After one glitch in the iPad purchase plans mid-week, I'm now writing
my first blog post on my iPad.

It's an interesting experience to be holding one at last and actually
trying to type on one, even more of an experience to be one of
Austalia's early adopters.  Most Austalians will not be able to touch
an iPad before late May.

However, getting an iPad on eBay is like crossing a minefield.

First you have to find the trustworthy sellers.  Then you have to
worry about whether the iPad is in Australia or still has to be sent
from America, in addition to hoping there's not also an eBay listing
violation about to knock your purchase out.

There are people charging over $AUD1,000 for 16GB iPads who have feedback
scores of 0 or 2.  Buying from these sellers will almost certainly
leave you poorer, especially if they don't have a unit physically in
Australia and you would be lucky to even get the iPad.

So you move to reputable buyers with good feedback scores.

Unfortunately, a seller with an eBay store was hit at the last minute
by being mistaken for a not-so-genuine case.  It was not just his iPad
listing knocked out, but all his listings.  His feedback score was in
the 500s.

We at least got a quick refund there.

In the end, my missus and her sharp, bargain-hunting eyes saved the
situation by finding a listing for a cheaper iPad actually already in
Melbourne, one we could pickup the day after.

There was a huge collective cheer from our family last night.

Though...the 3-year-old's wondering when he gets a turn.