iPad 1 or 2

DangerMoose · 12 Apr 2011 at 09:12

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on the merits of snapping up an iPad 1 bargain over trying to get hold of an iPad 2.

In particular, it would seem I could get a 3G iPad 32gb for £20 more than a WiFi only iPad 2 32gb, which seems like a pretty good price to me. Though I should say I would probably use the 3G only rarely and may end up just sticking a PAYG SIM in it and forgetting about it. The main benefits would be getting one sooner and also possibly skipping some of the teething troubles of early iPad 2s.

Glaucus · 12 Apr 2011 at 13:03

if you already have an ipad1 don't upgrade.
But if you don't have an ipad I would go for ipad2.
Apple products don;t drop in price until new model is released and the dual core I would bet my wage on being needed for IOS5 when ever it is released. Also prefer the sliminess over the old one.

That's the way I see it, so went for an ipad2 and am loving it.

petecarter · 12 Apr 2011 at 13:11

If the 3G is still more, and you don't think you would use it much, i would go for the iPad 2. Resale values will be a little higher too.

Turbo-G · 12 Apr 2011 at 13:27

do you already own an iPhone or android device? With wifi hotspot/tethering options available it kinda makes the 3G iPad pointless.

I'd get an ipad2 personally, never seen the point in buying the previous generation for things like this unless cost is a major concern.

Spyhop · 12 Apr 2011 at 13:31

Things are going to start being developed with the beefier hardware in mind.

The original iPad will end up feeling sluggish like the iPhone 3G.

Tunney · 12 Apr 2011 at 14:03

Turbo-G said:
do you already own an iPhone or android device? With wifi hotspot/tethering options available it kinda makes the 3G iPad pointless.

Don't forget that the iPad 3G has GPS and the WiFi version does not. If you want to use location-based services, the iPad 3G is the way forward.

I agree with AcidHell about software updates. Each iteration of the iPhone has only had 1-2 major software update before support has been discontinued.

Hopefully the lifespan of the iPad will be longer but I'd still consider it a factor.

DangerMoose · 12 Apr 2011 at 14:16

It probably makes sense to just wait for the iPad 2 to become more widely available. If the older one were cheaper, it might be an easier choice to make do but, at the time of writing, I have not found any of them available in 32gb WiFi only, which is what I was aiming for. Not even seen any of the 16gb ones.

Is a good point regarding future software updates. I expect the list of apps that are optimised for faster or more advanced CPUs will only increase with time as well. Having had a play with the new one, I have to say it also feels very good to hold. I cannot really compare with the old one as the only examples I have played with have had rather bulkier security hardware to fasten them down, so have seemed artificially unwieldy. I was hoping to compare and contrast with some Android 3.0 devices, but the Xoom seems to have been delayed in purple shirt land and the Asus was not to be found either.

Regarding 3G, there is a desire to try and plan for all eventualities and be able to use it more easily on the go, though being realistic, it certainly is not worth the price difference to me that you normally have to pay for it. £20 is not so bad but obviously comes with the baggage of the older hardware in other ways.

Robbo · 12 Apr 2011 at 14:20

iPad 2.

sHo0sH · 12 Apr 2011 at 15:13

I don't know if you're an o2 customer, but if you are and you have an iPhone, they have recently changed their tarifs so that you can use up your data allowance however you like.

Meaning, with ios4.3 or an android handset, you can share your 3g connection with your phone as a wireless network. Hence no need for a 3g ipad

Always get the newer tech!

PaulyD · 12 Apr 2011 at 15:38

Tunney said:
Don't forget that the iPad 3G has GPS and the WiFi version does not. If you want to use location-based services, the iPad 3G is the way forward.

I believe the iphone passes over location based services when tethering so that wont be a problem either

I would go for the iPad 2 myself

Glaucus · 12 Apr 2011 at 16:32

Tethering costs more on a lot of contracts that couple with the fact most contracts have very limited data and convienence. I went 3G, £7.50 for 3gb is far cheaper than any tethering contract.

theheyes · 12 Apr 2011 at 18:35

iPad1 - short term value
iPad2 - long term value (well, long by Apple standards)

Turbo-G · 12 Apr 2011 at 19:52

AcidHell2 said:
Tethering costs more on a lot of contracts that couple with the fact most contracts have very limited data and convienence. I went 3G, £7.50 for 3gb is far cheaper than any tethering contract.

I agree that's pretty cheap, but I only pay £30 for my iPhone tarif with 3 which allows tethering and now wifi hotspot functionality for free. So if you do already own said device, the £100 extra for the 3G model is not exactly worth it - in my opinion anyway.

RiskyRix · 12 Apr 2011 at 22:29

i have an ipad 1 and im very pleased with it no problems at all i was going to sell and buy the ipad 2 but there is no real point all the apps made for ipad 2 will be compatible with ipad 1 anyway so the new chip wont make any diffrence will it? maybe a little faster and better graphics but ipad 1 is just as good. The only other real difference is the cameras which in my opinion is a complete waste of time unless you know lots of people with the facetime app its pointless stick to ipad 1 tbh

Turbo-G · 13 Apr 2011 at 18:36

RiskyRix said:
i have an ipad 1 and im very pleased with it no problems at all i was going to sell and buy the ipad 2 but there is no real point all the apps made for ipad 2 will be compatible with ipad 1 anyway so the new chip wont make any diffrence will it? maybe a little faster and better graphics but ipad 1 is just as good. The only other real difference is the cameras which in my opinion is a complete waste of time unless you know lots of people with the facetime app its pointless stick to ipad 1 tbh

Isn't garage band iPad 2 only?

Dewotter · 13 Apr 2011 at 19:02

Turbo-G said:
Isn't garage band iPad 2 only?

It runs on iPad 1. How well I don't know though.

Glaucus · 13 Apr 2011 at 20:01

RiskyRix said:
i have an ipad 1 and im very pleased with it no problems at all i was going to sell and buy the ipad 2 but there is no real point all the apps made for ipad 2 will be compatible with ipad 1 anyway so the new chip wont make any diffrence will it? maybe a little faster and better graphics but ipad 1 is just as good. The only other real difference is the cameras which in my opinion is a complete waste of time unless you know lots of people with the facetime app its pointless stick to ipad 1 tbh

That's ATM no guarantee it will stay like that, new apps and iOS will almost certainly be customised for dual core and extra ram. No point upgrading, but if your buying yip our first iPad I would go ipad2 for future proofing.