iPad Should I take the iPad plunge now?

[Lightning Bolt]

As the title says, should I buy my 1st iPad now?

I have a 2012 Macbook Pro but use a Blackberry (due to needing "push to talk") so an iPhone will be down the road.

I have wanted an iPad for a long time but could never (and still can't really) justify it. I don't travel and do all my email/browsing right here with my MBP connected to a 22" HP.

Guess I just feel like biting the bullet and getting one.

I was going to go with the latest and greatest iPad air but with all the issues I've been following with iOS7 (and the fact that I can't overspend as I'm job hunting), I'm thinking about a new 16GB 4th gen Retina instead of the air.

I don't think I'll be using too many apps (I don't use any now) and my iTunes library is under 6GB so I figured the 16GB would be ok.

My other thought is to wait 4-6 months and then (assuming iOS7.X is out and all major issues are fixed) get a 32GB Air. I don't think I'll be buying the cellular version of any iPad.

Just thought I'd get some opinions that might help me decide.

Thanks.

 

[carjakester]

i really want to get an air as well, but I'm going to hold off until the next update to see where apple goes with the iPad lineup. if i don't like it (very unlikely) the air will most likely be discounted and i can make my upgrade then.

 

[kathyricks]

I took the plunge in Dec. and got my first iOS device - an iPad Air. While I was initially thrilled with the retina display - because it was the first time I had ever experienced one - reality soon set in and I had to come to grips with the fact that any iOS device is ill suited for a great many tasks as compared to a Macbook (e.g. composing long emails or documents, photo editing, movie editing, running Turbotax, composing and printing out billing invoices and many more).

So recently I placed an order in the Apple refurbished store for a 13 inch rentina Macbook Pro. I intend to sell the iPad Air. The Air did introduce me to the joys of a retina display, however, and so now I will be hooked on retina or similar ultra small pixel displays for life. Anyway, the bottom line is an iOS device is not hardly an alternative to a laptop for getting work done.

I would also get an 11 inch Macbook Air instead of an iPad Air if I needed a small, very lightweight computing device.

 

[tonyy]

Go for an older model (3 or newer) to test the waters. You can get them for a reasonable price without breaking the bank.

 

[Andrew K.]

Got an iPad Air 32gb and came from a 3rd Gen.

It is the best tablet I've owned. It's light, the screen is beautiful, and I do maybe 85% of my email/web browsing on my iPad. It's an amazing piece of machinery.

 

[minimalism]

You'll thank yourself for purchasing the iPad Air. Your MBP might collect dusts once you've made the decision to buy.

 

[ionjohn]

I took the plunge in Dec. and got my first iOS device - an iPad Air. While I was initially thrilled with the retina display - because it was the first time I had ever experienced one - reality soon set in and I had to come to grips with the fact that any iOS device is ill suited for a great many tasks as compared to a Macbook (e.g. composing long emails or documents, photo editing, movie editing, running Turbotax, composing and printing out billing invoices and many more).

So recently I placed an order in the Apple refurbished store for a 13 inch rentina Macbook Pro. I intend to sell the iPad Air. The Air did introduce me to the joys of a retina display, however, and so now I will be hooked on retina or similar ultra small pixel displays for life. Anyway, the bottom line is an iOS device is not hardly an alternative to a laptop for getting work done.

I would also get an 11 inch Macbook Air instead of an iPad Air if I needed a small, very lightweight computing device.

Yeah, ipad is great but a rmbp is WAY better haha

 

[Ries]

Wait for the next iPad, this one will be the new "iPad3".

 

[Zmanbaseball2]

Should I take the iPad plunge now?

For the future OP, get a 32GB. You have a 6GB music library. That takes up half you storage. (My iPhone 5 is 16gb and only has 12gb of useable space I believe. You get an HD movie for rare times, like I do for vacation plane rides, that can take 3-5gb. Then you have to start making more room. I'm happy with my 32Gb iPad air. I'm annoyed not having room (16gb) on my iPhone 5.

 

[zhenya]

Go for an older model (3 or newer) to test the waters. You can get them for a reasonable price without breaking the bank.

I disagree - if you are going to spend the money - buy the Air - it is what the iPad was imagined to be from day 1.

Really, nobody can answer this question for you. It really depends on what you want and what your expectations are. If you expect it to be able to immediately replace your laptop for work and heavy-duty computing, you are bound to be disappointed. If you use it as intended - as a reader, as an appliance - always ready to go - and give yourself the time to adapt to the keyboard - it is extremely useful. I have an iMac and a Thinkpad T440s, yet my iPad sees 98% of my home, non-work use. It has become more essential than my iPhone. My wife on the other hand has never warmed up to it and clings to her Macbook Air 11". She does use the old iPad though for Skype and heavily in the kitchen.

 

[Beaverman3001]

The iPad Air is pretty impressive. Tablets in general still feel like a niche though, but I love having a device for lounging around the house with while watching TV or laying down. There are some iOS kinks with 7 but it isn't unusable.

 

[Atrin1]

I purchased my first iPad a earlier this month, and couldn't be happier.

I bought a 32gb iPad Air, wifi only. The thing is fast. I didn't experience any screen defects that others have mentioned. I use this mostly for personal use, but there are times I need to connect to my work computers/servers. I use real VNC and it works really well. It's pretty nifty not needing to pull out my laptop to connect to a work computer from home and help out an end user.
Its super light and the picture is stunning.

I'm glad I waited to get an iPad until the Air came out. Its definitely worth taking the "plunge".

 

[bobr1952]

I purchased my first iPad Monday--Air--and love it. No urgent need to buy--but I do a lot of reading in the morning, news, weather, etc--plus books with Kindle or iBooks--so I knew eventually I would tire of using my iPhone--now after less than a week of use, I can't believe I waited this long--great product.

 

[iMacFarlane]

I've had an iPhone since the 3GS, and iOS since gen 1 iPod Touch, so it's been awhile.

Got an iPad (3) last year, and was amazed how quickly my iPhone became just a phone to me. Everything else iOS, iPad ho!

Gave the iPad to my wife so she could use it to listen to audiobooks and play learning games with the kids (more important than my crosswords or jigsaw puzzle habits).

Boy, do I miss it. My iPhone 5 screen is . . . so . . . tiny.

 

[Lightning Bolt]

I went to the Apple store tonight and of course the air's were VERY enticing.

I guess my biggest concern about the air (besides the price and iOS7) is that I feel the long sides that are now narrower might actually be TOO narrow for my large fingers/hands. The larger bezel width of the older iPads seems better suited for holding the iPad vertical. That's one of the reasons I like the iPad 4.

I'm also not sure if I should put a screen protector on it. I don't plan to take it out of the house much so I'd think an OEM Apple case would be enough.

Of course my other concern is still how stable Safari would be on iOS7 since there seems to be so many complaints about 7.

Also, if I see an app that needs iOS6, am I NOT able to use it in iOS7?

16 or 32GB… I'm still on the fence but I'm leaning towards 32.

Feel free to add any other input.

 

[Robster3]

I went to the Apple store tonight and of course the air's were VERY enticing.

I guess my biggest concern about the air (besides the price and iOS7) is that I feel the long sides that are now narrower might actually be TOO narrow for my large fingers/hands. The larger bezel width of the older iPads seems better suited for holding the iPad vertical. That's one of the reasons I like the iPad 4.

I'm also not sure if I should put a screen protector on it. I don't plan to take it out of the house much so I'd think an OEM Apple case would be enough.

Of course my other concern is still how stable Safari would be on iOS7 since there seems to be so many complaints about 7.

Also, if I see an app that needs iOS6, am I NOT able to use it in iOS7?

16 or 32GB… I'm still on the fence but I'm leaning towards 32.

Feel free to add any other input.

1. they won't change it for you, iPad 4 is a heavy hot sucker.
2. forget a screen protector , their for pussys.
3. Next update will fix safari, not that i am having a problem.
4. apps are apps.
5. 32Gb.

Do you need a hand with socks and undies too, just buy one or not!!!

 

[zhenya]

The Air is so much lighter that it is MUCH easier to hold one handed narrower or not. I own and use both daily and have larger than average hands.

 

[maflynn]

I think the iPad air gives you more bang for your buck, plus should be that much better equipped to handle Apple's newer iOS upgrades once they come out, i.e., iOS8 etc. While its not a bad tablet, I think there's enough improvements in the air to justify the purchase over the 4.

 

[Count Blah]

If I knew what I know now, before jumping into all things iPad, I would have gotten an iPad2 years ago(what I did), and NEVER upgraded to iOS7(bad mistake), and I would never have gotten an Air(another mistake). I would have held out for an iPad with 2 gigs of RAM.

Having said all that, I would advise you to hold out for an iPad with 2 gigs of RAM or get a 32Gig older version, preferably with iOS6, so your safari experience isn't constant blow ups. My ipad2 had safari blow up/restart once in a year. Since going to iOS7, if I browse how I used to( scrolling the second a page starts to load), I can have the iPad 2/iOS7 blow up multiple times a day. That is a horrible experience.

But by your desire to go with 16 over 32, I can infer that the choice has a high monetary factor to it. There is nothing wrong with that, it's my #1 consideration when choosing as well. I would wait for an iPad with 2 gigs of RAM, and 32 gigs of space.

 

[s2mikey]

I went to the Apple store tonight and of course the air's were VERY enticing.

I guess my biggest concern about the air (besides the price and iOS7) is that I feel the long sides that are now narrower might actually be TOO narrow for my large fingers/hands. The larger bezel width of the older iPads seems better suited for holding the iPad vertical. That's one of the reasons I like the iPad 4.

I'm also not sure if I should put a screen protector on it. I don't plan to take it out of the house much so I'd think an OEM Apple case would be enough.

Of course my other concern is still how stable Safari would be on iOS7 since there seems to be so many complaints about 7.

Also, if I see an app that needs iOS6, am I NOT able to use it in iOS7?

16 or 32GB… I'm still on the fence but I'm leaning towards 32.

Feel free to add any other input.

I used to use screen protectors and didn't this time. The screen on my air is easy to keep looking new so I wouldn't bother a screen protector. Safari does have issues for some people but not everyone. They are working on it anyways so no worries there. I have the 32 GB cell model and find to be a good balance of cost and storage capacity for me.

I do have a cheaper case that works great. Fintie is the brand and you'll find them on amazon.

Most apps have been successfully ported to iOS 7. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[ElectronGuru]

You'll thank yourself for purchasing the iPad Air. Your MBP might collect dusts once you've made the decision to buy.

Having moved from desktops to laptops back in the G3 era, I now consider laptops to be generalists, content creation + consumption. But they are not amazing at either. I'm now moving toward two specialists, an ipad mini (super portable consumption) + a dual screen Mac mini (huge workspace creation).

What you need is to try the format itself. The main theme is to use apps whenever possible to replace safari. If it doesn't take over your consumption in a matter of weeks, it wasn't for you. Consider a nice used unit to play with. If it doesn't work out, it can sit on a shelf for you. If it does work out, you can go big for yourself and the first can sit on a shelf for guests.

 

[makinao]

I have a Macbook Pro and and iPhone and don't really need an iPad right now. However, I think I will later this year for a project I'm lining up.

My wife had an iMac, Macbook Air, and a smartphone. But she needed an iPad for something she couldn't do with the others. So she got an iPad 2 16gb wifi when it was new. She says its the best computer she's ever used, and is on it most of the time.

Buy it now if you need it. Hold off till tomorrow if you just "want" it.

 

[bobr1952]

I don't have really big hands and the Air seems to fit perfectly for me. I bought a nice little Roocase from Amazon--only $10--that I would use when I take the iPad outside. But it is not very comfortable to use at home--so no case and no screen protector for me until the iPad leaves the house. I have not really had any problems with Safari. It did crash once for me--but I usually have multiple tabs open with few issues. I guess those who do have problems stress Safari more than I do--I use a lot of apps for many of the things I bought the iPad for--such as news, weather, social media, finances. Safari is much better than on my iPhone so I suspect I will use it more in the future since most sites do look very good on the iPad as compared to the iPhone. Very happy so far in my first week of use. I would avoid the 16GB model as there is not much left over after you put some apps on it along with the OS. 32GB was the right choice for me. Hope this helps--good luck.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

Don't discount the rMini either, OP. It's a diesel little tablet. I agonized over it and the Air for a few days and settled on the Air. WAY happy with it.

 

[Count Blah]

I have a Macbook Pro and and iPhone and don't really need an iPad right now. However, I think I will later this year for a project I'm lining up.

My wife had an iMac, Macbook Air, and a smartphone. But she needed an iPad for something she couldn't do with the others. So she got an iPad 2 16gb wifi when it was new. She says its the best computer she's ever used, and is on it most of the time.

Buy it now if you need it. Hold off till tomorrow if you just "want" it.

I hope your wife didn't or won't upgrade to ios7.