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Ipad "Hater" turned buyer...

dgree03

dgree03

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 8, 2009
1,177
0
Ok I have to admit, like most people when the Ipad was first introduced I didnt like it, I saw no point. But im a techie and i like new toys... after the release I played around with it at my local best buy... it took me 1 month after that to realize I wanted to give it a try. I bought a 32gb Wifi only from best buy.

I used to have a Iphone so I was familar with the OS, but I havent used a iphone in almost 10 months. I have been using the Nexus One since January, so I thought it would be interesting to compare the 2 OS'es side by side(especially since I forgot about Iphone capabilities.)

Likes about Ipad Hardware:

Feels nice in hand
Sturdy/solid feel
Screen is Great(But colors dont POP like they do on my Nexus)

Dislikes about Ipad Hardware:

Kinda heavy after long "one handed" holding
Wish they trimmed the bezel a tad
Wish it had stereo speakers


Ipad/Iphone OS software Likes(Compared to android):
The apps are more rounded and cleaner than they are on my Nexus
The screen rotations are fluid with nice transition animations
Everything seems to be very snappy... going in and out of apps is quick... I would say almost as quick and my nexus but with nicer transitions

Keyboard is nice to use with "hunting and peckin" still havent found a way to 2 hand type on my lap?

The ipad apps out now are pretty nice for the most part, they give you a reason to never use the web to view certain things.. for example the etrade app or the abc app.



Ipad/Iphone OS quirks or dislikes:
Instantly I hate how everytime I download an app in the app store it kicks me out of the app store and shows me were the actual app is downloading!? who cares? I may want to browse more apps, so now I have to go back in the app store? Android just puts my download in the top icon bar and i can see progress in their for multiple apps

I also find it weird that in order to change settings for any application you have to do in the the "general settings" area?? why not allow mw to edit each apps settings IN APP? again why do I have to stop what I am doing in order to change a setting? android settings are contained in app..

The capactive screen doesnt seem as responsive, I found myself double tapping on things just to get them to load... but I did find that it was very "Accurate" when clicking on small numbers in forums pages.


Conclusion:

This is with only roughly 24hours with the ipad, overall it is a nice web browsing experience, nice fluid os, and nice looking apps. I think I will keep it until Google Creates a tablet with Android on it! I think that would be ridiculous! Maybe some of the quirks I mentioned can be solved with OS4?

Idk, I need more time with it to figure out more likes and dislikes... I just wanted to throw this out for anyone else who deflected and now is jonesin to try one out.;)
 
Nice honest opinion. I am glad you realize it is not supposed to end world hunger or solve the us debt, but its a gadget that has its shortcomings like every other gadget out there. Glad you like it!

I totally agree about the app store kicking you out. That drives me f'n insane!
 
Your dislikes are very valid and I would agree with them all. Glad to see a more reasonable post rather than others complaining about how the iPad is not a productivity device or doesn't have usb, etc...

I was also a non-believer when I first saw it. Now, I use my iPad constantly at home.
 
Here's my minor issues with the device:

-APP STORE DOWNLOADS: as previously mentioned.
-Similar to podcasts that are video podcasts, when done it leaves you in the "Videos" app rather than returning to the iPod app for selecting new playlists, music or another podcast.
-Any app that automatically launches another to give you access to something and then not returning when its completed with the task, such as when you want to 'get more episodes' from a podcast it switches to the iTunes app.

-Safari organization and functionality: Apple simply has to look at the popular apps to realize there are a half dozen or so popular 'alternatives' to Safari for web browsing. They are simply wrappers in most cases for Safari with some added feature/function.

-Wifi receiving strength: Its not as great as my iPhone or other wifi devices. When I can see 6 or so access points on my phone, but the iPad only shows the 1 or 2 closest. I'm not complaining about the dropping signals either simply in its antenna reception.

-Quick access to system-wide changing of brightness, and other settings: For anyone who has used SBSettings, they know how convenient quick access to turn on/off or adjust some basic system settings can be.
 
I had been using Android since it came out until a few months ago when I finally switched to the iPhone. the iPhone OS is so much better.
 
Mshilling said:
Nice honest opinion. I am glad you realize it is not supposed to end world hunger or solve the us debt, but its a gadget that has its shortcomings like every other gadget out there. Glad you like it!

I totally agree about the app store kicking you out. That drives me f'n insane!
Click to expand...

If I could have the "look" of the Iphone OS with the functionally of Android OS!? OMG that would be the tablet to end all tablets! :eek:
 
bluedog3401 said:
Here's my minor issues with the device:

-APP STORE DOWNLOADS: as previously mentioned.
-Similar to podcasts that are video podcasts, when done it leaves you in the "Videos" app rather than returning to the iPod app for selecting new playlists, music or another podcast.
-Any app that automatically launches another to give you access to something and then not returning when its completed with the task, such as when you want to 'get more episodes' from a podcast it switches to the iTunes app.

-Safari organization and functionality: Apple simply has to look at the popular apps to realize there are a half dozen or so popular 'alternatives' to Safari for web browsing. They are simply wrappers in most cases for Safari with some added feature/function.

-Wifi receiving strength: Its not as great as my iPhone or other wifi devices. When I can see 6 or so access points on my phone, but the iPad only shows the 1 or 2 closest. I'm not complaining about the dropping signals either simply in its antenna reception.

-Quick access to system-wide changing of brightness, and other settings: For anyone who has used SBSettings, they know how convenient quick access to turn on/off or adjust some basic system settings can be.
Click to expand...

My signal strength with wifi has been ok I guess, its just the speeds that are pizz poor! With my nexus I can pull down 13mbps on wifi(My connection is 15mbps down 3 up) On my ipad using speedtext hd, I get 8mps down! I dont understand the HUGE difference?

And I agree, like I said in my last comment in the OP, I HATE how you have to bounce out of certain apps in order to changes settings.. in app setting seem to be a No-Brainer? If apple is all about Usablity, then this seems ass backwards:confused:
 
Get the Apple iPad case if you want to be able to two-hand type. It makes a huge difference.
 
i like this and it's great to see what a fellow phandroid thinks of the ipad :eek:

i'm pretty much able to fit in this thread as well as you with the whole "hater turned lover" aspect!
 
dgree03 said:
My signal strength with wifi has been ok I guess, its just the speeds that are pizz poor! With my nexus I can pull down 13mbps on wifi(My connection is 15mbps down 3 up) On my ipad using speedtext hd, I get 8mps down! I dont understand the HUGE difference?

And I agree, like I said in my last comment in the OP, I HATE how you have to bounce out of certain apps in order to changes settings.. in app setting seem to be a No-Brainer? If apple is all about Usablity, then this seems ass backwards:confused:
Click to expand...



thats because speedtestX HD sucks. They have like 4 servers that are local to, uhh...well, 4 people.

Use the speed test app for iphone and choose a bigger better server, like chicago, and youll see the speeds you are expecting.
 
iowamensan said:
Get the Apple iPad case if you want to be able to two-hand type. It makes a huge difference.
Click to expand...

I actually dont really have a need to type like that while sitting at a table, thats why I have my 17in MBP. If I wanted to sit at a table and type I would just use that.

I really wanted to find a way to 2 hand type in my lap while sitting up in bed or couch. Or while "loungin" on the couch with my knees up. its just hard to do I realize, this is something you cannot test out in a store!
 
kutsushita said:
i like this and it's great to see what a fellow phandroid thinks of the ipad :eek:

i'm pretty much able to fit in this thread as well as you with the whole "hater turned lover" aspect!
Click to expand...

Yes, I love androids functionality... too me it passes the "human factors" testing in almost all aspects..

Iphone OS is a pretty and smooth one no doubt... I just wanted to point out the differences I see immediately between the 2 competing OS'es.

And am I the only one who wished it vibrated with incoming emails or push notifications? Im listening to music and the loud DING DING comes over the headphones... almost had a heart attach. if it would just vibrate i could still enjoy my music and casually look at the email when im ready!

That is also a arguement for more of a app tray style that android uses, then I wouldnt need either sound or vibration, at the top of the screen would just have a gmail icon with the number of new messages received. no interuption needed.
 
Mshilling said:
thats because speedtestX HD sucks. They have like 4 servers that are local to, uhh...well, 4 people.

Use the speed test app for iphone and choose a bigger better server, like chicago, and youll see the speeds you are expecting.
Click to expand...

ahhh ok I will give it a try when I get home!
 
antiprotest said:
I had been using Android since it came out until a few months ago when I finally switched to the iPhone. the iPhone OS is so much better.
Click to expand...

The iPhone is a more polished experience, but Android provides the techie-junkies with a much richer experience. The Motorola Droid is an excellent device (and the Incredible as well), and once your root (Droid equivalent of jailbreaking), the development community has a wealth of ROMs and options out there that is outstanding.

I would NOT recommend a Droid to my Mom or Dad, as they need a PHONE. :D But if you are into running terminal sessions on your phone, FTP, direct access to storage, apps from wherever you want, customizing icons, colors, themes, etc., Android is much better than iPhone. If they can bring that same freedom to the tablet market, along with USB ports/mass storage support, techies will have a field day!!! But no doubt the iPad will remain a more polished/controlled experience. Different strokes for different folks! ;)
 
dgree03 said:
I actually dont really have a need to type like that while sitting at a table, thats why I have my 17in MBP. If I wanted to sit at a table and type I would just use that.

I really wanted to find a way to 2 hand type in my lap while sitting up in bed or couch. Or while "loungin" on the couch with my knees up. its just hard to do I realize, this is something you cannot test out in a store!
Click to expand...

Are confusing the case with the keyboard dock?

The flap on the case folds back to make the iPad sit at an angle which works great while sitting on the couch.
 
Do yourself a favor and enable wireless tethering on your Nexus One so you can use your iPad if there are no wifi hotspots around.
 
mj1108 said:
Do yourself a favor and enable wireless tethering on your Nexus One so you can use your iPad if there are no wifi hotspots around.
Click to expand...

Is that merely an straight-out-of-the-box option, or do you have to do something similar to jailbreaking in order to get it to work?
 
mj1108 said:
Do yourself a favor and enable wireless tethering on your Nexus One so you can use your iPad if there are no wifi hotspots around.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention that, I tried it yesterday and it work GREAT. I was getting great speeds... and gps worked because it used my "wifi" signal for location!
 
When the iPhone was released I absolutely slagged it off, and kept my K800i.

Then I bought the iPhone 3G on launch day. And then bought the 3GS on launch day.


When the iPad was announced I slagged it off loads, but now I've got a 64GB 3G on it's way from America to me...
 
Other observations

I want file level access, it burning a hole in my heart! On my nexus i can download any file off the internet browser and it will download it to a folder, I use a file explorer to find it and whala I can open it no problem! As it is right now I cannot download ANYTHING off th internet to include pdfs or .docs? am i missing something?

I like the email app, very clean and easy to use. And since I have been away from the iphone os I see they added IMAP support with folders! but there is not labels??
 
Good post and valid points. I agree about the weight, thats something I hope Apple will prioritize highly when they design the next model. Being basically mobile phone hardware in a bigger box there should be huge potential for trimming in the future.

My other dislike is the browser. I can't 'powerbrowse' as well as on my laptop, because A) Safari drives me crazy with reloading tabs and lacks a tab bar for quick shifting between tabs. B) Alternatives like AtomicBrowswer, while better than Safari, crash when you reach the memory threshold and doesn't save states/background like Safari does
 
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