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iPad 2nd Generation Discussion

I realized right away that the current offering wasn't what I wanted and I decided to wait. rumors of a smaller iPad that you can actually hold in your (1) hand while reading have surfaced again so I feel justified in waiting for a while. What I want is a 7 inch screen iPad - that is the correct size in my opinion..
 
There are some things that i don't like about the ipad but i plan on getting one soon. Apple products tend to have really good resale value. I would imagine that would be true for the 32GB and 64GB models. Now, I do think that they will have less resale value than other apple products having said that. With the iphone, you don't need a contract to buy one second hand, with laptops and towers, the marginal or pretty good improvements with current generation products don't make too much of a difference to the average consumer looking for a good mac. With the ipad being fairly priced like it is, I would expect to get about 60% of the money that you spent on it if it is in excellent condition when the Rev. B comes out. I still think it is worth buying. If Rev. B has marked improvements, I'll sell the one I am getting soon and use the money for the new one. I just don't think that I could wait that long for the product in all honesty because it is just so damn cool.
 
WLS said:
I realized right away that the current offering wasn't what I wanted and I decided to wait. rumors of a smaller iPad that you can actually hold in your (1) hand while reading have surfaced again so I feel justified in waiting for a while. What I want is a 7 inch screen iPad - that is the correct size in my opinion..
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The 7" size sounds very good, actually. It would have about 4x the screen of an iPod touch, much more usable than the touch while more portable than the iPad, a nice travel device. The one ergonomic fix I would suggest for the large iPad would be on the back: some way to grip the back comfortably with one hand, like some raised surfaces or recessed bars to attach straps, so that the bezel could be narrowed by half or more to significantly reduce weight.
 
  • I'm interested in the possibility of a SD card slot.
How often would you use it? I never would personally so you have to think of Apple's perspective: Cut down cost of the iPad and just have an add on (which they sell) because not everyone is going to use one. Plus they like the less is more aspect.
  • iPad Camera. As much as people say there is no use for it, I envision little situations where I can.
I hardly use the camera on my Macbook Pro but I see where you're coming from.
  • The ability to update via USB3. It took over an 3 hours to update my iPhone when the last update came out and I had asked iTunes to down sample my mp3's.
True but it isn't Apple's fault. I was listening to BOL on Cnet saying the FTA was not implementing it because they think it's not pliable enough for all users which is BS.
  • More sophisticated software (from Apple or the 3rd party market) the ability to make photo books and publish them from the iPad. I don't want to just consume content, I want to make it.
Up to developers, but right now iPad is a media consumption device and apple makes a lot of money that way.
  • A lot of books I want are not digital yet so I'm waiting for the content to catch up. I'm hoping that when the Rev B comes out, ebooks will have matured as well.
Again this doesn't really effect you if you purchase one now.


The only thing that's really holding you back is a camera. It's still your choice. I plan to get a 16gb, have my fun and sell it if need be when Rev B comes around.
 
CrackedButter said:
Sure it doesn't but I'm hoping by the time Rev B is out those last two will have matured to the point where they interest me. I can't buy any Rev really until those last two points are met.

God help this thread indeed. :p

But don't get me wrong, I want an iPad and I could buy one now if I wanted, I just don't want to end up buying the next one in a years time. I don't want any negativity to be associated by my being with this thread, just good discussion.
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If I were you I would wait until revision 4. Let us early adopters work out the kinks and in a couple of years it should be good for you. In the meantime I will be watching a movie on netflix.
 
Should I wait for 2g? Please read

I know there's a lot of people asking this, but please don't respond with "it's up to you."

I'll start by saying that I'm just a sophomore in high school, but I'm not spoiled (even though I'm considering getting an iPad...long story short - I sold a lot of my stuff to get the money.) My family has 1 PC desktop downstairs and I don't have an iPod/mp3 player nor do I desire one. So if I want to listen to music or use a computer, I am forced to be tied down in the basement. I know that I have a lot of use for the iPad and that I'd love it, so please don't comment on that.
So here's my problem: I'm not sure how much the iPad could change by next year. I'm not concerned about the software side of things considering that OS 4 will be on the iPad and that the iPad is capable of whatever Apple throws at it for the next few years, at least until I'm off to college. So the thing's holding me back are that I'm not sure 16 gb is enough memory...I have a ton of music (75 gb although I could settle with roughly 10 gb of music on the iPad), and I enjoy videos. But 16 gb is a little tight and will be outdated really fast - I'd probably want the 32 gb. And following Apple's patterns, the next gen's minimum HD will most likely be a 32 gb. Assuming they keep the same price points, that means the 32 gb will cost 500$, but what do you think is the chance that the price will be lowered, and by how much? As for the camera, I might make the occasional skype call, but does that really matter enough for me to wait a whole year? That brings up my last point - I'm worried that in a year my interest will fade away. I want it now...but I don't want to be burned when 2g comes out.

So what's your advice?
 
Looks like you are off to a good start figuring it out. You may want to list out the pros and cons for you in getting one. Also if you plan on using it for typing up homework you will want to add in the $10 for the pages app or look to see if there is another out that will accomplish what pages will. Just make sure the file type can be used with whatever word processer you have on the family computer so you can print. Also the cost for some sort of case to protect it if you plan to take it to school or the library with you. If your family only has the one computer it may be a nice thing for you to be able to have something you can use where it is quiet or take with you.

I was about your age when I bought my first computer. It was a great feeling. Also as to next gen, there will always be a next gen. You should look at if this device will fill the need (and perhaps want) at this time. A year is a long way off.
 
From what you say, I would say get one now. For someone your age to wait a year feels like forever. It sounds like having the iPad to use by yourself at home would work out well for you. Will it loose value yes but all electronics do, it's just the nature of the game, if you want to buy nice things that will never lose value you have to look elsewhere say jewelery or art. That being said the price new will only drop about $100 so it's better at resisting depreciation then other electronics. 16 or 32GB? Probably the 32 is the best bet for you. Will you loose interest in it? Probably eventually but it should be useful to you for at least 3 or 4 years. Things change and newer shiny stuff always comes along. Get it now and enjoy it if you want it.

Myself I am going to wait a while. I already have an iPod Touch so I use that for mobile access. I have my own HDTV at home and a laptop on a table next to my recliner so I can web surf during commercials so an iPad wouldn't add anything at this time. When I'm offered a better replacement for my Touch then I will retire that and move on but it isn't there yet for me..
 
WLS said:
From what you say, I would say get one now. For someone your age to wait a year feels like forever. It sounds like having the iPad to use by yourself at home would work out well for you. Will it loose value yes but all electronics do, it's just the nature of the game, if you want to buy nice things that will never lose value you have to look elsewhere say jewelery or art. That being said the price new will only drop about $100 so it's better at resisting depreciation then other electronics. 16 or 32GB? Probably the 32 is the best bet for you. Will you loose interest in it? Probably eventually but it should be useful to you for at least 3 or 4 years. Things change and newer shiny stuff always comes along. Get it now and enjoy it if you want it.
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+1. When you buy apple products you have to get used to them being updated atleast once a year, but that's not to say that this ipad will loose functionality when a new one comes out, but it won't have as many features.

Just buy it now and enjoy it, and when a new one comes out and has something that you would like, just sell the current one for ~$300 and get new one. When iphone 3gs came out i sold my 3g for $450 and got brand new 3gs for $600 (no contract). $150 isn't alot considering i used the phone for a year, and then i got the brand new updated version. One good thing about apple products is they dont loose as much value as lets say dell or other companies. An example would be, if you buy a macbook for $800, next year you can sell it for $600 whereas a $800 dell laptop would worth $350-400.
 
If you wait for the newest and latest technology to get better and cheaper before buying, well, then you'll wait forever. All techno gadgets get better, cheaper, or both, over time. And lately, "over time" means just a few months.

Sometimes you just gotta decide how bad you want something, man up, and go for it.

That said... I've been very successful in selling my older technology as I upgrade to new. When I sold my iPhone 3G last year, I sold it for MORE than it cost me to upgrade the iPhone 3GS (not counting AT&T service, which I would have been paying for anyway). So moving to the iPhone 3GS was a no brainer. More recently, I sold my original iPhone (which had been sitting in a drawer for 18 months) for $200. Lost money on that one. I should have sold it when I got the 3G. But I was expecting my wife to use it.

I've got the 3G iPad w/64GB on order. $829. In a year or so, when the 2nd generation iPad comes along, I'm betting I'll be able to sell my 1st one for at least $500-$600. Sure, it depends on how the 2nd generation models are priced, but I think the 2nd gen models will end up adding more features for the same price... something Apple likes to do a lot. So, assuming I can get $550, that means my "rental" of the 1st iPad for a year was less than $300. About $25 a month. Not a big deal.

Do you really want the iPad now? If the answer is yes, go for it and worry about the future when it gets here!

Mark
 
As others have already said Apple products get outdated fairly quick. This is more true with the iPods/iPhone than the Mac side of the family. That said its normally 3 generations on that you loose out like now with OS4 the 1st gen is loosing out on OS4 as the 4th gen comes in. I expect that it will be a similar timeline with the iPad. It wont really get left behind until a few years down the line.
 
Thanks for the advice. I'm still on the fence - but it's just those 2 hardware things that I mentioned before that are bothering me - I know software is not an issue here. 1 issue is the camera, which I'd only use if it was front-facing, and even then I'd barely use it. 2 is the space...I truly don't think Apple will lower iPod touch prices any time soon, meaning that iPad prices will stick too. But what everyone knows almost for a fact is that the 500$ version next year will be a 32 gb, and that's the biggest thing holding me back. Is twice the memory worth waiting a full year? Probably not.
 
I say get the 16GB version now. Do you really NEED more than that much memory at one time? Probably not. You can always just go back and resync the iPad when you want to switch up the content. I really don't think that the added "convenience" of having an extra 16GB of space is worth the extra $100.

Also, a year from now when the 2G is going to come out, you can always just sell your current iPad if you feel the need to upgrade. I have a good feeling that the iPad (especially the 16GB Wifi) will retain it's value pretty well even a year from now.
 
imsoindy said:
Is twice the memory worth waiting a full year? Probably not.
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If someone gave you $100 right now to NOT buy an iPad for a whole year, would you take that deal?

(that's basically the same as waiting a year for the 32gb model price to come down.)

You will need access to the family PC now and then, to backup, and to sync music & pictures.

The other alternative You might want to consider, is getting a full MacBook. Check for educational discounts, and see if your parents won't chip in half for it. There are a Lot of things you can do with your own full laptop, and MacBooks have a camera.
 
Whatever revisions there are next year will be minimal: front-facing camera, capacity bump. Nothing massive. (Look at the Iphone as an example - it didn't change for the first two years, then had a slightly more meaningful update last year, and this year will probably see a significant update.) If you don't need the camera, then buy now and be happy for a full year.

Is there a reason you can't just sell more stuff and save up for the 64gb model right now? It's not that much more if you've already saved the initial $500 already. If you already feel 16gb is "a little tight" then I think you'll wind up unhappy. I bought the 16gb because I don't intend to use it for any kind of storage - it's purely for portable computing, but not movies, music, etc. (I have my Ipod for that.)
 
One thing that wasn't mentioned is wifi.

Do you have wifi at home? With only one computer, I'm not so sure. This would need to be another expense you need to consider if it is not already in place today. That is, of course, you plan on connecting it to the Internet.
 
yes I have wifi, and yes I already know what my use of it is, which is mainly entertainment. I do not plan on buying the iWork suite. And I think I'll end up getting it either in the next week or the next month, but some time soon.
 
if price is your concern then I would wait for the refurb deals when they are available. I'm not sure how long before we start seeing refurb iPads & the pricing may or may not be worth it in waiting that long.

No knows when the 2Gen iPad will be released, if you are able to wait then wait it out but if you need instant gratification, then it's a great time to buy now or wait for the refurb deals.

I would honestly save up $ & get the 64GB.
 
If you want/need a computer/gadget/electronic device now, get it now.

Period.

Always get the fastest/best/largest capacity/highest spec'd version you can afford of whatever computer/gadget/electronic device you buy.

Period.
 
After owning a 32gb Wifi Model for less than a week. The answer is "No, you should not wait"
 
Hmm.. I think you should wait until the 10G version because it will likely have hologram features by then.. :rolleyes:
 
well if you already have the money I'd go ahead and buy it, you'll enjoy the extra year
and everyone will get bummed when the 2g comes out but that will always happen, and I think that 1st generation products become kinda cool by the time the 3rd gen comes out, I still like to use my 1st gen touch sometimes
ps. I will be a sophomore next year
 
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