iPad got a dead battery? Have a new one

"Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc"

how can you do this if your iPad has a dead battery?

By mjb3000 on 15 Mar 2010

This seemed to be a commercial move to boost iPad sales

No camera, no flash, small screen, underpowered operating system without multitasking this is barely more than a electronic picture frame that probably costs much less then that is sold (this is usual for all Apple products from keyboard to computers). And interestingly (!) not created enough buzz (actually created a negative meh!). Therefore, they are now trying to add more value before decreasing price (just after product announcement they cannot reduce 500$ price for a muscular picture frame).

By HopeLESS on 15 Mar 2010

how can you do this if your iPad has a dead battery?

If it's the same as an iPod then the power cable and data cable are one and the same - so no problem.

By red3dwarf on 15 Mar 2010

iPhone’s won’t sync until they hold at least some charge, so it could be a problem if the same applies to the iPad.

By SAughton on 15 Mar 2010

iPad backup

I can see that there are a lot of people for whom the iPad would be the ideal 'computer' (apart from the expense). If they had this instead of a 'real' computer I wouldn't then have to clean malware missed by their anti-malware suite, including rogue 'registry cleaners' they themselves brought in, off their systems for them! But such people won't have (shouldn't have to have) a 'real' computer that they sync to - just a home wireless broadband modem to connect with. What a pity that (as far as I know) the iPad can't backup itself to a USB memory stick. As for backing up when the battery is dying, shouldn't such a device detect that and alert the user that a final backup is required, assisted by mains power if necessary?

By jamurdie on 15 Mar 2010

IPAD Backup .5x

Agree that backing up via itunes does make the device sound more and more like a big ipod. utter cr@p for 500 big ones

By darkhairedlord on 15 Mar 2010

missing the slightly bleeding obvious

This article doesn't seem to address the biggest point ie that iPads have not even been released yet and Apple have had to issue what is in effect a voluntary recall? It hardly inspires faith in the build quality if they're having replace batteries on brand-new models. It makes their ludicrous user-unfriendly battery replacement policy even more risible and un-green.

By Noghar on 15 Mar 2010

Missing many things

The iPads sent in by affected users, will still have the user data on them. This is a bit more important than the usual tired invective about companies that make profits (shock! horror! etc!)... and come on chaps, give us some credit here: as I remember Apple's initial position on tired batteries in iPods, it was your humble servants, the press, who got them to change their ways!

By Steve_Cassidy on 15 Mar 2010

Not necessarily a new replacement

I read on another site that the conditions don't specifically state you would receive a brand new replacement, you may in fact get a refurbished replacement. I know if it was me, I wouldn't be happy at receiving a refurb after paying for a new unit.

And if refurbs are coming from returned iPads, how can we be sure that the drives have been completely wiped of personal information? Wouldn't take much to open one up and start scanning the disk I would have thought.

By mviracca on 15 Mar 2010

Very user-friendly.

Sounds like a very user-friendly plan. Obviously they will refurbish the dead units for resale. Only the completely clueless would think they'll throw them in a landfill. Users should be backing up regularly anyway so this shouldn't be a big problem even for a unit to dead to back-up. It'd be nice to see basic MobileMe service thrown in so that the device will keep itself backed up when attached to a network.

A built-in cam, or rather two (front and back facing), would be nice but it's still a good tool without them. It sounds as if you'll be able to dock with a keyboard and monitor (not sure about a mouse?) and be able to print and access network files. To me that sounds very capable.

The iPad is EXACTLY like a big iPod which is it's main selling point. No awkward interface, viruses, memory bleeding flash apps, no downloading apps from dozens of different websites, and all the other rubbish that comes with being a PC. Windows, Linux, and even Mac OS tablets already exist and they don't sell well because that isn't what people need in a tablet. The closest competitor is Android and because it doesn't grok what most users really want it's only real selling point remains the price. Mock it if you want but I see a PC killer being born. It's what the majority of users need.

I bought the 3g 64GB version and am seriously thinking about buying a couple more for Christmas gifts. I give them an iPad and they can browse, email, game, and make documents happily and I don't have to disinfect or reinstall a PC nearly so often.

By mogmios on 15 Mar 2010

Voluntary recall?

My reading of the link is that this isn't a recall - just a sensible plan to deal with it when the issue arises.

However - IF this is to be a PC killer, what is the chance that the user has backed anything up? If "real PC" users don't back-up, what's the chances of non-PC users doing so?

By AdrianB on 15 Mar 2010

DRM?

How would this affect any eBooks that had been bought? Can you back up and restore purchased eBooks without losing a "life"?

By AndrewInEssex on 16 Mar 2010

DRM?

How would this affect any eBooks that had been bought? Can you back up and restore purchased eBooks without losing a "life"?

By AndrewInEssex on 16 Mar 2010

Jumping the Gun

Everybody is assuming that the battery replacement strategy implies there is a problem. If you have a sealed device with no internal upgrades full unit replacement is a perfectly reasonable repair strategy. If the unit is in warranty one would expect replacement by a new unit and out of warranty a full factory refurb with repair warranty should be acceptable practice.

By milliganp on 16 Mar 2010

Refurbs

I agree with the previous posters that Apple will sell repaired units as refurbs at a slightly lower price

By Robertdeborah on 18 Mar 2010

More landfill...

I can't see the market for refurbished units being anything other than limited. After a couple of years, the number of returned units will start to outnumber units sold, if people keep it long enough to have a couple of replacements.

By survivalskills on 18 Mar 2010

Can't wait for apple to sell cars

If Apple sold cars I could get a new one every time it ran out of petrol.

By shrek59 on 18 Mar 2010

Who gives a shit

Maybe the users in question could have their dead souls replaced as well. The ipad is truly a pointless gadget for pointless people.

By dodge1963 on 18 Mar 2010

Is there a problem?

Recent independent research found that the iPhone has one of the most reliable batteries in the business, with almost no replacements required even on the first models. So what is the problem?

And dodge1963, dude, thou doest protest too much.

By Nexxo on 18 Mar 2010

Just take a moment to think (different?)

They are so confident in the battery, that if it fails they will replace it with a whole new iPad.
The iPad is not a replacement for a computer, its a new product, more instant and handy for simple relaxed tasks. I've been using a mac mini with a touch screen and end up doing simple things on my iPhone rather than my laptop for convenience, but its just too small,
I don't need an iPad and won't get one quickly but it doesn't take much thinking to see it would be a nice addition. I might get one for work for presenters to run their presentations and see their notes, once you start looking there are a lot of situations it fits and I know my kids will use it very naturally. And if the battery ever dies . . . they give me a new iPad, .

By Mayburys on 18 Mar 2010

Is the iPad warranty 12 minutes instead of 12 months?

I thought the iPad had a 12 month warranty. If they are offering replacements for dead batteries already, maybe I was wrong. I am somewhat deflated by what I have read thus far about the iPad. I had hoped for more features and less monopolistic behaviour from Apple. If Microsoft tried some of Apple's stunts in trying to lock its customers in to a single source for everything, it would end up being prosecuted for monopolistic conduct. And no, I not a Microsoft fan or an Apple hater. I just want choice and value for money in my IT purchases.

By BeacoAnalysis on 19 Mar 2010

Netto, I'll keep protesting until people start to listen, if you're not interested stay asleep, stay selfish, stay sedated.

By dodge1963 on 23 Mar 2010