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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Consumer Hardware & Components > NEW iPod-- Battery Life Survey

NEW iPod-- Battery Life Survey
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: nyc
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Jun 8, 2003, 06:37 PM
 
Just bought a new iPod 15.. it is fantastic and works great... my only worry is the batter life.

Well this hasn't been an issue since my commute is only about 30 minutes a day...

I worry that on future longer trips (4 hour train rides for example) that my iPod won't make it.

It claims 8 hours I believe, but I think mine only makes it about 4. The first line after a complete charge disappears after about only 10 minutes of use.

What have you noticed with your REAL life battery life. 4 hours isn't that bad, if it's a solid 4 hours. More than my laptop gets.

I just wish I could figure out this batteries, and I"m sick of false advertising with claims of high battery life, knowing full well that no real person will ever come close to 8 hours using the iPod. I mean I sincerely doubt it would even work for 8 hours playing the same song on repeat... I bet it would make it 7...

But it seems that if you press skip, that you lose an hour of battery life.

It is just very frusterating.
     
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: PA
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Jun 8, 2003, 09:00 PM
 
I just bought the 30gb version and have had battery life for around 4 1/2 - 5 hours. Worked flawlessly for me when i traveled to Ocean City with solid playing and skipping songs. I didnt run the battery down till it shut off yet but plan to do sometime soon. I hope this gives you a good estimate of the life.
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17" Powerbook w/ 512 Ram
     
jtc
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Join Date: May 2001
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Jun 9, 2003, 08:08 AM
 
I have a 15gb iPod. Took it on a long trip recently and got exactly 8 hours out of the battery.
     
Fresh-Faced Recruit
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Jun 29, 2003, 11:00 PM
 
Just got my 15GB iPod this week. Last night, I ran the battery down completely, charged it fully, set it to play all songs - it ran for 6 hours, 15 minutes. Not really as long as I hoped for, but it looks like it's about par for the course.
     
Mac Enthusiast
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Jun 30, 2003, 03:06 PM
 
The longest run was 12 hours playing continuously (o.g. 5Gb)

edit: sorry, that is an old one...
     
Dedicated MacNNer
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Jul 1, 2003, 07:43 PM
 
My iPod batterly life was as advertised when I first got it but now it's runs out very fast... is there any chance that running it through the airport screener could have damaged it? it was before then
     
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Jul 1, 2003, 09:47 PM
 
Originally posted by Producer:
is there any chance that running it through the airport screener could have damaged it? it was before then
No.
     
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Maynard, MA
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Jul 1, 2003, 10:00 PM
 
Hi,
I have one of the first iPods, and my battery life started dropping, and was down to a few hours (from 8-10)

There was a page on the web that illustrated how to take the battery out, and just leave it for a period of time, and put it back in and your battery is as good as new.

I did it, not too hard, and my battery life is back up to 8-10 hours! You might want to check this out...

"An argument isn't just saying 'No it isn't'!" "Yes it is!" "NO IT ISN'T!"
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: May 2001
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Jul 27, 2003, 04:33 PM
 
Any update on this issue? and also the overall performance of the G3 iPods?

I am in the market for one, but after having 5 previous ones that all broke (!), I am very dubious...

A specific question is:

If I fully charge an iPod and use it during my daily commute of about 1 hour, and then leave it 'off' during the day until it is time to commute home 6 hours later, will it maintain it's charge?

Also, what is the general build quality like? Better than the previous G1 models?

Cheers,

Marc
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: The City Of Diamonds
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Jul 27, 2003, 04:56 PM
 
Originally posted by rushmore:
Just bought a new iPod 15.. it is fantastic and works great... my only worry is the batter life.

Well this hasn't been an issue since my commute is only about 30 minutes a day...

I worry that on future longer trips (4 hour train rides for example) that my iPod won't make it.

It claims 8 hours I believe, but I think mine only makes it about 4. The first line after a complete charge disappears after about only 10 minutes of use.

What have you noticed with your REAL life battery life. 4 hours isn't that bad, if it's a solid 4 hours. More than my laptop gets.

I just wish I could figure out this batteries, and I"m sick of false advertising with claims of high battery life, knowing full well that no real person will ever come close to 8 hours using the iPod. I mean I sincerely doubt it would even work for 8 hours playing the same song on repeat... I bet it would make it 7...

But it seems that if you press skip, that you lose an hour of battery life.

It is just very frusterating.
You just have it.. As with all battery-operated equipment you should discharge and charge it a few times and you will notice that after a few times your batterylife becomes better.
     
Moderator Emeritus
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Jul 27, 2003, 05:25 PM
 
Originally posted by The Placid Casual:
If I fully charge an iPod and use it during my daily commute of about 1 hour, and then leave it 'off' during the day until it is time to commute home 6 hours later, will it maintain it's charge?

Also, what is the general build quality like? Better than the previous G1 models?
I've never had a chance to really measure it, but I'm pretty sure I get around 6 hours or more with my G3 iPod, although it does make a difference how you use it. The build quality is really stellar on mine, although I didn't have any trouble with my G1 model either. The touch-buttons are cool, but actually harder to use than actual buttons, which is a little too bad (they are very sensitive, which means you must have hold on if you don't want to activate them accidentally, and since there is sometimes a lag in response time while the iPod thinks, it can be hard to tell if a press registered). But overall I am very happy. The dock is great, and the new software is nice (smart playlists update on the iPod, which can be very handy).
     
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Jul 27, 2003, 06:10 PM
 
I seem to be getting about 5 to 6 hours with moderate shuttling between songs on my 15gb 3G iPod. For my recent trip to Prague (from L.A.!) I bought a Belkin battery pack. It came in handy a number of times when I wasn't near a charger. I recommend it.
"Pfft. I know a genuine Panaphonics when I see it. And look, there's Magnetbox and Sorny." -HJS
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Jul 27, 2003, 11:26 PM
 
I get about 4 hours out of each charge on my third gen 10GB iPod since the backlight is on a lot and I switch tracks frequently, causing the hard drive to be spun up more often. My old 5GB iPod used in the same manner easily got 6-7 hours of battery life, though the smaller form factor is worth the hit in battery life IMO.
     
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cali
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Jul 28, 2003, 10:35 AM
 
get a Belkin Battery Pack for the iPod works really well with the ipod. It's a nice feature. Bulky but not enough to worry about it.
     
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Jul 29, 2003, 03:54 AM
 
my 2g 10gb ipod regularly gets 8-10 hours o_O and lasts weeks without me charging it lol.


*shrug* That really stinks
Aloha
     
Mac Elite
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Jul 29, 2003, 04:58 PM
 
My Second gen, 10 GIG still gets 8-10 hours of life (depending on how I use it). My roomies new 30 gig gets just under 8 hours.
     
   
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