2010/10/13
If you are thinking that an iPad would make a great Xmas present (giving or receiving), apparently you are not alone. Target, Walmart and Best Buy are all stocking up to sell iPads this season.
Even Kindle owners are planning to buy iPads. No, I don't think most of them are giving up their Kindles (although some may); the iPad is for other uses and for technical manuals and other books with pictures or diagrams where the Kindle doesn't compete well.
One confusion continues to come up: people think they need a monthly data plan if they purchase the 3G version. This is simply not true, but if you read AT&T's site too quickly, you could certainly get that impression.
The plans HAVE changed, but if you read carefully, you will see that the AT&T page sill says "iPad customers will continue to pre-pay for their wireless data plan and no contract is required.". All that is changed is that there is no longer an "Unlimited" plan.
This means that you can sail along with no 3G plan until you need it and cancel it when you don't need it. All you need to do is remember to cancel the automatic plan renewal and that is done right from your iPad. Signing up again is very quick - if you had a plan less than 60 days ago, they still have your credit card on file and you'll be on 3G almost instantly. If not, you'll need to type in your info, but you'll still be using 3G within a very few minutes. NO CONTRACT IS REQUIRED.
That's why I suggest buying the 3G model. If you think you EVER might want it - might ever NEED it in an emergency - , it's worth the extra money.
So, should you be jumping to buy?
Maybe. I really do think the iPad is the perfect second computer. On the other hand, Apple is rumored to be releasing a new version soon, so this older model may see significant price drops and of course whatever the new version is, it may be something you would prefer offer what is available now.
We can't ignore that other companies are or will be offering similar devices. Some of them miss the mark by far too much: a three or four hour battery life is pointless. Others seem to be confused by the size issue - if someone wants something that fits in their pocket, they'll buy an iPhone or an Android.
Then there is open vs. closed. The iPad is a closed programming environment. Apple will give you the development tools for free, but any app developed has to be approved by Apple to be sold or even given away to more than a handful of people. Presumably this scrutiny will help protect against viruses and other malware.
Android apps requite no such approval process and, by logic, there will surely be some bad actors providing trojan horse apps. Will this become a serious enough problem to dissuade the use of this platform or require a change to a closed system? Only time will answer that question.
So, are you tempted? Thinking about it? Want one but hesitating? I would love to have your thoughts.
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