My iPad and I are growing old together
9/12/2022
Translation: Megan Cornish
The iPad Air 2 and I have been going through life together for eight years. I actually wanted to call it quits, but I changed my mind.
In December 2014, I bought an iPad Air 2 as a sort of Christmas present for myself. Exactly eight years on, I’m still using it. Daily. It’s part of my morning ritual to surf the net a bit over a coffee and read an article or two. The tablet is perfect for this: it fits well on the small and usually crowded kitchen table, but it offers more comfort for reading than a small smartphone.
Despite many years of intensive use, the old thing still looks as good as new. This is due to the excellent case I bought right at the start. However, the case itself is completely trashed.
Source: David Lee
Source: David Lee
Think I’m clueless about the new iPads just because I like the old one so much? You’re wrong. But first things first.
Ever longer life cycles
I’ve been an iPad user from the very beginning. In June 2010, when the iPad 1 was available in Switzerland, I bought one. I replaced it with the subsequent model at the end of 2011 because the first iPad had far too little RAM. With just 256 MB, surfing the net was tedious. The iPad 1 couldn’t even hold multiple tabs in RAM – it had to reload every web page when you switched tabs. The system often closed an app because it was taking up too much memory.
The iPad 2 was much better, so I kept it until the end of 2014 before finally swapping it for the iPad Air 2, which is still useful today. iPad OS 16 is the first system version that no longer runs on my device, but there are still security updates. Life cycles are getting longer and longer.
Recently, the iPad Air 2 has seemed a bit slow to me at times, especially when opening the App Store. So, I got myself a replacement. I actually wanted an Air again, but the regular iPad 9 is the only Apple tablet still available with a headphone jack, which is important to me. Bluetooth headphones aren’t suitable for music recording because of the delay. So, I’d have to attach an external audio interface with a headphone jack. That would be more complicated than my previous, very simple setup.
Now that I have the new iPad, I could sell the old one. I did intend to. But things turned out differently.
Please stay with me
The new iPad has been with me for over a month. I’ve hardly used it yet. Instead, I continue to use my old iPad Air 2. I even bought a new case – a replica because Apple no longer makes the original. If you called me crazy, I wouldn’t have much reason to argue.
What’s going on? The only way I can explain it is that if you use the same device every day for eight years and are completely satisfied with it, you basically don’t want any changes. Just a little more speed. Every change is a thorn in my side. For example, the iPad 9 no longer has an Apple case that completely encloses the device, only a cover for the front. This could become a problem if the iPad is dropped. In the meantime, I’ve ordered an all-around cover from a third-party manufacturer. But it’s so bulky that it makes my new iPad look older than the old one.
Source: David Lee
The iPad 9’s screen feels cheap when tapped. It sounds loud and hollow, like plastic. This is not the case with the Air 2, where the screen feels more like glass. Of course, I only notice because I’ve been using the same device for eight years. I’d probably get used to it quickly.
But I like that the iPad Air 2 is holding up so well. Maybe we’ll grow old together. That would be great. And, if not, I already have the most up-to-date iPad with a headphone jack.
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
