[mmichaels1970]

Consumers could either shell out the cash for a new iPod or pay Apple as much as $100 (plus shipping) to put a new battery in their existing device. In June 2005

Ruh roh. My mom bought an iPod for my daughter. I didn't know that I couldn't change the battery in it. So we just throw iPods away when the battery goes?

[SlowBoat407]

So we just throw iPods away when the battery goes?

I've kept Mrs. Slowboat's iPod Mini going for several years by changing the battery.

[Phantom Lord]

No, you don't throw it away. You can take it to Mac stores and other locations and they can replace the battery. Its a sealed device so you can't just open it and put a new battery in. I honestly don't know how often the batteries die or their avg. lifespan.

I and my wife are on iPod number 5, with the oldest being 4 years old. And it is still going strong with zero problems.

But, and its a but that I have heard complaints about. You can purchase a device that will allow you to open the iPod and replace the battery yourself. Success stories using this device range all over the map, with the biggest complaint I have seen is it will mar the finish on the iPod. Of course, the % of people who do not have their iPod covered with some sort of protective case is probably exceptionally small.

[notfornothing]

So we just throw iPods away when the battery goes?

You can recharge the battery through your computer's USB port or a plug-in charger. I've heard that the built-in batteries wear out eventually, but I've had mine for more than three years now and it still holds its charge almost as well as it did out of the box.

[kevkrom]

Ruh roh. My mom bought an iPod for my daughter. I didn't know that I couldn't change the battery in it. So we just throw iPods away when the battery goes?

I have a 3rd generation iPod that's about 5-6 years old. It's still going strong. The only battery problem I notice is that while my freshly-charged iPod lasts for quite a while, if I leave it unused for a couple of days, it has practically no charge left at all. Mrs. kevkrom's 4th-gen iPod doesn't have that problem.

[ctdonath2]

She’ll have moved on to another audio player (probably next gen-iPod or iPhone) long before the battery needs replacing. ...and Apple recognizes this behavior in their users, and works with it by removing all the extra space/weight required to support swappable batteries.

[antiRepublicrat]

Ruh roh. My mom bought an iPod for my daughter. I didn't know that I couldn't change the battery in it. So we just throw iPods away when the battery goes?

Replacement is free if the battery dies under warranty. If it dies out of warranty, then replace it yourself. Normally that would violate the warranty, but who cares since it's expired? The batteries are available for sale all over the Internet. Just get it from a reputable source, as cheap lithium-ion batteries have a habit of overheating and exploding.

[Swordmaker]

Ruh roh. My mom bought an iPod for my daughter. I didn't know that I couldn't change the battery in it. So we just throw iPods away when the battery goes?

No, you just... change the battery.

That's why this article's FUD.