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

[Dead Brad Pitt]

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.

Rephrasing engine engaged:
....a company bla bla bla... that can't find a way not to have to ship its top products without one of the replaceable battery systems they already engineered.

I'm sure Steve won't miss your purchase.

Checklist for Dead Brad Pitt: [*] Purchasing [ ] Complaining

Back to the grave

 

[E.Lizardo]

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.

Not true at all.Check out the unibody macbook keynote,and probably ad copy on their site.
As others have correctly stated,
1 Larger batteries are possible by eliminating the case parts associated with removable batteries(springs,doors,etc.).
2 Odd shaped batteries can be molded to to fill available space.
3 Removable batteries must have their own case/packaging,further wasting space and capacity.
4 Battery technology has progressed to the point that the majority of the time,it lasts the life of the device.If replacement is needed,Apple feels the (IMO)reasonable cost of replacement is worth the other advantages.
5 Because of the above,the device can be thinner,lighter sleeker(This IS Apple ,after all!),and have a superior battery life.

So to sum up,Thinner,lighter,sleeker,longer battery life.

No guessing there,just info straight from Apple.

 

[kernkraft]

- Is this within the warranty period? I suppose, it applies for out-of-warranty cases. Otherwise a new battery should be free, right?

- The EU doesn't seem to like the idea of built-in, non user replaceable batteries and it is expected that unless the rest of the industry is moving into that direction, some companies might face large fines for not making user-replaceable batteries available.

- I think these "new" replacement iPads might be refurbished ones. That raises the question about any warranty on other parts of the replacement iPad. What happens if you pay the fee, get the new iPad and the screen fails within a very short time?

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

This is only for out of warrantee. Math: $105.95 divided into $499 => failure has to happen within 4.7 years. That is longer than the $99 battery warrantee. In other words, it ain't worth it folks. Add in the % probability >0 of refusal due to some "customer abuse" and it gets even worse.

Based on standard math for warrantees I come up with the cost to consumers should be $49 to be worth it. That should include standard shipping.

The fact that you'll be without the device for a week is a further reduction in value of the warrantee. Apple once kept my PowerBook for a very extended period. In fact, they thought they had lost it. Most annoying.

I'll pass on this warrantee. Statistically it is better to just get an extra iPad.

Hear where you are coming from.... my 1st gen iPhone battery is still going strong here so far.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Find me anywhere where Apple promised anything in relation to the iPad. Since when have they ever pre-announced or pre-promised anything? You must be new here...

Fact is, you're starting with a clearly faulty premise. Basically, you're disappointed that they didn't match some imaginary promise which didn't meet your expectations in regards to a product they never talked about, mentioned or made promises about in the first place. Of course you're disappointed. How can any company, and particularly Apple, make real products that live up to the hype of products that don't, and never did, exist?

This sounds like a load of fan-boy rhetoric to make excuses for why Apple cannot release a computer instead of a giant iPod Touch. Some of us know the REAL reason why they did it and it has everything to do with moving towards a day when EVERYTHING Apple will use an iPhone like operating system where Apple controls 100% of the software market for it like they do with the iPhone. At that point they can demand ANY amount of money from the developers, deny as much support as they don't want to provide and they can stop ALL software they don't want to compete with from ever appearing on their platform (e.g. No Firefox. No M$ Office. No Choices). Apple believes it can get away with this because they always have. Other companies like Microsoft are pointing to things like the Psystar case to deny hardware competition for their products for things like accessories (i.e. for the XBox in M$'s case). Apple is hoping that the sheer popularity of things like the iPhone will lead to the ability to sell this iPad thingy and people will love how "easy" it is to operate compared to a real computer (Macs included) and the next obvious step is to have the "iMac" (oh wait they already used that name). The point is it will use the same interface and by then there will be computer-sized applications made for the iPad and it will go from there. No more open system. No more freedom of choice. Lots more $$$ for Apple and far more importantly, a LOT more control for Steve Jobs (whom we all know is a total control freak). And the Apple fanatics will still defend Apple 100%. The only hope is that Steve Jobs retires or otherwise leaves Apple before that step comes. The Mac is actually getting some gaming support now, but that will end abruptly or become iPod games only if their plan to replace OSX with OSX-iPhoney succeeds.

 

[MorphingDragon]

This sounds like a load of fan-boy rhetoric to make excuses for why Apple cannot release a computer instead of a giant iPod Touch. Some of us know the REAL reason why they did it and it has everything to do with moving towards a day when EVERYTHING Apple will use an iPhone like operating system where Apple controls 100% of the software market for it like they do with the iPhone. At that point they can demand ANY amount of money from the developers, deny as much support as they don't want to provide and they can stop ALL software they don't want to compete with from ever appearing on their platform (e.g. No Firefox. No M$ Office. No Choices). Apple believes it can get away with this because they always have. Other companies like Microsoft are pointing to things like the Psystar case to deny hardware competition for their products for things like accessories (i.e. for the XBox in M$'s case). Apple is hoping that the sheer popularity of things like the iPhone will lead to the ability to sell this iPad thingy and people will love how "easy" it is to operate compared to a real computer (Macs included) and the next obvious step is to have the "iMac" (oh wait they already used that name). The point is it will use the same interface and by then there will be computer-sized applications made for the iPad and it will go from there. No more open system. No more freedom of choice. Lots more $$$ for Apple and far more importantly, a LOT more control for Steve Jobs (whom we all know is a total control freak). And the Apple fanatics will still defend Apple 100%. The only hope is that Steve Jobs retires or otherwise leaves Apple before that step comes. The Mac is actually getting some gaming support now, but that will end abruptly or become iPod games only if their plan to replace OSX with OSX-iPhoney succeeds.

It's a conspiracy!

 

[cmaier]

1) Your keyboard has an "Enter" key, yes?

2) iPod Touch is a computer. You present a false dichotomy.

3) Any sentence that begins "Some of us know the REAL reason" makes me feel like it's time to take the mezuzah down off my front door and hiding in the basement.

4) Yes, apple hopes people will love how easy it is to operate an iPad compared to a "real computer." Surely you don't think that it is wrong to make computers easy to operate?

5) "The only hope" happened in the early 1990's, and nearly resulted in Apple disappearing off the face of the planet.

This sounds like a load of fan-boy rhetoric to make excuses for why Apple cannot release a computer instead of a giant iPod Touch. Some of us know the REAL reason why they did it and it has everything to do with moving towards a day when EVERYTHING Apple will use an iPhone like operating system where Apple controls 100% of the software market for it like they do with the iPhone. At that point they can demand ANY amount of money from the developers, deny as much support as they don't want to provide and they can stop ALL software they don't want to compete with from ever appearing on their platform (e.g. No Firefox. No M$ Office. No Choices). Apple believes it can get away with this because they always have. Other companies like Microsoft are pointing to things like the Psystar case to deny hardware competition for their products for things like accessories (i.e. for the XBox in M$'s case). Apple is hoping that the sheer popularity of things like the iPhone will lead to the ability to sell this iPad thingy and people will love how "easy" it is to operate compared to a real computer (Macs included) and the next obvious step is to have the "iMac" (oh wait they already used that name). The point is it will use the same interface and by then there will be computer-sized applications made for the iPad and it will go from there. No more open system. No more freedom of choice. Lots more $$$ for Apple and far more importantly, a LOT more control for Steve Jobs (whom we all know is a total control freak). And the Apple fanatics will still defend Apple 100%. The only hope is that Steve Jobs retires or otherwise leaves Apple before that step comes. The Mac is actually getting some gaming support now, but that will end abruptly or become iPod games only if their plan to replace OSX with OSX-iPhoney succeeds.

 

[kernkraft]

Yes. That's why it's called RECYCLING.

Your iPad battery will last around 5 years under normal use, and thereafter it will still hold 80% charge for a while. That's 1000 recharge cycles, plus battery life at 80% charge thereafter (for a while.) Same battery lifespan you find in a current Macbook Pro. By the time you hit the forums to complain for real you'll have a new device. And besides, Apple is not known to have any problems with their non-removable batteries.

Same way Apple treats iPhones and iPods.

1.) You keep saying that. It doesn't make it more relevant.

2.) My '7 hour' battery in my MBP lasts less than three with modest surfing. The iPad will not last 7 hours, that's for sure.

QUOTE=*LTD*;9434602]You trolls aren't even trying anymore.


Your iPad battery will last around 5 years under normal use, genius, and thereafter it will still hold 80% charge for a while. That's 1000 recharge cycles, plus battery life at 80% charge thereafter. Same battery lifespan you find in a current Macbook Pro. By the time you hit the forums to complain for real you'll have a new device. And besides, Apple is not known to have any problems with their non-removable batteries.[/QUOTE]


"Trolling, trolling, trolling..." I think what you are doing is pretty close.

 

[AidenShaw]

My '7 hour' battery in my MBP lasts less than three with modest surfing.

No big deal - do what I do. I carry a spare battery and swap them
when the first runs down. On a trans-oceanic flight - I'll carry 2
or 3 spares.

 

[kernkraft]

No big deal - do what I do. I carry a spare battery and swap them
when the first runs down. On a trans-oceanic flight - I'll carry 2
or 3 spares.

The one I meant was mid-2009 13" one with non-removeable battery.

I have a 15" one (unibody, 2.53GHz, late-2008), but with that even the 90 minutes is unrealistic. So THAT ONE has a spare battery.

 

[mutantteenager]

This sounds like a load of fan-boy rhetoric to make excuses for why Apple cannot release a computer instead of a giant iPod Touch. Some of us know the REAL reason why they did it and it has everything to do with moving towards a day when EVERYTHING Apple will use an iPhone like operating system where Apple controls 100% of the software market for it like they do with the iPhone. At that point they can demand ANY amount of money from the developers, deny as much support as they don't want to provide and they can stop ALL software they don't want to compete with from ever appearing on their platform (e.g. No Firefox. No M$ Office. No Choices). Apple believes it can get away with this because they always have. Other companies like Microsoft are pointing to things like the Psystar case to deny hardware competition for their products for things like accessories (i.e. for the XBox in M$'s case). Apple is hoping that the sheer popularity of things like the iPhone will lead to the ability to sell this iPad thingy and people will love how "easy" it is to operate compared to a real computer (Macs included) and the next obvious step is to have the "iMac" (oh wait they already used that name). The point is it will use the same interface and by then there will be computer-sized applications made for the iPad and it will go from there. No more open system. No more freedom of choice. Lots more $$$ for Apple and far more importantly, a LOT more control for Steve Jobs (whom we all know is a total control freak). And the Apple fanatics will still defend Apple 100%. The only hope is that Steve Jobs retires or otherwise leaves Apple before that step comes. The Mac is actually getting some gaming support now, but that will end abruptly or become iPod games only if their plan to replace OSX with OSX-iPhoney succeeds.

I have to agree. The current ipod/iphone ecosystem seems to be heavily weighted in Apple's favour. They have increased not only their revenue share beyond what the traditional mobile phone vendors would normally receive. You only have to compare the many suppliers of the iphone and the complete lack of difference in tariffs across networks. But when you see how they arbitrarily censor what you can and cannot have on a phone which you've paid for, it's all a bit too big brother for me.

The battery replacement scheme is just another way of getting more money out of you once you've paid of the ipad. It stops third parties getting in on the after-market with alternative batteries. And when it comes to taking in your 3 year old ipad, who's to say that they won't just turn you away because it looks a bit worn or has some software on it which they don't approve of.

Then what are you going to have to do? Buy a new one of course! The only dumb people in this equation, are the people thinking they got a good deal.

 

[Eidorian]

No big deal - do what I do. I carry a spare battery and swap them
when the first runs down. On a trans-oceanic flight - I'll carry 2
or 3 spares.

The one I meant was mid-2009 13" one with non-removeable battery.

That's the joke.

 

[MorphingDragon]

1) Your keyboard has an "Enter" key, yes?

2) iPod Touch is a computer. You present a false dichotomy.

3) Any sentence that begins "Some of us know the REAL reason" makes me feel like it's time to take the mezuzah down off my front door and hiding in the basement.

4) Yes, apple hopes people will love how easy it is to operate an iPad compared to a "real computer." Surely you don't think that it is wrong to make computers easy to operate?

5) "The only hope" happened in the early 1990's, and nearly resulted in Apple disappearing off the face of the planet.

I didnt know you were jewish.

 

[cmaier]

I didnt know you were jewish.

I'm not on the list?

 

[MorphingDragon]

I'm not on the list?

I'm sorry, computers says no.

---

No, its just Im always fascinated for some odd reason when I find out somebody is jewish.

 

[cmaier]

No, its just Im always fascinated for some reason when I find out somebody is jewish.

I'll just be heading down into the basement now.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I'll just be heading down into the basement now.

Oi.

 

[AidenShaw]

I'll just be heading down into the basement now.

My husband and I are planning a group trip next spring, and the only
available date range includes Passover. It looks like we can pull
it off if we add a Seder to the events (although, in Indonesia we
might have problems with food - it may have to be a Halal Seder ).

 

[whooleytoo]

(Apologies if this has already been asked.. but...)

With my iPhone and previous iPods, if the battery is completely drained, it never powers up immediately when connected to a power source. It usually takes several minutes connected to the power before it can be switched on again.

This makes me wonder - does the iPhone (and will the iPad) need some charge in the battery in order to turn on, even if it's connected to a power source?

I hope not.. because if that's true, once the battery is dead, the device can't be synced even if plugged in.

 

[hayesk]

This sounds like a load of fan-boy rhetoric to make excuses for why Apple cannot release a computer instead of a giant iPod Touch.

How many times does it have to be said? If you want a MacOS X tablet, buy an axiotron modbook.

 

[hayesk]

User damage makes it inelegable for battery replacement?

So if I've got a small dent at the corner of the ipad I've been using for two years daily they would refuse my battery replacement? Personally, I'd sue Apple in small claims court if they refused a battery replacement on an otherwise perfectly functional unit.

What exactly would you sue for? Have they broken a law? Have they broken a contract with you? While I admit it'd be a pretty sleazy thing to do, Apple isn't legally obliged to provide battery replacement. I've seen several sealed flashlights for sale that have no way of changing the battery.

What would be desirable though is to charge a small "refurbish fee" for any iPad that comes back damaged.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I have to agree. The current ipod/iphone ecosystem seems to be heavily weighted in Apple's favour.

Careful, you'll get attacked by the fanboys on here with absurd comments and cartoons. I'm talking about a business plan that only furthers what they have already done (i.e. block competition anywhere they can get away with it to increase profits) and these guys are talking about 9-11 conspiracies.

Really, it reminds me of the Republicans. You know, attack everything the Democrats do regardless of whether they actually agree with any of it or not (easily proven in most cases they supported many such items personally in the past, but now it's EVIL socialism and Obama is the anti-christ or the joker depending on the ad you view) just to win seats in the next election.

They have increased not only their revenue share beyond what the traditional mobile phone vendors would normally receive. You only have to compare the many suppliers of the iphone and the complete lack of difference in tariffs across networks. But when you see how they arbitrarily censor what you can and cannot have on a phone which you've paid for, it's all a bit too big brother for me.

The battery replacement scheme is just another way of getting more money out of you once you've paid of the ipad. It stops third parties getting in on the after-market with alternative batteries. And when it comes to taking in your 3 year old ipad, who's to say that they won't just turn you away because it looks a bit worn or has some software on it which they don't approve of.

That's all the battery scheme has EVER been. I mean how hard is it really to put a set of little counter-sunk Phillips screws and a little door on these things? All normal cell phones have access not only to the batteries, but typically have card readers in them as well for expansion (why would Apple want to offer dirt cheap expansion room that would take $20 for an 8GB ram card when they can sell the 16GB version for $100+ more and then charge you another $100 for a battery replacement a couple of years later (assuming they cannot talk you out of just upgrading to a whole new phone instead).

But the real shtick here is that they don't even actually replace any batteries!!!!! Apparently, the phones and iPads are actually so cheap to manufacture that they can just give you a brand new one for $100 and toss your old one (What a really green program they have there!) Or are they actually giving you someone else's used iPad (apparently it's too hard to actually keep track of whose is whose when replacing batteries; that might take a post-it note or something. Don't pay for laser engraving for goodness sake! They might not replace the battery/pad for you and then you'll have a useless paper-weight in a few years). That's even more appealing isn't it? This thing is supposed to be MOBILE but you cannot scratch it or you cannot get a replacement battery for it!!! Be darn careful people!!! Wrap that thing in Bubble-wrap every day!

Of course if they had included a battery door like my MBP has (notice how the new ones do NOT have it so they can charge you some more $$$ to replace those batteries now too!), this would be a non-issue and you could be as rough as you wanted to be, but Apple wouldn't get a 30% cut of your labor charges for doing the work yourself so they abandoned that idea. Oh wait, I'm creating more 9-11 style conspiracy theories about battery doors. The real reason according to the Golden Dragon I just consulted in his Battle Cave is that Steve Jobs knows that people hate using screwdrivers so he decided to save them the bother and make them ship their iPads across country to get a different one shipped back because that's far less work than popping in a new battery. I guess it at least creates business for UPS/FedEX/USPS employees....

 

[ericinboston]

Apple can't be giving a brand spanking new unit to the customer...here's why:

1)Because as time goes on, newer iPad models will be created...so if I have a rev 1.0 and 3 years down the road the battery dies...Apple is going to stockpile rev 1.0 machines in order to give me a brand new one? I don't think so.

2)As a few have stated here, Apple (as well as other companies) never give you a brand spanking new unit replacement if your unit is more than, say, 6 months old. Sure, you could write a nasty letter to them and the BBB and maybe Apple will change its mind due to the language of "new". I hate how Apple and other companies state "we will give you a new unit" and then you get a refurb...then you call them and they say "well, it's not BRAND new...it's new to you." Then you wonder why THAT unit was returned at some point in time.


Personally I think it's better to just use your credit card to buy the iPad and get the 1 extra year warranty that Amex and many other credit card companies give you FOR FREE. That means that if my device warranty runs out on April 1, 2011, my credit card EXTENDS the original manufacturer's warranty for 1 additional year...meaning that if it breaks (I would consider a non-removable dead battery a defect), my credit card company will either pay for a BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT or FULL REPAIR...whatever they seem fit (likely a repair but you'd be surprised how often they will just give you the $499 back instead of "repairing" it for $129 (because what happens if it breaks again before the 2 year window ends?...now the credit card company has to pay again)).

It will be interesting to see how much Apple charges for a battery replacement (keeping your existing unit) vs. the $99 trade-in fee. Personally I would never give a company my personal computer with all sorts of data that an employee could steal/look at/copy/etc. It happens a lot by those $11.85 hourly employees. Don't kid yourself.

-Eric

 

[cmaier]

It will be interesting to see how much Apple charges for a battery replacement (keeping your existing unit) vs. the $99 trade-in fee. Personally I would never give a company my personal computer with all sorts of data that an employee could steal/look at/copy/etc. It happens a lot by those $11.85 hourly employees. Don't kid yourself.

-Eric

No it won't because there will be no such option. The $99 trade-in is the same as they charge for an iPhone battery swap. Clearly this is the only option.

 

[dnguyen]

Seems like they'll treat ipad program like how they'll give you refurbished iphones for similar replacements