Trying to Find the Cheapest iPad? Three Things You Need to Know to Save Money on a New Device

With so many iPads to choose from, which one is the cheapest iPad on the market? With the iPad 2 coming in so many different variations, yet with similar features, it's not always easy to tell. Let me help you break down the options for iPad 2 models to find the cheapest iPad.

Wi-Fi-only

The cheapest iPads generally come in the Wi-Fi-only version. What does this mean? It means that you can get internet access when you're in the vicinity of your home wireless network or an internet caf? with free Wi-Fi. This way, you get free Wi-Fi whenever you link into the network, and you never have to pay any data fees like you'd have to with a contract.

There are six iPad 2 models in the Wi-Fi-only version. These are the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, each of which come in black or white. The cheapest iPad in the whole bunch is the 16GB, Wi-Fi-only one. It costs $499, or for all intents and purposes, call it $500.

The next two Wi-Fi-only models in the lineup cost $599 and $699 for the 32GB and 64GB versions, respectively.

3G-enabled

If you plan to use your iPad on a roadtrip, on vacation or on business where you don't have access to a free Wi-Fi network, you might consider getting the 3G-enabled model. These come in the same storage sizes as the Wi-Fi-only and are offered through AT&T and Verizon networks.

Surprisingly, the cost of each of the iPad 2 models through both networks are identical. You can pick whichever provider you want and not sacrifice anything in the upfront price.

However, you'll spend $130 more per device for getting the 3G-enabled iPad. Plus, you'll have to spend at least $10 per month (with Verizon) or $15 per month (with AT&T) to actually use that 3G service.

So you're talking at least $140 more for the 3G version in the initial month than with the Wi-Fi only version. Wowzers! That's pretty expensive.

So as you can see, the 3G-enabled iPad 2 models are hardly the cheapest iPad choices you could pick from. If you really want to go cheap, you should get the Wi-Fi-only version in a 16GB model.

About the Storage

Now, why would you want the 16GB model as opposed to the other two, which have so much more storage? Well, one thing I've learned in my years of owning several Apple products is that you don't really need as much space as you think you need. You hardly need that much to browse the internet or read an iBook. You don't even need that much space for applications.

With 16GB of space, you can still fit thousands of songs, a couple of movies, some applications and more. Unless you plan on storing your entire 64,000-song music library on your iPad 2, you're probably better off getting the 16GB one, as far as space and price are concerned.

I think it's also pertinent to mention that the black and white models cost the same, so you don't have to choose between colors for a price savings. However, you'll be happier you took the black option, as the white iPad gets really dirty from fingerprints, dust and everyday wear.

I know that's a lot to digest all at once, but if you're really serious about getting the cheapest iPad you can, those are my recommendations. But before you buy, there's a couple more things you really need to find out before making the plunge into your purchase. I've detailed these features here at http://www.squidoo.com/ipad-new/, and I highly recommend reading them before purchasing your new device.

iPad - Trendy Little Device

In the current flow of society, it has become a fashion trend to own Apple products. From music all the way internet services, Apple products are at the centre of the must have gadgets spotlight. Every person wants to own an Apple product, mostly for the product name and the going trends. But what apple products are really renowned for are their innovative technological ideas, the latest product to be taking the market by storm now is the iPad.

This handy little device is the latest from our developers from the apple company. It is a combination of everything you would ever need in an application all compiled into a thin tablet the size of a thin portable book. It is capable of accessing the internet, watching videos in high definition, an unbelievable photo viewing experience and so much more.

However amidst all of those benefits, you should know that nothing you purchase will ever remain the same as it was on the first day of purchase. The iPad is no different. It is not invulnerable to wear and tear, as a matter a fact, if you are the clumsy variety and tend to drop and neglect your possessions. You would do well to expect your iPad not to last you very long. This device is not bullet proof nor is it fool proof, which is why many people have an issue when it comes to preserving and maintaining their iPad's.

Albeit that, all is not lost, for the clever developers from Apple have provided you with solutions to help extend your iPad's life, these solutions are in the form of iPad cases. Most people misunderstand the purpose of iPad cases, most of us assume they are for decoration purposes only, when in reality these cases are the things which can protect your precious iPad.

The type of iPad case you purchase varies base on the degree of protection you are seeking, the Otterbox apple iPad defender case is as sturdy as they come. Using three layers of tough Polycarbonate material, this case would be able to withstand the more violent variety of iPad owners. In addition to that, this casing does not forsake the importance of function either as it allows all iPad functions to continue on as usual while in the casing.

Another great iPad casing is the Marware Eco-Vue, this casing not only looks great but is also capable to change into a carrying case, desk stand, writing stand, and mobile grip, when you are accessing you iPad via your hands. As an added benefit this casing is also environment friendly, as it is made using eco leather. As if that wasn't the cherry on the top, did we mention that this casing is cheaper than other genuine leather cases, all this while still allowing you to keep all the advantages of real leather.

So if you're planning to invest your money into an iPad best go all the way to preserve it with the aid of iPad cases.

Holly has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in diet, fitness and weight loss, you can also check out her latest website on Cheap iPad Cases. You can Find Great Deals on Cheap iPad Cases http://cheap-ipad-cases.com/.

iPad 2 Review - The Evolution Of An Amazing Device

It is barely a year since Apple unleashed its original iPad, a game changing device in the world of mobile computing. Now the tablet is firmly established as a niche product: smaller than a laptop or netbook but larger than a smartphone. The Apple iPad might not have been the first tablet device but it was the one that renewed the format for the mobile internet age.

Now, twelve months later, with the original iPad a runaway success, but with other manufacturers getting in on the act in greater numbers, Apple has released the iPad 2. The excitement and anticipation concerning this new model has been remarkable, so in this article we'll have a look at what the new iPad brings to the table, and whether it makes sense for owners of the old model to go for an upgrade straight away.

Whenever Apple launches a new, upgraded version of one of its products, you can be sure that the new model will strive for something noticeably different in design compared to its predecessor. This is how Apple uses design to stimulate desire for its products. While there is always technical advancement, at the same time appearance and style are used by Apple to distance the new product from the old and make what was 'new' a few months ago seem 'old hat'.

Bearing this in mind, the new iPad 2 is surprisingly recognizable from the old model. To be fair, when it comes to the tablet it would be hard to reinvent the wheel; having said that, the new model is noticeably thinner and sleeker than the original. There is also a curve to the edge of the new unit that gives it a different feel in the hand. As well as being thinner than the first iPad, the new model is also lighter, by 80 grams.

Moving on to the technical specifications, if we compare the old iPad with the iPad 2 we can see that there have been some big improvements made. The new unit is powered by an A5 dual core 1 GHz processor chip, which is effectively twice as fast as the single core A4 chip in the old iPad. The iPad 2 has 512 MB of RAM, again twice that of the first generation iPad. Also on the plus side, the iPad 2 features an upgraded graphics engine that is claimed to be nine times faster than the previous version. On the other hand, the iPad 2 screen is the same (1024x768 pixels) as that on the old iPad, so there is no improvement there.

A significant step forward with the iPad 2 is in its provision of two cameras: a rear-facing cam for video and still capture, and a front-facing VGA cam for video chats. In contrast the original iPad had no camera of any kind. Another improvement with the iPad 2 is its inbuilt gyroscope that detects whether the unit is being held horizontally or vertically. This feature aims to counteract an annoying tendency of the old iPad to display images or pages at the wrong orientation if the unit was moved suddenly.

As you might expect, the enhanced hardware of the iPad 2 makes for faster processing and smoother display of some kinds of material. Simple web browsing, using the supplied Safari browser, doesn't seem that different but video playback is definitely somewhat smoother. However, one disappointment is the camera quality. The resolution is not that great, either for capture of video and stills, or for the quality of video chats. This is a little surprising given the superior specifications of the cameras on the iPhone 4. On the other hand, a tablet like the iPad is not really an ideal size or shape to use as a camera. Perhaps the company's research shows that buyers use the iPad chiefly to browse the net and as an e-reader, and so there was no point in over-specifying the device.

One other thing we have to mention is the issue of Adobe Flash support. In common with the various iPhones and previous iPad, the iPad 2 does not support Flash, so any websites dependent on this technology (and there are lots of them) will not display on the iPad. Some websites, for example Google's various sites, offer HTML5 versions as a substitute for Flash, but many other websites do not so these will not be viewable at all on the iPad 2.

In conclusion, we shall try to answer the twin questions of whether you should choose the iPad 2 over another tablet, and also whether existing iPad users should replace their machines. With regard to other tablets out there at the moment, the chief contender seems to be the Motorola Xoom. If you put the iPad 2 up against the Xoom, in our opinion the Xoom comes out slightly on top. The display is crisper and brighter, and the Motorola is better specified all round. On the other hand, the iPad is smaller and lighter, which is an advantage, even when performance is not quite as good. Of course, the other major difference is the interface. The Xoom is an Android device, and Android has increasing numbers of fans. The adaptability and flexibility of the Android OS is definitely greater than that of the Apple iOS, but to this day many people, especially those already used to Apple devices, prefer the smoothness of the Apple interface.

If you already own an iPad, you may be wondering whether or not to upgrade. If you are the kind of person who has to get the latest and greatest, and for whom the cost is not a concern, then yes, you should go for it. The iPad 2 has an improved, sleeker case and a noticeably zippier performance. You will certainly see a speed difference compared to the old model. On the other hand, if you have only recently purchased the iPad, you could take comfort in knowing you have an excellent product and enjoy it for what it is. Unless you are desperate to be up to date, you should perhaps wait for the iPad 3, or for a discount on the iPad 2, which will probably come at some point when this brand new product has been on the market for a while.

What if you can get a chance to win an iPad 2 for free? Get more information about this free iPad 2 offer and read out the full ipad 2 review.