iPad Teething Problems

Regular readers know I'm an avid Apple fan. iPhone. iPod. iMac. MacBook. Got 'em all.

Regular readers also know that I'm psyched about the iPad. It's got that same gotta have it vibe that I remember feeling when I was a kid waiting for my Kung Fu Grip GI Joe to arrive at Christmas.

Not surprisingly, however, it looks like the first generation version has some teething problems:

The power issues arose after someone was unable to restart their iPad after shutting it down. Only after a resync with iTunes could the iPad be used again. Apple have commented saying this is actually a defect and those who have this issue should return them for an exchange.

Next up is wifi problems where some users are reporting spotty reception. It is unknown at the moment if firmware can fix this as wireless issues can happen from time to time depending on interference from other devices.

Next are some problems relating to charging the device by USB. Consumer Reports suggest that you can only charge via a Mac USB port or the 10W power brick that comes supplied. They tested on several Windows machines and none were able to charge it. This potentially could be that there is just not enough power on a PC USB port. Perhaps try from a powered hub or try different ports on a Windows PC. I haven’t tested myself yet.

Finally there are problems with the iPad over heating where a message can be seen saying “iPad needs to cool down before you can use it”. Again, we don’t know the exact details of when this happened although some have been reported to put their iPad in the fridge to cool it down. I personally recommend you don’t go to that extreme just yet.

These problems are added to the issues we already knew about: The lack of a USB port. The lack of support for Flash. The odd position of the headphone jack. The need to pay for basic accessories, like a case.

So wait. Grumpily and restlessly.

But if you've got one, let me know how you're feeling about it.

Comments

[Cornellian]

I'm keeping an eye on them but I haven't bought one yet as I'm waiting for the 3G model that comes out at the end of the month.

I noticed a few problems being reported, but nothing troubling so far. They're either clueless users (can't charge through a USB port) or software glitches that can be easily fixed by the time the 3G model comes out.

[Cornellian]

Ars Technica's very detailed iPad review just went up at their website today. Should be well worth reading.

[Harmon]

Had one time that mine would not pick up the wifi that all the other computers had full signal on. Had to reboot.

Mine won't charge in the USB for my intel iMac.

[Michael Crosby]

Most of what you say about the iPad has happened to me.

Nevertheless, I'm ecstatic with the iPad. Besides the iPod, this is my only Apple product. But, I've not spent too much time with it, my wife keeps taking it from me.

I just had to marvel the other night as I'm downloading for free, books by Aristotle, Wilde, et al. All while listening to one of my 2,000 songs and viewing some of my 5,000 pictures.

I can't believe all the naysaying. It may not be perfect, buy please, this is a wonderful device.

[hiscross]

Flash is for old creepy men in trench coats. If people read the specs on the iPad heat range they won't have heating issues. That read part gets them everytime. The 30 pin connector is your USB port. BTW there over 5 different USB connector types and they all look ugly. Aople should allow the 30 pin connector charge the iPad. Multi-tasking appears to be in OS 4 release. Apple doesn't want to kill the battery like those devices never state.

[Kevin Carlson]

I'm a pastor and use mine for my speaking notes. I create my document on my Mac and then send it over to me iPad to display using the Pages app. I love the ability to use big fonts but no have a mass of papers to cart around. The document also scrolls like a web page, so a simple swipe of the thumb moves the text up the screen. Works like a hand held teleprompter. I've experienced none of the problems you mentioned, at least not yet.

[onscn]

My iPad won't charge from my MacBook Pro (1st gen). Not a terrible problem, but not what I expected.

I don't think it's fair to designate as "issues," what are really just design decisions (no USB, no Flash, etc.) you wouldn't have made for your fantasy iPad.

[Shawn Levasseur]

"odd placement of the headphone jack"?

What's odd about it? Remember, this is a device that reorients itself to whichever way is "up". so if you don't like the jack where it is, turn the pad upside down.

[Shawn Levasseur]

Cornellian:

As far as the USB charging issue is concerned I wouldn't call users clueless, save for the fact that Apple gave us no clues that it would require more power than many USB ports and hubs had to give.

Some of the older macs don't supply the 10watts for full charging. However I'm told that when you turn the iPad off, it will then charge on a lower power USB port, albeit slower than a full 10watt charge.

But since is says "not charging" while still on and plugged in, it's kinda like trusting your refrigerator light to turn off when you close the door, you have to take it purely on trust. (until someone experiments a bit).

Though with a good solid 10 hour life span for a charge. This is less of an issue than it otherwise would have been. (Then again the 3G model may have a shorter span with the extra circuitry to power, we'll see...)

[Ray Hannigan]

Its the future! Really. One look at the eBay App or IMDb or the ABC app and this, not the web, is the future of the internet. Watching the Masters on one now.

[Mark Brittingham]

I've got the Mac Pro, MacBook Pro and a nice iPod Touch. The iPad looks great but I can't bring myself to pull the trigger on it (partly because I already have a Kindle DX too). I'm just not getting the warm fuzzies yet on all the problems being worked out. They are definitely redefining the touch market though...which I think is a great thing in the long run.

[Menlo Bob]

I had hopes this would be the one, but now I'm content waiting for next years larger iPhone.

[Pierce Wetter]

The lack of a USB port. The lack of support for Flash. The odd position of the headphone jack. The need to pay for basic accessories, like a case.

Q: What would you use a USB port for? At first I was annoyed by that too. Now I'm not so sure, the iPad is meant to be wireless!

Flash sucks, Engadget was reviewing some other tablet that supported flash and found it to be annoying slow.

Headphone jack position doesn't matter, because you can rotate the iPad however you like. I was playing with it in Best Buy, and because of the security cable, I was basically operating it upside down. So from that point of view, the headphone jack is at the bottom...

On planes, I've found that things with the headphone jack at the bottom suck, because it hits me in the crotch. side is better, and its at the side in landscape...

Apple's case is just fair. You have to pay for the Kindle case as well. And even if it was "included", you'd still be paying for it. By not bundling it, Apple saves you money on the long run because then the money you saved on the initial purchase can go towards a case that you really like, and there are already several styles announced.

[Ridolph]

I've noted the opposite issue with USB Power. Mac's generally don't supply enough to charge several of my devices, whereas PC's do.

[A big believer]

I wish all these non-believers would stop it. Stop criticizing no flash. Stop saying it doesn't fit in a shirt pocket. Stop saying it has no phone, no GPS, no case. Just stop it! Stop doubting Steve Jobs, our leader, who is perfect & infallable

[Koblog]

I do know the 3rd Gen iPod Touch requires a full 1000mw (1 amp) from power supplies-- whether those that convert wall current to USB or those that convert 12v car sockets to the Apple 30-pin connector. The DMPort on the back of some Sony home theater receivers only puts out 700mw and some users report the latest Touch won't work with the Sony interface unit, though Sony says it does.

A 500mw charger will not even be recognized. An 800mw charger will charge but may cause the iPod to act erratically if it turns on at all. Supply it 1000mw and all is well.

The iPad looks to need much more power and I would not be surprised that the various flavors of USB connectors may fail to deliver the juice. An external power supply may be required.

[Chuck Pelto]

There are some serious issues with this device.

• The keyboard/pad is lacking important control keys,
• Contol in Pages is cumbersome.
• Pages is missing critical components, e.g., outline capabilities.
• The keyboard/pad is too sensitive.

• You really need the wireless keyboard to be efficient.

I can go on and on, but I'll just pass the Feedback to Apple.

This is a good start. I'll find it useful for the time being. BUT I REALLY THINK they need the USB, the GPS, a larger keyboard/pad that has all the principal keys of a good keyboard, etc.

Until then, I'll not buy another one.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. Posted from my iPad in a public library where I've been taking notes on it with the wireless keyboard for three days.

P.P.S. If I'd have typed this with the keyboard/pad, you'd have thought I was drunk from all the misspellings and unintentional characters.

[Phil Schneider]

I am amazed by the Apple bashing and Apple hating. (Not here.) I just don't get it. Mostly it's by techies, but to me that doesn't make sense. Would the world of tech be better without Apple? Think of what personal listening devices were, what phones where, what so much was before Apple kicked it all up to another level. I myself am grateful for their making tech something I can actually use. To me it's like an electrical outlet: I just like what it does, and I don't want to have to know how it does it or how to fix it.

Many talk of the closed system Apple uses like it is anti-freedom, which seems to violate their sense of what it is to be an American. Yeesh. Toughen up. Don't buy it if you don't like it. And, yes, it is closed. But it also works. For some of us, that is not a bug, it's a feature.

I like the comment about the "your fantasy iPad." I agree that there are always little things we would each like. Apple goes with what in their experience works best...and if you don't like...

Lighten up, Angry Men, it's just a computer!

[Phil Schneider]

Oh, and that stuff about it being "just a big iTouch"?

Yes.
Yes, that exactly what it is. It is that and all that that will bring.

If that doesn't seem terribly exciting to you now, look back in a few months, I think you'll see what others can see now.

[Scott Grannis]

I've used my iPad quite a bit since Saturday, and have experienced none of the issues you mention. Ok, it doesn't charge when connected to a Mac. But if you use the charger that comes with it, it charges just fine. I've had a few purchased apps crash, but that's par for the course for something so new. All you need to plug in a USB device is an adapter. Big deal. Meanwhile there are several ways to import documents and photos wirelessly. No Flash is soon to be a non-issue with the rapid adoption of HTML5.

[Quaoar]

I am not surprised that the WiFi signal is low. The iPad has a solid aluminum base, a low profile above the base, and is largely radio signal opaque.

Most notebook computers have their antennas in the screen, the screen has a non-metalic frame, and is elevated. Screen orientation has only a minimal effect on radio signal intensity in a notebook computer.

The solution for the iPad is to orient the elevated screen side towards the WiFi signal path. Only experiment will help.

Frankly, any new product with WiFi problems in this day is a product that has not gone through proper quality assurance analysis. Apple Computer, Inc. is famous for lack of attention to quality assurance analysis.

Apple Computer's viewpoint is that their lapdog customer base doesn't care, so why should Apple Computer, Inc. care about quality assurance.

[Bob Bane]

My iPad will not charge from my el-cheapo powered USB hub, but charges fine from my car stereo dock and my iMac.

Pages on the iPad will not open iWork '08 Pages documents. The only fix is to upgrade to iWork '09 (which Apple sent to me at no cost when I called to grumble).

[Guido]

Why is it reviewers are so afraid of angering Apple fans that they always have to start off with the flaccidly obligatory "Readers know I'm an Apple fan" supplication? Are you afraid of being harrassed or threatened if you don't qualify yourself?

[Charie]

My iPad seems to have none of these issues. I have two flavors of Dell laptops and a macbook. It charges from all. I do know the iPhone charger cable won't work. Need to use the one that came with the iPad. No overheating, no wifi issues. My guess is that the all metal case cuts down on the signal. That Apple on the back is actually where the wifi and blue tooth peek trough the case. Also, some pundits don't get it. The iPad is a media consumption device, not a full laptop. I do WP and some spreadsheet stuff, email and pics. If you're gonna write War and Peace better use the right tool, your desktop or laptop.

[Richard]

"I just had to marvel the other night as I'm downloading for free, books by Aristotle, Wilde, et al. All while listening to one of my 2,000 songs and viewing some of my 5,000 pictures."

All of which I can do on my notebook computer, which can also multitask, has three USB ports and a card reader, will connect to a large monitor, can run all the software my large laptop uses, has a keyboard and a 160 Gb hard drive to hold dozens of movies I can watch in hotels. Oh, and cost £200; if I wanted a 10-hour battery life (I have no need) then it would cost another £30-40.