iPad EU News (Abandon all hope, ye who enter here..) ("Are you nuts?!" - Steve)

[Tulipone]

Don't worry. At this rate you'll have an iPad back again before I do!

I've got two cheap cases (£5 neoprene + £3 silicon sleeve) and a ManBag (Case Logic XNTM-1 SM) coming that will probably arrive before I have an iPad to put in them!

The apple case is thin and would not really give any protection if you were to drop it. There are hundreds of neoprene types and I have also seen a Belkin one. I got the Apple one as it fits like a glove (and has an Apple on the front). It does have a slot on the back and the case turns into a slight angle in landscape.

Still trying to get the USB camera add on. Out of stock everywhere.

 

[Tulipone]

Decided not to get a dock. When would you use it?

 

[zed2]

Decided not to get a dock. When would you use it?

indeed I thought the same.. the ipad is soo big compared with the dock that I think it just looks a little silly.

Think I'll just stick to a cable dangling out of the back of my desktop

 

[dalvin200]

Decided not to get a dock. When would you use it?

i did have a dock - for my iphone... now with the ipad.. it won't fit in the iphone dock (obviously)... and the iphone won't fit in the ipad dock either (unless the new iphone hd will.. who knows)..

so for now.. i'm dockless.. doesn't look as sleek, but no big deal to be honest...

 

[colmaclean]

Decided not to get a dock. When would you use it?

You could use the iPad as a digital photo frame when charging. Stuck in portrait mode, though.

 

[zen]

i did have a dock - for my iphone... now with the ipad.. it won't fit in the iphone dock (obviously)... and the iphone won't fit in the ipad dock either (unless the new iphone hd will.. who knows)..

so for now.. i'm dockless.. doesn't look as sleek, but no big deal to be honest...

I think I'll just grab a transparent plastic plate stand and use that. Besides which, if I stick it in a Belkin Grip Vue, the dock won't fit anyway.

 

[Elise]

Oh you poor guys, I absolutely love gadgets. After I get my iPad my next investment (subject to thorough researching of course) will be a 3D TV. The last guy I was with was actually persuading me not to spend so much on stuff, not the other way round. What can I say, I like nice things and what I spend on my gadgets is a drop in the ocean compared to what I spend on shoes, bags and clothes!

 

[Boblister]

Oh you poor guys, I absolutely love gadgets. After I get my iPad my next investment (subject to thorough researching of course) will be a 3D TV. The last guy I was with was actually persuading me not to spend so much on stuff, not the other way round. What can I say, I like nice things and what I spend on my gadgets is a drop in the ocean compared to what I spend on shoes, bags and clothes!

My wife is opposite. Gadgets come before shoes and handbags etc. She has always been like that.

 

[MikeWilson]

Decided not to get a dock. When would you use it?

Desk dock or keyboard dock?

The keyboard dock looks useful. Needless to say I'm saving my money and getting neither.

 

[LaNex]

Only if it's 3-D.

LOL. For 3D you need sight in both eyes. I don't have the luxury. It's not a true HD either, but neither are my eyes so hey, no bother. I'd like a bigger one but it was the biggest one I could get on the chimney breast. There's space for two little Onkyo speakers either side and that's it. All the AV gear lives inside the former fireplace behind an obscured perspex panel, for ease of IR signals.

Not long to go now till the official pre orders start in the UK. You're oh so near, lovely iPad of Gadgetry. Is that even a word ?

Shall we rehash possible prices or shall we just take it as red that we'll know when we know ?

 

[LaNex]

My wife is opposite. Gadgets come before shoes and handbags etc. She has always been like that.

There's a woman after my own heart. More power to the gadget loving sistas !

 

[MikeWilson]

Shall we rehash possible prices or shall we just take it as red that we'll know when we know ?

£420.18 for the 16GB WiFi model

 

[mrklaw]

Well. It was with a unhappy heart that I've had to sell my iPad on.

Basically the wife went a bit ape. Actually, it was worse then that as I got the immediate silent treatment which lasted a couple a days. She cracked first (makes a change) but basically, I've realised that home harmony is worth more then a iPad and what a selfish pig I've been

I've got away with a awful lot over the years (projectors, big screen TV's etc...) but this one crossed the line

The odd couple of hours I did play with it has confirmed what an amazing device it was. I'll definitely get one when the UK ones come out.

EDIT: And I'm going to hang around until at least Mike get's his iPad. Good luck Mike.

hey, at least you had time to have a play, and hopefully made your money back.

My wife hasn't even seen mine yet, so there is always the possibility that the same will happen to me... I've also just bought a new DSLR and spent a fortune on a new bathroom..

 

[dalvin200]

£420.18 for the 16GB WiFi model

+ VAT

 

[maths2k]

+ VAT

+ Apple Tax

 

[MikeWilson]

+ VAT

Including VAT - quoting from my own article below:

The 32GB WiFi only iPad currently retails for $599 on the Apple.com US store. Also retailing for $599 is the 2.26Ghz Mac Mini, the same Mac Mini that is available to UK customers via the Apple.com/uk store for £510

This puts the price of the 32GB WiFi only iPad at £510 inc. VAT. The 16GB WiFi iPad costs 16.69% less which puts the cheapest iPad model at £418.20.

Given that the iPad is unlikely to sell for less than £399 due to currency exchange rate volatility and Steve Job’s own admission that doing business in the UK is more expensive than doing business in the US – I think £418.20 isn’t far off the mark.

However bear in mind that when the iPhone launched in the US it was available at the time for $399 (£200) whilst simultaneously retailing at £269 in the UK which is an approximate “Ripoff Britain” markup of >25%. An equivalent markup applied today would see the iPad available for £478.81 (£383.05 inc VAT + 25% Ripoff Britain markup). At the absolute top-end for the lowest end device, Play.com a fortnight ago accidentally ‘released’ an exorbitant price of £499 for the same iPad version, VAT free (Play.com are based in Jersey) but quickly withdrew the price from their Google Shopping data feed.

The real retail price is likely to be somewhere between the two but probably closer to £420 as Apple need these new devices in as many hands as possible (so that they can sell you additional content for it later)

http://www.mikewilson.cc/2010/04/06/pricing-the-ipad-for-the-uk/

 

[Tulipone]

You could use the iPad as a digital photo frame when charging. Stuck in portrait mode, though.

Just cannot see me with this. I have no intention of using it with a keyboard (the virtual one is fine) nor as a photo frame unless I hand it to someone. The docks are everywhere here right now.

 

[MikeWilson]

hey, at least you had time to have a play, and hopefully made your money back.

My wife hasn't even seen mine yet, so there is always the possibility that the same will happen to me... I've also just bought a new DSLR and spent a fortune on a new bathroom..

Treading dangerous waters there, my friend!

Can you recommend a case that conceals the iPad well?

 

[CD3660]

The docks are everywhere here right now.

Such as where? I'd like to buy one.

 

[mrklaw]

Treading dangerous waters there, my friend!

Can you recommend a case that conceals the iPad well?

no idea. I might gut my useless old laptop (ancient IBM Thinkpad) to put the ipad in the screen area. She'll never notice!

 

[cRuNcHiE]

Such as where? I'd like to buy one.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dock-Cradle-C...t_Replicat&hash=item5d28dfabfc#ht_1078wt_1167

Chinese one here, fits iphone/ipod touch too whereas the official dock doesnt apparently

 

[LaNex]

no idea. I might gut my useless old laptop (ancient IBM Thinkpad) to put the ipad in the screen area. She'll never notice!

I got an idea. Go to La Senza (nice lingerie shop for those who don't know), or similar desirable girlie shop, and ask for one of their swanky cardboard bags. Put the iPad in that every single time you're not using it (I assume you're using it incognito - in the dark late at night out of sight, in the shed amongst the lawn mowers and bags of lawn seed, under the sofa, lol). Then every time she sees it forbid her to go into the bag because "It's a surprise for you my darling ! It's just not ready yet !"

Hang this out as long as possible. When you think you're getting too close to being found out, actually buy her something from La Senza, stick it in the bag, let her open it - and she'll be so pleased at how romantic you are that she'll forgive you anything.

(I wish to inform you all that this is in fact a joke. And not to give anyone any ideas, either. lol.)

Boy, I've got too much time on my hands today fer sho'

 

[MikeWilson]

I got an idea. Go to La Senza (nice lingerie shop for those who don't know), or similar desirable girlie shop, and ask for one of their swanky cardboard bags. Put the iPad in that every single time you're not using it (I assume you're using it incognito - in the dark late at night out of sight, in the shed amongst the lawn mowers and bags of lawn seed, under the sofa, lol). Then every time she sees it forbid her to go into the bag because "It's a surprise for you my darling ! It's just not ready yet !"

Hang this out as long as possible. When you think you're getting too close to being found out, actually buy her something from La Senza, stick it in the bag, let her open it - and she'll be so pleased at how romantic you are that she'll forgive you anything.

(I wish to inform you all that this is in fact a joke. And not to give anyone any ideas, either. lol.)

Boy, I've got too much time on my hands today fer sho'

This only works if your missus is able to wait!

Imagine if it was the other way around. A bag from the Apple Store, say. Would you resist a peek only to get disappointed when you see a box of girlie products inside?

 

[kultschar]

This only works if your missus is able to wait!

Imagine if it was the other way around. A bag from the Apple Store, say. Would you resist a peek only to get disappointed when you see a box of girlie products inside?

Yeah if she is like me it wouldn't work (I regularly hunted and unwrapped and rewrapped Xmas prezzies when I was a kid)

 

[LaNex]

This only works if your missus is able to wait!

Imagine if it was the other way around. A bag from the Apple Store, say. Would you resist a peek only to get disappointed when you see a box of girlie products inside?

Well, as I'm a girlie, I wouldn't be disappointed. In that situation it would be win-win I reckon.

I did say it was a joke, guys. But hey, if you want to give it a test drive in real life, knock yerself out. Just don't point the finger at me if divorce follows. lol.

Anyhoo - back to the plot.

Question - Now the end to waiting is finally in sight for us non importing Brits, is anyone else feeling a bit, well, I'm not sure "jaded" is the right word but a bit "yeah whatever" ? I mean, I'm still up for pre ordering an iPad as soon as I can, but some of the shine has worn off it for me because I won't be sharing the first sticky hands on experiences with everyone else in the world. I'm sorta feeling a bit like an also-ran right now.

Is it just me who's got this feeling, or is this what Apple should have tried to avoid as it may be turning some potential customers off ? Has it turned anybody off buying one that you guys know ?