That’s One Hot iPad!

“Oh, my iPad doesn’t work in the blazing sun. I think I’ll sue Apple!” That is what’s recently happened in the US District Court of Northern California.

According to Bloomberg news, Jacob Baltazar, Claudia Keller (NOT a relative of mine) and John R. Browning have filed suit against Apple, Inc. The plaintiffs claim the iPad “does not live up to the reasonable consumer’s expectations created by Apple” because it “overheats so quickly under common weather conditions.”  Part of the complaint says the tablet turns off after being used in direct sunlight.

If you have spent any time around computers or electronics, you know that heat is a common enemy. There are simply limits at which these machines will or will not properly operate.  It is common practice for the manufacturers to list the environmental requirements that apply to their products. In this case, Apple’s website lists the iPad’s operational requirements between 32° to 95°F. I think it’s reasonable to believe that an iPad can heat to well over 95°F in direct sunlight. Have you ever touched the hood of your car on a hot day? Most certainly the metal was much warmer than the surrounding air temperature. The same physical laws apply to the iPad or any other electronic device.

So the next time you complain about the cost of Apple’s products, remember they (and other companies) occasionally need to invest time and money defending themselves against frivolous lawsuits such as this.