My use for iPad this summer. World Cup South Africa.

[Steve686]

I currently own a 3GS. I am going to South Africa for World Cup this summer. I want to bring my UMBP, but I just don't want to bring that thing all the way over there to basically store my pictures that I take. And I'm leaving my 3GS home, too. Don't really wanna rack up a $500 phone bill over the 2 1/2 weeks I am there(I know myself...I WILL use the phone even though I know the cost).

So I thought about it, and the iPad in this case seems like a great alternative at a pretty reasonable price(32gig $599 model. 12 megapixel camera fills cards fast, plus I will bring music and movies). I can drop photos from my camera onto the pad and instantly view them on a larger-than-iPhone screen, without the worry of having my $2000 laptop being discovered by thieves who will no doubt be all over the place looking to prey upon drunk, soccer-mad tourists. And maybe I can find some WiFi spots for free and do a little surfing there.

If anyone can think of any negatives about this idea, let me know. I'm trying to think of other options to keep my travel gear to a minimum.

 

[bigjnyc]

How will you transfer pictures from your camera to the iPad?

 

[Pixellated]

How will you transfer pictures from your camera to the iPad?

There is a connection kit.

 

[gibbz]

How will you transfer pictures from your camera to the iPad?

I believe Apple has a solution for that

 

[Steve686]

I believe Apple has a solution for that

Yeppers. This made me lean towards iPad instead of hauling the laptop.

Plus, if I break the Pad, it's far less than half the cost of breaking my laptop.

Security was another issue. All of my banking and other personal info is on the UMBP. With the iPad, I can create more of a "dummy" machine and limit vital info stored on it.

The one thing that kinda bugs me, is the lack of cable lock port.

 

[bigjnyc]

I believe Apple has a solution for that

oh perfect I think this is a good decision then stevetim. I give you my stamp of approval

 

[topmounter]

I'd get 32GB in memory cards so you have 2 copies of every image... just in case something untoward happens. Something tells me those tablets are going to be easy to lift.

 

[samcraig]

"There's a dongle for that" (c) 2010 SamCraig

 

[Freyqq]

so what exactly could this do that a netbook could not for far less money? No..it does not run osx. Also, disk space is rather limited unless you get the bigger models.

 

[Steve686]

so what exactly could this do that a netbook could not for far less money? No..it does not run osx. Also, disk space is rather limited unless you get the bigger models.

I don't like two different file systems. FAT32 vs. Mac Extended(journaled). iPad doesn't run OS X, either, btw.

I am going to have the iPad AFTER World Cup and would like the seamless integration.

The other thing is.....TOUCHSCREEN!! Oh, I have grown to love this option.

Disk space. On that note, it is an extension of my laptop. Not a replacement. I will mainly use it how I use the iPhone without the "Phone" functions or GPS. Seeing as I have a 32gb 3GS and only use about 12 gb of space, the 32gb iPad fits my range of storage. When you said bigger models, there is only one with more space after the 32gb @ 64gb.

@topmounter. Yes, I have about 128gigs total in SD cards. Would bring my Nikon D300, but gonna bring the Canon D10 point and shoot. It's water and shock proof. Perfect for a raging soccer environment.

Thanks for the input guys. I wanna make sure I cover all bases with this trip.

 

[lordhamster]

I currently own a 3GS. I am going to South Africa for World Cup this summer. I want to bring my UMBP, but I just don't want to bring that thing all the way over there to basically store my pictures that I take. And I'm leaving my 3GS home, too. Don't really wanna rack up a $500 phone bill over the 2 1/2 weeks I am there(I know myself...I WILL use the phone even though I know the cost).

So I thought about it, and the iPad in this case seems like a great alternative at a pretty reasonable price(32gig $599 model. 12 megapixel camera fills cards fast, plus I will bring music and movies). I can drop photos from my camera onto the pad and instantly view them on a larger-than-iPhone screen, without the worry of having my $2000 laptop being discovered by thieves who will no doubt be all over the place looking to prey upon drunk, soccer-mad tourists. And maybe I can find some WiFi spots for free and do a little surfing there.

If anyone can think of any negatives about this idea, let me know. I'm trying to think of other options to keep my travel gear to a minimum.

This will be fantastic for folks who like to travel light!

 

[natasha69]

I currently own a 3GS. I am going to South Africa for World Cup this summer. I want to bring my UMBP, but I just don't want to bring that thing all the way over there to basically store my pictures that I take. And I'm leaving my 3GS home, too. Don't really wanna rack up a $500 phone bill over the 2 1/2 weeks I am there(I know myself...I WILL use the phone even though I know the cost).

So I thought about it, and the iPad in this case seems like a great alternative at a pretty reasonable price(32gig $599 model. 12 megapixel camera fills cards fast, plus I will bring music and movies). I can drop photos from my camera onto the pad and instantly view them on a larger-than-iPhone screen, without the worry of having my $2000 laptop being discovered by thieves who will no doubt be all over the place looking to prey upon drunk, soccer-mad tourists. And maybe I can find some WiFi spots for free and do a little surfing there.

If anyone can think of any negatives about this idea, let me know. I'm trying to think of other options to keep my travel gear to a minimum.

cape town is better than joburg in regards to crime, but not much better. i'd be very careful about bringing expensive toys there. just you and your wallet are a target.

now if you can be careful, i'd bring 3-4 ipads and sell them to pay for your trip.

 

[Steve686]

cape town is better than joburg in regards to crime, but not much better. i'd be very careful about bringing expensive toys there. just you and your wallet are a target.

now if you can be careful, i'd bring 3-4 ipads and sell them to pay for your trip.

Ya. We fly into Jburg. The first matches are at Rustenburg.<---sp?

Indeed. That's one reason for the iPad versus the laptop. I can use the iPad to help deflect a .223 round, too.

I'd get a lot of customs hassle trying to bring in 3-4. A lot of explaining to do. Remember when Xbox wasn't allowed to be shipped to Iraq?

 

[natasha69]

Ya. We fly into Jburg. The first matches are at Rustenburg.<---sp?

Indeed. That's one reason for the iPad versus the laptop. I can use the iPad to help deflect a .223 round, too.

I'd get a lot of customs hassle trying to bring in 3-4. A lot of explaining to do. Remember when Xbox wasn't allowed to be shipped to Iraq?

We = each of you could carry one. just don't bring them in the original boxes and you'll be fine.

.223 - try .308. AK/47's are the weapons of choice. that and 9mm's.

and make sure you bring back some biltong. seriously though. just push all your data out just before leaving and sell all the ipads you bring in. south africans are tech crazy. you can sell them at 5X minimum the price.

 

[Steve686]

We = each of you could carry one. just don't bring them in the original boxes and you'll be fine.

.223 - try .308. AK/47's are the weapons of choice. that and 9mm's.

and make sure you bring back some biltong. seriously though. just push all your data out just before leaving and sell all the ipads you bring in. south africans are tech crazy. you can sell them at 5X minimum the price.

I wish I could bring my HK45c. No match for any of those calibers or 7.62, but...

Here is an afterthought.

When I do go through airports, I have to take my laptop out of the bag to go through X-ray. Since so many people are convinced that the iPad is merely a larger iPod Touch, do you think airports are going to require it be run through X-ray the same way?

 

[natasha69]

I wish I could bring my HK45c. No match for any of those calibers or 7.62, but...

Here is an afterthought.

When I do go through airports, I have to take my laptop out of the bag to go through X-ray. Since so many people are convinced that the iPad is merely a larger iPod Touch, do you think airports are going to require it be run through X-ray the same way?

definitely. its a larger screen. TSA pays close to minimum wage. try explaining the difference between the ipad and a laptop to them.

go to www.tombiehn.com - see if he's making custom ipad travel protectors yet - they are TSA friendly. makes taking laptops out and through TSA a breeze. i traveled with two of them at once and i never held anyone up. they have handles on them and protective foam.

remember, if anyone approaches your car in a suspicious way, you are allowed by law to a) get the hell out of there, or b) use your car as a weapon. its a different world there.

 

[Steve686]

definitely. its a larger screen. TSA pays close to minimum wage. try explaining the difference between the ipad and a laptop to them.

go to www.tombiehn.com - see if he's making custom ipad travel protectors yet - they are TSA friendly. makes taking laptops out and through TSA a breeze. i traveled with two of them at once and i never held anyone up. they have handles on them and protective foam.

remember, if anyone approaches your car in a suspicious way, you are allowed by law to a) get the hell out of there, or b) use your car as a weapon. its a different world there.

Thanks for the tips. It's probably a lot different than a trip to Hong Kong I took, But also very similar at the same time.

 

[PTown2LA]

Still Bringing iPad to South Africa?

Now that we're getting close to the World Cup, I was wondering if people are still planning on bringing their iPads to South Africa.

 

[dextertangocci]

Now that we're getting close to the World Cup, I was wondering if people are still planning on bringing their iPads to South Africa.

Seriously. The crime in South Africa is not as bad as the international media make it out to be. There is crime, but there are many countries with far higher crime rates than here.

I've lived in Cape Town all my life and have never been mugged, hijacked, had my house broken into (even though I have no alarm, security, burglar bars etc. and I hardly ever lock my doors).

If you just remember not to leave your valuables lying around or walk around with your cameras etc. like typical absent-minded tourists looking lost then you will be fine.

Besides that, there is such a heavy police presence in all the major cities that there should not be any serious incidents.

I walk around with my iPad, iPhone 3GS and MBP, leave them in my car, in my unlocked house etc. and it's all good I live about 2km from the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town BTW.

 

[kaelell]

you should have an iPad meetup in SA !
Hold images of your country flags on your iPads and have a nice group photo, or is that too geeky?

 

[kloda]

Seriously. The crime in South Africa is not as bad as the international media make it out to be. There is crime, but there are many countries with far higher crime rates than here.

I agree. In my three trips to SA, I never felt threatened. Just keep your wits about you and a close eye on your stuff, you should be fine.

and make sure you bring back some biltong.

Best of luck trying to get the stuff past the TSA and customs folks at JFK (or wherever you fly out of). Sadly, biltong can't be brought into the US. I've been craving the stuff since my last visit in 2004.

iPad, biltong and World Cup. Wish I was there hanging out with my relatives.

 

[natasha69]

I agree. In my three trips to SA, I never felt threatened. Just keep your wits about you and a close eye on your stuff, you should be fine.



Best of luck trying to get the stuff past the TSA and customs folks at JFK (or wherever you fly out of). Sadly, biltong can't be brought into the US. I've been craving the stuff since my last visit in 2004.

iPad, biltong and World Cup. Wish I was there hanging out with my relatives.

i've had the same experience - have missed the crime, but my family who lives there has not. it appears out of nowhere so its kind of like a bad lotto ticket. just be aware of your surroundings and use good common sense.

biltong - just avoid the beagle. i've managed to get it in many times, but now i just make my own. takes about 20 minutes to prepare and a week to dry.

 

[colmaclean]

I work with a guy from SA (rugby's his sport unfortunately).

Anyway, he's always amused when the first thing people mention to him is that cars in SA have flame throwers hanging off the sides to stop carjackings.

Complete urban myth, apparently.

 

[Robin4]

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