Which iPad (Aug 2014)

There is a comparison of all current iPads at Apple India site with prices...

https://www.apple.com/in/ipad/compare/

There are four models available (as of Aug 2014)

iPad Air

iPad with Retina

iPad mini with Retina

iPad mini

Prices for all models and variants are on that page too. Here's what MRP in India as in Aug 2014 look like...

From this, here are things to consider when choosing an iPad…

1. There are two ‘mini’ models and two full size models.
2. The full-size iPad with Retina is the older model with the older processor. Means, slower.
3. The full-size iPad Air is the newest model. Fastest.
4. The full-size iPad Air and the small iPad mini retina are identical except for size.
5. The full-size iPad Air and the small iPad mini retina models differ by Rs 7000 across all variants.
6. The two full size models and the mini retina have the same resolution.
7. All models with Wifi+3G cost Rs 9000 more than the corresponding one with Wifi only.
8. The full size iPad retina (not Air) and iPad mini (not retina) are available only as 16 GB.

So, which one?

If you need… 

Internet everywhere, then get any Wifi+3G variant.

to play fast games, then get iPad Air or iPad mini retina.

don’t need to work on large documents, have lots of photos or music then get higher memory.

My recommendations…

Larger screen, tight budget, basic documents, Internet, some music, Skype, wifi always available 

 - iPad retina 16 GB Rs 29,000 - add 3G for Rs 9,000 more

Ultra portable, basic document work, some photos, movies, occasional games

 - iPad mini Retina Wifi 32 GB Rs 36,000 - add 3G for Rs 9,000 more 

Lots of games, music, movies, need continuous Internet

 - iPad Air 64 GB Wifi+3G Rs 59,000 - 32 GB enough, deduct Rs 7,000

iPad!!!

So I've got one!!

Just a few minutes ago. I'm in Londonderry which isn't in Ireland but in New Hampshire, USA. My niece's husband Amit Singh, very kindly booked an iPad for me as soon as it became available. And I got it from them as soon as I got to the US a few days ago.

Before getting it I read reviews from many folks. Even heard a sneak preview by Andy Ihnatko before the iPad became available in stores. I pretty much agree with these folks on most of their observations.

But, what, if anything, are my first impressions, and what's it going to be, for the iPad in India?

For one thing, costly. If you check the eBay India prices you will find that the grey market is once again making use of the fact that this machine is not officially available in India. So they can sell it for a killing.

Second, many of the apps available are not available if you have an Indian account. Big example, Apple's own Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iPad are not available to anyone in India. So, one of the prime reasons for me getting an iPad are now going to wait till I find a way out of getting Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

Among things that don't work for me are the placing of the backspace key - not like the iPhone keyboard. But doing a number key below the kept shift, just like the iPhone keyboard. Is a bit confusing.

blogger.com does not work on the iPad for creating a post. The Compose window does not allow text entry. In fact this text was typed in on the iPad. But after saving, I've had to edit it on my MacBook Pro. Because, once again the compose window does not work.

And I may find similar such niggles in the days to come as I make this my primary computing machine except for specialized tasks like editing etc.

But for what it costs, and can do, this is a wonderful device. It's a computer in that I sends and receives email, does manage figures, keep notes, surf the web, look at pictures and many such things that I do everyday on my MacBook Pro.

The keyboard is great for a nut and peck typist like me. And the machine feels smooth and very responsive, as good if not better than a real computer. And definitely better than the iPhone experience for may things.

My reactions are still sketchy. But if my advice is sought in one word, it would be...

Buy.

Why the iPad will succeed

A lot has been written for 'industry pundits' and columnists about the new Apple iPad. Some slam it, many give it a lukewarm review, and few hailed it as the next big thing. But universally, most are circumspect about announcing it as a failure - or a huge success.

As a product, the iPad is not going after 'market share' as this is a whole new product maybe a whole new market even. But it will definitely eat in to the sales of netbooks, PCs laptops, even Macbooks, and iPod touches.

It just occured to me that it may well be a huge success in numbers for another reason. I'm not sure of the numbers, but Apple sells more iPhones and iPod touches than it sell any other computing device. And a very large percentage of these iPhone and iPod touch owners do not own a Mac laptop or desktop.

So, for these people who have a iPhone or iPod touch, but not a Mac, the Mac vs PC argument means little. Even the OS in their hand held device matters little. For such users - of which there are millions -  who also own many AppStore apps, the iPad represents a device which...

1. runs all their existing iPhone/iPod touch apps.
2. allows them to surf the web on a larger screen anywhere.
3. allows them to see movies on a larger screen anywhere.
4. make documents, spreadsheets, presentations with a 'touch'.
5. may one day allow them to buy and comfortably read books on a hand held device.
6. play a variety of games on the go.
7. listen to all their music.
6. costs less than their iPhone (in many countries).

Now that sounds like an attractive device.

That's how it will appear to a large percentage the 75 million or so iPhone or iPod users especially outside the US in countries where the iPhone sold even for about US$ 700-900 and was still lapped up.

For techies and media pros, there are additional uses...

1. browser for manuals

2. logging media

3. jotting down tech notes

4. viewing media on the go - maybe even dailies

5. making presentations

6. sketching layouts even circuit diagrams

7. vnc over wifi

8. writing continuity

9. emergency clap or slate

Apple iPad cheaper than iPhone in India

On Jan 27th around 11 pm India Time, Apple announced a new device, the Apple iPad. Steve Jobs - the co-founder and CEO of Apple - was there himself. Very enthusiastically showing his latest creation.

In the days that followed, on various sites on the 'net, this new device has been hailed by some as the next great thing in mobile devices and slammed by others as an underwhelming 'large iPhone' or 'large iPod touch'.

What it turns out to be, only time will tell. The Apple iPad is a new device, possibly an appliance. At the heart it is a computer, with a CPU made by Apple. The iPad can natively run all existing iPhone apps. Users can buy new apps through the iTunes app store. And download their music to the device.

Apart format these very normal attributes, the iPad will also let you buy books from a iBookstore (only in the USA), and read them on the iPad. There will also be a version of Numbers, pages, and Keynote for the iPad, at $ 10 each. And the application called Brushes that lets you draw and paint with your finger on to the screen directly.




 The iPad also lets you play any existing iPhone game. And a number of companies have come forward with plans for games for the iPad.
 

The iPad also has an optional keyboard, but you can do all text entry with an onboard keyboard like the iPhone or iPod touch.

These are all features that Jobs and his colleagues showed on the 27th. But since its at least 60 days till the iPad will be actually available, there is a likelihood that some more features might be added before launch.

The iPad has no camera. Connectivity consists of a dock port, USB, audio in and out. And of course Wifi. There will be a 3G version can have mobile Internet anywhere with a micro-SIM. Best of all the iPad will not be locked to any specific carrier and you can put your own SIM.

When it becomes available in March '10 (maybe April in India), it will be sold in 3 'non 3G' versions
16 Gb - $ 500
32 Gb - $ 600
64 Gb - $ 700

Going by how these translate with customs duties in India,
the iPad may cost about
16 Gb - Rs 28,000
32 Gb - Rs 34,000
64 Gb - Rs 40,000

There will also be 3 'with 3G' versions costing
16 Gb - $ 630
32 Gb - $ 730
64 Gb - $ 830

which may translate to about
16 Gb - Rs 35,300
32 Gb - Rs 41,300
64 Gb - Rs 47,300

At the present time (Jan 2010) the iPhone 3G on eBay India sells for about
Rs 30,000 for 8 Gb
Rs 32,000 for 16 Gb.

And the iPhone 3Gs sells for about
Rs 34,000 for 16 Gb
Rs 40,000 for 32 Gb version.
These are all unlocked.

So, it looks like in April, when (hopefully) Apple introduces it in India, the iPad will cost less than an iPhone. Unless Vodafone/Airtel and/or the grey market lower the price of the iPhone 3G and 3Gs.

Incidentally, at jjmehta.com, Apple iPod touch are available for Rs 11,000, Rs 17,000 and Rs 20,500 for the 8, 32, and 64 Gb versions. So this device is not likely to be affected by the iPad in a big way.

The 3G version of the iPad which need a micro-SIM and 3G coverage to function will likely come to India much later - like July or later. But, all iPads sold in the US or EU/UK, will be unlocked, the the 'unlock tax' that the grey market enjoyed with the iPhone will be absent with the iPad in India.

I suspect everyone who goes to the US or anywhere outside India after March, will come back with an iPad. So I doubt there will be  premium price for the iPad. It will likely become like an iPod to iPod touch, where Apple and partner stores sell it, and the grey market does so too albeit at a lower price.