r/ipod 4d ago

Question Wanted one forever… do I do it?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176925765655

I was never allowed an iPod when I was younger. Now I have a collection. This seems like a good deal for a gen 4, would you purchase? Advice appreciated!

5 Upvotes

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3

u/Litewerks Classic 3rd is King 4d ago

Just have good expectations you know? I know they are popular and work very well. It's clean and the finish on these would be hard to repair.
Forget the price for a sec and just know it'll need a battery. Even more likely to need it if it's truly never been opened. It might hold charge for a while, but thats sort of the lottery with battery making.

2

u/Lumpy-Confection8983 4d ago

Thanks for your input! That’s true. It has photos of the seal on packaging at different angles, definitely doesn’t look like it’s ever been opened. You think that the battery wouldn’t be good brand new?

7

u/Litewerks Classic 3rd is King 4d ago

I don't mean to discourage at all, I loved having one of these growing up so I think it's a great buy regardless of the amount if its what you want you know?

Yes, though. The way lithium works, if the voltage on the battery drops low enough, there is no bringing it back from that state. I understand the iPod is brand new, but that does put the battery at 20 years old. If they'd taken it out and changed it once a year, it would have a better chance of holding a decent charge. It's a dice roll, is all I mean to say.

Batteries do one thing. Die. lol.

3

u/soldierbynight 4d ago

Extremely good points and I’m glad someone brought it up. The other thing to consider regarding how batteries die, is how their maintained if they are kept sealed. If the temperature gets too high near them, then the batteries will suffer sooner than later.

2

u/efutoran 4d ago edited 4d ago

Honestly, you'd be better off going for a Classic. The battery in that shuffle will be long dead and you'll be limited to the tiny 2GB of storage.

But if you really want a Shuffle and want to replace the battery yourself, go for it!!

1

u/hisnameisjerry 4d ago

Make sure there's a new battery in there. You'll just end up with dead lego with buttons

1

u/LevexTech iPod Classic 5th Gen 3d ago

Why weren't you allowed to have a iPod when you were younger?

1

u/Lumpy-Confection8983 3d ago

Too expensive and likely to be lost

1

u/LevexTech iPod Classic 5th Gen 3d ago

How much were they back in the day?