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iPad Looking for cheapest iPad option. iPad 1 still alright?

T

Tropischen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 4, 2013
5
0
Hello everybody,

I got myself an ipad air and I'm very happy with it. It's my first ipad and it's just amazing and fun. I have it for a month now and every day I'm smiling as if it's the day I bought it.
So, my girlfriend uses it a lot too and I see us fighting for it every evening. She's a Pinterest, Facebook, eyem, Instagram and so on addict. She's not playing any demanding 3d games or is doing other hardware hungry things with it.
So I'm thinking of a Christmas gift to her. We said we won't spent more than 150€ on each other's presents so I'd really like to get her a tablet. Around this price range there are many offers for ipad 1st generation on eBay. Is it still worth buying this old veteran? Or should I look out for something else, maybe another brand? I don't want to buy trash, so I'd rather spend my money on a quality second hand product.

Thank you in advance
 
I'd go used ipad 2 or ipad mini personally... you may be able to find one that cheap.
 
I would second that opinion of getting the iPad 2, iPad 3 or iPad mini used or on sale. The iPad 1 is not being upgraded to the latest IOS version where the iPad 2 and iPad mini will probably be upgraded through a couple more IOS versions.
 
I own and still use my iPad 1, i'd suggest at least an iPad 2.

The not being able to upgrade past iOS5 is an issue these days as apps are rapidly dropping it as their baseline. I'm starting to have A LOT of websites blow up safari (probably similar to what is happening on the air - but the 1 is working with 256mb of RAM). Every other Facebook app version stinks, Pinterest is a hog with all the pictures... I only use it when i'm really bored! LOL!!

Overall, I can deal with the quirks and such - because I've had it all along.

I'd buy another one if it fit my needs, but again I am well aware of the limitations. Oh and for kids? Nope, only a device that will run iOS6 or higher based on current games (edu and fun).
 
Alright, i get your points, thank you for the insights. Going to watch out for an ipad 2 or mini 1 then.
 
You don't know how this will play out.

I'm pretty sure you will be using whatever iPad you buy for her, while she is browsing on the iPad Air ;)
 
I still have an iPad 1 lying around and it's a terrible experience. Safari constantly crashes (along with most other apps), everything is unbelievably slow and choppy, and there are a lot of apps that need iOS 6 while the iPad 1 is stuck on 5.1.

I wouldn't buy one now for any amount of money. Definitely look for at least an iPad 2 or Mini. If you're desperate and really can't fit one into your budget, I would even suggest a cheap Android tablet like a Nexus 7 over an iPad 1.
 
mini 1 will probably be the least expensive option for your needs.

Also since it's an actively sold product, Apple will at least try to support it as long as possible. The iPad1 is already left out to pasture.
 
iPad 1 on iOS 5.0+ is a slow, sluggish, crashing, jittery mess of an experience that is bested by $79 Chinese crap-tablets.

Ipad Mini first-gen is best bet (but beware that it, too, will have a short life given it's already-two-and-a-half-years-old internals).
 
GoingDark said:
I still have an iPad 1 lying around and it's a terrible experience. Safari constantly crashes (along with most other apps), everything is unbelievably slow and choppy, and there are a lot of apps that need iOS 6 while the iPad 1 is stuck on 5.1.

I wouldn't buy one now for any amount of money. Definitely look for at least an iPad 2 or Mini. If you're desperate and really can't fit one into your budget, I would even suggest a cheap Android tablet like a Nexus 7 over an iPad 1.
Click to expand...

our ipad 1 still works like new. (but i agree with the consensus OP - ipad 2 or OG mini)
 
Tropischen said:
Hello everybody,

I got myself an ipad air and I'm very happy with it. It's my first ipad and it's just amazing and fun. I have it for a month now and every day I'm smiling as if it's the day I bought it.
So, my girlfriend uses it a lot too and I see us fighting for it every evening. She's a Pinterest, Facebook, eyem, Instagram and so on addict. She's not playing any demanding 3d games or is doing other hardware hungry things with it.
So I'm thinking of a Christmas gift to her. We said we won't spent more than 150€ on each other's presents so I'd really like to get her a tablet. Around this price range there are many offers for ipad 1st generation on eBay. Is it still worth buying this old veteran? Or should I look out for something else, maybe another brand? I don't want to buy trash, so I'd rather spend my money on a quality second hand product.

Thank you in advance
Click to expand...

An iPad mini is great too. But I would NOT get an iPad 1. It does not get the latest iOS and developers will drop support for the software it is running.
 
After seeing the screen of your ipad air, you can't get less than a 3 or 4 at this point Might as well get a 4 so the chargers are the same.

Get a refurb from the Apple store.
 
Tropischen said:
Hello everybody,

I got myself an ipad air and I'm very happy with it. It's my first ipad and it's just amazing and fun. I have it for a month now and every day I'm smiling as if it's the day I bought it.
So, my girlfriend uses it a lot too and I see us fighting for it every evening. She's a Pinterest, Facebook, eyem, Instagram and so on addict. She's not playing any demanding 3d games or is doing other hardware hungry things with it.
So I'm thinking of a Christmas gift to her. We said we won't spent more than 150€ on each other's presents so I'd really like to get her a tablet. Around this price range there are many offers for ipad 1st generation on eBay. Is it still worth buying this old veteran? Or should I look out for something else, maybe another brand? I don't want to buy trash, so I'd rather spend my money on a quality second hand product.

Thank you in advance
Click to expand...

I'd go Mini. Updated cameras for FaceTime and the A5 at least is still being covered under ios7 and possibly ios8
 
GoingDark said:
I still have an iPad 1 lying around and it's a terrible experience. Safari constantly crashes (along with most other apps), everything is unbelievably slow and choppy, and there are a lot of apps that need iOS 6 while the iPad 1 is stuck on 5.1.
Click to expand...

I recently upgraded from an iPad 1 to an iPad Air and Safari still constantly crashes. Lots of other apps too. One day I am hoping for a stable Safari experience on an iPad.
 
I still use my 1st generation iPad everyday to watch TV shows. Very solid device. I really wish that I had the 64gb version of the 1st generation.
 
I've gave the iPad 1 to my sister, she doesn't bother with it, too many crashes on it to make it useful anymore, shame really as in it's day it was a great device would love to restore it back to 3.x as, as a web viewer it was ok!
 
Still use the original ipad, love the feel of it. While some of the apps cannot be updated, it works just fine for web browsing, music, videos and the like. I love the solid feel of it, sure, is heavier and slower, but I like it. I have a retina mini as well, and used pretty much every ipad ever released.
 
My advice, don't get her an iPad at all, she wont want it since she can just use yours.

Get her a spa voucher, some perfume, some creams / body lotions. C'mon man!
 
I'd avoid the first generation iPad at this point, its just too slow and too limited. Look to the Mini (non retina) or the iPad 2.
 
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