The problem isn't what people think it is on this folks...

Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s new iPad runs“significantly hotter” than the earlier model when conducting processor-intensive tasks such as playing graphics-heavy games, according to Consumer Reports, which tested the device.

The newest version of the market-leading tablet computer ran as hot as 116 degrees Fahrenheit, the consumer-watchdog group said on its website. Consumer Reports used a thermal-imaging camera to record the temperature while playing the action game “Infinity Blade II.”

The issue is not so much that it may be dangerous (that level of heat is not) it is that heat has a severe adverse impact on expected battery life.  Worse, since the battery is in close contact with the heat-producing parts of the unit (unlike a conventional laptop that tends to dangle the battery out back, much like a man's testes are outside of the core heat-producing part of his body) it is subject to all the adverse effect from the unit's heat production.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that the iPad's battery is not user-replacable?  Therefore, when the warranty (1 year) expires, well....

Non-replacable batteries and thus planned obsolescence have always been part of Apple's portable device strategy.  Lithium batteries lose about 5% of their capacity per year from the date of manufacture irrespective of use, and they lose capacity faster when stored, discharged or charged at high temperatures (chemical reactions proceed faster when hotter -- it's pretty simple stuff folks.)  This, incidentally, is why your cellphone seems to last for less and less time off-charge over the space of a year or two -- it really does, and if you live in a place (or use it in an environment) where it gets nice and hot the battery life is even more-severely compromised.

I'm quite sure that Apple has designed their new tablet to make it out of warranty before the battery's charge-holding capability reaches the point that you'll object.  That, incidentally, is usually about 20% below "as new" levels for most consumer devices.

To put this in perspective I have a lot of experience with rechargeable lithium battery packs and so do most of you, since they're in all your favorite consumer devices.  Laptops, cellphones, MP3 players, cameras and similar.  You may not have instrumented your batteries for capacity (in fact you probably haven't) but I have for a number of years across a number of different manufacturers.

All the literature you can find where formal studies have been done backs up the 5-7% charge capacity per year reduction assuming optimal storage, charge and discharge patterns, which are almost-never achieved in practice.  For example you should never discharge your lithium batteries below 20% of capacity or charge them over 80%.  You should store them with about half a charge in them in the refrigerator (NOT freezer!) when not in use.  They should never be exposed to high temperatures or rapid-charged (which causes them to heat up internally.)  And it's a good bet you violate every one of those recommendations with every single device you own.

In point of fact most consumer electronics reach the 20% loss of capacity (which is right about when you start to notice it and it becomes annoying) right around the second year of ownership for exactly this reasons.  I've never seen a laptop battery, for example, that wasn't down 20% in capacity by the end of its second year and a lot of them manage to clock in the 10-15% reduction of capacity range after one year of ownership.

This is not a big deal for the average laptop or cellphone, as you can buy a new battery and replace it by simply snapping it in. In addition you can sometimes obtain third-party replacement batteries that are higher-capacity (and better quality) than OEM at a lower price -- this is particularly true for some phones and digital cameras where Japanese (as opposed to "the Chinaman specials" that are originally used) cells are sometimes available at extremely competitive prices.  Canon's cameras are one very notable example of this where you can buy Japanese-manufactured replacements that are less than half the price of "branded" products with 10-15% more capacity than OEM!  Just watch what you're buying -- a lot of the eBay-sold stuff is utter and complete crap (and from China.)

But for Apple products this issue is a big deal indeed, since the batteries in the MacBook Air, iPod, iPhone and iPad are all sealed inside the case and not user-accessible.

Sure, you can buy an "extended warranty", but then you're just paying for the battery right up front ($100 for that plan) and you're hoping you need it in the second year.  If not you just flushed your $100, never mind that this raises the actual cost of that unit by $100 over a two-year service life even if you do take care of the battery to the best of your ability. 

Isn't that nice?

Incidentally, if you're buying the new iPad 3 and expect to use it heavily, given these temperature results, I hope you're paying the extra $100 up front and considering it part of the price of the device, as the odds are that you're going to be unhappy with what happens to the battery life before the second year is out.

You gotta love intentionally-designed-in obsolescence..... it's great for the bottom line right up until consumers get*****ed off about it and revolt.

PS: The "ad-hoc" cost for a battery replacement is..... (drum roll please).... $100. Nice mark-up on that I'm sure....