Mossberg: iPod nano scratches like crazy

Not like we've ever really needed Unkie Mossy to tell us the score, but you gotta love his money quote on how his very own nano is "badly scratched" only a month down the line:

I have never tested or owned any portable electronic device that picked up as many scratches as quickly as the iPod nano.

Well, guess that settles that!

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

What about the PSP?

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

Tjey looked pretty ratty in the Apple Store when I went by. Scratched a bunch. Otherwise they are beautiful.

[Mr. Ipod Accessories @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Was the nano made of different material than the other ipods, or do scratches just show up better on the black ipods?

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

The PSP hasn't got a THING on the nano when it comes to scratches.

Lemme take a moment to pimp www.zcover.com a link I saw here last week, BETTER looking than apples crappy tubes and good quality, best of all, IN STOCK.

Seriously kids, buy your nano a rubber....er silicone. :)

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

and in other news, the sky is up in the sky

[Between the 2, I take Apple over John Bellone @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

"That settles that"? Please tell me you have a day job and don't get paid for this sort of insight. The question is "why" is this happening? Apple says it is the same coating that other iPods use. So, again, why? It matters to the resolution of the issue. As for "Unkie Mossy" [please] settling this one, sorry. I have 2 in black; both live in my pockets and briefcase. Neither looks like "Unkie Mossy's."

[Black Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

HOW TO PREVENT IPOD NANO SCRATCHES? Visit www.theinvisibleskin.com This is a hot item for any Nano owner. I beat the hell out of my Nano, but with this skin on, this baby is impervious. Oh, BTW, there is a PSP skin too from these guys.

[sab @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

who cares? my 2g ipod is about 3 years old, I bitched when it got scratched 3 years ago but it looks fine now. they all kinda blend in.... but still, ipods scratching is older news than 911, get over it.

[Squeeb @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

You know, it's not that bad if you take care of it..
I hate all you fucking "OH NOES MY IPOD SO SCRATCHED ITSELF!!11 APPEL AER TEH SUX. I HOEP THEY REDESISGNE TEH IPOD BECAUSE MY IRIVER ROX0R IT1" Morons.

Try not treating it like crap .. and it might not scratch.

[Zach Inglis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Agreed with the others. This really is old news guys.

I know Yahoo has bought Weblogs but that doesn't mean we have to degrade the standard already.

[Cliff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

no way guys, this is truly bad platic. i got so irritated i grabbed clear packing tape and covered the screen up to keep it from the inevitable end of being unreadable. my ipod mini scratched, sure, but nothing like this. before i plugged it in for the first charging the screen had somehow gotten a nasty scratch on it.

otherwise, this puppy is rock solid, but i would have to call it a defect.

[CoreyTheGent @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Old news? The product has just been released and is still selling in high volumes (where the supply permits). It's basically the #1, hottest, most talked about mp3 player at the moment, so it's far from "old news."

And AOL bought Weblogs, Inc. Not Yahoo.

[Dan (thoughtfix) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

The link I posted to the last nano story is getting passed around like a spliff at a Grateful Dead concert.

Listen -- If you want me to take pictures or scans of my scratched black nano in various lighting conditions, etc. let me know. I'll report back.

[Bill @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I ordered from http://www.theinvisibleshield.com/ the day I ordered my iPod, put it on as soon as it arrived, and I've had ZERO scratching issues. Wonderful stuff. You really can run your keys across it, and not see a thing. Also reduces finger goo.

HOWEVER I do think that Apple could and should have coated the thing in such a material (or a far more sturdy clear plastic coating) themselves, not left it to me to invest and extra $20 in a cover that they could reduce to a $1/unit line item. This is blatantly meant to make a nano cover a mandatory purchase, there is no excuse for shoddy plastic from Apple. Otherwise, the nano is an amazing piece of tech, enough so that I sold my 30G ipod photo to buy it, and don't regret it. Just do NOT get one without getting either an invisible shield or another cover.

[sab @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I've seen a few nano's, they scratch just the same as the 1/2g ipods. the 3/4g are a bit better with it. you're over reacting, its not a big deal and it is old news.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

According to Wired, Mossberg tends to be a good litmus test for the success and failure or electronic products.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.05/mossberg.html?pg=1&topic=mossberg&topic_set=

[Kevin Kohn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Its not like apple sold it to you scratched. You scratched it. get a case or get over it... NEXT topic already, this is getting old.

[gmrc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Does anyone have a ZCover review up yet? I am very interested in ordering one instead of waiting for my local shops to get cases in stock. But I don't like ordering aything off the net cold. I don't even know if these guys are for real.

Anyone got links to Nano ZCover reviews yet?

[Kaz Mori @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Gotta say I agree with the invisible shield poster above -- I bought one for $20, and it's by FAR the best clear-skin/coat I've ever purchased, but I really, really, shouldn't have to pay 10% of the purchase price to get the item to work properly...

[fredouil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

yes nano scratch like crazy, it s unacceptable :-(

but i bought a protect Decalgirl, dont buy it it s really a wate of money, really hugly, invisible shell seams better.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

the iBook and my 20 gig iPod are the same way.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Why does everybody keep whining about scratches. What's the difficulty in going downtown and buy a case?

[Juaquin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I have a zcover for my Cowon X5. Does the job, and does it well. Of course it adds a fair amount to the thickness, but what do you expect. Apple is ruining their whole marketing sheme here. They advertise it being so small and you can just throw it in your pocket and go. But if you do that, you end up with scratches, and so you have to buy a cover, making it thicker, totally ruining their whole point of the Nano being small.

If they were smart they'd spend some of the truckloads of profit they're making on these things to research some better coatings. It can't be all that complicated or expensive. They could even do what Cowon does, using aluminum with a practically scratch-proof coating. It's almost like powder coat on a car. Of course, everyone needs to figure out a coating for their screens, the only part that I'm actually worried about scratching

[CoreyTheGent @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Perhaps the nano scratches the same as other iPods, but there are three new factors some of you don't seem to get:

1) The grand majority of iPod nano units sold were black (and this trend will only continue).

2) The nano was purposely advertised as a portable, tiny device which could fit anywhere (Steve Jobs even pulled it from his pocket bare) with flash memory impervious to damage from sharp movements during exercise and other activities.

3) The majority of nano sales thus far came when accessories were scarce, meaning there are many of them with absolutely no protection.

There is just a feeling and overall image that the nano doesn't need the same amount of care as a regular HDD iPod.

[Max @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Get a cover?

You shouldn't have to get a cover to have a decent looking item last for a while. Adding extra bulk to an item you bought to be small is genius too :P. Even my candybar cell phone that rolls around in my change pocket and has had alot of other stuff happen to it looks way better than that. My shuffle is more torn up than it, and i've had that cell phone for alot longer. Not to mention my shuffle spends all it's time in my shirt pocket with nothing in there to damage it. They really should do something about it. Invisible shield is nice, but you shouldn't need to buy it.

[Alcaron @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I love all you people saying "this is getting old".

Sorry I pointed that gun at your head and made you click this link. :(

Won't happen again.

Meanwhile all us people that bought a nano then shelled out $20-$30 more because its a scratchy POS have a right to bitch about it.

I love #14 too....thats just genius, pure genius.

Your right, I scratched it, I was horribly abusive and wiped it with a MICROFIBER cloth.

I totally had that one coming.

Gotta love the internet.

[Hachimachi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I generally concur with CoreytheGent, although there might be a flaw in the different (smaller) manufacturing process, despite using the same material. I've compared the white and black nanos at the Apple Store and the scratches on the black ones are much more visible. This is the same problem with buying a black car- it looks pretty but it shows more dirt and wear. The Nano can also go places where no iPod has gone before, including new places where it can be scratched. Also, because of the size, it moves around more than a larger ipod in the same space. And yes, they did release the Nano immediately, before any cases could be developed.

[Michael Collins @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Looks to me like the camera lens is scratched.

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Things get scratched, women get pregnant, Americans get fat and people take shits. This is how things in the world work. Was the nano not supposed to scratch? Sure you pay a ton for it but how else do you expect for Apple to stay in business? You are not paying for something with scratch proof diamond adamantium plating you crazy fucks.

[Null @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I've found a cheap and easy fix for the scratches (for the dopes like me that didn't get a case for their Nano/PSP before they tried to play shuffleboard with it). You need 1) Meguiar's Plastx Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish. You can get this in the Automotive section of most hardware stores, or anyplace you can find auto care products. I got mine for about 8 bucks (IIRC) from Canadian Tire. The other thing you need is MicroTex microfibre cloth. They're yellow-orange cloths of 80% polyester and 20% polyamide, and when you ask for them, be sure not to get the wrong ones, or you could damage your unit even further. They make microfibre cloths of different textures for different purposes, so make sure you get the ones that are almost of a chamois texture, with the yellow-orange color, intended for polishing. They're about 14" by 13" and come in packs of three for something like 7 bucks (again, IIRC). Again, I got mine from Canadian Tire, in the household cleaning section.

You apply a small portion of the Plastx polish (either on the cloth or directly onto the area affected), wrap the cloth around your index finger and work the polish in small circles with moderate pressure over the scratched area. Then wipe the excess off the surface and look it over. Repeat the process until the scratches are gone. That's it. This will NOT work on really hardcore scratches, but I had a rather aggressive scuff right across the screen on my PSP and this process restored it to mint condition in about 10 minutes. Of course, you have to be careful not to get excess polish stuffed into the gaps around your PSP's buttons or on Nano's wheel, but otherwise this is a hard one to screw up. The polish isn't the least bit hard to work with, and even smells nice. And once you're done, put your unit in a baggie until you can get that skin or case. Good luck gang!

(PS: Engadget- give me a job already.)

[KJA @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S BLACK! It shows the fingerprints and scratches better in black. I made a research over a PSP Scratch Stress Test and it came up with this:
http://psp.ign.com/articles/564/564070p1.html

The PSP plastic is layered by a new super-hard chemical coating being developed by Japanese chemists for multiple applications of clear surfaces is discussed, expressing the amazing results so far attained. Utilizing a resilient, transparent polymer coating is the best in it's class to not make the PSP crack under pressure.

This is what APPLE needs, transparent polymer coating on their Apple iPods (not just nanos) due to the fact that their latest profit margin is amazing. They could have given us better protection for our money.

More information on transparent polymer coating at: http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996583

[Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

It's not like we've never heard this before! Aren't black cars more susceptible to showing dirt and scratches? Is this like a big surprise? The truth is black cars so dirt and scratches more than lighter color cars and that is a fact. So what is so new about this? If you let the Nano roll around in your briefcase or your pocket with keys & change then sure it's going to scratch. You'll just notice it more with Black. Should Apple do something about it.... well maybe, but then again if you buy a black car, and it get's scratched is that the manufacutuer's fault because it shows more than on a white car.

Should Apple make this less scratch resistant, well maybe they should have though about it, but is it their fault entirely, no! They should of however provided a thin case for it so it becomes less prone to scratches with the everyday use. But in reality people need to be more responsible and not let the thing roll around their briefcase as Mossberg did.

[Badison @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I agree with "finished.law.school" post 24.
I dont hear about complaints of scratches, that I'm assuming people are getting, on their cell phones. Why do people expect, shiny, expensive, sometimes delicate, hardware to be indestructible? If you care so much get a case.

Personally, I have headphones with scratches, i like it, makes it feel like I've worn it out. Same with my 3rd gen Ipod. PSP is a different story lol I dont want it scratched so i got a case.

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

If I've told you kids once, I've told you a thousand times! Keep your 'pods in a different pocket than your keys.

[Badison @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Joe #30: lol exactly .... this reminds me of someone buying a CD and saying "OMG look how scratched it got"

[Frac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

You know what though.. I would still want one.

Frac
----
I'll pay you $20 for a freeipods.com referral:
http://slashdot.org/~Frac/journal/

[Z @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Go to www.decalgirl.com and buy yourself a skin for the Nano. Scratches won't be such an issue after that.

[Pong Generation @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I don't think people mind the small scratches on the body that are bound to happen with any plastic over time,it's the fact that it's happening so soon & that Apple KNOWS about it.If it happens within such a short time frame then what would it look like in a year?

What's the point of having a screen when you can't see the photos or album art/song titles after awhile?I agree it would be pretty dumb if you put it in with your keys & change,but people are complaining about it just scratching even in a cotton shirt pocket or from just wiping it with microfiber cloth...what's Apple's solution?"Buy a case!"Yea I really want to spend more after just buying one of their products & $39 bucks for "Nano tubes?" Get real, they should include them,they probably cost about .50 cents apiece(or less).

I was an optician for over 20 years & am very familiar with polycarbonate plastic like they use on their LCD screen cover & there IS a scratch coating that they can use(just like the coating on eyeglasses)they just don't bother.They just figure when it gets trashed enough you'll go buy a new one.

The non user replaceable battery is BS too(BTW it's $59 + shipping when it dies).Would you buy a car that you had to return to the factory to replace the battery?Or a TV that didn't include a AC adapter & had a non replaceable battery that you had to ship back after awhile?

As a potential new Apple customer I'm not impressed.It's too bad because I think the Nano looks good(for 2 seconds)& I like the idea of the color screen,but either I'm going to wait till Gen2 Nano or buy another brand.

It's fine if you're spending Mommy & Daddy's college funds & don't work for a living,but $250 is a lot to spend for something that's going to look like s*** after awhile.Those of you that think it's whining to complain obviously don't have to pay for mortgage/rent,insurance,food,high gas prices & other bills.Apple seems to think everybody is wealthy.

[Chunk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Last time I bought and MP3 player was because it played MP3's... not because it looked good.

I picked up an iPod for the interface and capacity... not because it looked nice.

People worry to much about fasion and not function.

amen

[am @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Just to defend Engadget against all these people saying "This is old news." They know that, guys. That's why there is a link in the post to PREVIOUS ENGADGET POSTS ON THIS SUBJECT. The point of the post is that even Walter Mossberg is having trouble with nano scratches, not that scratches occur.

ps. No one else has yet mentioned that Mossberg's original review was widely quoted because he was going on about how indestructible the thing seemed after he dropped it a bunch of times.

[TCM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I have a ZCover for a Cowon Iaudio X5, the Zcover material is very sleek and sturdy, and it even came with a hard screen protector. The only thing bad with the material is it collects dust and lint slightly.

[DM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

Pong Generation is correct. I'm also in the optical business.
A decent scratch coat on polycarbonate is a must! This is NOT rocket science. I can buy a coated polycarbonate lens for $3.00 that does not scratch, even when rubbing steel wool across it. It is old technology.
It is even harder to scratch regular plastic. However, a plastic lens with a cheap coating will scratch with one pass of steel wool.

It is DEFINITELY not too much to ask. Some idiot made a huge mistake. It shouldn't take long for apple to fix this problem.

[Mike S @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I dont care how shitty Nano is, you fools shouldn't have rushed out immediately and gotten one.

My 3G - 10GB ipod is nearly 2 years old, and still running fine.

Take that, you slim, scratchable commies!

;-)

[EHage @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

#35 That what I did for my white Nano along with the screen protector and not a scratch. And I paid about 6 bucks plus shipping. well worth it. only problem was deciding on which decal to get.

[macattacks10 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

It's the same material, I think it is just hte fact it is black and makes it more noticeable, notice all these pics of horribly scratches are not being shown on the white ones.

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

I won an Xbox 360 today, used my xbox fund to buy all the games. Gonna be a nice winter up here in my igloo...

[Void @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

#38- Your comment on function over fashion is laughable. If you were interested in functionality, the feature-poor iPod series would rank dead last behind similar players at cheaper price points with recording, FM radio and more. People buy these things because they look nice and they're effectively marketed- trivial things like sound quality, freedom of use, value for money and durability don't factor into the buying decisions of a labelwhore. When was the last time you saw an iPod ad where the dancing silhouette stopped dancing to talk about all the great features of the iPod? You didn't, because the dancing silhouette would have very little to say. Of course, now the Apple teatsuckers will counter with "we don't need extra features. We just want it to play MP3s". Sour grapes, I say.

[DAN @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

My cell phone that I've had for three years has 0 scratches on it. I've dropped it, thrown it around, even PUT IT IN MY POCKET WITH MY KEYS.

My new iPod Nano has only been sitting on my desk for two weeks. There are scratches all over it, just from the dust on my fingers when I use the scroll wheel. I have tried cleaning it with micro fiber cloth MADE FOR CLEANING OPTICAL LENSES. It scratches when I wipe with it. I am very very very dissapointed and have put the damn thing in a drawer and don't even want to look at it, it makes me sick.

So, all you FUCKS who say shit like, 'ooh, things scratch get over it" and "don't put it in your pocket with your keys, stupid" and other non-helpful, bullshit remarks can all EAT ME you fuckers because you're just talking out of the side of your ass and if you really had one you would see HOW MUCH EASIER IT SCRATCHES THAN ANY OTHER PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE ON THE MARKET.


That was iPod #4, it will be a long, long, looooooooong time before iPod #5, if at all.

[chudoo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

My Decalgirl sticker set arrived the other day and I must say that I am pretty disappointed...

There is no screen protector (although they never claimed to have one it seems like an unusual oversight)

The front sticker comes as THREE small pieces that even after 40 minutes of fuggin with it are still crooked. (maybe they should leave them *slightly* attached to each other to allow for better alignment)

Another annoyance is that while the stickers are printed on some sort of cloth, they can and do stretch out if you have to reapply them. (and you likely will) The area around my screen is a sort of trapezoid shape now. If I try to make it a true rectangle shape I end up with folds in the sticker.

SIGH...

These "socks" and other rubberized covers (zcover?) make the ipod "sticky" and make getting them into and out of pockets much more difficult.

I should have bought the less gimmicky invisible shield and called it a day....they seem to be getting rave reviews all over the place...and they cover the screen...

SIGHHHH!!!!

[homer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:07AM]

#38 of course.
who do you think bought the nano?
brand new customer? nah,
I bet 90% of the customer are fanatic Ipod owners who wants to own the last apple toy and eventually show off the brand new toy over pc guys.

whatever, mac minorities.