iPad Progress Report

Now that the 300,000 early adopters have had a few days to play and work with their iPads, we're moving beyond the "first impressions" articles (but here's a video of a 2-1/2-year-old's first encounter with the device). The detailed reviews aren't out yet. The largest source of early complaints is a complex of problems with Wi-Fi reception. Apple has posted a technical support note implicitly acknowledging the problems and suggesting some work-arounds — specifically, changing SSIDs or encryption methods on base stations that offer both 2.4-GHz and 5.8-GHz signals. Finally, here's a detailed look at the gratuitous pain Apple imposes on those desiring to get iWork files transferred from and to the iPad.

Comments

Other solutions to the wifi problem

[adeelarshad82]

other solutions to the wi-fi problems.

Re:Other solutions to the wifi problem

[Sponge Bath]

From your link Apple suggests:
1. update your router's firmware
2. change your router's location
3. set your router to operate on one 802.11 standard
4. change your router's security
5. rename your networks

In the reported cases only the newly released iPad is having problems, but according to Apple the problem is with your router.

Re:Other solutions to the wifi problem

[RJHelms]

At the very least, step 1 is not so absurd.

A while back, the girlfriend bought a Macbook, which was the first Apple device that ever tried to connect to my router over WiFi. Even 6" away from the router, the Macbook would not connect; any PC we tried would work all (15 feet) across the apartment.

I was prepared to chalk it up to shoddy Apple networking hardware, but on a whim tried a firmware upgrade. Lo and behold, after the router rebooted the Macbook immediately recognized it and connected without issue.

I have no idea what/where the actually problem was, but if Apple had suggested the exact same list of steps to me they would've been right on the money.

Re:Wait, what?

[ceoyoyo]

It's been hacked: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/05/the-ipad-has-been-jailbroken/

Re:No problem.

[Kitkoan]

You cant just buy your own graphics card, more hardware, or even a damn battery for iPhone. You have to buy everything from Apple, from an Apple store, with high Apple prices. This just follows the same lead.

Buying RAM for a Mac: http://www.newerram.com/

Buying a new graphics card for a Mac (Mac edition of graphics cards): http://www.nextag.com/mac-graphics-card/compare-html

Pretty much everything you need to upgrade the hardware of a Mac: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/site-map/

These aren't Apple sites, but you can upgrade your Mac with their parts. Just because its harder to do, doesn't mean it can't be done.

Re:Arbitrary eBook reading?

[joh]

What I'm really interested to know is will the iPad allow me to write a book, save in unencrypted ePub format, and upload it to my own device, to be read by iBooks?

Yes. Drag your ePub file into iTunes, sync with the iPad, done. Or publish your book via smashwords (free), get it into the iBooks store this way and install it right from the iPad ;-)

Re:No problem.

[stewbacca]

That is such a tired, untrue, cliched argument. Granted, you can't easily go to Best Buy and purchase a battery for the iPhone, but I assure you I can find one online in about 1 minute.

Apple doesn't even make graphic cards, so yes, you actually can go buy a third party graphic card and put it in a Mac (granted, only the Pro is expandable these days, but my G4 has had all kinds of 3rd party stuff inside).

"More hardware"? What does that mean? I've purchased all kinds of non-Apple hardware over the years: USB and wireless mice, keyboards, hard drives, wireless routers, wireless USB adapters, USB hubs, monitors, printers, and so on.

The only Apple hardware I own other than the computers is Airport Extreme and a video adapter. Yeah, the Extreme costs $100 more than some random junk at Best Buy, but Time Machine worked instantly out-of-the-box, which was well worth the extra $100 I spent.

Next argument.