You will buy iPad 2

Yesterday I asked Betanews readers "Who will buy iPad 2?" -- wondering is it you? Readers who took time to email are much more likely to buy iPad 2 than those who commented. Based on  readers' answers to questions about iPad 1 or iPhone 4, I expected that most Betanews readers wouldn't buy Apple's second-generation tablet when it goes on sale this Friday. Surprisingly, many respondents say they will buy iPad 2. The majority of people who wouldn't buy iPad 2 aren't interested in any tablet.

"I plan on buying," Scott Adams writes by email. "I did not buy iPad 1. I wanted one but knew that if I had waited it would be much improved. I knew it would have FaceTime. I had thought that it would have Retna [display] also. I have been waiting for about 7 months now. So, I knew at launch unless I really hated it that I would buy it." Contrary to widely blogged rumors, iPad 2 doesn't have Retna display.

"I'm not planning on buying iPad 2 and haven't bought a tablet yet because they have been too expensive in my estimation up to this point," new Betanews registrant mrsandman writes in comments (would you people please use real names). "But with the price reduction of the original iPad to $399 ($349 for refurb) I may buy the first generation. To me, the updates to the iPad 2 are minuscule. Dual core is nice but not completely necessary for normal use -- and a web cam? Why would I use that? The magnetic cover is cool as well as the thinner body. But for a $349 first gen refurb, I think iPad 2 is still overpriced. I haven't decided yet, but I think I might end up getting the original in the end." Like the original model, iPad 2 prices range from $499 to $829.

"I presently own an iPad," Bill DeVore writes by email. "I will sell it on gazelle.com and buy the iPad 2 on March 11 and here's why: Nowhere else will you get the seamless experience known as iOS. For the same reason that people buy Mercedes Benz and Rolex watches, I want the overall experience of form, fit and function and am willing to pay for it. Some people buy their wine by the cardboard box -- android, Honeycomb, etc. -- and some only want the very best (Apple). It's all about the overall experience."

I asked DeVore: "Do you have a Mercedes Benz or Rolex watch?" To which he replied: "Guess I'm a bit contradictory but the car is a 2009 E550 Sedan and the watch is a Timex!"

"If I wanted something to surf the Net or view a movie on while traveling, I would buy one of the upcoming Android tablets," new Betanews registrant RobC0704 writes in comments (this is another plea for you people please use real names). "There is too much nickel and diming going on with the iPad. By the time you finish buying all the extras just to match something like the XOOM you are paying the same price for less hardware."

Ulrich Birkmaier will buy iPad 2 on launch day:

I've used Apple products forever, and I currently have an older iPod classic, an eMac, a new iMac, an iPhone 3GS (I'm holding out until this summer to get the iPhone 5), and a 3-year old MacBook Pro. When the iPad originally came out I had a hard time justifying the purchase, since I already own a laptop and an iPhone. In addition, I don't like buying 1st generation products.

The iPad2 seems much improved, I can Skype, and instead of traveling with my laptop, I can pack the much more resilient and convenient (I don't need to 'work' on the road, so no need for keyboard, Office, etc.). Also, I am hoping to convince my parents to give the iPad a try, as they are pretty much refusing to join the computer age, but its ease of use just might do the trick.

Other email respondents are having better luck with their parents. "I currently have the iPad 1 and will be purchasing the iPad 2 for my 80 year old Mom," writes Jolyn Montgomery. "She loves my iPad and understands how to use it very well. She has an iPhone 3GS and it is a natural transition to the iPad. I bought her a MacBook Pro last year and she was very frustrated by it. I think the older generation will embrace this technology."

"If I could get my mum to part with the money, I'd get her to buy one because I'm sick of her asking me to update Adobe Flash on laptop (that weighs a ton!), and her router screws up too often for my liking," Betanews reader Aires writes in comments. "I'd recommend anyone over 50 years of age gets the iPad just for the sheer simplicity of use." I agree with that sentiment.

Gene Vincent "wouldn't buy one for me personally but [I] am going to purchase one for business purposes. And [I] will probably try it out for reading newspapers and a book or two. Currently [I] have a Kindle that I really like. I catch myself getting caught up in the hype a bit. It's like a musical act, once they are hot, people will buy anything they record. At present, the hot act is the iPad."

New Betanews registrant DDM compares his wife's 9.7-inch iPad 1 to his 7-inch Dell Streak 7:

iPad - Pros: Very nice interface, easy to use. Many apps (probably more than anyone will ever read through). Great battery life. Wonderful screen resolution and size. Cons: Expensive. Very large screen (yes, this is a drawback also) making it bulky to use in some situations or for long periods of time. 3G is an option (if I want to pay a lot more and sign a contract). USB? SDCard? Hmm. Oh yeah, did I mention expensive?

Dell Streak 7 - Pros: Nice interface (iPad is better, but new UIs will help this). Easy to use. Many apps available. Nice screen size and great resolution. This is much easier to carry and use on a regular basis. 4G and WiFi built in. I can also use a pre-pay SIM on it if I wanted to. I have T-Mobile so it's no big deal to add it to my account. Decent price. Cons: Battery life. It's about 1/4 the life of the iPad. Although not always a big issue, it's annoying sometimes. Hoping that the new [Android] OS will help but don't expect it to meet the iPad's battery life.

I personally like the Streak 7, my wife likes the iPad. Either one works fine for most everything we do and larger screens beat mobile surfing over a cell phone any day.

"I have an iPad since the first month it came out, and it didn't fit my business needs at all," Troy Gates writes in comments. "It is now a coffee table device -- great for simple web browsing (to simple for extended browsing sessions, pull out laptop and Firefox for that), great for simple games to waste time during commercials, good for personal email (not great at exchange based email), etc., but nothing in it is worth using in my workplace."

Jack Brown is ready. He answers in comments: "In a word. Yes. I'll either be doing the order online or I'll just go stand in line, if there is one, at my local Apple Store."