My local target has one in stock...

[za9ra22]

To be fair, the OP opened the door to such responses.

It might seem so, but that doesn't mean that anyone here has enough knowledge of the circumstance to offer a contribution that is anything but a matter of unsolicited personal opinion - and it wasn't personal opinion on life lessons that was being sought, but helpful ideas.

IMHO, encouraging people to learn to put off non-appreciating major purchases until they can be made without using credit is good advice, even if unpopular in today's instant-gratification world.

Which pretty much makes my point, because it's far more complex an issue than a simple matter of 'instant gratification'. Aside from the fact that good grades, hard work and personal commitment deserve to be rewarded, not met with a disdainful rebuke, it's worth pointing out than the education system increasingly relies on students having instant access to resources which provide research materials, access to on-line tutorials, interactive media, streaming content, class materials, coursework, background documents and a whole lot more. Without that access, a student is easily disadvantaged whether working as part of a group or in the competitive environment of a class. By comparison a rucksack full of books is both tiring to carry and limiting in scope. An iPad is actually a very useful tool which is lighter to carry, has far wider capabilities than a pile of books and is a very cost-effective educational tool - more cost effective than most laptops in fact.

Helping out a high school or college age child to make the stretch to buy a car so they can then get (or get to) a job, in return for future additional effort or paying back the loan? Sure, that makes sense. Helping buy a luxury electronics good? Not to me.

It's a stretch to assume the OP and his father haven't the sense to grasp this, and a number of other possibilities, and lack the skills to make reasoned decisions that are appropriate to their situation.

It's also a bit of a grasp to believe that the OP's $330 would do much to put a dent in the cost of a car that is reliable enough to be used for a work commitment. Or indeed that the OP doesn't already have a job.

Each to their own, I guess.

Indeed, hence a little less personal morality and bit more comprehension might be helpful.

 

[johndallas999]

Target offers 5% off on everything they buy at their store as long as you use their credit card. You can start off there. You might think 5% off isn't a big freaking deal, but it is. iPad costs 499 dollars and 5% off gives you like 25 dollars.

Also, you might want to go to craiglist and keep searching for people who are selling their iPad 2 at a cheaper price than retail.

Finally, if you have 330 dollars, then your best bet is to buy an iPad 1. These things never go on sale until like Black Friday.

5% off with 35% interest! Whoopie!

 

[deeddawg]

[...]enough knowledge [...] to offer [...] anything but a matter of unsolicited personal opinion - and it wasn't personal opinion on life lessons that was being sought, but helpful ideas.

You do realize you're on the internet, right? The land of unslicited personal opinion. May as well shout at the rain.

My idea was helpful; find a different angle than textbooks.

it's worth pointing out than the education system increasingly relies on students having instant access to resources which provide research materials, access to on-line tutorials, interactive media, streaming content, class materials, coursework, background documents and a whole lot more. Without that access, a student is easily disadvantaged [...] An iPad is [...] a very cost-effective educational tool - more cost effective than most laptops in fact.[...]

Unless your recommendation is to sell the existing laptop the OP has in his signature, buying an ipad is unlikely to be cost effective.

I'm in grad school (later in life), so I'm pretty familiar with the current scope of electronic media needs/usability. A computer is required. Enough of the things needed simply won't work on an ipad as it stands today that an ipad by itself is not an option in college. Perhaps in a few years, but not today.

It's also a bit of a grasp to believe that the OP's $330 would do much to put a dent in the cost of a car that is reliable enough to be used for a work commitment. Or indeed that the OP doesn't already have a job.

You *completely* missed the point of the car reference. Please re-read.

Indeed, hence a little less personal morality and bit more comprehension might be helpful.

Personal morality? All I see is people offering thoughts/suggestions, as would be normal on any Internet forum.

It seems you are the one criticizing the other posters and telling them what they should or should not do. That is inconsistent with your admonishment of others to back off the "personal morality" and show more "comprehension".


Enough of this.

To the OP: the suggestion earlier of working a deal with your father for assistance is likely the best way to manage to acquire an ipad sooner vs. later.

 

[za9ra22]

...Please re-read....

Shame that advice isn't widely understood.