I'm coming to the conclusion that error free operation of computer equipment, including iPads, is no accident. This forum has been operating for quite a while now, and we have seen a vast amount of problems in that time. The "What height can I drop my glass iPad from and not expect it to break?" thread was particularly interesting. I think we agreed on 23.5 inches (maybe).
I am surrounded by electronics, most of which have wireless connectivity. I am at the point where nothing "just works".
I have equipment here that is not even plugged in; not because I don't know how to use it, but because there is simply not enough room in my computer/home theatre system for it.
Stop a minute and ask yourself what you are asking of your iPad. I've used mine for playing music, controlling a home theatre and (pause for dramatic effect) keeping myself alive, hundreds of kilometres from the next human being in the depths of a Canadian winter (and I'm NOT joking).
I believe it's time to go back to basics. Telephone call comes in; answer it on iPad or Mac; life goes on; no big deal; WHAT? This is a huge deal. 10 years ago, this was science fiction. Start to appreciate just what you have in your hands. Yes, it's a MAGICAL piece of glass, but the cold fact is that it is not magic. Operating the thing takes some work; not as much work as getting anything useful out of a Commodore 64 used to be, but some.
I've noticed a change. People used to get together on the net to compare problems; to decide how to attack a problem. We were geeks, before being a geek became fashionable. Nowadays, the attitude seems to be "This piece of equipment should do exactly what I believe it should do; regardless of whether my expectations are flawed or totally insane." Doesn't work that way in the real world. You want to move 60 tonnes? Buy a Peterbilt, not a Fiat.
So, what I'm asking, is that people start to show some respect for this fantastic, beautiful technology that they hold in their hands, and to put things into perspective at the same time.
In 30 seconds, this post will be available for reading ALL OVER THE WORLD. Let that sink in, and if you don't understand why that statement means something, go and live in a cave, but before you go, take a look at the archive photographs of the Swedish telephone system and then marvel at the wifi-equipped, BlueTooth-equipped, music-playing, movie-playing, direction-finding, communication-enabling device you can buy for a few hours work.