Bad time to buy a tablet?

[mingsoup]

I'm seriously considering buying a tablet now for a couple of reasons.

I LOVE to read articles from the internet. I print off reams and reams of paper of reviews, articles, etc from the internet to read later. I hardly if ever read a full article on the computer. I just find that way of reading uncomfortable. I have a 2170w brother I work hard. I use stuff like readability to pare down game reviews, hardware reviews, articles, lists and else and print it.

However I have attempted reading on an ipad1 and I enjoy it. I can pile 100's of articles on the pad for later reading.

I also enjoy the Garageband app on the ipad. I like to play around with it. I also enjoyed being able to "experience" sworcery. Beyond that the ipad is most about reading for me. Internet browsing is fun on the john once in awhile, but I find it too difficult rather favoring a desktop or laptop for more productive browsing.


Thoughts? Are there any solid possibilities for ipad 3 rumors? In terms of horsepower...all the extra cameras, ram, and cpu power really doesnt matter to me. If I want to game I'll use my 3DS or buy a Vita. Finding an ipad1 reduced in price is somewhat difficult for me. I did happen to find a ipad1 64gB for 400$ semi-locally on craigslist. I don't find that reduced quite enough for me. Screen could be scratched.
I should have bought 100$ HP Touchpad but was too late. That would have fit the bill. A standard kindle would be a little too small I believe. A large kindle is much pricier.
Thanks. Any and all thought input is appreciated.

 

[HeXen]

buy it. i'm on ipad 1 and its awesome, i use it every day. Its tech so there is always going to be something newer down the road, otherwise you might as well wait till the ipad 62 comes out...or whichever version releases while your on your deathbed.
I got mine 2 months before ipad 2 came out, but no regrets, its a great product regardless if ipad 4 was out now.

 

[Pia]

If it's just reading then you could consider an e-ink based solution instead of tablet?

Next iPad is probably half a year off and I don't believe in Apple making price cuts either, unless they get really threatened by competing tablets and make a small cut before Christmas. So if it has to be an iPad, you can buy now.

Otherwise I would probably wait and see till Ice Cream Sandwich tablets launch.

 

[Zap]

AnandTech tablet reviews always conclude, "if you don't absolutely need one right now, WAIT."

Do you have a notebook computer? I used to use a 10" netbook in portrait mode. I can hold it open like a book and read that way. It was almost like reading a hardcover book.

 

[Skott]

If you can, wait until the new Kal-el versions come out in October.

 

[vbuggy]

AnandTech tablet reviews always conclude, "if you don't absolutely need one right now, WAIT."

Do you have a notebook computer? I used to use a 10" netbook in portrait mode. I can hold it open like a book and read that way. It was almost like reading a hardcover book.

On a TN screen on something that's already a piece of crap? Your eyes deserve better.

If you need a tablet now, get an iPad. There's no other viable product IMO. Windows 8 might change that, but not right now. Honeycomb tablets are a joke.

 

[Zap]

On a TN screen on something that's already a piece of crap? Your eyes deserve better.

Reading black text on white background? Looked fine to me.

 

[HeXen]

AnandTech tablet reviews always conclude, "if you don't absolutely need one right now, WAIT."

can be said about most anything and be true. But "Need" is a very strong word there in regards to gadgets.
No one thinks about a tablet and "needs" it to get by in life. They either want one or they don't, if their thinking about having one, they are wanting it.

 

[mingsoup]

The iPad screen is one of the best I've ever seen. Watching DVD rips on it on the airplane is absolute beauty. I really enjoy that.

How sure are we that apple isn't going to release a new iPad this year, 2011?

Whats the story on Win8 MS tablets?

 

[Bolas]

Next iPad is due in March/April 2012 and is rumored to have an extremely high res screen.

 

[rogue1979]

I have an ipad2 and a 7" $169 Chinese brand tablet (Froyo 2.2.1, dual core, capacitive screen).

The resolution on the ipad is a little sharper, but the 7" tablet is much more convenient and I like using Android more than Apple ios. I prefer the games available on Android, and being able to transfer data via SD micro card or usb without synching to itunes software is much quicker and easier.

For browsing the web I found Dolphin Mini on Android to be better than Safari on ios or any other third party browser I've tried. More free apps for Android, though Apple has a nice overall selection.

The Android tablet is used everyday, the Ipad2 is always second choice.

This is personal preference not dependent on the price.

But if someone on a budget needed a tablet, $499 ($530 shipped) vs $169 ($180 shipped with 8GB SD card), 1/3 the price would be the deciding factor for me.

 

[Zap]

can be said about most anything and be true. But "Need" is a very strong word there in regards to gadgets.
No one thinks about a tablet and "needs" it to get by in life. They either want one or they don't, if their thinking about having one, they are wanting it.

Their reasoning is that tablets (both hardware and OS) are evolving at a really rapid pace, outside of iPads that is.

 

[Skott]

That is why I was saying to wait if possible. The cycle of new and improved tablets is not a yearly one but measured in months. The next cycle should start with the Kal-el tech I'm thinking so best to start with that. However if the OP needs one now my personal choice is the ASUS Transformer. Of course the second version is due out later this year with Kal-el so it won't be current very long. I'm just thinking its better to jump in at the beginning of a new cycle instead at the end of an current one in this situation. Just my own personal opinion.

 

[Pardus]

Only big change for ipad 3 is hd. $600 will also buy a really nice laptop.