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September 7, 2007

ipod

Deconstructionism and the iPod classic and 3G nano

Posted Sep. 7, ’07, 8:45 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | iPod

3G nano disassembledThe squeamish amongst you might want to avert your eyes, while the technologically prurient should probably make sure to fasten their bibs securely. As with any time we get a brand new Apple product, the folks at iFixit have decided that in order to fully appreciate the iPod classic and iPod nano, they’re required by their own strange code of ethics to take each and every little piece apart until they’ve fully rendered them into their component parts. If they could, I think they’d take it down to the atomic level, but science—and righteousness—prevents them.

So what do we learn from the dissection of Apple’s newest iPods? The classic shares much in common with its predecessor, the iPod with video, but both hard drive and display are thinner than the 5G’s, explaining how they manage to make the 80GB classic thinner than the 30GB video (jeebus; and I think back to how much thinner my 30GB is than my original 5GB iPod). In terms of construction, the faceplate secures via metal instead of plastic tabs, the display is now backed by a metal plate, and the logic board is secured to the chassis by screws (it wasn’t attached in the 5G iPod).

What about the infamous fatboy nano? The crew managed to take it apart and put it back together again without breaking it (always a plus). They noted a heavy use of adhesive for securing parts, but by and large the construction seemed to be similar to the second-generation nano, down to the soldering of the battery to the logic board.

We’re sure that iFixit is rubbing their greedy little hands together for a chance to pick up the iPod touch when they ship at the end of the month. Is there nothing that can be done to stop these monsters?


2 Comments

Jonny said:

The logic board was attached by screws in the 5G iPod. It was attached to the front faceplate.

September 8, 2007 10:50 AM
Dan Neal Author Profile Page said:

iFixit, as their name implies, does iPod repairs.

They HAVE to take the new ones apart. If you don't know have to take them apart, you'll never be able to put them together again.

Yes, it's disturbing! But it is necessary.

September 8, 2007 1:54 PM

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