“Word around the Web is that Jason Tomczak filed a lawsuit alleging that the music players ‘scratch excessively during normal usage, rendering the screens on the Nanos unreadable,'” Alyce Lomax writes for The Motley Fool. “…Debate rages on the subject of the nano’s tendency to scratch or not — after all, some have subjected the nano to strenuous torture tests, with the guys at Ars Technica dropping one at various speeds and running it over with cars — but I can’t help thinking that continued buzz about the nano’s propensity for scratched or otherwise damaged screens just can’t be good for Apple.”
“After all, Apple has always been known for its elegant products, and the very idea that is being bandied about — that the company knew the nano had a design flaw and released it anyway — is just not good PR,” Lomax writes. “Will this hurt Apple? …I can’t help wondering whether all of this bad press might frighten some shoppers away from the iPod nano and give the Apple brand a few scratches as well.”
Full article here.
[UPDATE: 3:30pm ET: Revised headline to drop “class-action.”]
Advertisement: Apple iPod nano. 1,000 songs. Impossibly small. From $199. Free shipping.
Joy.
Related articles:
Class-action lawsuit filed against Apple over iPod nano scratches – October 21, 2005
PC Mag’s Ulanoff on iPod nano scratches: ‘I could see a jealous competitor planting the story’ – October 06, 2005
Mossberg: Apple iPod nano scratches easily, get a case to protect it – October 06, 2005
Apple iPods have always been far too scratchable, protective cases required to keep iPods pristine – September 30, 2005
invisibleSHIELD offers rugged, clear protection for Apple iPod nano and other iPod models – September 30, 2005
Got some nano scratches? Restore your iPod nano to new condition with a $4 can of Brasso – September 29, 2005
The Motley Fool: Apple did the right thing in quickly addressing cracked iPod nano screens – September 28, 2005
iPod nano ‘screen issues’ really just FUD? – September 26, 2005
Apple responds to iPod nano screen issues – September 27, 2005
The only reason this is a story…..is because there is nothing else to talk about.
Even MDN buys into this b.s.
Anyone can sue in this country….what makes it a hot news story ?
(btw…i own 2 nano’s….with no scratching problems)
Jason Tomczak scratched his first nano all to hell. Apple gave him a new one. Tomczak is such a stupid polack that he scratched that one all to hell, too. Then he files a lawsuit that details his idiocy for all to see.
He may be retarded.
Tomczak: Get a case and shut your face.™
Noop, won’t hurt a bit. Might even help. Xmas season nano sales will be phenomenal regardless.
MDN only cares about ad revenue – not actual news. If you remember this, it’s easier to enjoy the stories here.
“that the music players scratch excessively during normal usage”
Sounds painful. Look into FRONTLINE Plus. If you rub the click wheel real fast will one of the earbuds shake like crazy?
wall street guy,
Hint: if you don’t like the headline next time, don’t click it.
I also own two 4GB nanos… and not a scratch between them. Dammit, I paid $249 for the devices – and you know, I want to look after them.
If my case had scratched and my replacement had scratched – then I just might have asked for my money back instead. Disappointing, but not worthy of a lawsuit – claiming damages, and I hear, a share of the profits[!!]. What is the true motivation of the claimant I wonder.
I believe the easy litigious nature of the US is the problem here.
I’ve had my black nano for about three weeks, I don’t really care what my devices look like so long as they work, so I keep it in my pocket all day, no case, no nothing. These people are on crack. Sure it isn’t pristine, but it’s no more scuffed up than any of my other ipods.
It may hurt Apple, but it won’t help consumers. Class-action lawsuits are all about cash for lawyers. Typical U$ legal system cash grab.
Is there any way to sue some one for initiating a frivolous lawsuit?
MW = child
as in, We’re all child(ren) of the Litiginous Era
Perceptions. Make that misperceptions.
Tomczak wishes for his nano to amount to jewlery. That being the case, he should have handled his nano as if it were that piece of silver or gold.
Could it be argued that the iPods has become a piece of jewlery, an adornment (as a bracelet or ring or necklace) made of precious metals and set with gems (or imitation gems)?
Ask the fashion world about this matter. The equation may be balanced here but I’m not sure Apple had that extreme of glorification in mind when they designed the product. In the future, however…
Me thinks Tomczak lusts for more than jewelry. He should be spanked hard and sent to his corner.
MDN needs to change their title.
The lawsuit has yet to be granted class-action status and may never be granted that status. Until it is granted such status MDN needs to just call it what it is: a lawsuit by one person against Apple.
A class-action case like this would be just stupid. Class action suits should revolve around whether a company knowingly jeopardize the health or financial well-being of its customers– i.e. dumping plutonium in drinking water. For an iPod, if you hate the scratching, don’t buy it or just return it. No jeopardy. The marketplace, not the courts, is where companies like Apple should be punished, by consumers not buying defective products. I just ate a McDonald’s apple pie that wasn’t as tasty as advertised. Perhaps I should file a class-action suit.
Slimes like this are encouraged by porcine lawyers and all too often both are encouraged by judges who should know better.
Maybe Nano owners who haven’t had any probs (the huge majority by all accounts) should get a class-action together and sue him plus his lawyers for defamation of a fine product.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”cool mad” style=”border:0;” />
Do Ipods scratch the music like my old LPs?
This is just another example of why the US needs more Tort reform, and less lawyers.
If you go to the website of the lawfirm that’s filed this lawsuit, you’ll find that they are trolling for business by posting a webform where you can submit your own complaint to them, in your very own wording, about any company. They’ll get back to you, eh?
http://www.hbsslaw.com/report_a_fraud.jsp
I finally got a chance to look at a nano. In the display…there was a nano with a huge slash across the screen and it was deep. But honestly, I don’t see how that could’ve happened. I handled the nano and put it back down without causing any damage. What on earth are people doing in the store to cause huge gashes like that. And what are people doing to their own nanos?
i don’t see how it is more prone to scratching the other iPods. The gash was so deep, it was ridiculous. The only way something like that could’ve happened is if it was intentional. Maybe they did it themselves at the apple store so that people won’t steal them…
This says it all:
http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/746.html
maybe Jason should pray for a scratch-free iPod
http://www.ctkatlanta.com/Worship.htm
These kind of lawsuits hurt everyone except the ‘Law Suits’ (lawyers)
If the loser of a lawsuit was made to pay the other side’s expenses and court costs these type of lawsuit would end overnight.
That’s how it is in England.
Of course these silly rumours will hurt Apple.
Not because Mac/iPod users will stop buying Nanos. But because there is a large majority of n00bs and technophobes (but potential customers) who form opinions by rumour without really knowing what is what.
Example: I told a friend of mine I was really happy with my Nano. She says “Yeah, but aren’t they supposed to be flawed or something? This is an iPod I would’ve bought by the guys at work told me not to ’cause they’re defective”.
What can you say to that? And how likely is it that Apple’s competition is not involved with trying to bring down the Nano?
I have a screen protector for all of my iPods. It is common sense. Can I sue someone because my car scratches to easy? I sure hope so. Anyone else out there have scratches on their car, let file a class action lawsuit?
I don’t know why you yanks just don’t all stay home and keep you’re doors locked. It would be much safer. You guys sue for anything.
When I went to buy my new iPod (g5) I had to check on these nano rumors cause it made me worry it may also be true for the new iPods. I have to confess I took my finger nail to the nano, not in an overly aggressive manner and managed to “scratch” the surface. This worried me at first, but honestly I couldn’t figure out if it scratched any more easily than the old models.
I wonder if most of this hoopla is actually because these scratches are more noticeable in the new black models just because of how it reflects. Also, a monochrome screen has more contrast and would be more readable in a scratched up condition than a smaller color one.
I think this may be one of those mass hysteria things where something is “seen” because its pointed out and it “becomes” true.
Either way, it was inconclusive and why does there need to be a class action law suit unless Apple is refusing to take them back. A bad product should just be returned and not be bought again… unless it slices off an arm or something. As much as we become Apple junkies, you don’t “need” their products and it doesn’t impact your well being…if it does, you have other problems.