What can the iPad be used for?
- Thread starter ReadyAndWilling
- Start date
I see it as a netbook, but without the convenience of being able to do what regular computers do. It seems to mainly focus on videos, books, games, and a crippled internet experience. I'd get it if I traveled more, but I'm happy with my computer and netbook.
I sold my netbook after 6 months. I had the Dell Mini-9. Sure, because it runs XP it can do anything a regular laptop could do... but not well. Those cramped keyboards are too small to type properly, but too big to thumb type. Netflix and youtube would cause it to overheat and freeze up, so no videos for me. also, since you'd have to hold the screen a foot from your face to make anything out on a 9 inch screen, I could never get physically comfortable using it. The only games I could install (which had to be done through an external disc drive, which is a major pain-in-the-ass) were pretty old... like Starcraft. Oh, and lets not forget that it only had a 3 hour battery life, so it was tethered to a damn power source.
For what I actually used it for and would have liked to use it for? I'd have been much happier waiting a year and buying iPad for the same money.
I'm waiting for the next generation hardware, which will hopefully have the front-facing camera iPhone HD is getting in June; and, again hopefully, start at 16GB for the $500, as opposed to the offensively small 8GB you get now. Those changes, teamed up with the multitasking from OS4.0 = ultimate portable machine for my needs.
Besides not having the disk drive and not being able to play newer games, I have not had a single one of those problems with my Acer Aspire One. Works great with streaming video, plays most of my old games that I've tried on it, and the battery lasts a good 5 hours with wifi around 8 or so without. The keyboard took roughly a day or so to get used to and the screen isn't bad. It looks perfect for video.
I already bought the iPad mini last year, so really don't see much need for this one on my end. When the fiance's laptop dies, will probably replace it with a netbook, as it usually stays upstairs for browsing the internet while sitting by the TV, checking email, or putzing around with spreadsheets or Word.
An e-book reader will give you hundreds (if not thousands) of hours entertainment on one charge, they usually have slots for USB and/or SD cards PLUS they don't tire your eyes when reading on them anyway near the way a typical monitor (like on the iPad) does. By those arguments the IPad should be free.
Really thats your issues. I can understand people having other issues but this....
Seriously for reading the ipad can last days. And I have yet to ever read for days on end. Hours yes, but not days.
I have yet to have problem with eye strain on them, but admittedly the longest time I have just read without a break on one was four hours, so I can't attest for myself if longer would be a factor (on a few occasions I will read for say 12 hours straight without breaks of more then 15 or so minutes (bathroom, getting something to eat, ect).
Seriously most people do understand the portables have to be recharged at some point. The key issue on this is how often and if it interferes with your day to day use of a device.
For myself being able to use the ipad literally for the full day and not have to recharge except for when I sleep (when I wouldn't be using it anyway) is pretty much what I want as a standard for any portable media device. From laptops, to mp3 players, to phones).
I mean seriously no color still, thus reading a book about anything which references colors (like art books, comics, magazines, fashion, design, children's books, ect) are all a huge plus for the ipad (or any portable color device). The ability to watch movies and films (and to do that for nearly 12 hours is amazing on any portable device, I mean I watched all three extended Lord of the Rings films on just one charge, that blows my mind), people bitch about the lack of flash on use for the internet as not giving you the full look and feel and experience of the net, is even more true on the Kindle.
Now of course if your primary use for a portable deice is reading black and white texts and doing it for many, many hours of each day (with the additional use of music and a limited a b&w internet surfing, email). Then of course logically the kindle is probably (or something similar) a good device for you.
But if you want a more flexible device for media. Movie/TV, Books, music, Internet (limited by flash only) then clearly the ipad is vastly superior. I mean when I had my 6 week trip to Japan and China this would have been a blessing. My sister is just got back from her Europe trip and she loved having the ipad with her.
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