The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

This week, I sent the SO's pink iPod mini away to Otherworld Computing to get a battery transplant. I decided to pay to have them do it as I've had zero spare time this week to do it myself and there was some considerable pressure to "fix" her iPod. I'm sure some of you can relate.

If you choose for them to replace the battery for you, they send you a box with the battery, tool, and pre-filled FedEx form. You pack the iPod, battery, and tool back into the box, fill out the missing portion of the FedEx form, slap it on and away it goes. The only confusing part is that their order form doesn't really tell you that they are going to send the box, battery, tool, and form so you're a bit in limbo until the thing shows up and then it makes sense. I know this is how most repairs like this is done (Apple does it this way for some repairs, for instance); I guess I was expecting to send them the iPod first. Well, regardless, the end result is that I'm out of the doghouse because the SO has her pink iPod mini back with a functional battery.

Up next week is replacing the battery in my own silver iPod mini. This time around I'll use Sonnet's battery replacement to see how it compares. I'll be installing it myself and I mess it up, it'll be a great excuse to buy that iPod video I've been lusting after.

Would I recommend OWC's batteries and replacement program? Yes, without reservation. It was fast, easy, and professionally done and is a great way to breath some new life into your iPod.