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Level 1

0 points

hardness test

I have a question. What is the specification for the hardness of the plastic used on the nano?

I have access to testing equipment and would be happy to do a Brinell Hardness test on my nano to determine if it is up to spec.

I work in an industry that uses testing standards to determine if a product is as advertised. ie. astm specs. ect.

I am sure there is a scratch resistance specification available for plastic. Can APPLE please publish their internal spec.s so customers can determine if theirs meets the spec.

Best regards, Mark

Posted on Sep 27, 2005 2:50 PM

40 replies

Sep 28, 2005 11:55 AM in response to MARK KOHLER1

Mark,

Thank you for your ideas and efforts on this issue. You have made very valid points regarding usabilty and Apple's professed portability. Your original request that some tests on hardness and the specs be released seems to be the most reasonable and definitive attempt to get this sorted I've read (so far). I own a 3rd gereration iPod and it is barely scratched at all. I also now have a Nanopod and it still has the plastic over the screen, which is entirely unacceptable to me.

I take strong offense to the few zealots who have posted attacking you and others who recognize there is a strong possibility that some (or all) of these may be in some way defective.

Regards, Chris

Sep 28, 2005 12:03 PM in response to MARK KOHLER1

Mark,

"So Matt, your conclusion is that the nano should not be carried in a pocket?"

Not if you wish to keep it in "mint" condition.

Matt

MARK KOHLER1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 28, 2005 12:35 PM in response to Matthew Morgan

Matt, You see this is why I am not a coin collector. I keep nothing in "mint" condition. I like the things I buy to perform with a minimal amount of care.

I drive my cars hard and fast, but I keep them for 200,000 miles. I use Mobil 1 oil and change it every 3000 miles.

I do not expect things to last forever, but I would like them to work as intended for some reasonable amount of time.

Best regards, Mark

MARK KOHLER1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 28, 2005 5:54 PM in response to Jackthequick

6:45 pm 9/28/2005.

I just watched the ipod nano demonstration again.

if you skip ahead to the 38 minute mark you can watch Steve Jobs show you how to carry and use your nano.

He goes on to say that it has a great high definition color screen.

He does not say "whatever you do don't try this at home." or "Be sure to find the undercoat of a unicorn to buff the scratches off your nano."

Why is this demonstration still on the Apple site if using the product this way constitutes abuse and miss-use of the product?

BANANO

Level 2

175 points

Sep 28, 2005 6:02 PM in response to MARK KOHLER1

Camera's and Calculators aren't made from paper thin plastics like the Nano.

Use your brains.

Sep 28, 2005 6:14 PM in response to MARK KOHLER1

To provide a contrarian viewpoint....

I have been keeping my black nano unprotected in my jeans since I got it the week of release. It has the same microscratches all unprotected iPods get, visible in hard lighting. It looks great under normal lighting, the screen is crystal clear....everyone who sees it thinks it's amazing.

Many folks complained that after touching it for 5 seconds the screen became unreadable, or after putting it in an empty pocket and removing it it looked liked it'd been sandblasted. You can read these extreme posts on the relevant topics on this board.

Either there were some really bad batches of iPods that those folks got, or they're lying. It's that simple.

I'm not saying folks don't have the right to be upset by the microscratches...that's they're prerogative, and I believe Apple has been taking returns for those who are upset.

I will say that surfaces that are easy to scratch are often easy to unscratch (I have used Displex and Novus on my other iPods to great results.....though after two weeks of unprotected nano use I'm not even close to needing to do this with mine...maybe in 6 months time I'll do a little buffing, but the nano's been holding up great).

Steve's iPod had micro-scratches on it from pocket use too...I don't find anything misleading about it. Those who can't stand the microscratches can buff them out and case the device, or return it and get other technology. I'll continue to use and enjoy my nano.

Tom

MARK KOHLER1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 28, 2005 6:19 PM in response to Thomas Affinito

Sorry to be repeating myself so much, but this is indded my point.

Apple is not taking returns.

They should be. The response should be "I'm sorry sir, here is your RMA #. When you get your FEDEX package in the mail, please send everything back and we will immidiately credit your account."

What I have been told many times over and over is "You can not return it. You may think it is defective, but "APPLE has not determined it to be deffective."

One supervisor even told me to be "careful" : that my credit card company would see that it "was delivered"

He either thought I was a fool or had no knowlege of US consumer credit protection law.

My wife also called just to confirm that the obvious frustartion in my voice was not coloring the level of service I was recieving.

Her lovely and calm voice did not produce any different result.

She also was told tough luck.

Tark Bunch

Level 4

1,065 points

Sep 28, 2005 6:29 PM in response to Thomas Affinito

I agree,

scratches do happen ( I have seen them since the first gen iPod) and will probably buy a tube of displex to clean up some of my older iPods, thanks for the tip!

I am reducing my risk exposure for my nano by placing it in an iPod sock until i get my nanotubes.

If someone is severely scrach-adversed, I would recomend buying up the remaining Aluminum-clad mini inventory while it remains available...

Steve never said it wouldn't scratch.

MARK KOHLER1 Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 28, 2005 6:43 PM in response to Tark Bunch

Tark,

Wife asked if she could exchange for a mini.

She was told no, and that they were out of stock at the APPPLE online store where I had bought her Birthday Present.

She is not happy to have wasted her Birthday wish on this nano.

Radster

Level 1

112 points

Sep 28, 2005 6:58 PM in response to Thomas Affinito

thats the thing, you shouldnt have to buy a case or displex to keep the microscratches from happenening. there was no bad "batch" of nano's for the scratchings. that was for the lcd's, or so thats what apple stated yesterday. and why dont you tell the people that theyre lying, in the 700 post thread all about the scratches that was locked earlier this week.

hardness test