Do I Want to Buy an iPad?

I bought. Because...

a) who would use a camera with something the size of an iPad. I'm not the sit at the laptop and live stream chat kind of woman. No camera = who the heck cares.

b) Flash is old, outdated, and in a mobile society totally ridiculous for any site that wants to be used regularly - by me at least. If a site has flash and I can't se it on my iPhone or iPad, then it's their loss that they won't get my page views. No flash support = who cares.

c) The weight of it is so much BETTER than the Kindle. I refused to buy a Kindle because of it's cheap plasticky feel, which carries over to the weight of it. Weight = Just about perfect.

d) price of $500 was fine by me. Not pricey at all - and what makes you think 2nd is going to be cheaper. 2nd Gen iPhone wasn't cheaper.

I bought, I'm thrilled with it and I'm surprised you suggested I wait.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

If I already had a Kindle, I wouldn't have bought the iPad - at least not until I could figure out how to gift the Kindle to a kid and upgradeto iPad for myself.

My mom has a Kindle that she loved, at first, but almost never uses now - she just reads books on the Kindle app for iPhone. I told her not to buy an iPad. She'd love it but she already splurged on the dumb Kindle. She should just hang onto that. (Or drop it. lol. I have never been a Kindle fan.)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

What did you buy? (And ignore me while I try to figure out which mall you went to. We really should meet in person someday. Want to come over and play with my iPad? Meet Wilma the Prairie Dog?)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

The 3g factor is really what I was weighing. In the end, I was happy to buy with just good ole wifi.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

I tried an I-Pad, but it wouldn't stick to my panties ;) Oh well...back to the drawing board! Keep us posted on how yours goes though!

My post will go up today. :-)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

Whadya decide? I thought of you when I saw the write up in yesterday's Wall Street Journal. Are you unboxing at this very moment?

Adela
www.oncealittlegirl.wordpress.com ( http://www.oncealittlegirl.wordpress.com )
www.theblacktortoise.com ( http://www.theblacktortoise.com )

We just spent two days with our new iPads and wrote it up in a review: http://www.techlicious.com/review/he-said-she-said-a-hands-on-review-of-... ( http://www.techlicious.com/review/he-said-she-said-a-hands-on-review-of-the-apple-ipad/ ).

It is a great product, especially for its entertainment features (eBooks, video, games), and ease-of-use, and form factor. But it is not perfect - no camera, won't handle Flash, heavier than dedicated eBook readers like Kindle, difficult/costly to use with external accesories (e.g. a printer).

The price starts at $499 and you'll definitely want a case ($39) and probably the optional 6' power cord ($29). If you'll be using it for writing, you'll want the external keyboard too ($69). So you're in the cost territory of some pretty powerful notebooks.

Unless you really must get one to be the envy of your non-iPad friends (and there's nothing wrong with that!), I would wait for the next generation. Prices are bound to come down and features to go up (as they did with the iPods and iPhones).

Josh Kirschner
Techlicious.com

Like a first edition car, you need to wait until all the bugs are out. Buy it in a year or two.

But then what do I know. I didn't get a smart phone (Blackberry) until late last year, and am still lugging around an old iPod when I travel. Plus, what the heck would I do with my Kindle and netbook? Sell them I guess?

I think I'll pass on the iPad, at least for now. Maybe later when the 3G version comes out, or maybe not even then.

But may I say that I am headed to the Sony Style store in a bit and I am kind of dreading the fact that it is in the same mall as the Apple Store :)

vomviersen :: Kathi Wilson
http://rottweilers.brilliant-disguise.net/
Chicago, IL

Obviously no camera is no deal-breaker for me, but to your other point: Apple is the best when it comes to regular upgrades and bug fixes, especially for a device like a phone? A very different experience than I had with Palm/Treos, that's for sure. I'm so not worried about that angle.

Elisa Camahort Page
BlogHer
elisa@blogher.com
My BlogHer profile truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

I can see it as a portable video viewing device or e-reader but seriously, you are totally locked into a proprietary system.

When the bugs start to creep out (and they will) from the fan boys and girls many a tear will be shed. There will be heartbreak until, slowly Apple makes it right.

For a cost.

For me, no camera, no deal. Fuggetabout it.
I will walk past the Apple store today. I will be shaky and want to wavier but I have hardened my heart.

2nd and 3rd generation is worth the wait.

Gena Haskett is a BlogHer CE.
Blogs:Out On The Stoop ( http://outonthestoop.blogspot.com ) and Create Video Notebook
( http://createvideonotebook.blogspot.com )

Either for Sony Style, Apple Store, or Mario Tricoci, I will be at Old Orchard again soon enough!

vomviersen :: Kathi Wilson
http://rottweilers.brilliant-disguise.net/
Chicago, IL

I would love to meet you and Wilma sometime hopefully sooner rather than later :)

I was at Old Orchard, and I wasn't buying, just dropping off a laptop for a warranty cooling fan replacement.

vomviersen :: Kathi Wilson
http://rottweilers.brilliant-disguise.net/
Chicago, IL

OK Maybe a few minutes more than five but you were so close to my house - it's just crazy that you didn't stop by. (Not that I'd have been home because... my life was nuts that day.)

Seriously, the next time you head to Old Orchard, call me - you can stop by. Really.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

to come out right when I got my tax refund for precisely this reason.

I will definitely be getting one. I might wait for the 3G version though.

I do a lot of one-day business trips where I don't always want to lug my laptop along, but being totally reliant on my phone is also a pain. Plus, shiny!

Landismom blogs at

If I could afford to buy another one, I'd give it to you. Heh.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

You know you want one ... or you wouldn't have blogged about it. You've already talked yourself into it, but now you can blame it on us! I say: Life is short and you can't take that money with you. Thrifty is good, but you are being thrifty so you can afford the things that make life fun.
iPad will make your life fun. And, you can blog about it!

Shelly Kneupper Tucker

writes at This Eclectic Life ( http://thiseclecticlife.com/ )

Twitter handle: @shellyktucker

When I saw the iPhone, I could honestly say I lusted after that gadget. "I want that." I said with eyes dilated.
"Not now." G-Money said, with a look of panic on his face. "Wait for the second generation."
"I know, I know. I am just owning that I am lusting after an iPhone, like I've never lusted after anything before." That got G-Money looking all hang-dog, so I quickly added, "Except for you, honey." (could have been a white-ish lie.)
But G-Money was right. I waited, it was worth the wait. I love the darned thing, like no other gadget.
I'm reading all about the iPad and even Wired is touting it as something that will push us into the future of computing.
But, hey, delayed gratification is a good thing, right? My suggestion, stick with G-Money's advice and wait, the price will come down, and the few bugs will be exterminated.
Disclaimer: I'm not much of a "thing" person, or a fashion watcher. Someone takes me aside and gently reminds me that my 15 year old coat could use some updating. But I do have a thing for gadgets: got an iPhone, got a Kindle: love them both.

Adela
www.oncealittlegirl.wordpress.com ( http://www.oncealittlegirl.wordpress.com )
www.theblacktortoise.com ( http://www.theblacktortoise.com )

I also lusted after the iPhone. I also lusted after Tablet PCs. I waited almost a year for the iPhone. I waited 18 months for a Tablet PC.

(The price didn't go down on either before I purchased. But I did buy a refurbished tablet... man I loved that machine. I still love it even though it's moved into one of the girls' rooms. lol.)

I have a sneaking feeling that I'm not going to wait for the iPad. I wish I hadn't waited for the iPhone or the Tablet. Waiting didn't get me a better or cheaper product in either case.

It sounds like I've kind of made up my mind, doesn't it? I think it was seeing Steve on the home page, holding MY iPad, that did it.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

Go buy one, there's an Apple store near you!

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

Personally I like Melissa's suggestion the best.

And I want one, too. Wait, no I don't. But wait, I do!

I just am not sure I have enough good reasons for buying one. I'm close though.

Also amused by how many people suggest I buy them one. Y'all are funny.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

I have the perfect plan. Buy me one. I'll test it for you and let you know if it's worth shelling out the money again for your own :-)

I have to admit that I want one but I can't completely put my finger on the "why" and that is the reason we aren't spending the money yet.

Melissa writes Stirrup Queens ( http://stirrup-queens.com ) and Lost and Found ( http://lostandfoundandconnectionsabound.blogspot.com/ ). Her book is Navigating the Land of If ( http://thelandofif.blogspot.com/ ).

No seriously. I can see you walking around the bay with your tablet, jaunting into cool restaurants and wine bars - and when you move north... perfect, it will be perfect for you.

One iPad! Sold to Hedonia!

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

BlogHer Food 10 FTW!

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

I don't think there's going to be a price war - or if there is we'll see it happen in the cost of books and we'll see the kindle go down again in price (and the Nook and the Sony.)

Maybe a year from now - two years - Jobs isn't good at reducing prices. He tends to just give more bells & whistles for the same price in future releases.

But, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is a luxury item that won't resonate and we'll see the price drop. Or the luxury item that leads to a super luxury item that causes a price drop on the initial apparatus?

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

Our aging G5 tower has bitten the dust, and my laptop is now acting a little wonky. Considering most of what I need a computer for is email, writing and the occasional amusement, the iPad could potentially become my full-time computer. For that, it's a total bargain.

And registered for BlogHer Food. I'm pretty content with that decision.

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey also blogs at Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca ).

My husband who has a hard time reading up close wants one! I am hoping that they come down a little in price by christmas or a price war starts with Kindle!

www.thejerseyshort.com ( http://www.thejerseyshort.com )

Interesting - who would I show off to? Hah. I mean seriously. I work from home. My socializing is done almost completely online. I don't have time to blog much about any new product I get (I don't have time to blog much about anything.) Nope, not showing off.

And, if we wait for tech to come out bug free, we'd all be sitting around twiddling our thumbs and waiting for fire. There are bugs in every product and every launch. I don't think the bug factor is a reason to wait.

As for price, do you think Apple's going to lower it soon? It took a long time to get lower prices on other Apple products (and by the time we did, many of us were in the market for new products anyway.) If I really thought the price would drop early, I'd be more likely to wait. But I don't think it's going to.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

I really do think you'll enjoy yours. I think it suits you for a lot of reasons.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

Because I'm thrifty - very thrifty. I'm usually happy to wait and TW is the one who says let's get one. This time, I want one now and she's saying wait til next year, they'll be 4g. And I'm thinking why do I care about 4g???

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

You need a device that's portable and you'll be very popular in the office.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net/ )

My goodness, come up for air about this ipod.
I bet there will be bugs in this very cool toy.
Wait for the price to drop, you don't have to be the first one on the block to show one off.

Cheap is cool!!

Like you I'm not really spendy, so every now and then I splurge. This is this year's splurge :)

Elisa Camahort Page
BlogHer
elisa@blogher.com
My BlogHer profile truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

I really, really want one. I love to try new things. I'm always the first of my friends to get (random) things, especially on the tech side of things and, therefore, I think I need one.

Think being the important word. I don't need one. I just think I do. ;)

@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom ) from Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and
The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com )

i rarely buy a first generation device - why should I spend my hard-earned money to help a company like Apple do user testing? But in this case I really do need a new home computer....hmmmm, what to do ...