Four Tips to Save You Money on Purchasing an iPad
Here are some interesting thoughts to consider when choosing which size (from 16GB to 64GB capacity) of the Apple iPad you might be planning to buy. Tech writer Nick Bilton of The New York Times found that with proper use of the cloud, there might not be a reason for spending hundreds of dollars more on an iPad with more on-board memory.
Most of us know that the difference between a 16GB iPad and a 64GB iPad is a huge number – about $340.00. But what’s the difference in cost of a 16GB USB thumbdrive vs. a 64GB thumbdrive from your local Office Depot? Maybe $40? So, it seems that Apple is making huge dollars off every iPad purchaser who opts to go for the larger capacity iPad.
Here are some money saving ways to effectively use the cloud so that you only have to buy the 16GB iPad:
- Don’t dump your whole music library on your iPad. Only sync selected playlists, albums, artists or genres. Also take advantage of online music services such as Pandora (the free or $36/year ad-free version) or Rdio (a $15/month streaming service that also allows you to store albums and songs on your device for when you’re offline.)
- Store your books in the cloud and only keep a book or two on your device at a time. Just make sure to sync your iPad with your book selection before your trip and you’re all set.
- Photos and movies are also all available online or in the cloud. Services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu give you access to TV and movies while Facebook, Picasa and the iCloud online storage can easily be your go-to hub for pictures.
- Documents can also be stored in the cloud using free and subscription services like Dropbox, Box.com and the iCloud service itself from Apple.
So, don’t feel obligated to get the larger storage capacity device if you can consider using the cloud. Yes, it may take longer at first “sync before you drink” (data), but the bucks you saved on the smaller capacity iPad could pay for the trip you’re going on!
About the Author
Dave Arland is a 22-year veteran of the consumer electronics industry, working now to promote digital satellite services and broadcast mobile TV. He played a key role in the introduction of HDTV, mp3 audio, and electronic books. He runs Arland Communications, a full-service Public Relations & Communications agency from offices in Carmel, Indiana.
