One day, when I wasn't paying attention, I forgot to zip up the binder before I moved it. When moving the binder, the iPad fell out and one corner hit the solid flat concrete floor and it landed screen-side down.

I'm willing to bet that there were tiny stones on the floor since people were walking in and out of the building. The screen may have hit a stone, since there is now a chip/crack in the glass that is not removable.

Pictures:

Dent in Aluminum Frame: http://twitpic.com/3pwvji

Chip/crack in glass (the crack is the "scratch-looking" thing, the rest of the "dot-looking" things are dust.): http://twitpic.com/3pwvsz

I am very persistent on things working 100%, and now that this has been dropped, it's down to 95% for me. I need help on whether there's a "auto glass" repair you can make to just make the chip disappear like you do on an auto windshield. Or, whether this thing needs to have things replaced? I cannot live with myself having this chip on the screen. Especially since I spotted someone with a case just an hour before the incident happened. In short: This cannot be "brushed off/live with it".

I checked my SN on the Apple site and there is still warranty on this. But it's highly doubtful warranty applies in this situation... What also doesn't help is that this is a second-hand iPad. (but I created the chip/crack, not the previous owner)

UPDATE:

I have replaced the iPad. Cost of the replacement was $275. I have invested in a case and a screen protector for the iPad and now everything's back to normal (restoring from a backup was also painless).

I noticed subtle backlight unevenness on my old iPad after I dropped it, turns out my new iPad has this too and it is most likely on all iPads ever manufactured. A non-issue, since the manufacturing process created these "bright-spots".

⟐ Edited January 17, 2011 at 5:14 pm -0700

I need the Broadcom bcm4329 chip to replace my faulty one but who knows where you can get one?

Nothing on eBay or found on google.

Does anyone know if you could replace with an iPad 2 or 3rd gen chip as well and if so where you can buy that Broadcom wifi chip ? Has anyone replaced the chip successfully?

A second hand iPad 1 is £185 so surely there is a parts supplier, it's not rocket science opening them up.

Thanks to anyone who can help and provide a working answer to the above - massive kudos and points!

⟐ Answer edited April 11, 2012 at 7:30 pm -0700