Dying iPad battery? Shell out $99+ for a replacement

Once your iPad’s battery conks out, Apple will give you a new device, but it’ll cost you.

As with the iPhone, the rechargeable lithium-polymer battery in the soon-to-be-released Apple iPad is not user-replaceable, meaning you have to send the gadgets to Apple for servicing. And under the iPad Battery Replacement Service you’ll get a new iPad to go with that new battery.

However, the replacement iPad itself will cost you $99+ (more for 3G) and puts Apple’s customer retainment care in the spotlight. Three years ago, if your iPod Video broke, you would send it back and if it was un fixable a new one would be sent free of charge, with no quibbles and no stress. The same went for the battery, and if they did ring you as to confirm exactly how long you have had it, then no more questions were asked.

The iPad customer care seems to be different though. The purchase price for the iPad itself starts at $499 for a Wi-Fi-only version with 16GB of memory and ranges up to $829 for the Wi-Fi + 3G edition with 64GB of memory. Furthermore, Apple will replace your iPad only if the battery has lost its charge through normal use. So if you make your battery kaput by spilling hot coffee on your iPad or accidentally dropping the device out the window, you’re out of luck. I would honestly (for once) recommend taking out product insurance with the point of sale company.

This brings in to question (and puts a sentence onto peoples tongues) as to when exactly will apple dish out products with user replaceable batteries? Laptops have them, mobile phones have them – the iPhone and iPad however do not. I for one always carry a spare battery with full charge when I am on 9 hour + trips.