Why not to buy a iPad

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822 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#365236 9-Aug-2010 09:38

I purchased a Toshiba NB305 netbook at the start of the year for uni. It is the most useful computer I have ever owned, I take it every day to uni as it is very light and has outstanding battery life. I'm convinced that I get more work done because of it!

reven

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#365239 9-Aug-2010 09:40

ipad and netbook i feel are to different devices, for 2 different needs.

i sold my netbook to get an ipad. but i never really used my netbook (only really used it in car while we were house hunting).

i use my ipad a couple of hours every day, i love it.

if you want to write documents, maybe do a little work etc, then maybe a netbook is for you.

but i use my ipad for
- reading comics (its a really amazing device for this, been reading a lot and selling of my actual ones and buying digital comics)
- browsing the internet, its a annoying some sites will render a mobile version of their site to ipads and no flash is annoying if youre sitting on the couch wanting to order some pizza (theyre all flash) :) but 99% of stuff (i do, well not work stuff) on the internet i can do on my ipad and its fun.
- its also good for meetings etc, i can just show some clients something and hand them the ipad, people enjoy using it, and its a real help here. im a web dev by trade and being able to hand them their product is pretty cool.

things i wouldnt use it for
- writing big docs
- programming, looking at some programming tools for it to do quick fixes, but worried about having it store my code and passwords on it (its only a 4 digit pin for security). but their is mobile me and remote wipe
- playing some games, its good for games actually designed for it, but i got resident evil 4 (it was cheap) and its terrible on it, interface is useless.

granted its not for everyone, so i agree with that. but it does have uses, and some pretty amazing ones.
the next model will hopefully be amazing, and i will probably upgrade, i would like to see 128GB and 1GB ram with 2 cameras (and the ability to send txts, for some reason i want to do this, i dont know why).

but i am a very happy ipad owner.

mattk

255 posts

Ultimate Geek

#365252 9-Aug-2010 09:56

All the netbook's i've played with have been rubbish - low quality screens, impressive battery lifes (mostly) but also crappy little keyboards. Same reason i'd never buy a phone with a slide out keyboard.

You'd be way better spending $400 more than the 64GB 3g ipad and getting a 13" macbook.

If you think about it, ipad isn't pocketable (for the average person) so you need a bag, if you're taking a bag you may as well go the whole hog and take a compact laptop. And i'd make it a mac because they actually sleep and wake instantly and reliably, something my HP laptop rarely does.

mikerussellnz

283 posts

Ultimate Geek

#365254 9-Aug-2010 09:58

I bought an iPad rather than a netbook. Why?

Find me a netbook with anything close to the iPad's battery life.

With a netbook you are stuck with either Linux or a version of Windows, I have seen Windows 7 starter on an Atom and it is not nice, the iPad may have a slower processor but it is really fast running iOS.

and

USB sockets? What are you expecting to plug into a portable device, have a usb hard drive dangling out of it? a webcam hanging off it? Not very portable anymore.

If it did have USB (which it does if you get the camera connection kit) you would see that it doesn't have drivers for many devices anyway, which would just result in a lot of complaining from people not understanding that.

If you want 3g, get the 3g version, don't need a USB modem.

I find the trade off for battery life, instant on, fast OS is worth any limitations the iPad has.

michaelmurfy

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#365258 9-Aug-2010 10:06

mikerussellnz: I bought an iPad rather than a netbook. Why?

Find me a netbook with anything close to the iPad's battery life.

With a netbook you are stuck with either Linux or a version of Windows, I have seen Windows 7 starter on an Atom and it is not nice, the iPad may have a slower processor but it is really fast running iOS.

and

USB sockets? What are you expecting to plug into a portable device, have a usb hard drive dangling out of it? a webcam hanging off it? Not very portable anymore.

If it did have USB (which it does if you get the camera connection kit) you would see that it doesn't have drivers for many devices anyway, which would just result in a lot of complaining from people not understanding that.

If you want 3g, get the 3g version, don't need a USB modem.

I find the trade off for battery life, instant on, fast OS is worth any limitations the iPad has.

The Original First Generation eeePC 901 had 9 Hours of battery life, and could run Mac OSX :)

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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reven

3743 posts

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#365267 9-Aug-2010 10:25

agree the battery life on my ipad is amazing, about twice as long as my dell mini 9.

raab

262 posts

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#365271 9-Aug-2010 10:29

Rather take a poo with my iPad than a netbook...

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michaelmurfy

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#365279 9-Aug-2010 10:44

raab: Rather take a poo with my iPad than a netbook...

lol that's a positive thing :P

dclegg

2806 posts

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#365281 9-Aug-2010 10:46

While our household already has a laptop, and a netbook, I can still see a use case for an iPad. I have an iPod Touch, which I'll often use down in the lounge for some casual web browsing. I like the book like browsing experience the touch controlled UI gives me, and can see how having the iPads larger screen would make this a much more enjoyable and productive way to consume content.

mattk

255 posts

Ultimate Geek

#365282 9-Aug-2010 10:47

I'd buy an ipad if it was smaller, say pocket sized, and you could make phone calls on it.

-Chopper Read

spronkey

117 posts

Master Geek

#365284 9-Aug-2010 10:50

I think many miss the point of the ipad.

It's all about the form factor.

Sure, netbooks are better in every spec comparison.

But they have a disgusting opening hinge!

mattk

255 posts

Ultimate Geek

#365286 9-Aug-2010 10:57

spronkey: I think many miss the point of the ipad.

It's all about the form factor.

Sure, netbooks are better in every spec comparison.

But they have a disgusting opening hinge!

And netbooks are aweful fo use .... postage stamp sized touch pad and trying to fit an OS intended for full sized laptop. Using an OS on it's intended device is unbeatable. If I didn't already have a macbook i'd probably have bought an ipad.

MikeyPI

450 posts

Ultimate Geek

#365294 9-Aug-2010 11:23

I agree its the wrong comaprison.. iPad = E-reader....

bandwithblocker

72 posts

Master Geek

#365306 9-Aug-2010 11:51

ipad rocks. that's my opinion.

Linuxluver

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#365309 9-Aug-2010 11:56

michaelmurfy:
The iPad is just hype, if you're wanting one it's best to wait until next year when they add a bit more ram to them. Don't get me wrong, the iPad is a nice wee device with a heap going for it, but it needs to be baked a bit more before it can actually be called a "Netbook Replacement"

You make some good points....not that anyone really wants to hear them. :-)

I'm waiting for a device with the same format but which is fully functional in ways Apple won't allow.

There are a truckload of awesome Android-based tablets coming in the next few months. I want to see how they stuck up against an iPad before making a final decision. Like you, I want something like an ipad, but with full netbook functionality. Apple isn't selling that...but other people are planning to and soon will. I already have one of those cheap $120-$150 Android tablets...and I've been using it to surf the Net and as an e-reader (Aldika, Kobo and Kindle readers)....and it's done service a couple of times as an impromptu wifi scanner / analyzer and as an FTP server on the LAN.

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