Should I be patient with Apple?
October 9, 2010 1:00 PM Subscribe
Should I wait to get an iPad? Why?
So I finally decided that I'd like to get an iPad. I'd like it mostly for random internet browsing, app-game playing, and reading (using the Kindle app). I also plan to take it (with the add-on keyboard), to meetings and conferences, for some light note taking. Finally, I hope to find a good remote desktop app so that I can do a little bit of work away from home (at meetings, etc.) without lugging my laptop around.
As a side-note, I will probably get the 16-gig wi-fi only version. AT&T's 3G service isn't so hot around here (I have an iPhone, and often experience service issues).
My question: I hear rumor that the next version of the iPad is set to be released as early as January. From what I have read, it looks like it might have a landscape docking option, which is kinda cool... But I don't know whether that, plus other possible new features, is enough to convince me to wait. Now that I've decided I'd like to have one (and have a little extra cash for the purpose), I'd really like to get it, and am kind of reluctant to hold off for months.
So, how much of a mistake would I be making in getting an iPad now vs. waiting for the second version? Are there other amazing features that are expected for the new version that I'll regret not having? What would you do? What should I consider?
Thanks!
So I finally decided that I'd like to get an iPad. I'd like it mostly for random internet browsing, app-game playing, and reading (using the Kindle app). I also plan to take it (with the add-on keyboard), to meetings and conferences, for some light note taking. Finally, I hope to find a good remote desktop app so that I can do a little bit of work away from home (at meetings, etc.) without lugging my laptop around.
As a side-note, I will probably get the 16-gig wi-fi only version. AT&T's 3G service isn't so hot around here (I have an iPhone, and often experience service issues).
My question: I hear rumor that the next version of the iPad is set to be released as early as January. From what I have read, it looks like it might have a landscape docking option, which is kinda cool... But I don't know whether that, plus other possible new features, is enough to convince me to wait. Now that I've decided I'd like to have one (and have a little extra cash for the purpose), I'd really like to get it, and am kind of reluctant to hold off for months.
So, how much of a mistake would I be making in getting an iPad now vs. waiting for the second version? Are there other amazing features that are expected for the new version that I'll regret not having? What would you do? What should I consider?
Thanks!
Personally, I would wait for the front-facing camera and landscape docking. A front-facing camera will let you do FaceTime conferencing, and the landscape docking makes it easier to use with a keyboard accessory.
The current iPad is a bit on the heavy side, and a rumored lighter 7" version that has a Retina Display would have a sharper display than a Kindle. That and a color screen would give the Kindle legitimate competition on the eBook-reading front.
A new model may also allow other weight-saving improvements. More energy efficient software and hardware could allow Apple to shave off battery weight — you'd get the same battery life, but with a lighter enclosure.
I don't know if an iPad of the same size could come out with a Retina Display as well, but if it did, that would put it even further ahead of the iPad v1 clones that are due in early 2011.
Unless the money is burning a hole in your pocket, I'd wait a few months.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:35 PM on October 9, 2010
The current iPad is a bit on the heavy side, and a rumored lighter 7" version that has a Retina Display would have a sharper display than a Kindle. That and a color screen would give the Kindle legitimate competition on the eBook-reading front.
A new model may also allow other weight-saving improvements. More energy efficient software and hardware could allow Apple to shave off battery weight — you'd get the same battery life, but with a lighter enclosure.
I don't know if an iPad of the same size could come out with a Retina Display as well, but if it did, that would put it even further ahead of the iPad v1 clones that are due in early 2011.
Unless the money is burning a hole in your pocket, I'd wait a few months.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:35 PM on October 9, 2010
I was going to wait too, until I found out the 2G would have only a 7" screen. I rather prefer the size of the iPad now; I don't get how going smaller on this is a bonus; it's not so large to begin with. The 2G would only be about twice the size of a Touch. (FWIW I personally plan to get an iPad before the end of the year.)
posted by contessa at 1:47 PM on October 9, 2010
posted by contessa at 1:47 PM on October 9, 2010
We don't know that the 2nd generation ipad will have a 7 inch screen, and I'm not sure how you "found out". Based on Macrumors.com I think the new ipad will have the same screen size, and if they offer a 7 inch it will be an addition to the line.
As always with Apple, speculation means exactly nothing until Steve is up on that stage.
posted by Spacelegoman at 2:03 PM on October 9, 2010
As always with Apple, speculation means exactly nothing until Steve is up on that stage.
posted by Spacelegoman at 2:03 PM on October 9, 2010
I think the odds are slim for the iPad to be updated more than once a year; it'd be fairly out of pattern for Apple. It might get announced early in the year, but it won't be released then.
I'm going to go contrary to the crowd, and suggest you get one now, if you have the money to spend and it does what you want it to do. The resale market for iPhones has been great, and there's no reason to expect that the iPad won't be as good -- I've owned every iPhone, and have sold each of them for more than enough to pay for upgrading each year.
The key is keeping it in good condition -- buy a decent case (or at least a Gelaskin), and a screen protector (I'm very happy with the Power Support non-glare on mine), save your box, and keep the accessories in good shape, and if the next generation offers something you want, sell the current one on Gazelle or a similar service, and buy the new one.
Odds are good that the upgrade will cost you little, and in the meantime, you get to use and enjoy the current generation without waiting.
posted by nonliteral at 2:22 PM on October 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm going to go contrary to the crowd, and suggest you get one now, if you have the money to spend and it does what you want it to do. The resale market for iPhones has been great, and there's no reason to expect that the iPad won't be as good -- I've owned every iPhone, and have sold each of them for more than enough to pay for upgrading each year.
The key is keeping it in good condition -- buy a decent case (or at least a Gelaskin), and a screen protector (I'm very happy with the Power Support non-glare on mine), save your box, and keep the accessories in good shape, and if the next generation offers something you want, sell the current one on Gazelle or a similar service, and buy the new one.
Odds are good that the upgrade will cost you little, and in the meantime, you get to use and enjoy the current generation without waiting.
posted by nonliteral at 2:22 PM on October 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
Another possible change would to make it only 3G and get rid of the wifi only one. The current markup for 3G is fairly ludicrous compared to the cost to Apple.
posted by smackfu at 2:24 PM on October 9, 2010
posted by smackfu at 2:24 PM on October 9, 2010
A little further on resale and upgrading -- if you decide to do it, don't wait; the value is highest pretty much at the launch of the next generation. I put my 3GS on Gazelle while watching the iPhone 4 keynote coverage; three days later, my son did the same with his, and his guaranteed quote was about 10% less than mine for the same condition. The quote was guaranteed for long enough that I could have my new phone in hand before shipping off the old.
posted by nonliteral at 2:28 PM on October 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by nonliteral at 2:28 PM on October 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm actually testing out the Ipad right now on this post, and it's totally cool, but if there is and upgrade coming out so soon, I'd wait. Odds are you'll either be able to get a camera or get this version cheaper. Hey, maybe even ask folks on the holiday to contribute to your Ipad fund in lieu of gifts for the holiday? With ten minutes use, it's pretty cool but not something I couldn't wait a couple of months for a better model or cheaper options of price.
posted by eatdonuts at 2:35 PM on October 9, 2010
posted by eatdonuts at 2:35 PM on October 9, 2010
Existing ipads will all be able to get the ios 4.2 upgrade when it is released in November, so you don't need to wait for that.
posted by mattholomew at 2:48 PM on October 9, 2010
posted by mattholomew at 2:48 PM on October 9, 2010
Honestly.. I'd be seriously surprised if Apple releases a 2nd (smaller) iPad as soon as January. (I'll be surprised if they release it by summer 2011). The 1st Gen iPad is selling incredibly well.. and it would be really out of character for Apple to release a competing option so soon. The existing iPad is scheduled to get a pretty major software update in about a month... so they only possible thing you'd be missing out on potentially would be newer hardware. It's up to you to decide if hardware rumors are worth waiting for.
I own a 64gig WiFi/3G iPad.. and it's pretty sweet. Battery life is great, the big screen is amazingly useful and a variety of apps make it do pretty much anything I need. (non-jailbroken and not planning on it)
posted by jmnugent at 3:04 PM on October 9, 2010
I own a 64gig WiFi/3G iPad.. and it's pretty sweet. Battery life is great, the big screen is amazingly useful and a variety of apps make it do pretty much anything I need. (non-jailbroken and not planning on it)
posted by jmnugent at 3:04 PM on October 9, 2010
I very much doubt the camera and size speculation in this thread--I don't see why either change fits this device. The size would make it more Kindle-like, which surely Apple doesn't want, and the camera would be supremely awkward to use.
That said, you and I have no idea what they're really going to do. The next one will be cooler, but isn't that always the case? I like mine and I doubt I will be kicking myself for not waiting.
posted by lackutrol at 3:06 PM on October 9, 2010
That said, you and I have no idea what they're really going to do. The next one will be cooler, but isn't that always the case? I like mine and I doubt I will be kicking myself for not waiting.
posted by lackutrol at 3:06 PM on October 9, 2010
Apple is generally pretty reliable about release cycles on their media devices - they update the iphone every year in the summer and ipods every year in the fall. You can see this pattern at the Mac Rumors Buyer's Guide.
I think it's reasonable to expect that iPad updates will follow a similar trend - updating about once a year. The question is when that cycle is going to take place. The iPad was announced at the end of January, but didn't ship until April. This is an unusually long gap between announcement and shipping for Apple. They generally like to announce things and start shipping them in a few weeks to avoid the appearance of vaporware (and limit their competitors' time to mimic).
I think the most credible argument is that Apple would really like to be on a January cycle for iPads and might actually have something ready for shipping 9 months from the last ship date because they had a bunch of obvious and easy changes to make: update the screen, add a front-facing camera, etc. Apple doesn't worry about cannibalizing existing products at all, the notion that 9 months is too soon to replace a product is not borne out in previous release data. Apple release stuff 9 months after previous versions all the time. Still, they might have trouble getting them out the door in time and push back to April. Apple still hasn't managed to ship a white iPhone 4G as promised, so they're clearly not immune to manufacturing and supply chain issues.
Bottom line: there will almost certainly be a new iPad between January and April of next year. Whether you want to wait or not depends on how much the potential new features matter to you. Personally, I think you should buy now. Front facing camera is going to matter a hell of a lot less to most people than people think it does. I've used (or seen used) the front facing iPhone 4 camera twice since I got it, and unless you're a serious video chatter, it strikes me as a non-feature. I think the core iPad experience is in the current device and it's not going to change in really fundamental ways in the next revision, plus there's some uncertainty about when that revision will be.
posted by heresiarch at 3:47 PM on October 9, 2010
I think it's reasonable to expect that iPad updates will follow a similar trend - updating about once a year. The question is when that cycle is going to take place. The iPad was announced at the end of January, but didn't ship until April. This is an unusually long gap between announcement and shipping for Apple. They generally like to announce things and start shipping them in a few weeks to avoid the appearance of vaporware (and limit their competitors' time to mimic).
I think the most credible argument is that Apple would really like to be on a January cycle for iPads and might actually have something ready for shipping 9 months from the last ship date because they had a bunch of obvious and easy changes to make: update the screen, add a front-facing camera, etc. Apple doesn't worry about cannibalizing existing products at all, the notion that 9 months is too soon to replace a product is not borne out in previous release data. Apple release stuff 9 months after previous versions all the time. Still, they might have trouble getting them out the door in time and push back to April. Apple still hasn't managed to ship a white iPhone 4G as promised, so they're clearly not immune to manufacturing and supply chain issues.
Bottom line: there will almost certainly be a new iPad between January and April of next year. Whether you want to wait or not depends on how much the potential new features matter to you. Personally, I think you should buy now. Front facing camera is going to matter a hell of a lot less to most people than people think it does. I've used (or seen used) the front facing iPhone 4 camera twice since I got it, and unless you're a serious video chatter, it strikes me as a non-feature. I think the core iPad experience is in the current device and it's not going to change in really fundamental ways in the next revision, plus there's some uncertainty about when that revision will be.
posted by heresiarch at 3:47 PM on October 9, 2010
Seeing as it took apple forever to come out with the first ipad, I don't see why they'd want to cut into the sales of the first model, considering there's no competing product on the scene and how pissed all the early buyers would be.
Also, a larger retina display might ruin the pricing of the thing, so I wouldn't expect it any time soon.
posted by bonobothegreat at 4:48 PM on October 9, 2010
Also, a larger retina display might ruin the pricing of the thing, so I wouldn't expect it any time soon.
posted by bonobothegreat at 4:48 PM on October 9, 2010
I've always found that Apple products are better the second time around. While 1st gen products might be pretty great, they almost always improve by leaps and bounds in the 2nd gen. I'm planning on getting my wife a 2nd gen ipad, though it'd be nice if it was around for the holidays (hint, hint, Apple).
posted by Ghidorah at 5:48 PM on October 9, 2010
posted by Ghidorah at 5:48 PM on October 9, 2010
You're placing yourself in an impossible situation. If you buy now, you'll be happy, until 2nd one comes out. If you wait, you'll be unhappy until the 2nd one comes out.
Yet all you want to do is this: "internet browsing, app-game playing, and reading (using the Kindle app). I also plan to take it (with the add-on keyboard), to meetings and conferences, for some light note taking. Finally, I hope to find a good remote desktop app so that I can do a little bit of work away from home (at meetings, etc.) without lugging my laptop around."
When the 2nd version comes out, it's not like you'll suddenly be unable to do the above things. So why wait? Buy one now and enjoy the hell out of it. When the 2nd one comes out, either sell the first one and put the money towards buying that 2nd version or continue enjoying what you have? By setting yourself up to be unhappy in some way no matter what you choose, you've already lost. So choose to be happy with what you have.
posted by nomadicink at 6:24 PM on October 9, 2010 [3 favorites]
Yet all you want to do is this: "internet browsing, app-game playing, and reading (using the Kindle app). I also plan to take it (with the add-on keyboard), to meetings and conferences, for some light note taking. Finally, I hope to find a good remote desktop app so that I can do a little bit of work away from home (at meetings, etc.) without lugging my laptop around."
When the 2nd version comes out, it's not like you'll suddenly be unable to do the above things. So why wait? Buy one now and enjoy the hell out of it. When the 2nd one comes out, either sell the first one and put the money towards buying that 2nd version or continue enjoying what you have? By setting yourself up to be unhappy in some way no matter what you choose, you've already lost. So choose to be happy with what you have.
posted by nomadicink at 6:24 PM on October 9, 2010 [3 favorites]
This is Apple we're talking about. It is simply impossible to know what features it will or will not have unless you work on the team designing it. Sure, it might have a camera or two, or a retina display, or be 7" instead of 9.7". Then again it might not. Is it worth it to you to wait 3 to 6 months or more to find out? IMO, iOS 4.2 is a bigger deal than any of that other stuff, and all current iPads will get it for free next month.
The current iPad does everything you said you want. I say buy now and sell later if it turns out you can't live without some amazing killer feature of the next version.
posted by Nothlit at 8:33 PM on October 9, 2010
The current iPad does everything you said you want. I say buy now and sell later if it turns out you can't live without some amazing killer feature of the next version.
posted by Nothlit at 8:33 PM on October 9, 2010
Buy one now, get to know it. When the new model comes out you will probably be able to unload it with out losing too much on your investment and have a leg up on using the device.
posted by bkeene12 at 8:41 PM on October 9, 2010
posted by bkeene12 at 8:41 PM on October 9, 2010
News Flash: Steve seems to definitively answer the question RE: the possibility of smaller iPads.
posted by jmnugent at 4:53 PM on October 18, 2010
posted by jmnugent at 4:53 PM on October 18, 2010
I had the same concerns but it was just my birthday so I decided I wanted it now. I'm so glad I did. I'm having a great experience with it. Using MiFi (Verizon).
People who say it's just for "media consumption" are really limiting themselves. I'm composing music (with Piano Pro), writing songs (with Smart Note for notation), taking regular notes, and sketching with a stylus I bought. I'm already pretty damned good with the virtual keyboard.
I got the Apple case with it which wraps it like a folio. I just took a six-hour bus ride and it was so comfortable to cuddle with in the seat, just like a book. I would have been miserable with my regular laptop. When the text is too small I pinch it larger. It's very PERSONAL, like an extension of yourself, more than a laptop is. And a phone's screen is just too small to read for long periods of time comfortably.
I would never use a video webcam. Who wants to be seen?
And it's too big to be your real camera so no need to wait for that.
I suggest you buy one now. I'm really shocked at how attached to this thing I've become.
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:26 PM on October 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
People who say it's just for "media consumption" are really limiting themselves. I'm composing music (with Piano Pro), writing songs (with Smart Note for notation), taking regular notes, and sketching with a stylus I bought. I'm already pretty damned good with the virtual keyboard.
I got the Apple case with it which wraps it like a folio. I just took a six-hour bus ride and it was so comfortable to cuddle with in the seat, just like a book. I would have been miserable with my regular laptop. When the text is too small I pinch it larger. It's very PERSONAL, like an extension of yourself, more than a laptop is. And a phone's screen is just too small to read for long periods of time comfortably.
I would never use a video webcam. Who wants to be seen?
And it's too big to be your real camera so no need to wait for that.
I suggest you buy one now. I'm really shocked at how attached to this thing I've become.
posted by DMelanogaster at 7:26 PM on October 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
That's my plan. Of course, I'm not really motivated to get one except as a gaming and skyping platform.
posted by jeffamaphone at 1:31 PM on October 9, 2010