iPod nano screen flaws?

We haven't picked up a nano for full-time use yet, but from what we could tell it was made with the same general type of clear plastic (painted white or black underneath, natch) as pretty much every other iPod. But not a week after a few boards lit up with claims that their users' new babies' screens were cracking unduly, an Apple discussion board has hundreds of customers complaining that their facades are scratching way too easily, and that the plastic isn't at all resilient—even for iPod plastic. We even heard complaints of scratches with a microfiber wipe—that's serious, man. So what do ya think everybody? Has your nano's screen stood up to the test of time (i.e. a couple weeks)?

[Via iLounge]

[Daniel Bahl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

i just ordered a Apple Nano, I hope they'll fix the problem before it ships to me ! :)

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

My friend owns one and he put that plastic adhesive for pdas on his. Just be smart and protect it and it will hold up. It is a very solid device.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

No cracks or huge scratches on mine. I've also used dollar store microfibre to clean it and had no significant scratches. We'll see in the next couple of months though....

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

im really disspointed with my nano, in the sense that it scratches way too easily, and the comment about "scratches with a microfiber wipe" i think is true. there is no other way mine can possbly be getting scratched.

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

My nano has fine scratches on it. I can't wait for the various cases to come on the market. This plastic is way too soft.

[jim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I too was the lucky guy who had a scratch right across the screen within 10 hours of ownership! I know this is not the answer wants like a recall by Apple but I used Maguire's X scratch polish for small scratches and abrasions. Use a small amount and a wet soft cloth and just do small circles ( try to avoid the click wheel), let it dry, wipe off and repeat several times. I was able to remove the scratches this way. I understand Apples secrecy in trying to bring items to market without all of us knowing, but this is what happens when Apple does not provide a case, or give manufacturers an idea of what is coming to have cases available!. By the way, the Apple Nano armband completely sucks. Silly case colors and a man with any arms at all will find that the armband is too short and would be better used as a tourniquet!. What for other options to hit the market, you will just need to polish scratches out until they arrive.

[Varun Seth @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

My black nano scratches like it is going out of business! I still love it though.

[dsz9619 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

FYI - The nano (and it's bigger brother) are not painted under the plastic. They are made with a process called twin shot injection molding. Basically it is actually 2 layers of plastic.

[Joe Smithy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Guys, when you opened up the ipod in its box, what was wrapped around it? a plastic film! If you want to protect the screen, just leave it on! Or you might want to cut it a bit to be able to use the wheel. common sense...

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I got a white 2gig and the 2nd day the screen had like 5 scratches on it... i only use it at work and i don't even put it in my pocket.

i HAVE to get some type of protector for it!

[jon b @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I put a perfectly healthy cased nano into my pocket when I left for my physics class, and when I got to the classroom and took the ipod out to turn it off... the screen was half cracked, with crystals leaking onto the un-cracked half.

I sent it off to apple to get fixed, and for now it seems like they're going to do it for free.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I got my nano about 10 days ago and it's already got quite a few scratches. I've only taken in and out of my pockets, but it looks like it's been to war. But that just comes with the territory, you buy a thing to use it, so it doesn't make me think any less of it or Apple.

[Steven @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

The scratching on my nano is horrible! I keep it out of my pockets, yet it has accumulated hundreds of scratches, to the point of utterly defacing it's entire front. It looks almost as bad as my Nokia, which I have had for 2 years and utterly abused.

*sigh*

[hesh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

#13, I just ordered that Friday evening.

I noticed my black nano scratched fairly easily as well, but the back was scratching more than the front just from setting it on my desk and stuff like that. Truthfully I haven't touched it in about a week because I don't want it to scratch anymore and won't be touching it until that invisible shield comes in.

[Rus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I've read various BLOGS that say this was "problem" was posted to the Apple boards by an employee at Creative (iPod competitor) ... as with all problems in the Apple world ... hypochondriacs go crazy!

That said, I am aware that the plastic is more sensitive ... but was the unit that Steve Jobs showed off during the launch event the same? he had that in his pocket for almost 45 minutes before unveiling it - getting up and sitting down and he must have had it for some time before that.

The scratch guard tip above was a good one - but for ANY iPod.

[flipper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

The guy who has set up the flawed nano website has p*ssed a lot of people off by being overly agressive and jumping to conclusions about whether every nano can have a cracked screen. However the scratches problem is very real, my nano hasn't been out of the house yet and it already has scratches (presumably from me wiping it with a t-shirt).

[TastyBread @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I only had my Nano for a week and there were a lot of scratches on the front. It finally led me to send it back on the account that it was way to delicate for my needs from a DAP. Also the lack of features for $250. The way I see it, if your not getting as many features as you would from a PSP for equal price, then your wasting your money.

[ty @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Mine had a scratch within 10 mins of opening .. there have been more since then .. and its got nasty fingerprints on the back. I dont really care tho, since you cant notice them when the back light is on...and im not one to dwell on insignificant thigns like scratches ..im more concerned about the longevity of the battery.

Im also thinking of taking fine sandpaper and sanding the back completely ... no more fingerprint trap!

[Chuck Oberfranc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I baby my gadgets and my nano still had a blemish on the the screen the second day. Poor quality plastic. I have been polishing it with Novus #1 and #2 but still can't get this "Blemish" out!?!? Hey, just looked at it after being in my pocket this morn, many scratches, looked better last night!??!!

[alanhigh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I have a black 4gb Nano and mine scratched up rahter intensely in my pocket. The black was facing my leg, and I had nothing else in my pocket. Needless to say I was very confused.

[Nathan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Joe Smithy (#10), surely you jest??!

[Talkin Ape @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

17... why'd you buy in the first place?

I pity the fool who did not read the specifications.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

#10 Right. Why don't we just leave it in the box? It'll never get scratched then!

[Raymond @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Imagine that, scratches on a portable device. This is truly a dilemma.

There are 5 iPod's in this family and they all have a variety of dents (yes dents) or scratches on them. They all work just fine for their intended purpose -- listening to music in our case.

[SR @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

heh. get an iPod mini if you still can. my 1st gen is virtually indestructible, silver is super scratch resistant, even the screen, i stopped using the case i bought after a while. the screen has even survived with very very few scratches after i callously put it in the same pocket as my house/car keys.

impossibly durable. the iPod mini.

[Dom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Just got one and took it back cause I had it for a day before it was scratched (that was no easy task let me tell you), honestly I told the dealer that I have glasses (those things that you put on your eyes) that I have had for YEARS and have fallen off my face doing many a stupid things and they have less scratches on them, he hummed amd hawed but gave me my refund thankfully. But I tell ya wait till they change the plastic on the body and screen (that is unless you like cheap plastic that scratches when you breath on it) I am extremely disappointed with Apple because they have the market, and for the money you pay for the Nano they should be putting out a far better(more durable) product than this.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

17:

The moment a PSP is the size of a nano I'll be inclined to buy one as a replacement. I see it as a waste of space, you're paying a premium for a reduction in size, not for a plethora of video game features. I don't want a huge object that does 50 things when I just want a small audio player that doesn't bulk up my pockets, that's why the nano replaced my pda, and why I was inclined for the nano over a mini or full iPod.


22:

Except that hardrive being a possible failing point. That's one of the reasons I went for the nano, I originally bought an iPod back in late May and encountered drive issues initially, and returned it. Sure its not a common issue, but it made me realize I wanted something with minimal chance of failure, as I use it for project file transfer, and would rather risk only battery life in the long run over drive failure.

[jfc78 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

No--I really, really don't think it's "common sense" that you should have to keep your iPod in some sort of additional plastic envelope. In fact, I think that's idiotic. I'm reminded of Apple's calm insistence that eMac owners should remedy their screen problems, caused by the built-in speakers, by simply buying an extra set of speakers. Some of you may love to accessorize your iProducts well into the realm of absurdity. But some of us remember when Apple's standards revolved around simplicity and reliability.

[hokiewalrus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I got my Nano 2 days after it came out. The next day I had it in my pocket. No problems. Then I got to where I was going, wound the headphones around it like I used to do with my regular iPod. Next thing I know, dozens of scratches on the screen, the body, even on the clickwheel.

It's too bad because this is suck a great product but now I'm afraid to use it.

[Matthew Goeden @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I blogged about this --> http://www.fscklaw.com/?p=84 Copy of text below:

The internet is hot with early adopters of the iPod nano who are complaining that the screen scratches entirely too easy. I note this only because I noticed this two weeks ago, which was just a few days after the release of the nano.

I went to the Apple store to buy a Mighty Mouse, but latently, to get a good look at the iPod nano. The floor units were covered with scratches. I know normal iPods scratch; I have a third generation and it is pretty beat up after two years of use. However, these iPod nanos were only �out� in the store for a couple days and they were fscked up!!

While I was at the register purchasing my Mighty Mouse, I asked the Apple employee helping me if they scratch easier that other iPods. He replied that they are covered in the same shell that normal ipods are and that the floor units get particularly beat up. I asked him to show me his if he had one. He pulled it out of his pocket, and it was pretty scratched up.

I suspect that Apple is going to have to have some sort of recall. Especially since a large part of their branding is built on quality and that it has been reported that Apple has a 50% profit margin (before marketing and distribution costs) on the nano.

[LC_ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Maybe if people stopped running over them with their cars.

[Itchy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Mine looks like hell. I have had mine for about 2 weeks and already it's scratched enough to (slightly) distort the images on the screen. VERY upsetting.

[Alcaron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

It does indeed scratch WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too easily.

I ended up buying fugly pastel nanotubes just to hold me over until the GOOD cases come out in Oct.

But what irks me is, why even bother designing a nice looking player if you have to bury it in 1/8th inch silicone because it scratches when you LOOK AT IT!?!?!?

[john dough @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

"ooohhh my super shiny nano has a fingerprint"
"ohhh, my super shiny nano has a scratch"
"ohhh, i stuck my nano in my back pocket and sat on it now its craaaacked"
"ohhh, my nano sucks because i use it and abuse it and now its scratched"

Get a clue ya ninnies! I protect my iPod's (yes plural) having owned them since the very first version. Sure, i hate scratches, but guess what, I also know that ANY device that is so flippin shiny is gonna show a scratch. My car does, my mobile phone, my iPod, duh!

Best advice so far, especially to #25, is from #13, invisible shield.

"If there's a problem what do you do? FIX IT!"
-GySgt Judge, USMC Retired (and no that ain't me ya dopes, thats my quote)

[Colin Foster @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

So far my white Nano has about the number of scratches on it that I might expect -- no more than that. (I actually picked the white over the black specifically because I thought the black Nano would show the scratches a lot more.)

I have never made any special effort to take care of my iPods and they usually have a quite a few light scratches by the time I sell them. I don't do anything stupid like stick it in a pocket with my car keys, or sit on them, but I've never gone in for cases or protective wraps of any kind. Just my jeans pocket, for the most part -- but not with anything else

[Drez @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I noticed this the other day when I went into the Apple store to look at the new Nanos. After only a few days of being placed on the table for people to view the black one was almost totally destroyed, the white one seemed to be doing better, but not by much.

I had considered buying one because I do like the smaller form factor but seeing the quality of finish I'm going to stick with my shuffle. I don't need to see the names of the songs I load into it, I put them in iTunes afterall.

[YukonDawg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Right on #25. I was hoping to make the Nano my first iPod, but the "scatches just by looking at it too hard" issue is a *big* nonstarter for me. I'm a big gadget freak and love to try out products and after a few months sell them on eBay to fund the next cutting edge product. That being said, I try to keep everything in mint/like new condition. I always use a case for transport, but don't feel like I need to have to keep a product "locked up for its own protection." I've had PDA's and other electronics that didn't scratch even after months of use including writing on the screen with a stylus for hours a day! Any item that scratches when you wipe off a fingerprint with a kleenix is not for me. Sorry Apple.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I have had a PSP and a nano since they day both were released and have no scratches whatsoever.

I don't use film-based screen protectors for either.

The PSP has a flip cover and stays in a carrying case when not in use. As far as the nano goes, when not in use, it fits pretty nicely in one of those iPod Socks apple released awhile back. Nary a scratch on either one.

It makes me wonder what people are doing. Why would you put a nano in your pants pocket along with change or whatever?

Heck, I have carried my nano in my pants pocket a few times and haven't had issues with scratches (yet).

[YukonDawg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

p.s. I also agree with #30 that you don't hide a visually stunning product in a fuggly silicone case or iCondom...

[DismissedasDrone @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Anything black and clear coated will show all sorts of scratches, just look at any black car in direct sunlight. Unless the owner is mega-diligent and has lots of time/money to hand detail it, it will be covered in scratches and swirl marks. This is why I ordered the white one before any of this scratching dialog came up.

*

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Comparing the Nano (or anything else) to a PSP is churlish. The PSP - like any games console - is undersold, the cost of the hardware being recouped through the artificially high cost of the games.

As for the Nano - hey it's a relatively delicate, expensive electronic device. Treat it with a little care and it'll last well. If you want bomb-proof music, get a Shuffle.

[tennis guy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

#31:

You're an idiot.

It's obvious that the Nano scratches much more easily than other portable devices which are meant to be carried on your person. Cell phones and PDAs do not scratch this easily.

What's the point of having a small player if you have to put it into a case that will effectively double its size?

This is a direct consequence of Apple's desire to keep new products secret. Obviously they did not beta test this thing, otherwise this would have been noticed.

Apple screwed the pooch with this one. Sales will tank once word gets around, and they'll have to fix this.
.
.

[Griffen37 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Confirmed. I have a microfiber baggie that my digital camera came in to prevent scratching. Using it to wipe the fingerprints off the nano has left little scratches all over the screen. As I have not put it in a bag or even my pocket, the only thing that could have scratched it was the baggie. Given that scratches have always been among the bigger ipod complaints, I'm surprised Apple would make this worse.

[Gary @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Why couldn't they just make it the same material as the black Motorola Razr V3? I don't have any scratches on the external LCD screen of my phone, and I keep it in the same pocket as my Nano.

[Cliff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I had a nice fat scratch BEFORE i was able to charge the first time.

The funny thing is I just put a piece of clear packing tape over the screen to reduce the damage about a minute before seeing this link!

Definitely disappointed with this facet of the product. Which is very sad seeing that it is pretty awesome besides this remarkably visual flaw.

As to peope saying 'take better care of it' that's bull. The nano was obviously made to go into your pocket (with change and keys, etc.) and with inferior plastic on the shell I am gussing apple knew pretty well what was going to happen.

I wish i had known beforhand because I would have treated it with kids gloves out of the box and put something on it before I had a chance to mess it up :)

[Fats Vernon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Hey #31....guess what, the Rio Carbon (silver with highly glossy surface) not only doesn't scratch, but it doesn't even pick up fingerprints AT ALL. Apple has chosen to cut corners plain and simple. Scratches and dings should not be part of the equation when you're dropping $250.

Apple needs to take a good look at other manufacturers methods, take the good from all of them and slap something together that's worth the duckets. They already have style out the ying-yang, so the quality part is a no brainer.

ANyway, I'm glad I waited for the backlash before purchasing a Nano. Cause now....I aint.

[Marco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I ordered the invisibleSHIELD protector, so i'm not using it until that comes, it looks great.

[Fats Vernon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Hey #31....guess what, the Rio Carbon (silver with highly glossy surface) not only doesn't scratch, but it doesn't even pick up fingerprints AT ALL. Apple has chosen to cut corners plain and simple. Scratches and dings should not be part of the equation when you're dropping $250.

Apple needs to take a good look at other manufacturers methods, take the good from all of them and slap something together that's worth the duckets. They already have style out the ying-yang, so the quality part is a no brainer.

ANyway, I'm glad I waited for the backlash before purchasing a Nano. Cause now....I aint.

[todd @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I am so disappointed. I have been treating mine with kit gloves and I swear it scratches if I breath on it. I have tried using special plastic polish to remove the scratches. I haven't taken it back to apple but my guess is they wont do squat.

[Mykel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Cmon, people! These crazy scratches are appearing after only 2 weeks! Remember when everyone complained when their battery was toast after a year? This is even worse.

Get a grip. Sure, protecting a $200 investment IS a good idea, but claiming "you should be protecting it, that's why it's getting all scratched" is ridiculous. It's not hard to make plastic scratch resistant and Apple definitely should have, considering it was designed to be put in a pocket.