Is 16GB enough? Can iPad replace Air?

[Luba]

Ok, I've got an iPhone and a desktop Mac, and was planning on getting the Air later this year, but the iPad has me thinking . . .

I don't plan on storing my music on the iPad, have the iPhone for that . . . I am looking for something to watch video podcasts and surf the 'net, and to use Pages and Keynote. Air is better with Pages and Keynote with a comfortable keyboard, but it costs more than twice as much as the iPad. The iPad is better as an eReader for magazines, newspapers, and the occasional book that I read.

Seems like I could get away with the iPad for my needs . . . will have to see how easy it's to type with the iPad. But the storage size of the iPad is the question. It's a pain that I can't delete video podcasts on the iPhone without it sync'ing with my Mac. It would be great to delete a podcast I just watched and download new podcast via Wifi, all without having to connect (sync) with my Mac. I am thinking the iPad will probably work the same way as the iPhone. I don't have a sense of what would be a good size to get. Sounds like 16GB might be a bit cramped, and 64GB would be plenty, so is 32GB just right? Then again, every computer I got, I thought I had plenty of storage only to find it being too small after a year or two. But then again, the iPad won't be my "computer."

What size will you get, and what's your reasoning? Thanks.

 

[11800506]

Just to let you know, you can delete video podcasts from an iPhone. All you have to do is navigate to the podcast and do a finger swipe to the right, and a delete button will come up.

Considering that, I think it depends entirely on how much video you plan to put on the iPad. If you plan to watch movies on it ever then 16 gb may not be enough for that. And it's also important to consider that your future needs may change and you may want to keep your music or more videos on the iPad. I personally would get the 32 gb since I think that that seems like the best compromise on space.

But overall, I think it could make a competent Air replacement as long as you're content with the virtual keyboard and the fact that the apps may not be as full featured as their OS X counterparts.

 

[Jaro65]

I would get at least a 32GB model. While iPad won't replace my MBP for everything, it will be just fine to take along when I go with my wife for a road trip. Load it with some movies, use it as a map, browse the web to read the news and find out about local attractions.... I won't need to drag an MBP along. That's actually pretty neat.

 

[Luba]

Thanks for the iPhone video deletion tip!!

Ok, now's it's 32GB versus the 64GB ($600 versus $700). Right, will have to try out the virtual keyboard. I am at least ok with the iPhone keyboard responding to emails, so it's promising I'll be ok with iPad's larger keyboard on Pages for writing short papers (3 pages) and importing into my Mac for fancy formatting, if needed.

Just to let you know, you can delete video podcasts from an iPhone. All you have to do is navigate to the podcast and do a finger swipe to the right, and a delete button will come up.

Considering that, I think it depends entirely on how much video you plan to put on the iPad. If you plan to watch movies on it ever then 16 gb may not be enough for that. And it's also important to consider that your future needs may change and you may want to keep your music or more videos on the iPad. I personally would get the 32 gb since I think that that seems like the best compromise on space.

But overall, I think it could make a competent Air replacement as long as you're content with the virtual keyboard and the fact that the apps may not be as full featured as their OS X counterparts.

 

[goobot]

im going with the 16g because i have a 16 g phone and it has 12 pages of apps (yes im jailbroken to go past 11) and some games are big like cod and rock band, i have still 10gigs left. video and all those apps. 16 should be good for me

 

[Rapmastac1]

When I'm buying something that expensive, I always say to myself "well I'm already spending this much, only 1/6th of the price and I can go all the way". I wish I would have done that with my iPod Touch. Then again, I don't want to get the 3G version but I can't see how the 130 USD plus the monthly charge is worth it if I'm going to use it in my Wi-Fi hotspots.

32GB is a good area to be in.

 

[Jaro65]

When I'm buying something that expensive, I always say to myself "well I'm already spending this much, only 1/6th of the price and I can go all the way". I wish I would have done that with my iPod Touch. Then again, I don't want to get the 3G version but I can't see how the 130 USD plus the monthly charge is worth it if I'm going to use it in my Wi-Fi hotspots.

32GB is a good area to be in.

I agree: 32GB is a good compromise. I'm sure that with a big screen like that it will be nice to put on some TV shows and movies to watch when on the road. That's going to eat through 16GB pretty fast.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

If I had a MBA, the iPad won't replace it. The MBA, despite being an ultraportable, still runs Mac OS X and/or Windows. The iPad runs a spruced-up iPhone OS 3.2.

For light usage, the iPad will cut it for me. Anything my iPod touch does right now will transfer to the iPad I'm getting in 50-something days. It won't be my secondary computer by any means.

 

[robfromabove]

I'd go with the 32GB as well. (Even though I intend to get the 64 )

 

[jaykk]

Accesories

I am wondering if we can make use of the accessories to add more space. I am hoping someone will introduce ( or hack available ones) to have a somewhat-USB functionality.

"The Camera Connector lets you import your photos and videos to iPad using the camera’s USB cable. Or you can use the SD Card Reader to import photos and videos directly from the camera’s SD card."

 

[DDave]

I personally wouldn't go with anything less than the 32 and might as well go with the 64

 

[ditzy]

I was going to be buying the Air, but have decided to get the iPad. It does everything that I need it to do. Although I was only planning to occasionally edit documents on it rather than write whole documents, which I would do on my iMac. I'm not sure that I would want to write a whole document on it unless I bought the keyboard attachment. You said that you planned to write documents on the iPad and then edit them on your mac. I'd probably suggest that you did it the other way round. As editing seems far easier on the iPad than it does on the mac.
Just realised hadn't answered original question, I'm planning on getting the 64 GB version. As my 32 GB iPod Touch does not have enough storage for me. If your itunes library is significantly less than 32 GB get the 32. If it is approaching 32 or more than that get the 64 GB

 

[miknos]

Probably you'll end using the iPad more and more often (your "computer"). If you can afford the 64GB, buy it.

 

[GeekGirl*]

Skip the Crapbook air and get the iPad

 

[Luba]

I should have said in the original post that I anticipate needing/wanting to buy updated versions of the iPad every 2 years or (even every year!) and trying to sell the old one. I figure a 4G version would come out in 2 years. Right now, I would only get the Wifi only version, as I feel 3G is too slow and not readily available on at&t. In 2 years, new features and other things could change significantly.

So far, reading the posts and trying to a feel for the situation 16GB is too small, so it's at least 32 GB for me. Looking into the future, would it be good enough for 2 years??

It's "only" an extra $100 for the 64GB, but trying to be frugal and maximize money as I will be getting latest and greatest in a couple of years.

 

[gr8ful]

I should have said in the original post that I anticipate needing/wanting to buy updated versions of the iPad every 2 years or (even every year!) and trying to sell the old one. I figure a 4G version would come out in 2 years. Right now, I would only get the Wifi only version, as I feel 3G is too slow and not readily available on at&t. In 2 years, new features and other things could change significantly.

So far, reading the posts and trying to a feel for the situation 16GB is too small, so it's at least 32 GB for me. Looking into the future, would it be good enough for 2 years??

It's "only" an extra $100 for the 64GB, but trying to be frugal and maximize money as I will be getting latest and greatest in a couple of years.

32GB can hold a good number of movies. 64GB just means you have a larger selection on-hand in the device. Sounds to me that 32GB is the sweet spot for you and most people. I would invest the $100 difference in a good sleeve and carry bag since you know you plan to resell later.

Also, I believe the iPad Camera Connection Kit will allow you to transfer videos to the iPad. So, if 32GB get to be a bit cramped, you can always store additional videos on an external SD card.

 

[Ruahrc]

Dollar for dollar the 64GB is the best buy. You get 400% the storage of the 16GB model at 140% the price.

Unless you have a specific usage model that you know will fit the smaller models, the 64GB is the one I would go for, if only to buy for the future.

But do know where I'm coming from, in that I would want an iPad to serve as a photo dumper (and I shoot RAW from a DSLR) and also I keep all my music in ALAC format. Again IMO storage is cheap nowadays... why not get the biggest one. Ideally I would want a 128GB iPad 3G, and could see myself paying $829 for it.

Ruahrc

 

[Jaro65]

Ideally I would want a 128GB iPad 3G, and could see myself paying $829 for it.

Ruahrc

...And next year you will probably be able to do just that.

 

[bobsentell]

Is 16GB big enough? Wouldn't be for me. With 32GB, I could fit EVERYTHING from my iTunes collection thus removing the need to sync it everyday.

Can it replace the Air? No, I think they focus on two different things. That, and I think the Air is really a "hobby" device anyway. It was innovative, on a nerd standpoint. But I don't see me having one with two children under two in my house.

 

[chrisandersen]

I have a 32g ATV that streams all of my content from an external drive off of my imac. Why can't I do the same type of thing with the ipad. Get the 16g model and stream it. Why do I need to store all of that on the ipad?

 

[yamawho]

Would it be possible to steam video from a computer on the network since there is no USB port on the iPad ?

If so, the 16GB would be enough ...

Would this allow connection of s USB hdd ...

iPad Camera Connection Kit - $29


Even the lowliest of netbooks include a USB port and SD card reader -- a pair of dongles will provide similar functionality for your iPad. The Camera Connection Kit consists of two dongles that will plug in to your dock, or into the 30-pin connector port at the base of your iPad.

One dongle will allow you to import photos directly from your camera's USB cable, while the other will let you pull content from an SD card. Juggling the pair of to handle such mundane tasks is disappointing, to say nothing of having to pony up $30 for the inconvenience. But such is the price of skinny, light tech.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/187995/apple_details_first_ipad_accessories.html

 

[D A]

I'd go with the 32 GB model. I think that would be enough to stores the most important stuff. And if you can connect an external hard drive through the dock to USB adapter you could potentially hold limitless storage. Though that would probably require you to jailbreak the iPad.

 

[Hankster]

The iPad isn't a computer, you can't install products or have options. Stick with your Air. The iPad is great for limited media and browsing, but because there are so many restrictions you'll become frustrated.

 

[kntgsp]

Can iPad replace Air

Let me know when it runs OSX, not the stripped down phone OS, and comes with specs that even remotely match those of the Air.

 

[spydr]

Right now I am typing this in my first gen. MBA, 1.8 GHZ with 64GB SSD. It is the laptop around the house and its place is right in between the iPhone and iMac.
Now there is nothing I am doing in the MBA currently that I wouldn't be able to do in the iPad. So I personally would be perfectly happy to swap to iPad and put the extra cash towards iPhone 4G and what not.

PS: I don't think I will miss much of Flash either.