Early Adopters Get Screwed -- Throw Away Your iPads

With the announcement of the iPad 2, fellow CyberFreak Molly Peterson now has official bragging rights. On our pop + tech podcast panning the iPad when it first came out, Molly said, "Those first adopters... always get screwed by Apple."

Well, according to Discover Magazine tech blog, the first adopters have been grumbling "and were left wondering what they paid so much money for."

And who can blame them? The iPad 2 is skinnier, lighter, and allows you to take and edit video -- all for the price they paid for their iPad 1.

As for myself, I'm not shelling out five hundred bucks for a device that does all the things my phone can already do -- until it includes... well... a phone in the package. That way I can pull out the iPhad (cross between iPhone and iPad) on public transit and talk really loudly like my fellow commuters do.

"DON'T FORGET THE BREAD. LOVE YOU TOO HON, B-BYE."

And how much more thrilling to shout that into a sleek 9.5 x 7.3 inch device?

Watch Molly's prediction of a year ago in the movie below:

 

Comments

[EAPrince]

01:17 PM on 03/09/2011

I can't help but assume this post is meant as comedy? It has to be if the thrust is that the first iPad has been eclipsed by the second version and that means the first one was worthless!? That's kind of how ALL technology is and always has been. The one year cycle isn't even a surprise since Apple had already started that with the iPhone. Any first adopters who are 'grumbling' are the type of people who always grumble. And the comment about never buying a 1.0 product only really applies if that first iteration was somehow flawed. The main 'flaws' critics accused the original iPad of are often whining about how it didn't do even more or problems with iOS's 'walled garden' approach. Apple chose to make the iPad a targeted tablet rather than an ultra-thin laptop. The iPad may not meet your needs, which is understandable, but that's not a flaw. There are a few things about the iPad I wish were designed differently, but overall I'm quite satisfied with it. But just like with the iPhone, it won't fit everyone's needs. Again, that's not a flaw.

Erik
http://eaprince.blogspot.com

[Daws]

11:20 PM on 03/08/2011

How did I waste my money? It performed as advertised: web surfing, video, music, books, games, etc. I've used my iPad a lot these past 11 months. And, if I wasn't giving it away as a gift, I could have gotten ~$340 back reselling it ($599 model).

[GoDogGo]

10:27 AM on 03/07/2011

By this twisted logic we should throw away spouses when younger, hotter things come along. Folks, "newer" does not render the one you have useless and the reality (which you must accept) is that ALL technology progresses. My two-plus year old computer is great, my year-plus old phone is awesome and my iPad is fantastic, REGARDLESS of what else has come along. Be happy with what you got folks. It's an ethos that'll help you live better.

[benignO]

03:59 AM on 03/07/2011

Number one rule-of-thumb when buying technology: Never purchase Release 1.0.

[gvantass]

12:27 PM on 03/10/2011

Normally, I agree with you. However, when I bought my iPad1, I considered it to be, in essence, a larger version of an iPhone without the capability of making voice calls. Similar architecture, similar performance, similar specs.

I have to say, I'm not upset that I got ver 1. IT has been a solid performer for me, and the only problem that I have is that the wife wants one of her own, too. My iPad is in use multiple times each day for multiple purposes.

[Hector Lugo]

11:12 AM on 03/06/2011

Stop whining about the new ipad being better than your last. It's the way it happens. Isn't this years car model better than last year's in many ways? Should car manufacturers stop making cars because you might get your silly feelings hurt?

[liberalheart01]

10:47 AM on 03/06/2011

I guess the writer of this article has never heard of Moore's law. Anything you bought last year will be overshadowed by the capabilities of this years gadgets. Good excuse to never buy any tech product...

Personally, I bought the iPad to carry my technical book library around in high fidelity. This is something that I was not getting with my kindle. I did not buy it to make phone calls, although I can and have with the Vonage application.

Do I have remorse about being a first generation adopter? not at all. Nor was I an Apple fan boy to begin with.

I will probably buy the iPad 2 because my first iPad is going to make a great gift for a family member...

[hypnotoad72]

04:37 PM on 03/07/2011

In all fairness, technical terms and concepts are not supposed to be "known" by the general public.  Moore's Law is something in the technical arena that your average consumer mindset isn't going to give a rip about*.  Otherwise companies wouldn't alter their "technical specifications" sheet to rename "CPU" into "chip".

* which is a shame, but the more users know things means the less influence marketers ultimately have

[Jeany]

05:48 PM on 03/05/2011

Individuals have their own wants, needs, and priorities. I knew from the first ad I saw that I would use one if I had it, and I have, every day. I don't feel cheated or tempted by the new model.

The level of feeling, rationalization, and justification that people attach to technology choices never ceases to amaze me. :D

[southingtonian]

06:11 AM on 03/08/2011

100% with you. If the machine you have works for you, why care what else is out there? If you buy just to have the latest, fastest, fanciest, then the horselaugh is on you, repeatedly.

[Riddley Walker]

04:20 PM on 03/05/2011

Maybe iPad III will include a USB port?

[Greg Barton]

09:02 PM on 03/05/2011

The iPad 1 has a USB port. Just get the camera kit.

[Riddley Walker]

09:16 PM on 03/05/2011

Oh yeah - there is a workaround! Smooth design! ;-)

Thanks for that info, though Greg - I didn;t know before.

[hypnotoad72]

04:38 PM on 03/07/2011

Why buy an extra kit to obtain that functionality, especially for something so mundane?

[EAPrince]

01:24 PM on 03/09/2011

Honestly, I don't really understand the anger some have about the iPad, or other products, lacking some port or feature. If it doesn't meet your requirements, then buy a comparable device that does have that feature. No need to get upset, declare the device worthless or denigrate others for liking it. Everyone has their own unique needs and there are usually multiple products to choose from. Apple has a very specific design philosophy. Maybe it's not for you, but why get so upset about it?

Erik
http://eaprince.blogspot.com

[robmclaughjr]

07:40 PM on 03/04/2011

Love my "iPad 1", had it since day one. There are disadvantages to the camera. The cameras aren't great. And you can't take it to jury duty or other places that disallow cameras. I'm happy how relevant my iPad remains after this update.

[repatriate]

06:53 PM on 03/04/2011

This is, even by local standards, just a silly post. The biggest knock on the ipad 2 in the trades is the number of things that weren't upgraded. Resolution, storage, 3g - all the same as a year ago.

Retina display (or at least a higher res display than available now), 4 g antenna, support for USB storage, proximity payment chip, maybe a Thunderbolt connector -- any of those things added would have been nice. Any two added might actually make early adopters feel gypped.

But as it stands, the ipad 2 folks are the ones who'll be annoyed when the 4g upgrade is announced a year from now. The ipad 1 owners will have gotten two years of service from their device and be aware that the thing's long enough in the tooth that of course it's missing features.

[hypnotoad72]

04:57 PM on 03/07/2011

Buying every year's new product is a waste of time and hassle, especially when selling the older gear to compensate costs - like we customers have a say in any matter given that we are a "trickle down economy".  If Apple (or any other company) lowers the price of last year's model, its resale value is going to plummet as well.

Unless there's a big pressing need to finish a graphical render in 11 hours instead of 12, buying the newest hardware every year is not a sound strategy.  My laptop, 2 years old, might benefit, but I don't do enough digital painting yet to justify the upgrade and the current model isn't a slouch unless I willfully tax it or use certain tools in certain ways in Photoshop.

[Angelus2007]

04:07 PM on 03/04/2011

Electronics have always been like that,be it a tablet, PC, TV, or whatever. I just bought a new 42" HDTV for about $679, I bet for $679 next year I can get a larger TV that does more. I bought a new gaming computer 2 years ago for about $900, fo $900 I could get a quad core (as opposed to a dual core) processor, a video card 2 generations later, twice the ram and twice the storage space. Look at every cellphone sold for $199 last year, be it iPhone, Android, or RIM and I bet that same phone is 1/4 the cost, or unavailable. This is the way electronics are.

[Jeany]

05:05 PM on 03/05/2011

Thumbs up to you for your adult approach! I bought a laptop in 2000 that was my main computer for eight huge years. I added memory and replaced the hard drive a few times, without fret until finally the developer no longer supported the processor in their new OS versions. The Mini I got three years ago is scheduled for abandonment with the next OSX release.

And so it goes.

[hypnotoad72]

04:40 PM on 03/07/2011

Four years ago I bought a high-end 32" TV.  $1200.  1080i/720p.  Nowadays a 32" TV with comparable contrast ratio and color gamut would cost $600 and be 1080p.  It's always been the case.  Thankfully the cold cathode tubes within usually last under 10 years or else we'd never upgrade...

[JKraz]

09:49 AM on 03/09/2011

probably about 5 years or so ago, we bought one of the last of the CRT TVs! It weighs a ton, but actually works with the old AppleTV on it's bare minimum settings.
At the time, the price was so low, the picture was great, and all the flat panels were still around $2k. Our kids were also younger, and playing Wii, always touching the screen, etc. I didn't want to see them wreck a $2k TV!
Really in no rush to upgrade to anything. I ask myself "Do I really need an incentive to watch MORE TV in my life?"

[John Crane]

03:33 PM on 03/04/2011

"Early adapters get screwed..." And nobody saw this coming?

[Charles Ruhe]

01:43 PM on 03/04/2011

A lesson I learned back when I was swapping floppy discs on my Mac SE: Never buy version 1.0 of an Apple product. I don't care how cool it looks--give 'em a year to work out the bugs and then buy the new version.

[JKraz]

12:12 AM on 03/05/2011

I missed it. What were the bugs of the first version?

[fla kracker]

10:38 AM on 03/06/2011

I refuse to use the wheel until version 9 million comes out

[hypnotoad72]

04:41 PM on 03/07/2011

That's true for almost every software developer.  Apple has no monopoly when it comes to buggy 1.0 products.

[AngusC]

01:43 PM on 03/04/2011

I just bought one twenty mins ago and I love it so far.
Typing this on it right now.

[ctcoug58]

08:44 AM on 03/04/2011

Those who don't understand Apple products don't realize their value, and it has nothing to do with the price!

[Bella King]

09:48 AM on 03/04/2011

I totally agree with you. Apple have always placed high value on product design and end-user experience. I am definitely holding on to mine.

I was not impressed with the Apple iPad cover; too flimsy.
If you want to find great covers for iPad 1 visit Top !0 iPad covers and cases

[hypnotoad72]

04:52 PM on 03/07/2011

Not entirely true.

http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/04/27/new-macbook-pro-core-i7-models-seriously-overheating/
The 2010 Macbook models (of which none of those were quad-core) had massive problems overheating.  I can't wait to read up on the 2011 models, especially the quad-core ones.  If the same chassis design is used, there's a big problem.

Depending on model year, various macbook models had problems with the video as well. 

Or how easy it is to dent the aluminum cases...

Or the yellowing of iMac screens...

Or Steve Jobs knowing of the iPhone 4 antennae problem (which purportedly was not fixed when it got ported to verizon):  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-15/apple-engineer-said-to-have-told-jobs-last-year-about-iphone-antenna-flaw.html  and http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/verizon-iphone-4-antenna-problems-persist-video/

User experience, as long as you don't have a technical background or use Boot Camp in any way shape or form, is admittedly rather great.  I use Macs, with Boot Camp, and there are some advantages to OS X to be sure.  But it didn't take long for me to research the links I've put up.  Product appearance is Apple's strength.  Quality control is not.  Apple isn't alone, but "design' doesn't equate to "quality" in every case.

[Bella King]

09:50 AM on 03/04/2011

Top 10 iPad covers and cases at www.ebookreaderguide.com