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fiosron Author

Level 1

25 points

Why do you need an iPad?

How does an iPad serve your needs compared to say, a macbook air, or something similar (ie. another small netbook or laptop) ?
The reason I ask is because as I have started using my iPad, I am realizeing some magor deficiencies such as inability to watch flash-based content on websites, no USB, no camera, etc..

Your thoughts?

macbook pro 15in, Mac OS X (10.6.3), 2.66 Core 2 Duo , 4 gig 1067 DDR3

Posted on Apr 10, 2010 3:32 PM

36 replies

StevePug2

Level 2

376 points

Apr 13, 2010 1:21 PM in response to fiosron

Hi Fiosron,

This thread's gotten kind of long but that's never stopped me before! Isn't it weird how some people in this forum yell at you for either not knowing something, having a different opinion or seeming so! I often feel like saying, calm down, boys. It's not life and death, it's an iPad!

Anyway, I pre-ordered mine because I found the whole concept so compelling and I knew I would simply have to have one so why not just pre order. No regrets whatsoever. I know it doesn't do everything. There's this long discussion here from a college professor to a student about all the things that he can't do with his iPad that his job needs and then he blames Apple. I agree that it would have been nice if it was absolutely perfect at birth. But it's a very new and unique concept and will grow rapidly. Since it really can act like a full blooded computer, there's going to be a clamoring for more sophisticated and complex applications as well as a more robust OS and architecture (more RAM will be a must). Since so many people will want to use it as a full computer, its seems only logical that it will go in that direction. There was never really a clamor for the iPod Touch or iPhone to act as a full computer since no one wanted to work on such a tiny platform. Now there is. But I really like it just as it is now. I mean, I'm not ditching my laptop. At least not yet 🙂 But who knows?

Honore

Level 1

13 points

Apr 13, 2010 1:45 PM in response to shieldbearer

Okay, I just have to chime in here. I am also an avid reader and have a Kindle which I like quite a lot--it's pretty much indispensable for those 10-hour+ flights. Simply couldn't see why I'd want an iPad (especially after having invested in so many Kindle books). Ho. After an Apple Store employee demonstrated it and the iPad Kindle app., guess what? I succumbed and am delighted.

Apr 13, 2010 1:59 PM in response to fiosron

I have wanted Internet I could take anywhere for a long time. I am not into $90 a month contracts, so I use a Tracfone that costs me $98 a year. For as little as $15 a month I can have my anywhere Internet, and turn it on and off as I please. I will pay for gadgets, I just don't like to get stuck on high monthly payments and contracts. OK, I am cheap! If my laptop would connect to the Internet the same way as an iPad 3g, then I probably wouldn't need an iPad.

Apr 13, 2010 2:23 PM in response to fiosron

The iPad is the perfect travel computer for me. I can have my books, movies, music, internet, and email, games, and so on, all in one convenient, light product that has a small footprint. I can also download my pictures to it. I'm not doing any work, usually, in my travels so everything I'd use it for in hotel rooms, planes, airports, or where ever is exactly what I need. If I ever need a mobile work platform, I'll get a MacBook.

It's also a convenient device to have around the house to free you from being locked down to your desktop. Again, if I need something desktop specific or need to do some heavy lifting, I'll go there. But if not, I can use the iPad for anything else.

With that said, it is easy to see where Apple could go with future upgrades. A camera and iChat app is a no-brainer. The standard faster/more memory upgrades. Greater native support for different documents and things of that ilk. But it'll never be a "full computer." It's exactly as advertised: a niche tweener product between our iPhones and a full computer, whether that be a laptop or desktop.

It's a perfect product for me but you have to know, and understand, what you want it for or you could end up disappointed.

Jul 14, 2012 9:29 PM in response to shieldbearer

It is nice to know you are enjoying your iPad. I have been seraching for one for several months, and was almost sold on the new Apple 4G. But, the more questions I asked, the less it seems the iPad would do. I bought a Pandigital Color TouchPad Tablet but did not like it at all. If was very difficult to use and the typing screen would scroll up before I could domplete my typing and the lighting was so poor, it was very difficult to read on.

So I returned it and bought the Kindle 3G/Wi-Fi and it has been the best lttle electronic device I have ever bought. I have the one with the external typing pad, which is faster and easier for me than the touch pad. And the special in that is used on the Kinlde makes it so easy for me to read. I had major complications with cataract surgery and the doctor said the Kindle screen would not stress or harm my vision as most of the color touch pad readers do.

And the other wonderful feature is the 3G. I downloads in a second, does not require any spcecial hook up and I yet to find a place where I did not have a good signal and there is no additional month fee for the great service. I have not once had to use the wif-fi. And the bonus is, it is so user friendly for me. I had literally run out of space to put another book in my house, which was the primary reaaon I needed an ereader. But, the Kindle has been so simple to keep my books nice and organized and stored in the same place. Not to mention, I get most of them from Amazon and they keep them in Archives for you. So, my experience with the Kindle has been excellent and after discussin the Kindle Fire, Amazon suggested I did not need there new model since I only use my Kindle for reading.

And I may would have purchased the iPad just to have a new device but by the time, I got what they thought I would need, including the expensive 4+ Internet Service and additional memory, it came to over $1,000+ and I could not justify this much for a cool little table that actually does very little. Buy, I admit, I am technology challenged and many of the fetures, I would not use. Since the sound quality is so bad, I would not watch moveis, and I don't even use my web cam. I need to work processor more than thing other than the intenert service. So, I will wait to see what comes out next. Apple needs to improve the processing and printing cababilites if they want to sell them as if they are compatable with computers.

But, I am sincerely you are as excted with uyour iPad as I am with my Kindle. And keeping customer happy is what it is all about. But, with the little I know, they don't need to be advanced to be over my head in how to use all the new technology.

Jul 14, 2012 9:33 PM in response to Sunny Moonbeam

You're replying to a post that's over two years old. I suspect all of those folks have made their decisions and moved on by now. If you've decided you don't feel an iPad is for you, there's probably not much need to be resurrecting dormant threads.

Best of luck.

Why do you need an iPad?