Apple can't meet demand for 4GB nano
By Evan Blass 
posted October 6th 2005 7:40PM
posted October 6th 2005 7:40PM
News flash! Apple releases a stylin' new product and it becomes…very popular! Research firm Off the Record Research (ORR) is reporting that Apple is unable to meet the demand for 4GB iPod nanos, due in part to the scant $50 difference between the 2GB and 4GB versions. The 4GB black nano is reportedly the most popular model, with choosy customers refusing to step down 2GB when the 4GB nano is out-of-stock. ORR compiled its report based on interviews with retail buyers, Apple resellers, and retail employees, as well as visits to Apple Stores.
[Thanks, Corey]
In case you were curious:
What a black iPod nano looks like after 3 weeks of normal use.
http://thoughtfix.com/nanoscratches/
It may come to look like that, but a can of brasso can fix it for 4 dollars.
http://todd.dailey.info/archives/2005/09/27/restore-your-ipod-nano-to-new-condition-with-a-4-can-of-brasso/
I've already done this to both my reg 4G 40gb ipod and the black nano. Does a INCREDIBLE job. So don't complain on how the scratches are there. It doesn't ruin on how the thing plays music.
On the other hand the horrible screen scratches do effect the usability of the Nano.
I personally don't mind the scratches so much. The nano still works fine. If functionality fails from scratches, I'll go back and yell at Apple.
While I am disappointed their design of an "active lifestyle" flagship is so easily cosmetically blemished ... I keep the perspective that the blemishes are indeed COSMETIC. :)
Why do I wanna buy something that is not so scratch resistant and then spend more money on retouching it.....
because its "impossibly small".
does no-one else think that Apples slogan should be...
"Nothing's iPossible"
(sort of....you get where I'm trying to come from...don't you?!?!?!?!?)
Does the white model scratch up just the same or is it only the black one?
while brasso will indeed take the scratches out it is an abrasive product that really has no business near electronics. On the other hand, Future Wax does a wonderful job of filling in the blemishes and makes a nice microthin protective shell that you can peel off and reapply for pennies a year.
Im gonna wait for a 6or 8gb one cuz my minis full but it just isnt as sexy as the nana *wink*
1) Go spend a tiny bit more on a case for it.
2) I have a friend that just got a Nano and the next day he had it in his pocket and the screen broke. The ink or whatever started bleeding a bit and thought it was still usable it was annoying. By the end of the day it spread a little more. If they release a new version they need to make it a little more durable (and I don't mean scratch resistant). Scratches are minor and only dimish looks where as a broken screen gets much worse eventually blotting out the screen, rendering it unusable.
careful not to put it in you back pocket with tight pants on... those suckers snap in two
This product really is very popular! I've seen 6 at school already!
I think maybe since there is such a hig demand for them they might come out with a 6 or 8 gig model soon.
It's too bad none of you invested in a InvisibleSheild. It costs $20.00 for what seems like a cheap piece of vinyl but its incredibly resistant and scratch proof. My nano is absolutely perfect under the protection of the invisibleShield, I couldn't even scratch it if I rubbed it with the edges of a key.
#9 <<
You DID tell your friend that Apple is replacing the broken screen, right?
All the photos that make the scratches look really bad have been taken using direct flash photography. Any Ebay seller knows this dramatically exaggerates flaws that are otherwise much more subtle when dealing with such surfaces.
News flash! Engadget publishes yet another article about the ipod.
. Posted Oct 6, 2005, 7:46 PM ET by Dan (thoughtfix)
In case you were curious:
What a black iPod nano looks like after 3 weeks of normal use.
http://thoughtfix.com/nanoscratches/
Not too bad. My fourth-generation iPod had even more scratches on it after one week of use.
3. Posted Oct 6, 2005, 8:00 PM ET by jr
On the other hand the horrible screen scratches do effect the usability of the Nano.
No, cosmetically, the scratches do make the iPod less appealing, but it's not as though they're going to affect the responsiveness of the click wheel or the sound quality.
Ethan: Got pics?
Bah please continue the nano screen FUD, anyway, you hate Apple so it doesn't matter to repeat lies about them?
1. Screens on the nano are no more scratch-able than all other iPods, it uses the same plastic.
2. There were a few rare instance of nano screens breaking for no good reason, Apple acknowledged that it affected 0.1% of the first batch, and the problem is now corrected. They will replace the broken nano with no problems.
3. Unless you got one of these rare flawed screens, you should be able to sit on it without damaging it, as demonstrated by Ars Technica. I wouldn't recommend to sit on it though, just like I wouldn't recommend anyone to sit on any kind of portable electronic.
4. Didn't it occur to you that competing players can have problem? Look at the latest Sony "iPod Killer #5" its all made out of shinny transparent plastic, back and front. Why don't we here about problems on them? How about because so few people are buying them, and that there is no central support forums and Sony MP3 players sites equivalent to iLounge? People having problems with their non-Apple player just shut their mouths about it because they realize they should have bought an iPod anyway, and/or they don't want to hear "told you so" from their iPod using friends.
How is it hard to understand that Apple is in the spotlight, and that many people hate them for different reasons (less and less these days fortunately), so the coverage on these is overblown compared to competitors, who also have their own bugs and problems?
#18
lol fanboy.
btw volume and battery life for ipod sucks BUT they do look very nice.
Not only that, but it's taken more than two weeks for them to replace my black nano's broken screen.
Not only that, but it's taken more than two weeks for them to replace my black nano's broken screen.
of course they did replace it for free... aside from the emotional cost seeing my nano black-and-blue
I suspect they are short of 4GB Nano's because so many had to be replaced.
I suspect they are short of 4GB Nano's because so many had to be replaced.
---
Oooooh listen.. the sound of Engadget readers being wrong. Again.
They replaced 1/10 of 1% wasn't that the line?
Pffft..
i just got mine through the apple online shop and they shipped it straight from Shenzen China, so i guesss they are not even bothering to bulk ship them to the us then fedex them from here
A colleague at work bought a black 4GB Nano the second day they were out. About a week later he did indeed suffer a broken screen. With my encouragement he went back to the Apple Store where he bought it but was turned away as it was deemed negligence. The next day Apple officially acknowledged an issue with Nano screens from a limited batch. Once again I encouraged him to go back and state his case. Finally this Monday I took him myself to The Grove location here in LA and within minutes was presented with a brand new replacement unit without any fuss what so ever.
The store was of course sold out of both the 4GB versions but had a batch set aside just for replacement purposes. While it is initially disappointing to discover that a product you spend hard earned $ on has possibly a defect - my friend is not sure if his unit was indeed one of the "weaker" ones or if he is to blame for accidentally bashing into some hard object - it sure is encouraging to find out that the manufacturer is willing to admit blame and take steps to satisfy customers who already have invested in your latest product. After all, how easy would it be for a highly frequented location as The Grove to try and SELL every 4GB unit of a high demand product they can get their hands on and leave the exchange process to a mailing procedure with Cupertino?
That's the right way to run customer service - turn an unfortunate and possibly negative image situation into something positive.
Also, my friend was told his unit was the very first one they had encountered with a broken screen so far. No idea what the statistics are, but sure seems an extremely low number for a location that has already sold many thousands of the Nano if you consider the massive amount of electronic ink this defect has been allotted on the Internet.
Cheers,
HT
OK,this WAS going to be my first Ipod/Apple product & frankly I'm not impressed by some of the things I hear & their marketing techniques.
(1)If they KNOW their products scratch(& YES it will affect the screen after awhile,so why have a screen to view photos & album art if it's no good after awhile?As an optician for over 20 years I'm very familiar with polycarbonate & there IS durable scratch coats for it!) Why not change materials & make them more attractive to potential new buyers?Because they figure when it looks trashed enough you'll go buy a new one.
(2)Having the gaul to not include a "nano tube" with it is BS since they obviously know of the problem,I mean these things probably cost them .50 yet they want to charge $39 bucks?That's their solution for scratch complaints?"go buy a case"? They seem to think we're all rich.The body scratching wouldn't bother me that much,but what's the screen going to look like after a year?
(3)The non-user replaceable battery is also BS,you buy their product & then have to keep spending for accessories,battery replacement(which is $59.00 + shipping BTW) & protective cases? Would you buy a car that you had to send back to the mfg when the battery dies?Or a TV that didn't include a AC adapter that you had to send back?(That's BS too,not including a AC adapter for a $250 product,I have a life away from my PC & not everyone has notebooks.).
Too bad, cause the Nano IS nice looking(for 2 seconds)& I like the idea of a color screen,but probably won't be a customer any time soon,I've done my homework & searched all the forums & articles & I'm NOT impressed.I'll wait for Gen2 & see what I hear or just get another brand.
#17
http://www.theinvisibleshield.com
Google can be your friend too! ;)
Of course, if you'd prefer to buy the same material they use and fashion your own "invisible shield", it's made of 3M Scotchcal -- available from your friendly neighborhood custom auto shop. A 2" wide strip of 8 mil thickness was recommended by someone who claims to have done the deed already.
I friggin' hate how scratched mine is (from the empty fabric pocket of my bag). I believe Apple engineered the iPods to scratch easily, thus ensuring more product replacement (and more cash in their pockets). I mean, how hard is it to use scratch resistant plastic?
...gotta buy apple stock...
#27: nanotubes are $29, not $39. (And you get five, not one.)
I've yet to purchase any type of battery replacement for ANY of the iPods I've owned.
For my nano (and my wife's, too), I purchased the Invisible Shield mentioned a few posts prior to mine. It's very good stuff so far.
"Apple is unable to meet the demand for 4GB iPod nanos, due in part to the scant $50 difference between the 2GB and 4GB versions"
No, it's the shinny black cover that sells, cause the 20GB iPod is also $250, check amazon.
I'm using a Martin Fields Overlay Plus on my black 4GB nano (http://www.overlayplus.com/) and it's probably one of the best films out there for the nano. I highly recommend it. No scratches or blemishes on the front so far, and it's crystal clear. Totally worth the small investment (about $10).
For everyone concerned about scratches on their Nano, protect it with a case or skin. Podccessories.com has a 3-pack of skins for only $25.99.
http://www.podccessories.com/index.php?cPath=38_39
#29 - Yes, buy Apple stock... I did a couple years back when the iPod became mainstay. I'm making a nice chunk of change now.
As for the scratching... I bought a my first iPod back in the day and immediately bought an iSkin. I've had a few iPods since then (a 2G, mini and now a 4G) and have always bought covers for them.
Think of you iPod as your penis. Put a cover on it. Even if it is a nano. ;-)
Yes, I've read tons of wonderful things about the invisible shield, and have decided to order one after having my ipod for 3 days. Seriously, its like these things come pre scratched, a few minutes after opening it I noticed scratches so I put it back in its original plastic and poked holes for the cable and heaphones. I did lots of research that day and from what Ive read on forums and reveiws im doing my best to protect that thing. Its amazing actually, ive yet to put it in my pocket after holding it in my hand for 3 days, and have been really careful. The day after I bought it I went to several stores and none of them had any cases/skins/shells so I ordered an invisible shield with priority shipping and as a temporary fix I cut a psp screenguard for the front and back. Trust me, Ive been cumpolsive and obbsesive with protecting this thing and it has a couple scrathes after a couple days, not to mention those microscratches it came with. From what Ive read Ill breathe easy with that invisibel shield.
Yeah I bought an inCase leather folio from the Apple store. It plainly scratches the screen as the nano is inserted and removed. Great product.
I also bought the silicon zCovers. The silocon is great. How ironic is this: When I tried to insert the plastic (!!!) screen protecter, the screen got scratched. The product is flawed.
The unit cost $200.00. I spent $50.00 on protection, the nano is more scrathed than ever.
A side note: I kept the nano in the factory plastic that it was shipped in (inside a brushed leather sleeve) for a week, until I recieved the inCase, and zCover; when I removed it it was scratched. The product is flawed.
Steve Jobs: "This is what pockets are for."
What? Scratching the heck out of electronic devices?
Yeah I bought an inCase leather folio from the Apple store. It plainly scratches the screen as the nano is inserted and removed. Great product.
I also bought the silicon zCovers. The silocon is great. How ironic is this: When I tried to insert the plastic (!!!) screen protecter, the screen got scratched. The product is flawed.
The unit cost $200.00. I spent $50.00 on protection, the nano is more scrathed than ever.
A side note: I kept the nano in the factory plastic that it was shipped in (inside a brushed leather sleeve) for a week, until I recieved the inCase, and zCover; when I removed it it was scratched. The product is flawed.
Steve Jobs: "This is what pockets are for."
What? Scratching the heck out of electronic devices?
Yeah I bought an inCase leather folio from the Apple store. It plainly scratches the screen as the nano is inserted and removed. Great product.
I also bought the silicon zCovers. The silocon is great. How ironic is this: When I tried to insert the plastic (!!!) screen protecter, the screen got scratched. The product is flawed.
The unit cost $200.00. I spent $50.00 on protection, the nano is more scrathed than ever.
A side note: I kept the nano in the factory plastic that it was shipped in (inside a brushed leather sleeve) for a week, until I recieved the inCase, and zCover; when I removed it it was scratched. The product is flawed.
Steve Jobs: "This is what pockets are for."
What? Scratching the heck out of electronic devices?
Sorry about the triple post. I am not familiar with how the postings on this site work. Again, I'm sorry.