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Is the iPad worth it?

B

Baker19

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 2, 2010
7
0
I'm thinking about getting one mostly for school

I'll be taking marketing/finance and want to know if you guys think it would be useful, money isn't a concern just function and how easy it is to use for what I need it for.

I kind of want one but I'm not totally sure
 
Not worth it for a college student. It's a casual entertainment device.

Unless you have money to burn plus a full functioning laptop, do not get the iPad as your sole computing device.

Cool factor yes, but not for the college student who needs to get assignments done.
 
its cool for a few months. got mine at launch, only use it to check email and surf the internet.
 
Critical Review

Baker19 said:
I'm thinking about getting one mostly for school

I'll be taking marketing/finance and want to know if you guys think it would be useful, money isn't a concern just function and how easy it is to use for what I need it for.

I kind of want one but I'm not totally sure
Click to expand...

I bought an iPad about 6 weeks ago. 64GB 3G. Very impressed at first then started to wonder if I'd spent too much money on a toy. My idea was to take it on vacation upload my photos onto it and I did this. It was good but I quickly realised its limitations when compared to a Macbook. Now a couple of weeks later I find I'm beginning to use it for things I really find useful ie downloading specific books for some research I'm doing and also using U Tunes. I also get my daily paper on it Times UK and this is a first class app at a fair cost. So in summary, I think its going to benefit me, I just wish it was cheaper. I wouldn't recommend it for school though - get a macbook.
 
Hikkadwa said:
I bought an iPad about 6 weeks ago. 64GB 3G. Very impressed at first then started to wonder if I'd spent too much money on a toy. My idea was to take it on vacation upload my photos onto it and I did this. It was good but I quickly realised its limitations when compared to a Macbook. Now a couple of weeks later I find I'm beginning to use it for things I really find useful ie downloading specific books for some research I'm doing and also using U Tunes. I also get my daily paper on it Times UK and this is a first class app at a fair cost. So in summary, I think its going to benefit me, I just wish it was cheaper.
Click to expand...

Well, it is cheaper. Have to say I'm puzzled as to why you'd pop for top-of-the-line without knowing what it was going to do for you. I deliberated a long time before picking the 32GB 3G (2, actually - the wife has one also) and I couldn't be happier. I find more and more uses for it. I read a lot, travel a lot and commute daily (45 minutes each way) by train. Rarely touch my MBP or my MBA.
 
I think I'd want one if I travelled a lot or had a long commute on public transport (wouldn't want to lug my MBP, or worry about it getting damaged, lost or stolen).

But I have an iPhone and a MBP-- I just don't have a need for a device that does little more than an iPhone.
 
I have an Iphone/MBA, and MBP and I use the Ipad constantly for things I never or rarely use those other devices for - both business and personal. For a student, I would think it would be awesome for taking notes and reading text books and articles (and taking notes on those). However, as others have said, the Ipad (or a netbook) can't replace a full service computer for typing long paper or doing in-depth on-line research.
 
The iPad replaced my MacBook but I also have a iMac. If I had to I could get away with using the iPad as my only device. It will be nice when ios4 is out and printing is supported.
 
I think it's friggin fantastic for uni, but YMMV

It's great for me because I have tons of required readings this semester, and lugging a laptop around just to read PDFs is awkward, and printing hard copies is out of the question (we're talking about a couple of thousand pages here).

I also love being able to access journal databases and downloading articles on the go (thanks to good reader).

I don't use it much for note taking in class but I'm a bit old skool and still like to scribble notes on paper with a fountain pen. But I do take some notes on my readings using Notarize.

I'm also quite pleased with the organisational aspect - calendar, e-mails and specialised scheduling software (iStudiez) make it hard to miss an assignment deadline.

Depends on your needs I guess.
 
Ciclismo said:
I think it's friggin fantastic for uni, but YMMV

It's great for me because I have tons of required readings this semester, and lugging a laptop around just to read PDFs is awkward, and printing hard copies is out of the question (we're talking about a couple of thousand pages here).

I also love being able to access journal databases and downloading articles on the go (thanks to good reader).

I don't use it much for note taking in class but I'm a bit old skool and still like to scribble notes on paper with a fountain pen. But I do take some notes on my readings using Notarize.

I'm also quite pleased with the organisational aspect - calendar, e-mails and specialised scheduling software (iStudiez) make it hard to miss an assignment deadline.

Depends on your needs I guess.
Click to expand...

I also use it in a similar way and it is very much worth if for me. It is very convenient to have all my PDF's, books, and MS Office files (available through iDisk) available to me wherever I am without having to carry an MBP.
 
Baker19 said:
I'm thinking about getting one mostly for school

I'll be taking marketing/finance and want to know if you guys think it would be useful, money isn't a concern just function and how easy it is to use for what I need it for.

I kind of want one but I'm not totally sure
Click to expand...

For what it does, I'd say the price is too much. Don't get me wrong I love my iPad, but I just think the price is a bit steep.
 
I'm a science student and I think it's great, especially for taking notes in lecture or to start essays when I'm out and about.. obviously the entertainment aspect is the main reason I bought it though, great for checking emails anywhere and surfing the web! I wouldn't be without it now I have one, as an extra to my main mac that is. If it was between a mac and an ipad, I would go for the mac. But having both, even better!
signature_silverapple.jpg
 
If money really isn't a problem, buy it, be sure to get the 3G. Initially I bought it just.... well to be honest cause i wanted one, i had no idea what i would with it, 2months later i´m in love with the thing i carry it everywhere i go and use it for 90% of my computer related stuff...

Buy it, its a great toy anyway you look at it
 
Everyone has a different opinion, but for my needs, I absolutely love my iPad and say it's worth it.

This semester I don't have a single physical textbook. I either have the ebook or with the professors help, I have the PDF of the lecture outlines. The one app that completely justifies my purchase was Noterize. PowerPoint, keynote, and PDF importing and being able to annotate, draw diagrams, record audio clips, highlight, you name it, makes my iPad irreplaceable. This semester is going to be a breeze. The Google app is also coming around, I use that to type out essays and such, and then print them off at the university when I get there. For right now, the iPad is NOT a laptop replacement, however it is a fantastic device that I am 100% satisfied with. Well, 95%... 4.2 needs to get here quick.

Of course, your needs may be diffenent then mine. But for what I use it for, couldn't be happier.
 
I want to know why it could not be considered as a replacement for a macbook? I am definitely getting an iPad. I have 2 iMac's, an iPod Touch, and an iPhone. I can not think of why I would ever need a "laptop" type device other than the iPad, so I am looking for honest answers from people who have them, or have had them. Thanx.
 
Cheese said:
I want to know why it could not be considered as a replacement for a macbook? I am definitely getting an iPad. I have 2 iMac's, an iPod Touch, and an iPhone. I can not think of why I would ever need a "laptop" type device other than the iPad, so I am looking for honest answers from people who have them, or have had them. Thanx.
Click to expand...

Try getting your iPad to work out of the box or installing software updates. You can't without another computer. Until you can, it's technically not a complete replacement until it's 100% independent.
 
Cheese said:
I want to know why it could not be considered as a replacement for a macbook? I am definitely getting an iPad. I have 2 iMac's, an iPod Touch, and an iPhone. I can not think of why I would ever need a "laptop" type device other than the iPad, so I am looking for honest answers from people who have them, or have had them. Thanx.
Click to expand...

Well I can't use my iPad to configure serial devices or run a number of Winblows only PLC/PAC programming programs. However I can use my iPad to remote into a facilaty's SCADA system from 12000 miles away. (In reality I am not that far away, but if I WAS on the other side of the world, I could still access my AOR.) All you folks that call the iPad a toy just haven't learned how to use them yet.

Edit: I might have misunderstood your question. My answer given is what I still use my laptop for. If you meant to ask if I am a student with two iMacs why would I need a laptop instead of or to go with an iPad, you don't. Just get the iPad. However, it is a heck of a lot easier to get destrated on the iPad.
 
Mine has become a replacement for all of my text books as well. Also, I just happened to save about $500 this semester by getting these books through the etextbook app. It has paid for itself this semester alone.

Link to the app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/etextbooks-for-the-iphone/id325230226?mt=8

This site says it's for iphone, but there is a native ipad version as well. As long as you get the 3g version, or your school has a good wifi network, you're set.

In addition to the books, I have many powerpoints and pdf documents that I need for my classes. Using good reader, I keep all of this stuff with me without printing a page.

Link to good reader: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goodreader-for-ipad/id363448914?mt=8
 
It's mainly my secondary computer since my MBP is tied to my desk 99% of the time. I use it before going to bed to read articles, watch videos, movies, etc. It's worth it to me. But you might not like it and may hate it for one reason or another. It's different for everybody. Go to a store and check it out for yourself.
 
It rocks, but it is not for computer replacement. It's for a portable unit that has a "base" computer for syncing info, songs, etc.

Just my opinion, but it works great as an "on-the-go" version/extension of your "base" computer.
 
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