In January I wrote “I have no idea what it is, but I will probably want it”. Now it is April and I can say with some certainty: “Now I know what it is, I definitely want it”. “It” being the iPad.
Official reviews and feedback from those who have bought one have been overwhelmingly positive, and the announcement last week of a revised operating system coming later in the year will at least stop people whining about how it doesn’t do multi-tasking.
So, I have my iPad money in a jar and I just need the opportunity to get my grubby little hands on one. Problem is that they were only released in the USA a week ago, there is a tentative schedule to release them in a limited number of other countries later this month, and no news at all as to when we might see them released in Thailand.
But we do know when they will be available in Thailand. They have been on the shelves of the usual suspects in MBK (Mah Boon Krong, a huge mall in the centre of Bangkok that sells everything) since around Tuesday, three days after they were in the shops in America; the delay presumably being caused by the logistics of getting them from there to here. Have to admire the enterprise of those involved, and even the mark-up is not as terrible as you might expect.
Not sure that I want to make a trip into the heart of the protests to get one. But that is because I am not as dedicated as some. On Saturday, when tensions were at their highest, the skytrain was shut and there were no taxis, a man who really wanted an iPad walked from Asoke to MBK ( a long trip at the best of times, but in the April heat, and through the centre of the protest area….) in order to get his hands on an iPad. Respect.
I am not that dedicated. But the next time I am in Bangkok, and if Apple has not announced a release date for Thailand……….
Techno lust is a terrible affliction.
Comments 🔗
2010-04-13| todd saysdont need to mark up a device much that already has a 100% markup!
2010-04-13| Spike saysInterested to see where you get your figures from. I have seen reports of component costs of around 50% of selling costs. To which you have to add costs of assembly, research and development, marketing, administration, logistics, stocking and sales, support and warranty, plus some more I probably have not though of. What is left is profit.
These reports of component costs are meaningless. On that basis a copy of Adobe CS5 costs about $1 to make, and the bastards are selling it for $2,000!
2010-04-13| genuinej saysI’m beginning to think that your lust is being sadly mis-directed. Please try to get back in line asap.
2010-04-15| roman169 saysHere in HK everywhere available - about USD 770 - can wait a little while because just purchased IMac 27" .
2010-04-15| Spike saysVery nice. That’s a 27" IPS monitor at an attractive price, with a free computer stuffed inside it.
Apple have just announced a month’s delay in shipping to international customers. I may have to indulge locally….