There's a lot of hullabaloo about how iPod batteries are built in, can last less than 2 years and if past the one-year warranty can only be replaced by paying Apple $99. Now some environmentalists plan to picket at Apple's annual shareholder meeting and one of their demands is removable batteries (Tech Daily, subscription required). Solveig recently questioned why a consumer who values interoperability would buy an iPod. As an owner of a Creative Zen Micro that came with two replaceable lithium ion batteries, I'd ask the same of someone who values battery replacement. My parents each own iPods and love them, but they're happy with iTunes and don't use them enough to have any risk of using up the battery any time soon. If one's listening needs don't suit an iPod, why not buy a competitor's model? To me, anyway, that beats carrying a protest sign and screaming at Steve Jobs.

posted by Patrick Ross @ 9:25 AM | Markets: Business, Investment & Innovation

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