Turns out apple doesn't repair iPod screens. If one drops an iPod and the LCD screen cracks, it's not covered under warranty, so one has to explore the world of third party repair.
Most sites I found would repair a screen for about $150. But I also found screens and iPod opening tools on ebay for a fraction (1/3) of that cost! Yay!
old screen vs. new screen
I got the screen and the two plastic "safe opening" tools, the internet instructions for replacing a screen, some small screwdrivers and went to work.
The first step was opening the iPod. The instructions made it seem pretty easy, just pop the plastic tool between the aluminum and plastic parts of the ipod and pry them apart! Easy peasy!
After half an hour of trying to get the two halves of the iPod pried apart, I gave up, and called Jeff S to come over and help*.
Once the calvary arrived, the iPod was opened within minutes:
The excitement begins!
Once everything was opened, there were some ribbon wires to disconnect. These wires are fastened by very small plastic clips, it was delicate work. I reckon the factory in China where my iPod was born either use robots or child labor to make these things. I assume Apple is a good company though, and it's robots that are doing the work. We disconnected the wires and then removed the hard drive.
~6500 songs and hours of videos are stored in that little grey box with blue foamy stuff on it! It's fascinating!
Getting the screen out involved taking out 6 very tiny screws (I actually unscrewed 4 of these! I participated in the installation! Yay!). These screws made me realize how gigantic a dime can be.
Dimes are huge!!! And those screws are tiny!! How are those made? I think they're made with lasers. By sharks. With lasers on their heads.*
Finally everything was dismantled and the new screen was put in.
The old screen looked on, thinking about all the good times we've had all over the world. The things we've seen, the things we've seen.
We "followed reverse directions" to get all the pieces back in place, and it was good as new! Yay!!
Thanks again, Jeff! I totally owe you beers!
*do all the work while I take pictures
** I think I'm the only person that thinks this is funny, but I got a kick out of it.
2 comments:
who builds your ipods. sorry, no mention of where the house the laser fitted sharks that make the screws. that must happen at another factory.
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1799
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/08/17/apple_does_the_right.html
The first time I opened my ipod it was a little scary. "I'm gonna break it, I'm gonna break it... crack...I didn't break it!!!
Now I just need to bite the bullet and buy a new hard drive for the little sucker.
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