?

A: Because if they did either, the size of the batteries and/or the access panels and mechanisms required to access the battery would make the unit significantly larger than it is, likely by several milimeters in thickness at a minimum, and it may possibly affect other dimensions as well. It was an engineering decision to use an integrated battery; if it were not integrated, the unit would not have the small, sleek form factor that makes it so attractive. Additionally, the iPod's battery is indeed replaceable, as has been discussed above.

Q: Well, no one else does that!

A: Wrong. Prime example: Dell's new DJ portable music player uses an integrated, non-user-replaceable lithium ion battery, just like the iPod. Dell also has no plan or program to replace batteries outside of warranty at this time.

Q: But, Apple only released their battery replacement service because of all the bad publicity from the Neistat brothers' video.

Wrong again. Apple released the battery replacement program as early as November 14. ipodsdirtysecret.com was only registered on November 20, and started being heavily publicized on November 21. Additionally, Apple had been planning the battery replacement program for months - these types of service programs don't just happen overnight - before Casey Neistat even had his first contact with Apple. The video campaign had nothing to do with Apple's rollout of the battery replacement program.

You CAN replace the iPod's battery if you aren't a pansy about opening consumer electronics. In fact for series 1 and 2 iPod's you can get an ~20% higher capacity replacement. The folks at the strangely named ipodbattery.com will be happy to sell them to you and they even include instructions on how to do it =)