Thinking of purchasing an iPad

I have iPhone 4, a laptop and iPad2. I love my iPad, but it when I need to do something like work with files, answer multiple emails, or work, I use my laptop. As great as iPad is, it is not a replacement for a fully functioning laptop. But, I do use my iPad quite a lot. It offers all the advantages of a great reader, with a stunning screen and I no longer buy books or magazines in actual print. I have a subscription to Netflix as well and watch movies and TV shows when I find something I want to watch. It's great to be able to download a movie from iTunes when I travel. Other's may disagree, but I find iPad to be a great entertainment device, plus it's just cool.

Basically what he said.

I also use my to surf the web for amusement and reading the news.

If I had to do work or write papers, I would use my desktop/laptop.

Works great in the bathroom! :D

Seriously, you can do work on it-it's just not the best option IMHO.

Throw in a keyboard case for writing, microphone for recording lecture, view iTunes U material-you have a fair productivity device that is easily transportable.

If we only got things we needed, it would be a boring world and Apple wouldn't be the number 1 technology company on the planet. I'm sure your parents would be proud of you for looking into the pros and cons though, so good luck......

The iPad is a extension of a computer, there really isn't any "must have" feature that isn't already on laptops.

The iPad needs a stand to hold it, the keyboard on it is lousy to type on, the screen is glossy and reflects everything, the storage is poor, the dual core Atom like processor is weak, it can't run Flash sites, you can't use software other than what Apple approves of and worst off you have to hold it to see the screen.

Instead of a iPad for very light portable uses, I got a 160GB netbook for $220 that I installed Linux - Like XP on, comes with tons of free software and I can use Flash too. 😀

Cheap, portable, more storage and if I lose it or it gets stolen, it's only $220. 😉

Not a highly sought after iPad that I got to worrry all the time about.

The iPad has it's uses, but $500 is a lot for no storage and being chained to the AppStore.

I have a nice i7 Quad core with a 1GB Radeon 6750M video card on a 2.2 Ghz 15" MacBook Pro or better is a clearly superior alternative and a much better value for your money, despite having to put up more up front for it.

You can 3D game, you can run many operating systems, run Windows games, Linux etc.

That's three operating systems running at once, Windows 7 64 bit, Linux Mint 11.04 64 bit, iTunes and a wild Hyperspace screensaver running as a desktop background.

I blow Mac users as well as PC users away with my machine, the raw power is awesome. 😀

Even playing a 3D game in Windows, in a virtual machine under OS X. 😉

Problem with the iPad is one has to continously buy more stuff to get some functionality out of it.

The iPad is a good alternate presenter of information. If you get a good textbook reader, then it can act as another open book on your desk. It depends on what apps you can get for it that will be of benefit. I could see it being another arrow in the quiver but it really depends on how you organize your work.

Well that's certainly special, but he wasn't asking about whether he should buy a laptop or iPad. Do you own an iPad?

I think you shouldn't buy an iPad since you have those other things. Save the money for a rainy day.

I point to you to this guy who gave a iPad a shot, now he doesn't use it anymore in favor of a MacBook Air.

His experience is similar to mine:

"MacBook Air - that I've been getting a lot more utility out of."

http://www.businessinsider.com/ipad-review-day-300-2011-2

I dumped my iPad about two months after I bought it, it just wasn't working for me neither.

The iPad lacks a lot ergonomical atributes that people require, the lack of Flash was a big nail in the coffin amongst other things.

Your welcome to blow $500 to find out the same thing, you can't beat a laptop. 😀

I have a MacBook and an iPad and an iPhone. Since I got the iPad, I rarely use the MacBook except as a media server and to update the software and back up my iOS devices. I did use the MacBook today to reconfigured one of my Airport Expresses. I have no plans for getting rid of it because, when I need it, I really need it. However, I can't see the need to replace it as often as in did in the past.

I use my iPad for pretty much everything. For large amounts of typing, have a Zaggmate case/keyboard. I love the fact tha Incan sit at a cafe for hours and never worry about looking for an outlet.

In meetings, I prefer taking handwritten notes with a stylus on my iPad. It's much less obtrusive, creates much less of a barrier between me and other people than a laptop.

I also use my iPad as an eBook reader. I have all the major reader apps so I can pick a book from whichever store has the best deal.

I think, if you have the discretionary money, you'll find the iPad extremely useful in college. Invest in the Zaggmate keyboard (or similar) and you'll lighten your backpack quite a bit.

Anyone's welcome here and opposing views are of interest, but point to you. I "blew" $500 on an iPad and I own a laptop. I'm grateful to have both. I keep my iPad experience in perspective. On a Saturday afternoon at Starbucks, I can take my much smaller, less weight, iPad and read a bood, answer emails, suff the web, and listen to Pandora Internet Radio, without having to lug out my Laptop........

I think it's great that you're doing research before spending such a large amount of money. The fact that you're doing that and that you can appreciated a discussion with lots of different points of view indicates, to me, at least, that you will do well in college regardless of whether or not you purchase and iPad.

Should you decided to purchase an iPad and a stylus, I'd recommend my favorite notetakin apps, Notetaker HD and SpeedText.

Best of luck!