Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

3 Months with the iPad: Why I'm selling it.

JefferyShin

JefferyShin

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 20, 2009
152
0
Hello,

I own an iPhone 3GS and a Macbook, but as the fanboy I am, I decided to venture out and spend extra money to get the iPad a month before its release (I live in Canada).

Now, 3 months later, I've decided to sell it. Well. Technicaly trade. A guy is offering a Nikon D80 with an 18-135mm lens for my iPad + Case +$150.

Why, you may ask.

Don't get me wrong. The iPad is an extraordinary device. It's fast, it's bright and crisp, and it's pretty damn sexy.

However, with an iPhone and a Macbook, the iPad becomes an awkward device to use.

For example.

Writing:
For short little lists and notes, I would jot them down quickly on my iPhone. For long essays and papers, I would use my Macbook. The iPad becomes an awkward device in regards to writing.

Photos:
To show pictures of something I took to a friend, I would just use my iPhone. To actually view, organize, and edit photos, I would use my Macbook. Again, iPad is not useful.

Browsing:
For quick Google searches, or Wikipedia articles, I would just use my iPhone. For heavier websites (not just the ones with Flash), I would use my Macbook.

Games:
For short games I play on the bus, I would use my iPhone. For full out FPS gaming or RTS, I would use my Macbook.

In short, I only used my iPad to read. And I don't do that alot. And with the release of iBooks for iPhone, the iPad has become more useless.

Anyways. That's it. My last night on my iPad.

I guess I'm done on this forum too.

Thanks everyone.

Cheers,
Jeff
 
hope that makes you feel better about your decision

sorry to see you leave the club!
 
i too had this same problem, but i accept the iPad for its limitations and i don't like reading on my iPhone for extended periods of time, so the iPad fits the bill nicely. Am i out 600 bucks? (ipad + case + pogo + PS anti-glare) yes. Do I feel like i wasted my money? not really.
 
Yeah,

I'm using the iPad more than my MacBook and iPhone now.

Basically, my desktop iMac gets tons of use for software development. I'm finding I use the iPad for almost everything else, from web browsing, twitter/facebook/linkedin, reading documentation, checking the TV listings, weather, taking notes, quick spreadsheets, expenses, e-mail, calendar, etc.

I use the iPad places I never used my MacBook, like the couch, on the deck, in the back yard, etc. I take it out to clients and give demos with it. It gets a very positive reaction, people immediately seem to know how to use it.

I probably won't sell my MacBook, as I have other family members that have their eyes on it.

There is a good bit of overlap between all of these devices. Pick and choose the ones that fit with your lifestyle.
 
kuaiyouming said:
Hehe, I think you have it backwards. I use my iPad instead of my iPhone for all of those activities that you do the reverse. The iPad is way better across the board for me. :p
Click to expand...

+1

Who wants to read wiki articles on their iPhone when you can do it on an iPad instead. Besides the lack of flash, browsing on the iPad is what it's all about.

Just got back from a Denver to NY flight.. Nothing like watching a movie on the iPad either. It's much easier to transport and use than a laptop.
 
I'd definitely agree in regards to writing, but I'd say that for quick browsing, the iPad really can't be beat. I've also done plenty of long term intensive browsing on this device too - as long or longer than a typical browsing session on my desktop.

I don't know how anyone can seriously want to read books on the iPhone. Yes, the retina display makes it easier to read, but you're still looking at a tiny screen...a nice feature of iBooks on the phone though, is being able to take PDF files with you, if you need to reference information on the go.

I think the iPad just makes more sense to me since I only have an iPhone and a Mac Pro - no laptop in between, so the iPad fills the niche very nicely.

Have fun with the D80 - I'd love to have that camera, but I'm not willing to give up my iPad for one :)
 
GinoDotCom said:
+1

Who wants to read wiki articles on their iPhone when you can do it on an iPad instead. BECAUSE OF the lack of flash, browsing on the iPad is what it's all about.

Just got back from a Denver to NY flight.. Nothing like watching a movie on the iPad either. It's much easier to transport and use than a laptop.
Click to expand...


I fixed your bad nasty typo for you.... You meant because of, not besides.
 
I agree.

The iPad is a luxury, not a need, for those who already have MacBooks. I can see why one would purchase an iPad for the iMac, but as for the MacBooks, there is some contradiction in between, especially if you have an iPhone.

Two things I noticed since getting my ipad: ( around 3-4 months ago )

-App Store grows incredibly slow. That top 10 list is pretty predictable.
-iBooks grows slow. You can always find something to read but if you search for an exact title its nearly never there.

I thought about selling mine, but the only big reason I'm keeping it is because of the convienent browsing wherever I am, plus the extremely long battery life, that kicks my MacBook Air's butt.
 
That's odd, thinking about it i feel like i could have a desktop + iPad instead of just a MacBook Pro and an iPhone

Your points are really interesting and true, when the iPad starts selling here i hope to play with one and see how good/bad the browsing is since it think it would work pretty well for me to troll around forums from my couch :eek:, what's your experience on not-so-long foruming?
 
I have an iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone 4. They all have their place and their use and I wouldn't want to get rid of any of them. I hardly ever touch my MBP wince getting the iPad. My iPad hasn't left the house, and I use my iPhone exclusively outside the house. The iMac is my wife's office computer as well as hosting all my iTunes content and syncing our phones, the iPad and the AppleTV. I typically use the MBP when I want to do something remotely on my iMac or Mini using screen sharing. Also when I want to do any emailing or posting on forums, etc. Although I have found if I just lay the iPad in my lap in landscape and trust it, the keyboard does reasonably well. For general day to day use and surfing news, forums, etc, the iPad is hands down the best. I don't need to power it up, shut it down, etc. I just pick it up, hit the button and I'm off. As it's a shared device though, I don't use it for email or Facebook or any of those kinds of things. I typically still do those on the phone.

That said, the iPad probably would be the first to go. As pointed out by the OP, it's functions are entirely duplicated on other devices. But if you can afford it, it's a fantastic device to have.
 
another vote here for someone who's iPad has replaced their Macbook in daily use. it's a shame, but the only i need to use the Macbook now is if i need to log into work when i'm away from home.
the iPad has taken over for all the other tasks i used to use the Macbook for
 
How did you people replace your MBP? Don't get me wrong, I love my iPad, it goes almost everywhere with me, but I'm not sure I could replace my laptop with a tablet...like ever LOL.
 
Agreed

My iPad usually sits in my bedroom and I use it to read email or web forums just before I go to sleep. Once in a while I'll play a game on it but not too often.

I have an iMac, a MacBook Pro and an iPhone so the iPad is definitely a luxury. If I was short on cash, I'd probably sell mine too.

Cheers.
 
no argument here ...it's not a phone or a laptop. But we have two in the house and for sitting out back, reading email and sharing photos around the picnic table, it can't be beat. it is household appliance, nothing more. The family eats it up.
 
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I used it a lot when I first got it but now I don't use it that much, I don't even look as this board that much now. I use to to check emails and my websites when I'm in bed but not much else right now. I do take it upstairs when I'm watching TV and I still think it's better than the iphone or the macbook for sharing pics and videos. Don't plan on selling mine but if the right offer came around I would trade it. Good luck
 
I have a MBP and will be buying the iphone 4 when it is released. As much as I LUST for an iPad, realistically speaking, I don't think the cost justifies what I'll use it for: web browsing, reading, and movies.

When your a student, dropping $500+ on such a device isn't really practical.

Again, I would really like one for because it is so portable and light, but it doesn't make monetary sense in my situation! :cool:
 
iPad is a perfect niche device for me. I have the apple case too, and being able to prop it up about 30 degrees makes typing way easier FYI.

I find myself feeling the way you feel about your iPad except I feel that way about my macbook.

I figure I have an iMac for heavy duty computing stuff. The iPad is a perfect browsing the web kind of device, and my iPhone gives me quite enough connectivity and utility when I'm out and about.

My macbook is seeming very outdated to me these days. Its a uMBP 13: from june '09, so its not that old. I used to think it had such good battery life.... then I got an iPad. Pure awesomeness. Plus the iPad doesn't get hot in my lap. My macbook is powerful and all but when I have a nice iMac to really do work on, the size of the macbook screen seems like a big limitation. For lighter stuff, like I said before, the iPad is perfect. Just how I prefer to use things, I suppose.

I seriously wonder if I will ever own another laptop. As tablet-like devices become more and more capable, there will be less and less need to bring a desktop-like environment with me everywhere I go, which is what I'm basically doing with the macbook pro.
 
The iPad came out in Australia a month after the US. I had bought a new MacBook Pro the day they got refreshed, which was right before the iPad was released. Since getting my iPad the MacBook has just been sitting there except when I need to sync. It wasn't what I expected would happen, since I thought I would be returning the iPad in a few days after I realised it was useless, but it's become my main computer. And I'm pretty heavily technical, constantly doing web design and so forth, so that this tablet has become my main machine really was unexpected to me.
 
I'm not really the sort to spent £1000 or so on a laptop, so I got myself a netbook for the times I need to be out and about with a computer (generally for djing purposes). As you can imagine iPad wins big over netbook for on the sofa browsing. Plus I love touch scrabble and Monkey island 2 never played so great (IMO).
 
iPhone is my PMP/Phone/Mobile Email/Text
iPad is my mobile media consumption device (internet, mail, IM, ebooks, photos, video, streaming music, etc)
MacBook is mostly my media center, guest computer, work travel computer
iMac is heavy duty work computer, media storage.

I find uses for all my devices and am happy with them. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back