I'm a long-time Windows or Android user, but I'm thinking of trying Apple this Xmas. At the moment I'm considering a wi-fi 32 GB iPad Air. The question is where to buy one from.

I've always understood that Apple keep a tight control on prices and a quick search seems to confirm this. The big retailers such as Argos, Tesco, John Lewis, PC World all charge the same price as the Apple Store, that is £359.

However, go on to Amazon and you see third party sellers offering them for about £300 - £320. The question is how much support, if any, would you get if things went wrong. For example, with the £300 one, you find if you dig down that the supplier has a UK address but the business is actually based in Hong Kong. I have seen warnings in customer reviews that if the device comes from Hong Kong, then any guarantee is unenforceable and essentially worthless and Amazon are likely to leave you to your own devices. Plus you've got the added complication that some third party sales come as "Fulfilled by Amazon". As far as I understand it this means that Amazon accept some customer responsibility, but I'm not sure sure how much.

I suspect that the answer is "How lucky do you feel?"; are you willing to take a chance on an expensive item to save a not insignificant sum. Are there any comments, or experience, on this and what sort of quality are the iPads offered.

One way that may be worthwhile is to buy it from John Lewis. They normally give a "free" guarantee and in this case it is a 2 year one.

You should find a discount directly from Apple on Black Friday. Bought one for my wife with a sufficient discount to go up a model in terms of memory for the same price.

John Lewis were offering the same model at the same discounted price but did not have any in stock and would not allow a purchase at that price for future delivery. I just bought a case from them.....

Thanks. I was vaguely thinking of Black Friday but I didn't realise that there was a possibility of a discount directly from Apple. And I I'll definitely remember John Lewis.

And I understand your Black Friday pain! Buying a camera last year left me fraying at the edges.

Apple have a worldwide warranty so technically it's no problem buying from overseas (grey imports), the issue would be you probably won't get a UK plug. The main issue I could see is what if the items "have fallen of the back of a lorry" and whose serial numbers are now registered with Apple as "missing". Should any problems arise you may find Apple won't help or even confiscate your ipad, should they be able to prove it's stolen. Of course in that situation Amazon would then/should refund you.

I would double check that Worldwide warranty. In the back of my mind I seem to remember that if you purchase from another country or on board a ship this is not the case. I could well be wrong, but definitely check.

This has been discussed many times. It doesn't matter where you buy your iPad, the warranty is valid. As above though, this won't apply to 'stolen' goods.