Sounds like a lemon. If you somehow recall the firmware for it, you could do a low level reflash. There's not much else a typical end-user can do in situations like this.
Make sure the little switch on side is fully on. I have noticed that the power switch on front and on side are linked and when you press one on front it can sometimes move the one on side very slightly and then power off the pad.
Easy fix. That was it. Thank goodness. Battery life is very lacking though. Obviously new to the droid pads. Should I root it? What is the benefit? How do you get instructions for this?