The iPad: Worth It?
Apple announced their newest creation yesterday - the iPad. I think it looks pretty great, but I’m not using the word great in an “iPhone debut” kind of way (where I’d be running out to buy it the second it’s available). No, I’m using the word in more of an ”impressed but somewhat skeptical” kind of way.
It’s pretty, and I love pretty. It does some cool things, although there are a lot of cool things it doesn’t do (yet). In terms of the wireless version, I could see myself getting one eventually. But the key word there is eventually, because I don’t see it doing anything that would justify me spending 700 or 800 bucks (because really who’s going to buy the 16 gig) on something that my other devices can pretty much do already.
The main problem I see with buying the 3G version is that they haven’t convinced me (and I don’t think they can convince me) that I need it enough to take on another monthly expense, and espacially an expense that will have me giving more money to Rogers every month. In fact, the thought of giving more money to Rogers for anything makes me feel all angry and disturbed inside. I pay my cable company for internet, which I use for my iMac, laptop, PS3, iPhone and Apple TV. Aaaand then I pay Rogers another 30 bucks a month for 6 gigs of data on my iPhone when I’m not on wireless.
Actually, looking at that list, I probably don’t need an iPad at all, but when my laptop dies I would consider buying one as a replacement. But not the 3G. If I’m outside of wireless range with my laptop now I just tether it to my iPhone, and I would probably just do the same thing with the iPad if I can.
So, the short answer is, I like the idea of the iPad, but hate the idea of paying a monthly fee to a cell phone carrier to use it. I don’t think I need it in addition to what I already have, but I could see buying one (without 3G) when my laptop dies. The question is, how many people feel the same way? I guess we won’t really know that until the numbers come in.
