Customers, Partners Weigh In On iPad Wi-Fi Glitch

The iPad has made a solid debut this week, but Apple's latest toy has already hit a bump in the road with Wi-Fi connectivity, and customers are wondering why it's taken Apple so long to address the issue.

According to Apple's tech support site, as of Monday night, the iPad may not automatically sign on to Wi-Fi networks after restart or waking from sleep. Apple says the issue is caused by some dual-band routers using the same network name or using different security setting for each network.

Apple suggests creating separate WiFi network names for each band, resetting network settings and checking to see if the router firmware is updated.

Current iPad models can only access the Internet via Wi-Fi, although 3G models are scheduled to roll out in a few weeks.

Some new iPad owners have been voicing their concerns about the Wi-Fi issues on an Apple online discussion board.

"I wouldn't let anyone go home tonight at Apple until this WiFi problem has been licked. Let's see some action here folks. Anyone having any luck with the Genius Bar besides being given a new iPad with the same issues as old?," wrote one forum poster.

According to one Apple VAR, the problem is minor and should be resolved soon. "Apple will probably have a software update to fix it within a week," said Los Angeles-based MacEnthusiasts President Mark Greenblatt. "It will not affect sales because consumers assume small glitches on brand new products."

Next: Getting The Bugs Out

Greenblatt suggests that because the issue doesn't affect all iPads, Apple may have found it difficult to pinpoint the cause. Apple Analyst Gene Munster said the glitch probably affects fewer than 2 percent of iPads, according to USA Today.

Ed Crelin, president and CEO of Vermont-based Macinsight, doesn't think the Wi-Fi issues are serious enough to warrant the attention they've been getting.

"I am polling clients to see if they are experiencing those problems regularly -- they all rave [about the iPad] so far," Crelin said. "With no statistics, I find that this is most likely a puffed-up issue with those seeking to smear the product. If this is the only problem -- in the first version -- it's nothing."

Marc Wolfe, CEO of ProActive Inc. in New Jersey, agrees: "Early adopters of most electronic products take on the challenges that come with new devices," he said. "Apple, like most companies, does testing and when bugs are found, releases are forthcoming.

"The reviewers have a point that there are issues, yet being an industry leader does come with more attention to both the good and of course the problems."