After reading about the short charge life of iPod rechargeable batteries, this may be of interest to some of the iPod users.
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http://cbs2.com/finance/CA--iPodSettlement-kf/resources_news_html

Settlement gives iPod users free replacement batteries
Sunday August 28, 2005

SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) As many as 1.3 million owners of iPod music players will be able to replace their defective batteries on Apple's dime, after a judge approved the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against the company.

The lawsuit claimed that Apple failed to disclose battery limitations on its first three iPod models. The device, which has a rechargeable battery that cannot be replaced because of its design, was advertised to have eight hours of play when fully charged, but users complained that play time gradually decreased after months of use.

Under the settlement approved Thursday by San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman, customers who bought iPod's first two models will be entitled to either $25 cash or $50 credit at an Apple store. Or, if they paid Apple to repair an iPod battery, the company must refund half of the cost to them.

Those who own iPod's third model will be entitled to a free replacement battery if it fails.

``When people were paying $250 to $500 for this, they deserve to know it's limitations,'' said Steve Williams, lead counsel for the lawsuit, which began in December 2003.

Based on the number of people continuing to make claims, the settlement has a minimum value of about $15 million, Williams said.

Consumers who qualify for reimbursement under the settlement have until May to file and can get instructions on how to file at http://www.appleipodsettlement.com.

Apple now discloses on the iPod's packaging the battery life expectations.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

The IPod has a non-removable battery?  Ugh.  What a horrible design decision.  Batteries wear out and need to be replaced every now and then.  If it were something cheap, it wouldn't be a problem, but something as expensive as an IPod, that's a horribly bad idea.

Bill it to Microsoft.