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Is it worth it?

T

TJaames

macrumors member
Original poster
May 4, 2010
54
0
I'm well aware that there are probably a ton of threads asking the same question, but I want to ensure that in my particular situation, I will be making the right decision.

I'm graduating high school in less than a month. I just received a 17" i5 MBP this weekend from my aunt for graduation. I'm going to Penn State next year, which has plenty of wifi capabilities ( I would be buying the wifi, not the 3g model). I'm in need of a new ipod (my 32g Ipod Video is ancient and the headphone jack only works on one side, and my 8g Touch simply is not enough storage).
Since I need a new Ipod, I am torn between the 32g Ipod touch OR just keeping the two ipods I have and getting an Ipad. 500 dollars is a bit of a stretch but if I was already going to spend 300 on the touch, I figure the 200 won't kill me.
I also have an Amazon Kindle already, but I was looking at the Ipad's reading template and I really like it.

My only worry is portability, if its tough to carry around, but I figure for the most part I'll be traveling with a backpack, and it might be nice to not have to lug the 17" everywhere if I can use the Ipad instead.

So I guess my main question, with everything being taken into account, do you think it would be worth it in my situation to get the Ipad? Would I be able to use it in place of my laptop in a lot of cases?
 
Given everything you outlined, go for the iPad - you won't be disappointed. The biggest variable for you is portability and while it is relatively light, just carrying the iPad alone everywhere would get old... But with a backpack, no problems at all.

Get it.
 
I think so. If you'll have a backpack, carry an iPad is easy - easier than carrying a MBP. And it can fill a lot of the same needs as the MBP. However, it's not a direct substitute for an iPod, IMO. You can walk around with yours hands free and an iPod in your pants pocket. You can't do that with an iPad. It's possible to walk while using an iPad, but it's more comfortable to use it seated if you'll be entering text at all.
 
Based on what you have posted it sounds like it makes sense to buy an iPod Touch instead of an iPad. It's not that the iPad is an inferior device...on the contrary, it is excellent and superior to a netbook in many ways.

But an iPad is not going to be as portable as an iPod and is not a replacement for one. Lounging around on campus with an iPod will be more convenient than an iPad...especially if friends grab you to go on an impromptu trip to the coffee shop.

Consider also the possibility of the iPhone OS 4.0's introduction of a Bluetooth profile for keyboards. That would offer some interesting possibilities.
 
Get it. You have a laptop for work. But the iPad will be more convenient sometimes and it doubles as an iPod. As a student you will find uses for the iPad that we haven't eve n considered yet. It may help you get better grades.
 
Thank you for the feedback, keep it coming!

Well I'm not saying I would do work on it, but I would use it instead of my laptop to surf the web outside of my dorm. But I suppose that you can do the same with the wifi on the Touch.

I really don't know a whole lot about the IPad, is it accurate to say that it is just a very large Ipod Touch?
Or in other words, save for the reading aspect and a few other programs, they both do the same things?
 
TJaames said:
Thank you for the feedback, keep it coming!

Well I'm not saying I would do work on it, but I would use it instead of my laptop to surf the web outside of my dorm. But I suppose that you can do the same with the wifi on the Touch.

I really don't know a whole lot about the IPad, is it accurate to say that it is just a very large Ipod Touch?
Or in other words, save for the reading aspect and a few other programs, they both do the same things?
Click to expand...

Surfing the web on the iPad is a much better experience than surfing the web on an iPod touch. It's possibly even better than surfing the web on a computer (as long as your favorite sites aren't in Flash). But that just means you end up wasting a lot more time doing idle web surfing than you normally would.
 
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