[thaislump]

This is somewhat disheartening to report after only a few hours of use, but my iPod is already showing signs of wear on the casing.

• Scratches to the front lucite covering - note that so far these are only visible when held to the light at certain angles. They aren't deep scratches by any means, just the kind of dulling microscratches that are visible and will become more noticable on a 'macro' scale over time. But I picked up quite a few after just a bit of light carrying, in a fabric-lined pocket, no less.
• Scratches to the shiny metal back - these are of the same order of magnitude as the ones on the lucite. These I belived were picked up from being set down on my wooden desk top.
• The jog wheel gets dirty very easily! This is the most annoying one: I stepped out to pick up the local rag, and when I came back, I picked up the iPod to start up a song, and sure enough, I had transferred newsprint to the jog wheel in three big smudges. Argh! 409 took care of most of it, but after a few minutes of scrubbing, they are still slightly visible, which means that the wheel is just going to get dull and grimy from normal use.

I have no delusions that my portable electronics devices will stay pristine over time, but unfortunately the iPod in its function is too utilitarian for its museum-quality looks. Don't get me wrong, it's built solid, and if you never looked at it, you wouldn't think of it as anything but, but I almost don't want to touch it anymore.

[Nebrie]

Yup, looks like an iBook, acts like an iBook.

You'll get used to the fact that you can't see the scratches on the front unless you hold it up to light at a weird angle.

[Todd Madson]

My wife found to her chagrin to NOT put the iPod in a coat pocket
along with the earbuds. Put the earbuds in your other pocket.

The rough fabric on the surface of the earbuds can create light
blemish-like scratches on the front panel of the iPod.

She doesn't care (well, she does but she figures a portable is
bound to get scratched up in some way) , but at first she couldn't
figure out how it had happened.

She still loves it and is using it to death but thought you all should
be aware to not do it!

b

[Todd Madson]

She adds (a day later) that she thinks there should be some kind of
plastic plug added to the firewire port area to prevent dirt/debris/
dust from getting in there. Not a bad idea.

[zac4mac]

Just went down to the machine shop, after taking the back off my Pod, and blasted it with fine white glass bead. Now the back is a frosted finish, no fingerprints or scratches showing. I like it a lot better than the Ultra-mirror look. You can still see the Apple logo and FCC junk too.

[jfischetti]

Originally posted by zac4mac:
<STRONG> Now the back is a frosted finish, no fingerprints or scratches showing. </STRONG>

Can I get a witness.....or at least a picture of what it looks like.

Sounds interesting...

[zac4mac]

I'll post a pic tomorrow, up to my eyeballs in snakes today.
IMHO it's a major improvement tho.