Still any value in 1st Gen Ipads?

[vi edit]

Posting in ATA forum because I have no interest in any other brand. That out of the way....

I'm going be doing a huge amount of traveling later this month and next month for work along with another week long vacation with a 3 year old. I'm looking for a tablet to take with me for netflixing, web browsing, ect from the hotel rooms and flights.

Outside of that, I'll be using it for keeping a 3 year old occupied on car rides with movies and coloring books, education apps, ect. Will not be donig any heavy gaming on it.

I know the Ipad 2 "Plus" or whatever is on the horizon, and obviously the Ipad 2's have been out since March. But the $350 16 gig and especially $429 32 gig refurb gen 1's are mighty appealing. It's going to have heavy use from a 3 year old so any lower amount of money spent is good incase she destroys it. Plus the added storage is good for loading more movies on there. Another bonus is that gen 1 accessories are dirt cheap.

I don't need the facetime stuff with the camera...I can skype from home or from my phone.

My real concern is how much support do you think is left in it from an app and OS standpoint? Is it too late to be buying an 18 month old device from Apple?

Sorry this was probably hashed over ad naseum back in April. :O

 

[Wonderful Pork]

the only thing I'd be concerned with is loading iOS5 on it as previous gen hardware usually runs the latest SW like crap. Also, devs may update their apps so they aren't compatible with the legacy OS at some point too.

Otherwise it's still a good buy hardware wise for your use, IMHO.

 

[Emulex]

better get an otterbox if you have a 3 year old

most game apps for children are still 3.x compatible. the old devices are great for early development.

hit up jailbreakme and enhance the security of the ipad for the child. remove icons they don't need. excellent value if you can find a deal!

 

[vi edit]

Yep...Otterbox defender case is like $20 on Amazon. I was looking at the "Incarcerapp" through Cydia to lock down movies and such. I think between the two of those it's a strong start in helping minimize todder death and destruction of an electronics device.

 

[vi edit]

Damn. Go Sam's Club. Got a brand new 1st gen 32gb 3g and free Apple branded cover for $399.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Welcome to the club, you're doomed now

I use the hell out of my iPad, posting from it now...

Jail breaking is seriously easy.

 

[HeXen]

i never had the desire to jail break mine.

 

[Emulex]

try it, you can always restore back if you don't like freedom.

 

[alent1234]

nothing i do on my ipad 2 requires it. the few games i have will work on 1. you don't need dual core to read books and email. all the kids stuff i have on mine will work just fine on the first.

around ipad 4 is when software will start to require the ipad 2

 

[PrayForDeath]

Mine works perfectly fine, and I don't see any reason to upgrade to ipad 2.

If you can get one for a good price, don't hesitate.

 

[SandEagle]

what can i get for my rarely used 64gb, 3g? waste of money. only used abouta gig, dont use 3g lol.

 

[alent1234]

my almost 4 year old son uses the ipad 2 more than i do. tens of thousands of kid friendly apps in the app store

 

[FearoftheNight]

what can i get for my rarely used 64gb, 3g? waste of money. only used abouta gig, dont use 3g lol.

long friendship and extreme appreciation?

 

[Oyeve]

Are there ipad2 only apps? Legit apps, not JB one.