Should I get an Ipad?

Faustus · 18 Aug 2010 at 13:54

I don't think it would suit everyone but I think it is a great bit of tech.

I think we're clutching at straws when it comes down to quoting battery life. I can't remember the last time I was constantly away from a power socket for 10 hours whilst doing nothing but consuming films or web surfing plus many Netbooks can give great battery life.

As for not suiting everyone, personally I think I would sob each time I used it at the thought of how much I had paid for it. Then I would get mad at myself for being such an idiot and getting sucked in by all the hyperbole. I think this would be followed by self-flagellation.

Faustus · 18 Aug 2010 at 13:59

Blackhawk47 said:
So what.

Next you will be saying getting a smart phone is pointless because everything you can do on that you can do on with a laptop and a £10 PAYG phone from your local supermarket.

Absolutely - I'll stick to my iMac/PC and Nokia 3310. What would happen if your so called smartphone stopped functioning - would you life stop too? No exactly, smartphones were created to save the mobile industry from oblivion having paid billions for the 3G licences and the public fell for it hook line and sinker, that is apart from those that refused to be manipulated.

photoshop · 18 Aug 2010 at 17:45

nickrose said:
Photoshop speaks partly the truth .

The iPad is so much more than an email and internet.

Yes it does both of them very well, but on mine I have most of my entire book collection (apart from 2 authors which will come soon) some 200 books and growing either with IBooks or kindle, T.V series, Movies, Music, Games, Photo's, all of which are always with me, I don't have to curse and wish I had something to do or read on the airplane or in the hotel room or even at home.

Yes, whilst I appreciate that all this is on the PC as well, it is so much more convenient on the Ipad especially whilst travelling, yes a laptop or netbook will do the same things and more, but they don't have a 10 hour battery.

It is a big iPhone with out the calling facility, and a very expensive one at that, but I couldn't justify the expense when it was first launched, but now I have one I wouldn't be without it.

And my PC still gets used as much as it did before I got the iPad, I just now don't have the need for a laptop, the iPad does everything I (notice I) used a laptop for, I don't think it would suit everyone but I think it is a great bit of tech.

To be honest with you, by default, the mail and safari app are pants!
No attachment option in Mail app and no download manager in Safari. I have however got around these by using Cydia apps but it should be built in features!

I agree, for books, photos and document viewing it is very good. But, i must confess, ive never used it for these functions

Never really understood the appeal with watching Movies on the iPad as i have a a 50" TV and HD system at home for that purpose. The only time i would watch a movie is if i was away from home for a time (but that doesnt happen).

Dont get me wrong guys, the iPad is a great bit of kit for casual use. Its great for kicking back and surfing the internet on your sofa and its great when your out and about.

Ultimately, i have to ask myself...."do i really need it?"....or...."can i live without it?

I dont need it and can live without it but each to their own.

oli356 · 18 Aug 2010 at 17:53

photoshop said:
No attachment option in Mail app and no download manager in Safari. I have however got around these by using Cydia apps but it should be built in features!

Ultimately, i have to ask myself...."do i really need it?"....or...."can i live without it?

I dont need it and can live without it but each to their own.

Well yer thats apple isn't it really. They do some annoying weird things, I don't understand why tbh.. Mind posting what you then actually use from cydia (in here or jb app thread? ty)

I don't think anyone really NEEDS it, but its nice to have. I know its going to be a boredom saver in a week or so when i go to visit my grandparents (4hours there and 4hours back, and then a boring few days)

Been finding the mail app slow actually in the last few days.. easier to just go to hotmail.com

photoshop · 18 Aug 2010 at 18:14

oli356 said:
Mind posting what you then actually use from cydia (in here or jb app thread? ty)

iFile

EDIT: I use an app called mBoxMail for all Windows Live/Hotmail emails.

oli356 · 18 Aug 2010 at 18:46

photoshop said:
iFile

EDIT: I use an app called mBoxMail for all Windows Live/Hotmail emails.

Ill see how mBoxMail compares to normal apple one. Looked at iFile before, couldn't see the use/need for it.

Faustus · 18 Aug 2010 at 19:29

I know its going to be a boredom saver in a week or so when i go to visit my grandparents (4hours there and 4hours back, and then a boring few days)

That's a pretty outrageous and unkind thing to say. Remember this - you never realise just what you've got and how much you miss it until it's no longer around.

Blackhawk47 · 18 Aug 2010 at 20:26

Faustus said:
Absolutely - I'll stick to my iMac/PC and Nokia 3310. What would happen if your so called smartphone stopped functioning - would you life stop too? No exactly, smartphones were created to save the mobile industry from oblivion having paid billions for the 3G licences and the public fell for it hook line and sinker, that is apart from those that refused to be manipulated.

If that's your logic then why did you "need" and iMac when you have a PC or vice versa.

Come on, dig yourself out of that hole lad.

McPhee · 18 Aug 2010 at 20:34

Faustus said:
That's a pretty outrageous and unkind thing to say. Remember this - you never realise just what you've got and how much you miss it until it's no longer around.

I think he's referring to the journey, not the grandparents :rolleyes:

photoshop · 18 Aug 2010 at 21:29

oli356:

SAFARI DOWNLOAD MANAGER 1.5.0-1

Now iOS4.x compatible
iPad compatible

Got it running on my iPad and its working great!

Faustus · 18 Aug 2010 at 23:18

satchef1 said:
I think he's referring to the journey, not the grandparents

Really?

and then a boring few days

Faustus · 18 Aug 2010 at 23:24

Blackhawk47 said:
If that's your logic then why did you "need" and iMac when you have a PC or vice versa.

Come on, dig yourself out of that hole lad.

Well if you have followed any of my posts you will have read that my daughter picked up two 21.5" iMac's at a business bankrupt sale almost new for £250 each. She got one for herself and gave one to the wife, we knew nothing about it at the time. As a gift and at that price what can you say? I already owned a PC.

Now then my hands are washed, where do you want me to put your shovel?

Vince · 19 Aug 2010 at 10:38

Well it has been a while since I posted in this thread or since I have been on the forums. I have been knee deep in SharePoint code for the last few days (thank god that job is finished) during which I found another use for my ipad.

There is an app that allows me to plug in the ipad and use it as an extended monitor, this is great for those times when you could really do with an extended desktop but don't want to be carrying a monitor around, or don't have access to a spare monitor in the office you are working in. Slapping outlook, a dev server or whatever onto the ipad screen is a great way of freeing up some desktop real estate when in different offices.

Its clear from the thread that we have a few people who for some reason are really against the device, is this because of the lack flexibility in the OS or for some other reason. The cash cost seems to be branded around by a few but for me this was never an issue. I have spent far more on other tech that I have got far less use out of.

To me the plus side is that there are millions of apps out there and if you know what you are looking for there are plenty of gems, as a consumption device for games, books, occasional video and email etc its perfect. You pick it up press the button and away you go. As productivity device you could argue that it is poor, whatever your persuasion, it’s clear that there is some serious backing for apple devices in terms of development, this backing is clearly pushing the devices forward and improving what you can do with it in terms of productivity (Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for example).

As a plus if you own pretty much any android phone or an iphone and a wifi ipad you can pick up some free 3g tethering apps that allow you to use the 3g connection from your phone when on the move. Similar to how the mifi works. I tested this and it works a treat. You can find a free one at this link.

For me it has by no means replaced my laptop, at home I am opening my laptop less and using the ipad more but this is generally for leisure. When it comes to earning the doh the ipad is not really in my plans, apart from a possible plan to develop a few app with a few other devs and designers for the olympics.

Blackhawk47 · 19 Aug 2010 at 11:47

Faustus said:
Now then my hands are washed, where do you want me to put your shovel?

I did read it actually and thought why doesn't he just sell it on, to me instead!

Thank you for the shovel good sir!

Vince · 19 Aug 2010 at 12:03

Blackhawk47 said:
I did read it actually and thought why doesn't he just sell it on, to me instead!

Thank you for the shovel good sir!

Or sell it to me at cost so I can shift it on for a nice profit, everyones a winner! :cool:

Faustus · 19 Aug 2010 at 16:50

Blackhawk47 said:
I did read it actually and thought why doesn't he just sell it on, to me instead!

Thank you for the shovel good sir!

You can't sell on a gift from your daughter can you - well I couldn't. Besides the wife loves it and as I've said before whereas I do think it is a very nice bit of kit for some reason I just cannot fully get on with OS X so tend to gravitate back to Windows 7. Mind you as nice as it is I still think like all Apple products it's way way overpriced. Lets face it take away the Apple branding and what you are left with is a not particularly well spec'd Intel PC. :eek:

Same argument as the iPad really.

alfalavala · 21 Aug 2010 at 23:10

This gravitation you speak of is due to the windows consumption of system resources, hence the perception of lowly specs.

You have a computer to access the internet, amongst other things, so why would you not want to access the internet on the go? Through ipad/driod/berrys/smartphone?

Mattus · 21 Aug 2010 at 23:26

Faustus said:
Question is why do you need something portable, is it need or want?

In the case of the iPad, it's very much 'want'. But you talk like that's a bad thing. What on earth is wrong with buying something purely because you 'want' it, as long as you can afford it? Following your argument, there's no place in the world for luxury cars, or spacious houses - they're just something that people 'want' when they could easily make do with an old Nova and a grotty flat.

What would happen if your so called smartphone stopped functioning - would you life stop too? No exactly, smartphones were created to save the mobile industry from oblivion having paid billions for the 3G licences and the public fell for it hook line and sinker, that is apart from those that refused to be manipulated.

That's the same fallacy as above. Of course I could live without my smartphone. I could also live without my PC, my TV, my CD collection and my central heating. That doesn't mean that those things don't make my life better.

Can't you just accept that people choose to spend their disposable income in ways which appeal to them - and that on a technical forum, that's often on smartphones and iPads?