5 Useful Things That You Can Do With A First Generation iPad

Thinking about upgrading to a new iPad? But what should you do with your old one? Hold on to it? Sell it? See if it blends in a Blendtec blender? Here are some useful things that you can do with your old first generation iPad, that will either make you some extra cash or help justify your purchase of a new one.

Sell Your First Generation iPad

Believe it or not, there are still a lot of people who want to buy a first-generation iPad. Companies like to use iPad 1G models for kiosks and POS (Point of Sale cash registers). eBay is showing an average price of $299. So sell your 1G iPad and help fund the purchase a new one.

Second Wireless Monitor for Your Computer

With a program like iDisplay, you can turn your first generation iPad into a second computer monitor for a laptop or desktop. Just download the app for your computer, connect them, and plug in your iPad to keep it charged up. The best part is it’s a wireless monitor. You can walk around the house with the iPad, instead of always sitting next to your computer. The iDisplay app is $4.99 from the Apple App Store (iOS).

App Store Link: iDisplay, $4.99 (iOS)

Donate It

Making a technology donation is a great way to make a difference. Non-profits can use the iPad for small tasks, like holding on to agendas or running simple programs. Plus donating your old iPad to charity can be a great tax deduction.

Home Utility Screen

You can also just keep your old first generation iPad and use it as a utility screen in the house. Toilet gaming, tool bench YouTube reference, cooking recipes, eBook reader in a bookshelf or kids activity screen are just a few ideas. Your 1G iPad can still access websites and check email.

So put your 1G iPad in a spot where you can easily access it. Buy a chef stand for your iPad, put it in the kitchen and load up all your favorite recipes. You can even hook it up to a projector and project your recipes and cooking videos on the wall. Put it in the garage and bookmark some home DIY improvement YouTube videos. Mount it on the treadmill so you have something to read while working out. Some apps allow you to turn the iPad into a remote control, so put it in the living room.

You can also get podcasts and eBooks on your 1st generation iPad, so add it to your bookshelf. If you have a service like Audible, you can do what I do – listen and read at the same time.

The Bluetooth functionality also lets you turn it into a 2nd or 3rd computer. Add a Bluetooth keyboard and kids can use it to surf the web or work on homework.

Experiment With Your iPad

I mention the “Will it Blend” earlier in the post, but your old iPad is a great way to learn a little bit about the inner workings. Heck, if you are a case modder, you could take apart your iPad, then mod the case to make it look cool. Test out the functionality, and learn how the iPad is put together.

If I remember correctly, there was a place to put a camera on the 1st gen iPad. It’s just that Apple never did it.

Try to bling out the iPad. Turn it into a work of art. Then, when you are ready to sell, you might get a little more for it. Especially when it becomes “Vintage” in about 10 years.

Is your iPad already jailbroken? If you did jailbreak it, then there is a way to install iOS 5.1. That means you could put on newer iPad apps requiring the updated OS. It might not work the fastest, but you could extend the life of your iPad 1 a little longer. RedSn0w is the name of the software that does allow you to jailbreak the iPad.

Should You Upgrade Your First Generation iPad?

To upgrade or not to upgrade, that is the question. I haven’t been recommending an upgrade to a newer model iPad unless you plan on creating videos or playing games. If you are just using it for email and web browsing, with a couple of apps on the side, then you might want to stay where you are.

The Retina display is one big advantage. It makes the video look sharper, but if you are only watching YouTube videos on it, that will not matter. In fact, most YouTube videos will look more distorted on the new display, simply because of the resolution they are in.

The 4G is also a good reason to upgrade – but then again – I can get a 4G modem and connect my iPad 2 to it anyway. After all, if you get a 4G iPad, and want to change carriers after a while, you will have to buy a new iPad – there is no convert option to go from AT&T to Verizon (or vice-versa).

What Else Can You Do?

Other things you can do: Use it at work, send it to relatives, or just keep it as a backup if something happens to your new iPad. What else can you think to do with your iPad 1G? Let us know @methodshop!