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Apple iPad 2 buyers and owner's thread

post #1 of 255
3/4/11 at 8:16am
Thread Starter 

So let's kick this off.

 

Official page:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/ (note not ipad2!  That page is not found)

 

iPad2 officially goes on sale at 5PM Friday May 11th, a week from today.

 

You CANNOT pre order.

 

You CAN buy from the Apple store, Verizon Store, AT&T store, Best Buy and Walmart

 

There are 18 different SKUs

AT&T 3G 16, 32, 64 BLACK

Verizon 3G 16, 32, 64 BLACK

WIFI only 16, 32, 64 BLACK

AT&T 3G 16, 32, 64 White

Verizon 3G 16, 32, 64 White

WIFI only 16, 32, 64 White

 

If, like me, you have an unlimited data plan that you are grandfathered in on AT&T and wish to use that SIM card in a new iPad2, you can do this easily by simply just moving the sim to the new iPad and putting the virgin one in the old iPad and selling it off.

 

Instructions on that here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2769290&start=0&tstart=0

 

Discussion on it here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1101578

 

(note:  As of today I am still not sure if I am upgrading or not.  If I can sell my 64GB 3G with case for $550 or so it's a done deal, at $500 I'll have to give it a strong shot, $450 or less not gonna do it.  We'll see how Craigslist goes, I do have a friend who is interested, if I sell to him it will certainly be for the low end, which is fine with me.  Selling to strangers tho?  NO MERCY!!!!  =p  )

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post #2 of 255
3/4/11 at 9:27am
Quote:

You CAN buy from the Apple store, Verizon Store, AT&T store, Best Buy and Walmart

Good news! Because of our Reward Zone credit card and more convenient location, BB is a slightly better purchase store for us.

 

Waiting for details on Verizon 3G plan.

 

Plan to buy a 16 GB 3G iPad 2 at launch. It's not unlikely I'd buy a 64 GB 3G iPad 2 this summer, unless iPad 3 rumors get serious traction.

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post #3 of 255
3/4/11 at 11:49am

FWIW:  I got my original iPad 3G, no waiting, no fuss, no muss on day one by showing up at the Soho Apple Store 5 minutes before closing.  I was in and out with my iPad and Apple case in 5 minutes.  

 

It wasn't really planned -- I was between a Tribeca Film Festival screening and a concert at Joe's Pub and just managed to grab it.  

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post #4 of 255
3/5/11 at 3:29pm
NO Target, they have the cuurent iPad?
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post #5 of 255
3/6/11 at 5:40pm
http://www.macworld.com/article/158361/2011/03/compare_ipad_data_plans.html

Macworld has a summary of Verizon and AT&T data plans. I can trust they're right since I've not seen this elsewhere. It complicates my decision as they're not the same.
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post #6 of 255
3/6/11 at 7:36pm

After some consideration, I think I'm still getting a Verizon iPad. There's no comment on activation fees, so I'll assume there's no nonsense as with Android tablets.

 

And on our car travels, there are significant AT&T deadzones. I want to be cheap and save $5 per 3G usage, but that's the compromise.

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post #7 of 255
3/7/11 at 11:43am
Thread Starter 

Holy cow, how did I miss this.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/smart-cover/

 

Halfway down the page, use the 'hand' for the animation.

 

Surprise and delight indeed!

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post #8 of 255
3/7/11 at 12:44pm

I couldn't find the Gallery on Apple's site for the iPad 2. I was curious how that cover attaches to the iPad. Maybe the hinges are attached by magnets too. Knowing how the designers keep the design clean, that would be my guess, no obvious signs of attachment points.

 

edit: Nevermind, I found the video, it does appear to magically attach to the side. Very cool.

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post #9 of 255
3/7/11 at 1:11pm
Thread Starter 

Yup, plus the magnets are available for competing covers from third parties, too!  I'm not sold on the protective nature of the Smart cover yet, I think I want a 'grippy' bumper to grab on to that wraps around the edge of the pad and secures a cover to, but I can't wait to try out the smart covers myself.

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post #10 of 255
3/7/11 at 6:32pm

Verizon vs AT&T data rates

AT&T is up to 2x faster than Verizon on large-file downloads and on uploads. But Verizon typically comes close for YouTube videos.

 

http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2011/02/iphone-versus-iphone-ars-puts-verizon-and-att-to-the-test.ars

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/verizon-iphone-review/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/02/iphone-speedtest/

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/02/verizon-att-iphone-tests/ (click the pins on the map; what a stupid way to present the data)

 

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post #11 of 255
3/7/11 at 7:55pm

Pretty much mirrors my testing in the Midwest. Had one of my colleagues perform side by side testing of two phones in the Bay area in the last week and came to the same conclusion.

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post #12 of 255
3/7/11 at 8:28pm
Thread Starter 
Iwas shocked to find that Gazelle offered me $530 for my 64gb with 3G and I've accepted their offer. I have 30 days to ship it and they sent me a prepaid feces mailer via email so i will get my ipad2 this weekend then swap sim cards and ship out the old one.

Anyone need a first gen iPad case in great shape, cheap? smile.gif
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post #13 of 255
3/7/11 at 8:29pm
Thread Starter 
Damnyouautocorrect!!!!!!

Fedex -> feces lmao....
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post #14 of 255
3/7/11 at 8:32pm
Yikes, I just saw the email notice and my jaw dropped.

laugh.gif
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post #15 of 255
3/7/11 at 8:42pm
Best autocorrect error!!! biggrin.gif
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post #16 of 255
3/7/11 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 
Not sure I follow you, what notice Tony, a HTF subscription or something else?
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post #17 of 255
3/8/11 at 6:31am
Thread Starter 

If anyone is considering using Gazelle I finally found a promo code after it was too late for me.  Maybe it will work for you, no guarantees:  iPadToday

via:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1107123

 

More info for those thinking about it:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1106924

 

Can't get to this link from here but think I saw it last night:

http://mac.blorge.com/2011/03/03/wanna-ipad-2-gazelle-the-old-one/

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post #18 of 255
3/8/11 at 6:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Posten View Post

Not sure I follow you, what notice Tony, a HTF subscription or something else?

I get an email after every post you make Sam.
tongue.gif

Actually I get an email after every post anyone makes in a topic that I've posted in.has a

BTW, nothing in those links mentions anything about what Gazelle is that I could see.
Is it a web site?
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post #19 of 255
3/8/11 at 6:58am
Thread Starter 

Yup, Gazelle.com - you tell them what you have and what condition you consider it to be in, and they tell you how much they will pay.  The NYT gave them a thumbs up today:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/first-generation-ipad-reselling-quickly-online/

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post #20 of 255
3/8/11 at 7:07am
Ok nice, I have a white iphone 3gs, let me see what they want for it.
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post #21 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:22am
Thread Starter 

Marco gives his buying advice:

http://www.marco.org/3716727900

 

Regarding capacity he says this:

 

Quote:
If you think you’ll need the 64 GB version, you should consider whether even that will be enough. If it won’t, and you’ll need to “edit” your collections to fit on the iPad anyway, consider whether editing them down to fit into 32 or 16 GB might be worthwhile.

I -could- make 32 gb work if I split my 'on the go' music collection in half, cut out a lot of silly apps, and went from 4 movies 'to watch later' down to 1 or 2.  But I think it's worth the $100 to -me- to have the flexibility it provides.  Even with judicious editing of what I put on there sometimes I get surprised and don't have enough room to add new things because of the poor way that iTunes handles app updates (ie updating a 1.2gb app like TomTom can require you to have 3GB free while it swaps things around.  Keep that in mind while you are budgeting how much space you will really need.

 

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/a-brief-guide-to-managing-your-growing-itunes-library/

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post #22 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:00pm
Verizon charging activation fee? Charging re-activation fees? Annoying lack lack of good info days before launch. This us where Apples culture of secrecy fails its customers: cultural inability to get important info to customers right before launch. Saw the same priblems with the iphone 4 launch.

Uncertain again about what carrier to choose.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1110803

http://community.vzw.com/t5/Other-Android-Devices/Xoom-35-activation-fee-every-time-you-enable-data/m-p/457388

http://androidforums.com/motorola-xoom/252376-verizon-plan-fees-questions.html#post2386349
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post #23 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:16pm
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/08/inside_att_vs_verizon_ipad_2_data_service_plans.html


Seems certain: Verizon charges $35 everytime you turn on 3G.

I'm going with AT&T. I'm not paying $55 for a month of 1 GB of data.
Edited by DaveF - 3/9/11 at 7:11am
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post #24 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:28pm

Wow Dave I never saw that web site before but it reeks havoc on my browser.

 

Takes almost as long as HTF to load.

Plus I wasn't sure which link I was supposed to look at the page that comes up has a lot of stuff there.

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post #25 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:37pm

No brainer for me.  On Friday I order an iPad2 (color black, don't like white) from the Apple Store using "expedited shipping" (whatever that means),  Full 64G Wifi + AT&T 3G.  Sandy gets the original iPad.  As soon as iPad2 arrives I call AT&T and move my grandfathered unlimited  Data plan ($29.99/month) to the new iPad by giving them the IMEI number for the new iPad so that they can move the account over.  No SIM card removal required.  Nor is it advised.  AT&T confirmed that the grandfathered unlimited accounts are transferable to a new device.  Sandy will have my "old" iPad and instead of using the 3G feature when away from WiiFi (not that often)  she will use the Hot spot feature of her Verizon/iPhone4 to get on the web, etc.

 

Lots to like with the iPad2 as we wait for iPad3 (retina display? 4G? other??)  The grand kids are already lining up to see who gets Sandy's iPad when I get an iPad3 laugh.gif

 

The hardest decision for me with my Black iPad2 is which "smart cover" to buy.  I'm leaning toward two covers - one leather (probably black but maybe Red) and one space age polymer (Blue is my first choice).  And of course the HDMI cable and Garage Band and iMovie right out of the box.  What features and options are others thinking of getting?

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post #26 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:49pm
Thread Starter 
Black on black leather cover.
Hdmi cable
Garage band
Hoping I get a free upgrade on the iMovie app I already own
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post #27 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:50pm
Tony,

All the links load fast on my iPhone. But since I copied them and posted from my iPhone, maybe they're mobile optimized and don't work right on a computer.

My second post with the link to AppleInsider is the best summary. Scroll down to the Verizon plan section.
Edited by DaveF - 3/9/11 at 7:11am
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post #28 of 255
3/8/11 at 8:51pm
Thread Starter 
Oh and why aren't you buying in store doc?

I plan to conveniently stop into the Delaware mall on my way home, saving me 900x.06 dollars or so smiley_wink.gif
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post #29 of 255
3/8/11 at 9:37pm
Dave I figured out what link it was and read the confusing, to me, info.
Looks like we'll just get a wifi version.
Jailbroken iPhone's have an app that allows tethering, might need to look at that.

Sam would that be Christiana Mall?

that's where we go most of the time, but now that Best BUy sells these, We'll be getting it there once our
tax return comes back.

Wave to the left of 95 when you go Past Boeing Helicopter, we live a little bit west of there.
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post #30 of 255
3/9/11 at 5:58am

I go back and forth about the need to update, reading this article:

 

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/03/cpu-performance-data-costs-remain-largely-unchanged-for-ipad-2.ars

 

and I decided to wait, my 64gb 3g is perfect and with the update to ios4.3 today it should be almost as snappy as the new device, there's just not enought to warrant spending an extra 400 bucks on. If revision 3 gets a 7"version, or a retina screen, or 128gb ram availability, then I'll hand this unit off and buy another

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