i myself am also on my 4th ipod. my first one was the 3rd generation 15 gig (in my opinion that was the most well designed and highest quality ipod to date). it lasted for a good solid 2 years, and went through 2 batteries before it died. i was incredibly tough on it, and it went through hell. the fact that it made it that long was amazing. that ipod got replaced with a 5th gen. video last year with student pricing for like 250. a few weeks in, i crushed it skiing. sent it in, got a new one. the replacement got scratched to all hell over summer, and developed a issue where it would randomly turn on on its own. JUST got the replacement for that one this week, and was smart and got the case ; ) but apple has, in my opinion, an amazing warrenty with the ipods, and i have nothing but good expierences dealing with them.