Let's Talk About iPads

[Mike4AU]

Our HR Director has asked me to help her determine which laptop to buy. She wants one to surf the net, check email, create and edit Word and Excel docs (infrequently) and to store and display her photos. After thinking about the subject for a while, I am leaning toward telling her to get an iPad.

I am by no means an Apple guy, but the resolution and color accuracy of an iPad is unbelievable. It uses an IPS panel. If I do tell her to get the Pad, I will tell her to wait for version 2, which is supposed to have a USB port. Oh, she also likes to read books, and I think the reader on the iPad is pretty cool.

So, guys, tell me what you think about iPads. Tell me the good and bad. I will tell you up front that I am going to buy one just for the main purpose of displaying my photos.

Thanks for your help.

Mike

[HuskerOmaha]

I don't own one...yet.

But after messing with my brother's for a while, and demoing at B/M stores, they are pretty awesome.

Go BIG.

[Jon Liu]

I've had an iPad since right after they came out and the more I use it the more it has become absolutely irreplaceable for me. It's by no means a perfect product, but it does so many things right.

I actually got rid of my laptop and my desktop and the only real "computer" we have at home is my wife's laptop. So if ever I need to sync my information, I just connect it to her computer. Other than that, I do all my web browsing, emailing plus I use it for my classes and work, too. On top of that, it is a leisurely time-killer with the applications you can download. I daily fulfillment of entertainment and games is supplied all in the palm of my hands. Oh yeah, I read books on my iPad as well. Movies? All my digital downloads that I have acquired from buying blu-rays and whatnot also have made it on my iPad.

If there is extensive typing that needs to be done (like for work or school), I just get my bluetooth keyboard and use that, otherwise I've gotten accustom to typing on the iPad well enough.

The only drawbacks for me are two things, one of which may not be an issue for most people anyway:

First, even my 64GB of memory is not enough. I would like to have 128GB or even 256GB. Like I said though, this may not be an issue for most people, but for me... I have 30+GB of music, 30+GB of apps, and a ton of movies and pictures to fit onto one device.

Second, which will most likely be resolved in the 2nd gen, is the lack of front/back facing camera.

I take my iPad nearly everywhere. It's just so convenient. Since I even got the WIFI + 3G, it makes it even more convenient. What I love is since the 3G version also has GPS built-in, this also acts as my Navigation system as well with the TomTom App.

I'm sure it sounds like I am gushing about this product, but what is amazing is that nearly a year later, this product still gives me this much excitement and satisfaction.

[Mike4AU]

Husker, good thread on the HT room build. Nice job. I did not read every word and you may have covered this, but if not, be sure to put some case fans on the back of your rack to suck the hot air out from the electronics and your room. Yate Loon makes some nice and quiet case fans. I put 3 of them on the back of my rack and plugged them in to my AVR. Even with that cooling, man, when the stuff is really cranking, it does warm up.

[Mike4AU]

Jon, if V2 has a USB port, one could easily hook up an external HDD for extra storage...right? And that would be a lot cheaper than Apple's extra storage.

[rsa]

11.6" MacBook Air :saywhat:

[HuskerOmaha]

external usb

I would assume the newer version of IPAD would have USB 3.0? Or is that just a compatibility product right now and it isn't "out" yet? Just wondering, my HTPC motherboard has 3.0....

Get an IPAD. Then post a review!

[Mep]

If you are looking to create and edit word and excel you probably don't want an iPad. If you just need to view them on the go, it is great, especially power point. It is functional as an ereader, about as good as any back lit display can get.

It is great as a picture viewer though. The portable photo album is its best feature.

I wouldn't think of it as a replacement for a workstation computer. It really is a replacement for paper. Rather than carrying around folders of papers, documents and photos to a meeting, you can just take an iPad. That is the device's true propose in the business setting. Apple is too greedy about content for the iPad to be useful as a workstation and the OS is too protecting of content for one to get work done but it is great at showing work once it is done.

So the question should be, does the HR director need a device to display documents and images on the go with ease?

Of course outside the business setting it can be a lot of fun.

[Mike4AU]

I have realized that I did not make it clear that the iPad/laptop for our HR Director is for her personal use at home.

The use of an iPad/laptop for Word and Excel would be very infrequent. I thought that an iPad would work in those programs.

She would use this device, whatever it turns out to be, to display images, surf the net and email and other odds and ends.

Thanks for all the help. Keep those comments coming.

[Jon Liu]

I highly doubt that the USB port that is rumored to be on ver. 2 will be capable to be used for extra storage outside of pictures. Apple will likely keep the USB capabilities limited for the iPad v.2 just like they did for the 1st gen.

The iPad for infrequent Word and Excel editing would be fine. I use it for those two tasks on a somewhat consistent basis. It's not a full-fledge word or excel processor and cannot compete with the full Microsoft Office Suite, but they are sufficient, IMO.

[Ray3]

OpenOffice would be a good alternative that should read Word/Excel docs.

Also, take a look at the Acer 1810TZ. 12" notebook with at about the same price as a iPad, but it has a full operating system, dual core processor (not that Atom thingie), 4 GB RAM and a 250-320 HDD. It's what I am typing this on.

WiFi, but no 3G/4G.

If looking to get the iPad, +1 on waiting for the second gen.

[InfernoSTi]

The only drawbacks for me are two things, one of which may not be an issue for most people anyway:

First, even my 64GB of memory is not enough. I would like to have 128GB or even 256GB. Like I said though, this may not be an issue for most people, but for me... I have 30+GB of music, 30+GB of apps, and a ton of movies and pictures to fit onto one device.

So, the current options are to use a cloud service like iDisk or a portable wifi device like an Airstash.

http://www.airstash.com/

Perhaps the combination of a cloud service and a portable wifi device would be pretty solid for anything you might need? I mean the whole concept of a cloud service seems ideally suited for the iPad crowd.

John

[Mike_TX]

You can also check out dropbox for cloud storage.
CPU called it a top software pic of 2010.

Mike

[Mike4AU]

Really good info, guys..thanks.

The inability to hook up an external HDD to an iPad is a deal killer for me. The HR Director has to be able to store digital photos and 32 GB ain't gonna get it (and the cost for more Apple storage is absurd).

The Mac Air is intriguing, but about $300-$400 than it is worth (IMO).

Right now I am leaning toward a Dell Inspiron or an Acer. I want to hold the cost to around $700. If I find something that costs more and is worth it, that would be OK.

Thanks again for the help.

Mike

[dvenardos]

They blew out of the first production run, but the Notion Ink Adam is very cool.

http://www.notionink.com/