Deal of the Day - 3/5/11

Hello All,

Apple has announced the iPad 2, debuting March 11th, and has started selling the original iPad, refurbished, from their store for $349.00.  This is $150 off the original price, and $50 off the new, lowered price, of the first model.  If you want an iPad this is the way to go.  If you buy refurbished from Apple you get a full one year warranty, and it looks new, the only difference is that the packaging is a plain brown box, not the pretty box the iPad usually comes in.

The only reason not to buy one of these refurbished iPads is because you want a new iPad 2.  Here is a quick run down of the changes to the new iPad 2.

• Faster processor - 2 A5 chips, the original iPad has one
• Dual cameras for FaceTime and recording video and snapping pictures
• Slimmer and lighter, with a better shape and new back cover material

I had an iPad for my old job and had to turn it back in.  Surprisingly I do not miss it as much as I thought I would.  It is cool, but for me it was only really a reading device (blogs, Facebook, email, web) and a music player.  I do not like the touch keyboard so I would not do any really work on it.  It was great as a game machine as well, but I did not use it for that very often.  Do not misunderstand me, I think the iPad is a great idea, and I used mine daily, it is just not completely there yet.  Maybe the new processor will make it more versatile, but for most people I imagine a decent Netbook would be more useful to them, and save them some green.  One last rumor floating around out there, to make you think twice about the iPad 2.  Rumor has it that the iPad 3 will be out this fall, in time for Christmas.  It will have the same incredible display on the iPhone 4, just in the larger size.  That would really be something.  Comparing the iPhone 3GS to the 4's screen is like bringing a picture into focus, it is that big of a change.  That would be a worth while upgrade, and worth waiting for, but as I said it is just a rumor.

You can find all the refurbished iPads here.

One last thing that I am thinking of doing, is trying a Color Nook out as my iPad like device.  Here is why

• It is only $250 - brand new
• It is easily hackable to make it into an Android tablet
• You can use microSD cards to increase the storage capacity

The downsides to this plan are 

• The nook is only a 7" screen vs a 9.7" on the iPad
• The battery life is not as good as the iPad
• The processor is not as fast as the iPad
• The Android marketplace is not as developed as the App Store

The real question is $250 and the downsides a better deal than $350 with known quantities.  This I have not yet determined.

Later,

John