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iPad Launch in Philippines: Win or Fail?

So the Apple Philippines Online Store has finally added the iPad to the online store (although the link still goes to a blank page) in preparation for the official release in the Philippines.

Other stores have been selling them too, like the iCampus in Ateneo (at much cheaper prices too).

However, the local launch seemed like a bit too late considering the initial release was way back in April. That’s about 9 months old already.

We know Steve will introduce a new iPad this summer (that’s in 3 months) and it will (hopefully) have all the upgrades people wanted on the tablet (FaceTime HD anyone?). It will also probably have higher storage capacities too.

Buying a new iPad today does not seem to be a reasonable move.

  • Your brand new iPad becomes obsolete in 3 or 4 months due to the introduction of a newer model.
  • You’ll be missing out on newer features and upgrades.
  • The re-sale value of your 1st gen iPad will plummet once the new iPads are announced.

On the other-hand, there’s some advantages too that favors it. For one, you get local warranty and support from official Apple Resellers.

As for the prices, the suggested retail price of iPads in the gray market have actually stabilized to the point that they’re within 5 to 10% which isn’t bad (so the wait isn’t really that worth it). I remember getting a 64GB iPad 3G+WiFi for about Php38,500 just last month from a source in Greenhills. That’s actually cheaper than the official prices.

So here’s my question to you — you think the uber-delayed launch of the iPad in the Philippines is a win or a fail? Leave your answers in the comment section below. I’m very close to call it a fail but for now, I’ll give it a tie.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

69 Responses

  1. Avatar for luzbell luzbell says:

    I have used iphone before, currently using samsung smartphones and galaxy tablet. My problem is the samsung galaxy tab frequently crash down..I really hate it when Im done composing long texts and messages then it suddenly crash. So disappointing. I agree that android gadgets have lots of application for free in the play store but to tell you the truth they freeze the gadget most of the time and I need to uninstall then reinstall another app. I am planning to buy a new tablet IPAD AIR, I know that its a lot more expensive than other android tabs but its worth it. Lots of friends.switched to IPAD ibecause it does its job smoothly…

  2. Avatar for jojohudyo jojohudyo says:

    FOR ONE– launching the IPad is a bit no win now… since ipad 2 is already days away… people would rather wait to buy something that would stretch their purchase… better processor, faster and snappier, lighter, with two cameras.. if patience is your virtue. , its either out of idiocity or getting to the in thing if you will opt for the first ipad now… to apple haters out there, try any ios device first before scrutinizing… i used to malign it too.. but after owning an iphone 4,. all things changed–it really is a good phoneand ios made it better— add cydia on it and voila–it is now a true blood smartphone–edit all you want on the layout and programs like you would with android… the IPAD 2— depending on your preference can either be your netbook for all time now or be it a social climber’s toy you would want to flash having.. go and indulge… apple is wickedly great..

  3. Avatar for leninmac leninmac says:

    @Mr Bogus

    @jums from uranus: yan lang naman dinadahilan nyo kasi hindi makabili kaya galit sa apple products… wth!!! kahit 50k pa yan i can buy that… my point kaya gusto ko ng galaxy tab ay di hamanak na mas maganda features nun kesa sa ipad(maganda lang battery life)… magbasa ka ng features ng matuto ka…

    “APPLE IS ONLY THE FIRST, BUT NOT THE BEST”

    YEAH RIGHT. ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE APPLE HATERS THAT DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE TALKING. BOTTOM LINE IS ANDROID IS STILL NOT A MATURE OS. IOS IS.UP FOR THE IPAD.

  4. Avatar for poy poy says:

    Are we talking about how it will sell? because if we are talking about sales then it should be a win. I know for fact that it sold 100+ units in its first day in one of the branches of digital hub. peace! :)

  5. Avatar for scorer scorer says:

    @Mr Bogus

    @jums from uranus: yan lang naman dinadahilan nyo kasi hindi makabili kaya galit sa apple products… wth!!! kahit 50k pa yan i can buy that… my point kaya gusto ko ng galaxy tab ay di hamanak na mas maganda features nun kesa sa ipad(maganda lang battery life)… magbasa ka ng features ng matuto ka…

    “APPLE IS ONLY THE FIRST, BUT NOT THE BEST”

  6. Avatar for scorer scorer says:

    Mas maganda ba ang features o mas maraming features? whe? patunayan mo nga kung paano mas maganda

    for your reference, i own both :D

  7. Avatar for talakero talakero says:

    hopeless talaga haaays pero nakakatuwa talaga mga apple haters/losers, lalo lang ako nababaliw sa apple grabe

  8. Avatar for dandelionne dandelionne says:

    Well,since it’s already here, I wanna buy one because I need the ipad to fill up my boring time at work. I’m more into just surfing,reading and answering thread forums or blogs. Though an upgrade would be nice, as an iphone 3GS user, the release of the iphone4 didn’t make me launch to grab one since I was already contented with a phone that has an ipod and apps that I find useful. In short,it’s ok if my ipad would become obsolete in 3 months time as long as I can do the things I wanna do in just one tablet. Do you really need a camera and retina display (granting you don’t have astigmatism) when I presume most of these ipad users already have all the apple merchandise also?

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