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I'm curious what will you guys actually use the iPad for?

I run a sports uniform/tee business. When I'm doing trade shows or on the road, I plan on using this device as a catolog for samples, prices, and invoices using the iWork app.

Also, for email and casual web browsing.
 
Browsing, email, light word processing, a few games and tv shows, a few books.

The form is perfect for relaxing in the lazyboy and it travels well to the in-laws.
 
I work internationally a lot. For the remainder of the year I will take a minimum of six - 14 hour flights to Asia (3 trips - 2 months stays per trip. I will take my powerbook to leave at the hotel(for heavier computing) and will carry the lighter ipad daily to pull out whenever I need to take notes (almost daily) or show a video or photos (regularly) to colleagues. The ipad will be far more useful at these tasks than my ipod touch (having 8 people gather around squinting to watch a video doesn't work.) I do not have an iphone, since I spend half the year, at least abroad, carrying AT&T for 3G has never made sense when I would use it so little. Now, when I go on vacation with my family I can buy it just for the month. I will get the 3G model just for the 1 to 2 months a year I will get the monthly plan. For vacations it will be the only device I will need to bring, not the heavier Macbook Pro.
I can also leave it as a digital picture frame when not in use. Will also play/use a couple of the apps that I currently have on my ipod. Ical will certainly be a more pleasant experience. I've read about a dozen books on my ipod touch so far. I find it manageable, but will be much better on the larger screen. it will also be a great portable DVD player/book reader/game player for my 7 year-old daughter when trapped somewhere (car, in a line, shopping, etc.)

Version 1.0 will be a benefit to me starting right away for the things it can do and do very well. (will be great for those long plane rides.).

Sure, it would be nice if it had some of the oft-complained about missing elements, but the truth is none of them will affect me very much.
Flash - Can't watch Hulu internationally anyway, don't play online games, won't miss ads. Would be nice to watch some web video on the go I suppose, but would do it so rarely it won't kill me to wait until I can get back to the hotel. If I want to watch something while on the go, I would go for my slingbox, which I currently use on my ipod touch. This again will be better with a larger screen.
Camera - Only use it for ichat/skype video calls with family. Important, but will have my powerbook abroad for bigger tasks anyway.
Multitaksing - for purposes I will use it for, multitasking 3rd party apps is not really applicable.
No ports for USB, SD, HDMI - Again, I just don't find these applicable for me. I have no problem syncing it occasionally with my computer.
Limited hard drive space - I've watched as many as 5 movies on my ipod touch during an international flight(with external battery assist) Why would I ever need to have more full length movies on the ipad than that at one time.
File Management - I will use ipad I works version for reading/editing docs on the go. I'm sure there will be an easy way to sync it to the powerbook.

Bottom line: It's not the full computer some people want it to be. But the things that it does do well will be very useful for me. I could wait for 2.0, but I want to start getting the benefit from it right away. If you get 2.0 will you sorry you ddin't wait for 3.0? No, I will get mine right away and perhaps another in 2 or 3 years, and it will be even better. (I still very much enjoy my first generation ipod touch and don't see a burning desire to replace it yet as it still works, except for the added screen real estate on the ipad touch. People may think they're bashing it when they call it a giant ipod touch on steroids, but for some of us, that is exactly what we want.
 
  • PDF Reader. Especially for RPG PDFs.
  • Tracking character stuff for RPGs.
  • Web Browsing while on the couch, or while at work. Or while on break in my car. Or while out at lunch. Or wherever. Easily portable web browsing is a big selling point for me, which is why I definitely need the 3G.
  • Watching videos in many of the same situations as the aforementioned web browsing.
  • Accessing work email wherever, including meetings and such.
  • Accessing personal email.
  • Possibly taking notes in meetings, depending on how well you can type on it while in the middle of a meeting.

I have a feeling I won't lack for things to do with mine when I get it.
 
I'll use it when out and around. Normally I would carry my Kindle to kill the time while waiting. With an iPad I'll be able to use it as a map and travel guide, e-reader, photo viewer, web browser, etc., etc. We will only realize how powerful the concept is once the floodgates of new applications will open up, as they did with iPhone.
 
I won't be getting one. My 13" MBP has everything I need in a package that's not too much bigger than the iPad. The iPad is one of those things that you don't "need", but is very nice to have:D
 
thatguysmells said:
Well then what do they mean by you can't multi task? If I can run iTunes and Safari, isn't that multi tasking?
Click to expand...

It's the third party apps that don't have this ability. Most of the music I listen to is via Wunderradio (for Sirius) so I won't be able to play that in the background but yes, iPod music can be played in the background.
 
JonHimself said:
It's the third party apps that don't have this ability. Most of the music I listen to is via Wunderradio (for Sirius) so I won't be able to play that in the background but yes, iPod music can be played in the background.
Click to expand...

And, as stoked as I am getting about the iPad, I really think audio streaming is something Apple definitely needs to keep in mind for the iMobiledevices. It is one of the most commonly heard "legitimate" complaint against the lack of multitasking, I feel.
 
Malacoda said:
And, as stoked as I am getting about the iPad, I really think audio streaming is something Apple definitely needs to keep in mind for the iMobiledevices. It is one of the most commonly heard "legitimate" complaint against the lack of multitasking, I feel.
Click to expand...

Music is really the only thing I want to have to be able to multitask. It's the only thing I really want to run in the background.
 
  • eBooks and PDFs
  • Instant Information Pad
  • Secondary Screen for Video/Screencast Tutorials
  • Keynote and Numbers
  • Photos + Picture frame

Also it will sit beside the coffee table in my living room. When I have guests over, no longer I have to lug the laptop or lend my iPhone to them to check Facebook, instead it will be shared publicly like using a tv remote. The good thing is it will be much easier to clean from food crumbs and stains. No more messy keyboards.
 
My main reason for wanting one is as an e-Book reader - being able to have a whole collection of books on different subjects of interest all in one device is really a dream come true. I also hope the magazine publishers decide to have e-subscriptions (dead tree magazines take up a LOT of space if you keep them for future reference...)

A nice bonus on top of this is that it can run all my iPhone apps on a larger screen. Goodbye Kindle DX - you have been rendered obsolete :) 4 gigs of memory for $489? And they say *Apple* is expensive?

I'll be getting the base wifi-only model. I doubt it'll be leaving the house much, unless going to someone else's house. I don't expect to be using it around town - that's what my iPhone is for.
 
As a College Student with a MacBook Pro and an iPhone, I don't think I will be buying an iPad. I use both my iPhone and MacBook Pro a lot, especially at home.

Maybe an iPad could take over for my OS X hacked Dell Mini 9 I use exclusively in class or on the road? IDK about even that though. (Love my MBP, but the size is a bit large. Still, would never move to a 13'. My Dell cost like $250, if I lose it or it gets stolen, it's not the end of the world.)

Probably won't get an iPad, but I am kinda intrigued. Maybe if the price came down or it did something interesting I could justify it, but as it stands now I have enough tech toys to more then get by.
 
I kind of envy those folks that aren't really excited about the iPad. I wish I wasn't, because I really want one and as it happens have the money to buy one now. The wait is killing me. I'd use it for everything I use my iTouch 1g for now, only bigger, better and faster.....and it will still fit in the saddlebags of my motorcycle for road trips. Motels and campground stays are pretty boring without wifi access or watching movies on the road. The iTouch has spoiled me, but my eyes are getting bad and fingers are fat. This is perfect for my needs. Plus, it looks like I can import photos and video off my camera and email them home as attachments. Sweet. :cool:
So all you guys that don't want or need the iPad please stick to your guns at least long enough for me to get mine before they sell out! ;)
 
cia33 said:
Really? Try using Photoshop and Illustrator and InDesign and Go Live and Final Cut and Filemaker Pro and Turbotax and Quicken and Time Machine and .... or are you just a Facebook freak and net surfer????? :confused:
Click to expand...

IDK if you realize this, but the vast majority of people don't use Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Go Live, Final Cut, Filemaker Pro, Turbo Tax or Quicken.

The original poster also said he would use it as his main computer, meaning they would likely have another device they might be able to use in order to access other software.

Most people use their personal computer for one thing, and that is the internet. Students make use of word processing software, but your everyday person isn't a graphic designer.

I'm a tech geek and 99% of the time my MBP had only 3 apps running. Tweetie, Firefox and iTunes. (Throw in some openoffice and many many others I use infrequently).
 
cia33 said:
Really? Try using Photoshop and Illustrator and InDesign and Go Live and Final Cut and Filemaker Pro and Turbotax and Quicken and Time Machine and .... or are you just a Facebook freak and net surfer????? :confused:
Click to expand...


a lot of people are 'just' facebook freaks and net surfers. One of the reasons why the ipad makes so much sense
 
cia33 said:
Really? Try using Photoshop and Illustrator and InDesign and Go Live and Final Cut and Filemaker Pro and Turbotax and Quicken and Time Machine and .... or are you just a Facebook freak and net surfer????? :confused:
Click to expand...

Um, well what about the people that use their Macs casually... You know, not graphic designers or anything?:D
 
I have a MBP right now which I use for programming. It will become my mobile desktop. The iPad will be great for taking notes in meetings, quick-and-dirty design diagramming, date book, reading, surfing.

I don't have an iPod Touch because the screen is too small for my needs. These are the advantages that I see for the iPad:
  • Lager screen
  • Faster CPU
  • Much better battery life then my MBP
 
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