Get US iPad or wait for UK release?

[jonnyb]

Help me with my dilemma fellow MacRumorers

I have a friend from the US visitng me here in the UK on April 17. He's on standby to order me an iPad on Friday. I could have one in my hands on April 17 and for a knock-down price (compared to what they'll end up costing here).

Or..I can wait and get a UK one a couple of weeks or so later ('late April' is what we're being told as the release in the UK)

You'd think it would be a no-brainer - getting it earlier and cheaper. The only thing stopping me is my fear that if there's something wrong with it (I'm never very lucky with Apple products) I'm stuck with it.

A dead pixel or two would make me very, very sad.

I should wait, right?

edit: My friend has indicated that he'd rather not be responsible for checking it according to my exacting, and some might say unreasonable, standards

 

[riyadc]

The warranty should still work in the UK even if the iPad was bought from the US.

 

[jonnyb]

Yeah, I thought that but Apple, along with other companies have poilicies about how many dead pixels are 'acceptable' .

If I buy through the UK online store I can send it back if I'm not entirely happy with it due to UK distance-selling consumer laws. If I get one via the US and take that to an Apple store the genius might quote the 'acceptable' standard to me and say 'tough luck'.

It's screen issues that I've always had the most problems with, with Apple products; iPod touches, iPhones and MacBook Airs!

 

[iZac]

I'd wait until you see quite how much you're going to be fleeced by when the UK prices are announced in April.

Incidentally I've only once had a stuck pixel with any machine and that was my old G4 iMac. Top right, inch in, would work normally for 15 minutes if you gave it a light prod. annoyed the hell out of me.

I wonder if the 3G version of the iPad will have the same 'domestic' warrenty as the iPhone though?

 

[gratui]

I'm in UK and now having same question. Of course I want to buy Ipad from UK sellers because if the item has problem it is easy to solve.

Anyone have a time-line for Ipad to come to UK and pricing difference between US and UK.

In my experience with iMac, it is much more expensive between US price and UK price

 

[t0mat0]

Are the frequencies used for the US iPad compatible with the UK?
In the UK you'd want the UK 3G then edge and GPRS.

 

[jonnyb]

Are the frequencies used for the US iPad compatible with the UK?
In the UK you'd want the UK 3G then edge and GPRS.

The cell frequencies are the same, hence the iPhone working in both the US and the UK.

 

[melman101]

Honestly, OP, if you are planning to get 3G, you'd have to wait anyway.

I'd probably wait and get one in my local area just in case of anything. Plus he does have a 6-8 hour flight to get there plus travel to you. Anything can go wrong in that time.

 

[witness]

I shall be going to NY in May and have decided to wait till that trip to buy mine (unless they have an unusually low price here).

 

[kramerica2]

Just ask your friend to open the box and check for any noticable flaws.

 

[jonnyb]

Plus he does have a 6-8 hour flight to get there plus travel to you. Anything can go wrong in that time.

Well, the iPad will have come all the way from China in the first place, but I see what you're saying. The plane could plunge into the Atlantic, taking my beautiful iPad with it. Not to mention my friend. If I get my iPad in London I'll have only lost my friend.

Good advice.

Just ask your friend to open the box and check for any noticable flaws.

As I already said my friend says he's not comfortable with deciding what's acceptable or not. If he didn't notice something that I thought was obvious I'd have to kill him.

 

[maflynn]

I'd say wait based on your comfort level and/or your friend's. Why force something and then later regret it. Patience is a virtue and you'll be better off by waiting imo.

 

[EssentialParado]

It's probable to end up the same price as US, or possibly even cheaper in the UK, as is the case with the current Apple store pricing on the the iPod touches.

We used to get price-gouged in the UK, but not these days. The pound is too weak for that anymore.

 

[OllyW]

It's probable to end up the same price as US, or possibly even cheaper in the UK, as is the case with the current Apple store pricing on the the iPod touches.

We used to get price-gouged in the UK, but not these days. The pound is too weak for that anymore.

I admire your optimism, I just hope you won't be too disappointed when the UK prices are announced.

 

[nazuk]

Having been to the USA many many times...

...usually, more often than not, the prices are always cheaper. However, having travelled recently as January 2010, closer to February by the time I got back - everything, and I mean nearly everything, from clothes to gadgets, to electronics to whatever - which I normally buy over there, was much much dearer.

I usually buy 2 full suitcases each weighing about 25 kilo's worth of stuff - i'm a shopaholic and a gadget freaky nerd!!

It simply was not worth buying anything over there in January, everything seemed so much dearer.

The Dollar against the Pound has not been this poor for several years.

I'm off again in July, and besides the wait, I just know it won't be any cheaper over there.

Having said all of that, I have bought in previous years:

Original extremely expensive click wheel iPod
iBooks x 2
Macmini's x 2
Macbook Pro 15" x 1
Loads and loads of Apple branded accessories
iTouch etc
..and not to mention many non Apple stuff too!

I have never had any problems with anything, ever! I must be lucky.

If the dollar was much nearer the 1.60 mark or over, I would defo buy my iPad over there in July, but now i'm less likely to when I travel then.

/hope that helps!

 

[badgerman]

am in similar boat, play.com is suggesting £499 for 16gb wifi.

Remember officially you can only import the $499 as the others will be over the UK tax free import.

If you get it from amazon.com in some US states you will not have to pay US sales tax, hence $499 = £332 at the mo... no way UK prices will be cheaper...

 

[optophobia]

am in similar boat, play.com is suggesting £499 for 16gb wifi.

Remember officially you can only import the $499 as the others will be over the UK tax free import.

If you get it from amazon.com in some US states you will not have to pay US sales tax, hence $499 = £332 at the mo... no way UK prices will be cheaper...

True.

Also I have found if you leave the box behind and just have it in your carry on, they dont check it.