She didn't look the type to buy apps, which I'm guessing is why Apple only want's people with credit buying their items. She was a woman of mature age and on a fixed income who, like my Mother-In Law, apparently is looking at a way to view photos and email - that's it. The applications supplied with the iPad would likely have been enough for her needs. I'm guessing that, due to Apple's pricing point on these iPads, they don't make much profit selling the actual hardware. I believe Apple takes the long view and sees the devices are conduits by which to link the client's money and the Apple/iTunes Store. Cash doesn't work at the Apple/iTunes Store, so why sell the iPad to people who wouldn't buy anything there? That part makes complete sense to me from a business standpoint. It stinks for many people, but they are too old, or too stupid so who cares? Maybe if they were more open minded they'd get with the program and acquire the means to make electronic payments. Don't they have homes for people like that so we don't have to deal with them? LOL
My Mother-In-Law doesn't have a credit card anymore either. She's the patient type who mails checks in to pay her bills, shops via paper catalogs and telephones or mails in her orders, and even drives in to her insurance agent to pay her bill, etc.. She canceled her cards long ago as she felt it made her "lose track of how much she was spending" on her fixed income. We did manage to encourage her to secure a debit card, but I don't think she has ever used it. It's a different lifestyle, with different sensibilities, from a different era. You wouldn't understand, and don't really have to.
Many of my other group of friends are real "off the grid" types. They avoid anything issued by the government or a company that has a unique number. Living that way seems a bit excessive to me, but they seem willing to forgo some conveniences for privacy and debt free living. A locally owned and operated bank exclusive to their particular county is about as far as their money goes for storage. By storage, I mean a minimal checking account backed up by gold and other assets in safety deposit boxes. They get by just fine without corporate backing of their purchases. Anyway, I doubt any of them would want an iPad, as ChristianLinux6 is their distro of choice.
Point being, not everyone has, wants or feels the need for credit cards. They shouldn't complain if that limits them as life does move along, even if you don't. On the other side, I can imagine it would be frustrating to have to choose between one's felt need for financial control and independence, and giving that control over to another, just to get on the internet. Of course, there are libraries with internet available which apparently is the answer to any question about difficulty accessing the internet.
I side with the little guy on this one.
