Wait before the iPad?

Blogged by Nahk.

Owning a cutting-edge new gadget has a wow factor attached to it but early adopters rarely get a great deal. Some observers say Apple's new iPad, available to pre-order Friday for an April 3 release, isn't likely to be an exception -- though there will probably be no shortage of shoppers wanting to go first.

Apple, which did not respond to requests for comment from reporters, charges $499 for 16GB version of the touchscreen tablet with WiFi. 32GB and 64GB go for $599 and $699, respectively.

If the prices don't scare you, and you're still willing to buy, you might consider pre-ordering, since demand for popular new gadgets tend to beat the availability.

Some of the difficulties with early adoptions are likely to disappear within a few months. Consider these five reasons to wait:

Price Drops:

Putting off your purchase a few months could cut your bill substantially. When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, it slashed the 8GB version's $599 price tag to $399 just 10 weeks later. That swift of a drop on the iPad is unlikely, but the price could come down in a few months. In particular, consumers could see prices drop on the Wi-Fi/3G version.

Bugs:

This is first version of the iPad. There is a lot that may have to be worked out. Apple originally anticipated an iPad release in late March, and analyst reports had pointed to possible production problems.

Application Availability:

Currently, the iPad has very few applications of its own. Most available are iPhone applications. Displayed on a 9.7-inch screen instead of a 3.5-inch one, they may appear too jagged and low resolution to be useful. But hold off a month or two, then the developers will surely catch up.

Connectivity

A Wi-Fi-only device is fine if you plan to use it at home or other areas with Wi-Fi hotspots. But 3G connectivity To be– available in iPad models set to launch later this spring -- is basic for consumers who want their iPad to work while traveling in the car or in other locations where Wi-Fi is scarce.

Competition:

Competing devices slated for release may be better choices, depending on what you would use the iPad for. Shoppers looking for an e-reader may want to wait for Amazon's expected Kindle 3, while Dell's Streak tablet offers more computing power.

But if you still can't wait and want to be among the first few to lay your hand on it then click here.