iPad Apple Releases new IPad Air and iPad Mini with Apple Pencil Support

Originally Posted by HarryT

That explains it - thanks! I've only ever bought directly from Apple.

I actually saw that Best Buy discount, and still decided to forego the $25 and buy from Amazon. I do get a few hardware things from Best Buy, even more so from Newegg.com and a couple other online stores, but if there's any chance I might need to return something, I always go Amazon as they have such great service and return policies here in the US. Despite my occasional ranting about their growing monopoly in the ebook space and their anti-open software practices , I still think they are a great company and the number one reason I give them business is their great service.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by maximus83

I actually saw that Best Buy discount, and still decided to forego the $25 and buy from Amazon. I do get a few hardware things from Best Buy, even more so from Newegg.com and a couple other online stores, but if there's any chance I might need to return something, I always go Amazon as they have such great service and return policies here in the US. Despite my occasional ranting about their growing monopoly in the ebook space and their anti-open software practices , I still think they are a great company and the number one reason I give them business is their great service.

With Best Buy you are likely okay purchasing Apple hardware as Apple makes sure that the hardware they sell through various retail sources is exactly the same no matter which source you choose to purchase from. However, in the past Best Buy had an ugly history of negotiating with computer companies like Hewlett Packard wherein HP (or some other computer manufacturer) would deliver a stripped down model to Best Buy, but it would have the same exact model number as those sold at other retail sources but with fewer components installed. That way Best Buy was able to beat the sale price of other companies, but the consumer got a stripped down version of the computer. Consumers were usually unaware of this deceptive practice. If consumers carefully read all the options that were included with that computer model at Best Buy they would see that some components were missing compared to the identical model number being sold at another retail source like Walmart, but most consumers probably didn't read the fine print then got burned. Also, Best Buy is well know for selling returned items as though they are original unsold items, and sometimes you get home and find parts missing. Once I bought a landline phone and when I got home to set it up I noticed that it already had a few dozen phone numbers/contacts programmed in. I've heard and read many such complaints that are similar. Needless to say, I rarely buy from Best Buy any more.

[tomsem]

New AirPods too. Seems the main difference is ability to say Hey Siri instead of double-tapping (which I find awkward, but admittedly I don’t do it very much). Maybe slightly better sound.

And the wireless charging case at last. I managed to put my first set through the laundry and while the AirPods themselves still work just fine, the case no longer charges. I wound up buying a new pair.

But now I’ll be able to buy the case and recommission my first pair, and toss the busted charging case.

Not sure why someone would buy the wireless charging case if their existing one worked okay. I guess it would become a ‘spare’ but you’d have to keep it charged up too.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by OtinG

With Best Buy you are likely okay purchasing Apple hardware as Apple makes sure that the hardware they sell through various retail sources is exactly the same no matter which source you choose to purchase from.

I think @maximus83 mentioned he's doing it for the return policy. Best Buy tracks returns via Retail Equation.

Mind, Amazon tracks returns internally, too. There have been reports of accounts that were closed and lost access to digital items (e.g. Kindle ebooks) due to too many returns and trying to reinstate the account was near impossible. How many returns is too many? Only Amazon knows.

Personally, if I'm unsure of an Apple device purchase, I would buy from the Apple Store. They're the manufacturer so they should be the ones standing behind the quality of their product.

[HarryT]

Apple (at least in the UK) allow you to return products within 14 days of purchase. When I bought my iPad Pro a year or so ago I originally bought the 256GB model but returned it and got the 512GB model instead a few days later.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Apple (at least in the UK) allow you to return products within 14 days of purchase. When I bought my iPad Pro a year or so ago I originally bought the 256GB model but returned it and got the 512GB model instead a few days later.

I think Amazon still allows a 30 day return window. Which is very generous. But that might not be for all items.

ETA: Actually the Amazon web site states, "New desktop, laptops, or tablets (excluding Kindle E-readers and Fires) purchased from Amazon.com that didn't start when they arrived, arrived in damaged condition, or is still in an unopened box can be returned for a full refund within 30 days of purchase." So there might be a less than 30 day window normally. They were not too clear about it. I think if you return one just because you changed your mind you have to pay a 15% restocking fee.

[DaleDe]

Costco in the US is offering discounts on the brand new offerings preorder. $385 (mini) and $470 (air)

Dale

Originally Posted by DaleDe

Costco in the US is offering discounts on the brand new offerings preorder. $385 (mini) and $470 (air)

Dale

Good call, Costco's a legit buying option with good service, good returns, and we are members. It's a $21 savings over my pre-order at Amazon, the only minor difference is having to wait another 10 days vs Amazon or Apple store (the site says "Pre-order now for an expected ship date week of 4/8/19"). At this point, not a big deal, I'm gonna stick with my order as I'm eager to get the tablet.

ETA: Called Amazon about the price match, and they definitely no longer do it, so I expected that. But they threw in free 1-day shipping, and pointed out that apples-to-apples (see what I did there?), the Costco store would be charging an extra $5 to ship the mini to me, which I would use in this case as the store is a long ways out of our way. So the *real* price difference after factoring in free 1-day shipping is $9. I'm happy to pay that to get the new Mini 10 days sooner. Amazon service is awesome. :-)

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'd accumulated 3 or 4 older iPad models and sold them all on eBay when I bought my iPad Pro. I was amazed at what high prices they sold for. Older iPads still seem to be very much in demand. I finished up in profit - I got more from selling my old iPads than the new one cost me .

Would this be true if the tablets had developed a screen flaw? My iPad 10.5 Pro has, and given the cost of the thing, it makes me wonder what kind of hit to resale value the flaw would be if I wanted to sell it. Doesn't seem to affect the workings at all, but I do see the light blobs on lighter backgrounds.

It's not what I expected for Apple 'quality', and annoys me greatly in a device this expensive.






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Lol, yeah, the Nexus 7 2013 was the best Android tablet I've used. Quad-core Krait+2GB RAM paired with AOSP Android and WUXGA resolution made for one very nice tablet. My only complaint is no SD card slot and battery wasn't too good compared to iPads.

I have to say, though it's a little small for me to want to use, my Nexus 7 2013 is still alive and doing well enough. Great value for the money. Not one issue other than the decreased battery life one expects over time.

An IPad mini is very tempting, but too pricey for me to justify right now. Maybe later if I saw a good sale.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by graycyn

Would this be true if the tablets had developed a screen flaw? My iPad 10.5 Pro has, and given the cost of the thing, it makes me wonder what kind of hit to resale value the flaw would be if I wanted to sell it. Doesn't seem to affect the workings at all, but I do see the light blobs on lighter backgrounds.

It's not what I expected for Apple 'quality', and annoys me greatly in a device this expensive.

Have you contacted Apple CS? Even if it is out of warranty they sometimes make free repairs or give replacements for unpublished flaws and what not. It might be worth the trip to a local Apple Store to let them look at it and tell you what can be done to fix the issue. Many years ago I had an iPad 1 which suddenly had the display go bad, it displayed random color patterns all over the display, and even though it was out of warranty by a few months they exchanged it for a new one for no charge. It never hurts to ask them.

[pwalker8]

Interesting, the delivery date from the new iPad mini (gold, 256 GB wifi) has gone from March 26th to April 9th. i guess that there is a little more demand for a new iPad mini than expected. Still can't order it for pick up, but I'll try on Monday.

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Interesting, the delivery date from the new iPad mini (gold, 256 GB wifi) has gone from March 26th to April 9th. i guess that there is a little more demand for a new iPad mini than expected. Still can't order it for pick up, but I'll try on Monday.

In my Amazon order, they're sticking with their story of "releases March 26th" and if that pans out, the rep told me I'd get mine on the 27th. But yeah, as I saw on the Costco site, they are more vaguely indicating "the week of 4/8." I guess if you want yours absolutely as soon as possible you'll have to sneakernet into an Apple Store. :-)

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Interesting, the delivery date from the new iPad mini (gold, 256 GB wifi) has gone from March 26th to April 9th. i guess that there is a little more demand for a new iPad mini than expected. Still can't order it for pick up, but I'll try on Monday.

A lot of people love their minis, me included, and I guess there are a lot of them who have been waiting for at least 3.5 years for this update. I'm testing the waters with selling my current old mini 2 and checking on what I might get for my Pro 9.7" before making a final decision. Depending on what I think I can raise selling those two, I might bite the bullet and get the new mini 5.

[OtinG]

A bit off topic, but I just ordered an iPhone XR to replace my old iPhone 7. T-Mobile had a great deal wherein all I had to do was pay the taxes and shipping and then make interest free payments once a month. That is how I bought my iPhone 7 and since it was recently paid off I want see much change in the amount of my monthly bill. Will probably sell the iPhone 7 since I already have an iPhone 5 that can serve as a backup in case the new phone had to be sent in for repairs or replaced for some reason. I never trade in the old phones though as I can get more selling them than trading them. The iPhone XR should give me a bit of experience with the A12 Bionic processor which is used in the mini 5 too. That should give me an idea of how much of a speed boost I get over the iPad Pro 9.7" I currently use.