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Apple’s iPhone faces class-action lawsuit
By Steve Ragan Jul 31, 2007, 15:42 GMT
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Older Talkback
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If this guy bought an IPhone and decides he doesn't like it, for whatever reason, whatever happened to just returning the thing for a full refund? What's the point in suing them? Is he supposed to have suffered emotional distress when he found out about the battery? This is ridiculous and just part of the litigious culture in this country that must be eradicated.
If you're stupid enough to buy a THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR phone, you very well can't sue Apple for your stupidity now can you? :) It's just silly.
What? This guy isn't rich enough he has to make money off of Apple? He's so stupid he didn't realize in the store that the battery can't be replaced? He needs attention so bad that has to tie up our court system with this laughable case? I wish I could get on the jury for this one. I'd charge him with stupidity and make him dig holes in the desert for wasting the court's time.
To much talk for nothing.Apples iphone is great everybody knows about the battery and is fine with it.I have 2 apple iphones and most likely I will not need replacement battery because the iphone 2 will come out I'll just buy the new phone lol :)People like this guy ...no comment.If you don't like the iphone don't buy it or if you buy it and you are not happy with take it back and return it.It is like tv you don't like a channel click on the remote.It is America and it is a free country nobody puts your gun to your head and tell you to buy an iphone.It is ridiculous,the law suit.And you want to know something no Apple customer or iphone owner will sue apple unless they are not all together...
adrian
Nobody told him he had to buy an Iphone (aka Ican'tphone). If you don't like it, take it back. And the suit? Quit wasting everyone's time. My LG works very nicely. Batteries are only 5 bucks on ebay and I buy one well before it dies thankyouverymuch :-D
It has been well publicized that the batteries in the iPods and the iPhones are not user accessable. It is ludicrus that a company should have to pawn to the litigious desires of some greedy lawyers.
If this suit progresses, the only benefactors of the suit will be the lawyers that will line their pockets with Apple's cash. We'll still have our iPods and iPhones, but we'll have a $5 coupon as our proceeds of the suit.
If the consumers are so outraged by the product that Apple develops then they are more than welcome to buy something else. If Apple had developed a case that was easily accessible, then the lawyers would have sued for something else.
There are teams of lawyers that look for any type of class action suit that would bring a huge profit with a successful trial. They also look to profit from the defendant simply paying up to settle.
We are a litigatious society more than we even know.
I would like to initiate a class action lawsuite against all of the idiots that waste our time and resources with these lawsuits. The downside, of course, I will eventually have to sue myself :(
Umm.. Who said it was Three Thousand Dollars..... last time I checked it was in the rang of 499.99 and 649.99.... less than 1/3 of your ridiculous claim.
Bad on Apple for not seeing this down the road, they didn't realize people would want to change batteries ...
Once again, design force is telling the consumer what they want, insted of what should take place, consumer driven design.
What is the benefit of sealing the battery in the device? Ipods are the same way. Is there some secret garden hidden in there that they don't want you to see? Does Apple really power their devices with magic and they don't want anyone to find out?
Yes the lawsuit is frivolous, but I think it is unacceptable that any company would actually produce any products with such a glaring flaw. However, my way of protesting it that I HAVE NEVER BOUGHT A SINGLE PRODUCT FROM APPLE!!! Not a mouse, not a PC, not an Ipod, not even a 3rd party accessory designed for an Apple product. I am not satisfied with the competition, but GROSS OVERPRICING and BLATANT (probably intentional) FLAWS make the whole company laughable in my opinion.
I have owned at least 4 cell phones in the past 7 years. I have never had to replace a batter for a cellphone. EVER. For any reason (including defect). However, even a blind monkey could see that defects occur, batteries die, and it is much easier to ship a replacement battery to the customer than to have the customer mail the product back to you then hack into your own product on the customer's behalf to replace the battery and ship it back to them. Unacceptable. Apple has never won my business, and as long as they continue this idiotic practice, they never will.
I liken Apple to a world renowed Genious that can't clip his own fingernails.
Perfect. I always wanted a $600 device that was designed to fail and not be able to be fixed. Not to mention I have no option in the service provider...
I need one now, it's SOooooooooooooooooooooo cute.
Steve Jobs is definitely the leader in business technology... wait, that was IBM that made themselves compatible and usable in the biz world. Nevermind, it's cute though, right? How cute is the display when it doesn't even TURN ON?
Use one.
Then get back to us.
Without your having actually used one first, you're bogus critiques are just you talking out of your asses.
'Yes the lawsuit is frivolous, but I think it is unacceptable that any company would actually produce any products with such a glaring flaw.'
I think it's unacceptable that people would buy their products knowing full well that they can't change the batteries and the replacements are WAY overpriced and still do it anyway. But then again, really dumb people do make life more interesting and they also make me feel oodles better about myself so buy on, apple sheeple, buy on.
I'll buy one AFTER the lombodomy. That's the only time I can actually see myself paying for the pain and discomfort of getting *bleep*ed up the *bleep* by Apple.
All I can so is Go! Apple - those of you who just had to have one and be the first on the block are going to have to pay for your impateince by dealing with the flaws (of which there are many). While I am excited with the technology I fully intend to wait until the 3rd generation appears. First generation technology is alway questionable. In this day of Tech-o-rama people should just know this. I would agree that the whole idea of litigation is just silly; take the phone back if your not happy with it.
If you're happy fixing windows problems ... then be happy there.
If you've never used a mac, then you're just talking out of your ass. So who cares about you baseless comment.
I've used both over the years, and anyone who has actually used both, knows that Macs blow away PCs on many points. (esp when it comes to no headaches and real user power)
IMHO, PC users are like abused wives 'It's not so bad, it only beats me up once a day.' THey accept a certain level of disfunction from Windows as 'normal'.
I have an iPhone and love it. Absolutely the best phone I've ever used (and I've had many).
Just like the windows environment pioneered by the Mac in 1984, Apple has set the new standard for cell phone functions and interface. (Windows is a poor attempt at acting like a Mac ... read the history)
Watch and see. In the next year or so you guys will be buying a lame windows copy of the iPhone, and telling us you invented it.
The real lawsuit should come from the device being locked to one company. If you spend your good money on an iPhone the device is YOURS, right? Then why can't you choose your carrier? AT&T sure didn't give you any money to buy it. It's like buying a TV that only works with a single cable provider. Or buying a car tha consumes gas from only one company. Ridiculous.
For your information that's G E N I U S, hmmm. And if the way you spell is anything to go by the rest of us who do buy Apple products (all 15 of us) we're better off without you contaminating our IQ pool, you would probably make average dip below genius level. lol
Sounds like you already had a lombodomby? perhaps you meant to say lobotomy. Overpriced hardly in the upper price range, certainly. Easier to use more efficient and more attractive definetly! Fully ready to run windows as good or better as an equivalent pc you betcha, so what's not to like (apart from your atrocious grammar mr. lombodomby) :-)
It's a completely ridiculous lawsuit, nobody has been hurt, or even emotionally distressed. I do believe however, that Apple is being very underhanded, and unprofessional by making their device's batteries inaccessable. You are being forced to pay Apple to replace your battery for you, or forced into buying a new one. Such blatant abuse and money grubbing should be illegal.
NO!! I refuse to use one. I don't want a silly computer in my pocket, I want a telephone in my pocket.
I also agree with the other posters that it's a very insidious trick Apple has going. Forcing you to purchase another unit because the battery can't be replaced. Good way to make a profit I guess.
And p.s.--knock it off with the foul language! What are you, a teeny-bopper, or an adult who knows what they're talking about? You definitely don't sound grown up, which disqualifies your views in alot of people's eyes. You want to say something? Then say it! Don't mindlessly cuss at people like a peep.
If you refuse to use one, then how can you have any validity in your criticisms? You can't.
You're just full of uninformed hot air.
And if you don't like the battery design on the iPhone, then don't buy one.
Geez, why don't you just go buy some other phone that you do like, and stop crying about how you think some crime was committed by Apple.
Understand, Apple is not indebted to make the phone to your preferences.
(Personally, I've had cell phones for 14 yrs and haven't had to buy a new battery for the last 7 yrs, so to me the battery thing is no big deal.)
Too funny ... no, I'm not a teeny-bopper ... and yes, my views have vailidity (unlike yours) ... I've been making my living on computers since 1985 ... and I'm well versed, thru direct experience, on both Mac and Windows platforms.
(My apologies if the word a** is so offensive to you. A little touchy aren't we?)
I've got an iPod, wish I'd never got it for christmas. There's my validity. Now go be a peep with someone else.
I was going to post what I thought about building battery- operated devices with no way to replace the batteries, and what I thought about the lawsuit. But, I'm going to do something else. What's wrong with a majority of you people? All the techies in my life are highly sociable, intelligent, and pleasant people. Where did all of you bullies and aggressive yahoos come from? Why so hateful over this very simple subject? At least a couple of you posted something without venom spewing. They were very interesting viewpoints. All the rest is hate mongering drivel. Say something worth reading, please?
Your experience with an iPod is hardly the same as having actually used an iPhone.
Now if you want to offer a critique of the iPod, it would have merit, but your hate-filled criticisms of the iPhone are entirely without merit.
Though apparently, being credible is not a really concern to you.
Look, it's really simple ... if you don't like the design, use your power as a consumer and don't buy one.
I used my power as a consumer and did buy one ... My view that is it's an outstanding piece of engineering and design, and it's far surpasses ANY phone I've used before. And that my friend has merit based on real experience.
Have a nice day.
Above posters prove my point. This is about whether or not Apple should be held accountable for their purposefully flawed design. (the lawsuit is frivolous by the way) Instead though, people are using this thread to pick at other people, be rude, (I do agree about the language) and advertise the iPhone. (Work for apple do you? You're singing their praises awfully loud) What do you think about Apple's choice to make you replace your unit instead of the battery? What do you think about Apple being sued over it? I don't want to hear anything about consumer's right to buy or not to buy. This isn't about our rights, it's about Apple's amoral choice to make their design the way they do, and to then monopolize the carrier. I'll personally stick with my pretty pink Razr for now, Apple's not getting MY money until I can change the battery when it goes bad. (Unlike other posters, I HAVE had batteries go bad)
How many batteries for your cell phones have you had to buy in the past 3 yrs because they wore out ?
Please limit responses to name brand battery makers, not cheap knock-offs that may be of questionable quality.
Your truthful answers can help us gain a better understanding of how potentially relevant the battery question is.
(After reading the posts, I think the general consensus about the lawsuit is, it's right up there with the foolishness of suing McDonald's because BigMacs made an over-eater fat)
I've had one battery a year go bad for the last five years. All of them Nokia, and the replacements were purchased through Verizon's website or store. All name brand Nokia batteries (expensive too) anybody else have the same problem? I've obviously switched brands.
Chill out on the negative attitude, bad for the karma you know.
No, I don't work for Apple, but use them to make my living everyday.
I sing their praises because they are THAT much better than windows devices ... and I choose to speak out to counter the uninformed, venomous rants against them by people who've never used them.
Regarding your comment ... Apple doesn't require me to 'replace' my phone if the battery wears out, instead I would send it in for battery replacement, not have to buy a new phone (please, your exaggerated representation does no good for truthful discussion)
Re: Apples battery design ... personally, I think it was a natural evolution choice for Apple from the iPod ... the iPhone was clearly based on the immensely successful iPod ... and the iPod has for years, had a built in battery that the user could not replace at home ... it's clearly a carry over from that ... Have we heard of these kinds of lawsuits over the iPod batteries? Or, mass failings of iPod batteries? No ... Again, I think Apple approached it from an iPod evolution standpoint.
Re; the limit to use AT&T only ... if we understand that the carrier has to have supporting infrastructure/programming/hardware/coverage etc to offer the functions capable on an iPhone, it makes sense that Apple would not endorse offering it thru carriers that would not be able to meet their standards, and long term goals of service. AT&Ts edge network, while not currently being the fastest thing out there, has the broadest national coverage and they've agreed to make improvements in cooperation with Apple longterm ... Apple has publicly stated they didn't want people to buy the phone only to then have their carrier not be able to make it work properly on their systems ... the PR result of the carriers lackings would ultimately - even if wrongfully - reflect negatively on Apple. See?
Wasn't talking to you about the 'negative attitude' I was listening to idiots outside arguing and my fingers just reacted. Had to come back to tell you that. Tori
When you say '... their purposefully flawed design' and '... it's about Apple's amoral choice to make their design the way they do.' (Purposely flawed? Amoral? Geez, it's a phone not something poisonous)
And then you choose to interject with negative connotations, 'Work for apple do you?'
That's hardly kind and objective ... in my opinion, very negatively judgmental.
So please, given your comments I'd appreciate it if you didn't give me a lecture on Karma. Thank you.
Tori, my above response was posted before I saw your clarification. I was one of the two posters you mentioned in your post, so naturally I thought you meant me as well ... My apologies if I misunderstood..
This is a re-post to bring it to the end of the thread ...
Re: Apples battery design ... personally, I think it was a natural evolution choice for Apple from the iPod ... the iPhone was clearly based on the immensely successful iPod ... and the iPod has for years, had a built in battery that the user could not replace at home ... it's clearly a carry over from that ... Have we heard of these kinds of lawsuits over the iPod batteries? Or, mass failings of iPod batteries? No ... Again, I think Apple approached it from an iPod evolution standpoint.
To clear a BIG misunderstanding out there ... Apple doesn't require me to 'replace' my phone if the battery wears out, instead I would send it in for battery replacement, not have to buy a new phone.
Re; the limit to use AT&T only ... if we understand that the carrier has to have supporting infrastructure/programming/hardware/coverage etc to offer the functions capable on an iPhone, it makes sense that Apple would not endorse offering it thru carriers that would not be able to meet their standards, and long term goals of service. AT&Ts edge network, while not currently being the fastest thing out there, has the broadest national coverage and they've agreed to make improvements in cooperation with Apple longterm ... Apple has publicly stated they didn't want people to buy the phone only to then have their carrier not be able to make it work properly on their systems ... the PR result of the carriers lackings would ultimately - even if wrongfully - reflect negatively on Apple. See?
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