So I won an iPad 2. Do I keep it?

So, I opened it! I'll probably use it until the end of our exhibitions at the start of October and then decide whether to keep it or not.

First impressions...

Negative
- Had to plug it into iTunes before doing anything! Didn't have my computer with me so couldn't even turn it on and use it at first
- No instructions whatsoever. Seems a bit arrogant to assume that all I need to be told is where the power button is and that's it
- Really struggling to get used to having no pulldown status bar a la Android, especially for things like changing wifi networks, brightness etc which seems very long-winded having to go through the main Settings for
- No widgets. Really miss them after coming from Android
- No WhatsApp! Unsure if there's one for Android tablets though. Oh and no Facebook app? What?!
- Some of the icons seem a bit weird/immature, like the sunflower for photos and the pen and pencil for app store. Just don't like them personally
- General lack of customisation, especially not being able to hide icons that I'll never use like Contacts, iTunes, Photo Booth etc
- Although there's more polished apps, you can definitely tell a distinctive difference in the price of apps (and amount of paid-for apps) between iOS and Android
- Other little things like it seems weird in Mail that the sender is the largest text as opposed to the subject

Positive
- Very good build quality and nice to hold
- Lots of mainstream apps that are well polished like Sky Go, BBC News, 4oD etc
- Screen and system is very responsive

As you can tell I'm not overly wowed just yet but I'll give it two weeks and then see :p
 
There is no Whatsapp for tablets at all at the moment. The same goes for an official Facebook app (except the TouchPad), there are plenty of decent ones for the iPad though, have a look.
 
Russinating said:
S
- Had to plug it into iTunes before doing anything! Didn't have my computer with me so couldn't even turn it on and use it at first
- Really struggling to get used to having no pulldown status bar a la Android, especially for things like changing wifi networks, brightness etc which seems very long-winded having to go through the main Settings for
- Some of the icons seem a bit weird/immature, like the sunflower for photos and the pen and pencil for app store. Just don't like them personally
- General lack of customisation, especially not being able to hide icons that I'll never use like Contacts, iTunes, Photo Booth etc
Click to expand...

First two points are fixed in iOS 5 (coming next month).

Interesting how you mentioned some of the icons are immature. I'd never though about that, but you're right!

Try putting the unused icons (contacts etc) into a folder. Just tap and hold on an icon then drag it on top of another. Job done!
 
Is having no instructions really a con? If there was any would you have actually read them?

I honestly can't remember whether any of my electrical items have came with instructions tbh :o.

Oh, and I would have sold the iPad2 and got an Android tablet (if I needed a tablet, else I'd have kept the cash).
 
Robbo said:
There is no Whatsapp for tablets at all at the moment.
Click to expand...

That is a bugger. Would be very handy to talk to my girlfriend when she's out and about without having to keep switching between my phone and my computer/tablet.

dienamite said:
Try putting the unused icons (contacts etc) into a folder. Just tap and hold on an icon then drag it on top of another. Job done!
Click to expand...

Done that :). In fact I've put all my apps in folders and on the 2nd screen, just prefer the look of it that way.

Bloomfield said:
Is having no instructions really a con? If there was any would you have actually read them?
Click to expand...

Err, yes? My friend told me today about the double-tap home button for task switching. How on earth would I have found out about that otherwise? Same for creating folders, deleting apps etc. Yes I worked them out by trial, error and intuition but would've been handy to just have a quick start guide. Equally I don't know what else I'm missing.


Edit: Oh and here's another idea I had. Nothing against iOS as you can't do it on any other OS either: app shortcuts/duplicates. Sounds odd but because I've got everything in folders it would be very handy.

For example I have a Sports folder and a News folder. Where does Sky Sports News go? Would be great to have it in both. There's a few others with cross-purpose as well.
 
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Russinating said:
Edit: Oh and here's another idea I had. Nothing against iOS as you can't do it on any other OS either: app shortcuts/duplicates. Sounds odd but because I've got everything in folders it would be very handy.

For example I have a Sports folder and a News folder. Where does Sky Sports News go? Would be great to have it in both. There's a few others with cross-purpose as well.
Click to expand...

Pfft, call yourself an Android fanboy? That's basic stuff n00b :p

Long press desktop > Shortcuts > Applications > Sky Sports News > drag to news folder (or launcher folder/tab whatever UI you've got etc)

Then.

Long press desktop > Shortcuts > Applications > Sky Sports News > drag to sports folder (or launcher folder/tab whatever UI you've got etc)

:D
 
Robbo said:
There is no Whatsapp for tablets at all at the moment. The same goes for an official Facebook app (except the TouchPad), there are plenty of decent ones for the iPad though, have a look.
Click to expand...

Actually the Facebook app for Touchpad isn't official, it was made entirely by HP. Which is why it can't see updates, pictures etc from friends who have their profile set to not share info with 3rd party apps; making it somewhat useless in my experience.
 
Russinating said:
Edit: Oh and here's another idea I had. Nothing against iOS as you can't do it on any other OS either: app shortcuts/duplicates. Sounds odd but because I've got everything in folders it would be very handy.

For example I have a Sports folder and a News folder. Where does Sky Sports News go? Would be great to have it in both. There's a few others with cross-purpose as well.
Click to expand...

I use that feature all the time on my galaxy s2.
 
NuclearWinter said:
Actually the Facebook app for Touchpad isn't official, it was made entirely by HP. Which is why it can't see updates, pictures etc from friends who have their profile set to not share info with 3rd party apps; making it somewhat useless in my experience.
Click to expand...

Aha. Well, it's rubbish anyway. I've never seen anything so slow and painful to use.
 
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