If you google it or visit the Apple forums you will find that many people are still having issues. The Ipad isn't like a PC. If lots of users can't use Apple products with Apple software and Apple won't let them go back to previous versions it's Apple's issue, not mine or any other users. It seems to affect the first Ipad Mini and Ipad 2 users most, although certain IPhones seem afflicted too. Just because yours is ok, it's wrong to assume others have "gremlins" they need to sort out especially when this is such a well documented issue that is still affecting masses of users.

I've heard that before and I'm unsure what to think, although I am beginning to wonder.

I guess the success of such a strategy will depend on how most people react to those circumstances. For me it's a no brainier. I will denounce Apple and it's products when they give such bad service and I will also avoid the brand in future because it's USP for me is the great ergonomics and user experience. If it becomes a pain in the arse to use, then I may as well pay a fraction of the price and buy an Andriod device.

Because it's not an open source platform, Apple have full control of the hardware, OS and updates. It seems unbelievable that they would fail to test all incarnations of their products with new updates before release. If they wanted the new OS to do things the old machines weren't up to, they could simply have left older machines out of "upgrade". I'm told IOS 9 won't be made available to me. I would have no problem if I was left out of IOS 8 because I liked IOS7 and it worked well.

It also seems unthinkable that a company with their resources can't fix basic things like cut and paste using their own web browser after 6 months. Then there are those that can barely connect to the web, or can't get Bluetooth to function. Again, basic stuff. As you also say, there is the frustration of freezing,ncrashing and battery drain.

The third damning factor is Apple's policy of not allowing users to revert to the previous IOS. OK with a bit of hassle, you can do it shortly after "upgrading" but who would expect IOS 8 to still be a steaming pile of shite 6 months and four fixes later? If they let me go back to IOS 7 now, they would have no complaints and they wouldn't have lost a long term customer. As it stands, unless we see some major efforts to correct the issue, I will never buy another Apple product and I will never make another iTunes purchase. I will also tell as many people as I can at every opportunity about the problems I am having,which I blame Apple entirely for.

Of course, if more people simply buy the latest Apple product when they encounter problems, then Apple won't care about the likes of me and they will continue to release bug-ridden software that renders a perfectly good product near useless. My IPad mini was probably only about a year old, maybe less, when IOS8 was released, so I was really not expecting any compatibility issues due to age. If Apple regard products that are a year old or less as obsolete, then it really says a lot about trusting your money to a company that regards it's products as outdated before they are even out of guarantee. 

There was talk of a class action against Apple in the USA for effectively wrecking many products purchased by releasing IOS8. I have to say I would be well up for joining such an action if there was a similar opportunity in the UK.

The thing I really don't get is how it doesn't affect every owner of the same incarnation ipad or iPhone. I agree with you that Appple fans are loyal, and often upgrade out of desire rather than necessity too. This is my fourth Ipad and there was nothing wrong with the other 3.

I realise that sometimes when you adopt an OS early, you run the risk of the odd teething problem, but I didnt expect the problems to be so severe, affect so many people and most importantly to have endured beyond multiple updates without any effect. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the effects of various bugs but I have tried everything recommended on the various forums.

Nothing has made any difference. I'm left with one of three conclusions:

1. Apple deliberately build in gremlins for older machines. I'm sure mine was less than a year old at the time, so that still seems odd.
2. Apple didn't test IOS 8 properly on anything but the latest models due to laziness/contempt/arrogance. Fair enough, but surely the fixes should work by now?
3. Apple's arrogance towards its customers means they simply don't care and just expect user loyalty to resolve this by upgrading to newer models. Most likely IMO and it may still work if people do this. I certainly won't be one of them but that's not good for me or Apple when they could simply let me go back to IOS7 and I would be happy enough.

Good news, I'm glad for you that it now seems to be sorted.  I know how frustrating these things can be.

Yep, still seems to be working well. I feel like I've actually gained something even though they have simply restored some form of Normality.

My wife goes mad because any programme that is even loosely connected to the cosmos is essential viewing for me. I even watch Ancient Aliens! For anyone who hasn't seen it, have a Google: you won't have seen anything else like it. Worth watching just for Georgio A Tsoukalos and his mad hair.

Seems nasty, Stan. Don't think I've encountered anything with that chipset, but I am now on the lookout. Thanks.