The biggest complaint many have about the iPod is that it lacks a replaceable battery. Personally I don't think this is an issue and I'll tell you why... toothbrushes, in particular electric toothbrushes.
I know that might sound a bit weird but it occurred to me when I was brushing my teeth that no one ever complains about the lack of ability to replace the battery in a rechargeable toothbrush, especially when they use NiCd batteries. These batteries develop a memory that would make an Alzheimer's sufferer envious if they could remember what it was that should have them envious in the firstplace. This memory is actually a bad thing when it comes to batteries because unless you drain the battery completely before charging the battery's capacity becomes less and less until it's useless.
iPods on the other hand use LiIon batteries that do not develop memories and thus have a far greater life than NiCd batteries. As such there isn't the requirement to change them so often. Now why is it that people complain about the four year lifespan of an iPod but no one complains about the two to three year lifespan of an electric toothbrush which has the same inability to replace the battery?
There's another reason why we shouldn't really care about the fact that battery can't be replaced in the iPod. The life of the harddrive. A harddrive's life is roughly the same as the life of the battery in an iPod and this is a general rule even for laptops and desktops so the iPod isn't a special case. In fact considering the pounding many iPods take that life could be less so at this point battery life is somewhat moot. As good as a Mac is until they release reliable, efficient, fast solid state drives that are actually affordable then harddrive life is always a factor in getting a new machine. A Mac has an average life of 5 years by which time the harddrive is on its way out and chances are the life of the battery is dwindling as well if you have a laptop.
Taking this into account replacing an iPod every four years isn't a bad thing, at least you will have the latest technology.
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celtickiwi
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Toothbrush comparison I want to say WYF but I wont I don't complain about replacing the batteries in the tooth brush because it cost me $40. On the over hand the ipod classic & the ipod touch that's over $600 a piece. I want to be able to replace the batteries! Where will apple draw the line first disposable mp3 players then $4000 disposable laptops, good god I hope they don't ever try and sell me a car they doesn't include a gas cap, even it has a really, really big gas tank. |
lowededwookie
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That's the sort of comment I was expecting and it is kind of wrong. NiCds life is very short so that $40 quickly turns to $80 then $120 then $160 etc. The average life of a NiCd is a little over a year because all it takes is one forgetful charge without full discharge and you've lessened the life. So within a year you need to buy a new one so for the life of an iPod's battery you've had to buy 4 toothbrushes. Like I said it's more to it than just how long the battery lasts it also has to do with how long the harddrive lasts and the two are reasonably evenly matched so if you have looked after the iPod properly and done proper discharges you'll still be needing a new iPod in four years anyway. |
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