iPad Users: Where Are They Now?

Did you buy into the iPad craze?

Are you happy with your iPad or do you feel cheated?

photo credit: John.Karakatsanis

Today’s show is going to cover consumers and the iPad –  “iPad Users: Where Are They Now?”

Recently, I was at the Apple store to have my 13″ Macbook Pro repaired.  The hard drive died so I exercised my warranty to get it replaced.

Two events occurred while visiting the Apple store in San Francisco on 1 Stockton street which has lead to today’s topic:

1) Last Monday, iPads were flying off the shelves.  People were buying several per minute ahead of me and one guy, being stuck in the US due to the volcanic ash, was buying an iPad for a friend.

2) A woman at the Apple store came in with a problem.  She couldn’t seem to get online.  I couldn’t hear the location but wondered if she commuted on the Caltrain with the desire to whip out her iPad and surf.  Sadly, she was told she couldn’t get online unless she was connected to wifi.

Here is the current pricing for the iPad. A base model with 16GB starts at $499 with wireless only and at the at the high end $829 with wireless and 3G.  It will cost you about $130 more to get one with 3G.
I will be getting an iPad once the new version with 3G comes out end of April.

Customer Education of Technology Gadgets

That’s right.  This woman had spend $600 on a device that can’t get online without wireless.  If she had waited just one month, she could have purchased an iPad that had 3G built-in, allowing her to surf pretty much anywhere for a monthly fee of about $30.

One of my customers is doing just that.  Jacque, runs a successful family owned automotive repair shop in Minnesota and is an Apple fan.  In fact, the entire family is crazy about Apple.  They have Macbooks and iPhones with a rouge PC or smartphone in the hands of one or two family members but  overall would consider themselves a “Mac shop”.  Jacque is the one who got me looking into iPhone jailbreaking after she took her iPhone into a local cell phone shop and paid to have some “mysterious service” done to allow her iPhone to work on the T-mobile network.  She realized this wasn’t sustainable and was curious as to what was actually done.  Leave it to Adria to break down the complexity!  I’ve now jailbroken several phones for the Bona family as well as my own iPhones and made videos to help others do the same.

Seriously though, where are consumers supposed to find out information on all these new items coming out?  Many are impressed with television ads and big billboards promising techn0-heaven like productivity.  I was reading an article yesterday asking who could really work on an iPad and if so, what sort of job did they have?  Slacker?  Unemployed professional?

• Why is there this frenzy to buy half finished products?
• Are consumers being misled into technology purchases they later regret?
• How do you go about finding out if a new tech gadget is right for you?

Join me today at 4:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Central, 7:30pm Eastern for today’s live show on “iPad Users: Where Are They Now?” to share your comments, views and experiences.

iPad Questions

Your questions about the iPad can be answered right from Wikipedia so think about using it next time you have  a technology question!  I am creating the questions the article answers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad

When did the iPad go on sale?

Apple began taking pre-orders for the iPad from U.S. customers on March 12, 2010.

What was the first version like?

The Wi-Fi version of the iPad went on sale in the United States on April 3, 2010, at 9:00 am local time, with hundreds of customers lined up outside stores nationwide.

What is the new version and when will it be out?

The Wi-Fi + 3G version will be released on April 30, 2010

Will there be an international iPad version?

The iPad will also be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK at the end of May 2010. Apple stated they will announce international pricing and begin taking online pre-orders for iPad on May 10.

How will the 3G service for internet anywhere work?

3G service in the United States will be provided by AT&T and sold with two prepaid contract-free data plan options: one for unlimited data and the other for 250 MB per month at half the price.The plans will be activated on the iPad itself and can be canceled at any time.

From The Chat

Brotha_Tech: The dude was selling them to his friends oversees
Brotha_Tech: the international version isn’t out yet
Brotha_Tech: = illegal
s0l_uk mod: nope Brothea not illegal!
s0l_uk mod: as long as import tax’s are aid
Brotha_Tech: If Apple hasn’t released the device
dingledow: There’s been some issues with DRM and the VGA out adapter – even with Keynote for iPad
jacqueb: apple look at your 3G ?
Beach_Baby: From using my iPhone for about 4 months now, when i use a  regular phone keypad it seems akward.
s0l_uk mod: there;s no law stopping someone buying it
dingledow: The DRM restrictions won’t let you present a Keynote pres. from the iPad.  However, Apple could easily change it in the future.
dotSource: It’s illegal due to US wifi is stronger, so when used in other contries it can affect other devices
s0l_uk mod: Apple might just not validate any warrenty though
Brotha_Tech: Why couldn’t they wait a couple of weeks
s0l_uk mod: Nope Dotsource! all wifi have diffrent channels settings
Brotha_Tech: i guess that ties into the whole frenzy thing
s0l_uk mod: the chnnels can be changed in the settings
Brotha_Tech: early…early adopters
Brotha_Tech: too early
s0l_uk mod: bleeding edge consumers..
jacqueb: tmi
dotSource: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/16/apple-ipad-blocked-israel
@adria: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/04/21/outrage-man-loses-finger-during-ipad-robbery/
s0l_uk mod: lol
Brotha_Tech: @dot the just lifted the ban
Brotha_Tech: like today
s0l_uk mod: dotsource the Idsreal ban was due to the fact that the product was not tested for complience with local laws
dotSource: i see
s0l_uk mod: it’s only illegal to sell to contries that the US have an embargo on incase they use it to controll Nukes…
s0l_uk mod: AT&T dropped Google phone today :(
dingledow: I can’t wait to get an iPad at the end of May here in the UK
jacqueb: spent today downloaded apps for iPad whch comes Friday, the kindle being one too
Brotha_Tech: Verizon is not picking up Nex 1 either
s0l_uk mod: ops was it Veroison or AT&T I might hav got it wrong! lol
Brotha_Tech: They said “our phone sux, go get the HTC Incredible instead” lol
s0l_uk mod: Have laptop set to “suspend to ram” or “Suspend to disk” when you close the lid..
dingledow: Sometimes I think that my Mac is invinsible, but really, it’s just like any other laptop
dotSource: lol I said a few weeks ago that the hard drive would die with the way adria keeps moving her macbook while it’s on
dotSource: you have to close the screen on macbooks and wait a few secs for it to go to sleep, once it’s in sleep you have a flashing light on the front
dingledow: I’ve been offered an interview for a ‘Creative’ job post in my local Apple Store – it’s important to be upfront and honest with all customers.
s0l_uk mod: i don’t do that these day’s with my laptop! takes less than a min to start up and shutdown
Brotha_Tech: I mean did the lady tell the apple guy when she bought it that she wanted to connect to the internet all the time?
Brotha_Tech: or did she just buy it
Beach_Baby: I am planning on buying a 17 inch macbook in a couple years. But for now i have my iMac.
s0l_uk mod: don’t think i’ll get any Mac device :)
jacqueb: Macbook and MacAir
Brotha_Tech: just iTunes
jacqueb: onlu aluminum one
s0l_uk mod: don’t even have iTunes :D
dingledow: My first Apple purchase was an iPhone 3G – I was a bit late to the whole Apple party – not even an iPod before then!
Brotha_Tech: ipad will be my first Apple device (besides an ipod nano)
jacqueb: I’ve been happy will all my purchases
Beach_Baby: My first apple device was an iPod Classic, i got it fro Christmas in 08′, i opened the box and there was a phone jack in the box. No iPod. :(
Brotha_Tech: plan on getting an iphone when the 4G comes out (and when my Verizon contract is up)
dotSource: black macbook but sold it and got a unibody macbook pro 15″ as it had led glossy screen plus back lit keyboard
jacqueb: I had the original little square box computer – wish I hadn’t traded it
dotSource: flash has too many bugs, they will wait till html5
jacqueb: The downside to iPad is I won’t be able to watch askadria live on it :-(
dotSource: speed walking
s0l_uk mod: Jacque you CAN watch Askadria (look for the Livestream app in the store)
Brotha_Tech: pwned!
s0l_uk mod: Also Livestream will be going “HTML5″ soon
jacqueb: really? i will thanks again sol
Beach_Baby: old navy is the ONLY place i buy flip flops!!!!
uncal: u-al says hello
s0l_uk mod: Hi u-al / uncal
uncal: Hi s0l
s0l_uk mod: Aplpe delayed the release because they don’t have enough… >_<
Brotha_Tech: My wife gets all my tech “hand-me-downs”
uncal: Did you get the Mac Book fixed?
s0l_uk mod: only the US embargo it! us in the UK can take a holiday :)
dingledow: There’s no iBooks until later this year outside of the US
Brotha_Tech: iWork is on the iPad right???
jacqueb: I hear you Brotha_Tech. My kids get my apple handmedowns and my friends my pc’s
s0l_uk mod: international iPad only diffrence is installed languages and a few odds and ends i think…
uncal: And did you get the monitor from ups?
s0l_uk mod: iwork does not have a manual save feature!
Brotha_Tech: http://www.tipb.com/2010/04/02/apples-iwork-ipad-pages-numbers-keynote-app-store/
s0l_uk mod: iworks on the ipad that is!
Brotha_Tech: yes
jacqueb: yes
Brotha_Tech: thats for new preorders
jacqueb: comes before 5 when retails go on sale
dotSource: adria have you spoken about the usb issue with ipad due to it drawing more power then usb ports provice
dotSource: provide
Brotha_Tech: the camera connection dongles can work for some usb functions
Brotha_Tech: http://www.slashgear.com/ipad-usb-camera-connection-dongle-supports-keyboards-audio-headsets-2683041/
dotSource: adria you was waving your laptop in the air while it was on!
s0l_uk mod: lol
Hicky: can i ask you a question?
Hicky: do i ask questions here?
Brotha_Tech: you doing it now
s0l_uk mod: Ask away Hicky
Hicky: if i ask a question here, does she answer me?
s0l_uk mod: But we are talking about Apple Products today. ^_^
s0l_uk mod: Ask away Hicky
jacqueb: cutness and color
Brotha_Tech: she reads the chat every minute or so
Hicky: I love your brick wall
Hicky: I want dat in my room
s0l_uk mod: it’s real briks
s0l_uk mod: bricks
Hicky: is that ur house?
Hicky: that’s *** aweosme
mitch1955: hello
mitch1955: hello adria.
s0l_uk mod: Hi mitch
mitch1955: Hello
dingledow: This looks really cool: http://jilion.com/sublime/video
mitch1955: How come the switch to Livestream?
Shari_LS: my first apple was the 3G and i’m still pleased with it.
s0l_uk mod: Quality issues IIRC
uncal: My first was an apple Lc111 computer.
dingledow: It plays the video in HTML5 unless HTML5 is not supported – then it plays in Flash.
Brotha_Tech: @dingle well that solves ti
Brotha_Tech: it
dotSource: lol I forgot about ipods, they don’t get mentioned much due to iphones, my first apple product was ipod nano black 4gb
mitch1955: I just got a new ACER x233h.. I like it.
Beach_Baby: And give you FREE shipping for a year!
uncal: Hi Mitch
s0l_uk mod: Fire3wire speeds have leveled out but USB is now faster than Firewire
dotSource: lol
mitch1955: Hello Uncle Al.
s0l_uk mod: Hicky’s gone…..
Brotha_Tech: …and she never REALLY asked a question, lol!
dotSource: USB 3.0 is also here which is faster then firewire 800
mitch1955: How come you switched to LiveStream if I may ask Adria?
s0l_uk mod: USB3 = SATA1 speeds
uncal: How are the animals
jacqueb: Bluey is doing well
Shari_LS: i do want an ipad but I’ll wait until they put in everything they’re planning to so far
Shari_LS: houston
dotSource: biggest speed upgrade for any computer is to replace the hard drive to solid state disk, for so long the hard drive was the bottle neck of any computer
jacqueb: turtle at SF co-workers
s0l_uk mod: Sheri you’ll be wating for ever! lol! they’ll add bits every year for as long as they can :D lol
Shari_LS: lol
uncal: Ok tx jacqueb
s0l_uk mod: true Dot  but the cost per Gb for SSD has not come down in 2 years! where as it’s dropped for normal disks
Shari_LS: at least the stuff they know they’re putting in like the 3g
s0l_uk mod: my first mp3 player was a “MPMan” 32Mb memory ^_^
Beach_Baby: No i was saying they should give you free shipping.
dingledow: Amazon Prime is excellent!
dotSource: my 7 year old daughter wants an ipad, thing is all websites she views use flash
Gary: hello everyone, hello Adria
mitch1955: Monitor. Sorry.
jacqueb: i’ve amazon prime too and great and is 2 day sipping
s0l_uk mod: i got my avatar Steelbook next day delivery free with Prime
mitch1955: Uncle Al, I streamed from here the other night just to check it out.
dingledow: In the UK, I can order something on Amazon Prime at 5pm and it will arrive the next morning!
dotSource: S0l, true the cost per Gb is still high
uncal: Mitch did you like livestream?
s0l_uk mod: but the warehouse is 50 miles from me and STILL takes 24h to reach me!! :(
jacqueb: sol, I thought you walked down the road and picked it up ^_~
s0l_uk mod: amazon warehouse that is…
s0l_uk mod: lol would have but the couriers picked it up :P lol
mitch1955: No Chat room on here unless you pay.
uncal: I noticed Livestream has a lot of rules
s0l_uk mod: Cool Adria!
s0l_uk mod: eek! lol
mitch1955: I lost 43 pounds in 3 months. No more junk food except for Pretzels and animal crackers.
dingledow: Could the acne breakout be with stress?
mitch1955: I lost 43 pounds in 3 months. No more junk food except for pretzels and animal crackers.
s0l_uk mod: might be stress as well
mitch1955: sorry for the double post.
Brotha_Tech: just junk food
Brotha_Tech: no excercise
Brotha_Tech: ?
s0l_uk mod: you know you need to hit the gym when you put on your fave jeans and when you sit down the button hits the other side ofthe room >_< eek1!!
Gary: i think i’ll wait 6 months before getting an iPad
s0l_uk mod: if i get a SSD my comp can boot in 20seconds! ^__^ at hte moment it’s 66 seconds
uncal: Podnutz Steve says he would rather read on his Kindle than the iPad.Easier on the eyes.
Gary: no i’m from las vegas and just moved to new york
mitch1955: I have to go to bed. Good night all.
Brotha_Tech: holla
uncal: good night Mitch
dotSource: you have to pay for prime, and only for items sold by amazon and not 3rd parties
mitch1955: One on one chat I believe?
s0l_uk mod: nope the chat you’re in is the free one!
dingledow: What do you think about iAd?
mitch1955: I eat fish two to 4 times  a week.
mitch1955: No cheese
Brotha_Tech: for the new OS 4.0
Brotha_Tech: ads in apps
dingledow: I’ll get a link for iAd
s0l_uk mod: iAd is the inbuilt ad-pushing software in the new iPhone OS
s0l_uk mod: bascially lol
dingledow: http://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os/
dingledow: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/04/08iphoneos.html
uncal: The iPad has a moisture sensor. If moisture is detected warranty is void
dingledow: iAd is mentioned on both of those links
s0l_uk mod: what did you’s in Americs like Doctor Who episode 2 (Us in the UK no spoilers!)
s0l_uk mod: lol!!
jacqueb: I liked it
s0l_uk mod: stick with it!! it gets better!!!
Shari_LS: lol
jacqueb: UK people are used to Doctors changing
s0l_uk mod: Goodshow !!
uncal: Thank you Adria
Shari_LS: i watched it and i’m still getting used to the new doctor too
Brotha_Tech: Hol