Crayton Electronics 1st / 2nd Generation iPod Replacement Battery Kit Review

Product Requirements:
Device:
1st or 2nd generation Apple iPod
 

I started out very excited about replacing the battery on my iPod.
Although it had only really come up dead on two or three trips (where I had
forgotten to specifically charge it up and have everything ready right at
liftoff), it would still get disappointingly low on juice for my morning commute
if I hadn’t charged it in the last day or so. The more I wanted to listen to
something besides the radio, it seemed, the more often I found it dead or nearly
so when I wanted it to be ready for it’s assigned entertainment duties.

First impressions
So, seeing the Crayton Electronics
iPod battery replacement kit offered on The Gadgeteer web site made me
rush to apply for the review. I got the email that I had been selected, and the
anticipation began. Then, one afternoon, the battery came, I dropped everything,
popped open the package, and – man, what is this? A plain white padded envelope
held a plastic rack-hanging card with a nondescript tag stapled to a pink
anti-static poly bag. Inside the bag was the battery and a few plastic dowels,
and nothing else. What a dead first impression! I wrote Julie, and she
confirmed that this was exactly the way it had arrived at Gadgeteer Central. Oh,
well, onward we go.

Got instructions, reviewed process
Usually when you buy some type of DIY project, there are instructions for how to
proceed, or at least a mention on the packaging of how or where to obtain such
instructions. Not so in this case. Only because Julie had mentioned the company
site in the review kit posting did I have any idea how to proceed. For those who
may want to try their skill, here is the link.

http://craytonelectronics.com/ipod_battery_removal_and_install.htm

A few nights later, I had some time I could devote to opening up my beloved
iPod and performing the heart transplant. For those who haven’t taken a close
look at an iPod, check it out next time you’re close to one. There is no seam,
no screws – nothing. The metal of the back and the plastic of the front just
morph from one into the other. It’s almost organic. But, never fear, I was sent
two first class tools to use to pry the case open. Well, I had two crudely
sharpened plastic rods. For any of you who built models as a kid where the
pieces came on a thick rod of plastic that you eventually tossed, this is the
impression I got. (Those of you who used these sticks and a lighter to make
modern art sculptures can leave now. You’re scaring the rest of us.) Put one of
those thick rods on a grinding stone to get a fuzzy edge and you’ve got the tool
included in the package.

Against my protective instincts, I began to try and pry the metal backing
away from the plastic front piece. I could not get the fuzzy edge of the tool
into the seam in any way. After about 30 minutes, I decided a little judicious
use of a screwdriver or small blade might be in order.

It did help me get the case apart a bit more, like 2-3 mm over a 5 mm space.
I could then insert the plastic rod in and twist, but the case would not open
any more. I tried opening from the other side while one side was wedged open,
but still, no luck. I was getting frustrated at this point. (Well, I had been
there for a while, actually. I was sorta getting mad.) I started using a bit
more force with the screwdriver blades, and, once or twice, the blade slipped,
giving my nice pristine iPod a few distress marks <scratched corner>– great if
it was an antique chest, not so nice on a precision piece of electronic
equipment. The more things I did trying to get the case open, the more I
realized there are people paid to do this, and they guarantee their work.

Admitting defeat (well, deciding to cut losses at the few scratches), I wrote
Julie, ready to send the package on to a true gadgeteer, one whose DIY skills
would allow them to crack open an iPod, rather than to surrender to it. To her
credit, she was very supportive, and asked that I warn other readers with this
tale of failure. It’s a tough thing to admit, but in cases like this, where the
original item was not designed to be opened or repaired in the field, it may be
better to send it to a technician trained and properly equipped to do the job
without inflicting damage.

So, how do you rate a product that you couldn’t even use, because you
couldn’t prepare the place of intended use? I came up with several areas to
rate: skill level, quality of materials, and overall experience.

I judge the skill level of this item an 8 on a 1-10 scale. You should know
more than how to hold a screwdriver, and have a wealth of DIY experience under
your belt before attempting to use this puppy.

The quality of materials was somewhat lacking. Since I never got to test the
battery performance, I can only judge the included tools. 2 out of 10.

My overall experience began with the poor packaging (no part numbers, no
indication of what it was designed for), was furthered by the lack of
instructions and the above mentioned poor quality pieces included. Again, 2 out
of 10.

Some may argue that my inability to perform the replacement should not count
against the product’s quality or the overall experience, but I would counter
that nowhere in the instructions (which were only discovered by chance) was it
mentioned that this was difficult, and that one should be highly skilled in this
area before attempting the replacement. The most they say in this regard is “Use
caution not to scratch the case.”

I would also submit that my ten years as a tech support person, who has
disassembled printers and computers, in many cases without having been given
guidance or a manual, qualifies me as pretty handy with a set of tools. I have
replaced parts deep within these beasts, reassembled them and had them work good
as new afterwards. So just because you can change out the high voltage power
supply on an HP LaserJet III in the dark, don’t think this item is a cakewalk.
 

Price: $31.99

Pros: 

None

Cons: 

No instructions
Too difficult to open the iPod