Sometimes, even a new, shiny $300 dollar iPod cannot replace an 'old friend', which is why Sam O'Reilly wrote an eight-page tutorial on how to resuscitate the fourth generation music player.

O'Reilly innocently shipped his iPod off to Apple for repairs expecting a $100 dollar service fee. Instead, they were going to charge him $225. Incensed, O'Reilly decided to fix the darn thing himself.

The tutorial obviously requires you to open up the precious old timer and switch some parts around, a job which may not appeal to less tech-savvy readers. Still, though, it's a major start.