Ipad or IPad2? Those who have one, please help!

[mtquinn]

For those who have an IPad, specifically just the WI FI model, this thread is aimed at you. I am thinking of getting my DH a 32 gb wi fi IPad...first gen, for his 40th bday. To make it a bit more affordable, I was going to go for a refurb.

Would you recommend this, or should I bite the bullet and get him the IPad2? I see that it has a faster processor and is thinner. Mainly, he would use it for playing around, reading the paper, surfing the web and putting movies on it for the kids to watch in the car, etc. No serious high tech stuff. No Skype-ing.

Is the first gen just fine for that? Does it load web pages annoyingly slow on a wi fi signal when the pages have a lot of graphics? That would get on his nerves eventually, I know. But, I also know that he thinks as cool as the IPad is, it is a bit overpriced for what is essentially a big IPhone (which we both have already). He is a gadget guy, though, and I know he would like to have one for the fun of it.

So, save some $ and get a refurbed first gen, or spend extra and go for the new one?
Thanks!

 

[elmo2wdw]

Save your money and buy the refurbished 32G. I have one and I love it. I use it for the same things and I have no issues. My son watches Netflix on it and You Tube....and he loves it. I am going to get him one for his birthday or Christmas.

 

[toomanycars]

For those who have an IPad, specifically just the WI FI model, this thread is aimed at you. I am thinking of getting my DH a 32 gb wi fi IPad...first gen, for his 40th bday. To make it a bit more affordable, I was going to go for a refurb.

Would you recommend this, or should I bite the bullet and get him the IPad2? I see that it has a faster processor and is thinner. Mainly, he would use it for playing around, reading the paper, surfing the web and putting movies on it for the kids to watch in the car, etc. No serious high tech stuff. No Skype-ing.

Is the first gen just fine for that? Does it load web pages annoyingly slow on a wi fi signal when the pages have a lot of graphics? That would get on his nerves eventually, I know. But, I also know that he thinks as cool as the IPad is, it is a bit overpriced for what is essentially a big IPhone (which we both have already). He is a gadget guy, though, and I know he would like to have one for the fun of it.

So, save some $ and get a refurbed first gen, or spend extra and go for the new one?
Thanks!

We love our iPads. We have 3 in the house and we are not going to upgrade at this time. Web pages load fine with lots of photos. You may want to think about getting the 64G model for the extra space.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

No Ipads at our house, but I have noticed that some retailers are reducing the price of the 1st Gen in preparation of the Ipad2, so you mihg just be able to get a new one for the same price as a refurb. The one place that sticks out is Best Buy, I think they have reduced some of the by as much as $100.

Suzanne

 

[QVCshopper]

I won a 16gb wifi iPad. It's wonderful! I'm not sure you even need the 32gb, I have all of my photos, music, games, apps, etc. and still have at least 7gb left. I think saving digital movies takes up a lot of space. Unless you want or need the cameras, I would just get the first gen and save money.

 

[JB2K]

No Ipads at our house, but I have noticed that some retailers are reducing the price of the 1st Gen in preparation of the Ipad2, so you mihg just be able to get a new one for the same price as a refurb. The one place that sticks out is Best Buy, I think they have reduced some of the by as much as $100.

Suzanne

The price reductions at both Target and Walmart are $100, as well (Apple sets the pricing).

Remember, at Target, if you use their credit/debit card, you can take another 5% off (for many, that's the sales tax).

If you are looking for something for the kids (if you can still find them), the entry-level 1st generation models are perfect, without spending too much money.

For those holding-out for a final "clearance" sale -- don't -- as Apple typcially doesn't go that far with discontinued products.

 

[luvdisney00]

I have the 32gig 1st gen iPad wifi and I love it. I bought refurb for just about the same as the new ones are selling for now at the beginning of Feb. I would not be afraid to get a refurb directly from apple, but at this point if you can get new for the same price , get the new one. As far a the iPad2 goes it's the camera that really makes the difference. If you think he might want the camera go for the new one. As far as other differences,it is "lighter" (0.2lbs lighter ) the edges are smoother (most people keep them in cases and you don't feel the edges) and 9x faster (upgrade to OS should be released this week which will make the iPad1 faster too). The camera is the major difference. I know my teens didn't want one without the camera, and I could care less., I don't scype or ovoo and I'm certainly not going to take pictures with my iPad, I have a phone and a camera for that. You have to figure out what your DH would want.

 

[DawnM]

Does the ipad 2 have less glare for reading books?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

The price reductions at both Target and Walmart are $100, as well (Apple sets the pricing).

Remember, at Target, if you use their credit/debit card, you can take another 5% off (for many, that's the sales tax).

If you are looking for something for the kids (if you can still find them), the entry-level 1st generation models are perfect, without spending too much money.

For those holding-out for a final "clearance" sale -- don't -- as Apple typcially doesn't go that far with discontinued products.

I have thought about getting one now that they have been reduced in price, but I don't really think it can do anymore for me than my Ipod Touch 32G, which is alot more portable. And because I need a laptop, I don't need or want the expense of both.

Suzanne

 

[SuzanneSLO]

There is a great article about deciding both between the iPad and the iPad 2 and which model to buy posted here: http://www.marco.org/3716727900

John Gruber also has some good thoughts (more on upgrading for those who already have an iPad) in his review today of the iPad 2 at daringfireball.

We have an iPad and love it. We are deciding whether to buy another iPad (its pretty hard to share) or a MacBook Air. We have an iPhone 3GS and if we had upgraded to an iPhone 4, we would be buying the MBA and using our iPhone as a hotspot. Without the iPhone 4, we are in a quandry of neurotic indecision. -- Suzanne

 

[DawnM]

Well, I got the laptop, and then bought the ipod touch a year later and now I am getting an ipad! And you know what? I am also getting a new desktop Apple this summer!

Now, please understand that there are 5 of us in the house so it isn't like this is all for me personally.

And the ipad is coming for free so I will let one of the kids have my ipod maybe.....we will see how much I like the ipad as a replacement or if I want both!

Dawn

I have thought about getting one now that they have been reduced in price, but I don't really think it can do anymore for me than my Ipod Touch 32G, which is alot more portable. And because I need a laptop, I don't need or want the expense of both.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Well, I got the laptop, and then bought the ipod touch a year later and now I am getting an ipad! And you know what? I am also getting a new desktop Apple this summer!

Now, please understand that there are 5 of us in the house so it isn't like this is all for me personally.

And the ipad is coming for free so I will let one of the kids have my ipod maybe.....we will see how much I like the ipad as a replacement or if I want both!

Dawn

Well, we got a new laptop last summer, but DH doesn't really want to share it, he is like a little kid with a toy (he has siblings, you'd think he would know how to share, I on the other hand, was an only child, go figure), and he takes it to work with him and we work opposite shifts, so I am home when he is at work. He uses it to watch movies between moving trucks, I told him he could just take one of the portable DVD players and he said then he would have to actually take the DVD's with him (AND).

I do all of our banking and have to fight him to use it so I can pay bills. So, I am going to get my own laptop. That was when I got to thinking about an Ipad, then realized I needed a laptop to make the Ipad work. Dh and I also have to fight over the current laptop for iTunes.

I am not sure there is a winning solution here.

Suzanne

 

[SoonerSarah]

Last that I looked, the Refurb. iPad 32 Gb was $429. I don't think you are going to find it that cheaply anywhere else. And Apple has free shipping.

I got one just a while ago, about 6 weeks I think. I knew there was a chance that the new one would come out in March/April, or that it could come out in May. I didn't really want to wait until May on the possibility that the refurb. one would further drop in cost, so I decided to go ahead and get it. I have been very, very happy with it.

I waffled for quite a while on if I wanted a Netbook and a Kindle, or the iPad and I finally decided on the iPad. The only issue that I have is that it doesn't support Flash Player and the glare in the sun, but I still can use it in the car. I'm very happy with my decision and I use it a lot daily.

DH was very surprised by the speaker output. He has a 3rd Gen iPod Touch. I would like the smaller size of the iPad 2, and that they say it's easier to hold for reading books, but that to me is not a big deal.

 

[mtquinn]

Has anyone had a problem with the lack of Flash support on the IPad? Does the new one support it?

 

[scboyd]

Has anyone had a problem with the lack of Flash support on the IPad? Does the new one support it?

No problems at all, occasionally I come across a website that has flash that doesn't allow me to view what i want but its so rare it isnt an issue. And no the iPad2 doesn't support flash. Apple is moving away from flash all together so I doubt you will ever see the current incarnation of flash in a future iPad.

Adobe just released a developer tool that converts current websites with flash to html5. This is for web designers so they can convert existing websites into html5. So even adobe realizes that flash days are numbered.

I own an original iPad and personally I would bite the bullet buy the iPad 2. if you buy the original iPad you save $100 dollars. iPad 2 is worth the extra $100 dollars... Faster processor (A5 compared to the A4), more memory (512mb instead of 256mb), will be upgradeable for longer, cameras, definitely worth the extra $100.00

 

[peanut520]

Has anyone had a problem with the lack of Flash support on the IPad? Does the new one support it?

no, and it probably never will.

 

[DawnM]

I see! Well, my husband has a work PC laptop and has no desire to buy his own Apple.....so this one is MINE!

I wanted an iphone but didn't want to pay for the monthly charge so I opted for an ipod touch instead. I do like it, but most of the time the kids end up with it and run it out of battery!

My dad is getting a free ipad from work and doesn't want it and offered it to me.....that is the ONLY reason I am getting an ipad! I really don't have one in the budget.

However, our PC desktop is dying and I DO have enough $$ for an Apple replacement as I have been putting $$ in my ING account all year. I am waiting for the freebies offered to educators in the summer before ordering.

Dawn

Well, we got a new laptop last summer, but DH doesn't really want to share it, he is like a little kid with a toy (he has siblings, you'd think he would know how to share, I on the other hand, was an only child, go figure), and he takes it to work with him and we work opposite shifts, so I am home when he is at work. He uses it to watch movies between moving trucks, I told him he could just take one of the portable DVD players and he said then he would have to actually take the DVD's with him (AND).

I do all of our banking and have to fight him to use it so I can pay bills. So, I am going to get my own laptop. That was when I got to thinking about an Ipad, then realized I needed a laptop to make the Ipad work. Dh and I also have to fight over the current laptop for iTunes.

I am not sure there is a winning solution here.

Suzanne