One Week After New IPad '3' Release Date, Unsatisfied Buyers Sending Tablets Back To Apple

Less than one week after Apple released the New iPad, aka iPad 3, unsatisfied buyers are already returning their tablets to stores and sending them back to the company.

Apple released the New iPad, to great fanfare on March 16, selling hundreds of thousands of tablets in the first day of sales alone, and earning rave reviews from purchasers who love the retina screen, streamlined features, and sleek appearance of the New iPad.

But the honeymoon was short for some users, as a string of online postings indicate that a range of drawbacks have people rethinking their decisions to lay down hundreds of dollars for the shiny new device.

Some of the biggest complaints come from people who already have an iPad 2, and feel that it wasn't worth the investment to upgrade.

Take macrumors.com user ghatotkacha, for instance, who tells the story of his short-lived infatuation with the New iPad in a forum on the website:

I got caught up in the hype and pre-ordered one (ATT 64GB) too, worrying that I would not be able to get one (last year it took me four weeks to get one, post launch). Opened it up with bated breath and played around with it.. The screen was pretty good, but in everything I compared, i was hard pressed to identify which was the ipad2 vs the ipad3. Then debated hard with the following being the key arguments: ATT does not have LTE yet in Portland OR; Not happy with the longer charge times; No significant upgrade in day-day activites (webbrowsing etc); $$ :-) So with a heavy heart, I went back and returned it.

Macrumors.com user magicbrain, who bought a New iPad and was already looking to unload it on Saturday, also isn't satisfied with the device, though he isn't quite as critical as ghatotkacha:

first time in 2 years the an iOS product didn't sell out ... weird, then again it does feel like ipad 2S ... no real speed bump over 2, just great (and it is great) display. if i don't trade mine, i'll return too.

Though the hype surrounding the New iPad's release and the buying frenzy that ensued sent Apple stock surging to its highest-ever levels, a low rumble of discontent among those who pre-ordered and/or stood in long lines to get the tablet.

From complaints that the device gets too hot during use, to anger about the high cost -- both monetarily and in data used -- of running 4G LTE on the device and impatient responses to the New iPad's longer battery-charging time, there is trouble in paradise for Apple, which has for years been able to avoid much criticism for its game-changing technologies.

Still, most comments about the device continue to be highly positive, especially for iPad virgins like macrumors.com forum poster gorskiegangsta, who has no complaints:

As a first time iPad owner, I have no desire to return mine (64GB Wifi-Only, Black). Loving the hell out of it ;) To an average iPad 2 owner, however, there's really no incentive to upgrade.

Apple will definitely be able to ride out this wave of criticism, but Tim Cook can't be too happy to be seeing a wave of people returning brand-new iPads a week after they were purchased.