Apple iPad launch – To buy or not to buy?
The Apple iPad is finally getting into the hands of consumers on April 3. But do you want to pay $500 or more for Apple’s latest gadget, or wait and see what the competition is? And if you are buying, how and where can you do so at launch?
Steve Jobs unveiled the Apple iPad on Jan. 27, 2010. Ten weeks later and it’s going to be available to buy in the U.S. That is, for those who actually want to part with upwards of $500 for an unproven device which is the first big contender in a new line of tablet computers.
Buying an Apple iPad
The iPad presale began on March 12, and it’s estimated that 25,000 units were sold per hour for the first two hours. Customers could order an iPad for delivery on April 3, or reserve one for pickup at an Apple Store of their choosing. The Wi-Fi-only models will be available from April 3, with the 3G models available a few weeks later.
If you haven’t pre-ordered an iPad, you’ll still be able to try and buy one over the weekend at Apple Stores. However, queues are likely to be long, and anyone joining one late will likely miss out. 675 Best Buy stores will also be stocking iPad from 9 a.m. Saturday, but with only 15-per-store, they’ll likely be snapped up fast.
To iPad or Not to iPad?
Now you know how to get hold of an iPad at launch, you have to decide whether you actually want to buy one or not.
Many people were disappointed with the iPad when it was unveiled. The positives are the price, the design (as always), the battery life, and iBooks. But the negatives include no multitasking, no camera, and no Flash support. It’s up to you to decide whether the negatives outweigh the positives. And whether you actually need an iPad to fill the void between your iPhone and your Mac.
The key thing to remember is that the iPad is just one of many touchscreen tablet devices being released over the next year or so. The JooJoo is already out, and the HP Slate (based on Windows 7), and the Microsoft Courier (dual-screen), are all but confirmed to be on their way. Dell, Samsung, Asus, and others are also working on tablets, all of which will offer something different than the iPad.
From tech.blorge.com on March 31, 2010
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