iPad Tech Question

[DmbShn41]

My wife travels for business, and is hellbent on using my iPad to entertain her during flight. I happened to see somewhere that the max operating altitude is 10,000 feet. Here is what I'm looking for:
Why?
What happens at 10,000 feet to electronic devices?
What would happen if you use at any higher?

Thanks folks. Please don't flame me if this is obvious. And no, the flux capacitor has nothing to do with it....

 

[Julien]

If the airplane experiences explosive decompression the last thing that she will be concerned with is how it effects her iPad.

 

[robbieduncan]

That's 10000 feet outside of a pressurised container. An aircraft is pressurised so it's effectively much lower than 10000 feet. Don't worry about it: it'll be fine.

 

[spinnerlys]

That device should still work, as pressure in an airplane is set to sea level or something similar, so humans can normally breathe and do stuff.

The 3000m above sea level is meant for unpressurised environments.

At least that is my guess.

 

[poloponies]

That's also true for most Apple products (10,000 foot limit for recommended operation). The MacBook has an additional "maximum shipping altitude" limitation of 35,000 feet. So if she's flying with one make sure to tell the pilot not to try any fancy maneuvers.

 

[miles01110]

What happens at 10,000 feet to electronic devices?

Heat becomes a critical issue as you increase in altitude (and therefore experience a lower air density).

 

[BERRYP186]

I took mine to co. just last week i was able to use mine ok of course u cant connect to any service's. we were flying around 35,000 feet could stil play games.

 

[poloponies]

I took mine to co. just last week i was able to use mine ok of course u cant connect to any service's. we were flying around 35,000 feet could stil play games.

35,000 feet unpressurized?? That would lead to a certain gorking.

 

[DmbShn41]

So basically as long as she stays in the cabin when she uses it no problems?

 

[skubish]

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It's all about heat. Higher altitude=lower air density/pressure which means cooling is less effective. Inside a plane, no problem.

This question gets asked about once a month.