Apple Computer Inc said ``less than one-tenth of 1 percent'' of its new iPod Nano digital-music players have defective screens -- but those will be replaced for free.
A ``vendor-quality issue'' with the Nano caused some screens to crack, Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said in a phone interview.
The problem is ``not a design issue,'' he said.
"We will follow the official response issued by the US headquarters," said an official from Apple Computer's Taiwan branch, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A total of 100 iPod Nanos were snapped up by consumers last Sunday in Taipei during a pre-launch sale, as a long line of iPod fans waited outside the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store.
The Nano is priced at NT$6,900 (US$207) for the 2 gigabyte (GB) model and NT$8,600 for the 4GB one.
More iPod Nanos are expected to arrive in stores around the country as scheduled next month, but the local official refused to give a specific timeframe or say how many will arrive.
If problem screens are found on the Nanos shipped to Taiwan, consumers will follow the standard procedure to have the small iPods repaired at the authorized stores here, the official said.
"We are not authorized to reply beyond the official statement," he said, when asked for more details.
The company said the Nano and all other iPod models are covered under a one-year warranty.
Apple's plan to replace the defective Nano players was reported previously by the Wall Street Journal.
A few customers have also complained that the Nano scratches easily, Dowling said.
"To date we've received very few calls about that and we believe it's not a widespread problem,'' he said.
California-based Apple released the latest version of its iPod on Sept. 7. The iPod is Apple's fastest-selling product.
Chief executive Steve Jobs is counting on the Nano, a pencil-thin device the size of a business card, to boost revenue.
Sales of the player more than quadrupled to US$1.1 billion last quarter.
Apple has shipped 21.8 million iPods since their introduction in 2001, with 18.1 million sold in the past year alone.
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