Hello everyone, looking for some help here... I am thinking about getting the iPad and have some questions that I was hoping to get answered. First, I am not tech savvy, so forgive my ignorance if some of these questions seem off the wall. I'm on the road a lot for work and bought a Macbook Air and absolutely loved the portability of it, and when the iPad came out, it was right up my alley due to the fact that it had the 3G for sending and receiving emails without having to find a WiFi spot, which has always been a pain for me. I've read a lot about the ability to tether the iPad with my iPhone, however, I have no clue how to do this and was wondering how easy this is to do and if I have to jailbreak my iPhone or the iPad, something else I have no idea how to do. Basically, I paid somebody to set up all of my computers with Mobile Me, so I could have access to my files no matter what computer I am working on (17 in. Macbook Pro, 15 in. Macbook Pro, Macbook Air). Is this something that can be done with the iPad as well? Also, I do a lot of PowerPoint presentations, and have gotten different opinions on whether or not these would be compatible with the iPad. Can someone clarify this for me? I discontinued use of my internet card due to the fact that it was costing $99 a month, and would love to be able to tether the iPad or any of my other computers for that matter. If there is anybody in the Philadelphia area that would be able to assist me with any of this, I would be more than interested. My basic use for the iPad would be sending and receiving emails, editing and working on PowerPoints, listening to music and watching movies all while on the road. I know that the iPad is not a computer replacement, just like the Macbook Air isn't, but for somebody who is on the road, it seems like a home run. One last question: I have read that tethering or jail breaking any device from Apple voids the warranty...is this true? Thanks for all of your input. sorry for the long winded post.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Questions for iPad owners
- Thread starter Birch
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
He's obviously new here, cut him some slack.
To the original poster;
1. MobileMe works with all the devices Apple sells.
2. PowerPoint files work with pages and other apps.
3. Jailbreaking iPhone/iPad is extremely easy. However, make sure you follow all instructions. The warranty is not voided if you restore the device before taking it in for repair etc.
To tether your iPad to an iPhone, you would only need the iPhone to be jailbroken. An app (MyWi, $10) downloaded from the Cydia Store (A new app store added by the jailbreak) turn your iPhone into a wifi hotspot that any device (including an iPad/laptop) can connect to.
I just got my iPad yesterday, and I love it!
A few additional thoughts from someone who has not "jail broken" his Iphone but has thought about it for the very same reasons as you.
1. Do a search on this site for jailbreak in the title. There are some very insightful posts about the pros and cons of doing so. For many, the pros far outweigh the cons; for others not so much. This is a really great forum to help you make an informed decision.
2.Remember that the lack of easy tethering is more of an ATT issue than Apple. ATT really, really doesn't want people using their over worked network for even more data transfer without paying an additional fee. I'm sure ATT considers unauthorized tethering the same way your cable company thinks about splitting off a separate cable line. I'm not moralizing. In fact, I think ATT really needs to figure out a way to have tethering that won't entice people to go around the system and their failure to do so is their bad. But I just thought you should know.
BTW, I bought my Ipad on the first day of sales. I love it - particularly for business travel. Whatever you decide about jailbreakingor going with the 3g, you should absolutely get an Ipad. You'll love it.
1. Do a search on this site for jailbreak in the title. There are some very insightful posts about the pros and cons of doing so. For many, the pros far outweigh the cons; for others not so much. This is a really great forum to help you make an informed decision.
2.Remember that the lack of easy tethering is more of an ATT issue than Apple. ATT really, really doesn't want people using their over worked network for even more data transfer without paying an additional fee. I'm sure ATT considers unauthorized tethering the same way your cable company thinks about splitting off a separate cable line. I'm not moralizing. In fact, I think ATT really needs to figure out a way to have tethering that won't entice people to go around the system and their failure to do so is their bad. But I just thought you should know.
BTW, I bought my Ipad on the first day of sales. I love it - particularly for business travel. Whatever you decide about jailbreakingor going with the 3g, you should absolutely get an Ipad. You'll love it.
I live just above Philly and the 3G reception is good for me. I don't think there are any holes in the Philly area.
If you have an iPhone that you could jailbreak if not jailbroken already, you can get a WiFi iPad and tether. I haven't done it personally but a friend uses the tethering app on his jailbroken iPhone. If you are not very computer literate and don't have an iPhone already, just get the 3G iPad like I did. Then you don't have to worry about having the phone and turning on or off...yadda.
The iPad will probably service all your needs. As far as Powerpoint, are you just viewing, preparing, presenting, or all 3? It can get a little complicated depending on what you are doing but not terribly. Viewing is simple. Preparing using Keynote is not a problem but editing an existing PP may be. Presenting requires an attachment and I assume it's from a Keynote presentation.
If you have an iPhone that you could jailbreak if not jailbroken already, you can get a WiFi iPad and tether. I haven't done it personally but a friend uses the tethering app on his jailbroken iPhone. If you are not very computer literate and don't have an iPhone already, just get the 3G iPad like I did. Then you don't have to worry about having the phone and turning on or off...yadda.
The iPad will probably service all your needs. As far as Powerpoint, are you just viewing, preparing, presenting, or all 3? It can get a little complicated depending on what you are doing but not terribly. Viewing is simple. Preparing using Keynote is not a problem but editing an existing PP may be. Presenting requires an attachment and I assume it's from a Keynote presentation.
I think if you are not comfortable with setting up stuff on the computer, to the point where you paid somebody to set up MobileMe for you, then it's probably not a good idea to jailbreak your iphone or ipad -- dealing with the various ramifications of jailbreaking is considerably more complicated than setting up MobilMe, even if the jailbreaking process itself can be as simple as a single click. The main problem with jailbreaking is that you have to redo it every time Apple releases a new firmware update -- if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself, you will have to find and pay soomebody to do it for you each time!
As for presentations on the iPad, while you can import PowerPoint into Keynote, there are many limitations on what can and cannot be imported. It really depends on how your PowerPoint presentations are set up, but the more complex they are the more likely there would be elements that don't translate well when converted.
The iPad is wonderful for email, internet browsing, ebook reading, video viewing, games, maps -- it's a perfect device for mobile content consumption. But IMO, to get any real work done on it, you need to be comfortable with figuring out computer stuff for yourself. It's not a smaller MacBook Air without a keyboard, it's a giant iPhone/iPod touch. Just because the MacBook Air worked great for you doesn't necessarily mean that the iPad will, too. I'm not trying to talk you out of the iPad, but I think you should have a realistic look at what your needs are and what the iPad's abilities/limitations are before you buy.
As for presentations on the iPad, while you can import PowerPoint into Keynote, there are many limitations on what can and cannot be imported. It really depends on how your PowerPoint presentations are set up, but the more complex they are the more likely there would be elements that don't translate well when converted.
The iPad is wonderful for email, internet browsing, ebook reading, video viewing, games, maps -- it's a perfect device for mobile content consumption. But IMO, to get any real work done on it, you need to be comfortable with figuring out computer stuff for yourself. It's not a smaller MacBook Air without a keyboard, it's a giant iPhone/iPod touch. Just because the MacBook Air worked great for you doesn't necessarily mean that the iPad will, too. I'm not trying to talk you out of the iPad, but I think you should have a realistic look at what your needs are and what the iPad's abilities/limitations are before you buy.
I agree with some of the posts here, do not jailbreak the device based on how you have described your lack of knowledge with computers. I have spent hours fixing other peoples mistakes due to jailbreaking. I personally had to living in Australia and first receiving an iphone at launch in 2007 the phone had to be jailbroken and sim unlocked (far more complex than what is done today)
Spend the extra $100 on the 3g option because it will be worth it for you, I have not jailbroken since getting my 3G and now been on a 3GS.
Mobileme is awesome because as like you I have multiple computers and the iphone, I travel international and its great that they all update together with information. (and hopefully an ipad soon will add even more)
Good luck with your decision and if you have more questions this forum really can help and give you some great help (minus the first post in this thread)
Cheers
Josh
Spend the extra $100 on the 3g option because it will be worth it for you, I have not jailbroken since getting my 3G and now been on a 3GS.
Mobileme is awesome because as like you I have multiple computers and the iphone, I travel international and its great that they all update together with information. (and hopefully an ipad soon will add even more)
Good luck with your decision and if you have more questions this forum really can help and give you some great help (minus the first post in this thread)
Cheers
Josh
Thanks to everyone for your input, well I went and got the 64gig 3G, I guess the 15.00 per month is worth it. I am going to download the apps for keynote and try working with my power points and see if they work the way I hope they will.
Thanks again for the input, this site has been a big help to me and at 45 lol I am still learning.
Thanks again to everyone
Thanks again for the input, this site has been a big help to me and at 45 lol I am still learning.
Thanks again to everyone
I agree with all points made.
Maybe jailbreaking just seems easy to me because ive done it so much. The 3G iPad is the right one for you (I secretly wish i had a 3G one as well).
Enjoy your iPad, I know I do!
Maybe jailbreaking just seems easy to me because ive done it so much. The 3G iPad is the right one for you (I secretly wish i had a 3G one as well).
Enjoy your iPad, I know I do!