Buy An iPad Now or Wait For iPad v2.0?
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Over the last week the internet has been awash with rumours of a new iPad 2.0. With a possible launch date as early as 1st Quarter 2011. So in what is traditionally the busiest shopping period of the year the buyer is faced with a problem. Buy an iPad now or wait until the new version is out.
What should you do?
Macworld posted a great summary as to what new features could be expected in it’s iPad Quandry article, which although interestin is purely an educated guess on Macworld’s part as Apple hasn’t issued any statement on the subject. But, with over 4 million iPads sold in the 4th quarter, it’s clear that a lot of other companies are going to be after Apple’s lunch, so to maintain it’s edge Apple is going to have to keep on top of development for the iPad.
No one would deny that to stay market leader you need to be innovative and continually develop your products. What is more you only have to look at Apple issuing a new iPhone for the last couple of years to realise that a iPad v2.0 is highly likely.
With this expectation around a new product launch this creates a big problem for buyers. Although the problem they face is the same problem that has affected purchasers of technology products for years. At some point there will be a better, cheaper model which will come along. In fact Gordon Moore the co-founder of Intel gave his name to Moore’s Law where it is stated that every 2 years the price of computer hardware halves whilst the performance doubles.
To my mind though it’s not about whether you should buy now or wait to buy the new iPad.
What you should do is decide what you want
Not only is this what you should do when deciding on whether to buy the current iPad or wait for he next version, it’s what you should do when you’re making any sizeable purchase.
Decide on what you want
If you don’t know what your requirements are, then how do you know if you’ve got what you want or more importantly, what you need.
According to the Macworld article, the new iPad will come with a front facing camera which will allow you to undertake Face Time video calls (but not Skype video calls) and is highly likely to be lighter in order to compete with Amazon’s Kindle.
If these features are important to you, then you’d be best off to wait for the new version or buy a product more suited to your needs. If these features aren’t important, then you can buy it now.
So, on a sheet of paper, list out what you want from your device and match those needs off with your proposed product purchase.
If the product meets over 80% of your requirements, then it time for you to buy.
If it doesn’t then you shouldn’t be buying it….
What do you think? Do let us know in the comments below.
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What a very sensible solution Matthew. I actually went through a similar process when thinking about whether I actually want an iPad at all. I’d been seduced by the idea of having one but seeing as I already have an iPhone and MacBook I forced myself to think about what I’d use it for. Conclusion? Ebooks. £499 for a colour ereader seemed a bit steep so I took it off my list
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I have been debating this for a while myself. I think the IPADS have a heavy “cool” factor. Your ideas are good ones, but there is also a great chance to SAVE greatly on ipads if your buy AFTER the release of the 2.0. Apple itself might offer the remaining stock at greatly reduced price, and people who have to have the “latest and greatest” might offer them on craigslist or eBay for greatly reduced prices.
It might not work out, but I am waiting to get one for a serious discount from current prices, since I have no NEED for one…it just seems like a fun TOY.
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Matthew Needham Reply:
December 16th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Oooh yes, without doubt. Definite very cool. You’re right of course, especially if you’re not in any hurray. I saw an interview with Kevin Rose from Digg and he said that he found them too distracting especially as an e-reader, so he bought a kindle to read books on an iPad as a toy.
In the UK our sales tax increases in January, so it could be a trigger for people to buy one before then.
Thanks for the comment Steve, good to have you around.
Hi Matthew,
]
I agree with El. I’ve only had my macbook for just over a year and we’re so happy together [cheesy smile
So, I guess you are right. For me, i’m not at 80% with it and can’t see when I will be in the near future.
What about you? Seduced by the shining slim silverness?
Adrian
Adrian Swinscoe´s last [type] ..What icebergs can teach us about real and lasting change in business
Matthew Needham Reply:
December 16th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Hi Adrian, definitely seduced, who wouldn’t be?! They are gorgeous. Like you I love my MacBook Pro which more than meets my needs. However, if I was travelling more on the train, then I’d probably get one, as a smaller/slimer/lighter alternative. If I was into eBooks then I think the Kindle is probably better than the iPad, but then it all depends what you want to use it for.
I feel like such a flake. You’re not going to believe what I’ve done. I was in Cardiff for the day yesterday with the BFG and, having decided to get a colour ereader instead of an iPad, we went into a well known high street electrical retailer to look at the options. And then I did something that turned out to be fatal. I had another little play on the iPad.
We ended the day agreeing that I’d save 10% of my income from HaE to buy an iPad but that I’d get the £100 ereader for the interim. But £100 is a fifth of the cost of an iPad so I wondered if it was wasteful to spend that if, ultimately, I’d get an iPad.
Then this morning Apple, for one day only, are offering £35 off the iPad. So guess what I’ve done? I’ve gone back to plan a and am having one as a joint present for Christmas from all my family members.
Flakey or what? That said, I did take your advice Matthew and weigh up the pros and cons of buying now or next year. Face time calls without Skype were not a consideration for me. I don’t want another 3G contract.
Oooh and another good thing is I bought via
TheGivingMachine.co.uk so 1.5% of my purchase price goes to Give A Brick. Result I’d say
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Matthew Needham Reply:
December 16th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Ha! and I thought it was just boys who were seduced by shiny toys!?
Well, another good reason for you buying it before January 1st if you were having one anyway, is that you’ll have avoided the VAT increase.
Hope you love it and have great fun with it.
Matthew:
I go through stages when it comes to wanting an iPad. Somedays I think it would be cool to have it then other days I worry that my kids would break it. With this quandry I am sure that I will wait until 2.0 comes out, then again I could probably get the older version on the cheap. Great another quandry.
Take care,
- Rick
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Matthew Needham Reply:
December 16th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Rick, I know what you mean! I think they are pretty cool devices too. But I think there’s a big difference between wanting one and needing one. For me the lack of the USB to connect my camera is a big draw back, but if it meets your needs and you can afford it, then by one.
My friend has just had an iPod Touch. You should see the state of it that her 2 year old has left it in. I can only imagine (with horror) what state an iPad would be in!
Thanks for the comemtns (apologies for the delayed response – site redesign!)
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