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Which size iPad?

How much actual space used on my iPad currently.

  • More than 32gb

    Votes: 15 29.4%

  • Between 16gb and 32 gb

    Votes: 14 27.5%

  • Less than 16gb

    Votes: 22 43.1%
  • Total voters
    51
D

dacapo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 25, 2010
403
10
A couple months ago, I bought an iPhone 3GS 32GB but realized soon afterwards that I didn't need so much space. So far, I have used about 8Gigs and I don't see myself adding much additional space. So, basically, I would have been fine with a 16GB model.

Now, as I contemplate the iPad, I'm wondering how much space they are using on their iPads? I'd love to hear actual space usages from existing users.

Edit: Type of files that take up most space would be good to know, if you are so inclined to share them.

Edit2: Please make sure to vote only for the size being used now in your iPad, not what you think is the best capacity or whatever.
 
dacapo said:
A couple months ago, I bought an iPhone 3GS 32GB but realized soon afterwards that I didn't need so much space. So far, I have used about 8Gigs and I don't see myself adding much additional space. So, basically, I would have been fine with a 16GB model.

Now, as I contemplate the iPad, I'm wondering how much space they are using on their iPads? I'd love to hear actual space usages from existing users.
Click to expand...

I have an 8 gig iPod Touch that is never more than 1/3 full. My 16 gig iPad isn't more than half full but I had to make some hard choices. Go for the largest one you can reasonably afford if you want to buy movies through itunes. Lord of the Rings costs $15 but takes up 8 gig on your iPad. I suppose you could rip it with handbrake and cram it into 3 gig, but still that's a large percentage of the 16 gig device. So if you want to watch movies that aren't streaming, go for the 32 or 64 gig device.

jessica. said:
My favorite so far is the 9.5" screen one.
Click to expand...

:D

You mean you don't like this one?

tumblr_kwy6n1EYef1qa6lc2o1_400.jpg
 
I'm not an existing user. I'd also love to hear how people with iPads so far are doing in terms of use of capacity.

I don't plan to put my music on the iPad - maybe some, but not most of it. I have 33gb of music, so that alone would require a 64gb iPad if I put it all on.

The things I anticipate using space are:

1 - photos
2 - videos

If I loaded about a thousand 5 megapixel photos, am I correct in ballpark guessing that they'll take up about 3gb at the most?

So the key is really the video. And I think I'd be okay with keeping only, say, five movies loaded on the iPad at any given time.

Basically, my logic and calculations make me think I should get at 32gb.

However, I'm also worried that my calculations will leave out a key element and I'll kick myself for a year until I upgrade. So I'm tentatively leaning toward getting a 64gb just to be safe.
 
Streaming and cloud computing are the future. That said, there is something to be said about having access to your "stuff" when the cloud aint available. So 16GB is mostly out for me. However, I have not loaded my music onto my ipad since I already have it on my phone whihc is with me even more than my ipad. And also easier to use the ipod function on th ego with my phone than it is with my ipad.

64GB seemed like overkill since I wont be watching movies regularly on my ipad and when I do I can stream them from home or Netflix or just rent them. No need to keep a bunch of movies on me all the time. I can only watch even my favorites so often. WHen I dont plan to watch them I will just remove them. 32GB is the right spot. Enough memory for flexibility. My only concern now is will apps start to get bigger? Elements is 2GB. PLus resale value. 64GB will probably be the mid level or lowest come gen 2 and I will be selling this bad boy.
 
Well, you start out with a 14.0 GB capacity, 13 GB after a medium set of Apps.

If you rip DVDs or anything like that, you can figure around 1 GB / Hour of video.

So far 16 GB is okay with me, but I'm eying the 32 GB so I can have some more videos stored on it. Even the 64 GB version can't hold my entire library, so I have to sync it every once in a while to get a new batch of music anyway.
 
I wish I had gotten the 32 gb. A couple videos fills my 16 up really fast, in addition to the fact that I like to keep 2 or 3 gigs open on my devices, because in my experience a completely full HD really diminishes performance.
 
I like 16GB because of these reasons:
1. The obvious... iPad version 2 next year...

2. Music: Do you REALLY... REALLY.... REALLY... need to put all 40GB of music on your mobile device (not only iPad, your phones too). For me, no, I have 5GB worth of music that I really love.
If you insist to listen to everything, you can use StreamToMe which also handles VIDEO as well as MUSIC.

3. Video: Air Video is a great way to stream your movies. Some people who have DRMed content won't be able to use this.
On the other hand, I have my movies on MKV format which yields to a couple hundred gigs. Waiting for everything to convert and sync will take a much longer time... and requires way too much space

4. Pictures: I use Picasa for my pictures and Web Albums for iPad is a great way to view those pictures. It also makes 0 sense for me to upload my newly taken pictures to Picasa (a wait)... and sync them to my iPad (another wait) when I can use an app to view my Picasa pictures.

5. Apps: The only thing without "cloud" alternative and I personally have to try very hard to exceed 16GB in apps before breaking my bank account...

Your mileage may vary but with streaming and cloud technology, I find myself putting less and less stuff inside my iPad.
 
illutionz said:
I like 16GB because of these reasons:
1. The obvious... iPad version 2 next year...

2. Music: Do you REALLY... REALLY.... REALLY... need to put all 40GB of music on your mobile device (not only iPad, your phones too). For me, no, I have 5GB worth of music that I really love.
If you insist to listen to everything, you can use StreamToMe which also handles VIDEO as well as MUSIC.

3. Video: Air Video is a great way to stream your movies. Some people who have DRMed content won't be able to use this.
On the other hand, I have my movies on MKV format which yields to a couple hundred gigs. Waiting for everything to convert and sync will take a much longer time... and requires way too much space

4. Pictures: I use Picasa for my pictures and Web Albums for iPad is a great way to view those pictures. It also makes 0 sense for me to upload my newly taken pictures to Picasa (a wait)... and sync them to my iPad (another wait) when I can use an app to view my Picasa pictures.

5. Apps: The only thing without "cloud" alternative and I personally have to try very hard to exceed 16GB in apps before breaking my bank account...

Your mileage may vary but with streaming and cloud technology, I find myself putting less and less stuff inside my iPad.
Click to expand...

Very good points, thanks!
 
illutionz said:
I like 16GB because of these reasons:
1. The obvious... iPad version 2 next year...

2. Music: Do you REALLY... REALLY.... REALLY... need to put all 40GB of music on your mobile device (not only iPad, your phones too). For me, no, I have 5GB worth of music that I really love.
If you insist to listen to everything, you can use StreamToMe which also handles VIDEO as well as MUSIC.

3. Video: Air Video is a great way to stream your movies. Some people who have DRMed content won't be able to use this.
On the other hand, I have my movies on MKV format which yields to a couple hundred gigs. Waiting for everything to convert and sync will take a much longer time... and requires way too much space

4. Pictures: I use Picasa for my pictures and Web Albums for iPad is a great way to view those pictures. It also makes 0 sense for me to upload my newly taken pictures to Picasa (a wait)... and sync them to my iPad (another wait) when I can use an app to view my Picasa pictures.

5. Apps: The only thing without "cloud" alternative and I personally have to try very hard to exceed 16GB in apps before breaking my bank account...

Your mileage may vary but with streaming and cloud technology, I find myself putting less and less stuff inside my iPad.
Click to expand...


I agree and the reason I only got a 16 gig.
 
illutionz - good points - you've singlehandedly made me think I should get a 32gb instead of 64gb ... with 16gb being "maybe enough" and 32gb being "safe just in case I forgot to think about something".
 
I have a 64GB version simply because I like having the option of loading it up with a bunch of ***** if I want to. It is that simple, really. ;)
 
r0k said:
I have an 8 gig iPod Touch that is never more than 1/3 full. My 16 gig iPad isn't more than half full but I had to make some hard choices. Go for the largest one you can reasonably afford if you want to buy movies through itunes. Lord of the Rings costs $15 but takes up 8 gig on your iPad. I suppose you could rip it with handbrake and cram it into 3 gig, but still that's a large percentage of the 16 gig device. So if you want to watch movies that aren't streaming, go for the 32 or 64 gig device.



:D

You mean you don't like this one?

tumblr_kwy6n1EYef1qa6lc2o1_400.jpg
Click to expand...

Ha! Made me laugh
 
wombat888 said:
illutionz - good points - you've singlehandedly made me think I should get a 32gb instead of 64gb ... with 16gb being "maybe enough" and 32gb being "safe just in case I forgot to think about something".
Click to expand...

Remember, your mileage may vary ;)
Some people can't use Air Video/StreamToMe because they don't leave their Home Computer turned on 24/7... or some people just hates Picasa and refused to store their pictures there...

I don't want angry mob at my door demanding my head because they have no space to put their movies on the iPad :p:p
 
Originally planned on buying 32GB then thought it through since I knew I'd use it mostly for apps and reading material (docs, books, mags). I have about 8GBs tied up right now between 5 books, 50 apps, and 2 movies. But with the ability to stream video and music w/ apps like Air Video, the need for additional storage is even less compelling to me.
 
I went with the 32GB model. It is working out perfectly.
I have 54 applications, 300 tracks of music, 1000 photos, 5 full-length movies, 5 1-hour TV show episodes, 1 1/2 hour TV show episode, 2 dozen ebooks, a half-dozen pages documents, a few video-laden keynote presentations, and assorted notes. 19GB free.
 
sracer said:
I went with the 32GB model. It is working out perfectly.
I have 54 applications, 300 tracks of music, 1000 photos, 5 full-length movies, 5 1-hour TV show episodes, 1 1/2 hour TV show episode, 2 dozen ebooks, a half-dozen pages documents, a few video-laden keynote presentations, and assorted notes. 19GB free.
Click to expand...

Seems like a pretty decent collection for an iPad. I'm now leaning toward the 16gb model, since your collection profile is pretty close to mine. (I don't want or need ALL my photos/apps/movies, etcs on the iPad at one time, I don't think.)

I did notice in the poll that there are several people who have more than 32gb worth of material loaded on their iPads already. I wonder what their usage profile is like?
 
dacapo said:
Seems like a pretty decent collection for an iPad. I'm now leaning toward the 16gb model, since your collection profile is pretty close to mine. (I don't want or need ALL my photos/apps/movies, etcs on the iPad at one time, I don't think.)

I did notice in the poll that there are several people who have more than 32gb worth of material loaded on their iPads already. I wonder what their usage profile is like?
Click to expand...
My media collection weighs in at a total of over 2TB so I have plenty of experience of optimizing my selection of media. :)

If your collection profile will be similar to mine, then you probably should reconsider the 16GB and go for 32GB. I think that 16GB will cut things too close should some new app be released that requires significant storage space.

Of course if you are certain on getting a 2nd gen iPad later on, then dealing with 16GB until then won't be a hardship.
 
sracer said:
My media collection weighs in at a total of over 2TB so I have plenty of experience of optimizing my selection of media. :)

If your collection profile will be similar to mine, then you probably should reconsider the 16GB and go for 32GB. I think that 16GB will cut things too close should some new app be released that requires significant storage space.

Of course if you are certain on getting a 2nd gen iPad later on, then dealing with 16GB until then won't be a hardship.
Click to expand...

The decision is now much easier... I know for sure that I don't want a 64gb iPad.

I'll definitely decide between 16gb and the 32gb. Thanks for saving me $100, if not $200!
 
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