Which iPad To Buy | Choosing An iPad | iPad Reviews

Choosing the right iPad is a question i get asked a lot. Most people ask, “Which ipad should I get?”, or “Which is the right ipad for me?”

iPad vs Kindle vs Nook

Some people want to know if they should get an iPad or a Nook or a Kindle. To be clear, the Nook and Kindle are totally different devices than the iPad. They are primarily ebook readers while the iPad is more of a tablet computer – which means it can do a lot more than deliver ebook reading. Here is a great post comparing the Nook, Kindle, and iPad.

Choosing an iPad

I nearly always say that the best way to choose any technology is to ask yourself what your primary use of it will be. With the iPad, it is a bit more difficult to do since it is so versatile. You might choose a 16GB one based on the fact that you only do a lot of web surfing. Then you buy it, and later find out it’s a great tool for storing all your photos and you need a lot of storage.

Fortunately, Apple does not come out with updated versions of their hardware every week. So you can be pretty darn sure that buying the most you can afford won’t be entirely wasted due to a new one arriving 7 days later.

Here is the current lineup with pricing:

U.S. Geography	Constitution for iPad	History: Maps of The World

Learn U.S. Geography while being entertained at the same time.	A complete version of the Constitution right on the iPad.	Collection of high-resolution maps to study and learn with.


Shakespeare in Bits	McGraw-Hill U.S. History	World Book - This Day In History

Fully animated study edition of Romeo & Juliet	An invaluable history study tool to help you with timelines and events.	Interactive multimedia calendar that displays historical events.

Storage Choices

For Choosing between the 16GB, 32GB or 64GB model, here are some general guidelines I would tend to follow.

Are you a person that keeps a gadget for a long time and doesn’t care if a new version comes out? If you are, then get the most you can buy since it will be with you for awhile.
Are you a person that stores a ton of photos, music, and apps on your device? If you are, then definitely get the most storage you can afford: either the 32GB or 64GB.
Are you looking to try and replace your laptop/netbook with an iPad? Again, get the most storage you can buy.
Just casual web browsing and storing minimal photos/apps/music? Then you probably won’t need the maximum storage. A 16GB or 32GB would be just fine here.

WiFi Only or the 3G + WiFi

This question will undoubtedly come up. The 3G iPad costs more but gives you the ability to use AT&T’s cellular data network (for a monthly fee) so that you can access the Internet from just about anywhere. The WiFi-only model is less cost but there are some limitations and some workarounds.

If you want to access your favorite websites and there is no WiFi network around, you can use offline browsing, here is a post that talks about a great app for offline browsing on the iPad.
If you want to browse the internet and there is no WiFi network around, you can sign up and use Verizon’s MiFi solution. The cost for the MiFi service versus the AT&T service are nearly the same. However, here is a great article explaining the costs.

Ideally, we won’t be seeing a second version (iPad 2) until next year. It’s a perfect time to get one and start exploring. Whichever one you choose, be sure to read our ‘Getting Started with iPad’ page as it has a lot of great resources and it is updated frequently.

And here are a few great articles discussing which iPad to choose and/or buy:

How to choose the right iPad for you (New York Times)
12 things to know about the iPad (CNN)

iPad Reviews

iPad reviews and accessory reviews help you make decisions when you are deciding what to buy. Here we provide you with links to some of the most popular reviews by reputable resources. This will help ensure a solid buying decision.

Since there are several models of the and several accessories, we have split these up into categories in order for you to find the right review resources.

iPad WiFi

iPad WiFi + 3G

Apple has made some of its own iPad accessories. Here are some review resources for the Apple iPad Accessories.

iPad Keyboard Dock

Bluetooth Keyboard

Apple iPad Case

So there you have it. Now you are armed with some good solid knowledge and hopefully can make the right iPad buying decision. If you need any assistance or have any more questions, you can reach iPadDaily on Twitter or you can contact us. Also, let us know which one you got and how it’s working out for you! When you do get one, head over to our store for some great accessories.