Should I Buy An iPad? Is The iPad Right for Me?

The Apple iPad

I think before you can draw that conclusion you really must think of the reason you want to buy the iPad.

If you’re a Mac crazed enthusiast like me, the decision comes a little more easier even if it means standing in line to be one of the first to buy it.

If you’re a Mac newbie, that’s where you may get into a little trouble as shattered expectations maybe the experience that provides a source to inspire negative feedback helping to influence the anti Mac distortionist since he or she’s intention is to paint a negative picture regardless the worth of the product. Unfortunately, for some, that alone will help derail the decision to buy the iPad.

If you were to ask me my opinion, I would probably ask you to answer a few questions first. Depending upon your answers,you may be able to justify your reason to buy or not to buy.

Listed below are a few questions that I feel may help lead you to a favorable outcome. Again keep in mind each person may have a different outcome depending upon what they are looking to achieve with the iPad.

Question #1. Why are you buying it?

This is very important because the outcome can be very different depending upon how you answer the question. I call it “the give it reason to succeed, not to fail scenario”. Just like working at a job. I don’t think anyone wants to do a bad job, so take on a job that you like/ want to do. If you don’t your probably going to suck at it and failure is imminent.

If your decision to Buy the iPad is to replace a computer or a laptop, you’re going to fail period. End of story. You’ll be wearing a t-shirt that says “Support the Anti Mac Extremist club”.

Now if you’re a realtor on the other hand and you want to buy the iPad to help influence your marketing skills by providing a digital port folio experience for all the houses your trying to sell, your experience may have a different outcome. It may even be considered a tool for the trade at this point, of which for the right trade could even impact your ability to make money or provide a better customized service. At which point there might even be an app or apps that may influence a favorable experience as well utilizing the 3G / Wi-Fi technology.

To put it simple, your reason to buy must have value in it. if not, the end use may not have value either.

Question# 2. What are your expectations?

Another derivative of failure is unclear expectations. Make it simple, Know what you want. If you don’t, again you may have an unfavorable experience based upon you unwillingness to know what that is or until it’s too late and your credit card invoice shows up in the email box along with your license tabs bill for your car. Forgot about that ha…?

If you have a iTouch or iPhone, and you like it but want to have a bigger screen to do other things, clarify what your expectations are from the get go. This is important! Again your setting yourself up for failure if you don’t and you really don’t want to wear that nasty t-shirt anyway now do ya?

Or, If your like my friend an avid ebook book reader and electronic books are your forte, well perhaps the iPad is fitting. I know personally I didn’t buy it for that but since it is able to do that I find it very nice. There are many more samples to take note of but this one I find represents it well. I know if your Kindle, you may be squirming a bit. The difference between the two is like comparing the Nintendo video game to that of perhaps Xbox 350. What a difference it is……

A lot of the iPad’s function is based upon what people want, so the next gen iPad will be even more exciting. If it doesn’t have what you want, then wait and stop your complaining.

Apple is not the only company out there in the world who is trying to be profitable. Every company I know that is successful has a good Marketing strategy and a campaign that follows. For those out there who have negative comments about the IPad including the amount of profits Apple is making from every sale of the iPad, hold your tongue! Obviously you’re not a business owner now are ya?

Question #3. Know when to buy.

I think knowing when to buy is left up to the individual and is also a very important question to ask yourself before making your final decision. Again taking into account the above questions and putting them into a better perspective. For me it was easy, I am a technology enthusiast, and getting my hands on an iPad right away was important to me.

Do I care it doesn’t have a camera? Nope!

Do I care I didn’t get the 3G model? Nope!

Does the absence of a USB port effect my ability to transfer data? Nope.

But I may add, being able to transfer data to the iPad wirelessly is very cool and so easy even a cave man can do it! How many wireless hard drives do you see out there?

Using Air sharing Pro is one way to do it and the App was only $9.99. That’s just one of the thousands of Apps already available for the iPad. Again, know what to buy and when. Apply this to Apps as well for a more favorable experience.

So before you buy , read up about the iPad and see if there are certain features that may be useful for you personally. Talk to others who own it, perhaps this is most important because their own personal experiences may help shed light on what you want to know about their experience and get a truthful answer.

Keep in mind often the ones who have something bad to say about something are usually the ones who don’t have the experience firsthand. In fact, ask them if the even own one. I bet the answer is no…. So think about it when they offer their input. Remember the seeing is believing saying, well in this case an owner of may have more valuable actual feedback based upon personal experience rather the speculation. Offering a biased opinion without being able to support the facts is usually the case. Sorry, just seems to be the way it is.

Lastly, talk to your Mac Sales associate, read and ask a lot of questions before you pull out the plastic. Help make your experience a pleasurable one and do your homework. Is it no t true that those who do their homework often get the good grades? Well what’s different about this situation? Know the most about the product before buying it. No different then buying a car or buying an engagement ring for your girlfriend. Know what you’re getting into before you tie the Knot. Divorce isn’t cheap and neither is the iPad…

Hope that helps those who are on the fence.

Your friendly Mac Enthusiast

-e

Edward Knutson is a guest writer who also runs Dimation.com