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What can the iPad do that the iPhone can't?

D

dacapo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 25, 2010
403
10
I started following this site because of the upcoming Arrandale MBPs, then ended up waiting and waiting... soon enough, I found myself buying an iPhone! Now, I'm still waiting, and the iPad has come out. I don't want to be just buying an iPad because I can't wait any longer, but I guess I'm also curious if an iPad really would be helpful to have. ;)

Yes, I know that the iPad is physically supposed to be not much more than a big iPod touch, but physical features aside, what can the iPad do much more compellingly that the iPhone simply can't do as well?

Any real-life (or hypothetical) situations/uses from current owners would be very helpful in convincing me one way or another!:D
 
You simply can't overlook the size difference. It changes the experience completely.
 
Take a couple of pieces of paper and cover three-quarters of your computer screen. Use it like that for a couple of days and you'll have your answer
 
NT1440 said:
You simply can't overlook the size difference. It changes the experience completely.
Click to expand...

Yes, I know it's different size-wise, but what specific activities are just way better on the iPad for you?

darngooddesign said:
Take a couple of pieces of paper and cover three-quarters of your computer screen. Use it like that for a couple of days and you'll have your answer
Click to expand...
Sorry, I'm not following. I'm not really asking about differences with a iMac/MBP, though.
 
dacapo said:
Sorry, I'm not following. I'm not really asking about differences with a iMac/MBP, though.
Click to expand...

Cover up most of your computer screen, doesn't matter which computer you have, and scale down all your application windows to fit in that small space. It wont be as nice to use.

Everything is better with the larger screen.
 
dacapo said:
I started following this site because of the upcoming Arrandale MBPs, then ended up waiting and waiting... soon enough, I found myself buying an iPhone! Now, I'm still waiting, and the iPad has come out. I don't want to be just buying an iPad because I can't wait any longer, but I guess I'm also curious if an iPad really would be helpful to have. ;)

Yes, I know that the iPad is physically supposed to be not much more than a big iPod touch, but physical features aside, what can the iPad do much more compellingly that the iPhone simply can't do as well?

Any real-life (or hypothetical) situations/uses from current owners would be very helpful in convincing me one way or another!:D
Click to expand...

Word processing, Spreadsheeting, Presentations (via Pages, Numbers and Keynote), I find Mail easier to use given the larger keyboard and the fact that if I rotate to landscape, I can see my Inbox while I read/draft a memo.

Obviously movies are better on it due to the larger screen, photos look excellent and the Picture Frame mode is pretty sweet if you ask me.

Lastly, I love the Calendar and Notes apps better on the iPad as opposed to their counterparts on the iPhone.

Yes I still want/need them on my iPhone, but they just seem better on the iPad. :)
 
I don't think you can be convinced. You are obviously one of those people that doesn't believe size matters. In many things, bigger is very compelling! Size DOES matter. :)

Mark
 
Browsing the web.

I'm finding that I actually prefer the iPad to my Macbook Pro for casual web browsing. Being able to see the entire web page and interact with it using your fingers is much more efficient than anything I've used before.

After using my iPad, there's no way I'm going back to browsing on my touch.
 
What can the iPad do that the iPhone can't?

Load a webpage before the week is over, and allow you to view it as though you're not surfing the web through a peephole. The iPhone 3G is not a good web experience, its just the one that sucks the least amongst pocketable devices. If you spend a lot of time surfing the web or checking email/social media sites from the couch, iPad is the best device. If you're still holding out for a macbook pro, i would suggest opting for an iMac and ipad instead. The ideal scenario is iPhone for on the go, iPad for the living room, and iMac for work.
 
Do yourself a favor and head down to an Apple Store or Best Buy, pick it up and play.....then try it on your iPhone. That should answer all your questions. ;)
 
dacapo said:
Yes, I know it's different size-wise, but what specific activities are just way better on the iPad for you?


Sorry, I'm not following. I'm not really asking about differences with a iMac/MBP, though.
Click to expand...

Browsing the web with the 10" touchscreen really is quite a bit better to me.
 
Mark Booth said:
I don't think you can be convinced. You are obviously one of those people that doesn't believe size matters. In many things, bigger is very compelling! Size DOES matter. :)

Mark
Click to expand...

I think you misread my intentions. I'm actually trying to get convinced here... More accurately, I'm actually hoping for enough good reasons to convince my wife that we should also get this iPad, because well... it's so much better at ___, ___ and ____. :D
 
dacapo said:
I think you misread my intentions. I'm actually trying to get convinced here... More accurately, I'm actually hoping for enough good reasons to convince my wife that we should also get this iPad, because well... it's so much better at ___, ___ and ____. :D
Click to expand...

Nothing is going to convince you other than first hand experience. Go to the store and actually play around with it.
 
dacapo said:
Yes, I know it's different size-wise, but what specific activities are just way better on the iPad for you?
Click to expand...

-Web surfing, you don't have all those stripped down mobile sites, and the full sites are so much easier to use without panning and zooming everywhere

-Productivity Apps, the iwork apps and other apps that one would use to create documents

-Video, I'd much rather watch a tv show or movie on the big ipad screen as opposed to the tiny iphone one

-Reading Comics

-Reading books

-Using Maps, or any program that incorporates a map is so much easier to read than the tiny iphone screen

-Games, I'd much rather play almost any game because the screen makes controls easy, graphics look better, and its just a more compelling experience using an ipad game as opposed to a tiny iphone version

Saying that, the iPhone does have a couple advantage over the ipad:

-Ability to make phone calls, obviously

-Much easier to use as a portable music player

-Can use as GPS unit in car much easier than an iPad

-More portable for use when you are out and about
 
If you're dead set on getting a MacBook pro, you should be asking yourself what the ipad can do that the macbook can't. If you buy both, you could very well find one or the other sitting unused for days at a time.
 
NT1440 said:
Nothing is going to convince you other than first hand experience. Go to the store and actually play around with it.
Click to expand...

I would buy it in a heartbeat; it's just that it'd make a much better case and happier family if I can get my pragmatic better half (my wife) to agree.

Movies? She'll say, we can watch movies on the TV.
Email? We already have a laptop (3 laptops!)
GPS? You got that iPhone instead of the iPod Touch, remember?

So, that's why I'm asking for some practical applications that would make her say, "hmmm, maybe that'll be really cool!" (After all, it's not like she's a total prude.. she's just a bit more practical than I am, thankfully.)

Or, maybe I need to come up with some creative future uses of the iPad? ;)
(If Steve Jobs had put in a webcam, she would have already said yes!)
 
I don't think it's a replacement for a Macbook Pro. I still have my pro but have not used it much in this week. There is plenty my iPad can not do that my MBP can. I do a lot of photography and while the pictures are stunning on the iPad, editing still gets done on my MBP. Surfing however, now gets done on my iPad. I know I have a larger screen on the MBP, but the ability to just pick it up go is great. I don't have to keep this on my lap.
 
yaroldb said:
I don't think it's a replacement for a Macbook Pro. I still have my pro but have not used it much in this week. There is plenty my iPad can not do that my MBP can. I do a lot of photography and while the pictures are stunning on the iPad, editing still gets done on my MBP. Surfing however, now gets done on my iPad. I know I have a larger screen on the MBP, but the ability to just pick it up go is great. I don't have to keep this on my lap.
Click to expand...

It is definatley not, the iPad is amazing, but not a replacement!
 
Target is having a sale on balls, pick up a pair before swinging by the Apple Store. ;)

Unless she is the sole source of income for your family and or this purchase would financially hurt the family, you have every right to buy yourself something; however, you could say its a combo Birthday/Christmas present. If she still balks, why don't you add up the cost of all her shoes.

That being said, 500+ is outside the realm of impulse purchases. If you can't justify it after playing with one, maybe you don't really need one.
 
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