What Happens When an iPad Takes Wings?

I for one, love my iPad.

So, my heart about sunk to my knees when I saw it shattering as it bounced one way and my case bounced the other way in my rear view mirror. Screeching to a halt from a leisurely 70-mile-an-hour cruising speed through a remote highway somewhere between Shawano and Clintonville.

I was enjoying driving my Dad, nephew and son to the men's conference I was hosting up on our campgrounds. Anticipating anywhere between 250-300 really great men from all over the place. Some had been out golfing, some fishing, some - well, I have no idea - some just driving in from quite a distance. Carrying golf awards, planning and scheduling information, a cup of coffee from the hotel, and of course, the trusty iPad, an incredible gift from my wife, I must've laid it on top of my Toyota Highlander.

I still have no recall of this traumatic act of stupidity, but it must of been there, because about 12 minutes into a 15-minute drive I heard a horrific "thump, thump, thump" as it's poor little body tried in vain to stay attached to where its irresponsible owner had left it. To its credit, it had held on through several hills, some pretty fast corners, but almost mockingly, with one last turn before I'd have gotten to my destination, my lil' iPad took wings.

Oh, it hurts to think, but it launched into a beautiful sunny, hot, northern afternoon sky. There is an app for everything, but I, ignorant of the impending need for one, hadn't thought to load the app that would somehow keep it aloft. So, the poor lil' thing, it didn't fair very well. It crashed hard and fast, just a couple car lengths behind me. To make it worse, I SAW it, in a re-occuring scene that is forever etched into the hard-drive of my brain. I saw the screen shatter in the sun on the dark freshly paved county highway (check out the pics).

I never imagined that it would work, but it did, bent frame, shattered screen and all. Fifty percent of the touch screen was functional. AMAZING! Trouble was I couldn't remember if I had purchased the warranty. I hardly ever, closer to never, buy warranties, but I did. The next phase of concern was why would Apple, a seemingly somewhat intelligent company, warranty such neglect?

I figured I'd give it a try anyway, so, after a VERY long weekend, a great conference, my 49th b-day (in which I'm really concerned with the idea that by now some good sense should've kicked in), a good weekend at church, an annual Kidz Kraze picnic, with my extremely understanding wife in tow for much needed moral support, I, with very little hope of a positive outcome left for a local Apple Store.

Tempted to try to make up some kinda story that would make a warranty exchange seem somewhat plausible, I launched into the story above. However nice, it was made immediately clear that rooftop storage of an iPad doesn't fit the "normal usage" clause of Apple's extraordinary customer care intentions. I was offered the best deal they could give me, which was to give them mine for a new one of theirs for half the price of what I'd paid for the iPad I had ruined.

Not what I was hoping for, but honestly better than expected. So I told the very kind Apple representative that was as much as I could hope for and he proceeded to go get me a new iPad. It seemed our customer care rep was taking a long time and I began to wonder if I should run. I was thinking perhaps they were just stalling until the authorities could get there and arrest me for iPad abuse. Right before I took flight of my own, rep came out with my new iPad.

I was so relieved to see him and not some SWAT team, I didn't quite grasp what he was saying. He had to tell me, at least twice, that honesty had prevailed. He told me that because I had told him the truth that they had decided to just make an exchange and charge me NOTHING for my brand new replacement iPad. Honesty prevails. I'm still STUNNED, absolutely amazed. Honesty is usually it's own reward, but this is huge.

He told us briefly about how so many come in with exaggerated stories to try to trick/lie their way into reprieve from their mistakes and how honesty was huge with him and that I was being rewarded for being honest. This is NOT the only time honesty has helped me out, but in all honesty, I'm not wanting to take anymore of your time. Thanks for letting me share that with you; time to start shopping for a REALLY tough iPad carrying/protective case -