Have an iPhone 3G and 15'' MBP, where would iPad fit in

[53x12]

So I was interested in the iPad when I first began hearing rumors and seeing spy photos. But now I am confused as to how it would fit into my quiver of electronic toys. I have an iPhone for every day use; email, internet, music, videos, youtube, maps/directions...etc. All fairly easy to use and decently quick. Obviously the size is small, but if traveling and I need something bigger and faster I can use the MBP. I guess one advantage the iPad has would be its size, but also the future of e-books. Would be nice to be able to download electronic medical textbooks in my pocket instead of having my book shelves full of them at home/in my office. However I'm not sure how soon this would take place and how many textbooks would be published this route.

So those of you with an iPhone 3G and MBP, how do you see this iPad fitting into your daily use? It looks very nice and would be awesome to have, but I'm starting to wonder if it overlaps too much with the toys I already have? The lack of a webcam kinda kills it for me and other roadwarriors who might want something to check email, read an e-book, surf the internet, listen to music and webcam with family back home. So I guess if I can't see what this would add over having an iPhone + MBP, does that mean I really don't need one.

 

[marksman]

I work on my mbp. I am sitting at my desk and it is connected to a keyboard and monitor in my office.

In hindsight I should have just gotten a regular mac because it never leaves my desk.

The iphone I use to look stuff up around the house, take with me everywhere, take on trips.

The iPad, potentially, for me, would replace what I use the iPhone around the house for, like looking up quick stuff, showing other videos, perhaps watching movies and such in various places. I would still use the iphone when out and about and for emergencies, but the ipad would replace my iphone around the house. It would also keep me from having to go to my office for those times when the iphone doesn't cut it so I have to use my notebook.

Also for traveling I can slip the iPad into a bag and take it with me, and it will be useful on the plane, in the hotel room etc etc. So basically as a device I can use for stuff away from my office be it in my house or hotel room. Outside of those places, I would rely on my iphone.

All three seem to have their place.

 

[codo]

I am in the exact same situation; and for me, the answer has to be it doesn't fit in right now.

I love the idea of it though, to be honest. What I see as most likely, is replacing my MacBook with an iMac and an iPad. I think that would make more sense than a MacBook Pro and an iPad.

When I think about my laptop, most of the stuff i do OUTSIDE my home could be done on an iPad, and all of the stuff at home can be done on an iMac. Instead of having one device for both home and on the go, I would have the lighter more portable iPad and the more powerful iMac for the home.

I'm not going to just jump on it though - my MacBook Pro is literally two months old. When I come to want an update, maybe next year or the year after, that's when I would consider such a change.

I'm defiantly interested in hearing what others think.

 

[Lyle]

Similar questions here.

The one thing it has going for it, as far as my personal needs go, is that it's a decent and usable PDF viewer. A majority of the (long) documents that I want to read these days are in PDF format, and they're basically unreadable on the iPhone. I have a Kindle, but the PDF conversion story there is just sad (maybe it's better on the Kindle DX's larger screen, I dunno). The iPad, then, is just the ticket for this particular application. But at $499, it's an awfully expensive PDF viewer.

 

[JonHimself]

Selling my MBP, getting the iPad + Mac Mini.

Ultimate goal - Mac Mini will run headless and I will control it with my iPad using VNC.

In all reality, if I really need to get some work done on my Mac Mini and I'm at home... prop the iPad up in landscape mode, open up Jaadu (VNC app), pull out my BT keyboard and mouse (which will be tied to the Mac Mini) and use the iPad as the monitor for my Mac Mini. The delay of the display will likely be minimal (at least it is now on my iPhone connecting to my MBP on my local network).

 

[bnp]

I am in the exact same situation; and for me, the answer has to be it doesn't fit in right now...

I'm defiantly interested in hearing what others think.

I also have an iPhone 3GS and MBP 15" which I love - use it all over my apartment. The iPad would be what I take for my daily work commute- ebook reader, web access etc ( too small on my phone). Travel? I would take all three. The MBP for serious comfortable computing, the iPad for books, email on the go(trips or business meetings and the phone as phone.
I would LOVE someday to receive all my magazine subscriptions on the iPad.. no more slippery magazines piling up. I guess for me the iPad will be a slick 21st century reader and entertainment device.

My question: What need of 3-G if the ipad is not a telephone? Why would anyone want Cellular when , via wireless or bluetooth stuff can be transferred between a true Mac computer and the iPad?

 

[Lyle]

My question: What need of 3-G if the ipad is not a telephone?

Unless I'm misunderstanding your question, you'd use the cellular service if you're out of Wi-Fi range and want to check your e-mail, or surf the web, or do anything else that requires Internet access. (In other words, for the same things that you use the EDGE/3G functionality on your iPhone.)

 

[MattZani]

Im in the same Position, only thing i could see is it would be easier to take to school than my MBP, and i could use it to type up notes with the KB dock.