Top 5 reasons why you should not buy an iPad right now
Apple on April 3 started selling the iPad tablet computer, a climactic moment that induced giddy shrieks from scores of tech enthusiasts. And can you blame them? The iPad will probably revolutionize digital content consumption eventually.
But now is not the time to buy one.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs shows off the iPad in January. (AP photo)
Here’s our Top 5 reasons why you should hold off for now:
1. Price. The price range ($499 to $829) is almost certain to slide down within months - a year at the most. People who bought the first version of the iPhone found themselves cursing Apple when the price dropped by a few hundred dollars a couple months after it was introduced.
2. No multitasking. You can’t perform two functions at once with the iPad if one of the applications you want to use is not from Apple. Wait for Apple to integrate multitasking capabilities.
3. Wireless Internet bug. Apple has already acknowledged that some versions of the iPad are having a problem immediately connecting with wireless Internet networks after having been in sleep mode for a while.
4. Not compatible with Adobe’s flash technology. This means that many videos on the Web simply won’t work on the iPad. (By the way, there’s no camera yet either.)
5. Too heavy. It weighs 1.5 pounds, which might not sound like a lot. But I’m willing to bet that within a few years, the first version of the iPad will feel like a behemoth.
Contact AnnArbor.com’s Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com or follow him on Twitter. You can also subscribe to AnnArbor.com Business Review's weekly e-newsletter or the upcoming breaking business news e-newsletter.
Comments
Lokalisierung
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 4:34 p.m.
Duh sorry...Safari...that's what I meant. The USB is a killer for me for sure. But again the biggest thing is it is not a normal PC, so people just have to get over that. Apple is really trying to invent a new market, so there really isn't an equal comparison item for it to go against.
Lokalisierung
Mon, Apr 12, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.
"New York Times' story on Apple lowering the price of the iPhone two months after it was released:" Ouch...got him on that! I appreciate Apple releasing the ipad becasue I think it'll kick up tablet quality a lot to compete with it. It's probably more of a status item than anything, and really there's nothign worng with that. Not everyone is a hardcore computer user and doesn't need all the features of a normal computer. Of all the "cons" for it I think the limiting of choices is my main thing. I could probably learn to not multitask, and end up dealing with Opera. but the tiny hard drives and no USB would be my real functional reason for not getting it.
Nathan Bomey
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 7:27 p.m.
New York Times' story on Apple lowering the price of the iPhone two months after it was released: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/technology/07apple.html
YpsilantiResident
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 7:22 p.m.
There is absolutly no way the price will drop within a "few months", and that didn't happen with the first generation iPhone either. The price WILL NOT change until the next generation iPad is released. Anyone who is even slightly familiar with Apple and their methods of releasing/marketing their items will know this to be fact. And also, Apple will never play nicely with Adobe's Flash software, that has already been made clear by them. However, HTML5 is the future of video on the internet (which is compatible with the iPad). Apple has created a goldrush for companies and developers, and if they want to cash in on it, they WILL adapt their content to make them compatible on these devices. Flash content is FULL of bugs, it's not stable, it constantly crashes, which is why Apple products don't support it, you can't blame them. Stick to reporting the news, crime, traffic, deaths, and weather...
Basic Bob
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.
Reason #6: The Ipad is just another expensive toy. It doesn't do anything necessary or useful. Save your money for a new video game.
Nathan Bomey
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.
Glad to see the passion in favor of the iPad. Let me be clear: I'm sure I'll be buying an iPad at some point! Just not the first version. The consumer electronics industry has proven over the last several decades that the first version of any major new product is always far inferior to the succeeding versions. Apple is no exception. As for Flash, I don't agree that Apple will "never" integrate Flash into the iPad. It's possible it'll never happen. However, you can also argue that Apple won't win the battle against Adobe -- which has an extensive footprint throughout the Web. Alternatively, Apple could acquire Adobe and embrace Flash. Too early to say whether the iPad will never include Flash. Lastly, as for the weight of the iPad, I'm not the first to assert that the iPad is probably too heavy for many readers to use for a lengthy period of time. I believe future versions of the iPad will be so light that the first version will feel incredibly heavy. Check out this story: http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-the-truth-about-the-ipad-2010-4 Thanks for reading!
David
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 9:44 a.m.
"Apple on April 3 started selling the iPad tablet computer, a climactic moment that induced giddy shrieks from scores of tech enthusiasts. And can you blame them? The iPad will probably revolutionize digital content consumption eventually." That is perhaps the most grammatically incorrect paragraph in the history of journalism! You're missing about six commas, and your sentence structure rivals that of a nine year old! If you want to write, learn how to use the English language.
acedeuce
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.
I don't even know where to begin. This article is peppered with inaccuracies, and it is amazing this was actually posted on annarbor.com's website. The only valid point would be the first one, and that is even borderline because as we all know from simple logic the price will go down, just like the price of computers has gone down, cell phones, calculators, televisions and almost all other tech products. But to address your other fallacies... 2. Multitasking. "Smacks" said it well enough. 4. Not compatible with Adobe's flash. If you are telling people to wait to buy the iPad until Apple integrates Flash, then they will be waiting quite a long time. Any simple research in to Apple and you will find they absolutely hate Adobe Flash and are on a mission to completely eliminate it from being used. The iPad will never have flash. 5. Too heavy. Really? Have you as a reporter on the iPad picked one up? Because if you have, then I don't know how you would make that conclusion. It is extremely light, and very easy to hold and carry. Sure potential iPad's could be lighter but that is not a reason for you to avoid purchasing an actual product that is out. You are simply dealing with hypotheticals.
Nathan Bomey
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 9:23 a.m.
Thanks for pointing out the problem with No. 2! I altered it. You can, of course, listen to music and surf the Internet at the same time with the iPad. However, you can't use an Apple app and a non-Apple app at the same time.
Mike Nowak
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
Even before the iPhone OS 4.0 announcement this week (available for iPad owners this fall), you could listen to music and surf the web at the same time.
smacks
Sun, Apr 11, 2010 : 7:48 a.m.
Better rethink #2, Nate.