I have an iPad as many of you have probably guessed by my blog posts, and I use it all the time. In fact I am righting this post on the iPad right now including writing in html tags like italics and bold . But I am struggling with the decision to buy a new one or not. The technical specifications make it appealing, but it is certainly not a revolutionary device. In fact, there is much speculation as to wether there will be an iPad 3 this year. I personally do not thing that will happen.
Why buy?
There are many compelling reasons to not buy an iPad if you already have one. The main reason is that the new one has mostly comsmetic features and speed updates. The processor is considerably faster, but if you have never seen a performance issue, then why do you need it. And sure there is not a front and rear facing camera, but these are really only good for facetime. Do you really see yourself carrying around an iPad taking video of your kids soccer game? Plus there is this rumor already circulating saying that the iPad 3 may be released in the late fall. And there was no screen size update.
Why not buy?
If you do not have an iPad and have been pining for one I say now is the time. That aside, if you already have an iPad, there are a few compelling reasons to buy. The main one is the speed. I have seen performance issues myself that while they aren’t bad at all, they take time out from my workflow. Along with this speed increase comes two new apps for iMovie and Garage Band. And the other compelling reason is that it is 30% lighter and ergonomically better to hold. I have not personally held it yet, but from what I understand, it feels much better and easier to hold. This is a big one for me as I read a lot in bed. The final reason to buy is the front and rear facing camera’s. If you travel, and have a loved one with Skype or Facetime on an iPhone or Mac, this will be very nice.
What to do with your old iPad
There are lots of things you can do with your old iPad. For me, it will be come a tablet for my kids. There are pretty good parental controls built in and a ton of educational games and videos for kids. But if you want to get money back there is always sites like eBay and CraigList. In fact I sold my first iPad on CraigsList and got some good money out of it. If you don’t want to go to that hassle and don’t mind losing 50% on your investment, there are companies like Gazelle that will give you good money for your iPad hassle free. In fact, Gazelle is a good place to use all of your old unused gadgets. You go out to the site, tell them details about your gadget, and they give you money for it. They even pay for shipping and you can get a box from them if you don’t have one. I sold my Flip Mino HD camera this way.
Will I buy
The answer to whether I am going to buy an iPad 2, the answer is probably. I use my iPad all the time and it is an investment for me that I think is worth it. The answer to that question remains to be seen when I hold it in my hands on Friday.
Posted on March 8, 2011