Frank O'Connor

It looks like my early model iPad has expired. I bought it on 19
October 2010, it was delivered about a week later, and it started
exhibiting problems about 5 days ago. Initially assuming it was a
software problem, I've been trying to fix it by doing Restore's (each
of which has taken about 7 hours to complete) and complete Re-synchs
but nothing seems to resolve the problem.
*
Originally I'd put the problem down to iTunes 10.5 and IOS 5 ....
because the problems surfaced after those updates, but now I am forced
to conclude that it is something more fundamental that is happening at
the hardware level.
*
- Apps are very flakey and crash with gay abandon
- Apps run much more slowly than usual.
- Apps with large numbers of files (e.g iBooks) crash while booting. I
haven't been able to access my books for days.
- Other apps boot then crash
- The Capacity usage showing in iTunes varies radically each time I
connect the iPad, the Other figure and Books figure seems completely
random
- iTunes 10.5 seems to lose track of updated files during a synch,
and/or lose contact with the iPad during synchs.
- iTunes Restore's and Synchs take an inordinate amount of time
(between four and seven hours) and are pretty much unsuccessful.
*
As you can imagine, I'm a bit annoyed. Hardware that turns into a lemon
a couple of days after the expiry of the manufacturer's guarantee tends
to do that to one. (Technically it probably turned into a lemon BEFORE
the guarantee expiry, but my attempting to rectify the problem over the
last few days carried it beyond the guarantee period. I'm stupid like
that ... and will assume that the problem is software until otherwise
proven wrong.) I've had a few lemons from Apple before (I've been
religiously buying Apple hardware since the early 1980's) but they
either died prior to the expiry of the guarantee, or long long
afterwards - which I accept.
*
Nobody expects hardware to last forever, and I have a record of
discarding defunct Apple product after it fails after a reasonable
time. I tend to update product on a regular (usually bi-annual) basis,
and buy lots of content and other product at the iTunes Store.
*
Now I accept that technically the guarantee has expired (even though
residual obligations under the Australian Sale of Goods Act and the
like may still be in effect) and that Apple is probably not responsible
for repairing or replacing the iPad ... but you can understand my
aggravation.
*
I'm guessing Apple would stick to the letter of the law and not offer
to repair/replace the iPad. In fact I'm so certain of that I'm not even
going to waste my time trying to get them to do it.
*
I was looking at replacing this iPad with the iPad 3 when it comes out,
but now have to consider a Pad replacement way earlier than planned.
Now, what I want is some sort of reassurance that if I buy an iPad 2 it
is not going to fail a few days after the Apple guarantee expires like
its predecessor. I'm not interested in AppleCare (every time I've done
so in the past the hardware proved annoyingly reliable) and that adds
about 13-18% to the cost of a new iPad, and now that I'm retired (and
have been for the last 4 years) money is tighter than in the past. But
it's not too much to expect that I'm gonna get a couple of years use
out of a product before it fails, is it? I mean that's why I tend to
replace hardware every two years (Macs, iPhones, iPods, iPads etc).
*
Now, if I can't count on that two year period any more then it behoves
me to reconsider Apple as a supplier of hardware ... because one of the
main reasons for buying Apple for me is hardware reliability and
Apple's reputation for standing behind product. If that has gone out
the door, I would have to reconsider my purchasing intentions. The way
their Support is set up nowadays, you really have to worry about their
customer commitment. In the Good Old Days you could contact them for
product support for gratis years after purchase ... nowadays it expires
with the guarantee.
*
So, if I elect to buy the iPad 2 what are the statistical chances that
the hardware will still be in good operating condition and without
fault in 2 years time when I would be looking at replacing it anyway.
*
I require some sort of answer to this question before I make my
decision. If I can't rely on at least 2 years reliability, then an
alternative to the iPad is definitely on the cards. As is my future
Apple purchasing behaviour ... Times are tough, and if Apple can't
stand behind it's hardware's reliability then I'll look for more
reliable or cheaper product.
*
So, how reliable is the iPad 2 in user's experience? What sort of
failure rate does it have?

Wayne Marsh

In article <2011102808455731558-francisoconnor3@bigpondcom>,
Frank O'Connor <francisoconnor3@bigpond.com> wrote:

> So, if I elect to buy the iPad 2 what are the statistical chances that
> the hardware will still be in good operating condition and without
> fault in 2 years time when I would be looking at replacing it anyway.

I think you answered your own question:

> I'm not interested in AppleCare (every time I've done
> so in the past the hardware proved annoyingly reliable) and that adds
> about 13-18% to the cost of a new iPad...

Let's say AppleCare increases the cost of your new iPad 2 by 10% in
round numbers. (Apple prices AppleCare to reflect the product's failure
history, plus a generous mark-up.) Therefore I'd estimate that the odds
of your new iPad 2 lasting 2 years is 100% - 10% = 90%.

My original iPad also failed recently, during IOS 5 update, after I'd
had it for 18 months. An Apple Store "genius" confirmed its death, but
offered to swap it out for a refurb original iPad for $419. That might
be an option for you while you wait for iPad 3. Even when iPad 3 comes
out, your refurb original iPad will probably still have some resale
value. However, I bought a new iPad 2 instead.

--
Wayne Marsh Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
waynegmarsh@mac.com

Frank O'Connor

On 2011-10-27 22:29:38 +0000, Wayne Marsh said:

> Therefore I'd estimate that the odds
> of your new iPad 2 lasting 2 years is 100% - 10% = 90%.

Given that the first year is covered by the product guarantee, and the
ensuing two years are covered by the AppleCare policy I think you may
be underestimating a tad there.

> My original iPad also failed recently, during IOS 5 update, after I'd
> had it for 18 months.

Yeah? I wonder how common this is? I mean, did IOS 5 'break' something
in the older iPads? There's a lot of stories of woe in the Apple iPad
forums. Problem is that it's hard to determine whether its IOS 5,
iTunes 10.5 or a rash of hardware failures that are the cause. I'd
really really like some iPad diagnostic utilities to be released by
Apple. Trouble is they assume that it always works.

> An Apple Store "genius" confirmed its death, but
> offered to swap it out for a refurb original iPad for $419. That might
> be an option for you while you wait for iPad 3. Even when iPad 3 comes
> out, your refurb original iPad will probably still have some resale
> value. However, I bought a new iPad 2 instead.

Yeah … I' more inclined to nab an iPad 2 as well. I'm sort of trapped
into the iPad by the purchased Apps and books on the old one.

A refurbished iPad 1 would probably be buying possible trouble I am not
interested in. Now, if Apple had a policy that offered a discount for
an old piece of hardware when purchasing an updated model that would be
useful.

Am giving it one last try before I give up. Restroing the iPad IOS,
then treating it as a new purchase rather than installing from a
possibly corrupt back-up. Not real hopeful, but we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for the feedback ...

Michelle Steiner

In article <2011102812192537169-francisoconnor3@bigpondcom>,
Frank O'Connor <francisoconnor3@bigpond.com> wrote:

> A refurbished iPad 1 would probably be buying possible trouble I am not
> interested in. Now, if Apple had a policy that offered a discount for
> an old piece of hardware when purchasing an updated model that would be
> useful.

You should be able to get at least $80 for it from gazelle.com; you might
be able to get more.

--
Tea Party Patriots is to Patriotism as
People's Democratic Republic is to Democracy.

David Empson

Frank O'Connor <francisoconnor3@bigpond.com> wrote:

> On 2011-10-27 22:29:38 +0000, Wayne Marsh said:
>
> > Therefore I'd estimate that the odds
> > of your new iPad 2 lasting 2 years is 100% - 10% = 90%.
>
> Given that the first year is covered by the product guarantee, and the
> ensuing two years are covered by the AppleCare policy I think you may
> be underestimating a tad there.

iPad AppleCare only covers it for two years from date of purchase, i.e.
one year beyond the standard warranty.

--
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz

Ed Cryer

On 28/10/2011 02:19, Frank O'Connor wrote:
> On 2011-10-27 22:29:38 +0000, Wayne Marsh said:
>
>> Therefore I'd estimate that the odds
>> of your new iPad 2 lasting 2 years is 100% - 10% = 90%.
>
> Given that the first year is covered by the product guarantee, and the
> ensuing two years are covered by the AppleCare policy I think you may be
> underestimating a tad there.
>
>> My original iPad also failed recently, during IOS 5 update, after I'd
>> had it for 18 months.
>
> Yeah? I wonder how common this is? I mean, did IOS 5 'break' something
> in the older iPads? There's a lot of stories of woe in the Apple iPad
> forums. Problem is that it's hard to determine whether its IOS 5, iTunes
> 10.5 or a rash of hardware failures that are the cause. I'd really
> really like some iPad diagnostic utilities to be released by Apple.
> Trouble is they assume that it always works.
>
>> An Apple Store "genius" confirmed its death, but
>> offered to swap it out for a refurb original iPad for $419. That might
>> be an option for you while you wait for iPad 3. Even when iPad 3 comes
>> out, your refurb original iPad will probably still have some resale
>> value. However, I bought a new iPad 2 instead.
>
> Yeah … I' more inclined to nab an iPad 2 as well. I'm sort of trapped
> into the iPad by the purchased Apps and books on the old one.
>
> A refurbished iPad 1 would probably be buying possible trouble I am not
> interested in. Now, if Apple had a policy that offered a discount for an
> old piece of hardware when purchasing an updated model that would be
> useful.
>
> Am giving it one last try before I give up. Restroing the iPad IOS, then
> treating it as a new purchase rather than installing from a possibly
> corrupt back-up. Not real hopeful, but we'll see how it goes.
>
> Thanks for the feedback ...
>
>

You have my sympathy with your problem.
I wouldn't give up on it just yet, though, with an undiagnosed problem.
After the restore and having run some apps, try the Diagnostic & Usage
Data under Settings/ General/ About. That might give you some idea of
what's failed or failing.

A bit of memory come unseated; bad battery; bad electrical connection
somewhere. Those are not dump-in-the-bin problems.

Ed