Got an iPad!

[pigoo3]

Well I FINALLY joined the "iPad club"!

I've wanted (and saved my money) since the first iPad was released 2.5 years ago…but I just couldn't allow myself to spend $400-$500+ on a device that really couldn't do anything that my laptop couldn't do. And because I wasn't doing a lot of traveling (when the abilities of the iPad really shine)…this also forced me to delay the purchase of an iPad.

But…I did promise myself that if I could get a good deal on a used iPad off Craig's List…I would go for it. So I've been casually searching Craig's List probably for the better part of 1.5-2.0 years…and I've probably communicated with 20-30 iPad sellers…and one thing or another would cause the deal to fall thru:

- seller sold it to someone else
- we couldn't agree on a price
- wrong color (black vs. white)
- something wrong with it
- seller decided to keep it
- etc.

I should also mention that my perfect "target iPad model" was an iPad 2 (32gig WiFi+3G)…but I was flexible depending on the price.

Finally last week I contacted a Craig's List seller regarding the iPad they had for sale. We met...I checked it out…and purchased it. It was an iPad 1 (16gig WiFi+3G…AT&T). Pretty good shape (a couple barely visible dings on the back, and a couple small almost unnoticeable scratches on the display). The seller wanted $150 for it…I got it for $120!!!

$120 for an iPad 1 (16gig +3G)!!! An AWESOME deal!!! In case folks don't know…Apple charges $130 for the 3G option (regardless of model). So I got this iPad for less than the cost of the 3G option!

It works great…strong battery life...very happy with it!!

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

I got in toward the beginning on a refurb that looked like new for $350 which for the time was a steal but that is an even better deal.

 

[RavingMac]

Congrats and welcome to the club!

 

[pigoo3]

I got in toward the beginning on a refurb that looked like new for $350 which for the time was a steal but that is an even better deal.

Believe it or not…the Apple refurb. Store is still selling the exact model iPad I purchased (iPad1, 16gig WiFi+3G AT&T)…for $359:

Refurbished iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G 16GB - Black - AT&T (1st Gen.) - Apple Store (U.S.)

…and I got a used one for $120!!! I did come VERY close a couple times to buying a refurbished iPad 2 16gig WiFi for when they were $399.

It would have been nice to get an iPad 2 with the builtin cameras…but for $120 (with 3G)…I can live without the cameras!

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

Congrats and welcome to the club!

Thanks Razormac!

FYI…my sim card works (let's hope it stays that way)!

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

I hear you on that for sure! Good deal. I am amazed the iPad 1 is still going for so high with apple since it does in no way support IOS6.

 

[pigoo3]

I hear you on that for sure! Good deal. I am amazed the iPad 1 is still going for so high with apple since it does in no way support IOS6.

Yeah…I bought this iPad the day after iOS6 was released…and found out that the iPad 1's max-out with iOS 5. It would have been nice if the iPad 1 could run iOS 6…but for $120…I can live with it!

- Nick

 

[dtravis7]

Agreed. I live with my 1st Gen. I am sure in the future it will get in the way. What bugs me is the 3GS with a weaker single core CPU runs ios6 and the iPad with the iPhone 4's cpu does not!

 

[pigoo3]

Agreed. I live with my 1st Gen. I am sure in the future it will get in the way. What bugs me is the 3GS with a weaker single core CPU runs ios6 and the iPad with the iPhone 4's cpu does not!

Apple works in mysterious ways!

- Nick

 

[bobtomay]

I could have sold ya one - but not at that price ;D good deal Nick

 

[osxx]

Agreed. I live with my 1st Gen. I am sure in the future it will get in the way. What bugs me is the 3GS with a weaker single core CPU runs ios6 and the iPad with the iPhone 4's cpu does not!

I wondered about that myself .

 

[pigoo3]

I could have sold ya one - but not at that price ;D good deal Nick

Thanks Tom! The price is what made the whole thing come together!

- Nick

 

[MYmacROX]

Not to rain on your parade, but I'm to the point now where I want to throw my iPad (1st gen) out the window it is so slow. Well, certain apps are slow because app devs are making their apps more feature-rich, etc (I'm looking at you TV Guide) and that old iPad can barely keep up. I'm selling mine in April 2013 to get an iPad 4 or whatever it's going to be called (the new new iPad).

But congrats on getting a smoking deal!

 

[pigoo3]

Not to rain on your parade, but I'm to the point now where I want to throw my iPad (1st gen) out the window it is so slow. Well, certain apps are slow because app devs are making their apps more feature-rich, etc.

But congrats on getting a smoking deal!

I hear you and I totally understand. Maybe I just haven't used the right app./apps. yet to see how slow the iPad 1 can be. I do notice that it loads some complex websites more slowly…but I was thinking that was more of a weak WiFi network issue.

I mostly wanted an iPad for when I'm away from home (business or pleasure) for 3 things:

- check e-mail
- surf the internet
- have 3G "connectibility" when I'm unable to use a WiFi hotspot

At $120 bucks…anything I get beyond this is a BONUS!!!

- Nick

p.s. With the Apps. my wife & I already have…and the internet surfing I've been doing…I really have not had any real problems.
p.p.s. When I'm at home…I really don't use the iPad…I use my MacBook Pro.

 

[cwa107]

Good deal Nick!

The bright spot on the iPad 1 is it happens to be serviceable, unlike the iPad 2 and 3. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if someone hacked it to run iOS 6. Given that the iPhone 4 can, and the iPad 1 is pretty much equivalent spec-wise, it seems like a very artificial limitation.

 

[dtravis7]

Chris, is that true? You can't get into the ipad 2 and 3? Never checked before.

 

[cwa107]

Chris, is that true? You can't get into the ipad 2 and 3? Never checked before.

You can, but it requires a heat gun and a lot of patience. Not so with the iPad 1.

 

[dtravis7]

You can, but it requires a heat gun and a lot of patience. Not so with the iPad 1.

WOW what a pain. Just found a video.

iPad 2 iPad 3 Take Apart Screen Repair Disassembly by TechRestore - YouTube

I took my iPad 1 apart like I did my older Mac Mini with a thin Putty Knife and nothing broke or tore. Not even one tab busted.

 

[cwa107]

Not even one tab busted.

Now that takes some finesse and the hands of a surgeon! I've had them apart before, but never without breaking a single clip.

 

[dtravis7]

I was lucky! What can I say. A friend tried it on his wives and busted maybe 4 clips. He did it a different way than I did but forget how. He watched some video. Hers 1/2 of the LCD went dark. Mine was just to see the inside! They say Curiosity killed the Cat!

To add to it, I used to when I was a bit younger and could see what I was doing take anything apart and get it back together, but now a days it's getting harder and harder!