On Black Friday, just before my husband and I were set to take off for our morning shifts, I browsed my two favorite deal-a-day sites, stopped, blinked, and looked at my husband pleadingly.
“What?” he groused groggily.
I batted my eyelashes. “Lookit!” and pointed at the screen.
He squinted, looked at me, and gave leave to purchase it–a first generation 16gb used iPad. I was really looking for the 3G 2nd generation version, which would solve my need for any other mobile device, but hey, this is cool too. I’d been watching prices like a hawk, and this was hundreds of dollars cheaper than I’d ever find anywhere, used or new. In a rare fit of stuffing money into the mattress, we had the funds available for just such a deal as this. Sooo yeah, I pounced on it.
I’ve already purchased a cover, screen protector, a stylus, and I’m gleefully browsing the different apps for the device that I haven’t been able to enjoy on my roommate’s borrowed 1st gen iPhone. I’ve been reading up on such things as whether it’s recommended that the 1st gen iPad be upgraded to iOS 5 (the consensus seems to be yes, if one wants to play with the iCloud feature). Sadly, it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to use a webcam with the device. If I want to bother with a “mifi” option, I should be able to link the device up to a wifi modem with most any major phone carrier, it just means lugging around another piece of electronica and perhaps requiring a wall outlet.
3/4 of the reason I wanted the iPad was so that I could code some urgently wanted apps for the device. 1/4 of the reason is, yes, to play with it. :)
I felt cheesy for updating my Facebook status with, “I got to sip the iKoolaid, finally!” Surely that meme’s been out of date for years. Ah well. This should be a very very fun thing to play with.