Should You Pre-Order An iPad?

By Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

"Owning a cutting-edge gadget has a certain cool factor, but early adopters rarely get a great deal. Some observers say Apple's new iPad, available to pre-order Friday for an April 3 release, isn't likely to be an exception -- though there will probably be no shortage of shoppers wanting to go first.

'Most people are better off waiting for the technology to mature,' says Rob Enderle, the principal analyst at the Enderle Group, a San Jose, Calif.-based technology research firm. First versions of emerging technology are at premium prices and riddled with glitches. 'Even the first iPhone owners were pretty unhappy.'

Apple, which did not respond to requests for comment, charges $499 for 16GB version of the touchscreen tablet with WiFi. 32GB and 64GB go for $599 and $699, respectively. (Later this spring, the company plans to offer iPad models with both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity for $629, $729 and $829.)

If the prices don't spook you, and you're still determined to own, you might consider pre-ordering, since demand for popular new gadgets tend to eclipse availability. When Barnes & Noble moved to introduce its Nook reader in late 2009, for example, so many consumers tried to buy, the company had to push back shipments by up to two months and ended up offering a $100 store gift card to consumers who were promised delivery by Christmas Eve. Shoppers who order close to the April 3 launch may have to wait.

Not completely sold on the need for instant iPad gratification? Hold off. Some of the difficulties with early adoption are likely to disappear within a few months. Consider these five reasons to wait."

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