You're not buying the new iPad, but somebody is
If you want Apple's third-generation tablet, retail is the only option short of waiting. Apple Store Online now lists shipping date as two to three weeks. Pre-orders started March 7, with the new iPad coming to stores in 10 countries this Friday. Did you miss out?
For the majority of you, not at all. Last week I asked BetaNews readers "Will you buy the new iPad?" As of this morning, 54.56 percent had answered "No". That is from a small sample size, just 482 responses, which is atypical for buying polls and low compared to the story's pageviews. To me that says: So many of you are so uninterested in the new iPad, you couldn't be bothered to respond.
Just 28.35 percent of you preordered, with another 12.24 percent planning to do so within 3 months of the March 16 release date. Now might be a good time to think about ordering, given delays. Another 6.85 percent will order within 6 months or longer; surely Apple will have cleared the backlog by then.
A buddy of mine pre-ordered the 16GB WiFi white iPad and received shipment notice email on Saturday. He's golden, and likely to receive his tablet by March 16. He pre-ordered last Wednesday, hours after Apple announced the new iPad.
New iPad specs: A5X dual-core processor (clockspeed not given by Apple); 9.7-inch LED display with 2048 x 1536 resolution; 1GB (unconfirmed) RAM; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal memory; 5-megapixel camera; 1080p video recording and playback; accelerometer; ambient light sensor; compass; gyroscope; GPS; Bluetooth 4.0; WiFi A/N; HSPA+, 4G LTE (on some models); 11,666 mAh battery (unconfirmed); iOS 5.1. Dimensions and weight: 7.31 x 9.5 x .37 inches and 1.44 pounds (1.46 pounds with 4G radio).
High-res, Low-brow
New iPad's big change is the high-resolution display, supported by beefier battery and faster cellular data. "Can't remember ever looking at my iPad 2 and thinking 'Gee I wish it had higher resolution", RCS_hkt comments "The limitation for doing productive work, that I currently do on my desktop (with dual 24-inch displays) is the small screen size, not the resolution".
Reader KK is hot for the new display: "What are tablets other than big screens? The essence of the tablet is its screen. The New iPad has almost absurd resolution and there will only be a bit of optimized content available initially, but there can be no doubt that it's going to be a stellar experience". KK "did order an iPad 3 because I simply can't wait to experience that screen".
KK is upgrading from iPad 2. "I purchased the first XOOM and loved it. I tweaked and geeked it without respite. At Xmas, I was given an iPad 2 and the XOOM was given away soon after. The eco-system, OS, and total experience was so far superior that I forgot about all the tweaks I enjoyed making on my XOOM".
But among BetaNews readers responding to the buying question, KK was the exception, not the rule. Reader flamencoguy is "waiting for ASUS Transformer TF700T". John Crane has a "XOOM now, and will probably buy something from Samsung in a couple years".
Commenter vincentw56: "Nope"; trparky: "No, because Apple made it. Long live Android".
Meanwhile, capncoad is "pretty happy with my $80 HP Touchpad running ICS. Don't think i'll be caring about a new tablet for a few years. Pricing for iPads are simply too expensive for what I'd use it for". Ice Cream Sandwich on TouchPad? Delicious!
Ebay, Away!
Reacer benjitek preordered, "and I won't sleep much until it arrives ;-). I'm upgrading from a 64GB 3G/WiFi iPad 2 -- and am glad I opted for that model. Even though the 2 is sticking around as the cheaper Apple tablet alternative, the 64GB models are being phased out and 32GB will be the upper limit.Should help on eBay".
Concurrent with the new tablet's announcement, Apple lowered the price on 16GB WiFi iPad 2 to $399 and the 3G model to $529. Owners looking to unload smaller-capacity iPad 2s likely won't find their resale value as high as the original tablet. Still, they're not bad. This morning on eBay, used 16GB WiFi black iPad 2s averaged around $315. 64GB 3G/WiFi black iPad 2: $525 in auctions ending soon.
"Nope, have iPad 2", Gene Vincent answers. "It's fine. Only use it to lie in bed and browse the Internet. I take it with me when going out of town to check email and websites. Great for that. Will want to take a look at a Windows 8 tablet but definitely no iPad 3".
He's not alone. From comments to many BetaNews stories, lots of you are holding out for Windows 8 tablets.
"My dream machine I'm waiting for is a 12-inch tablet that runs full Win 8 plus can run Android through emulation or dual boot, and with a keyboard case for extended traveling", RCS_hkt explains. "That would replace my iPad 2 and my laptop".
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