JennetteFulda

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Blog
    • Archives
    • Travel and Adventure
    • Weight-Loss Blog Title Generator
  • Books
    • Books
    • Half-Assed: A Weight-loss Memoir
    • Chocolate & Vicodin: My Quest for Relief from the Headache that Wouldn’t Go Away
  • Timeline
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Advertising

January 18, 2013 19 Comments

Anyone know where I can get a cheap iPad?

ETA (1/31/13): I have obtained a first gen iPad without incurring significant debt! Big thanks to the person who made it happen!

As a web designer I have to test sites in multiple browsers and devices. As more and more people get tablet computers it’s become clear that I need access to an iPad to properly test sites. I’ve tried using the Safari browser which lets you switch the user agent to an iPad, but it fails to detect bugs that occur when using an actual iPad. I tested a site that looked fine in Safari when it was in iPad mode, but when I tested it on my brother’s iPad it was screwed up.

So, I need to get a frickin’ iPad, even though I can do most of things an iPad does on my phone. I’m pretty bitter about this since I don’t want to drop hundreds of dollars on a device just to test web sites. But I have to. The emulators just aren’t cutting it. And yes, I know I can write it off as a business expense, but I’d rather spend the money on a vacation.

Hey, Jennette, why not get a cheaper tablet computer like a Kindle Fire? Or an iPad mini which is cheaper than an iPad?
Because, the iPad still dominates the tablet computer field. More people will be visiting a web site on an iPad than on a competing Android or Amazon device. It makes the most sense to get an iPad so I can be sure that the majority of the tablet audience is seeing the right thing.

Why don’t you try winning one in a contest?
Tried that many times. Still haven’t won. And ever since the iPad Mini came out most contests are giving that away instead of the full-size iPad.

So, does anyone know where I can get a good price on an iPad? I don’t think I even need the latest generation iPad, just an iPad. I’m hesitant to buy one off of eBay. I was wondering if one of my readers has an old iPad they’d be willing to sell me at a reasonable price. Thanks!

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • More
  • Print
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Leave a Comment (19) Read more about: bitter about spending money, ipad, tablet computer, web design

Jennette Fulda is the author of:

Chocolate & Vicodin: My Quest for Relief from the Headache that Wouldn't Go Away

"Smart, unflinchingly honest, and laugh-out-loud funny."

- Lisa Genova, New York Times best-selling author of Still Alice

  • Amazon
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Powell's
  • Indiebound
You may also like:
  • JenFul.com is now JennetteFulda.com
Post navigation
Later: Kindle edition of “Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir” is only $2.99 during February
Earlier: Timothy Geithner and Me
Home: Main blog index

Comments

  1. Kel says

    January 18, 2013 at 6:17 pm

    I hope someone leave some good ideas for you, as I would like to know myself!!!

    Reply
  2. deezil says

    January 18, 2013 at 6:25 pm

    If you don’t mind getting a refurb unit, go to cowboom.com . (It’s a brand run by BestBuy) the iPads section, and brand Apple. sort low to high and pick through them. If one is missing a charger, those can be bought on eBay or Amazon for cheap.

    Also, Apple sells recertified refrub units on their website. You’ll pay more, but they’ll come complete and with warranty.

    Reply
  3. JenFul says

    January 18, 2013 at 6:31 pm

    @deezil – Thanks! CowBoom.com looks very promising.

    Reply
  4. jen says

    January 18, 2013 at 7:08 pm

    You can buy refurbished units directly from Apple. Here is the link: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

    They come with a 1-year warranty and there is a brand new battery in them.

    Reply
  5. Sara says

    January 18, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    How much we’re you looking to spend? I have a white 16g ipad 2 that I’ve been thinking about selling to upgrade to a retina version. I still have the original box and charger!

    Reply
  6. Jen says

    January 18, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    I never thought I wanted an iPad until I ended up with one (an iPad 2) from work, and I really love it for everything except writing.

    I still don’t think it’s a necessity but it is a nice thing to have.

    Reply
  7. Mary in FL says

    January 19, 2013 at 4:06 am

    I second Cowboom, was just looking there today for an Ipad.

    Reply
  8. Kris says

    January 20, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    @JenFul – I recently made my first purchase from cow boom.com and was not impressed. Of two products, one works OK and the other completely died approximately one week into using it. They were NO help. Lost $160.
    Be careful with them. I thought being associated with Best buy, they’d be better than that.

    Reply
  9. Vickie says

    January 20, 2013 at 11:12 pm

    This is going to sound silly, but I think it is true. When you are testing iPad, be sure to test with iPad used horizontally and vertically. I find for some odd things, the iPad responds differently in the two different positions. I think it does better in horizontal mode.

    Reply
  10. JenFul says

    January 20, 2013 at 11:21 pm

    @Vickie – That’s not silly at all! That’s exactly the reason I need an iPad. The site that looked messed up only looked messed up when viewed horizontally.

    Reply
  11. Vickie says

    January 20, 2013 at 11:32 pm

    @JenFul – not only the looks, but some things do not function one direction, but do the other way. I mean clicking on something when vertical and no response, then turn horizontal, click, and it works.

    Reply
  12. Lisa Duncan says

    January 27, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    I got my own iPad through a local seller on Craigslist last year. The man I bought it from said he was in IT and used it to test software. He had just bought himself the latest one and said he wanted to sell his old one for cash. We met at a Peets near an apple store so that if I had any issues resetting it I could go to the store. The whole thing felt like an illicit drug buy. Particularly since he pulled up on his big shiny BMW motorcycle in full black and red leather regalia before pulling the ipad out of his backpack. But the ipad was in great shape. He showed me right there that it worked and told me how to reset it. It has worked like a charm for the the 6 months I’ve had it so far. It was an iPad2 with 64GB memory, equipped with wifi + 3G. The price was ok, but I wouldn’t say “cheap”. I gave him $600 cash. Prices keep going down, but now I think the new iPad2’s from Apple with only 16GB are just over $500 and the new iPad3’s with 64GB memory are over $800. So I probably saved a few hundred dollars. And I got the excitement of an illicit drug buy without breaking any laws!

    Reply
  13. Vickie says

    January 29, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    I have thought of asking you this several times, but don’t think I ever did. I am looking for the post you wrote on posture. I think you might have been at the gym. And when you looked in the mirror and pulled your shoulders back and stood up straight, you felt like you were bending over backwards/partial back bend. I think it was many years ago. I tried querying on ‘mirror’ and a couple other things, but couldn’t find it.

    Reply
  14. Vickie says

    January 29, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    If it is very time consuming to find, just forget it. But I thought you might have a key word you remember using and it might be simple. Thanks in advance if you find it easily. If not, no worries.

    Reply
  15. JenFul says

    January 29, 2013 at 5:23 pm

    @Vickie – Hmmm, I don’t remember writing an entry like that. Could it have been another blogger? That said, there have been times I’ve read old entries of mine and had absolutely no recollection of writing them, so it’s possible it’s there and I don’t realize it.

    Reply
  16. Vickie says

    January 29, 2013 at 7:11 pm

    @JenFul – pretty sure it was you. Might have been the same post where you talked about feeling pretty flexible in a pose and then looked over and the person next to you had her foot nearly behind her head (would that have been yoga?).

    Reply
  17. JenFul says

    January 29, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    @Vickie – Ah, here we go! Second-to-last paragraph: http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/01/putting-the-fun-into-fitness/ It was a TurboKick class.

    Reply
  18. Vickie says

    January 29, 2013 at 7:54 pm

    @JenFul – that was it! Thank you so much. I knew it was a good one. You are so witty. I had a yoga instructor whose low weight was 200 lbs and high weight was 300. Over the years I had her as an instructor at both those weights. Her planks and chaturangas were something to see. Very strong woman.

    Reply
  19. Vickie says

    January 29, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    I got pleasantly spoiled with all your posts before the end of the year . . .

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I wrote some books

Chocolate & Vicodin: My Quest for Relief from the Headache that Wouldn’t Go AwayHalf-Assed: A weight-loss memoir

Follow Me

Jennette Fulda on Facebook

Recent Posts

  • That billionaire brat made me feel bad that Twitter is imploding
  • No one grows old on DVD or CD-ROM
  • Losing more than 100 pounds…again: Part 3 – The Differences
  • Losing more than 100 pounds…again: Part 2 – Losing Weight
  • Losing more than 100 pounds…again: Part 1 – Regaining Weight
448

Travel and Adventure

Weight-Loss Blog Title Generator

Most Popular Posts

  • Two weeks of Blue Apron: Six recipes, one blogger, and not enough bowls.
  • Remind me never to go off my meds again
  • Like the back of my hand
  • The Big Move in Retrospect: Everything good and the bad about moving from Indianapolis to Chapel Hill
  • It’s hard to type when you break your arm
  • My health insurance denial letters. Past or future?
  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: Day 1, Getting there is half the fun!
  • Not a picture I’ll be bragging about

Blog Archives

Search

Know thyself, quiz Monday

Jennette Fulda tells stories to the Internet about her life as a smartass, writer, chronic headache sufferer, (former?) weight-loss inspiration, and seemingly nice person (who is silently judging you). You can contact her if you promise to be nice.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for keyboards ruined by coffee spit-takes or forehead wrinkles caused by deep thought.

Follow Me

Blog Archives

Newsletter

One day I might actually e-mail something to my mailing list. If you want to be there for that moment, sign up below.

AS SEEN IN

  • The Washington Post
  • The Today Show
  • The New York Times
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • The Globe and Mail
  • Associated Press
  • Women's Health
  • Glamour
  • Shape Magazine
  • Runner's World
  • Health
  • The Early Show
  • MSNBC
Copyright © 2023 Jennette Fulda • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy • Site design by Makeworthy Media