iPad, Quick Review and things to know if buying from the US. (now with pics)

gfog wrote: »

surely its as simple as getting one of these to just convert the plug, thats presuming the adapter is like the magsafe ones on there laptops you can just pull off the US 2prong plug and clip in our one.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/NEW-Genuine-Apple-UK-Power-Plug-AC-Adapter-/190377292107?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Computing_Apple_Mac_Accessories&hash=item2c535ef14b#ht_2332wt_1167

Yep. That will do it fine. I have a spare one from the macbook that I don't use so it will now do the job.

Branoic wrote: »

Hi Graham. This may have been asked already, but when the iPad is released in Ireland in July, do you know if you'll be able to link it up with your Irish iTunes account for use then on, or do you tie an iPad to the iTunes account that you use to first activate it, in your case a US account?

I'm thinking of getting one from the UK at the end of the month and temporarily setting up a UK account with sterling gift vouchers until July comes around and then just hopefully switching over to my main Irish account.

Are there any difficulties or disadvantages to doing this sort of thing?

I'll jump in if thats ok Graham

Theres no probs switching iTunes accounts, works the same as an iPhone or on a pc.

You can just sign out of one account and sign in with another and it'll direct you to the correct store.

Hope that helps

A big chunk of that is the extra tax. Apple are really charging 380-420 before taxes and charges.

Graham wrote: »

What are you on about, do the maths:

Base iPad = $499 = €395 + VAT @ 21% (€82.95) = €477.95

The European pricing announced for the base iPad is €479

Pricing

So apple are charging a whopping premium of €1.05

"The same version in the US costs $499 (£337)."


Base iPad = $499 = £337 + VAT @ 17.5% (£58.97) = £395.97

Yet the UK price will be £429 which is a difference of £33.03

Graham wrote: »

A whopping 8% premium, that's absolutely outrageous :rolleyes:

Can you supply a link with your figures in Euro. Also is Ireland mentioned in your link because the source I have read does not have Ireland on the list of the next batch of countries so I would be surprised if it actually sold at €479 in Ireland as we are usually always more expensive than the rest of europe for most products. I dont appreciate your "roll eyes".

Graham wrote: »

So are you complaining about the prices that have already been announced (with a 0.2% - 8% premium) or are you complaining about the outrageous prices that haven't yet been announced?

Pricing for the first wave of euro zone countries is either €479 or €499, neither of which is exceedingly excessive when compared to the US pricing and taking into account VAT.

I'm afraid I can't get outraged about the as yet unannounced Irish pricing but if it's in the above range I don't think it's unreasonable.

You've already announced you won't be buying one because of the 'disgraceful' price so I don't understand your issue.

You claimed there was only a €1.05 premium which clearly you do not not know for sure. I then made you aware of a £33.03 sterling difference. The UK was part of Europe last time I checked. Now you have changed your tone and said €479 or €499 - you obviously dont know. If you bother to read my original post you will see that the figure I was referring to were the UK figures. I stand by my original comments that I believe apple are pricing themselves too high and I also believe the device will be more expensive in Ireland. You said you dont understand my issue - its obvious that my issue is the price difference that is being charged.

Redout, no-one is forcing you to buy one. There have been a lot of throwaway figures bandied about comparing €=£=$ - it's not that way in the real world. Anyone who goes to the States expecting to pay the advertised price without any sales tax quickly notices that. I much prefer the VAT inclusive pricing. If you compare the Irish & French stores, the likes of an iPod Touch are a tenner dearer in France, but we'll have to wait & see.

There is a genuine oddity, in the initial pricing on Engadget, whereby the base model is dearer in the UK but the 32Gb one is almost exactly the Euro equivalent, but so be it.

I really don't understand the outrage from people who have no interest in getting a product: I don't visit boards for cars I think are overpriced and criticize the manufacturers/owners for charging/paying above what I think is reasonable. The iPad is a gadget I'm interested in, and others aren't. I'm not lecturing those who don't see a use for it - it's up to themselves. I just hope I have the money in July - if I wait that long - or get the chance to pop over to England before then.

Anyone owning an iPad run the Spirit Jailbreak yet? If so, how'd it go?

basquille wrote: »

Anyone owning an iPad run the Spirit Jailbreak yet? If so, how'd it go?

Grand. Sbsettings works and so does backgrounder which are the two most important apps.

I should have said if you use that code you get 2 months free and I get an extra 2 weeks. not trying to sell it or anything, I was just realy impressed how well it worked.

Whats blackvpn? Is it installed on the ipad to fool the apple store to think your using it in the states or whats its purpose? Half thinking of applying the spirit jailbreak.

its brilliant, ive been using pandora all day on the iphone and watched a few shows on hulu and fox.com cant believe i haven't used it before.

gfog wrote: »

its brilliant, ive been using pandora all day on the iphone and watched a few shows on hulu and fox.com cant believe i haven't used it before.

Do you find your connection a bit slow?

I find it slow loading videos etc, too slow for a 15 meg connection!

Yeah it's definatly slower going through the addition servers but still more than fast enough to stream video consistantly from abc and hulu.