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Isnt the iPad 4 a bad investment? Or is this the Flagship iPad Apple will keep around
- Thread starter KittyKatta
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Wow, why so hostile?
My point is that when any iPad came out then it had certain features that put it far ahead of the competition. And with the iPad 3 it was the retina screen because in early 2012 nobody had a screen this amazing. But since then we have seen products with comparable screens from the competitor so its no longer a unique feature.
And thats why I question iPad 4. It doesnt offer anything unique that increases its lead against the competitors and based on how uniform Apple is with their product families then the lack of design changes or older manufacturing methods makes it feel like it might get updated again before next year. Thats not meant to be an offensive statement, so I'm not sure why it upsets you.
Just out of curiosity, which tablets do you consider to be competitors for the 3rd gen iPad, let alone the 4th?
I agree with your initial post that I would have liked to see the form factor of the 4th generation change; I think the Mini looks way better, and I almost went that route for my first upgrade of my iPad 1. In the end though, size and weight isn't really that big a deal to me, I love sharp screens, and I want it to be as fast as possible, so I ordered the full size model, despite its looks. I would have rather seen the full size model get the new shape and make the mini look like the 2nd/3rd gen though.
If you do not have an iPad and want one- no it's not.
If you have the 3 and are selling it to get the 4- waste of time (IMO)
5 will be a total design change. Lighter/thinner.
That's the one to get.
I might sell my ipad 3 and just get a FireHD or better yet the NookHD- use it for a year. And then move back to ipad when the 5 is released.
If you have the 3 and are selling it to get the 4- waste of time (IMO)
5 will be a total design change. Lighter/thinner.
That's the one to get.
I might sell my ipad 3 and just get a FireHD or better yet the NookHD- use it for a year. And then move back to ipad when the 5 is released.
The a5x chip wasn't really enough to sufficiently power the retina display, and its much touted 4g was not available in other countries. The ipad4 can now use the 4g network in my country at least.
So in that sense, the ipad4 is everything the ipad3 shoud have been.
I agree. It seems to me Apple was forced to respond to the competition in the 7 inch market with the introduction now of the mini. They couldn't just leave the iPad (3) "as is" after putting this fresh/new mini out that comes with the new connector, HD front camera, updated wireless, etc... They had to do "something" now to the iPad "Retina" or sales would grind to a halt until the regular March refresh. They had to at least update the iPad Retina with connector, updated wireless and front camera to match the mini.
I agree the cosmetics of the iPad 3 seem a bit uninspiring to me now....compared to the fresh look of the mini. I'm betting on a Spring refresh for the iPad Retina....with a fresh new look! I just can't see the iPad (4) going as-is until late 2013.
I've ordered the mini to replace my "original iPad", but I'm very reluctant to replace my wife's iPad 2 with the iPad (4)....even though the 4 has awesome specs. I'm waiting for a major redesign in the form factor of the Retina (4) before I update from the iPad 2. That's just me!
Just out of curiosity, which tablets do you consider to be competitors for the 3rd gen iPad, let alone the 4th?
I agree with your initial post that I would have liked to see the form factor of the 4th generation change; I think the Mini looks way better, and I almost went that route for my first upgrade of my iPad 1. In the end though, size and weight isn't really that big a deal to me, I love sharp screens, and I want it to be as fast as possible, so I ordered the full size model, despite its looks. I would have rather seen the full size model get the new shape and make the mini look like the 2nd/3rd gen though.
The Nexus 10 most likely will be announced Monday. Rumor has it that it will have a higher resolution than the iPad3/4 (2560 x 1600 resolution and 299ppi pixel density, Jelly Bean 4.2) and be lighter and thinner. That could be the reason Apple rushed the iPad 4 release.
They blocked Best Buy from selling the Nexus 7 because it is strong competition for the Mini. I suspect they will also prevent BB from selling the N10.
This isnt an attack, its a purchase decision. I sold my iPad 2 so I am ready to buy a new iPad but havent made a choice because in evaluating the lineup then the iPad 4 feels outdated even before it's released? Here's my reasoning for why I'm having a hard time picking the iPad 4:
Im not saying the iPad 4 is bad but considering this is Apples flagship iPad then it just doesnt feel like it has what it takes to represents Apple's current lineup until October 2013.
- iPad Mini, iPhone 5 and even the iPod Touch feel like the same family of products (Beveled edges, slate, thin bezels) but the iPad4 looks out of place and outdated
- iPad Mini and iPhone 5 use new manufacturing process with bonded glass but iPad 4 uses old reflective glass & glue method
- A6X is nice but the A5X was never considered "slow" (until now)
- Lightning is nice but accessories cost more (Camera Kit split to two $29 purchases, no 3rd party cables, no actual speed benefits)
- They used the same thicker casing as the iPad 3
- Cost seems pretty high and overdue for a price reduction or storage increase (Drop 16GB and $499 should be 32GB)
(BTW. Im likely getting a Mini. Im curious about the size and it seems like it would get outdated slower)
1. Love the chamfered edges of the iPhone 5 and iPad mini but I'm not complaining about the edge on my iPad 2 either. It's not that big of a deal to me personally.
2. I don't believe the iPad mini used the new laminated process. In fact i'm sure of it. The in-cell technology and LTPS backlighting on the iPhone 5 is too expense to do in a nigh 8" panel.
3. The A5X was indeed slow simply because Apps became more demanding but it's speed was no faster than the iPad 2 and this was exacerbated by the speed and fluidity of the iPhone 5.
4. Lightning doesn't factor into whether the iPad 4 is a good investment or not. We know that the lightning port is "the" connection going forward so that make the iPad 4 a safer buy in anything.
5. Had to..the display is the same.
6. I wouldn't expect much cost movement until the iPad 5 which now could be a year away. NAND storage needs to continue to get faster and cheaper. 32GB likely becomes the baseline in 2013 2H.
I think the iPad 4 is a solid buy. If you've got a original iPad or second gen it's now a worthy upgrade and the extra speed will be essential when iOS 7 and 8 are delivered over the next two years.
It depends. I am guessing that Apple will now still continue their yearly cycle, but now iPad will be a late October release.
I would be surprised if there was a new iPad in April. Although it is possible, as the iPad doesn't have the new "unified" look that the Mini, iPod Touch and iPhone 5 have. Also no slate color option which seems like it would make its way into the 5th generation iPad.
I would be surprised if there was a new iPad in April. Although it is possible, as the iPad doesn't have the new "unified" look that the Mini, iPod Touch and iPhone 5 have. Also no slate color option which seems like it would make its way into the 5th generation iPad.
Wait a minute. What tablets are out there at 9.7" or larger that have Retina quality screens? The iPad 3 has a very beefy GPU and Apple just announced a product that is 2x faster on CPU based tasks and GPU based tasks.
They've got the Lightning ports now on most of their mobile devices and regardless of how many new adapters is cost Lightning is a solid reversible connector for the next decade.
Dual band Wifi and more robust LTE. The iPad 4 is a solid upgrade. That's just talking hardware. I'm not worried about Android because Android sucks on a tablet.
Please re-read what you wrote; then read it 3 more times.
It honestly sounds like you're buying the iPad just to mount on your wall so you can show it off and say, "Look at this tablet I caught! It's the biggest, baddest muthaf*cker out in the tech scene." Once that's no longer the case, you feel down and want to go hunt for another one.
Nowhere in your statement do you actually talk about how you use it and whether it's enough for your needs. All you're doing is comparing one piece of tech to others in the market, so the question is, do you even need to own one? For me personally, I love the Mac products cause I bought into the eco-system and I'm now able to share photos with family via the shared photo streams. That in itself is a software mod, unrelated to how fast, heavy or hot the particular device is.
It's a no brainer that the iPad will get updated in a year (or less). That question doesn't need to be answered. Even if you think they'll keep it for awhile, it seems like 12-14 months will be the upper limit of that.
However, instead of actually using the tablet to improve your life, you're just obsessing over the specs for pretty much no good reason at all. A tablet is like any other set of tools. You use it to help make things in your life easier/better/faster. If you spend all your time obsessing over whether you have the best set of tools vs. actually doing anything with the tools, you're completely missing the point.
No electronic device or phote equipment should ever be thought of as an investment. Everything I have bought sells for less.
If you sell your 3 and buy the 4, I think you will be VERY happy!
If you sell your 3 and buy the 4, I think you will be VERY happy!
Just preordered my iPad 4 cellular. So excited!
IMO the next upgrade in iPad will see improvements in mainly screen and maybe external design, about which I don't give a tiny rat's ass. I don't expect to see major changes otherwise. The A6 chip should be good for at least another 3 years, which should be more than enough for me.
Unless Surface pro is priced at less than 800 USD, which is extremely unlikely (try 1000), iPad 4 is unbeatable in the current generation. It is definitely a worthwhile investment.
IMO the next upgrade in iPad will see improvements in mainly screen and maybe external design, about which I don't give a tiny rat's ass. I don't expect to see major changes otherwise. The A6 chip should be good for at least another 3 years, which should be more than enough for me.
Unless Surface pro is priced at less than 800 USD, which is extremely unlikely (try 1000), iPad 4 is unbeatable in the current generation. It is definitely a worthwhile investment.
Both my Surface and touch keyboard came to my office today, I have my office manager refuse delivery. It is Apple all the way!
Well I thought the 3 was sufficiently good for me.
The only time the iPad lags was when visiting large websites - curiously, the only time it would crash is when its on Facebook. So, I decided to stock with the 3 for a while until the 5 is released.
But then, I put it up on Craigslist anyway, not thinking anything of it - I wouldn't sell it unless it was a bad deal..I just wanted to see what people would offer me for it.
Some one offered to buy it for $420!
The new one is $499...
So it's sold and I just preordered a brand new one... New conditioning (my old one had scratches), new CPU, new facetime camera, new battery, new warranty... for $140. I can live with that, seeing as an Apple Care would have costed me $100 anyway.
Next year, I'll probs do the same!
The only time the iPad lags was when visiting large websites - curiously, the only time it would crash is when its on Facebook. So, I decided to stock with the 3 for a while until the 5 is released.
But then, I put it up on Craigslist anyway, not thinking anything of it - I wouldn't sell it unless it was a bad deal..I just wanted to see what people would offer me for it.
Some one offered to buy it for $420!
The new one is $499...
So it's sold and I just preordered a brand new one... New conditioning (my old one had scratches), new CPU, new facetime camera, new battery, new warranty... for $140. I can live with that, seeing as an Apple Care would have costed me $100 anyway.
Next year, I'll probs do the same!
I think you are taking it too literally. The returns of investment in electronic gadgets are mainly in the forms of productivity and amusement, instead of monetary. So I'll still call it an investment, just not in the conventional sense.
That is why I said it will still make you VERY HAPPY!
HAPPY is every bit as good as monetary.
Hope you have a great weekend!
(BTW. Im likely getting a Mini. Im curious about the size and it seems like it would get outdated slower)
Actually, your iPad mini will get outdated way before the iPad 4.
You don't get the better resolution display, the new more powerful chip, double RAM, etc.
Your iPad mini will be seriously, seriously outdated next year, when the iPad mini 2 congress out with all of the above.
On the other hand, the iPad 4 will stay really strong for many years to come, even after it stops being updated.