Price of iPads in Singapore

With the price of a 16GB iPad wifi (without 3G) selling for up to S$1600, and the much anticipated availability of iPads here next month, many of us are wondering just how much the iPad would cost ...

Here's my guess of how much they will sell for (prices in S$, for the 16, 32, and 64 GB models respectively):

Wifi only 788, 948, 1088

Wifi+3G 988, 1148, 1288

Here are some reasons for the above estimates:

• the price difference between the 3G and non-3G versions is greater than the incremental price difference between the next higher memory capacity model, i.e., US$130 and US$100, respectively, which works out to be about S$200 and S$150, if you throw in the taxes
• the current local pricing precedence 'rounds' prices to xx48 and xx88
• the 32GB wifi-only model should be priced at or slightly above that of a Mac Mini
• the highest cost model (64GB + 3G) should be below the price of a MacBook

Update (20 June 2010): since my post above, the Mac Mini has been refreshed and priced at $1088, corresponding to the estimated price of the 64GB wifi only version. A minor correction to the figures above: the prices at the Singapore store consistently round prices to xx88 but not xx48. The estimated price of the 32GB versions, if they were to be midway between that of the 16 and 64GB models, would therefore be $938 (wifi only) and $1138 (wifi + 3G) instead of what I've indicated above.

Mac Mini + iPad + iPhone (3G S will do) = my computing future

I have a 32 GB iPhone 3G S. In it I carry my entire music collection – all 16 GB or so of it. I like portability and the thought of a pocket sized device with everything in it appeals to me. I will qualify for a phone upgrade soon, but although by then I will probably have the option of getting the iPhone 4G, I'm now more and more inclined to simply keep my existing 3G S and get the iPad instead. Even though the iPhone 4G is said to carry a 960 x 640 screen, that would probably be too tiny for me compared with the iPad's 9.7 inch 1024 x 768 resolution, which is comfortable to use. My experience with surfing the net on the iPhone is that it's probably useful for emergency purposes only, which leads me to my second point.

I like big screens with plenty of high resolution screen space. When the new MacBook Pros were launched last month, I was seriously considering upgrading my 13" MacBook Pro (mid 2009) to the 15" i5 MacBook Pro with Hi Res antiglare 1680 x 1050 screen (or perhaps even a 17" antiglare 1920 x 1200 MacBook Pro). But I opted instead for a 24" 1920 x 1200 external monitor. Although a main reason why I got the 13" MBP in the first place was that I wanted portability, it has remained largely a home-bound machine. For the portability, I had even at that time considered the MacBook Air, which is a very sleek machine, but I finally settled for the MBP for cost reasons.

I watch the occasional movie and do very occasional programming in Xcode, working on developing some apps for the iPhone/iPad, if and when I have time to spare. Of course, If I were to start from scratch, I would get a Mac Mini with an external monitor. There is a recent article about it working with two external monitors connected simultaneously. Awesome! If I had a Mini, I would also get two 24" 1920 x 1200 monitors for maximal effect!

The iPad will then be my carry-everywhere productivity device. I'm looking at the 64 GB wifi + 3G. I've already tested and verified that local data SIMs work without problems on my wife's 32 GB 3G iPad. Having tried out her iPad for a couple of days, I've also found its on-screen keyboard quite usable, so I would not need an external keyboard.

I first thought of this Mini + iPad combination and suggested it in a MacUser forum post on February 2nd, 2010. Since then, I've noticed that others have also expressed similar thoughts. Two days ago, I read a TUAW blog that said the same thing. Nice to know that many of us have independently arrived at the same conclusion ;-)

Extending the life of my Time Capsule? I sure hope so!

There are many reports of Time Capsules dying after 18 months of use. My favourite link is the site from which this pic was taken.

Well, my original Time Capsule lasted a little longer, even though I left it on continually 24 hours a day. It finally expired quietly just after it turned in 24 months of faithful service.

After I got a replacement from Apple and set up the wireless network, the first thing I did was to mod my device. I figured I didn't want to subject the internal elements to overheating again, so I resolved to isolate the internal power unit and place it outside of the TC.

I had read Ray Haverfield's very instructive post, but I don't have sufficient know how to tinker with dead capacitors. If you read that post you will also note the very visible

warning that replacing dead capacitors is a risky undertaking ... and certainly not for the faint-hearted.

So, dutifully following the hair-dryer guide ;-) I took apart my replacement TC, and brought the power unit with me around a popular local electronics supply centre to look for a suitable extension wire. I finally managed to find someone who was able to craft something for me from quite inexpensive parts and got an extension cable consisting of 6 wires soldered to suitable male/female connectors at both ends. Cost me something like US$5 ;-)

The whole setup before closing the TC looked like this

All that was needed was to replace the perforated metal cover over the TC. I thought it would be a better idea not to reinstall the rubber base so that there is some ventilation through the perforations in the metal plate. For the same reason, I also flipped the TC upside down. Doesn't look as neat as before, but it's tucked away out of sight behind my printer, so it doesn't bother anyone ...