When AT&T said it believed the iPad would be mostly a Wi-Fi (rather than a 3G) device, that would have figured to make any of the network concerns that have plagued the iPhone a moot point. Think again. The biggest problem with the newly launched iPad would seem to be with Wi-Fi connectivity, with reports of no connection or weak signals among some early iPad users. The problems would clearly seem to be with the device itself, with some iPads having problems connecting to any Wi-Fi signal, not just AT&T’s Wi-Fi service. But connectivity problems on the Wi-Fi side could impact user expectations of the device as well as uptake of the 3G version of the iPad, expected to be released soon.
Writes ComputerWorld on the Wi-Fi issues:
On Monday, Apple posted several iPad-specific support documents to its Web site, including one that suggested users modify settings on their wireless routers. Another troubleshooting document told users to “Move closer to the Wi-Fi router or hotspot,” if they were having problems.
Connectivity issues aren’t new for Apple hardware. Shortly after the company’s ultra-thin MacBook Air debuted in early 2008, owners complained about weak signals when their notebooks’ lids were closed. And iPhone owners have complained about poor reception and lost signals over AT&T’s data network since the smartphone first appeared in 2007, to the point that several filed class-action lawsuits against both Apple and the carrier.
Connected Planet’s take,
Kevin Fitchard:
Apple may be asserting its independence from the operator by launching a Wi-Fi-only iPad, but this may be a case where Apple is really missing AT&T. Apple set market expectations with the iPhone, and I bet a lot of iPad buyers probably think they’re buying what is in essence a souped-up iPhone. Say what you will about AT&T’s 3G network coverage and capacity, but it delivers pretty close to ubiquitous data coverage in the city, even if the connection speed is sometimes lacking. A slower connection is better than connection at all.
It might be that Apple just needs to put a more powerful Wi-Fi radio in its iPad, but it might also be that Apple has created an expectation that its Internet devices can be used anywhere and everywhere. Though most iPad buyers probably know the difference between between local-area Wi-Fi connectivity and wide-area 3G connectivity, despite themselves they still might find the data experience disappointing without the latter.
That’s our take on this. Let us know what you think in the comments section below:
In my opinion the real problem has always been that the iPhone, iPad and most of the new “smart” phones were designed as PDA’s/computers first and wireless devices second. As a member of early cellular launches, the issues were always obtaining a good wireless signal strength between the handset and base station. As the industry progressed and more cell sites were added this became less of a problem and in my opinion the “newer” design teams tended to take coverage for granted when they designed the RF part of the newer devices. This included the most important part which is the antenna. My advice would be to go back and re-design these devices as a “radio” first and computer second!
I noticed at home that the ipad would drop the wifi signal or have a hard time connecting. When it did connect it showed a weak signal. From the same spot my netbook and Blackberry would both connect with no problem with quite strong signals.
I put it down to a poor antenna or wifi radio in the ipad. For a device that is supposed to be portable one would expect it to have top notch wifi reception/transmission but this seems never to have been Apple’s strong suit.
After the teardown by iFixit, I was impressed with the solid aluminum chassis and room carved out (literally) for dual batteries.
So what part of an aluminum chassis with the WiFi antenna pretty much in the middle of it will improve reception??
Actually it MUST work, as I do not yet think Apple is that bad at product testing.
The WiFI problems on the iPad make me suspect that my gut feeling about the MacBookAir could be correct.
I’ve always thought I noticed that the MacBookAir was always scanning for a WiFi signal. Periodically, the computer would (as I described in my blog) go on “a mental vacation”. When I’d look at the “airport”, it would be scanning for networks. Could it be dropping the signal? I’m located less than 25 feet from the WiFi base. I have other Windoze computers using the WiFi without any problems at all.
(Sometimes, windoze needs a reboot to clear up its “thinking”. Weekly? But, never drops the WiFi connection. The ISP’s network sometimes seems to go on a “mental vacation” and everything Router, Windoze, and MacBookAir all need a reboot to pass traffic. But that’s not a MacBookAir problem.)
So maybe there is BOTH a hardware and software problem with ALL Apple products that use WiFi. I don’t have a College’s EE lab and a group of hungry CompSci PhD candidates who will work for free to study the problem. BUT, [and there is ALWAYS a big butt), I’m convinced there’s a serious problem with Apple’s wifi. And, I’d steer clear of it until it’s solved.
Consumers Reports, Underwriters Laboratory, or any school’s CompSci dean listening?