iPod Battery FAQ
All you iPod owners out there should read this page.
It has a good bit of information on the iPod's battery and how to care for it and get it replaced when the time comes.
I feel that I should mention something in the wake of all the ruckus that's been going on about the iPod's battery life. Consumer electronics fail. No, really! Did you really expect your $2,000 surround sound system to last forever? How about your laptop or mobile phone battery? They will eventually get to the point where they no longer hold a charge and you will have to replace the battery.
The iPod is no different. There's no magic inside that makes the battery last forever (though I'll admit my iPod seems to have some sort of mystical control over me). Sure you spent $500 for the 40 Gb model. If you invested that much, maybe you should've bought an iPod Applecare plan. If you didn't, Apple will replace your iPod's battery for $99. If you're feeling adventurous, you can replace the battery yourself.
For a good discussion on how to properly charge your iPod's battery, hop on over to Slashdot.