Android user considering getting iPad

Forums › Android › Android user considering getting iPad - what problems?

colmack

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#119157 22-May-2013 17:21

I have always owned and used Android-based phones, and I'm perfectly happy with them. I don't own a tablet, and I'm considering, for various reasons, an iPad rather than an Android tablet, which would be the obvious choice for me. I don't have any experience with Apple products. What problems / disadvantages could I expect?
I'm particularly interested to hear from any Android users who have found themselves with an iPad, but all comments welcome.

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#823672 22-May-2013 17:29

It seems to be pretty well accepted that having an android phone and an iPad as a tablet is a pretty good option as android appears to be a good phone option.

I only have android so can't comment on the iPad. The main downfall I see is that you can't transfer your purchases you have made on your android to your tablet. The way it stands with my setup is that any apps I bought for my phone are automatically available on my tablets.It may be that you don't have any so this could be a non issue.

Cheers, Matt.

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Wade

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#823688 22-May-2013 18:22

I would also consider a windows 8 tablet, the functionality of a desktop in a tablet form factor = win win

jjaz

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#823691 22-May-2013 18:29

I have both and am very happy with the set up. Many of the apps I have that are the same app but different platforms are free anyway so - no problems there. IMHO, Android is better with phones and iPad is better with tablets at the moment so - the best of both worlds.

Batman

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#823739 22-May-2013 20:02

you will find no problems

macuser

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#823742 22-May-2013 20:07

Have Galaxy Nexus, iPad 3rd Gen, and Win 8 tablet.

If doing more than a phone can is your goal, Win 8 tablet is the go. If an amazing screen and polished UI is what your after then iPad.

minigopher17

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#823748 22-May-2013 20:21

At first you will find the lack of a Back button on the iPad frustrating... and then you get used to it.

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#823887 23-May-2013 00:16

I'm a die-hard Android fan - for phones. My Samsung Galaxy S2 + iPad combination seem to hit the sweet spot of being able to offer anything I could need. I like the fact that some apps are available for both platforms but like it even more that using the two gives greater choices. Overall, very happy with these two platforms in those forms and wouldn't change for anything else.

farcus

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#823896 23-May-2013 02:06

colmack: I have always owned and used Android-based phones, and I'm perfectly happy with them. I don't own a tablet, and I'm considering, for various reasons, an iPad rather than an Android tablet, which would be the obvious choice for me. I don't have any experience with Apple products. What problems / disadvantages could I expect?
I'm particularly interested to hear from any Android users who have found themselves with an iPad, but all comments welcome.

the obvious disadvantage would be the higher price for nothing other than a particular brand. :-)

webup

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#824775 24-May-2013 14:33

joker97: you will find no problems

You musnt have read his post, he said he is considering getting an iPad.

xpd

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#824824 24-May-2013 15:41

The main problem, is iTunes IMHO.

Going from Android to iOS will be bit of a shock when it comes to file handling/management.
Android: Plug into PC via USB - device shows as a drive and you copy files around as normal.
iOS: Plug into PC via USB - wait for driver to install. Then wonder why no drives are showing. Then figure out you need iTunes. Download iTunes. Install iTunes. Spend next 3 months working out how the fudge iTunes works :)

Ive used both long term and I like Android over the iPad for the ease you can manipulate files. iPads are a great device for those that just want "click and go" and have the time to wait for files to be converted before they can be played....

Thats my personal view...others will (seeing a queue already) argue those points.... :)

Im on iPad at the moment, but thats only because its work supplied and the boss wanted the Android one :-p Ive got no media on the iPad at all.

XPD / Gavin

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#824845 24-May-2013 16:15

Wade: I would also consider a windows 8 tablet, the functionality of a desktop in a tablet form factor = win win

That depends on whether you don't mind the quite frequent <THUNK> when you cross the divide between its tablet and desktop modes. Also, the availability of apps that work well in tablet mode is pretty poor when compared to what's available to the iPad in the App Store.

However, if you want a device that is pretty good at content creation as well as consumption (which is where most tablets shine), get one that will convert into a netbook easily with a detachable keyboard. I've got an Iconia Slate, and the detachable keyboard is awesome for when I have to type in lengthy replies when browsing emails on it.

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#824853 24-May-2013 16:27

xpd: The main problem, is iTunes IMHO.

Going from Android to iOS will be bit of a shock when it comes to file handling/management.
Android: Plug into PC via USB - device shows as a drive and you copy files around as normal.
iOS: Plug into PC via USB - wait for driver to install. Then wonder why no drives are showing. Then figure out you need iTunes. Download iTunes. Install iTunes. Spend next 3 months working out how the fudge iTunes works :)

Ive used both long term and I like Android over the iPad for the ease you can manipulate files. iPads are a great device for those that just want "click and go" and have the time to wait for files to be converted before they can be played....

Thats my personal view...others will (seeing a queue already) argue those points.... :)

Im on iPad at the moment, but thats only because its work supplied and the boss wanted the Android one :-p Ive got no media on the iPad at all.

Wife bought an ipad last week - I have to agree its a little better than an android tablet - mainly screen quality and a little nicer (simpler) interface. But then they cost more - a really high end android tab v ipad - maybe not so different.

Re - the above - you can get an ok free equivalent to airdroid (that seems to provide a USB drive sort of feature as well as a general file manager - cant recall what it was - just search for file manager in the app store.
Found a free media player that seems to play nearly everything (ipads of course being by default only happy with apple file formats). Also lets me access my windows PC shared folder. Apparently there is a VLC port for ipad - but it seems to have vanished from the app store.
Pop chrome browser on and its not bad.

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merve0o0

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#824901 24-May-2013 17:54

About the problem of the iPad being iTunes. I have never plugged my iPad into my computer in the 18 months I have had it.

I do use iTunes as I had a iPod and iPhone first but because I have those i don't want music on my iPad. If I want music I use pandora. For video I stream video from my pc using air video as it live encodes (can't get subtitles to work though)

So it is possible to use the iPad without using iTunes.

Etcman

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#824921 24-May-2013 18:54

One issue is that the iPad doesn't have a file system. As mentioned above, you have to do all your file management through iTunes so you are limited to whatever few file formats the iPad supports (won't be really a problem if media is all you care about but can be a pain if you plan to ever do any work on it).

Another issue is that iPad only supports partial multitasking. Most apps (apart from ones that use services like GPS, VoIP and audio playback) will just suspend action when you aren't in them meaning whatever operation you were waiting on will resume from where you left off.

nitrotech

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#824984 24-May-2013 20:32

I have an iPad 2 and an iPad 4 - the screen is better on the 4 but at reading distance it doesn't matter that much - performance wise there's not much difference between the 2.

I have had an android tablet (dual core nvidia) and it's performance was terrible when compared to the iPad.

The big issue is to get the right one - the iPad wifi does not have GPS the 3G does and it's great to be able to use the ipad anywhere without fighting for a connection.

Good things.

Performance is excellent - the best tablet experience.
Amazing battery life - can last for weeks on standby.
Easy to use
Loads of apps

Frustrations.

Can't plug in a USB stick and access the files - even the camera kit is restrictive.
Loading video to the device is just a hassle
Limited support for apple programmes like pages for the likes of Dropbox. - (but there are other apps with support)
Printing support limited (but if you've got the right printer it's OK)
I find using iCloud frustrating - fine on a mac but tear your hair out on anything else.

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