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October 20, 2006 12:27 PM PDT

An iPod Nano? For me? You shouldn't have, Apple

by Lindsey Turrentine
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Look what we got in the mail today from Apple! What could it be?

iPod shipping box

Hmmm, let's open it. Wow. What a pretty linen box! And look--a blank tag. Is this a present for someone? For us? Something to give to our moms this holiday season?

Open Apple box
Open iPod gift

Glory be, it's a blue iPod Nano. The new one, 4GB. But wait, there's more...the Nike + iPod Sport Kit, an armband, and a power adapter. Oh, and a $25 iTunes gift card. That's, like, cash!

iTunes gift card
iPod Nano arm band
iPod + Nike Sport Set

Lemme get the calculator. This adds up to approximately $314 worth of iPod goodies, not including the sparkly raffia--quite a haul. Perhaps this comes in honor of the iPod's own fifth birthday. We're not sure. The card in the box says, "To help brighten this holiday season, we've included a few of our favorites, including the completely remastered iPod Nano with its colorful anodized-aluminum finish, an iPod armband...[the list goes on]...and instructions to redeem a pair of Nike + shoes." Wait. Shoes, too? Now the bill comes to $424.

OK, some background: I manage the team of CNET editors who write reviews of mobile gear. That includes iPods. One of my jobs is enforcing our strict code of ethics. So thanks, Apple, for thinking of us. But no one's mom will be getting this Nano for Christmas--it's going straight back, along with the rest of the goodies. (Although I admit: I'll be crying all the way to FedEx.)

(Photo: Corinne Schulze, CNET Networks)

The following product mentioned is available.

On Sale Now: $8,500.99
View the latest prices for Apple iPod Nano (2nd generation, 4GB, blue)

Lindsey Turrentine is an executive editor at CNET.
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I have no ethics! honest!
by jonatuna October 20, 2006 1:44 PM PDT
Why can't they send this kinda thing to the average Joe like me? I'll pimp for ya Apple - been doin' it for years. C'mon - jonatuna needs a new pair of shoes...
Reply to this comment
Do something nice
by Heatwave16 October 20, 2006 1:49 PM PDT
I've been hooked on CNET for about 3 years now. I check the site several times a day. My only sadness is that I just can't afford all the wonderful gadgets that are reviewed. I am sure I am one of the few people without an iPod or any MP3 player. So, why not send Apple's gift to me? First, I spend most of my money paying back student loans, and catching up on bills from being unemployed for a period of time. Plus, I am way overdue on my New Years resolution to get myself in shape. So, not only would your ethics be saved, but your karma would get a big boost for helping me out. I also love blue!!! I would pay for the shipping and everything. I could even try to review the shoes. Just a thought.
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Wow .. I never knew
by TommoUK October 20, 2006 2:25 PM PDT
(or noticed) that CNET had ethics.... amazing! You learn something new every
day.
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Newfound Respect for CNET
by Dustout October 20, 2006 5:58 PM PDT
Thats a nice box, and some nice acceries, with an even nicer ipod...it takes a well run company to return something of that value back to its owners
Reply to this comment
don't talk rubbish!
by Shig2k1 October 23, 2006 5:29 AM PDT
'it takes a well run company to return something of that value back to its owners'

okay, so if something turns up in the post addressed to you, then you are the owner. And what's $400-odd to Cnet? Surely they make more than that a minute for company-sponsored Apple-Bashing.
Why not have a drawing for it?
by formularacer October 20, 2006 8:08 PM PDT
Here's a novel idea, why don't you guys just put that stuff up for a giveaway? Do a random drawing, and bingo!! Get the box full of stuff.
Reply to this comment
why not donate it
by zhartle October 20, 2006 8:51 PM PDT
why not donate it to a charity for christmas, they could either auction in off or give it to a person who would enjoy it...i am sure apple is not really hurting to have it back
Reply to this comment
Good idea!
by lindsey.turrentine October 23, 2006 8:16 AM PDT
I've had a few people suggest that we donate this. I'm going to do see if Apple wants this back and if not, do some research into what kind of organization might be able to use it or raffle it.
Good idea!
by lindsey.turrentine October 23, 2006 8:19 AM PDT
I've had a few suggestions to done this gift. I'm going to see if Apple wants it back and if not, research a good charity for this type of donation.
Give Me A Break!
by blatzman October 20, 2006 10:29 PM PDT
On the same page you have the headline "apple's inappropriate gift?" you've also got an advertisement for Hewlett-Packard . Have you ever reviewed anything by them?
Get over yourself and keep the f-ing gift or throw it off a bridge.
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you're joking, right?
by earlysound October 25, 2006 5:02 PM PDT
c'mon. it's not a "get over yourself" issue, it's a "we don't take gifts from companies because then other companies would say we were favoring them in our reviews" issue.
I'll take it - gladly!!!
by yonah October 23, 2006 8:05 AM PDT
This is exactly what I want for Chanukah. E-mail me and I'll give you the address to send it to.
Reply to this comment
I have never heard of someone decline a gift...
by MauiMac October 23, 2006 10:51 AM PDT
I don't know where you guys are from, but here in Hawaii its rude to decline a gift...
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Not So Fast...
by allstate October 23, 2006 12:04 PM PDT
At my company I can't take gifts like this either. But then they got to a charitable cause. Is doing something like that even on CNET's radar? I can think of a lot of young cancer patients at St. Jude's Children's Hospital here in Memphis that would love to have a Nano to listen to while in chemo.
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Veronica Belmont is the hottest Cnet editor
by bjones1910 December 1, 2006 2:08 PM PST
Veronica Belmont is the hottest Cnet editor
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