[chrisutley]

I have had a 1G, 2G, and now 3G iPod. The first two pods I could use in lighted conditions (inside and out) without the backlight. I would have to adjust the contrast now and then, but I had no problems using the display driving during the day or indoors (with the backlight OFF).

Now I have this 15GB 3G iPod and it sucks without the backlight. I prefer the backlight in general, but I hate using it on long road trips for fear of draining the battery before I get to where I'm going. That plus the shorter battery life of the 3G's has me kind of bummed.

Perhaps I have a defective unit? Has anybody else observed this?

[DigitalEl]

No problem viewing the screen on mine in any lighting condition.

My only backlight oddities... That thing where the backlight goes out even while scrolling sometimes (but that's intermittent).

Oh, and I wish I had one of those nifty blue backlights!

[KP*]

It's pretty dark on mine. I can read it, but it's not exactly comfortable. Have you tried adjusting the contrast? I didn't find it fixed the problem completely, but it might help a little.

[chrisutley]

Contrast helps a little... Side by side my 20GB is clearly easier to ready with the backlight off, but the form factor of the 15GB is so sweet I guess I'll let this slide.

[emdash]

I find the default contrast setting to be way lower on the new ones than on the old ones.

Just a day or two ago I cranked up the contrast setting and now I have no problems reading the thing.