Plastic seal separation and flat part in corner

Well, I finally heard back from Apple. They say it is an out of warranty damage. They also say the plastic bezel does perform a function other than simply preventing a gap between the front it back; it also keeps dirt from getting inside the iPad. The best they could offer me was an out-of-warranty repair for 21,000 yen ($262.50).

Common sense tells me it isn't worth a repair for that amount, so I'll instead look for a case which offers better protection than the Apple "smart cover" and live with it. The bezel separation is really very slight, and the ding is very small.

I know I'll take some loss whenever I try to resell, but the loss will certainly be less than $262.50, especially if I throw in the smart cover.

So that is that.

Recommendations for functional, light-weight, protective cases which act like a smart cover and also let the iPad stand at angles are welcome.

Thanks,

doug

Thanks. I will check that out.

I'm also wondering about the "repair." If it actually is a quick exchange at the Apple store for a refurbished model which came with a guarantee of some sort, it actually might be worth the money. The cost of an iPad 2 wi-fi + 3G 32 GB model is much more than that.

I'm undecided on that point at the moment.

In the meantime, I'll check out the case. Thanks!

doug

90 days would definitely be longer. My warranty expires in 6 days. 🙂

I wonder if these out-of-warranty repair prices are calculated based on whether my iPad is still under warranty or not.

Anyway, waiting to hear what Apple reports back to me.

Thanks,

doug

Sorry about the super-large bolded font. That's how it copy-pasted from Mail.app!

The link is useful. It's also nice to see, for a change, that the repair price in the U.S. is almost exactly the same as in Japan. Usually Japan tends to charge higher for these things.

My only worry now is whether I would get one with dead pixels or not. I hate hate hate having to argue with Apple over dead pixels. I needed to exchange my iPad 1 three times because of them. But my current iPad 2 has a beautiful screen, with no dead pixels at all from what I can tell.

Thanks,

doug

As best I can anyway.

I try to slowly, visually scan as much as I can in panels with as much white space as possible. But it's really best to use something like http://www.theipadguide.com/content/ipad-dead-pixel-test-how/7171269 with the different background colors. I'm not sure I'll be able to go that far while sitting there in the Apple store.

doug

This needs some more thought.

I got the reply from the Apple rep.

1. I have to make an appointment at the Apple Store.

2. Go all the way over to Ginza.

3. Then the "genius" has to evaluate all over again what the engineer already did by mail.

4. There is a possibility that they might actually want to fix it instead of replace it, according to the rep's email. (I doubt this though.)

5. Then there is the whole tiresome business of checking out the new one. I hate arguing with Apple over dead pixels. I needed to exchange my original iPad three times over that. And I'm reading reports in forums about other people, without a ding, who also have the loose bezel issue.

I figure in either case ("repair" or not) I'll need a new case, so I'll concentrate on that first and if I'm mentally ok with dealing with Apple again maybe I'll do the repair later. Or maybe I'll just keep it. It really is just cosmetic. Is it worth the $250?

I also assume there is no rush to do this - that the ability to do a so-called "out of warranty" repair is still possible after my warranty expires in 6 days, right?

doug

The best case recommendation I can think of that will do what you want is the Targus Versavu 360. It will provide real protection for your iPad, front and back and it will rotate your iPad 360 degrees for landscape or portrait viewing. I've had this case on both my iPad 2 and New iPad.

I was looking at pictures and videos of this, and two things I can't figure out are:

1. Does the case cover the plastic strip near where the audio connector is? That's where my bezel is loose - right around there. I couldn't tell from pictures how far the case extends over the front and example where.

2. With the smart cover, you can also rest the iPad 2 at a small angle, like 30% from flat. Is that possible with the Targus?

Thanks,

doug

I went over to Yodobashi Camera today and got them to take the Targus Versavu 360 case out of its box so I could try it. Both the store clerk and I found it really really cumbersome to use. We were both laughing about how hard it was to figure out, and how hard it was to swivel.

Also, I didn't like the fact that it only seem hard-protected in the four corners. Plus the stand positions didn't seem to include one convenient for typing.

Anyway, I decided to go with "simple is best" and got this inexpensive polycarbonate hard case made by Buffalo:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/43033891@N03/sets/72157629688830798/show/

It protects more than just the corners, and is designed to work well with my smart cover. It's very light and almost doesn't even look like it's there. And it's one-quarter the price of the Targus.

I should have gotten one of these to begin with.

doug