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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep

By | July 29, 2010, 4:53am PDT

A lawsuit filed in California by three disgruntled iPad owners claim that the device overheats too rapidly when used in warm conditions.

The complaint, which was filed July 23rd in Oakland, California, seeks unspecified damages and class action status. It claims that Apple’s “magical” and “revolutionary” device “does not live up to the reasonable consumer’s expectations created by Apple” because it “overheats so quickly under common weather conditions.”

I’ve come across sporadic reports of iPads shutting down when too hot (same with the iPhone and iPod), but nothing that indicates a widespread issue. I guess the summer sun combined with a large surface area might make the iPad more susceptible to overheating, but I can’t see this being anything more than a few isolated cases.

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Apple iPad, Apple Inc., Class Action, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
tom@... 14th Feb 2011
All cheap shots based on absolutely NO verifiable information! The ref URL only repeated what the article said/copied from it.
If the sun was involved, even the CDs and DVDs say not to place them in the sun. But that all seems to be a guess based on anything printed here!
Bad article, bad guesses for followups.
View in thread
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"jobs"
Stan57 29th Jul 2010
"jobs" Its the customers fault somehow,tell then not to sit on the ipads there not butt warmers
HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Pete "athynz" Athens 29th Jul 2010
@Stan57 This post adds nothing of interest and little substance...
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Gis Bun 29th Jul 2010
@athynz : Actually. I disagree. It would show what Steve Jobs would probably would respond to.

It could be a manufacture defect. Most laptops have vents on the sides [if wide enough]. a few have underneath. But if you left a laptop with vents underneath lying around, it could quite easily get quite warm. Luckil, at least the iPad shuts down. There have neen cases of fires started when the vents are blocked.
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
bestgringobusboy 1st Sep 2010
Our law firm, Scott Cole & Associates, filed a class action lawsuit against Apple for false advertising after uncovering numerous complaints like yours. So far, Apple has done nothing to address the overheating problem, despite all the complaints, and even after being served with a lawsuit. With help from consumers like you, we can bring this in front of a judge, and, hopefully, get a positive outcome for the millions of people who purchased iPads based on the assumption it would actually perform the way Apple advertised it would. Information from iPad owners will be key to convincing a judge and/or jury to hold Apple responsible , and requires only a few minutes of your time. If you?d like to help, please contact me directly at hsalassi@scalaw.com or at (510) 891-9800.
  • Flagged
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Pete "athynz" Athens 29th Jul 2010
So three people are trying to get a class action suit together against Apple for overheating iPads - iPads that are left in direct sunlight for long periods of time despite the warnings in the user manual about it? Seriously? Why does this just scream "frivolous lawsuit" to me? I could see it if the iPads overheated on overcast days or while in a a building and/or the overheating issue affected more than 3 sue-happy oppourtunists - THEN it would be perfectly understandable... I think these 3 have a serious case of buyer's remorse and/ or spent money on their iPads that they should have spent on bills and/ or they were "downsized" from their employer... in any event I think these 3 are just trying to make some money by suing a company with large pockets.
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God bless America.. and her lawyers.. lol..
doctorSpoc 29th Jul 2010
@athynz...
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Warprints Updated - 30th Jul 2010
@doctorSpoc
I am a lawyer, and I think suits like this are really asinine. No-one has a RIGHT to have an iPad. If you don't like the way the damn thing works, return it to the store for your money back. People really need to get a life !!
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
MLHACK 29th Jul 2010
@athynz
IT seems doctorspoc and i share the same thoughts on this post if it walks like a lawyer and talks like a lawyer then it must be a lawyer.
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
AndyPagin 29th Jul 2010
@athynz
Could someone explain to me how this works in US law? If you brought a case like this in the UK, and actually won, you'd get the cost of the iPad back, and MAYBE your legal costs. So what's the point?
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
use_what_works_4_U 29th Jul 2010
@AndyPagin
In the U.S. you are permitted to sue for "damages" and unscrupulous lawyers will tell you that you can get millions because the manufacturer "lied" or set some sort of unrealistic expectation. It's sad, it's greedy, and it's the shame of our society.
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Gis Bun 29th Jul 2010
@athynz : See my reply above. it's not the exposure from light [most likely] but when the vents are blocked. BTW, California == lawsuit state. Although it looks like you're an Apple fan?
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i've my iPad shut down from overheating...
doctorSpoc Updated - 29th Jul 2010
but i stupidly had my iPad in direct sunlight inside a sweltering car (35 degrees Celsius). it's understandable though.. it's a big black surface (when screen shuts off).. in direct sunlight.. what do you expect? i was actually glad that they had that safe guard in there against my stupidity.. glad it didn't melt down or fry the electronics or ruin the battery...
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Apple's solution to the problem: it's called the revolutionary iCePak
P. Douglas 29th Jul 2010
Yes, you've heard it here first folks! Apple will be supplying to all affected iPad owners, its innovative, revolutionary, iCePak. Just stuff that sucker with ice cubes, put it between your lap and your iPad, and Wallah! The problem is solved! Some may ask, what's the difference between Apple's iCePak, and a regular ice pack? Silly! The iCePak has Apple's logo on it, and costs five times as much. So everyone empty your pockets into Apple's coffers, and get to be one of the coolest kids on your block!
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re: iCePak
use_what_works_4_U 29th Jul 2010
@P. Douglas
[sarcasm]
I'm SO glad you had a chance to make your joke.
[/sarcasm]
I just wish it had been mildly humorous or relevant.
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Gis Bun 29th Jul 2010
@macadam : I think its relevant. Look at Jobs' solution to Antennagate! Others are poking fun at Apple. Someone is selling what looks like Bandaids that are made to fit the iPhone.
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Lame
RationalGuy Updated - 29th Jul 2010
@P. Douglas

So unfunny.

Wallah!

I think "voila" is the word you wanted.
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
mgrubb@... 29th Jul 2010
I think I'm not buying an iPad so I don't have to worry about this!
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
msalzberg 29th Jul 2010
@mgrubb@...

And I think I'm not going to read your post, so I won't comment.
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they're holding it wrong
Cylon Centurion 29th Jul 2010
Avoid holding it that way...
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Pete "athynz" Athens 29th Jul 2010
@NStalnecker And Cue the Apple Haters...
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Seriously dude
Cylon Centurion 29th Jul 2010
@athynz If you don't hate as much as you should by now over that whole issue, even Apple lovers should be saying that was a lame ass excuse for an obvious hardware problem.
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Gis Bun 29th Jul 2010
@athynz : This from a fanboi.
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No, they're leaving it in the sun ...
RationalGuy 29th Jul 2010
@NStalnecker

"I left something in the sun and it got hot! I'm going to sue!"

Whiny little b*tches ...
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Same as
Cylon Centurion 29th Jul 2010
@RationalGuy

"I just spilled hot coffee all over myself! I'm going to sue!"
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You Hold It with Tweezers.
yobtaf 29th Jul 2010
@NStalnecker
You know what I mean stubby.
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
AndyPagin 29th Jul 2010
Perhaps Apple testers never thought to take the machine outside their air-conditioned lab?
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
RationalGuy 29th Jul 2010
@AndyPagin

Perhaps these few iPad users don't know that if you leave things in the sun, they get hot. Sometimes they get hotter than the operational tolerances that are published in the owner's manual that they didn't read. These people are 2 x stupid and don't deserve a nickel from this frivolous lawsuit.
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Jobs: Hot products must be hot. Enjoy my sacred iJobstics and pray
Just True Updated - 29th Jul 2010
Apple as Religion: It's a Matter of Faith, Claim Academics
http://9to5mac.com/files/u3/jobs_economist_cover.jpg
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People can't read.....
Gis Bun 29th Jul 2010
I guess some of those who commented on the article didn't read the blog. It never stated that it was an issue because of direct sunlight or whatever. "overheats so quickly under common weather conditions" doesn't mean your sitting outsude with it when it's 110F outside or anything else. It could also mean sitting indoors in an airconditioned room.

Most overheating issues have occurred when the vents on laptops [and I guess iPads] are being blocked. This doesn't allow the hot air to be released. This generally happens with thin laptops as they can't put vents on the side of the laptops [because it's too thin] .
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
ryanstrassburg 31st Jul 2010
You mean I can't use my computer in direct sunlight?
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
Byterat 31st Jul 2010
It takes less energy to heat something up from 90 degrees to the IPad's upper operating temp. of 95 degrees than it does to heat it up from 75 degrees. It's simple physics - can't by pass that yet ...
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RE: Overheating iPads bring legal fire to Apple's doorstep
tom@... 14th Feb 2011
All cheap shots based on absolutely NO verifiable information! The ref URL only repeated what the article said/copied from it.
If the sun was involved, even the CDs and DVDs say not to place them in the sun. But that all seems to be a guess based on anything printed here!
Bad article, bad guesses for followups.

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