Who cares if iPods scratch easily?

Put 2 and 2 together guys. The reason that Apple make the ipod with the scratch easy coating is so to lower the trade in second hand iPods. Thats also why they give you 'free' engraving! Who would want to buy an iPod thats all scratched up and says 'Bob' on the back? If iPods had a matte finish on the back and no engraving new iPod sales wouldn't be as high. Apple have some very clever marketing people on board, and we all love them for it too hehe! BTW You can win a 'scratch easy' nano on my site too check it out travellingshirt.com

I don't think it's exactly fair to compare the issue with ipod scratches to issues with scratches on the CASES of other consumer electronics. Personally, I would like my ipod to remain in prestine condition, but the only thing that really matters to me is that the display screen remain un-damaged. I didn't pay 2 to 3 hundred dollars so that I can see the neat optical effects produced by the light bending around my scratched to hell screen. I have a palm treo 700w as my cell phone. The screen on it is larger than the ipod's and yet even though I have abused it much, much more than I have my ipod video, it still has yet to scratch once. It has been in my pocket with keys, change, poked at with a stylus and still - no scratch.

About the scratching...

Yes, I understand the elegance and beauty of the iPod. My frst one was a 4G and I really didnt care much for the scratching. It gave it, well, character. Basically, there was no other reason to look at the screen other than to select the song, or playlist, and put it back into a pocket.

However...I sold my 4G for a 5G. Man, this thing was black and beautiful. I placed it in my pocket, like I did with the 4g, and voila, the screen part of the front wound up scratched to hell. On a 4G, not a big deal. On a 5G where I am going to be staring at the screen for longer than a minute watching a video, its Aggravating. I have been able to get most of the scratches out but I have to tell you, I was not happy.

Someone at Apple should have realized that the video iPod screens need to stay immaculate because millions of eyes are now focused for longer than a moment and thats when imperfections rear their ugly head.

I agree with Cris. iPods get scratched. So what? So does everything. They're still beautiful, why would anyone want to cover that sleekness in a faux leather cover? Or anything!? Ew! I'd rather have scratches, thanks.

Most commenters here are still missing the point. Yes, we love our iPods, scratched or not. But are we all saying that a scratch-prone iPod is a *more* attractive purchase than a super-tough one would be? Are we saying that if Apple offered two models that were identical except for the toughness factor, we would choose the more delicate model? Because that's what the cited article implies:

"[T]hose things are manufactured to be delicate and beautiful and expensive. On purpose. Really. [...] The new truth says its the cheap junk that is scratchproof and waterproof because real quality, real prestige, real beauty is fragile."

On purpose! If true, that would piss me off.

My glasses don't scratch. I bought nice ones that you could certainly say are a fashion accessory. In fact, I spent more on them than I did on my iPod.

First, it is entirely possible to scratch protect a soft plastic (such as high-index lenses). Second, I don't want my nice things to show wear immediately nor do I want them to be horribly disfigured by a few weeks of sitting in my pocket.

If it were all about the music then I wouldn't have gotten an iPod, I'd have gotten something much cheaper that did the exact same thing.

I bought an iPod, filled it with music, then threw it in my bag and its been there ever since (erm... I mean, I get it out to listen to it etc). As long as you don't throw your keys in on top of it, no problem. It's there to play music, not to wear on your belt as a fashion accessory. I see these people walking round, with their noses cocked up and their gleaming iPods on display, as if they're the only person in the world who has one. Gimme a break. Twenty years ago it was the Walkman. Ten years ago it was the cell phone - now its the iPod. and the iPod, like the cell phone, like the walkman, is just a tool. As long as it works, who cares what it looks like? Scratches? Comes with the territory. Although, considering how much they cost, you think they'd be a bit tougher. ;)

These responses are hilarious! I can't believe people are actually okay with how easily the iPod scratches.

Put very simply - iPods should NOT scratch so easily. PERIOD. They are very expensive music players, and should be a bit more durable for the price you pay.

Award for the best comment on this thread goes to Francisco:

"Yes, we sent people to the Moon but I bet you the Apollo capsule is scratched too!"

I think that sums up the issue up really well. Anything that is put to use will show signs of wear. People can control those signs to a degree by using iPod cases if they want to. But, the screeching about scratches on iPods (which I don't believe scratch any worse that other plastics and metals in electronics) is silly.

Something else. I think obsessing about wear on one's objects is projection. The people who do it are probably overly concerned about wear on their bodies -- signs of mortality, you know. Farewell to wisdom teeth. Or hello to root canals. Chronic tennis elbow or a bad knee. The need for eyeglasses or contacts. Move over Dick Cheney. And, so on. It is much easier to focus on the scratches on your iPod.

Love Mac and read this blog every day, but my answer is still-
HEEEEEEELLLLLL NO!