The iPad Cometh… And I Have Some Questions For You…

Posted on 12 March 2010 by


The first iPad commercial aired during the Academy Awards. My guess is that reactions were pretty predictable. For those of us who are excited about the device the ad only made us want to push the clock forward a few weeks. Those who are less excited about the device saw a fairly typical Apple commercial- sleek, well done but, at the end of the day, not all that interesting.

We all know the Apple iPad went on sale this morning. We know that the WiFi only model will be available on April 3rd and the 3G model will come about a month later. We know that the device starts at a pretty amazing price point of $499 and that, when available, the 3G version will run an extra $130 regardless of the storage capacity. We know that a ton of additional tablets will begin shipping some time soon and that many of them will include such missing items as Flash and a camera for video conferencing.

I’ve ordered mine and I do want one sooner rather than later. (Big surprise.) :)

If the 3G version was shipping on April 3 I would be getting that. Case closed. No thought needed. But it is not. So I thought about which device, and what approach I might take with it. My options? I could…

A. Get a WiFi iPad and live with it.
B. Get a WiFi iPad and look into getting something like a MiFi so that a variety of devices can have 3G connectivity when I am out and about.
C. Get a WiFi iPad now and then get a 3G iPad and eBay the “slightly used” WiFi version.
D. Wait until the 3G iPad comes out. (Not going to happen.)

So my questions to all of you-

1. Are you getting an iPad?

2. If so, which one and why?

3. If you are getting an iPad and you currently have either an iPhone or a touch are you thinking about ditching either of the smaller devices as a result? (Thanks to Doug for this question.)

4. If you ARE NOT planning to get an iPad ARE YOU planning to get one of the other tablets that are on the way? If so, why are you making that choice?


This post was written by:

- who has written 2795 posts on Gear Diary.

Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. +Dan Cohen

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  • http://www.tedesigns.us Travis Ehrlich

    I hope to buy one at the beginning of June. Probably WiFi since there is no 3G here and I am not wanting another monthly data charge. Until then, I will be relying on all of you to keep me informed on it!

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  • http://www.geardiary.com Douglas Moran

    I’m going to grit my teeth and order the 3G model, and resign myself to waiting a few extra weeks. I don’t *think* I’ll ditch my iPhone, but I’ll probably play with the iPad for a few weeks before I make a decision.

    The tough decision will probably come in June, when they release their new iPhone. Oy!

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  • Haesslich

    Waiting for the inevitable 2G version which fixes the issues which may crop up with the current version, just as they did with the Touch 2G/3G. :D AS for the 3G/WiFi question, I’d have to look at whether it’d be more an Internet Tablet for the home with some video/book reading usage (imagine PDF’s on that), or if it’s going to be basically an iPhone replacement which does 3G everywhere for its internet.

    Still, hoping for a 2G with better battery life and whatever fixes are required to address any issues which come up with this generation of iPad. I remember the Touch 1G and iPhone 1G items which only got fixed with the second or third-gen releases. No plans for any other slate computer so far – most of them look either like they’re not going to have any software support at all (versus the very restricted support the iPad has, via iTunes), or else they won’t have battery life improvements or the web browser worth going for versus a netbook PC or an ebook reader. Or any real advantage over an iPod Touch.

  • runningman

    Ordered the wi-fi version. Have no desire for another monthly fee – I’m with Travis on that. Honestly, I don’t understand the concept of ditching my iPhone for this device. Can’t see my self whipping this out in a meeting to update my appointment calendar (just having a little fun here!). I had children specifically so that I could pass down my old iPhones, so I’m up for the G4 iPhone this summer…

    Bill