Should I get an Ipad?

[schomers87]

So I hear some people telling me that these things are amazing and others saying they are just 'big iphones'.

It seems from numerous threads that there are a hell of a lot of people on AFF who use these pieces of equipment every day.

I've been tossing and turning about getting one - but Telstra are coming to the party as Im switching my iphone account over to them and getting a bit of a discount if I sign up to their ipad deal.

So basically asking what people find the biggest advantages are of these devices over just using your normal smart phone - is it a particular use or application?

Any advice on this one would be much appreciated -frankly I trust AFF sometimes more than my mates

 

[NM]

iPad is way better than a phone for things like web browsing and reading AFF. Great for watching movies etc in-flight. So it really depends on what you want to do with it.

Posted from my iPad in JAL FLounge at NRT.

 

[djfuzz]

My feelings on the matter are well known, so I won't harp on about tablet choice.

However, I would suggest that you be wary of offers by telcos offering 'discounts' on service plans for things like tablets - you can very easily use your phone as a WiFi hotspot, so the need for a data plan for a tablet is not something you might specifically need to begin with. Most of the time the 'discount' they offer for your 'loyalty' is something that is available to the public anyway and not particularly significant (in some cases, even slightly inflated if they provide more than what you'd reasonably need).

On the other hand, if you were going to get a tablet with a dedicated data plan itself anyway, then perhaps it might be worth taking a closer look at what they have to offer.

 

[Mal]

When it comes to tablets people tend to be pro iPad or anti iPad.this affects their views normally.

Personally I think the new Samsung's are very nice and id buy one of them over an iPad.

However the iPads are good for many people. The screen is very nice, pics and movies display well, battery life is very good, apps available extensive. Size and weight are great too.



Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[NM]

The choice of tablet vendor for me was driven by one particular app that is only available on one platform, and that app was the reason for buying the tablet in the first place. Now I have it, I find it great for Los of things. But those things will be very similar on most tablet platforms.

 

[casanovawa]

To me personally i have my android phone which i use for a few things but mostly just texting and calling and a few games and a some internet browsing and i travel with a netbook computer, i prefer a netbook computer to a tablet, so am quite happy to not get a tablet at present... If i did decide to, i am not particularly interested in becoming another Apple fanboi and so would probably choose anothe brand...

Each to their own but the way many of these Apple users list a range of their items that they simply couldn't do without verges on the slightly pathetic a little... No doubt this will get a few people jumping up and down, but yes i do live my life with no apple products other than a little ol 8gig ipod and even the itunes interface on that annoys me when adding and removing songs, i probably wouldn't buy it either if i had the choice over again...

 

[amaroo]

Don't hesitate! I I've got an iPad and couldn't be happier.

I guess that the others are the same or better however, since everything else I've got is an i something it seemed the logical choice.

 

[casanovawa]

Doesn't Hyundai put an 'i' in front of some models of their cars now eg i30?? Because of course cars and the ubiquitous 'i' so sensibly go together?!?! I guess it does put them slightly ahead in the "I want an 'i' in front of everything I own" stakes...

 

[kamchatsky]

y e s .

 

[Cruiser Elite]

iPad is way better than a phone for things like web browsing and reading AFF. Great for watching movies etc in-flight. So it really depends on what you want to do with it.

100% correct NM - what is your usage / application intention schomers?

Cruiserette has iPad which I am using right now - I love it - but kinda useless for me when I travel o/s.

I am regularly in Chinese factories and suppliers - rarely is there effective WiFi - always I am using USB sticks to transfer files / images to and fro - iPad just can't cut it - I use 300 buck el cheapo 13in notebook I bought in China at all times.

If iPad had USB would buy one in a heart beat - but it does not suit my requirements.

So schomers back to NM's response - what do you want to use iPad for?

 

[kpc]

I got an Ipad 2 weeks ago. My ever first apple product:shock:. It is great for surfing the web including reading AFF, reading email, watching movies etc. Long battery life is good. Graet if you just wanted to check your email and don't want to wait for ages to turn your laptop / desktop computer on. If the Samsung tablet was easily available, I probably would have got that but I thought I would see for myself what all the fuss was about. Getting the GST back on Friday when I go OS is a nice icing...However, hate the iTunes synching part tho!!

 

[RB]

Well I won an Ipad (great screen and battery life) but already had a netbook for travel so I sold the Ipad. I only travel for leisure so my surfing habits are different to many on the forum. These days the majority of places I stay have free wifi. I find my latest home laptop is very fast to startup so I don't see a big advantage to Ipad there.

 

[amaroo]

i see some have an aversion to the letter i

 

[Austman]

I think iPads are nothing sooo great technically. But they are thin, light, portable, cool looking and pretty easy to use. However even an iPhone does more. Need USB? Need a DVD or blu-ray drive? Need to run a Windows based program? Even the battery life of iPads is not so good (some netbooks/notebooks are better). And iPads are quite expensive. And of course they are limited to iPad apps (ok, they will become more).

You really need to own an iPhone and an iPad (I mean you can't just replace your iPhone with an iPad). There's no technical reason why an iPad can't make and receive mobile phone calls (like an iPhone) other than the greed of Apple and the telcos that stop it. VoIP just isn't always practical.

I've looked many times at buying an iPad. If you already have an iPhone and a good netbook/notebook/laptop it's really hard to justify. For me it would be just another gadget to carry around. But, if you are replacing your netbook/notebook/laptop and don't care much about the limitations of the iPad - they could be a choice!

 

[Vinny]

I've looked many times at buying an iPad. If you already have an iPhone and a good netbook/notebook/laptop it's really hard to justify. For me it would be just another gadget to carry around. But, if you are replacing your netbook/notebook/laptop and don't care much about the limitations of the iPad - they could be a choice!

I agree totally for my needs at least. I've been a Mac convert for two years now and have a MacBook, iMac, iPod and a new 4S iPhone. When travelling my MacBook, iPod, and iPhone are enough to carry around and protect. I have hours of music, movies, TV shows, podcasts on my iPod and Macbook. Great for those long airport lounge waits and IFE that doesn't appeal.

Should you get one? If you want it, get it! Just buy it before you leave the country, buy Applecare, keep the receipts, and claim the GST back at the airport. You'll save a few bucks, enough for some great apps.

A useful site that alerts buyers to discounted iTunes cards is Gift Cards on Sale | Australia's #1 site for the best gift card promotions and sales

PS To Admin. Love the way when I type ipod, it auto corrects as iPod. Well done.

 

[holdenvxman]

I have an iPad2 iPhone 4S, iMac 27in, MacBook Pro, Apple TV2
Mrs VX has iPad2 & iPhone4

VX Jnr (6) has my old iPhone3G

I would never look back at buying the i products.
I pretty much never use microsoft anymore.

 

[adrian]

I have a macbook, iphone and ipad. I couldn't live without the macbook. The iPad is great for travel, especially for watching movies on the plane (I get bored standard IFE, especially the screen definition), but I could live without it. The iPhone is good, but I could probably live without it also.

If you get a 3G, but don't intend to use a lot of data (like me), you can buy 12GB (I think), good for 12 months on Telstra or Vodafone for $150. It has been plenty enough for me, as I mostly use it around the home (wifi) or overseas (no 3g anyway). If buying the Vodafone package, Coles and Woolworths give a 10% discount, so it costs $135 for the year.

 

[amaroo]

I have a macbook, iphone and ipad. I couldn't live without the macbook. The iPad is great for travel, especially for watching movies on the plane (I get bored standard IFE, especially the screen definition), but I could live without it. The iPhone is good, but I could probably live without it also.

If you get a 3G, but don't intend to use a lot of data (like me), you can buy 12GB (I think), good for 12 months on Telstra or Vodafone for $150. It has been plenty enough for me, as I mostly use it around the home (wifi) or overseas (no 3g anyway). If buying the Vodafone package, Coles and Woolworths give a 10% discount, so it costs $135 for the year.

I didn't bother with the 3G as I just pair it with my iPhone when i need access to the 3G network.

 

[Limewood]

We have 2 x 27" iMac's and 2 iPhones in our pad, had 1st iPad now version 2, best bit of mobile electronic kit we've owned, so thin so light, battery about 10 hours, have the ubeaut Zaggmate case / keyboard when travelling too (looks great), and invisible shield on back of iPad. We use it constantly at home and out and about, and when on Jetstar flights mainly with movies & books, the range of Apps many free is simply astounding with hundreds of thousands now to choose from. IMO Apple lead others follow.

 

[simongr]

I wasnt sure if I was going to get into this. It now seems that as soon as you advocate getting an Apple product you are decried as sycophantic, pathetic, ignorant, self obsessed and many other terms that are a lot less polite. The pathetic reference has even been used in this thread...

Cruiserette has iPad which I am using right now - I love it - but kinda useless for me when I travel o/s.
I am regularly in Chinese factories and suppliers - rarely is there effective WiFi - always I am using USB sticks to transfer files / images to and fro - iPad just can't cut it - I use 300 buck el cheapo 13in notebook I bought in China at all times.
If iPad had USB would buy one in a heart beat - but it does not suit my requirements.
So schomers back to NM's response - what do you want to use iPad for?

You are one of the first people that has actually given me a valid justification that no USB = no use to you. Personally since getting the iPad I havent worried about it not having a USB and the fact that it doesnt compromise on that means that other features can be improved.

I think iPads are nothing sooo great technically. But they are thin, light, portable, cool looking and pretty easy to use. However even an iPhone does more. Need USB? Need a DVD or blu-ray drive? Need to run a Windows based program? Even the battery life of iPads is not so good (some netbooks/notebooks are better). And iPads are quite expensive. And of course they are limited to iPad apps (ok, they will become more).

Why do you need to play a blu-ray disc on a 10in screen? I am not sure how you get to the point that the battery life is "not so good"? I get 10 hours life from the iPad and barely two hours from my laptop...

You really need to own an iPhone and an iPad (I mean you can't just replace your iPhone with an iPad). There's no technical reason why an iPad can't make and receive mobile phone calls (like an iPhone) other than the greed of Apple and the telcos that stop it. VoIP just isn't always practical.

There is also the tiny problem that using an iPad for every day calls would be impractical in the extreme. Seriously do you want to hold a an A4 pad up to your ear for a phone call?

Personally my iPad replaced my laptop on overseas trips until my company put restrictions on opening attachments through webmail. The only limitation on the iPad for me is that I can not track changes in documents which is something I do a lot of.

I would be very surprised that anyone who owns an iPad who suggest not buying an iPad and anone that has bought something else will tell you how limited the iPad is.

Buy an iPad if want or need the features an iPad has - don't buy an iPad and/or complain about iPads if the iPad doesn't have the features that you need.