1st Gen iPhone . . . what to do?

Apple recommends going through one charge cycle (full charge and full discharge) a month to keep the ions moving. iPhone batteries are lithium-ion based, and not nickel based, so crystals don't build up when the battery is stored with a charge. However, keeping the battery somewhat active maintains battery health. Just make sure you store it in a cool dry place where heat will not damage the battery.

http://www.apple.com/batteries/

http://www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html

I'm not a battery expert, but it would seem that storing it with a drained battery would be the best, as long as you charge it and discharge it every once in a while.

You have the option to keep the data in it (Apps, Music, Photos, etc) or erase and reset.

Make sure is turned off

The most IMPORTANT part if you are going to keep it in the original box and put it away for a long period of time (six months) make sure the battery has only 50% (or close to it) of charge, if you keep the battery at 100% or if you drain it then will die or fail.

OPTIONAL: since the wrapping plastic is not there a packet of silica salt in the box to keep moisture away (Silica salt is the little bag with white little balls usually sealed and found on boxes when you get new electronics)

I know how you feel. It's hard to part away from perfection but life must go on. I too had a hard time parting from my 1st Gen iPhone when I upgraded last month but what I did is reset the phone filled it with kids music, movies and games and gave it to my 9 yr old to use it as an iPod touch. *That saved me a couple of hundred dollars*. He was asking for an iPod for B-Day.

Mine is still in use, too: I used it with Skype to cut down on cell minutes, and now my wife is using it the same way. It has really reduced use of those valuable cell minutes, and it's a natural as an internet phone!

Of course, I have Skype on the 3GS, too.

Phil

Maybe someday a 2G IP will be worth more than it is today, but with the millions of them, I wouldn't hold my breath. Why not sell it while its worth around $150 on eBay. That seems to be today's price. There are a zillion of them for sale there, but a good portion are listed at sky-high pricing (from over $500). The ones with bids are in the $150 range.

It looks to me as if you would be wasting listing money on eBay if you put a reserve price of over $150.

I'm guessing the 2G will never be worth more that today's price although 200 years from now, they may be worth a million. Of course then, a million may only be worth $10 in today's money. And who's going to be around then if the health people don't come up with a solution to this death thing.

I remember a couple of years ago someone bought a pristine, never opened Apple II (can't remember which version, maybe a IIc) for a few thousand on eBay. I tried to buy a brand new, never opened Newton, but when the price hit 700, I decided that I would move on to other addictions. Maybe a brand new 2G, 20 years from now, will be worth a lot even in today's money.

Wow!

I really didn't think I would be able to get much on Ebay for my 2G. Then I looked, there are ones with dents all over with bids up to $150 so far. Amazing when the 16gb 3G is available for only $99. I paid $400 for my 8gb only to have a 16gb introduced the next day.

Not complaining, just happy that I may be able to get a good price! Oh, and sorry to the poster of this thread for going off the issue.

You're thinking too much. Just throw it in a drawer, and let the battery drain. It'll be fine. If you want to prolong the battery, store it in the fridge.

My iPhone 2G sat in a drawer for months and it still powered up when I dusted it off to install 3.0. That thing was well built...