The estimated reading time for this post is 3 minutes
From the results of last week’s poll (Tablet Wars!), it appears quite a few of you are planning get a new iPad and perhaps are replacing your original iPad. If you haven’t decided yet what to do with your old iPad, The Wonder of Tech has some ideas for you.
First, you could pass your old iPad down the line to a family member. Spouses, kids, parents all love the iPad and would be very happy to receive the iPad as a gift. You could even benefit directly from your generousity if car rides become more enjoyable when the kids are entertained by the iPad’s apps. What you consider to be outmoded, they will consider a treasure.
Second, you could sell your iPad on eBay. You can list your iPad on eBay as a traditional seller and wait for the bidding to begin. Also, eBay now has an Instant Sale feature so you can get cash for electronic devices from an eBay reseller directly without you having to list an item for sale. You enter the relevant information and eBay will quote you a price instantly. You get a free shipping label and you don’t have to pay any fees. You get paid by a deposit into your PayPal account. Learn more about eBay’s Instant Sale program here.
Third, you could sell your iPad to a friend. Do you have a friend who has always admired your iPad but couldn’t justify the cost? Sell your iPad to him at a discount over what he could buy it for on eBay. You eliminate the middle man and make a friend very happy.
Fourth, as with eBay Instant Sale, you could send your iPad to gazelle.com, a great site for selling used tech. Gazelle buys 250,000 types of used tech devices and will give you a quote 
instantly, once you provide them with information about your device. You can either print out a shipping label or ask Gazelle to send you a shipping box. Gazelle pays you by sending you a check, a Wal-Mart Visa card, an Amazon gift card or they will deposit the funds directly into your PayPal account. When I compared Gazelle with eBay’s Instant Sale, eBay was offering to pay slightly higher prices for iPads, but you should check this yourself as the offering prices change based on how many people are trying to sell a particular device.
Fifth, if you want to give generously, consider donating your iPad to help a child who has autism. As mentioned by Steve Jobs last week during the iPad 2 press event, iPads are being used to help autistic children in many positive ways. You could make a life-changing difference to an autistic child by donating your iPad. I have researched to see if any charitable organization is organizing a drive for donations of used iPads to help autistic children, but I have not found any. Please post in the comments below if you learn of any.
Finally, consider donating your old iPad to your child’s teacher. There are many educational apps that a teacher could use to enhance your child’s classroom experience.
If you are in the very fortunate position of having to figure out what to do with your old iPad when you get an iPad 2, consider the options listed above. You have the opportunity to make someone very happy. Do you have any other ideas what to do with old iPads? Please let us know in the Comments section.
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Tech Update – Smart and Cheaper!
As if the deal for getting an LG Optimus Android phone on Virgin Mobile wasn’t cheap enough (see, Smart and Cheap!), Target stores are offering an even better deal on the phone. If you buy the phone at Target for $149, Target will give you a $20 Target gift card making the net price of the phone $129. Here’s a link to Target’s Weekly Flyer, the LG Optimus phone is listed on Page 8. Two things you should know: This offer expires on March 12, 2011 and is available in-store only, not online.
*Photo by Tatsuo Yamashita
I can check two off this list by donating mine to my daughter, a teach of special Ed and autistic kids. Now I just need to get the iPad two for myself!
Hi KathyF, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! Wow, you covered three of the suggestions in one kind gesture. Way to go! Happiness is going to be spread far and wide. Well done.
*teacher. Still haven’t mastered the iPad keyboard.
Hi KathyF, I completely understand. I don’t get along very well with virtual keyboards either. You may want to check out this Bluetooth keyboard which may make typing easier on your iPad (1 or 2).
We’re planning to get 2 of the new iPads (his & hers) per your suggestion on an earlier post. We don’t have the original iPad.
Do you know if we can access the internet with it using our wireless router/wifi hotspots or do we need a data plan with Verizon/AT&T?
If we decide we need a data plan, is it something we can add later or do you have to get the data plan when you initially buy the iPad?
Hi Tom, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Congratulations on your wise decision to get two iPads. Less fighting = happier times.
All iPads have Wi-Fi access so you will be able to use your wireless router and Wi-Fi hotspots to access the internet.
You don’t have to sign a contract for a data plan with either Verizon or AT&T if you want data when you’re away from Wi-Fi (3G data). You can pick and choose the months that you want to buy 3G data from the carriers. Perhaps you have Wi-Fi at home and at the office so you don’t get the 3G data at first. But then you decide to go on a trip so you buy the 3G data for the trip. No problem.
Make sure, if you want to get 3G data at some point, that you buy an iPad (or two) with 3G. The 3G iPads cost $150 more than the iPads with just Wi-Fi. Also, when you buy a 3G iPad, make sure you choose whether you want an AT&T or a Verizon 3G iPad because an AT&T iPad will not work on the Verizon network and vice versa.
Someone mentioned that there is a new Ipad case with a built in keyboard linked to the ipad. My case is on its last legs so I am shopping.
Hi Stephanie, Are you looking for a case for the original iPad or the iPad 2? iPad 2 cases haven’t come out yet, but here is a keyboard you can use with the original iPad, the iPad 2 and the iPhone: Verbatim Bluetooth Keypad on Amazon.
If you use a keyboard a lot and want an all in one keyboard and case for the original iPad, here is the Kensington Keyboard and case from Amazon. This case most likely would not be compatible with the iPad 2, though because the iPad 2 is much thinner than the original iPad.
Is 3G different from wifi in terms of acquiring data?
Hi Mike, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, Wi-Fi Only iPads can access the internet only when they can connect to a Wi-Fi signal (home, office, Starbucks, Wi-Fi hotspots, etc.). 3G iPads can connect to the internet through Wi-Fi and 3G so they aren’t dependent on getting a Wi-Fi signal to access the internet and can access the internet anywhere they can get a cell phone signal.
3G iPads use 3G data like cell phones do, but you need to pay for a 3G data plan though a carrier such as Verizon or AT&T. There is no contract required to buy a 3G data plan, you can buy it when you need it, instead of committing to a contract as with cell phone data plans.
I don’t have an AT&T or Verizon phone. Is it still possible to get the data plans w the iPad? Will it cost a lot more? Do you think it’s better to have the AT&T or Verizon plan?
Hi Nicole, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! Good news, you don’t need to have a cell phone plan with either Verizon or AT&T to get a data plan for your iPad. The iPad data plan is totally separate from a cell phone data plan. The carriers don’t give you a price advantage for an iPad data plan if you have a cell phone plan with them, so don’t worry about not having a Verizon or AT&T cell phone.
In last week’s Tech-Knowledgy, I explained the three factors you should consider when choosing between AT&T and Verizon for your data plans: coverage, price and data speed. You can check out that blog post for links comparing the prices and data speeds between the two carriers. In general, AT&T is cheaper if you’re not going to use a lot of 3G data, Verizon is cheaper if you think you will be using a lot of 3G data. AT&T data speeds are much faster than Verizon’s. Coverage is very important too, so consider which carrier has better coverage in your area.
If you are going to use a lot of 3G data (away from a Wi-Fi signal) and want to save money, consider getting the LG Optimus Android phone from Virgin Mobile with their Beyond Talk plan (I wrote about this in Smart and Cheap!). This plan would give you free tethering with unlimited data. This means you could use your Virgin Mobile phone to send a Wi-Fi signal to your iPad and you could connect your iPad to the internet anywhere. The Virgin Mobile plan is $25 a month without a contract and gives you unlimited data. It’s a great deal and could save you a lot of money over getting a Verizon or AT&T data plan.
As far as donating ur IPad to an autistic child — most states or regions have an Autism Society & would be more than happy to find a happy home for ur old iPad. Thx for thinking of our kids — communication can be so hard & thus frustrating for a person w autism.
Hi Jamie, Welcome back to The Wonder of Tech! Thanks so much for the information about donating an iPad to a local autism society. When I was researching the use of iPads with autistic children, I was very impressed with how much autistic children were helped by using iPads. The impact on the children was far-reaching.
Hi,
I am a parent of an autistc child. I myself have been looking for a discounted ipad, not sure if they exist. I know of a site that raises money to donate ipads, but money ran out. So, I was not able to get one for my son. The site is hollyrod.org. The foundation was founded by holly robinson peet, (the actress) as her son is autisic too.
Hi Isabel, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you so much for sharing this information with us. I hope that this organization is able to continue to raise money to purchase and distribute iPads to autistic children. An iPad can make a huge difference in the life of an autistic child.
I am a parent/teacher liason for special education at the Midland Academy in Midland, MI. We are hoping to find donations of IPAD1s, for those who are buying new ones. This program is for the visually impaired. We are hoping to find 10 IPADS this way. This is a charitable organization and donors should not have a problem taking a tax deduction. Please consider helping us. My son is one of these students. He is a brain tumor survivor, with cataracts, field cuts, a variety of issues, including vision.
Thank you for listening. 989-326-0144
Hi Marilyn, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you very much for your comment informing Wonder of Tech readers how they can help the Midland Academy by donating iPads to the school. What a wonderful way to help visually impaired students learn. I certainly hope you are successful in collecting iPad donations for the students!
I am legally blind/glaucoma and I cant read my Kindle anymore without an embroidery magnifying circle. I also am bedridden with Chronic Hepatitis C. I cant afford and dont have a telephone or the internet. I communicate with people thru Facebook and I cannot enlarge the font on that like I can on my books on Kindle. I live on $165.00 a month an cannot afford a Apple iPad. My daughter set up my Fb account on her computer and its how I communicate with my friends locally and country wide. To me an iPad is not a luxury its a neccessity. Is there anyone who could donate one? Even if its chipped or cracked as long as it works and the screen is intact I could put tape on the crack. I have my 12 year old son reading and typing on my Kindle for me and like any kid he’s aggravated with me. I am a Viet Nam Era vet and begging doesnt come easily. But please help me. Im desperate and its getting depressing. I live in rural Alabama and have no company, no visitors. Books and facebook are my lifelines.
I appreciate anything you can do to help and will shower you in prayer. Please consider my need. Thank you…
Sincerely
Barbara Apple Allen
c/o Georgiana Post Office
Georgiana, Alabama 36033
Hi Barbara, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I am sorry to hear about all of the challenges you face, especially with reading. I hope that you are able to get an iPad, whether from a Wonder of Tech reader or from some other means.
Many blessings to you and your family.
Thank you so much, Ms. Carolyn. I am hoping and praying and am sure that someone can help me in the future. Hope is free and I have lots of it.
Thanks again for answering so quickly. God Bless you and have a great day!
Barbara Allen
Hi!
Thank you so much for including the autistic community within your article, we need all the advocacy we can get!
My name is Melissa Kiniry I am a teacher at Murphy Satellite BEST Program in South Boston. I’m writing to ask you to help make a difference in the lives of my amazing students. I teach middle school aged children who have autism. All are considered to be non-verbal, but while they may not use the spoken word as their primary form of communication they are absolutely able, some in their own unique ways, to communicate. With the recent explosion of Apple Ipads, research has shown that these devices have the ability to motivate children with Autism. Not only do these devices have amazing educational programs but they have communication capabilities that go above and beyond any communication device out there that is available to our kids now. While each of my students come from loving families (data classifies our school as having the majority of families considered living in “high poverty”) most can not afford a devise like this regardless of the potential it poses to the progression of their every day lives. This is why I am taking it upon myself to advocate for my students and reach out to the community, ask for some help and hope that you will recognize the potential within my students and decide to donate. I am asking for a donation, of any size, be it $20 towards our “Ipad Collection” or an Ipad itself. Given exposure, repetition and hard work by my students I am confident that their capabilities will be endless through the use of an Ipad. As it is now, we have two very old computers that are very temperamental making technology almost non existent within our classroom. I believe this is an injustice to my students. They are more than capable of learning and communicating, it’s my job to expose them to the tools to do so. As I’m sure you can imagine, public school funding is at a minimum and unfortunately the students in our program (as well as many other special education programs across the state) are over looked or given such a small amount of funding, it makes providing adequate materials nearly impossible. That is why I am reaching out to our community. My students are part of your community and will be for life, we need to work together to help shape their lives creating functional contributing members of our society. I’m here to work daily with these students to ensure that they are making expected gains, I am simply asking for some help putting the tools necessary to do so in their hands.
Please, if you are open to donate, contact me with any questions and or requests you may have dependant on a donation. All funds and or materials will be going to my students, they remain my students for four years, therefore will have the exposure to your generous donations for many years to come.
Thank you in advance for your time and your generosity.
Melissa Kiniry
[email protected]
Hello Melissa, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Thank you very much for your moving comment and for all you do for your school and with your students with autism.
Melissa, you make many great points in your comment. Study after study has shown the transformation of autistic children who are able to communicate and learn using iPads. My research for this article led me to dozens of illustrative videos on YouTube showing what a difference an iPad can make to a child with autism.
When an autistic child is able to communicate through an iPad (sometimes it’s the first time the child has been able to communicate), their frustration level drops and they are then able to cope with other tasks in life in a more calm and focused manner.
The impact an iPad can have isn’t limited to the autistic child. The entire family can be enlightened by finally understanding what the child is trying to tell them.
I hope anyone who is debating what to do with their original iPad will seriously consider donating their iPad to an autistic child.
Melissa, I sincerely hope that your efforts to obtain iPads for your school to help the autistic students are very successful. Your students are fortunate to have such a dedicated teacher who will reach out on their behalf.