Why 32gb just might be the worst deal for iPads.

[Jackintosh]

Forget Apple's business model and what it costs Apple. That's irrelevant because we have no control over that other than complaining about it.

What matters is what you're getting for each version based on the cost. Despite denying it, you get double the storage for each $100 increment. The biggest bang for the buck is that last $100 increment. If storage is important to you and you think you might need it, there's no doubt that $100 for 32gb more storage is cost effective.

 

[vincenz]

This is why I stated that it all comes down to personal preference.

So your personal preference = everyone's personal preference? According to your usage, 32gb is the worst deal. According to someone else's it's not. So if anything, you need to amend your thread title.

 

[fullmanfullninj]

I have a wifi iPad and do not have an LTE one. Why? Because I don't need LTE.

Why is this relevant?

Why would I shell out an additional $129 for something I don't need? Yes, it's nice to have it in case I do need it one day, but I do not foresee that happening in the near future.

Same goes for the 16/32/64. Sure, 64 you are getting more bang for your buck. But I don't need 64gb...why should I shell out an additional $100 for it? Sometimes getting more bang for your buck isn't necessary.

If I can only finish one gallon of milk in a month (or however long it takes milk to expire), why would I buy two gallons at Costco and get more bang for my buck? All I need (and can finish) is one gallon...(crappy example, I know )

 

[thetruth1985]

From a reseller point of view, the 64gb 3g model is the worst investment. In my area, a 16gb ipad 2 sells for between $340 and $380 depending on what is included. The 64gb 3g ipad 2 sells for between $480 and maybe $540. When I was looking to buy a ipad 2 for my wife, I placed a local craigslist ad and I got tons of people who offered to sell me one for my asking amount of $500. One guy offered to sell his for $480 so I went with that one but in the end, who loses much more money versus the same person who bought a 16gb wifi model.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

That's horrible logic.

You should only buy space if you need it. Regardless of the price. Yeah the 699 is the best deal yet I only use 28 gigs of space. and all that extra space just gets some cobwebbs. and you WASTED your money.

 

[SlugBlanket]

Wirelessly posted
The pricing we're charged for additional memory is so disproportionate to the actual cost of the part that the best deal is to buy the minimum you need.

This really gets to the core of the discussion. I bought the 64GB WiFi version as the device will be used both by my wife and by my daughter. They have differing needs of the device and whilst I agree that for single person use 32GB in many instances would be the sweet-spot, I'm not planning on upgrading the device in the next 5 years unless it dies.

I didn't want them to have to juggle with what could stay on the device and what would have to be removed. Everything that I had read pointed to a dramatic increase in the storage requirements for apps, text books movies and photos.

For me it was a choice of maximising the storage or getting 2 32GB devices.

The 64GB gives more bang for the buck but for many people, all they require is a bunker-buster, not a nuke.

 

[sracer]

Forget Apple's business model and what it costs Apple. That's irrelevant because we have no control over that other than complaining about it.

You DO have control (albeit in an indirect way) over Apple's business model. It is called consumer choice. No one is forcing anyone to buy an iPad. If you don't like the cost model then don't buy it. If enough people avoid the 64GB model then Apple will get the message.

Of course, making the argument that there aren't enough discriminating Apple customers to make that work is a different story altogether.

 

[Romeosc]

When I am at my shore house I have 160GB ipod for music, a 16GB iphone4S, and a 32GB 4G iPad so I think thats plenty of storage.

I bought an AirStash (airstash.com) It creates it's on wifi network plus you can take an SD card full of pictures, import to iPad, insert blank SD card and copy pictures and files to new SD card for a safe copy while still traveling. I am going on. A Safari to Tanzania and want to back up irreplaceable pictures while in field with no electricity. I can charge devices from safari vehicle!

You can import and WRITE to it files from photos, PDFs, Pages, Numbers, WebDev apps, almost everything!

 

[BFizzzle]

i find with services such as , netflix, spotify, dropbox etc, have all cut my needs of on board storage drasticly.

 

[dacreativeguy]

32 GB = $599
64 GB = $699

$100 / 24 months (if you keep the iPad for 2 years) = $4.17 a month extra. If you really can't afford that , then you probably should not be spending your money on something like an iPad in the first place.

 

[Irish Rose]

I don't think the 32GB is the worst deal, however, I did just trade my 32GB AT&T 4G iPad in for the 64GB 4G model.

 

[doboy]

32 GB = $599
64 GB = $699

$100 / 24 months (if you keep the iPad for 2 years) = $4.17 a month extra. If you really can't afford that , then you probably should not be spending your money on something like an iPad in the first place.

It's not about not being able to afford anything. I can honestly afford to buy an iPad every week after paying all my living expenses and retirement fund, but still own a 32GB iPad because I don't need the extra space and I'll be buying the 4th gen next year.

 

[tanboom]

Wirelessly posted

Apple also has the best margins on the 64GB model. The flash memory is actually a fairly small part of the iPad's overall cost.

This is your argument:
A car I want to buy costs $20,000 and includes a 6-pack of Coca Cola. For $25,000, it comes with a 12-pack, and for $30,000 it comes with a 24-pack.

The 12-pack model works out to $833 for each extra can. The 24-pack model is $555 for each extra can. The 24-pack model is the best deal!

No. It neglects that, as others have mentioned, the high end still costs more in real dollars, and people may not need the extra memory. It also neglects the actual cost to Apple of what's being bought. What's a better deal: Buying a 12-pack that normally costs $5 for $5,000, or buying a 24-pack that normally costs $8 for $10,000?

The pricing we're charged for additional memory is so disproportionate to the actual cost of the part that the best deal is to buy the minimum you need.

I am with you, thats why iPad is not having external memory slot

 

[Abazigal]

32 GB = $599
64 GB = $699

$100 / 24 months (if you keep the iPad for 2 years) = $4.17 a month extra. If you really can't afford that , then you probably should not be spending your money on something like an iPad in the first place.

Being able to afford something doesn't mean I should throw away good money. That hundred dollars could just as easily be spent on other accessories or tucked away for a rainy day.

I have sufficient savings in Bank account to buy an iPad many times over. I didn't save that much however, by splurging on the Top end model of every new product that come to the market, but rather by spending prudently only on what I need.

 

[tanboom]

Congrats on figuring out Apple's business model. Companies have been doing this for years in hopes that you'll shell out more money for the top tier model because you believe you are getting more. They do that to discourage consumers from just buying the bottom tier model.

Its nothing new. Just buy the ones that suits your needs and/or what you can afford.

......to encourage consumers not to cry for external memory support

 

[JPark]

This math seems a little silly to me. I see it as this:

16GB/$499 = $31.19 per GB
32GB/$599 = $18.72 per GB
64GB/$599 = $10.92 per GB

That only makes sense if you assume everything but the memory is free. I'm guessing it probably isn't.

The OP did the math right.

 

[shyam09]

......to encourage consumers not to cry for external memory support

yet it always happens along with USB ports, HDMI, and all that other stuff Andriod Tablets have and people "wish" to see in the iPad. lolz. Just like flash

 

[tanboom]

I think this is the best calculation...

Lets assume without any memory iPad would have cost 399

So...
16 GB.........100
32GB..........200
64GB..........300

The cost per gb is minimum with 64 gb model (4.6875) than others (6.25). Rest is up to you! Got it?

 

[glen e]

silly thread....another "I've figured it out and my experience transcends yours and you are stupid" thread.....likely spoken from a dorm room...

we all have diff needs and wants....

 

[shyam09]

either way my money is going to go to Apple so I probably want to spend the one that gives me the most satisfaction; not the one that isn't.

Ex:
I am new to the iPad market. I stroll into a store, grab a lovely wifi 16GB and I stroll out, grinning like an idiot. I go home, play with it for a while, put apps in and get oh I don't know 35 utils or units of satisfaction. As time goes on the amount of storage remaining is an even 8 GBs, and I live happily ever after. The End [lol couldn't resist fairytale ending ]

The Moral is: People have different prefs. as you already mentioned. But it has nothing to do with the price. Just get the iPad that gives you the most amount of satisfaction

 

[Macclone]

I think the 32 is perfect.

 

[jclardy]

It is simple:

If you want to buy the newest iPad every year for as cheap as possible, go 16GB. The 32GB and 64GB won't sell for $100 and $200 more used, probably more like $50-$100 more at most.

But the main thing is: buy the one that has the space you need. I bought the 32GB because I used about 18GB on my iPad 2.

 

[iRooney]

I always get the 16GB model. I'm not really a gamer...primarily use iPad to watch movies, read, or surf the web. Books take up next to no space an I only keep a movie or two on it at any given time. MacBook hosts all the movie files and I swap out as I deem necessary. I have 10GB free on my iPad 3 right now. Any more space would just be a waste of money for me. If I were a gamer I'd probably whine about storage though.