Why not to buy a iPad

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#365311 9-Aug-2010 12:01

mattk:
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.

Recently tried "Android x86" on a netbook. It was *amazing*......gving all the processor power nad RAM to an OS intended for a phone. Made the Netbook look incredible.

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webup

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#365326 9-Aug-2010 12:18

My wife said they had some consultant come in and in a meeting he pulled out his iPad from his suede 'Manbag' and was looking rather pleased with himself.

The girls said they did well hiding their laughter.

reven

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#365327 9-Aug-2010 12:20

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

i dont even think the ipad is a e-reader either. it really in a class of its own (well it started a new class, there are copies now).

ipad to me = ereader, browser, music/video player, big remote for my tv.

khull

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#365333 9-Aug-2010 12:26

remote desktop/VNC on the ipad is amazing.

Nety

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#365359 9-Aug-2010 12:54

We have ultra portable laptop, PC's and now a iPad.

They all have different purposes. The least used device is the ultra portable. Hardware wise it kicks the iPad in every way and yet that does not make it better. Just different. The same way that my gaming machine kicks the ultra portables butt in almost every way but is not better just different.

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#365362 9-Aug-2010 12:58

sbiddle: It's very clear from your post that you've obviously never sat down and used one for any long periods of time.

While I agree with many of your claims I'm finding myself using it more and more often.

I can't agree more with this statement too.

My road to an iPad:

- Apple announces the iPad, I was like "why do I want an oversized iPhone that can't make calls?"
- Apple releases the iPad in the US, saw it on TV and thought "Hmm, that looks cool, but would I use it?"
- iPad released in NZ, and I go instore to take a look. "Wow this is neat. Very easy and intuative to use, and a conventient form factor to use anywhere. But I'd only need the Wifi version"
- Two days after launch, after umming and arhhing about it all weekend, I ended up getting the 3G model for convenience if and when I do travel with it.

I am happy that I spent $1,175 on this device. It has got a lot more use than my Netbook ever did, because it has replaced everything I bought my netbook for. That is the key though, "has replaced everything I bought my netbook for". I would never dream of trying to do grown up computer stuff on a netbook.

My 2 cents...

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#365367 9-Aug-2010 13:01

michaelmurfy: So, a heap of you will be asking yourself "Should I get a iPad?" - Well to be honest, I don't think most people should. I will explain.

The iPad has a 1GHz "Apple A4" Processor, which is the same as the iPhone 4, it has a 9.7" screen at 1024x768. They come in 16/32/64gb models with either Wifi only or Wifi+HSDPA being a option. In store they look quite cool, they act real responsive etc.

Here's the gripe. The iPhone 4 has 512mb of ram, hence why it can pull off Multitasking + a heap more. Why haven't Apple released iOS 4 for the iPad yet? It comes down to 1 mistake they made, the iPad has a hefty 256mb of ram.

They also continue to say "The iPad is better than a Netbook" - this is in no-way true, unless if you are wanting to surf maybe a few websites + play some games. What I am trying to say is the iPad is just a overpriced toy, or a übersized iPod Touch.

With a Netbook you can get a heap more out of it, you can hook up a USB Modem and have Wireless Broadband, you can install any OS you desire such as Windows/Linux or even OSX.

I guess what I am trying to say is, why spend $799 and get a 16gb iPad when you could spend a extra $50 and get a ION Based Netbook complete with a faster CPU/GPU and quite a bit more ram.

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"

Replace iPad with "Laptop/Notebook" and Netbook with "Desktop" and it might as well be 1999 again.

I don't disagree with you however the real hype here is the word "Netbook".

The problem is that the newest generation of netbooks has evolved into more powerful machines. Any netbook that can do more than an iPad in terms of processing power is simply not a netbook, it's a small notebook.

A true netbook can only do so much.

shaneblyth

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#365375 9-Aug-2010 13:10

Ok this post is stupid
as someone who has used the ipad since it came out I can say that the thing is fast 256 mb of ram doesnt slow it down
I have Jailbroken mine and put backgrounder on it which allows real multitasking.
Hasnt slowed it down at all.
What I have found.
I can type very quickly and used it at lectures and the lecturer waits for no man so even with pages and the touch keyboard I can keep ahead. Very surprising.
I bought alot of apps including a printing one print direct to a wifi printer. all great.
The games are stunning on this.
Keynote . well i wouldnt go back to powerpoint and if I put my finger on the screem it makes a laser pointer effect very cool.
The thing that sticks out to me is my macbookpro sits unopened most of the time Over 90% to be exact. I use the ipad all the time.
It is the best thing I have bought. I got the 32gb model but probably could of got away with the 16gb.
I am very very impressed
I suggest people buy one.. OPEN IT and leave your computer alone for a week or 2 and see how great value this thing is..

MikeyPI

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#365395 9-Aug-2010 13:53

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

i dont even think the ipad is a e-reader either. it really in a class of its own (well it started a new class, there are copies now).

ipad to me = ereader, browser, music/video player, big remote for my tv.

I think its the ferrari of e-readers, I think it was designed to be one, and the marketing boffins at Apple decided that that was a niche market and so it became its own class...

Its a average "tablet", crap computer, but the sickest e-reader on the market....

Satch

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#365397 9-Aug-2010 13:56

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

i dont even think the ipad is a e-reader either. it really in a class of its own (well it started a new class, there are copies now).

ipad to me = ereader, browser, music/video player, big remote for my tv.

I think its the ferrari of e-readers, I think it was designed to be one, and the marketing boffins at Apple decided that that was a niche market and so it became its own class...

Its a average "tablet", crap computer, but the sickest e-reader on the market....

Hi MikeyPI,

I would be interested in you detailing your experience with the iPad so I can put some context around your comments. Cheers.

vinnieg

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#365399 9-Aug-2010 14:00

webup: My wife said they had some consultant come in and in a meeting he pulled out his iPad from his suede 'Manbag' and was looking rather pleased with himself.

The girls said they did well hiding their laughter.

This actually happens :( why I got rid of mine and why I'll probably get rid of a second Android tablet I ordered a month ago that's finally arriving....I was going to do a comparison. But my female boss laughed at me! And yes, I have a leather manbag, but it's a large one which I purchased for holding my netbook!

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

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michaelmurfy

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#365403 9-Aug-2010 14:11

This is what I would do if I had one. I must admit that is cool.

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JimmyC

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#365405 9-Aug-2010 14:13

webup: My wife said they had some consultant come in and in a meeting he pulled out his iPad from his suede 'Manbag' and was looking rather pleased with himself.

The girls said they did well hiding their laughter.

Conversely my missus loves my (our!?) iPad and now wants to take it to work with her. I've created a monster!

Easiest gadget approval process I've ever been through

khull

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#365408 9-Aug-2010 14:17

the real question is would you still want one if people hand them out for free? if you had to pause to think about it then consider that you do need it after all :)

josephhinvest

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#365409 9-Aug-2010 14:23

I feel like I'm feeing the trolls a bit replying to this thread. I think the OP could have perhaps phrased his post better, "Why product X is better than an iPad" or something, rather than "The iPad is just hype".
Also writing things like "the iPad is just a overpriced toy" is a bit unnecessary, what I deem overpriced is obviously different to you, and toy does not come close to doing justice to the huge list of things an iPad can do.

It would sort of be like me posting "Why not to buy a Ferrari" and then listing all the ways a Ferrari is impractical, limited, expensive, requires expensive tyres etc etc.

However. I DID buy an iPad, and I am very happy with it. 3G 64GB.
I do not own a laptop, or desktop at home. I have a media playing MacBook Pro (dead screen, permanently attached to TV) as my media centre, torrent downloader etc.

What I DO use my iPad for, it does very well indeed.
For sitting on couch:
Email, regular web browsing, RSS (Google Reader FTW), Facebook, Wikipedia, IMDB. Games.
VNC is awesome to check on torrents etc. Movies look excellent, AirVideo is super cool.
Games are great, FlightControl, AirAttack etc are excellent time wasters. They could not be as good without a touchscreen.

Kids games are also excellent, there are many many free and cheap apps for kids.

I think what has surprised me most, is what an excellent e-reader it is.
PDFs of recent magazines (ahem, pirate bay), Kindle books, ePub books that I have created myself from downloaded txt, pdf, .lit files are are super easy to read.
Comics are very cool. Marvel and DC Comics apps are wicked, and using ComicBook I can transfer downloaded .cbr files to iPad. These look amazingly good.
Google Maps on the go with GPS is also very good.
Showing family photos is vastly superior to on iPhone, or on a laptop screen.

Also, regarding Multi-tasking; how many things do you want to do at once?
iPad (and iPhone) can play music while running other Apps. Email checks in the background.
Apps are so quick to launch, I don't think I would have any use for multi-tasking.

Cheers,
Joseph.

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