Buying an iPad

[luke]

Don't worry. Most things are expensive here but I think in regards to mobile communications we are miles ahead of the US (just look at our iPhone tariffs and carriers vs yours!).
Playing with a friends iPad, he got the sim for free and pays £10 a month for 1gb data

I wouldn't get a 3G one myself tho, as I couldn't see many times when I'd use it much when I couldn't just use my phone

 

[alexandra uk]

How much do the ipads cost in th US?

 

[CrazyDuck]

How much do the ipads cost in th US?

$500, $600 and $700 for the 16, 32 and 64 respectively... Add $130 for 3g

 

[tink too]

DH would love to buy one when we visit in October. Where do you recommend we shop - an Apple Store, or a.n.other?

 

[CrazyDuck]

Apple store or Best Buy are the only stores that seem to carry them.

 

[tink too]

Thanks CrazyDuck.

 

[jockey]

My dh has the wifi model that he uses with a mifi, it's jail broken so he can use a t mobile sim whilst in the states for only $1 a day unlimited data, I too will also be able to use my iPhone and iPad through it though I do have the 3G. The mifi could be an alternative to those who don't want the 3G, that way you can use it holiday cheaply too

 

[disneyholic family]

There was still an availibilty issue when I was just there.
I didn't know and stupidly waited until my last week (only then did I decide I wanted one).
When I went into the apple store they said it was a 10 day wait.
I was in the US for 5 weeks!
What an idiot I am for waiting until my last week!!
Guess the ipad will have to wait until December

 

[Cyrano]

There was still an availibilty issue when I was just there.
I didn't know and stupidly waited until my last week (only then did I decide I wanted one).
When I went into the apple store they said it was a 10 day wait.
I was in the US for 5 weeks!
What an idiot I am for waiting until my last week!!
Guess the ipad will have to wait until December

Snap Beth Thankfully the ipad in my case came in after 7 days and I had a courier (SIL) available

 

[heatherbelle]

We don't really buy gifts, and all t shirts etc we buy get delabelled (is that a word ?) - pretty much all stuff we buy is the kind of things we could have got in the UK before we came.

That said, it's price more than anything (plus the fact it's not a necessity - we both have iPhones, although hers is a sloooooooow 3g - at least it feels like that after using my phone ) that leads us towards the base model

Being an ex- HRC official, they can tell where you bought it from the serial number. HMRC customs are very hi-tech these days. Saying that they are also very short staffed, resource stretched and can't check the de-tagged tee-shirts, trainers etc if you've worn them. Strictly speaking if you buy any technology abroad, HMRC recommends that you keep your receipts to show that you have already bought it earlier (on another trip) and if applicable paid any associated duty. So buy one, they have other larger fish to fry!!

 

[wickesy]

Our table mate on our cruise had an Ipad and he used to put it on the table of an evening displaying a slideshow of his photos. I must admit I'm very tempted but they are just a bit too pricey to justify buying one at the moment.

 

[wayneg]

Our table mate on our cruise had an Ipad and he used to put it on the table of an evening displaying a slideshow of his photos. I must admit I'm very tempted but they are just a bit too pricey to justify buying one at the moment.

I had a look at my Brothers last month, nice gadget but I never buy anything til its been out a year or 2, prices drop and they iron out any glitches & memory will be 10+ times what you get now. 1st netbooks I handled(bought and re-sold) were 8GB value £250-300, now the norm is 160-250GB from under £200, never have been one for latest gadgets where my Brother is total opposite, he flew to US to get Ipad when it was launched then sold it on Ebay to get the higher memory & 3G when that came out.

 

[jockey]

I must say my dh and I had no intention of buying an iPad as we have a Macbook and and iMac but then we touched it, we were instantly hooked Lol, now we have one each......ok we are apple fan boys and girls we just cant resist

 

[Cyrano]

I had a look at my Brothers last month, nice gadget but I never buy anything til its been out a year or 2, prices drop and they iron out any glitches & memory will be 10+ times what you get now. 1st netbooks I handled(bought and re-sold) were 8GB value £250-300, now the norm is 160-250GB from under £200, never have been one for latest gadgets where my Brother is total opposite, he flew to US to get Ipad when it was launched then sold it on Ebay to get the higher memory & 3G when that came out.

I sold our netbook as no one liked it. Even if there was a queue for the PC and laptop the netbook remained unused.
The proceeds helped fund the ipad purchase. Now the PC and laptop lie idle while we all queue for the iPad.

I understand what you mean about first adopters. I am sure the next version of the iPad will have a video camera. This is the one item for Skype etc that I miss

 

[jockey]

I sold our netbook as no one liked it. Even if there was a queue for the PC and laptop the netbook remained unused.
The proceeds helped fund the ipad purchase. Now the PC and laptop lie idle while we all queue for the iPad.

I understand what you mean about first adopters. I am sure the next version of the iPad will have a video camera. This is the one item for Skype etc that I miss

I am hoping they will bring out some sort of device we can attach to the ipad. A friend has just brought me the camera adapter back from the states so I can't wait to have a play with that

 

[Disneymad]

I had a look at my Brothers last month, nice gadget but I never buy anything til its been out a year or 2, prices drop and they iron out any glitches & memory will be 10+ times what you get now. 1st netbooks I handled(bought and re-sold) were 8GB value £250-300, now the norm is 160-250GB from under £200, never have been one for latest gadgets where my Brother is total opposite, he flew to US to get Ipad when it was launched then sold it on Ebay to get the higher memory & 3G when that came out.

Annoyingly Apple don't really get in to the price war/drop game at all just tend to buff it up with extras or improvements each time but they tend to keep the bottom line steady. I'm fairly sure the price they are now, is roughly the price they'll remain for the foreseeable future.

That said I do have my own 'rule' like you, to never buy the 1st generation of any new toy so as to let them iron out all the problems. Of course, the launch of the iPad seems to have gone swimmingly well and I've not heard of any real issues with them so it's absolutely killing me now not to give in and get one...WANT!!!

Yes, another Apple Fangirl checking in here

 

[jockey]

Annoyingly Apple don't really get in to the price war/drop game at all just tend to buff it up with extras or improvements each time but they tend to keep the bottom line steady. I'm fairly sure the price they are now, is roughly the price they'll remain for the foreseeable future.

That said I do have my own 'rule' like you, to never buy the 1st generation of any new toy so as to let them iron out all the problems. Of course, the launch of the iPad seems to have gone swimmingly well and I've not heard of any real issues with them so it's absolutely killing me now not to give in and get one...WANT!!!

Yes, another Apple Fangirl checking in here

Good to see another fan girl checking in

 

[disneyholic family]

the reason it took me so long to decide whether i wanted it is because of the price...it really is VERY expensive....even in the US...
how much for the 64? $800? that's a lot of money...

and there's no flash...so i was very hesistant..

actually what i REALLY wanted when i was in the apple store was the iphone4.....
that thing has a wicked camera...unbelievable...

but i'm stuck with the 3GS for now..

 

[luke]

The iPhone 4 camera is pretty good. I like it's inbuilt geotagging too