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I think it's ridiculous that they're getting sued over the concept that batteries die.

They need to find another instance where something like this wasn't questioned, and fast.

Well, apparently the iPod battery issue is going to court....  Apparently a law firm is investigating a possible lawsuit.

These are not the same thing.

Should Apple, in the interest of either corporate integrity or customer and public relations, offer battery replacement free of charge?  Do you feel that if this goes to court that the court will rule in favor of customers or Apple?

Discuss.

Apple, they make no claims that the battery is user replaceable. And they can't be blamed for batteries dying. Unless the iPods are really new.

Considering none of these batteries died like that within the span of the one year warranty, I really don't know how they have any grounds for such a thing.  And the damn thing is replaceable if people would shut their whine holes for just five minutes to Google the subject.

This is almost equal to the lawsuit against McDonalds made by fat people claiming it's McDonald's fault that they're fat.

hi, welcome to america

There is another post on the iPod issue... it is not as clear cut as some of you are making it; i.e., about batteries failing! It is more about people buying iPods and them not lasting as long as they should.

I think the iPod is badly designed in one respect.... it should have had a battery compartment such that consumers could replace battery. Instead it is sealed system so to speak, and if battery fails to recharge owners must return unit to Apple for additional charge. Consumers are use to replacing batteries in most every other electronic item and the iPod is unique in that area. It would not be difficult for Apple to head off this lawsuit by offering free replacements as I gather percentage of iPod's falling into this category are rather small. Other thoughts?

Camp David

Edit: Nevermind, said right before me and I missed it.

Custom, manufacturer-specific batteries for consumer electronics devices are nothing new. I don't really understand the brouhaha, where's the outcry when a $100, 700 mAh NiMH battery for a DV camcorder dies?

I am ambivalent about the lawsuit issue but was made curious by the claims of several on these boards that long recharge cycles will lower the life span of a  lithium-ion polymer battery.
I just got dome spending about 20 minutes perusing several battery care web sites and manufactures guidelines, including Apple's and found not one single mention of this phenomenon.
If letting a battery totally discharge is so injurious to its life span I would think I would find this information prominently displayed on pages related to proper battery care. I did not.
I therefor conclude that this "discharged battery" issue is just another attempt by Apple Fan boi's to excuse Apple from any responsibility.
Prove me wrong, provide linkage that fully discharging a  lithium-ion polymer battery will shorten its life.

I don't think that long re-charge cycles are bad, so long as you actually charge the thing when it tells you to.  I think the problem is if you let it sit around forever w/o a charge.  Good of you to do some research on it.  I'll go look as well.

-mark

One reason I tend to disbelieve that storing a rechargible in a discharged state will shorten its life is because that is the way they are originally made, shipped and stored.
Rechargibles are allways fully discharged when you buy them.

True but charging them makes a chemical reaction occur, so maybe after that initial charge, storing them uncharged is not a good idea.    It is a bad situation any way it happens with an iPod.

-mark

Doesn't matter whether it is just or not.  All the plaintiff's lawyer needs to do is keep it going long enough to get Apple to settle.  Then the lawyer can take his millions while all the people who were "wronged" will get their pittance.  This reminds me of when PC manufacturers were sued over the stated size of computer monitors.  It's a shame.

Rechargibles are allways fully discharged when you buy them.

Always?  My laptop battery wasn't fully discharged.  Neither were the rechargeables that came with my mouse.  Or either of my cell phones.  I would be careful with words like always.

Rechargibles are allways fully discharged when you buy them.

Always?  My laptop battery wasn't fully discharged.  Neither were the rechargeables that came with my mouse.  Or either of my cell phones.  I would be careful with words like always.

Just about every device I've ever bought has come with a nominal charge on the batteries.

Same. Cell phones, laptops, and yes, my iPod all had charges around 10% when the box was opened. Often this is because they do tests in the factory to see if they work. Well, that's what the salesbot told me.