16 reasons NOT to buy a new iPad (including 7 that haven’t changed from earlier)

[james99]

Summary: I’m on your side, kids. It’s time for some truth. Let’s shut down that reality distortion field and save you some money. Let’s get started.

I was brought up with a few basic lessons. Don’t touch the hot stove. Look both ways before crossing the street. And just because all your friends want to jump off a cliff, that doesn’t mean you should, too.

[NeilN]

Coming from an original iPad:

Reason 1: You already have an iPad

And you already have a Pentium computer. No need to upgrade, right? Right?

Reason 2: The retina display is mostly marketing hype

Not all of us use the iPad to look at porn (Reason 6). Text is definitely crisper, great if you use it to read ~30 hours a week like me.

Reason 3: High-res apps will take more memory

And games once came on floppy disks. You want a better experience, you'll need better hardware.

Reason 4: 4G/LTE is expensive

Get a WiFi only iPad, yes?

Reason 5: 4G/LTE doesn’t work in a lot of places

See reason 4.

Reason 6: The porn issue

Seriously? If you have to use the iPad to get your kink on, there's something called the World Wide Web.

Reason 7: The size

Reading magazines and comics on a 7" screen? Pass.

Reason 8: iPad 2 accessories won’t necessarily work

Bzzzt! http://www.cultofmac.com/153922/your...-the-new-ipad/

Reason 9: It’s still not 16×9

Dude, the entire world does not revolve around movies.

Reason 10: There’s still no USB port

Yep, which means there's no filesystem which means I don't get calls to find lost documents, pictures, etc.

Reason 11: You still have to use iTunes too often

This is true.

Reason 12: There’s still no removable storage

See Reason 10.

Reason 13: Kindles are still much less expensive

Where's my 9.7" Kindle with a Retina display?

Reason 14: You can still only run software approved by Apple

Yep, don't get calls to clean out malware. Bliss!

Reason 15: It still can’t be used as a standalone computer

Um, and the Kindle, Playbook, or the latest Samsung can? What does this mean, anyways?

Reason 16: Apple still won’t let you write or run programs that execute programs

Huh?

"I much prefer real computers that can be used to do real work."

Which pretty much says it all.

[TorontoColin]

It has the same restrictions that previous iPads did, in that it's not a full computer. If you want something that can do what a PC can do, buy a desktop or laptop.

Anyone buying an iPad at this point has to be aware that it has severe limitations over a PC. It's a trade-off for what the iPad does well.

[jshel101]

IMO, the majority of people that buy iPad's are not buying them to replace a PC. Anyway, I guess it depends on the user. My wife's parents rarely use their PC once they got their iPad 2. Just about everything they need to do, they do it on the iPad. So for some users, yes, it can replace a computer.

I agree with NeilN's comments on the article.

[billpaidJr]

I think some of his points make sense. Apple has built their business model around small incremental changes from one generation to the next. The ipod touch being the perfect example of this...going on to its 5th or 6th generation now. First adding sound..then a camera..then better display...then etc...

It has served them well judging by the massive crowds salivating to get their hands on the latest generation of products.

They are feeding a monster now that wants a new product every year. Pretty amazing feat of marketing genius.

Truth is no one needs the new Ipad if they already have one...but they will find a way to justify getting the new one....pure genius.

[ScaryBob]

My top 3 reasons are:
1. Price
2. Price
3. Price

Apple got to be the richest company in the world for a reason. That is ridiculously high markups. They could probably sell the iPad for $100 less and the accessories for half price and still be the second richest company in the world. They could probably sell the iPad for half the price and still make money with iTune tie-ins and apps, like Amazon.

The other trend I don't like is the return to proprietary hardware and locked down systems. The "IBM PC" took over the PC market due to it's open architecture. It also took away a lot of Apple's market share (anyone remember the Apple II?) That lesson was not lost on Apple, which has produced and protected closed architecture computers since. The same lesson seems to be lost on today's consumers.

I will give Apple credit for its innovation and marketing abilities. I just wish they didn't use that to inflate prices and quash competition.

[NeilN]

Originally Posted by ScaryBob

They could probably sell the iPad for half the price and still make money with iTune tie-ins and apps, like Amazon.

Apple has said many times that the iTunes store does a little better than breaking even. Their business model is the opposite of Amazon's who makes its money by selling content.

[notsure]

Originally Posted by ScaryBob

Apple got to be the richest company in the world for a reason. That is ridiculously high markups. They could probably sell the iPad for $100 less and the accessories for half price and still be the second richest company in the world. They could probably sell the iPad for half the price and still make money with iTune tie-ins and apps, like Amazon.

Economics 101 - Supply and Demand.

They are charging what they think the market is willing to pay. They are not here to give me, you or anyone else a good deal. Their primary goal is to make money for their shareholders.

They must be doing something right.

[AFF]

People think thier 2 or 3 yr old phone is no good anymore because a new one came out. Apple and the other company's know this and take your money.

[ScaryBob]

Apple has become the company with the highest market capitalization in a little over 10 years (about 10-15 years ago it was close to bankruptcy.) It has surpassed other companies that have been on business for over 100 years, have huge customer bases and have massive business holdings, such as Exxon Mobil. That may be great for Apple shareholders but it's not so great for the people actually producing the devices. At the source end, we have people dying from working conditions that wouldn't be tolerated in North America and at the consumer end we have people (and countries) amassing gigantic debts to the producing companies (and countries.) In the middle, we have Apple pocketing the profits. I don't want to get into the mindset of people who would kill or injure others to obtain an Apple product.

Their primary goal is to make money for their shareholders.

There are some fundamental issues with such a narrow minded approach to business. In the 19th century, the sole purpose of business was to make money for the owner but that created abysmal social conditions and political unrest. Are you saying we should go backwards as a society because that's what it sounds like to me. Even Henry Ford realized that paying his workers a decent wage was good for business.

Reason #17 - You might get trampled outside the Apple store.
Reason $18 - Your iPad may have been made by someone who was driven to suicide by oppressive working conditions or poisoned by toxic chemicals.

[notsure]

ScaryBob, extrapolating this from what I wrote is a stretch... to say the least!!! Please, don't put words into my mouth. It might be a good idea for you to re-read what I wrote. And, using Exxon Mobile as an example of a good corporate citizen is laughable. Do you know what they do as a corporation? I mean aside from making billions every year for their shareholders.

Lastly, it seems like some of the stories about the horrible working conditions at Foxconn were made up in the name of "art".

[ScaryBob]

And, using Exxon Mobile as an example of a good corporate citizen is laughable.

I didn't say that. I just said that Apple has surpassed Exxon Mobil in market capitalization in 10 about years and Exon Mobil took over 100 years to reach the same level. Their level of corporate citizenry has nothing to do with it.

From what I've heard, Foxconn and similar companies are improving working conditions. However, the lifestyles of their employees would not be tolerated in North America. That's what makes it possible for Apple to deliver their products with high speed and high profits. Apple is not the only company doing this so I don't put the entire blame on them. They just get singled out due to their success.

At any rate, I consider buying into locked down, bleeding edge technology to be a bad proposition most of the time. If it's needed for business or you are a bored billionaire it's good to have. Otherwise, paying $600 for every latest and greatest Apple toy is not worth it.

[NeilN]

ScaryBob, can you name any Chinese manufacturing company in any industry whose employee lifestyles would be tolerated in North America?

And most people don't care about open versus closed. They just want stuff to work. Why do you think Linux on the desktop hasn't taken off? The "bored billionaire" statement is just empty hyperbole.

[normancw]

Originally Posted by ScaryBob

I will give Apple credit for its innovation and marketing abilities. I just wish they didn't use that to inflate prices and quash competition.

If Apple charged $100 less for their devices, wouldn't they quash the competition even more?

Originally Posted by ScaryBob

Otherwise, paying $600 for every latest and greatest Apple toy is not worth it.

It's not only Apple, people happily pay $600 for the latest greatest Google phone every year too (me included).

[TorontoColin]

Folks, the Foxconn issue has been discussed at length elsewhere. If you would like to tackle that topic, find one of those threads or, if you can't find an appropriate thread, make a new one. Future posts in this thread discussing that particular issue will be deleted. In addition, please remember to be respectful of your fellow members. Troll posts, comments designed to be inflammatory, or posts denigrating users of a particular platform will result in automatic infractions. I encourage you to express your opinions, but only in a way that is respectful to your fellow members.