Recently my sister had some good luck and happened to win a $500 gift certificate for Apple products. Per her profession she took an online survey for work-related products, and one of the perks is that if you filled it out you might win the gift certificate. Sounds like a spam, I know, but it was legit and she did really win it.
Right after that she texted me and told me the good news. Before I texted her back I went straight to the Apple Store (online), and as it happens a new iPad 2 is $499. Without hesitation I texted her back and said, "Get an iPad 2" – and she is.
Now I could have said, "Get a Mac mini" ($599, she would have spent $100 for it) or "Get a Macbook Air" ($999, she would have had to spend another $500), but I said to get the iPad 2 and I’ll tell you why – and it’s not because of price.
A few months back my sister was given an iPhone by her boss for work purposes. It’s an older generation model (probably a 3G), the boss wasn’t using the phone anymore as he just got a new one and wanted to make the best use of it. Being my sister is the manager at where she works, her boss basically said, "Here, use this", and use it she has – extensively.
Immediately what I noticed is that sis started texting me a whole lot more – and not just because of the data plan. She quickly learned how to zoom around the iPhone’s interface and is able to get things done a whole lot easier.
Right now what my sister has for a home computer is an old-and-very-worn-out laptop bought new 5 or 6 years ago. It’s a Dell Inspiron and it still works – but just barely. For the past year she’s been asking me about laptops and netbooks in an effort to try and find something new that will work for her, and I’ve given suggestions but there was nothing that really suited for what she does with a computer.
When my sis won that $500 gift card and I found out the iPad 2 was that price, it was a no-brainer to tell her to get one. Why? Because since she really gets along well with the iPhone, the iPad 2 was in fact the best choice for her.
Now remember, I could have recommended a mini, Macbook Air or even an iPod Touch, but didn’t. I know that when she gets an iPad 2 she’ll really like it and may even finally start using her Hotmail account more (which is especially popular since iOS 5 has that mail service integrated into it now).
I may not like Apple products, and in fact, I can’t stand them. But I do recognize that as a communications tool, iPad 2 is just plain easier for many instead of dealing with a full desktop or laptop computer. And personally speaking, if I won a $500 Apple gift card, I’d probably get an iPad 2 as well because it is the best tablet. Apple definitely doesn’t make the best notebook or desktop computers (which is why I wouldn’t bother with them), but for the time being, they are top drawer in the tablet department.
Hopefully soon there will be some good non-Apple tablet choices. Fingers crossed, by mid-2012 there will be some good non-Apple tablet options in the sub-$300 range. Should that happen, yes I’ll get a tablet and it’ll probably have Android OS on it. Will it replace my PC? Not a chance. But it probably would replace my netbook.
Like what you read?
If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:
I plan in the future to buy Macbook Pro which been recommend by lot of ppl why not you?
I agree, for many a tablet, especially an iPad is an excellent choice. They are very portable and simple to use. They also do the most common things that people need a computer for.
Stop spreading the Apple-perpetuated myth that there are no good alternative tablets out there. Much to their chagrin, there are several. Of course, there may not be when Apple’s lawyers are done.
Every single one of these tablets suck with exception of iPad 2. Their app stores are a joke (and the majority of existing apps are garbage), the screens sub-par and most have shoddy hardware.
The myth will be over mid-2012, but not now.
So you have tried every single one of those tablets, eh? Must be nice to have so much free time on your hands.
I happen to have the Toshiba Thrive, and for my needs, it’s better than an iPad. Android, ports, SD cards, etc. Is it as “sexy”? No, but I could give a rat’s behind about that.
The iPad is a fine choice. And there are plenty of garbage tablets out there. But Apple having the only worthwhile tablet is Apple marketing hype, pure and simple (and mostly effective, apparently).
Your choice in tablets proves my point even more. The Thrive is heavy, bulky, awkward and was not designed right out of the gate. iPad 2 is light, not awkward in the slightest and designed right the first time. None of that is hype, that’s fact.
No, the fact is you just used what Apple says a tablet should be to judge another tablet. Nice job. You might as well have said that it doesn’t have a bitten apple on the back. That, even, coming second hand…I’ll wager you’ve never touched a Thrive, nor many of the others you condemn site unseen.
My daughter has an iPad 1, so I have in fact held and used both. They are both good (but not perfect) devices. But aside from the differences in the available apps, the Thrive can do everything the iPad can do, and then some.
Heavy? It is 45 grams heavier than the iPad, which most humans can’t even tell the difference. Bulky? It’s certainly bigger than the iPad. IMHO, that makes it easier to hold. Besides the fact that everybody I know who has an iPad puts in in a case, which makes it bulkier than a “naked” Thrive or roughly the same if both are in a portfolio case. Your other “facts” are completely without merit.
The iPad is a better device for my daughter. For me, I’ll take the Thrive. People need to research for themselves and make their own decisions, and ignore the Apple marketing/hype machine.
Enjoy your bulky awkward Thrive.
Nah nah nah boo boo…oh, grow up.
You should take your own advice.
There is the Apple II and the wanna-be’s. They are what everything is measured against which leads me to think they are the one to get. I did see an IBM Think Tablet and I thought to myself, so close but yet so far away. It is in the apps for sure and this is where Apple shines. My wife ordered me a Kindle Fire that I really do not want but do not have the heart to tell her because he is so excited. Maybe it will surprise me?
I seriously dig the fact you called it an “Apple II”. That’s frickin’ awesome, said sincerely.
Lol. I can’t believe I said that. I just picked up an antique and have playing around with it for a week and it is running perfectly. Too funny.
Bought an IPad 2; nice toy but the cameras are absolute crap. My 7 year old cellphone has 10 times the camera. And since that was the major upgrade to the IPad 1, I would really like to know what was the point? since the cameras they put in were .3 and .7 megapixels, the absolute worst of any tablet, I don’t consider that an upgrade. Maybe a slap in the face, and for that reason, I will never purchase another one. However, I did learn a valuable lesson – check the specs at least twice.
The only Apple device I own is a 2-y-o iTouch.
But one thing nice about the iPad is ease-of-use if you are already familiar with an iTouch/iPhone. I can see that being a good reason to choose it (like Rich’s sister).
Recently I had to setup a new iPad for a colleague and it was a breeze since it had the familiar iTouch interface. (But only after I got over my disbelief that I had to download/install iTunes on my own company computer to set it up….sheesh, so Apple-like and why I avoid them if at all possible).
You’ll get no argument from me that the iTunes crapola is very annoying to deal with. I understand why Apple uses it, but I wish they’d develop a much smaller app that would allow you to set up/sync Apple devices *without* the iTunes requirement.
this is a interesting post to read it.
so nice and good
so nice post..