Should I Buy an iPad?

One of the most asked questions on web forums today is 'Should I Buy an iPad?'. This article is for those who are mulling over buying the Apple iPad in the near future. Reading through this article will help you decide whether buying an iPad would be a worthwhile purchase.



Apple has continued with its tradition of launching products which break conventional rules and create a class of their own. Right from the launch of Mac computers, Macbooks to
 Apple iPhone and Apple iPod, Apple has never disappointed its customers when it comes to delivering quality products. The launch of the Apple iPad was eagerly awaited for quite some time and Apple computers lived up to its reputation in delivering a product, which is widely being hailed as a laptop killer and one of its kind device launched in the market. Still, due to the very unconventional nature of the product and its novelty, people find it tough to decide whether to buy an iPad. People keep asking me 'Why should I buy an iPad?' and 'Should I buy an iPad now or wait?'. So I decided, it would be best to attack the question and present my opinion about it clearly for people.







About Apple iPad


Before we go into a debate about whether an Apple iPad purchase is worth it, let me just give you a brief overview of the features that this new gadget possesses. Apple iPad is classified as a tablet PC which can double up as a media player and an ebook reader with many other extra features. Launched in April 2010, Apple iPad comes in two models which include a 'Wifi only' model and a 'Wifi + 3G' model. This tablet PC comes with a storage capacity of 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. With an Apple A4 CPU and 256 MB RAM, it comes with a 9.7 inch (1024 × 768 pixels) LED backlit LCD screen. It has Wifi as well as bluetooth and assisted GPS connectivity. With all these features, it weighs only 680 to 730 gm. It has neither an ethernet port or a USB port but comes with 3G mobile data connectivity.






It operates with Apple's own iOS and has a lithium polymer battery. It provides a maximum battery life of 10 to 15 hours. Not surprisingly, it's a touchscreen gadget. So as you can see, the Apple iPad is a unique combination of features with minimalistic design that puts it somewhere between a smart phone and a netbook. In the following lines, I have answered some of the major queries regarding the Apple iPad, which will help you get over your dilemma of 'Should I buy an iPad?'. Check out how much does an iPod cost?






Should I Buy an iPad or iPhone?


I guess the answer to this question is pretty simple as the iPhone and iPad are dissimilar creatures. While the iPhone is your media player, camera and phone all bundled into one, it is not a tablet PC. The iPad cannot be a substitute for a phone! So if you are looking for a phone, go for Apple iPhone and if you are looking for a considerably smaller version of a netbook for Internet access on the go, then iPad is the best option to avail.






Should I Buy an iPad or Netbook?


An iPad, despite of its amazing bunch of features, is no substitute for a full scale netbook. If you are going to restrict yourself to a pure Internet browsing experience, then iPad is a good choice, but if you plan to work online, then a netbook is a better choice with its broad keyboard. Also, netbooks are a lot cheaper than the Apple iPad, which is a point worth considering.






Why Should You Buy an iPad?


So why indeed should you buy an iPad? Let us explore the reasons to get an iPad. It all depends on what is its utility value for you. If you are looking for a computer which is more compact than a netbook and want it to double up as a media player, Apple iPad is a good choice. However, if you plan to work online, it is best that you go for a netbook instead. Apple iPad can double up as a handheld ebook reader and a media player while offering full functionality of a PC. So if you think your requirements exactly match with what the Apple iPad has to offer, then go for it! Explore the pros and cons of iPad before jumping to a conclusion.






Should I Buy an iPad Now or Wait?


Some technology observers indicate that it would be wiser to wait for a while before the prices of iPad go down and the initial bugs of a first release are taken care of. It's clear that very few have been listening to these people as Apple iPad sales had already gone beyond 3 million by June itself. However, there have been no major bugs reported with the iPad and customers seem to be happy with what it can do for them. If you already have a netbook or laptop, I don't see the point in going for an Apple iPad. It all depends on what your expectations are and how much of dough you can shell out!






Which iPad Should I Buy?


The iPad cost range varies from $499 to $829 depending on the Wifi / Wifi + 3G option and associated storage capacity that you opt for. This again is entirely dependent on what you are going to use it for. If you are going for it anyway, and have the money to shell out for the product, go for the Wifi + 3G version. If you have budget constraints, go for whichever model that suits your purchasing limits.






I hope this article answered your query which was 'Should I Buy an iPad?'. The decision is quite simple and straightforward if you actually know what you want. It all depends upon your purchasing power and your exact requirement. Considering the price of the product, it makes little sense in buying an Apple iPad, if you already have a compact Macbook or Macbook Pro and an ebook reader. It doesn't add any real extra functionality and comes at quite a high price. On the other hand, if you are a gadget freak and have the dough, Apple iPad is definitely worth buying. The only two questions that you should ask yourself are 'Do I really need the Apple iPad?', 'How will an Apple iPad be useful to me? '. The answers to these two question should help you decide on whether to buy an Apple iPad and if it's really worth it!
 
 
By Gray Pilgrim



Published: 9/28/2010