Consider the Amazon Kindle Fire or Ultrabooks

 

5. Maybe an ultrabook would be better?

Tablets are great, and there's little question that the iPad 3 will appeal to consumers. But there are other form factors available to customers looking to go mobile. Chief among those form factors is the ultrabook. Those lightweight, thin devices are ideal for mobile consumers and come with a full physical keyboard to improve productivity. Plus, their prices are expected to come down this year, making them even more affordable. Consider them before buying the iPad 3.

6. Let the kinks get worked out

Being an early adopter is fine for folks who don't mind suffering through odd hardware and software quirks, but for the rest of us, it's a pain. The smart move with any product-Apple or not -is to wait a month or two to see if owners are complaining about issues. If they are and they haven't been addressed, move on to another device. But if there aren't any major flaws to speak of, feel free to buy the iPad 3.

7. Your office might get one for you

It's often overlooked, but consumers looking to buy an iPad should keep in mind that the enterprise is increasingly warming to Apple's tablet. In fact, there's a good chance that after the iPad 3 launches, many more enterprises will start equipping employees with iPad 3s.

8. Wait to see what Amazon shows off

If there's a solid No. 2 in the tablet space right now, it has to be Amazon's Kindle Fire. And that device, which is just $199 and comes with a 7-inch display, is scheduled to be updated at some point this year. Even better, Amazon is expected to launch bigger versions of the tablet. Consider waiting to see what Amazon shows off before jumping at the chance to buy the iPad 3 at launch.

9. The best idea is to spend cash now

There are many consumers out there right now who really want to get a tablet, but after hearing the rumors, are waiting for Apple to launch the iPad 3 before they do so. That's a bad idea. Apple's iPad 2 is an outstanding tablet, and so is the Kindle Fire. Spending cash now and then waiting to see what Apple shows off in the iPad 3 is unarguably the best move for consumers to make.

10. Maybe you should wait for the iPad 4

Those who already own an iPad or another tablet that works well should wait for the iPad 4. After all, that slate will be the most likely to come with all the features consumers are after, and it frees up some cash this year to be spent on other devices. The iPad 3 might be great, but if you can wait a year for the iPad 4, you'll probably be quite happy you did. The last thing consumers should do is get caught in the consumer trap of buying a new tablet each year.

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