Ipad 2 = ipad 1 at£329

flyingscotno1

prowla wrote: »

Does the iPad 2 support Flash?

Adobe Flash. No, and Apple mobile devices never will it seems. It is a bigger failing for the iPad than for the phones. The iPads display should be capable of supporting a desktop browser.

As Register said, iPad 2? call it iPad 1.5

Fifer

cgk1 wrote: »

This is simply wrong, if you want an Apple device, the price drops only occur when they release a new version. So yes, the old version gets cheaper but the new one does not. This is because apple refuse to engage in the race to the bottom and uses it's premium brand equity to protect it's margins.

If you want an ipad 2, there is no point hold off for a price drop because there will not be one until the ipad 3 appears (which will be this time next year). However if you want an android tablet, yes the prices will come down because of the number of people releasing Android devices.

ISTR that the price of the iPad has dropped more than once during its lifetime, not counting the current iPad2 insprired cut.

Edited to add price history graph.

RussJK

cgk1 wrote: »

This is simply wrong, if you want an Apple device [snip]

Well I don't, so I'll stop you right there! I'm definitely not looking to buy an Ipad. Sure, it's a really nice handling device - but for that money I would genuinely need a tablet with better connectivity and more uses. I'd want to be able to stick movies on it with a USB flash drive, and to be able to watch those movies on my HD television when I wanted.

It's puzzling why Apple artificially limited it's functionality by excluding basics like HDMI or proper USB support, but at least they are catching up and have included HDMI on the Ipad 2. They are clever at psychology, so obviously there's a deliberate reason for it.

As I said, it's worth holding off buying anything due to the all the new tablets coming out and pushing prices down - and as always, the mid range is where people will find best price/performance.

ak2ae

Apple will prob leave some key features out so they can use it for the iPad 3 and onwards. They are smart how they cash in with their upgrades.

jamdog_2

The issue with flash is that it is a battery sucking imcumbent piece of software that should be binned. However, 99.9% of the web uses it and that is the problem. I have had to turn flash off on my macbook pro and have received a massive increase in web speed etc etc, on my HTC Desire HD I have set it to on demand and turned the mobile data off when I can and I have now got a remarkable phone that can now last a whole two days without charging.

In other words the flash thing is over rated.

The Android tablet definitely has its strengths compared to the Ipad but the apps and the practical way that Apple deals with purchases makes it a much better product for mass market. Mix that with much better pricing plans and you have a winner and Apple proved that with the sale of 15 million Ipads.

I love Android and I love IOS but for me the practical nature of Android and decent hardware will be what truely competes with the Apple

Fifer

jamdog wrote: »

The issue with flash is that it is a battery sucking imcumbent piece of software that should be binned. However, 99.9% of the web uses it and that is the problem. I have had to turn flash off on my macbook pro and have received a massive increase in web speed etc etc, on my HTC Desire HD I have set it to on demand and turned the mobile data off when I can and I have now got a remarkable phone that can now last a whole two days without charging.

In other words the flash thing is over rated.

Sorry, but I can't agree with your conclusion. Regardless of the power, resource and speed issues, flash is required to enable users to access a significant amount of popular web content. Manufacturers of web devices should not be deciding what areas of the internet are available to users.

But the bigger deal-breaker for me remains Apple's reluctance to accomodate expandable storage.

Enterprise_1701C

Well I'm waiting for the first flush of Honeycomb to be over, when they get reduced I shall be nabbing one. However, if anyone wants to give me an Ipad I would not turn them down, but would rather have an Android.

Fifer

RussJK wrote: »

It's the same with nearly every mp3 player out there - they don't allow microSD cards either. It lets them sell their 16gb model at a much inflated price compared to the 4gb, 8gb, etc. version. Similarly, the 16gb/32gb Ipad pricing didn't seem related to actual costs.

Expandable storage removes the above as a viable marketing strategy, as people will judge the differences between the onboard storage and compare it to what it would cost them to buy an SD card to match that capacity.

That's why I'm glad I found the Sansa Clip+ - with 8gb onboard storage plus a 16gb microSD, I've got room for my whole collection. It looks like a toy calculator, and quite amusing when attached to my bulky headphones.

Same reason I bought a Sansa Fuze and 32GB card.

magyar

Fifer wrote: »

ISTR that the price of the iPad has dropped more than once during its lifetime, not counting the current iPad2 insprired cut.

Edited to add price history graph.

Hmm... where do those prices come from? They include prices from before May 28 which was when the iPad was released in the UK. I suspect they're considering the price people are paying on something like eBay for an imported version?

Unless I'm mistaken the iPad went straight on sale in the UK at £429 and stayed there until the current price drop to £329.

magyar

Fifer wrote: »

Sorry, but I can't agree with your conclusion. Regardless of the power, resource and speed issues, flash is required to enable users to access a significant amount of popular web content. Manufacturers of web devices should not be deciding what areas of the internet are available to users.

I don't disagree from a philosophical perspective, but I think it's unlikely many people buy Apple products without realising you buy into the whole 'experience'.

Apple's philosophy has always been about exemplary user experience (at least in their view!) and will not permit anything which is second-rate. There is no doubt that including Flash on the iPad would mean they cannot ensure that sites will work.

If people don't like that, fine, an Android tablet would be much more suitable. Vive la difference!