Where to Buy an iPad & Essential iPad Accessories
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Buying an iPad online hasn’t been a hard decision in the past, because there was only really one place to buy them – The Apple Store. Last week OO listed the 64GB and 32GB iPads for sale, but only now have OO dropped the iPad price to an acceptable level.
There’s no doubt I wanted to do this publication earlier, when the iPad WiFi version was first listed as a new product at the OO discount store. When I started the review I noticed the price wasn’t cheaper than Apple, it wasn’t even the same price as the Apple Store, so I decided not to do the post.
That has all changed this week with the iPad price dropped down to at least the same price that the Apple Store has. What’s the point of shopping at OO rather than the Apple Store if the price is the same? Well it’s more about combining your iPad purchase with some discount accessories that I think are essential to have before you even start up your new Apple iPad.
OO only sell the Apple iPad Wi-Fi version and not the 3G model, but they do have 64GB and 32GB storage sizes available. If you already have an iPad or you don’t want a Wi-Fi only iPad, you can simply check out the accessories I recommend below. You may find some accessories you have been looking for.
From my experience with the iPad, you will need a few more accessories than what Apple give you in the box. The first accessory you need is a stand. Apple sell a dock for the iPad, but it just doesn’t do the iPad justice. With the Apple dock, you can not rest the device in landscape mode, so while looking at a spread sheet on the iPad for example you may find it difficult to see the sheet in portrait mode. I bought an iPad stand from OO, and it’s perfect for developing softwares because I can rotate the device when I need to, even while it’s attached to the computer. It’s also capable of supporting a heavy notebook, if you need it. Here’s a link to the stand I bought:
Store Price: $19.95 [correct at time of publishing]
The iPad is a great device to sit on your lap, or flat on the table. However, the aluminium backing makes for a slippery surface if you’re resting it on even the slightest angle. The second most important iPad accessory is is a case. I prefer the tactile cases like silicon, or neoprene. I have a silicon case for the iPhone and it’s great for NOT dropping the device as it moves to an angle that your fingers can’t support. The iPad is actually easier to slip out of your hands with it’s alloy backing, and until I get a silicon case, I have a rule never to use the device until I’m sitting down. The iPad will not survive a fall from the standing point so a tactile case really is a must have accessory for the iPad. Here’s the one I’ll buy very soon, the case I have at the moment a Belkin neoprene case, which works the same way a laptop case does. It protects the device while I’m mobile, until I’m ready to use it.
Store Price: $29.95 [correct at time of publishing]
Another must have iPad accessory is the cleaning cloth. Of course you can get any type of rag to do the job, but I think an $800+ piece of hardware deserves better treatment. So get yourself a good microfiber cloth and maybe a safe LCD cleaner agent from the local supermarket while you’re writing this down :) A screen protector is an important thing to have, but I personally don’t like the protectors just for the possibility of reducing the sensitivity of the touch screen. If you’re out at the local beach using this device, then yes you will need a screen protector. The glass on the iPad touch screen is tough, but not impervious to scratches. If you don’t generally treat your electronic devices like fragile eggs, then checkout this screen protector and microfiber cloth bargain. This accessory will keep your iPad clean and save it from sand grains or other touch screen scratching media.
Store Price: $19.95 [correct at time of publishing]
Last but not least is an extra cable for the computer. I can’t say how much I hate reaching in behind the computer to detach the USB cable supplied with the iPad. This is because the iPad takes a bit more power to charge than the iPhone or iPod. With an iPhone or iPod you can charge the device off the USB cable alone, but with the iPad you have to connect the cable to the computer to sync the iPad, and then detach the cable and connect it back to the power supply (supplied) to charge the iPad.. Painfully unintuitive.
To solve this problem you’re best off getting another cable that can stay connected to the computer for when you want to sync the iPad. That way, you can simply rest the iPad on your stand, and plug it in. The power adapter and cable supplied with the iPad can stay at another convenient place, and not become a messy cable lying across the keyboard while the iPad syncs to your computer and iTunes account. Here’s the link to a discount cable I recommend.
Store Price: $8.95 [correct at time of publishing]
If you’re buying the iPad from OO, you will find all of the accessory bargains above will save you from the issues I have found while using the iPad. And while these accessories may not be the finest of Apple Store qualities, these accessories offer a great price. You really don’t need to spend hundreds on more expensive brands for accessories, these cheap accessories look the same as the more expensive brands, and do the job just as well. Below are the links to the 64GB and 32GB iPads for sale at OO, with another web site from our safe shopping list that sell iPad accessories.
Store Price: $879.00 [correct at time of publishing]
Store Price: $759.00 [correct at time of publishing]
