Ask HN: Will you buy an iPad? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Will you buy an iPad?

12 pointsashishbharthi20 comments

Just wanted to quickly survey HN readers to find out how many of you thinks that its good time to buy iPad or one should wait. I would have bought without second thought but I already own Kindle and iPhone.

update: 1 Yes, 9 No. Thanks for the responses. I got my answer.

View on HN

No. Apple have this habit of leaving out no-brainer features from first iteration of their new products. The one that I can think of is Video/Camera. Also, I don't know if I can use my existing collection of PDFs and other ebook formats on iPad, if not, this thing has no use for me.

I will wait for 2nd/3rd generation iPad, when all the kinks will be fixed and price will come down.

"The one that I can think of is Video/Camera"

Agreed. If it has a front-camera for Skype/iChat I would definitely buy one.

"Also, I don't know if I can use my existing collection of PDFs and other ebook formats on iPad, "

From what I've read (although we'll never know till the release) new iTunes version will support ePub. So I guess at least you could convert your PDFs to ePub and then put them in an iPad

There are already plenty of book reading apps on the iPhone that handle PDFs and ePub. I use GoodReader for PDFs.

Yes. It's going to replace my laptop for surfing the web when lounging around the house.

After it has a camera, probably.

I own a Kindle AND an iPhone and I broke down and ordered a 16GB iPad last night. It's going to be used mainly as an on-site input device for some industrial clients I have. It will be used with a modified version of their intranet I'm going to be developing. The main use will be for hard counting inventory.

Now that is actually one of the first real uses for the ipad that I've seen come up. Excellent idea!

I'm in Iceland, so I'm not expecting it to reach us for the next years. It's been 3 months since we first got the iPhone!!!

Some people have had luck with importing the iphone from the US and then cracking it, but it's not a very enjoyable experience

Well, if you don't plan on using 3G, you can get (import) the wifi only version - I may since I don't see many uses for myself outside the home (that's where my iPhone would take over)

Well the 3G iPads are sold unlocked, and they don't need a wireless carrier unlike the iPhones. I can't see why Apple wouldn't start selling them as soon as they had enough inventory to do so.

No. For many reasons:

- doesn't run multiple apps at the same time. Seriously, this is a must feature, I want to be online (facebook for example) while reading or playing.

- Writing is harder with a screen.

- My netbook (same price), has same weight and is yet more powerful, can run windows 7 and Android. And it has got a camera for video chat.

Yes.

The interface looks so intuitive and just plain fun. Plus the battery life and 1.5 lb weight is fantastic. I can see myself spending the vast majority of my non-coding time on the iPad.

Being able to use my bluetooth keyboard with it is also a big plus.

I'm going to wait until I can at least play with one at an Apple Store. I'm probably most interested in using one to experiment with tablet-targeted web UIs, but I can also see it working as a good motivator for me to continue learning Obj-C.

No, I'm going to buy a Google Chrome PC, possibly in tablet form but probably clamshell.

Yes. I have a 3GS but kind of need a second device with a compass to test a game I'm writing. The only alternative would be a contract-free 3GS, which costs a lot more.

I'm not yet decided. Waiting for more reviews and videos of it in action.

I'm in Canada, so I'd have to wait anyway.

Not before I've made 500$ or so off iPad apps ... label me frugal.

It is pretty hard to make an app that works well, without actually trying it out on a device. I've tried; ended up buying an iPod touch before the app shipped.

NO WAY. I don't find it worth 400.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com