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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cergorach" data-source="post: 5346874" data-attributes="member: 725">I recently bought an iPad (16GB, wifi only, €499), it's only out recently in the EU. It's one of my best hardware buys in a long time, it's just excellent for reading pdfs. I don't really miss USB/SD support, because to be honest the 16GB isn't full yet and I doubt it ever really will be. I'm an IT guy with a strong dislike for wifi (security issues), but Apple implemented it well in iOS (both iPad and iPhone) and works very well.I can only say that iBooks isn't stable enough for reading large pdf files (it crashes), GoodReader ($0.99/€0,79) on the other hand is excellent (opening 375MB+ pdfs). It even has the ability to connect to other services like ftp/dropbox/googledocs/etc. I have a NAS (networked harddrive) that's always on and connected to the network that allows me to run an FTP server, so I can download and view all my pdfs at home (and if I wanted to, at any place connected to the Internet). For books where layout isn't important (pure text) I use Stanza (free), as it allows me to manipulate font type/size/spacing/etc, I moved from zipped html/txt to epub and use calibre (free, open source) to manage/convert those files. Calibre has a very nice library function and lets you use it with a push of a button as a library server (you can use stanza to browse your calibre library through wifi).I don't expect it (the 9,7" model) to become cheaper then the $499/€499, that's not how Apple operates. Older models are pulled from production, replaced by models that are faster or have more features. With the recent MacMini there was even a serious price rise for the cheapest model. The only way I see prices dropping is if the competition can make a comparable product that is far cheaper, that's not going to happen anytime soon and even if it happens, don't expect enormous price cuts. You might have more luck with second hand models when new generations show up, but I also expect that initially there will be little supply (as older models are moved within family units, spouses, kids, parents).Currently I can see only a few reasons to move to a new iPad (for me personally):- (Significantly) higher resolution- Faster processor and/or more RAM if I really need it (for certain important applications)- Larger or smaller model, only if I need it for a particular implementation.- More storage space if I really need it (currently have more then enough with 16GB)For internet/email it's also decent, it's not the first time I've been called (for IT support) when I was still sleeping and grabbing the iPad and looking at e-mail/internet to see what's going on, instead of going upstairs in to my home office and starting up the PC and logging in. I've even made a couple of comments on ENworld when I was not at the computer...</blockquote>

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