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Apple Discontinues Original Smart Cases and Covers Despite Continued Sales of iPad 2 [Updated]

weing said:
For the hundreth time people ...the only reason the iPad 2 is still in the line is for education supply contracts. Lots of local school boards are under fire for bilking taxpayers out of millions for the folly of giving these to students. As long as it stays in the product line,the charge of "discontinued technology" can't be leveled which give the boards and apple a bit of cover for this scam. Its 399 because they can get it from institutions spending other peoples money. Thats what you as a taxpayer are paying for it. I doubt they will even stock them at most apple stores. It just has to stay in the line.

And yes it sucks they are discontinuing the covers. But that is always how it is at apple. Did you ever try finding a replacement case for an iPod the second the next generation came out? All of the third-party cases would get taken off the shelves at the apple store the second the new generation iPods came in.
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You make an excellent point, if all that is indeed true it would certainly go a long way to explaining what everyone is so baffled about!

...

However, you lost me at the iPod cover, as there is a very logical, non-diabolical reason why this happens the second a new one comes out.

Many customers at the Apple Store can't tell an iPod Touch cover from an iPhone cover half the time, likewise, mixing similar but different older gen cases with the latest cases when the store only sells the newest gen is a recipe for disaster... as long as you consider lots of returns and potentially angry customers a disaster. :)
 
mlody said:
I agree. iPad 2 @ 399 is not the smartest buy, but I understand that there might be many consumers that are already stretching their budgets to get iPad 2 @ 399, and saving another $100 (more if accounting for tax) might be another several months before they could get one.
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If your budget is sooo tight that you can only save 25$ a month, maybe you should not be buying a tablet in the first place (almost nobody needs a tablet if they have another computer. It can be nice to have it, but it is a "luxury" item after all), or at least not an iPad (tm). There are good full size tablets for 300-350 or even less.

Of course I assume we are talking about adults with a job. If you ment children I understand, but still they could buy a 10" tablet for far less money than the iPad2-that-probably-will-never-get-iOS8.
 
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ouimetnick said:
Why does a 9 year old have an iPad?
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Earlier in the year I got sent by work to an event all about iPads in education. They are so well built and simple to use that 5 year olds are using them in schools with amazing learning apps that offer much richer and engaging an atmosphere than the old dirty text books we had. These devices offer so much more learning potential at a fraction of the space and are much easier to manage.

If I had the money I would get my sister an iPad for school as they are great.
 
ouimetnick said:
Why does a 9 year old have an iPad?
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We don't have TV, cut the cord. It's her access to learning apps and entertainment.

In this modern age why WOULDN'T you want your kids to know how to use computers and tablets? :rolleyes:

Not to mention it's a hand me down after I bought myself a iPad 3rd Gen. I had bought the iPad 2 barely used to begin with for about 100 off so it was well worth it.
 
iPad 2 should be put out to pasture. I would think education departments would now jump at the iPad mini for $299. Slightly better graphics while the display isn't that much smaller and it's a heck of a lot easier for young hands to hold.
 
MacRumors said:
Update: Apple is no longer listing the older Smart Covers as discontinued and is now offering them both in-store and shipped.
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I think the article should be updated to add Decision Reversed or Not Discontinued in the title. I read this and then read the update all at the same time. Which made the article I read rather pointless.

This is the first time that I disagree with how an article has been laid out, which isn't a bad thing, but I'm just saying...

Apple discontinuing older iPad cases.
Update: Nevermind
 
ejisfun said:
No shame in still using an iPad 2. There is however, shame, in buying one for $399 when you can get a refurb iPad 4 for $379.
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True that. I wonder how many iPad 2's are in a warehouse somewhere marked to go to a big deep hole in the desert... Next to Jimmy Hoffa...:eek: How could Apple have so many 2's that they can keep selling them like that. Something isn't adding up... It's already really old technology... So to speak...
 
My five year old has a 16 GB white/silver iPad Mini. He loves it. Perfect for homeschooling activities, entertainment on trips and while waiting at doctor's offices, etc.
 
Children and iPads

"Why does a nine year old have an iPad?"

My grandson has had access to an iPad since he was 9 months old. It's a fabulous tool for teaching eye hand coordination, learning colors, shapes, animals, not to mention reading and math. The earlier a child starts, the better. George is now 3-½, he loves his iPad and treats it with care.

I wish all kids had access to such a great learning tool.
 
peteullo said:
Surprised they aren't keeping at least the one color of the smart case or cover around.
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Most of their current sales are to institutions. Schools don't buy smart covers because they don't protect the rear or edges of the iPad. You need a properly built case.
 
ouimetnick said:
Why does a 9 year old have an iPad?
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Eduacation and games. My two kids (7 and 3) both love using the iPad. My 3 year old learned to count and recognize patterns using Monkey Math, my 7 year old uses a flash card app to improve at math. I use Kodable to teach him logic. We read some really good interactive kids books together. My daughter loves 'playing' Majong (rarely wins....yet) and my son can play online games because with a mobile device I can be in the same room and monitor his activity.

Any other silly questions? :D

And as of 2 hours ago, I was fortunate enough to buy an iPad Air for my wife so the kids can have full time access to her (now) hand me down iPad2.
 
The reason for keeping the iPad 2 is to convince people to buy the iPad Air at a higher cost. You go to the store, and you have two options: a $399 old device, and just for $100 more, you can buy the latest toy. Which one would you buy? Same for the iPad mini.
 
My almost 2 year old twins have a iPad 2 and are very happy with it. They use it to 'read' books and do little games. There is a wealth of apps for toddlers. One of the twin even has worked how to operate the multitasking bar. Very funny to see!
 
I don't understand the education argument for still selling the iPad 2. Wouldn't it be better for a school to buy retina iPad minis at the same price as an outdated iPad 2? Buying an iPad 2 now isn't really good for anybody.
 
Did Apple really mess up with their original expectations on the demand of these things or did they make too many of a certain part in the iPad 2 (Such as the processor) and are just trying to get rid of it...either way any consumer who buys an iPad 2 is really stupid.
 
If I had the ability to - and the schools permission - I'd happily buy iPad 2's for a small group in the classroom. These would be great tools to have for many reasons, the price and permission would be the only thing stopping it.
 
They only keep making the 2 because of their contract with Dish Network where they provide ipad 2's with "The Hopper"
 
weing said:
For the hundreth time people ...the only reason the iPad 2 is still in the line is for education supply contracts. Lots of local school boards are under fire for bilking taxpayers out of millions for the folly of giving these to students. As long as it stays in the product line,the charge of "discontinued technology" can't be leveled which give the boards and apple a bit of cover for this scam. Its 399 because they can get it from institutions spending other peoples money. Thats what you as a taxpayer are paying for it. I doubt they will even stock them at most apple stores. It just has to stay in the line.

And yes it sucks they are discontinuing the covers. But that is always how it is at apple. Did you ever try finding a replacement case for an iPod the second the next generation came out? All of the third-party cases would get taken off the shelves at the apple store the second the new generation iPods came in.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be surprised if the military is in a similar boat as well. I've seen iPad 2s being used by military pilots and what I know about the military, they would have to fully test a new version of an iPad for security leaks, etc before allowing pilot's to use them. Which would be cost a lot, so it's easier to keep using iPad 2s.
 
More good news for the Chinese / Hong Kong eBay stores! More options and cheaper prices and its possible Apple will dump their stocks to some trader who will sell them until all the older iPads fail or end up in Africa!
 
I don't see why Apple can't keep selling the original Smart Case/Cover, and just rename it "Smart Cover for iPad 2." Bam. Problem solved with "confusion" issue with customers buying the wrong model for their iPad Air.
 
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