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bobj · 04-17-2012, 01:25 AM

I plan to order the iPad 3 for use as an e-reader of academic papers. I need something fast and responsive, so that I can efficiently flip through multiple sources simultaneously. I will be using it for both online and offline access to papers and scanned notes (pdf/djvu).

I have never owned an Apple product in my life. (I'm frugal and adore FOSS.) From what I hear, the retina display is quite incredible, and my eyesight should be good enough to appreciate it. It's a huge deal for me to be dropping ~$600 on a product which I don't fully comprehend, so I'm hoping that the like-minded people here can help to walk me through the process of making my purchase.

Is the online Apple Store the best vendor?

I'm thinking white borders. I think it would blend nicely with paper margins. Anyone have a strong opinion on white vs black?

I'm happy with Wi-Fi only, but I'm worried about storage capacity. It seriously pisses me off that Apple charges $100 for an extra 16GB when you can buy a 16GB SD card from Amazon for $12. Could I make due with 16GB, or am I shooting myself in the foot? I store most things online anyway, but I'm worried that I'll need the space someday for unforeseen circumstances. But is it worth the $100?

Should I buy the smart cover? Normally I would just buy a 3rd-party cover, but the smart cover seems popular. I wish they had a dark green cover. (Probably I'll just go with blue polyurethane.)

I will be buying from the US, but I'm moving to Italy this summer. Will the included USB charger work with a standard 220V European adapter?

Should I get AppleCare+? If not, I may become ultra-paranoid about damaging it. Would I have to return it to the US to obtain service? If so, that probably negates the benefits.

Having it engraved with my name and contact info seems smart. How common is this? Will it be much more difficult to sell?

How can I ensure that my iPad remains protected? I plan to carry it around in my backpack, which sometimes gets thrown around, and crammed under airplane seats. Should I buy a sleeve of some sort?

What accessories should I buy? For example, should I buy the camera connection kit so that I can use USB?

Thanks so much for reading through all these questions. I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

04-17-2012, 01:25 AM	#1
bobj Enthusiast Posts: 25 Karma: 67 Join Date: May 2008 Device: iRex iLiad	Advice for my first purchase I plan to order the iPad 3 for use as an e-reader of academic papers. I need something fast and responsive, so that I can efficiently flip through multiple sources simultaneously. I will be using it for both online and offline access to papers and scanned notes (pdf/djvu). I have never owned an Apple product in my life. (I'm frugal and adore FOSS.) From what I hear, the retina display is quite incredible, and my eyesight should be good enough to appreciate it. It's a huge deal for me to be dropping ~$600 on a product which I don't fully comprehend, so I'm hoping that the like-minded people here can help to walk me through the process of making my purchase. Is the online Apple Store the best vendor? I'm thinking white borders. I think it would blend nicely with paper margins. Anyone have a strong opinion on white vs black? I'm happy with Wi-Fi only, but I'm worried about storage capacity. It seriously pisses me off that Apple charges $100 for an extra 16GB when you can buy a 16GB SD card from Amazon for $12. Could I make due with 16GB, or am I shooting myself in the foot? I store most things online anyway, but I'm worried that I'll need the space someday for unforeseen circumstances. But is it worth the $100? Should I buy the smart cover? Normally I would just buy a 3rd-party cover, but the smart cover seems popular. I wish they had a dark green cover. (Probably I'll just go with blue polyurethane.) I will be buying from the US, but I'm moving to Italy this summer. Will the included USB charger work with a standard 220V European adapter? Should I get AppleCare+? If not, I may become ultra-paranoid about damaging it. Would I have to return it to the US to obtain service? If so, that probably negates the benefits. Having it engraved with my name and contact info seems smart. How common is this? Will it be much more difficult to sell? How can I ensure that my iPad remains protected? I plan to carry it around in my backpack, which sometimes gets thrown around, and crammed under airplane seats. Should I buy a sleeve of some sort? What accessories should I buy? For example, should I buy the camera connection kit so that I can use USB? Thanks so much for reading through all these questions. I'd really appreciate your thoughts.