Hey guys, I thought OzBargain would be the best place to ask this question.
I was thinking of buying the cheapest iPad Mini mainly for reading ebooks. I know Apple products have a premium price, but just because it's more expensive doesn't mean they aren't more valuable than comparable products from HP, Dell and so on.
Are Apple products better value despite the highest cost for Apple products?
Thanks!
Kindle?
Yeah i think thats the one
Get a Kindle paperwhite
+1 for Paperwhite.
Small but perfect for reading, lightweight, adjustable fonts and text, custom notes and highlighting, backlight, internet browser, 4gb storage, kindle store and cloud storage!
I have one and it's brilliant. Mine is the 3G variant and I have been pleasantly surprised by the worldwide* free 3G connectivity.
@CMichael: I need there to be fine print at the bottom of your post please. You can't just throw asterisks around like that willy nilly! Some of us have obsessive-compulsive tendencies :(
Haha, my apologies. Left off the link to the Kindle website where it lists coverage areas.
Here you go :)
+1 for Kindle Paperwhite. Best eReader on the market at the moment.
Tablets like the iPad mini are terrible for your eyes - just like reading on a PC screen.
Library books are pretty gross (paper is very porous and just think of all those filthy hands touching the pages before you)
@CMichael: Yes , free 3G is amazing! I can check email / chat while overseas on my kindle. Its slow, but it works.
I'm personally a fan of the Kobo readers just because they support more formats, especially epub for borrowing from libraries. I normally buy books from Google Books using credit from Telstra starter kits so you get $30 worth of books for $10-15. It's hard to beat that.
Uhhh join the local library… cheaper entry point and zero ongoing costs
IMHO, generally Apple products are not good value for money. They do tend to be well-made products, but for the money they cost, you can usually find an equally well-made product with better specs. In other words, you get more 'bang for your buck' specs-wise if you don't buy Apple.
Then there's the whole 'locked in to Apple' issue. Certain Apple products basically force you to use Apple (only) add-ons; severely limiting your flexibility down the track.
That's my opinion. Now I'll step aside and wait for the onslaught of irrationally loyal Apple fanboys to spout torrents of gushing praise for all things Apple. Don't listen to them, my aged friend. Consider this passage, from Book 2 of the Third Testament:
"Buy Apple today, and you'll forever pay".
Well I can promise you Apple products are good value, if not for the superior build quality, for the resale alone. When I traded in my iPhone 4S for a 6 Plus, Telstra gave me something like $200 for a 3 year old phone, no questions asked. Try that with a Galaxy S2.
When I sold my 2011 Macbook air, I got $709 for it. I then bought a Macbook pro for RRP$2999 for $2400 (discount + Myer points). After I get my tax back on this. (lets say $1200), and I sell it in 3 years time for about $1500, I will most likely be ahead, so in essence, I am getting payed to buy a new computer or at worst breaking even, every 3 years. You can't beat that logic. Add to the fact that I have pretty much the best built and super powerful and super pretty laptop, you can't go wrong.
Well I can promise you Apple products are good value, if not for the superior build quality, for the resale alone.
The "Apple is great because it holds its value" myth has been covered here lots before. If resale was a key criteria, there are far better choices.
eg. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/117018#comment-1606705 (from September 2013)
…
Let's look at the two phones being recommended heavily by various people on this thread - the flagship phones of Apple and Google.
Let's say your good friend, Albus Dumbledore, buys an iPhone 5S for $869, and, as you say, it holds it's value nicely so that in two years time after the 6 and 6S are both on the market, the 5S has only dropped by 30% in value. (Yes, I'm deliberately being a bit generous here; historically it's more than that)
Then there's your other buddy, Gandalf, he buys a Nexus 4 for $299, but two years later it has plummeted atrociously and dropped 80% in value! (Again, that's massively overstating things. Nexus phones are holding up nicely even with the imminent Nexus 5.)
You can probably already see where I'm heading here. Even though the iPhone 5S has held it's value nicely, Albus is out of pocket ~$260. Meanwhile with the Nexus, Galdalf has only lost ~$240. So if "holding value" was a key factor in buying a phone, a Nexus trumps an iPhone any day. It's all relative to how you measure "value" and the base price.
The story is far better for the Nexus 5 and other current phones.
I'm not talking hypotheticals pal, I'm giving actual $ values I have received.
Erm… you're making plenty of hypotheticals:
…(lets say $1200), and I sell it in 3 years time for about $1500
Anyway, you missed the bit about the real dollars being even better.
Plenty of recent sales of used Nexus 5 phones selling for less than $100 off the original purchase price on eBay.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nexus-5-16GB-Black-Smartphone-/28…
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nexus-5-D821-16GB-White-Smartphon…
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nexus-5-D821-16-GB-Black-Smartpho…
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nexus-5-D821-32-GB-Black-Smartpho…
etc.
@surethang: There is a big difference between a 1 year old phone and a 3 year old phone. You can't possibly believe that most Android phones and tablets have the same resale value as ios devices, can you?
Hypotheticals?… 3 years, but not 1 year?… most Android phones? - as my Uncle Leroy says, "son, if you have to keep moving the goal posts to make a point, it aint a strong point :)"
I never compared with "most Android phones". All I said was there were far better choices compared to Apple when it comes to resale. But now that you've bought it up let's look at that. Even if every Android owner threw their phones in the bin after 3 years and got $0 for them, while Apple owners sold their phones at market value, most Android owners would still be better off than the Apple owners in terms of absolute dollars. And that applies no matter how many years of ownership.
@surethang:
Also don't forget the opportunity costs. When you spend $1000 on your brand new iphone 6 compared to $300 for a Nexus 5, you lose the opportunity of using the $700 in other things, such as accruing interest, investments, other purchases etc.
Also there is lost of value of money with inflation, so one dollar today is more valuable than one dollar in 2 years.
Lastly and more importantly, these resale prices are for a pristine second hand phone. Approximately 1/3 or more of phones are dropped and have cracked screens and thus cannot be sold at these prices.
I know that I personally don't mind dropping and cracking my nexus 5 as I can replace it cheaply compared to dropping a brand new iphone 6 costing me $1000+.
@kingmw:
There's another consideration too… the resale value of Apple stuff might be respectable (if it's in pristine condition etc.), but any real dollar benefit that would usually be realised by a respectable resale value on a product is IN FACT usually completely foregone by the seller, because they are selling it because they intend to by a replacement, latest model, top-dollar/irrationally marked-up Apple product. So they pay again. And again.
Trapped in the 'loyalty loop'. Fruit-loops caught in a cycle of irrationally loyal expenditure.
Bananas for Apples.
Nutso for Macs.
And this aint hate Brave Johnny… I'm genuinely concerned.
@GnarlyKnuckles: I think your point applies to other products as well. Windows, Android etc etc. People rarely move from one OS to another unless there is a benefit to it that offsets the learning curve + things that people lose from it (i.e. App purchases, message history etc). So people sell their older product to get a newer product that is compatiable to the OS they have been using. I personally think it's almost natural for people to stick to names and brands that they are used to.
What concerns me is Apple and its consumer base. I've read an article about how Apple products triggers similar brain areas as religious articles to some Apple fans. As much as I believe that this is just media being media and people abusing brain imaging to convey their words, when I see some people going on about Apple sometimes… it does remind me of that article. Though I know that the article is pretty much yet another sensationalist article.
This being said, I hope I don't sound like I am implying that this is the case for all people who uses Apple. Also, I hope I didn't sound condescending towards religious people or Apple fans out there either. I think Apple products are great if you can go past the price tag.
@AznMitch:
Yep the concept applies to other products/operating systems as well, but what my point was is that this is hardly a problem if the product/OS you're "addicted" (or "loyal" or whatever) to has reasonable mark-ups. But if you're paying an unjustifiably INFLATED mark-up every couple of years to 'keep pace' with THE FRUITY CULT YOU'VE BEEN LULLED INTO JOINING (whoops, who said that), then your 'hip-pocket-damage' will be considerably more, in the long run; and for what?
@GnarlyKnuckles: I personally think Apple products are alright. They are not the "best bang for the buck" type but at the same time, it's up to the consumers to decide whether they want to spend that much money, isn't it? Some people pay premiums for things that others find unreasonable.
I got my dad a Galaxy Tab S 10.5 from the eBay deal. I suggested iPad but he refused because he simply didn't want to get an iPad. For what he wanted the tablet for, I still think iPad would've been better, but he's the one who's going to use it, so meh.
Do I think he follows a cult? No, he just got used to Android and he is happy with it, that is all.
You are saying as if Apple is the evil one. I assure you, all companies want to do what Apple does, in a way. It's just that Apple has more power over consumers because Apple products are harder to substitute due to OS and other reasons like services and their fan base etc etc. It's simply what a company does when it has monopolistic power over things.
Just my 2c on what you said.
resell value is great…. but when its 3 times more expensive whats the point!
get a mac pro, great that u can get 70 per cent back, but if you just got a cheapie comp, you can throw it away and you save more in total, especially if your using it for general use!
This is the view I've come to. I was considering a Macbook Air for a new laptop and they are a great product but I'm just not convinced that they are a better value product than some of the other options out there.
Let's be clear: MacBook Airs are not the best laptops out there. They're not even mid-tier in Apple's own range (that would be the 13" Retina Pro), but they are well-rounded, and relatively affordable machines. To get something similar to a MBA running Windows, you're still going to be paying something comparable to a MBA (Dell XPS 13, Thinkpad Yoga) or suffer certain sacrifices, e.g. SDD/HDD hybrid drive, poorer battery life, etc.
Yes, the Mac Pro is crazy overpriced, as is the 11" MBA (compared to 'netbooks'), but there is a window where Apple is not just comparable to Windows machines in price, but actually becomes better value, especially if you consider Apple's build quality, peerless post-purchase support and customer service.
That said, I won't deny that buying an iPhone outright is usually a terrible idea. They tend to start at $900 for the lowest storage new model (about double that or a decent value Android phone) and it only goes up from there. If you want an iPhone, get it on contract where the carrier's repayment massages out the cost of the handset.
Nowadays, carrier subsidies are minimal so you still end up paying 80-90% of the phone costs in your mobile plan but it is spaced out over 24 months.
Just don't try and upgrade the hardware of your MacBook - upgrade prices are insanely expensive in comparison.
I have an ipad, and old iphone and a macbook after 20 years of windows.
The build quality is quite good, the software is easy to use, but less able to customise, and I find it frustrating to get support info on the web as many Apple users have very poor IT skills, yet seem very ready to post what they did to, incorrectly, fix their problems. Apple support stuff assumes moron level of competency and just gives instructions to follow by rote, no explanation of what the issue is or how it can be avoided etc.
That said, if you can get apple gear for a small premium (like the bargains on here sometimes) I think it is overall a good buy.
This is my view as well, Apple makes nice products, but they're usually poorer value than their competitors.
My personal experience was I bought a Nexus 4 smartphone, and got an Iphone 5 from work, around the same time in late 2012.
Both are fairly comparable devices. The Iphone is certainly a beautifully designed piece of hardware, and i find that it has better sound quality for music and a better speaker than the Nexus 4. The Nexus 4 has a bigger screen which I like, and is more powerful on paper, but i don't notice it in day to day use. Each has their strengths, but they're fairly comparable.
The kicker though is that on launch, the Nexus 4 sold for $399, whilst the Iphone 5 sold for $799.
In terms of bang for your buck, there's no way the Iphone 5 is twice the phone the Nexus 4 is.
One thing you should mention apple retains its value much better than competing products. Much better resale value
I agree with resale value, with condition that you will be able to sell it. If the phone is damaged (cracked or battery issue) or you gift it to some dear one, then the whole concept of resale value is gone.
I believe we should buy a product based on current value not the value in future with lot of assumptions. To Include, I do have iPhone 5s and found it better than Nexus 5 (personal choice, no comparison in specs or usage).
"paper specs" are not everything.
My iPhone 5 runs just as fast, and in some cases faster, than my work issued Android, which is technically better based purely on hardware specs.
Not to mention that some apps I use are just garbage on Android compared to the iOS equivalent.
I know, but an Apple product that's 10% more expensive might be 20% more valuable than a competitor device at the same price.
Surely a troll post?
If not, and you're coming from a purely newbie angle, with no investment in Apple's iTunes ecosystem then no, they're not better value.
Certainly at one stage they arguably were solely because Android (and the others) was so far behind in usability and applications, but nowadays, Android (less so the others) has well and truly caught up.
For ereaders, you shouldn't be looking at either iPad or Android devices. you should really look at a device with an e-ink screen..
For example Amazon Kindle.
eink is much easier on the eyes than reading an LCD screen (like an iPad has). LCD is backlit, so you're essentially looking into a torch while reading. eink has no backlight at all, just like a paper book.
But eink can only show greyscale images/text.
I think its a troll post, considering OPs previous post https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/56263
OP wants an iPad for reading ebooks, even though OP knows he'll get eyestrain, hence why he avoided it in the first place few years ago.
What tax back? What are you talking about?
You're replying to the wrong comment.
@ilikeradiohead: Income tax back. Depreciation. Or you can salary sacrifice if your workplace allows. Im looking at almost half back because i use it for work purposes.
@thorton82:
Once again surely a troll post…
The same tax breaks also apply to a cheaper Android device that does the same thing.
Half back on a $400 ipad is more than half back on a $300 Galaxy Tab, but the half you pay is also more.. so it's a false economy.
@scubacoles: You clearly have trouble understanding what I have written. Tax back is tax back, but resale is a whole different kettle of fish. After tax back, when you have sold the apple product, you often end up with a net gain. Especially if you can get 10% off. Other electronic goods have terrible resale, especially after a number of years.
Other electronic goods have terrible resale
When it comes to some other mobile phones, this is not true. Many hold their value far better than Apple in absolute dollars.
See https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/181553#comment-2548972
@scubacoles:
Maybe young thozza is hinting at "negative gearing" type-stuff via his little Apple devices? I.e. tax minimisation based on claiming large (but hypothetical/kinda' artificial) losses derived from the fact that the product was massively over-priced in the first place, and qualifies for generous depreciation rates re the ATO…?
If that's the lark thoz, it's analogous to pouring money into a dive of an investment property, to offset income-tax liability. It's a legitimate course of action, but you can hardly claim that the property is a great product, just cause you can use it to dodge tax.
What do you mean iTunes ecosystem? There are thousands of free apps (pretty much everything that is free on android + more) and it's not like you have to use iTunes for media. You aren't tied into anything. I do sometimes use iTunes for media, ie GOT because it's like $39 for 1440p season passes
Wish I'd read this post before replying to the one above…
I think it's important to mention too though, that with e-ink, if it's dark you need an external light source; it's kinda like a 'real' page in that respect. So e-ink is not preferable for some, for this reason. For example if you want to read in bed at night, but your partner won't want there to be a light on. Or if you want to read at night on the plane/long bus trip etc., where it is not considerate to turn on your wee overhead light thingy.
I prefer a backlit ereading device, and I use a 10-inch Pendo, which is great for this purpose. It's cheap, and after installing the free 'Kindle app' onto it, it can utilise all the free e-books that tightarse kindly posts for us on here every few days (love your work, TA).
You can buy front lit eink devices now.
Ah OK, I'm enLIGHTENED. I presume they use heaps less charge than a standard back-lit device? I'm gonna check out these new-fangled 'lit e-ink' devices…
I presume they use heaps less charge than a standard back-lit device?
Can't really compare between them, the technology is so different. E-ink screens can't be backlit because they don't actually use light-emitting pixels. I have a front-lit Kindle Paperwhite which charges more often than my old Kindle 3 (which only drew power as you turned the page), but it still lasts me weeks at a time, unlike a phone or tablet.
Check out the Kindle PaperWhite - it is awesome!
may as well light a candle and set yourself right back into the stone-age
Awww SoZ, no need to be rude… you do realise we ain't worried about the COST of recharging, just the actual inconvenience associated with it…
For example, it's a hassle when you're using the device in bed, it runs out of charge, and the only way to keep using it is to plug it in…
AND yeah yeah, I know… "THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID"…
haha, apologies if i came off as rude. was just making fun. bad humour, i know. See you around, GK ☺
@Son ofa Zombie:
Chuckle, no need to apologise to me ever on here mate (and that goes for anyone!); 99% of the stuff I post on here is "just making fun". I actually hope peeps have the option of blocking my juvenile banter, for their sake.
See you ROUND, like a RISSOLE, SoZmo
;P
For the love of God, do not buy the entry level iPad Mini. It is a very old model and has limited life left for upgrading to new software and its display is sub-par.
Spend $70 extra and get the iPad Mini 2, which has two generations faster processor (it will last longer and be faster - the iPad Mini original is awfully slow) and it has a much nicer display which is nice for reading.
Don't worry about going for the iPad Mini 3 as the only real difference is the 3 has a fingerprint sensor for logging in. All the other specs are the same. The Mini 2 is definitely the sweet spot, but please don't cheap out and get the 1.
Or get a Kindle Voyage if you want something purely for reading. It will be about $300 delivered.
… Or get a galaxy tab s…
Lighter.
Can be less dim (for nighttime reading).
Versatility of Android.
Stereo speakers.
Samsung's Multi Window feature, to have 2 apps running on that large screen.
Samoled screen… So more dynamic colors, and blacks are darker than your average soot-covered negro.
I used to have a Galaxy Note 8.0 and that was probably the single worst electronic device I've come across. It just lagged till the cows came home, battery from 100% capacity was drained after a 45min TV show!
I did a system format etc but it was unsolvable. I don't think I can ever look at Samsung products the same again. I used to have a Galaxy S2, S3 and S4 and while they were ok, they were not exceptional. I did like the Sony Xperia Z which still runs beautifully until now.
I use an Ipad Mini 2 and I think it's great. It does what I expect it to and hasn't let me down so far.
Ahh OK.
I got the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 for Christmas, and it's been running like a champ ever since… No lags or battery issues.
It's just my personal recommendation.
Note tablets I've heard are awful compared to tabs, because Samsung really don't optimise for the wacom pen (Note series get better hardware than S series for that reason as well, I've heard). Not to mention Samsung tablet lines were known to be… lackluster and not supported. I think current generation ones are better though.
I've an old Note (n8000, from I think 2012). It's running KitKat, no thanks to Samsung Australia though, I had to manually update from Jelly Bean via Samsung Germany… It's screen is very low resolution for that tablet screen size (10.1, HD resolution).
… Other than that complaint, and hefty weight (especially compared to my tab s), it's pretty decent. S pen is very nice. Its gathering dust but standby time is at least 2 weeks.
Still, screen resolution kills it for
me. I can vouch for it otherwise, as well as the thousands of happy customers on amazon.
Did my comment get negged because I actually have first hand experience about an Android product? Wow!
I can vouch for how decent Tab S is as well. I've watched a movie (Finally watched my free Pacific Rim on that), read a book on a plane etc and I was really satisfied with how decent it was. The screen was amazing… I was pleasantly surprised by how decent the screen was for movies and books.
That being said, Tab S costs like $500, personally just for an ebook reader that's too much.
Dang it! I was about to list my Mum's barely-used iPad Mini in the OzBargain classifieds.
So what's a reasonable asking price for this thing then? Thanks.
(So much for everyone arguing that Apple holds its value :( )
Generally Apple products do hold their value and there is always a market for them. Sometimes the difference in resale price of an Apple item and another item makes up for the initially higher cost of the Apple item.
Try to sell a two to three year old Android phone v an iPhone of the same era and you will see what I mean. The same goes for most Apple products.
Stay far away from Apple and save your self the headache have and trouble
If you ONLY want it to read books I'd recommend either a Kindle Fire HD tablet or a nexus 7 2013.
haters gonna hate, I have gone back and forth before I bought rMBP once I bought never looked back. Its light weight, very comfortable for my use, OS is intuitive than Windows, reselling value. They are few downsides or maybe many for few but hey its just my opinion.
Where's the hate?
Like other posters have said, if it's just for books there are better value propositions out there. However, one thing I will say is that there are a lot more board games avaialbe for iOs than android. It was pretty much the only reason I got an iPad. iOs is also, imho, easier to use than android, and less fiddly with the settings. Although android is more flexible…
overpriced, less features.
I think iPads are going to be an overkill for what you want to use it for, you can get something cheaper to do what you want to do.
eBook readers like Kindle, cheap Android tablets with decent enough screen (though this might be hard to find, perhaps look for older generation Android tablet?), etc etc, something cheap like those would work as an alright eBook reader. As others have said, second hand price for iPads are fairly high, in other words, you need to pay more as well, even if you were to go for something old like iPad mini 1.
Still using an iPad 1st Gen. It's slow but considering it is almost 5 years old while still being usable, I'm happy with my purchase.
Good for:
1. Youtube
2. Sudoku
3. Youtube player (play Youtube videos in the background while using another app or lock screen)
4. Kobo app
5. Chess pro
6. Web browsing (kinda hit or miss)
7. Facebook (the old version where you have the messenger app built-in)
And what about reading ebooks, which was the OP's main reason for buying?
Kobo is an ebook app.
I own the ipad mini 1st gen and absolutely can NOT recommend buying one. It is an absolute piece of junk. It is far too slow with anything you try and do.
I've had it since ios 6 and regardless of OS it is a crap.
I believe the main problem stems from the fact it doesn't have enough ram. Not something you can fix.
I have the 64gb 4g version and I'm surprised I still haven't bothered to sell it. It hardly gets used.
I also have a nexus 7, the newer one, it is a fantastic device and a great performer.
The ipad mini may be ok if you were planning to view basic pdf files, as long as they were text only it would be ok, but honestly don't waste your money. The $39 ebook readers at JB probably do a better job.
Edit: link
https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/ebook-readers/ye…
With Apple products you are paying a premium compared to comparably specced competitors.
What you are paying extra for is the Apple ecosystem, the smooth software and the shiny fruit logo on the rear of their devices.
The problem with Apple is they deliberately slow down older devices to force you to upgrade like most companies resulting in the older iPads, iPhones and Macs becoming slower after each major software update.
they deliberately slow down older devices to force you to upgrade
Err, no, that's just the Consumer Electronics Industry as a whole combined with Moore's Law…
More features are needed to sell the new generation of products, Moore's Law allows those extra features to run as well, or better on the newer hardware. But older hardware has to work harder (slower) to achieve the same result.
And that's why I never update anything haha.
Apple have really taken advantage of this though since they control the hardware and software. This means they can better integrate the hardware and sneakily better slow down the hardware for older devices.
sneakily better slow down the hardware for older devices.
[Citation needed]
Yes, iDevices tend to slow down with newer updates, but for reasons that have already been explained (older hardware struggling with newer software, with increased feature set). Apple's not 'sneakily' or deliberately hamstringing last year's iPhone to sell the newest one, as you're implying.
Even that HuffPo article admitted as such:
"It's highly unlikely Apple deliberately slows down older iPhones just to get you to upgrade. The company declined to comment for this story. Instead, Apple designs the new operating systems, which have more features, take up more space and require more computing power, for the new iPhones. And a consequence of that is they don't work as well on older iPhones."
This is like saying Microsoft is forcing its desktop users to upgrade by increasing the system requirements of subsequent versions of Windows.
Yeah that is not Moores Law at all.
Also, often Apple devices speed up on software updates, sometimes they do slow down, but often there is little or no change in speed, and free extra features on older devices.
Thanks a lot for the replies!
I'm still reading through the replies, but Is there something the iPad can do that the other devices cannot?
Apple has a more dedicated tablet app ecosystem. In fact the Android ecosystem is a joke for tablets in comparison. I got a note 8 a while ago, even being a principle function of the device, the note app never received any updates to improve how it worked or to give more options. Even still, little apps were developed for s pen too.
But I have also learned since that tablets don't do a lot that I wouldn't rather do on my phone or laptop. So sure ipad has the spit and polish but who cares when all you wanna do on it is read books and let the kids watch videos on it.
eInk tech is pretty good if you just wanna read books, else just get an El cheapo tablet if you insist and a better phone.
Not really, unless there is some special app you want.
Hardly anyone needs an iPad. Most people would be better off with a good phone, laptop and e-reader.
That being said, I love my iPad 2. The performance is fine and it feels very solid in my hand - a real pleasure to use. The iPad Mini is even better. The iPad Mini with Retina is even better.
But Kindles are better for eReading.
Thanks! Are there any other advantages of using an iPad over an Android?
1989 - Apple printer [ Epson 9 pin with [proprietary adaptation of open standard - Apple only] SCSI port = ~ $500
1989 - IBM/Clone Printer Epson 9 pin with parallel port = ~ $250
2014 Apple data/charge cable - proprietary adaptation of USB interface = ~ $15 cheapest special in Target
2014 Android/Microsoft/Blackberry - USB data/power cable = $5 common price on special often.
When a corporation makes changes for the sake of locking out earlier devices for "advantage" that are available using the common open means [ lightening adapter, thunderbolt], relies on misinformation [first to patent /= invention] and pulls such stunts as paying people to queue up to highlight an artificially created "scarcity" for the latest incremental changed device, I start to suspect they may not have my best interests at heart.
In their favour, when they boast of quantum leaps, they are one of the few organisations using the term anywhere near correctly.
They achieved a quantum leap in consumer manipulation.
FWIW, a "quantum" is the minimum amount of energy or substance involved in any change, so a "quantum leap" is the absolute minimal change that can actually be called a change. Pollies love the phrase…
'so a "quantum leap" is the absolute minimal change that can actually be called a change.'
That's absolute crap tezmo.
Merriam-Webster:
Quantum Leap = a sudden large change, development, or improvement.
"Pollies love the phrase"
Atomic electron transition is a change of an electron from one quantum state to another within an atom[1] or artificial atom.[2] It appears discontinuous as the electron "jumps" from one energy level to another in a few nanoseconds or less. It is also known as atomic transition, quantum jump, or quantum leap.
They sold it well, didn't they. It's a double-plus good term. Shall we continue with a definition of the term "Absolute" - it may have changed by the time you were born…
The connotation of a "quantum leap" comes from the fact that products and their incremental upgrades are akin to electrons of the similar energy levels occupying a shell - each set of devices sharing similar specs can be considered as a subshell wherein they are all of the same energy level. An major innovation, such as the transition from natural to man-made fire, would be called a "quantum leap" as the improvement is so significant as can be described as a discrete transition between electron shells.
It's also quite clear that your familiarity with this subject is questionable. I quote, "a "quantum leap" is the absolute minimal change that can be called a change"". The important thing is that energy states are not continuous; to say that these changes must be "minimal" is wrong. These state transitions do not require occupancy of intermediate states; it would not be correct to say that an electron moving from K shell to the M shell has not conducted a "quantum leap" simply because this was not the "minimal change" to the intermediate shell. The magnitude of these changes is not relevant - only that they are discrete.
Whether or not Apple's product improvements can be regarded as "quantum leaps" is an entirely different matter but the reasoning behind the connotation of the term is quite sound. If this does not sate you then your fundamental understanding of the denotation can also be shown to be wrong.
I have bought 30-pin and Lightning cables from eBay, Shopping Square etc for about $1-2 each?
Common knowledge.
Which tablet is best depends on how savy you are with technology. For example for my parents and parents in law I suggest Apple products because they are so user friendly. If they had an Android the would struggle to work out how to use it. A kindle is probably the best option followed by an IPad.
For reading books only… I think an amazon tablet (dont' know the name) might be good… I think one of them can be had for <$100…
Don't quote me on the price though.