Gen1 iPad still usable?

[desura]

I'd use it, connected to a bluetooth keyboard, as a writing station. Maybe some light web browsing/ereading.

I can pick one up for close to $100 nowadays.

But with the various updates there seems to be a good chance that it is slow as heck now. I'm mainly thinking pages and safari performance.

Eh?

 

[Red Storm]

I would honestly put that $100 towards something better. I've only seen two first gen iPads recently, one was fully updated the other wasn't, and both were agonizingly slow compared to modern devices.

 

[vi edit]

It's crippled by very low amounts of RAM that result in Safari crashing non-stop. Mine was border line unusable in iOS versions past 5.0

 

[luv2liv]

my step dad still using his ipad1. no system updates installed whatsoever. still razor fast as the day i got it for him.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Not worth it. We have smartwatches more powerful than the iPad 1 now.

 

[vi edit]

my step dad still using his ipad1. no system updates installed whatsoever. still razor fast as the day i got it for him.

Problem with no updates is that many apps require certain versions of iOS to be able to download them. I don't have much desire to take my 3rd Gen iPad from iOS6 to 7 but I'm finding a large number of apps requiring iOS 7 to be able to download them.

 

[bearxor]

Yeah, I think it just greatly depends on what you're looking to use it for. Just for typing in, it shouldn't be a problem.

But an iPad 2 would be significantly better and they go for around $200 or so used.

 

[s44]

I'd use it, connected to a bluetooth keyboard, as a writing station. Maybe some light web browsing/ereading.

Dare I suggest... Surface RT deal?

Or, better yet, a Chromebook.

 

[vi edit]

I was going to say Venue 8 pro for $199. Comes with full version of office.

But given the OP's needs, the Chromebook isn't a terrible option either and would offer the best typing/browsing expereince.

 

[gmaster456]

Anything more than typing an email in the native app will cripple it. 256mb of ram is useless for web browsing. Pages will stutter and good luck using more than one tab. Your best bet is to cough up another $50-100 and get a used N7, iPad 2 or something along those lines.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Dare I suggest... Surface RT deal?

Or, better yet, a Chromebook.

Or a Nook HD. Or an 2012 Nexus 7.

Almost every tablet made after 2011 is a better option.

 

[gmaster456]

Dare I suggest... Surface RT deal?

Or, better yet, a Chromebook.

That actually wouldn't be a bad option considering.

 

[Mopetar]

Or a Nook HD. Or an 2012 Nexus 7.

Almost every tablet made after 2011 is a better option.

Yeah, for a little bit of extra money you'll get a lot more value.

A first generation iPad would work fine for reading ebooks or typing, but the browsing will be rather slow and the limited RAM will mean a lot of page reloads if you're trying to look at more than one thing.

You might also want to try browsing eBay to see if you could get an iPad 2 for around that. It'll probably be the low-end model with 16 GB, but it would be a decent step up from the original iPad.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Since he wants something mostly for a typing machine and sometimes tablet. I think something with at least a 9.7 or 10 inch screen would be ideal to be able to easier see what you are typing.

Maybe if you buy that iPad 1 and it's in good shape it could go up in value after a few years since it's a first generation Apple product. Haha.

Though I'd probably look at a Surface RT if you can find one really cheap.

 

[Oyeve]

The only thing I use my ip1, that was given to me because the screen didnt come on but all I did was smack it like we did to our tv is the70s, is to watch Netflix while I try to fall asleep. Its gets no other use.

 

[ControlD]

I was going to say Venue 8 pro for $199. Comes with full version of office.

But given the OP's needs, the Chromebook isn't a terrible option either and would offer the best typing/browsing expereince.

Where can you get the Venue 8 Pro for $199?

 

[pm]

For the iPad 1, they stopped updating the firmware several releases ago. I don't think it got iOS6 and it definitely can't get iOS7. Because they haven't updated the OS in a while, it's not particularly slow to use.

The biggest problem with the iPad 1st gen is that it doesn't have a lot of memory. This shows up in the form of application force-closes, or just the inability to even see and install certain larger memory apps. This is particularly true of games, but some useful apps like Garage Band don't work either. I got tired of force-closes while browsing and seeing cool apps that I couldn't get, and so I traded mine in when Target offered a $200 gift card for them.

Where can you get the Venue 8 Pro for $199?

Microcenter, but you have to pick it up in person.

http://bensbargains.net/bargain/dell-venue-8-pro-32gb-8-tablet-200-at-microcenter-com-112442/

 

[quikah]

It's crippled by very low amounts of RAM that result in Safari crashing non-stop. Mine was border line unusable in iOS versions past 5.0

non-stop is a bit over the top. But it does make using the browser rather painful. Of course same thing happens with my wife's ipad air with 4x the memory. I think apple needs to hire better engineers...

 

[Ravynmagi]

Where can you get the Venue 8 Pro for $199?

Dial your time machine back to Cyber Monday 2013 then you should be able to get one around 10am online or find a Walmart that will price match the Microsoft's Store's sale.

If you don't have a time machine... I dunno what to say. Microsoft Store has it priced at $230 right now. Probably the lowest it'll be for a while.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I don't recall my Safari crashing on my iPad 1 way back when. But it did drive me nuts that everytime I changes tabs or left Safari and came back it had to re-download pages all over again because the meager memory was always being flushed.

 

[poofyhairguy]

non-stop is a bit over the top. But it does make using the browser rather painful. Of course same thing happens with my wife's ipad air with 4x the memory. I think apple needs to hire better engineers...

The problem with the Air is the 64 bit issue.