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Apple's iPad Battery Replacement Program Forgoes New Battery, Replaces iPad

Btom said:
So, on the positive note, hows about replacing FAILED battery for, say, $15 while you wait, without the hassle of transferring any data back and forth? Just MHO...
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As the iPad is supposed to be an easy computer, then your idea makes a lot more sense: quick, cheap and easy.

At the least, provide a service to copy the data to the replacement.

Otherwise you can just imagine a few years from now, thousands of people having to explain to their 85 year old parents how and why they have to backup their data before sending away their computer along with $100 for a battery replacement.
 
I really only have a few questions. Ok first... for $99 for a battery replacement seems like a good deal if they are just going to send you a new iPad.
I mean, my laptop battery is like over $100. But my question is... how long will the iPad batteries last? Mine is supposed to hold 80% after 300 cycles and its a 192 after a year (not bad I don't think) but I don't have it unplugged all the time either.

How long will the iPad battery last assuming we use it at least 2 or maybe 3 hours a day? Would it be better to NOT drain it all the way accept for maybe once a month like we do with laptop batteries? I'm not going to sit around with my iPad plugged in well I use it like I do with my MacBook so. How many charge cycles can this thing last with? Maybe the battery will last 2 years or so with the usage I mentioned? If thats the case it doesn't sound bad to me at all.

I would like some really good replies so if I need to I might post this in a thread in iPad discussion in case it gets lost here.

Thanks! ^^
 
Apple uses non replaceable batteries for two reasons:
  1. To avoid low quality or unsafe replacements causing fires and things, which I think is a valid reason;
  2. To charge us $99 for the replacement (valid reason for Apple for sure).
Tom B.
 
Kristenn said:
I really only have a few questions. Ok first... for $99 for a battery replacement seems like a good deal if they are just going to send you a new iPad.
I mean, my laptop battery is like over $100. But my question is... how long will the iPad batteries last? Mine is supposed to hold 80% after 300 cycles and its a 192 after a year (not bad I don't think) but I don't have it unplugged all the time either.
Click to expand...

The specs on the iPad are 80% after 1,000 tycles - or 3 times the rating on your laptop.

thisday said:
Thats what you got from my post? Recycling is bad? Rescycling is not bad to clear my state. What is bad, for me as customer and you dont want to accept cause you adore Apple, is that if your battery was dead you would get a new one from a store for 40$ and swap it. Now you pay 100$ and you get in the "trouble" to restore iPad, wait a week etc. I cant believe you actually prefer this than replace your own battery in seconds.
What happends to the personal data of the old iPad? Formated i guess, but still recoverable.
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Look. It's been said a couple dozen times, so I guess it's unlikely that you'll get it this time, but I'll try it again.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE APPLE'S PROGRAM, DON'T USE IT. You will be able to obtain third party battery replacement or get a battery and swap it yourself. If you're really so paranoid that someone at Apple is going to be snooping though your iPad, no one is forcing you to send it to them. You have other options.

It's no different than a hard disk failure. When your hard disk fails, no computer vendor I know of will restore your data - even if it's recoverable. It's just not going to happen. So stop with the silly demands.
 
kdarling said:
As the iPad is supposed to be an easy computer, then your idea makes a lot more sense: quick, cheap and easy.

At the least, provide a service to copy the data to the replacement.

Otherwise you can just imagine a few years from now, thousands of people having to explain to their 85 year old parents how and why they have to backup their data before sending away their computer along with $100 for a battery replacement.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. Isn't the iPad, like the iPhone and iPod touch, a slave to a Mac/PC? Are there people who don't regularly sync their data to a host PC? And, if so, what do they expect to happen if they lose their device/their device breaks/etc.?
 
Btom said:
Apple uses non replaceable batteries for two reasons:
  1. To avoid low quality or unsafe replacements causing fires and things, which I think is a valid reason;
  2. To charge us $99 for the replacement (valid reason for Apple for sure).
Tom B.
Click to expand...
No. To give you, the consumer, the best possible [read longest] battery life possible. Not only by using the latest battery technology, but also by eliminating sliders and other opening mechanisms, simply because there should be no need for you to remove the battery. Ever.
 
jragosta said:
The specs on the iPad are 80% after 1,000 tycles - or 3 times the rating on your laptop.
Click to expand...

Good news thanks! =D

So basically this battery will last quite a while. And for $99 +plus a new iPad, good deal to me. =/

Personally of course!
 
LMAO! Steve Jobs has a serious problem understanding the concept of a battery. iPods, iPhones, some macbooks and now the iPad will suffer from the inability to replace the battery at the customers choice because a simple implementation of a battery door is NOT used.

Think different, what a joke.
 
ungraphic said:
LMAO! Steve Jobs has a serious problem understanding the concept of a battery. iPods, iPhones, some macbooks and now the iPad will suffer from the inability to replace the battery at the customers choice because a simple implementation of a battery door is NOT used.

Think different, what a joke.
Click to expand...

1. This has been a policy with the iPod, iPhone and MacBook portable systems for quite some time. Sales certainly haven't been hurting.

2. The batteries supplied by Apple have demonstrated to the electronics industry that form and function do not have to be sacrificed due to battery placement. Apple has proven that battery power can be improved upon and need only be considered with regard to design. In the extreme instances of battery issues in Apple devices, Apple has offered, well before the device is even available to the consumer market, a very reasonable exchange program for those who may be experiencing battery issues due to normal usage.

Seems to be a win/win scenario for everyone. Using precedence to objectively base such observation is crucial. The past two years have factually supported that Apple has made vast improvements in portable battery technology. It is easy to emotionally feign criticism, much more difficult is objectively utilizing case precedence to form facts.
 
ungraphic said:
LMAO! Steve Jobs has a serious problem understanding the concept of a battery. iPods, iPhones, some macbooks and now the iPad will suffer from the inability to replace the battery at the customers choice because a simple implementation of a battery door is NOT used.

Think different, what a joke.
Click to expand...

You're right! The millions of iPods sold for several years, millions of iPhones, and millions of unibody MacBooks have proven without a shadow of a doubt that a non-removable battery just doesn't work! :rolleyes:

Even other manufacturers are trying the no-battery-door approach (see Alienware m11x, though if you unscrew the bottom of the case you can swap it yourself).
 
What MP3 players have removable batteries?

ungraphic said:
LMAO! Steve Jobs has a serious problem understanding the concept of a battery. iPods, iPhones, some macbooks and now the iPad will suffer from the inability to replace the battery at the customers choice because a simple implementation of a battery door is NOT used.

Think different, what a joke.
Click to expand...

only the low end $20 MP3 players have AAA battery models designed for price rather than size or function.

it follows, computers are going the same way.

Besides, how many people REALLY swap alternate batteries out?

i've had numerous laptops over the years and while the idea of an extra battery sounds good, i've never felt the need to buy one (and they are usually way too expensive). my Acer One really has short battery life but why buy a longer life one for a third the price of the computer? just plug it in and use it off the mains power :)

adding replaceable batteries increases size as batteries need packaging, protective flaps (with springs etc), spring loaded connectors - all of which add weight and size without adding extra function for 99% of people.
 
blackcrayon said:
You're right! The millions of iPods sold for several years, millions of iPhones, and millions of unibody MacBooks have proven without a shadow of a doubt that a non-removable battery just doesn't work! :rolleyes:

Even other manufacturers are trying the no-battery-door approach (see Alienware m11x, though if you unscrew the bottom of the case you can swap it yourself).
Click to expand...

How do the facts of Apple's improvements with their mobile device batteries demonstrate that non-removable batteries have caused more harm than good? The huge gains in market share? The praise from customers and industry analysts regarding Apple's unparalleled customer support? Perhaps the overall improvements in long term battery usage?

Any time i hear people (not you :) ), balk about the non-removable battery, these complaints seem based on emotion rather than reasoning.
 
Wow, all those pages, hundreds of posts, angst and flaming and why? Because a company with billions invested in engineering, still can't make it's top products battery removable.

Back to the grave :apple:
 
diabolic said:
Or maybe the non-removable battery has improved their products in several different ways. It's not that they can't, it's that they choose not to.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Simply put - we can only guess on why apple chooses not to have user-replaceable batteries...but in the end it is purely guessing and nothing more.
 
I think what we're seeing are devices plus their batteries having enough uptime on a single charge that we no longer need removable batteries. Apple might be a little ahead of the curve here, but removable batteries are going to eventually end up being in the minority. Of course there are always people who need this or need that (like the people who still need a floppy drive or whatever else), but most people will not need removable batteries.

The $99 seems like a pretty good deal if they simply give you a factory new iPad as long as they don't try to get too strict on checking your current device for other defects. From my experience with the iPhone Apple customer service is pretty good at doing the right thing.
 
mdatwood said:
I think what we're seeing are devices plus their batteries having enough uptime on a single charge that we no longer need removable batteries. Apple might be a little ahead of the curve here, but removable batteries are going to eventually end up being in the minority. Of course there are always people who need this or need that (like the people who still need a floppy drive or whatever else), but most people will not need removable batteries.

The $99 seems like a pretty good deal if they simply give you a factory new iPad as long as they don't try to get too strict on checking your current device for other defects. From my experience with the iPhone Apple customer service is pretty good at doing the right thing.
Click to expand...

Battery peh.

I want my Cold Fusion Cells!

tantrum.gif
 
bedifferent said:
How do the facts of Apple's improvements with their mobile device batteries demonstrate that non-removable batteries have caused more harm than good? The huge gains in market share? The praise from customers and industry analysts regarding Apple's unparalleled customer support? Perhaps the overall improvements in long term battery usage?

Any time i hear people (not you :) ), balk about the non-removable battery, these complaints seem based on emotion rather than reasoning.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I think we're on the same side of the discussion here :) i was being sarcastic- millions of Apple devices with non removable batteries have been sold and it hasn't been a problem, so why should the sky suddenly fall with the iPad? In fact it might be evidence that it continues to work well.

I don't see what the big deal is about getting your battery replaced for about the cost of any other manufacturer's battery (Dell charges $129 for a similar wattage one) along with a free flawless case.
 
So you pay $800 for a new device, send it away and for $107 get a new refurbished unit and we're even Steven? hahaha

Says a lot about the value of the material used!

"The $800 iPad: 90% hype, 10% product"

Man, talk about being an iLemming! Apple will be making money hand over fist this way!
 
Kristenn said:
I really only have a few questions. Ok first... for $99 for a battery replacement seems like a good deal if they are just going to send you a new iPad.
I mean, my laptop battery is like over $100. But my question is... how long will the iPad batteries last? Mine is supposed to hold 80% after 300 cycles and its a 192 after a year (not bad I don't think) but I don't have it unplugged all the time either.

How long will the iPad battery last assuming we use it at least 2 or maybe 3 hours a day? Would it be better to NOT drain it all the way accept for maybe once a month like we do with laptop batteries? I'm not going to sit around with my iPad plugged in well I use it like I do with my MacBook so. How many charge cycles can this thing last with? Maybe the battery will last 2 years or so with the usage I mentioned? If thats the case it doesn't sound bad to me at all.

I would like some really good replies so if I need to I might post this in a thread in iPad discussion in case it gets lost here.

Thanks! ^^
Click to expand...

I think you can just use the battery without worrying too much about it.

This is not like using batteries in a flashlight where you use the battery till there is no light at which point the battery is totally dead. These batteries are measured and monitored with software deciding their use. I don't have inside information but I'd bet that they monitor the battery and set conditions for ensuring long life. For example, when the battery says it is fully charged it may in fact still have room to accept more charge and when the software says the battery is discharged it may in fact have significant charge remaining. However, by avoiding stress to the battery they increase the life.

In the case of the Toyota Prius using NiMH batteries (not Li) the battery charge runs between 80% and 40% of maximum. In this way the battery is guaranteed for 8 years or 150,000 miles.

Li batteries are different, but with so much at stake I'm sure they have figured out what needs to be controlled in order to keep the battery lasting as long as possible.

Moreover, if the battery lasts three years in normal use and maybe three years and two months if you baby it is it really worth it to worry about?
 
Berio said:
on a related aside: interesting piece on BBC world service radio today. they're having a special about the web's influence on society this weekend, and today they interviewed journalists who were arrested in internet cafés minutes after sending off emails about the political situation in that particular country. interesting how fast the response can be. this was news to me.
Click to expand...


How did they do that? Did they explain how it was done? They may have simply had someone look over their shoulder but I would have thought some journos are getting cleverer about encryption and using other services to protect their anonymity.
 
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