Apple to Refund iPads Down Under

She won’t be so happy when she finds out how inadequate it is…[Credit theunquietlibrarian]

This be one for the Apple haters: Apple’s been attacked by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for engaging in “conduct that was misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive.” How come? Because down in Aus, there’s no 4G mobile data network that the iPad is compatible with!

Australia does have a 4G network with Telstra but “the new iPad” (I still hate that name), which is meant to have 4G capability, is not actually able to use the Telstra 4G network. Telstra’s network only works with the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Velocity (win for the Android phones).

Paul Anastassiou who is Apple’s barrister said that Apple was willing to make everyone aware of this short-coming via email and was prepared to offer a refund to any customer who believed they were duped, though he thinks not many will take the refund.

I say prove that ass-wipe WRONG. If you’re one of those who bought the iPad with a sim and already have an iPhone (or another smartphone with tethering capabilities) – take that refund! Get your money back and get the iPad without the sim (which costs like 140AUD less!) and just use tethering on your phone. Who needs the extra bill right?

Also, you should do what my boss did: go to David Jones and get their credit card and you can buy it there (yes, they stock Apple products, who knew?) with 48 months interest free! Get iPad now, pay for it in 2 years. Woot.

Mr. Anastassiou said that Apple would actually argue the further demands from the ACCC that included putting corrective stickers on iPad boxes and placing ads in newspapers announcing how the touted 4G capability is perfectly useless in Oz.

Apparently Apple claims that networks in Aus are equivalent to 4G networks overseas. Yeah, tell that to the slow-as internet on my phone Mr. Anastassiou.

So there you have it – Apple chastised for not really giving the bang for the buck they claimed they would. I’m sure the Android fans are more than pleased?

[Via SBS World News]


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