So is this iPod really dead?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Asking for my daughter:

The right channel has stopped working in her 18-month-old iPod mini. The local Apple store doesn't consider it worth repairing, but will give her approx $25 toward any new iPod (not worth it, since even the cheapest iPods in Singapore cost more than $25 more than mail ordering from the US).

Anyway, I'm just kind of stunned that a fairly-recently-purchased piece of electronics with a very, very simple problem is apparently better junked than fixed. I'm fully aware that we live in a disposable society, but this really blows my mind. Have others has this experience with iPods or other small (but still expensive) electronic devices?

[Kuciwalker]

Wait, a mini or a shuffle? I can easily see chucking a shuffle instead of fixing it.

[One_more_turn]

A few weeks ago, my iPod dropped from 3 feet height onto a concrete floor and cracked open. It is still working as well as before!

[EyesOfNight]

Actually, that's a big argument about ipods is that they break so quickly. Some people claim their meant to break after a certain amount of time.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Wait, a mini or a shuffle? I can easily see chucking a shuffle instead of fixing it.

mini. The mini isn't even available in Singapore (and may not even exist anymore -- nano comes in the same sizes), which -- now that i think about it -- may be why they can't/won't fix it.

[Kuciwalker]

It was discontinued worldwide almost exactly 18 months ago.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Arrgh.

[Spaced Cowboy]

sadly, I could most likely fix it...I just replaced the battery on my 2 year old mini and popped the scroll wheel 12 pin jack of the motherboard and had to put it back on with solder paste and a hot air tool.

More than likely the right channel connection is severed right where it connects to the mobo. Pretty easy to fix if that is it.

[Nostromo]

Re: So is this iPod really dead?

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
Asking for my daughter:

The right channel has stopped working in her 18-month-old iPod mini. The local Apple store doesn't consider it worth repairing, but will give her approx $25 toward any new iPod (not worth it, since even the cheapest iPods in Singapore cost more than $25 more than mail ordering from the US).

Anyway, I'm just kind of stunned that a fairly-recently-purchased piece of electronics with a very, very simple problem is apparently better junked than fixed. I'm fully aware that we live in a disposable society, but this really blows my mind. Have others has this experience with iPods or other small (but still expensive) electronic devices?

If Apple refuses to repair it, you probably could find someone else who could repair it. I had my battery replaced recently in one of those places.

[Nostromo]

Originally posted by Drixnak
Actually, that's a big argument about ipods is that they break so quickly. Some people claim their meant to break after a certain amount of time.

The Mini is solidly built. Its in aluminium. So are the new Nanos.

[DRoseDARs]

If the thing is outside its warranty, open it up and see if it's just the headphone jack that's wonky. The 1st gen Zen Micros had a poor factory soldering job done on their jacks. I opened mine (voiding the warranty) and it took me about 5 minutes to do a better job. Unfortunately, it's a tight squeeze in there so it's hard to do a proper job to end the problem once and for all, but doing it myself has saved me the hassle of either having to send it back to Creative, having them chince me on replacing it like Apple is trying to do to your daughter, or just buying a new one outright with the problem fixed already.