iPad: the Backlash starts

GuyClapperton 0 402 Views

Apple's new golden gadget, the iPad, appears to have laid its first golden egg. There are reports abounding of it failing to connect to WiFi networks properly - and Apple appears to have confirmed them.

Clearly this is something that's hit only those territories in which the device is available, which basically means the US for the moment. Apple shareholders will be wondering whether this is going to persist by the time other territories roll out.

It's difficult to overstate the importance of this bug, if it's going to be a bug that lasts. Various research suggests that the vast majority of iPad owners will want to use the device to browse the web. Here's a , for example.

And if it won't browse properly, that kind of goes away. So it's useful for, umm...well, probably quite a lot of stuff - photo sharing (but not through social networking sites), e-reading (but only if we download some other way, and not at all in the UK unless they're holding back an announcement).

Maybe this is precisely why nobody should ever buy the first iteration of any gadget, ever.

Dani AI

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A few practical angles worth adding to this thread since several members have raised both connectivity worries and broader doubts about the device. Given the mix of hardware observations from and the usability concerns and mention, the most useful thing is a short, reproducible troubleshooting checklist users can run to figure out whether a problem is the iPad, the router, or the environment.

  1. Basic isolation tests: reboot iPad and router; forget the Wi‑Fi network on the iPad and rejoin; try the iPad on a different known-good network (friend, cafe, phone hotspot). If the issue appears only on one network, it is almost certainly a router/config issue.
  2. Router checks: try a different SSID band if available, set channel to a standard non-overlapping option, temporarily disable MAC filtering, and update router firmware. Small router tweaks often fix flaky client behaviour.
  3. iPad checks: reset Network Settings, install any system updates, and test with and without security (briefly) to rule out authentication problems. If problems persist across multiple, properly configured networks, collect evidence and seek a replacement.

When contacting support or a retailer, record exact reproduction steps: iPad OS/build, router make/model and firmware, security type, distance, and whether other devices worked at the same spot. A short video showing the behaviour is extremely persuasive for tech support and returns. Finally, weigh early-adopter risk: if reliable web access is critical, confirm returns/exchange policy before buying so you can test in your real environment and opt for replacement if the fault follows the unit.

Member Avatar for SamuraiArtGuy
SamuraiArtGuy 0 Newbie Poster

As it turns out, the issue may have something to do with the case design. The entire back of the iPad is milled from a aluminum plate, similar to the MacBook Pro. Very durable and rigid. However the small wi-fi antenna is situated in a small hollow, covered with the black plastic Apple logo on the back, allowing signal to pass. This arrangement is fine when the iPad is held in the hands. But becomes iffy when the iPad is laying face up on a table or your lap and the window in blocked, weakening or cutting off the signal.

Nothing makes it to market without some design glitches.

Member Avatar for jay 11
jay 11 8 The Dude Abides

i personally think the ipad is a dud and will prove to be a dud. I love most apple products but what does this new product replace? Or what is it better than? Not a laptop or netbook. virtual keyboard is a fail. It certainly doesn't replace a phone.. way too big. Maybe it can replace the Kindle? But then why the glossy display or half the battery life? It seems more like an over sized and overpriced ipod.

Member Avatar for GuyClapperton
GuyClapperton 12 Staff Writer

Curiously enough I was in the back of a taxi a couple of weeks ago, en route to the BBC to talk about the day's headlines, and used the iPhone to scan the papers - and found myself thinking, a bigger screen would be vastly easier. That's too niche to make a product really popular but it's one example where the iPad or something like it would be really neat.

All of which goes away if the thing doesn't connect or costs a fortune to do so...

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