i-pad? Nah!

[bladerunner]

I finally managed to get hands on an ipad yesterday and have to say I am completely underwhelmed.

Now, given that I am exactly their target audience and will leap at the excuse to buy a new toy (I work damn hard etc etc) - the house has 2 imacs, 1G5, 2 powerbooks and countless iphones and ipods amongst my family - I was decidedly unimpressed.

Too big and no use as a personal organiser/phone thang, not powerful enough, no USB and hopeless keyboard for a computer. Didn't tweak my want gland and I didn't get the James May "fizzy willy - gimme" sensation!

Definitely much prefer my powerbook.

So if we say I would have bought the big one with 3G, I reckon that's £699 I saved!!


hmmmmmm - what to spend that on..............!!!!!!!

 

[AA388]

I've been fighting with one today. My boss bought a 64Gb one and the wifi is utter *rap. He bought it to replace an Archos just to store music and play films, there is a USB/Memory Card adapter in the pipeline. Thart said I won't be jumping up to get one after what i've seen.

 

[MMC]

I like mine - it's fab and all I have to do to reset it is shake it:

 

[cookie]

i feel the same way, but i will be getting an iphone 4G

 

[GS_or_bust]

I bought my wife an Ipad when it launched. She had been using a Samsung Q1 tablet for web browsing and email but the screen was too small and the resolution too low for most web pages.

She loves the Ipad, the screen is beautiful, the user interface works well and it makes a perfect sofa or bed based browsing tool.

I would agree the size is too large to make it something you would want take out of the house but any smaller and the screen would not be as useful.

As an aside, there was a lot of talk of high demand but I went into PC World on the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend to try and buy one they said they still had plenty of them in stock so they didn't fly out of the shops in quite they way the media hype suggested.

 

[the director]

I'm exactly the same as Bladerunner on this one........had a look at one today and couldn't fathom why anyone would buy one. I'll just continue to wireless tether my iphone to my MacBook.....similar outcome but with multiple other benefits. I too have therefore saved a bundle today!

 

[Toad]

I'm staggered I've been able to resist....

As an IT Professional I'm a complete tech head, but, I just can't seem to get the point of it yet...

The bad side of Apple is too prevalent.....It's only any good if you spend loads more on apps and stuf....

 

[sparkplug]

I'm staggered I've been able to resist....

As an IT Professional I'm a complete tech head, but, I just can't seem to get the point of it yet...

The bad side of Apple is too prevalent.....It's only any good if you spend loads more on apps and stuf....

Not so my amphibian friend...

One of the many things people have overlooked about the iPad (and I'm not getting one until at least the 3rd gen ) is its ability to be used with a projector....

How many people are lugging great big laptop cases around just to show clients a powerpoint presentation? iPad is perfect for this.

It still allows you to check your mail / browse while you are on the road. It's actually not a bad business tool.

Like with so much of this stuff though - the first generation is now what I consider to be in Public Beta. Feedback from the early adopters will go through to the second and third gen iPads by which time we will all have figured out what they are for and whether we need them.

I actually think they have great potential, but I don't think it's there yet...

 

[Toad]

Not so my amphibian friend...

One of the many things people have overlooked about the iPad (and I'm not getting one until at least the 3rd gen ) is its ability to be used with a projector....

How many people are lugging great big laptop cases around just to show clients a powerpoint presentation? iPad is perfect for this.

It still allows you to check your mail / browse while you are on the road. It's actually not a bad business tool.

Like with so much of this stuff though - the first generation is now what I consider to be in Public Beta. Feedback from the early adopters will go through to the second and third gen iPads by which time we will all have figured out what they are for and whether we need them.

I actually think they have great potential, but I don't think it's there yet...

Don't get me wrong.....

I will buy one, but not yet

 

[judge]

I'm staggered I've been able to resist....

As an IT Professional I'm a complete tech head, but, I just can't seem to get the point of it yet...

The bad side of Apple is too prevalent.....It's only any good if you spend loads more on apps and stuf....

I don't think that's their target market, their target marked I believe is the iPod Touch people and sofa surfers, people for whom the iPod Touch is lacking but a full blown laptop is overkill.

If I brought one in to this house my daughter would nab it straight off me (she is a Touch user and just can't be asked with opening her laptop to do stuff (email, facebook, games etc.).

Its too beta for me and too costly, I'll bide my time, at one stage I thought it might stop me buying a Macbook Pro but it won't I need to get off pesky Windows laptops far more than I need a floaty gimmicky iTowel oh and I've got to get an iPhone4 too

 

[Toad]

I would want it for professional purposes

I just use the IT Professional label to excuse my tech lust for gadgets.....

Since I got an iPhone I've not wanted anything else....Except the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and now I'm in lust for a iPhone 4..............

I've a macbook pro, a Macbook air, and even the monoscreen Mac Classic I used at Uni 20 years ago.....

 

[red1]

The biggest downside to the iPad?

You still need a computer to sync with! So it's no use as a way to introduce people to email etc as Apple would have us believe (Granny's etc)

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

Thanks RogerG from EuroKclub.com for alerting me to,

Linky.

 

[skyenet]

I pre-ordered a WiFi one and am delighted with it. I am an ardent Apple fan because I like computers that just work and do all the tasks I want. I do own a Touch and for many tasks it is great and very portable. However for many things I want to do, the larger iPad screen is great.

I was away with Special Needs school last week at Aviemore. The iPad was superb for showing the kids photos and videos from the day. I have the Camera connection kit and using the Memory Card reader it was a doddle to transfer the photos AND videos from my Pentax W60 camera. So within minutes the kids were able to watch the videos which played fine on the iPad. Many have physical difficulties in using computers but found the iPad easy to navigate through. I have a Apple Video Cable for my Touch and this worked fine with the iPad so again they could watch this on the TV. The photo display on the iPad is superb.

While away, I had to put together a presentation of the weeks activities and did this using the iPad version of Keynote and this worked well and was able to integrate the videos and photos with ease.

Once the kids went to bed I was able to read a couple of my latest photographic magazines using Zinio Reader. Also checked some of my travel documents and routes (PDFs) for my forthcoming tour of Europe. Nice and easy to navigate and zoom. Had a go at one of the iPad racing games which was quick and easy to play and good graphics. I then caught up with a couple of TV programmes that I had recorded on my iMac.

Was working in a Nursery School today and the larger screen size was excellent. Used some iPad specific apps and some older Touch ones which you can run full screen. The kids just loved it and it was far easier for them to use than the PC computers the Nursery have. The PCs are for ever crashing and the software freezes. The kids seem to manage to press all the keys, except the ones they should do. The kids programs I have on the iPad are far better and easier for them to use, and a lot cheaper.

Of course the iPad will not suit the needs of some people but for me its great. If I could only have either a Touch or a iPad then I would go for the Touch as its portability make it a constant companion. However having both is great as I can keep more of my music and stuff that dosn't need a large screen on the Touch and the rest on the iPad.

The battery life is great. Despite using it for hours and hours while away I never charged it once I think when I got back it was at 24%

I bought it for our Europe trip mainly for transferring and viewing Photos and Videos, Viewing PDF documents, Web Browsing, Email, Contacts, Calendar, watching TV and Film videos and playing games and so far I am more than pleased with my purchase.

 

[andyclift]

I have a 27inch iMAC and a Macbook Pro but can't really see the point of an iPAD apart from a bit of web browsing and checking email - and if I am that desperate I can use my Blackberry or tether it to the Macbook.

I had a play with one in an Apple store and its the usual Apple super design but all it does for me is save a bit of weight from carrying a Macbook but I lose a keyboard and it wont run MAC software.

As a Book Reader it is a non-starter. Back lit screen is poor in sunlight and the battery life is a fraction of what I get with a Sony Reader.

 

[stonetown]

I bought an iPad yesterday and will be giving it to my Mother who suffers from Rheumatoid Arthiritis. She has great difficulty pushing the simplest of buttons, turning knobs, opening lids etc, so I think the iPad will suit her to the ground.

I've got a week to play with it and I used it for about 4 hours last night (65% battery remaining), I'm well impressed, it's got a lovely screen, a gazilion apps including lots of free ones, I can see myself owning one eventually for when travelling or just want a lighter computer in bed (yes there are iPad porn sites out there). The touch screen, touch keyboard and user interface manipulation is spot on especially for a disabled person, it's intuitive, instant on, easy to use with very little to go wrong or confuse. A great entertainment, educational and productive tool. I've also purchased a book seat http://lmgtfy.com/?q=the+book+seat as I think that this is probably the best stand that will suit my mum.

I also own a Macbook Pro and a slew of windows machines of all kinds and whilst it's nice to have a big screen, there is a weight penalty especially for old, infirm or disabled people, the iPad has great potential here.

 

[Big Derek]

I bought my wife an Ipad when it launched. She had been using a Samsung Q1 tablet for web browsing and email but the screen was too small and the resolution too low for most web pages.

She loves the Ipad, the screen is beautiful, the user interface works well and it makes a perfect sofa or bed based browsing tool.

I would agree the size is too large to make it something you would want take out of the house but any smaller and the screen would not be as useful.

As an aside, there was a lot of talk of high demand but I went into PC World on the Sunday of the bank holiday weekend to try and buy one they said they still had plenty of them in stock so they didn't fly out of the shops in quite they way the media hype suggested.

I agree i bought mine last month coundn't get my head around where it should be and offered it for sale with 24hrs of using it! I now however see its palce and would miss it if it went its great for browsing on the sofa, browsing and tv whaching on the patio while having breakie, and even better to take to the bog whilst (well u know) whach the news.Great apps to use.

But best of all it fits in my spam tin top box on my GSA and its good to take it with ya! Photos maps and stufff are great emails and letters if you down load the right apps it will use word docs and stuff (dropbox) is great and fast for file exchange without usb!

Keyboard is brill.........use the £30 extra fold over case it makes it great for typing etc.

No I wish i had bought my iphone 3gs some time ago, bought it 2 months ago love it, got new 4g coming 24/06/10 and the ipad is a stayer!!!!

Big D

 

[Wberesford]

iPad is absolutely the final answer in convergence of mobile media in terms of current offerings - that includes all of the soon to be released Windows devices such as HP tablet (been testing it for a while)!

Yeah I hear the arguments surrounding longer battery life from $ony ereaders etc - try doing something else from it other than reading books..........oh sorry you cant.

Before the M$ lovers get all hot under the collar with me - I am not bashing their products, not at all, indeed I have a great liking for M$ and I can drive them thoroughly, that said.......Apple just do it better!

They have standards with regards to specifications that must be met by their product vendours. If they don't meet the standards they don't get to play hence why the final products have such high customer retention and indeed customer satisfaction ratings.

I bought the other half a Mac Book Pro in January, prior to that we were a Mac less household with more Windows devices than you could shake a stick at.....now however those multiple devices are being added to with Apple ones. First me with a 32Gb iphone 3GS, then a 64Gb iPad with 3G and lately the missus with a 32Gb iPhone 4 - and in the not too distant future I will be adding the Mac Mini as a media device on the projector..........Why, because I don't have to toss around with it because it 'isn't working properly' or because some vendour that plays on the OS has released a patch that doesn't play well with other software.

So for all those that aren't taken by the iPad - thats cool - don't buy one! But for those that are suggesting that it doesn't have anything to offer the IT market have very much underestimated exactly what this product can and cannot do!

ps I am not employed by Apple

 

[GSmonkey]

Just a big iphone innit?

 

[cookie]

Just a big iphone innit?

er, no.

it doesn't have a phone function unless you add skype.