iPod Warning

iPod's suffer from altitude sickness more than humans.

Hard disk iPods such as the 30Gb or 80Gb Video iPod have a maximum altitude limit (who thought of that when buying one!). Over 3,000m or 10,000 feet the hard disk fails and the iPod makes a nasty clicking noise and dies. Sometimes it resumes playing at lower altitudes, other times the hard disk is damaged and the iPod is history.

While crossing the 'Rooftop of the World' the qinghai tibet train reaches an altitude of 5,000m and an iPod can be expected to fail. You can safely take them above these heights as long as they are turned off.

Nanos and Shuffles could be fine as they have no Hard Disk BUT the apple specs say these mp3 players also have a maximum operating altitude of 10,000 feet (3000 m)

Technical note: The iPods fail as the air which seperates the platers of the Hard Disk becomes to thin to provide a protective cushion. The heads then touch the disk platters and cause damage. This clicking and cruching can be heard (unless you have your ear phones on!). When the iPod is turned off the heads are safely 'parked' and do not damage this platters.