So you're going to buy an iPad, but... why?

[Anuba]

I've been reading the iPad forums with interest - so many people heavily against and so many for.

Personally, I, like many, am incredibly disappointed. I desperately wanted a new toy to get my teeth into, but with my iPhone in my pocket and my MBP in my bag, I just don't see the point of the iPad.

So why are you going to buy one? I want to be convinced and would love to hear other people's reasons.

For situations where the laptop (MBP 17") is too cumbersome and the iPhone is too cramped.

For instance, I probably spend a couple of hours a day on the bed or the couch surfing, mailing and watching movies. I find setting up the laptop to be too much of an, err, "event"... you have to get the mouse and plug in the power brick and get the laptop rest to protect whatever is underneath the laptop from the heat... I want something I can just grab and use, like the iPhone, but I hate surfing on that little thing. The scrolling, the zooming, the accidental clicking... it's the best surfing experience that a phone can offer, but why settle for the lesser of many evils? And don't get me started on writing emails on the puny onscreen keyboard.

There are also situations where you want to show someone something, like a picture or YouTube clip or a web page. Let's say I'll spot something and I want to show it to my girlfriend who is in another room. If I'm on the laptop I'll either yell "hey come here and check this out!" or pick up the laptop, walk over there and somehow awkwardly balance it in the air while I operate it. If I'm on the iPhone, I'll walk over and hold up the phone while she leans forward and squints to look at some tiny pic or Youtube clip.

The iPad appears ideal for both the "grab something surf-capable and use it in a hassle free way" situations and the "OMG check this out!" situations, and I'm willing to spend a few hundred on that. I wasn't expecting the iPad to be the second coming of Jesus or revolutionary in any way, it turned out to be pretty much what I wanted, with no positive or negative surprises attached.

 

[calderone]

For situations where the laptop (MBP 17") is too cumbersome and the iPhone is too cramped.

This is such a basic concept that many here are not getting. Thanks for that.

 

[aristobrat]

I cant imagine rewriting script on a virtual ipad keyboard.. and any real dev wouldnt use one for that reason either...

I don't know if you caught this in the specs, but in addition to the keyboard stand they offer, it can use BT keyboards too.

Wireless

With built-in 802.11n, iPad takes advantage of the fastest Wi-Fi networks. It automatically locates available Wi-Fi networks, which you can join with a few taps. iPad also comes with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, letting you connect to devices like wireless headphones or the Apple Wireless Keyboard.

 

[dgree03]

For situations where the laptop (MBP 17") is too cumbersome and the iPhone is too cramped.

For instance, I probably spend a couple of hours a day on the bed or the couch surfing, mailing and watching movies. I find setting up the laptop to be too much of an, err, "event"... you have to get the mouse and plug in the power brick and get the laptop rest to protect whatever is underneath the laptop from the heat... I want something I can just grab and use, like the iPhone, but I hate surfing on that little thing. The scrolling, the zooming, the accidental clicking... it's the best surfing experience that a phone can offer, but why settle for the lesser of many evils? And don't get me started on writing emails on the puny onscreen keyboard.

There are also situations where you want to show someone something, like a picture or YouTube clip or a web page. Let's say I'll spot something and I want to show it to my girlfriend who is in another room. If I'm on the laptop I'll either yell "hey come here and check this out!" or pick up the laptop, walk over there and somehow awkwardly balance it in the air while I operate it. If I'm on the iPhone, I'll walk over and hold up the phone while she leans forward and squints to look at some tiny pic or Youtube clip.

The iPad appears ideal for both the "grab something surf-capable and use it in a hassle free way" situations and the "OMG check this out!" situations, and I'm willing to spend a few hundred on that. I wasn't expecting the iPad to be the second coming of Jesus or revolutionary in any way, it turned out to be pretty much what I wanted, with no positive or negative surprises attached.

I can see your point... altho your first paragraph is a little much lol, I mean just pic up your laptop and go in the other room.. I mean it does have a battery lol.

 

[dgree03]

I don't know if you caught this in the specs, but in addition to the keyboard stand they offer, it can use BT keyboards too.

So with a keyboard add-on, what advantage does it have over a laptop? If i need to hook up a keyboard to do any medium to lengthy input.. why not get a netbook or a mac air?

 

[BobHail]

It's all relative. You wouldn't have to go too far to find someone that would consider your iPhone 3GS (and its data plan) + your Mac to be "Expensive Toys".

Sure iPhone has all the "toy features" which is nice, but it has something much more valuable than iPad: 1. A phone / SMS / MMS 2. Portability 3. Videocamera 4. Camera. Now THOSE are useful features!

And my unlimited dataplan is 3MB/s 9,90€ per month. Can´t beat that.

So was your point that iPhone is a toy? A phone a toy? All phones are toys? Makes you look pretty stupid now?

 

[dgree03]

I don't know if you caught this in the specs, but in addition to the keyboard stand they offer, it can use BT keyboards too.

Oh an im sure the bluetooth is crippled also... its the SJ way...

 

[calderone]

I don't know if you caught this in the specs, but in addition to the keyboard stand they offer, it can use BT keyboards too.

Nice, I missed the wireless keyboard bit. That simplified things!

Oh an im sure the bluetooth is crippled also... its the SJ way...

Even if it restricted to Apple keyboards, I have one already so it works for me.

So with a keyboard add-on, what advantage does it have over a laptop? If i need to hook up a keyboard to do any medium to lengthy input.. why not get a netbook or a mac air?

When I am done with that medium to lengthy input, I can take it off the dock, go to my couch and relax with it. It doesn't take long for me to become uncomfortable with my laptop on top of me. You can't really lay down with it an L shaped device. But a flat tablet, yeah, that will be more comfy.

Sure iPhone has all the "toy features" which is nice, but it has something much more valuable than iPad: 1. A phone / SMS / MMS 2. Portability 3. Videocamera 4. Camera. Now THOSE are useful features!

And my unlimited dataplan is 3MB/s 9,90€ per month. Can´t beat that.

So was your point that iPhone is a toy? A phone a toy? All phones are toys? Makes you look pretty stupid now?

1. I have a phone and barely use its phone features.
2. The iPad is more portable than my laptop, which I take everywhere already.
3. Don't need a another crappy videocamera.
4. Don't need another crappy camera.

The iPhone is indeed a toy. All the things you want are on free phones. How can you justify an iPhone when there are free alternatives. It is a toy, but a toy you want. According to you anything more than what you need is a toy.

 

[Anuba]

I can see your point... altho your first paragraph is a little much lol, I mean just pic up your laptop and go in the other room.. I mean it does have a battery lol.

Yeah I know, but sometimes those couple of hours become 5-6 hours, sometimes I'm in BootCamp where the battery doesn't last very long... and I hate having to keep an eye on the battery %.

 

[BobHail]

For situations where the laptop (MBP 17") is too cumbersome and the iPhone is too cramped.

For instance, I probably spend a couple of hours a day on the bed or the couch surfing, mailing and watching movies. I find setting up the laptop to be too much of an, err, "event"... you have to get the mouse and plug in the power brick and get the laptop rest to protect whatever is underneath the laptop from the heat... I want something I can just grab and use, like the iPhone, but I hate surfing on that little thing. The scrolling, the zooming, the accidental clicking... it's the best surfing experience that a phone can offer, but why settle for the lesser of many evils? And don't get me started on writing emails on the puny onscreen keyboard.

There are also situations where you want to show someone something, like a picture or YouTube clip or a web page. Let's say I'll spot something and I want to show it to my girlfriend who is in another room. If I'm on the laptop I'll either yell "hey come here and check this out!" or pick up the laptop, walk over there and somehow awkwardly balance it in the air while I operate it. If I'm on the iPhone, I'll walk over and hold up the phone while she leans forward and squints to look at some tiny pic or Youtube clip.

The iPad appears ideal for both the "grab something surf-capable and use it in a hassle free way" situations and the "OMG check this out!" situations, and I'm willing to spend a few hundred on that. I wasn't expecting the iPad to be the second coming of Jesus or revolutionary in any way, it turned out to be pretty much what I wanted, with no positive or negative surprises attached.

Man you people are lazy or just filthy rich... probably both.

 

[calderone]

Man you people are lazy or just filthy rich... probably both.

Be more specific on this point.

 

[dgree03]

When I am done with that medium to lengthy input, I can take it off the dock, go to my couch and relax with it. It doesn't take long for me to become uncomfortable with my laptop on top of me. You can't really lay down with it an L shaped device. But a flat tablet, yeah, that will be more comfy.

Actually a laptop on your lap is better than holding a tablet up in the air... i can see my arms getting tired... and if i had to put it on my lap.. well might as well use my LAPtop lol....

But hey dont get me wrong, I think its a cool concept... im just trying to get some practicality out of it... so the healthy Q&A is informative!

 

[BobHail]

Be more specific on this point.

I mean you are ready to throw away 499-829$ for just a casual couch internet surfing and you can´t lift a MacBook Pro and take it to another room. Really really weak!

Craziness going on here!

 

[BobHail]

Actually a laptop on your lap is better than holding a tablet up in the air... i can see my arms getting tired... and if i had to put it on my lap.. well might as well use my LAPtop lol....

Good point!

 

[Illuminated]

Man you people are lazy or just filthy rich... probably both.

And you have an iPhone3gs, a payment plan per month, minutes, texts, etc...which probably costs more than the iPad itself...way to be spending a helluva lot more per year!

You're filthy rich, aren't ya? Share the wealth then, ya scoundrel!

 

[MacModMachine]

This is such a basic concept that many here are not getting. Thanks for that.

i know....its almost not worth arguing about....

it does run osx....multitask...blabla

its not suppose to....people expect it to be a pc...when its not....

kids these days....

 

[calderone]

Actually a laptop on your lap is better than holding a tablet up in the air... i can see my arms getting tired... and if i had to put it on my lap.. well might as well use my LAPtop lol....

But hey dont get me wrong, I think its a cool concept... im just trying to get some practicality out of it... so the healthy Q&A is informative!

Yeah, I love it when my balls get toasty.

I don't think my arm is going to get tired holding up 1.5 pounds. I can do more with a flat device than something shaped like an L. don't have to hold the thing up in the air. If I want it on my lap, I rest it on my lap, just like my Kindle. If I want to lay down, I lay down in any position I want and the device is move with me, just like my Kindle.

I could be wrong, but theoretically and from using my Kindle for months, I think I can safely generalize and make the claim that this device with be more comfortable to use in situations where my laptop is uncomfortable.

I mean you are ready to throw away 499-829$ for just a casual couch internet surfing and you can´t lift a MacBook Pro and take it to another room. Really really weak!

Craziness going on here!

Am I throwing it away? Who are you to judge? If I want to use an iPad to surf the web (among other things) instead of using my Macbook Air, that is my choice.

You seemed to suggest earlier that people who carry around a bag with a laptop instead of the all-doing iPhone 3Gs are idiots. Yet, now we are lazy for not wanting to use a Macbook Pro which is 3 pounds heavier than the iPad.

Get off your horse and go use your almighty iPhone.

 

[gigadigit]

Ever since I got my iPod Touch, I wanted a large screen version of it. It would be perfect for surfing the web. I don't need a laptop or desktop. I've got plenty of those. I just need something simple to surf the web in full screen. iPad is perfect for that!

 

[dgree03]

i know....its almost not worth arguing about....

it does run osx....multitask...blabla

its not suppose to....people expect it to be a pc...when its not....

kids these days....

Your boy SJ compared to a netbook, which is a PC...

 

[dgree03]

Yeah, I love it when my balls get toasty.

I don't think my arm is going to get tired holding up 1.5 pounds. I can do more with a flat device than something shaped like an L. don't have to hold the thing up in the air. If I want it on my lap, I rest it on my lap, just like my Kindle. If I want to lay down, I lay down in any position I want and the device is move with me, just like my Kindle.

I could be wrong, but theoretically and from using my Kindle for months, I think I can safely generalize and make the claim that this device with be more comfortable to use in situations where my laptop is uncomfortable.

What about when you want to type on the ipad? Are you going to want to get up again... doc it and type... then remove it from the doc again and go lay on the couch?? that seems counter productive to me...

And your assuming that the ipad wont get hot... I had a iphone and a Ipod touch... they both got hot when in use for a long time...

 

[BobHail]

And you have an iPhone3gs, a payment plan per month, minutes, texts, etc...which probably costs more than the iPad itself...way to be spending a helluva lot more per year!

You're filthy rich, aren't ya? Share the wealth then, ya scoundrel!

And you don´t have a phone with plan for minutes and text? Are you pulling my leg here?

 

[calderone]

What about when you want to type on the ipad? Are you going to want to get up again... doc it and type... then remove it from the doc again and go lay on the couch?? that seems counter productive to me...

And your assuming that the ipad wont get hot... I had a iphone and a Ipod touch... they both got hot when in use for a long time...

Is there not an on screen keyboard? If I am laying down with my Air on my chest and I need to type, what do I do? Sit up and type. Because it is a pain to type in that position.

If I am doing a large amount of typing, I will pull out the BT keyboard, and put it on my laptop pad that I already use, so that I can have kids in the future.

The iPad is using a new chip, developed specifically for low power consumption. The backing is aluminum, meaning better dissipation. And, there is no flash to cook the CPU.

 

[gigadigit]

I think iPad is like the Wii when it first came out. All the hardcore gamers didn't want to get it, but it was a hit with the general public.
I am getting the same response on the iPad. My friends in the IT thinks it's underwhelming, but when I talk to my sister or my other friends, they think it's cool and want one!

 

[bossxii]

I've been reading the iPad forums with interest - so many people heavily against and so many for.

Personally, I, like many, am incredibly disappointed. I desperately wanted a new toy to get my teeth into, but with my iPhone in my pocket and my MBP in my bag, I just don't see the point of the iPad.

So why are you going to buy one? I want to be convinced and would love to hear other people's reasons.

Number one reason for me Slingbox app. 10" TV where ever I go, i already use my iPhone a ton but it's tough so share with people that want to see what's on it. Plus every app on my iPhone now imo will be better in a 10" version as I have larger hands and frankly it makes playing some games impossible for me.

Movies, I rarely watch a movie on my iPhone as I find it to small and just not that enjoyable.

Reading magazines. I have Zinio on my iMac, and now my iPhone app, but don't enjoy reading and constantly panning and zooming on my phone so rarely read them outside the house. iPad will make reading much better for me outside the house.

I'm excited to see app's like MLB expanded to the 10" format, this is what I hope developers recode their current iPhone apps to become even more functional and offer more content on the iPad.

Email - on my iPhone sure I can respond to someone but again, i simply find it to small to be a daily use device for email. I get tons of projects via my work email and simply can't work on such a small screen to answer questions or see the entire PDF, picture or blueprint and still type a response. (Yes I do hope multitasking hits the iPad someday)

These are things I have wanted ever since the iPhone came out in 07, I am more than willing to sacrifice some portability for the added functionality and benefit I will get out of the larger screen. The fact iWork is on this thing is a huge win for me as well. I carry some spreadsheets and quotes now and can email them from my phone but working with the Office apps on my iPhone is a bit scary making sure I get the right numbers in the right area. I send a bit out for $40,000 I need to be damn sure my math is right. Scrolling and zooming around a small screen makes this a challenge.

 

[Night Spring]

What about when you want to type on the ipad? Are you going to want to get up again... doc it and type... then remove it from the doc again and go lay on the couch?? that seems counter productive to me...

And your assuming that the ipad wont get hot... I had a iphone and a Ipod touch... they both got hot when in use for a long time...

It's got a virtual keyboard for casual typing. When I get up and take it to the dock, that would be for heavy duty work, for which I'd want to be sitting properly at a desk anyway.

As for heat, you've got a point, it's impossible to tell how hot it'll get until you actually use one. Probably a good argument for not rushing in and buying it the first day it's out.