Ipad- waste of money?

Post Reply New Topic

Seriously what is the point of the Ipad? What can it do that a reasonably priced notebook or laptop can't?

First, it's cheaper. Second, reading on the iPad is far easier than on a notebook and the battery lasts much longer.

Is it better for school (like, with a keyboard can I write papers on it?)

No. For school use a laptop. For entertainment or for convenience in public, use an iPad.

If you're getting it for reading, a kindle is even cheaper so the price argument is a moot point.

I prefer a black & white Nook for reading. More realistic blacks than a LCD video screen. Maybe in 20 years that will change.

Do you mean tablet PCs in general when you refer to the iPad or are you singling it out? If you are meaning strictly the iPad than my opinion is there is no point to pay a huge price for a device like that. Presently it's resolution is top notch but in time that will quickly be dwarfed by much better technology.

If you meant tablet PCs in general than that's another story. Personal preference comes in to play here. Some might like the portability and long battery life of a tablet and others will favor better performance, more memory and built-in keyboard with a laptop.

I personally love using a tablet for the fact that it is extremely portable, has the ability to utilize and physical mouse and keyboard and the battery life is epic compared to a laptop. I currently use a Kindle Fire (it was given to me as a gift) that has been rooted and running some great performing custom firmware.

There are a number of reasons to choose an iPad. It's only had really impressive resolution in the last iteration. The app selection is somewhat better than Android and it feels faster and manages to consistently maintain 60fps in the UI. That gives it a higher quality feel. With the high resolution of the iPad 3, it's the clear winner. Some people don't really mind whether the premium for that is $100 or $500.

Its portable and its touchscreen interface is very well done.

I *hate* Apple products but I cannot deny the Ipad is a good product as a tool.

For example, I use it for university and it alone is responsible for my 4.0 GPA. I use an app that lets me take handwritten notes, record audio and video and insert images/text from the web...all at once. It is also my textbook (e-book class texts). Let's just say my backpack has been my ipad, a blank notebook for when I need paper in class (quizzes,etc) and an umbrella. Quite a change from the old lead-weight overstuffed backpack

In the field (archaeology) I've used its excellent camera to help document and video record retrieval of artifacts and bones as well as keep record of the excavation...all in one place.

For personal use its basically a very small, super light laptop. I can browse the web, email, watch video and have a wide variety of useful apps.

Other competitor tablets out there recently are starting to match the Ipad and I hope they not only match it but overcome it. I do not like Apple but I do give them kudos for the Ipad.

iagree that if you're in the tablet market its the best at the moment.


But, in reality having a glorified phone OS is junk, im waiting for x86 based windows 8 tablets to start popping out. Now that will be what a tablet should have been from the start.

I'm all psyched about Windows 8 so I'm anxiously awaiting Windows 8 for the ARM chip. I have an Android pad with an ARM chip. I'm hoping I can change the OS over to W8. Hopefully there's a way.

I suspect Windows 8 on tablets will only run Metro apps. If that's true, it's not significantly different than iOS.

my only beef is the non user replacable battery and the forced updates, sometimes with loss of data as a result.

i would like one of the 7 inch google tablets, small enough to be convenient anywhere and powerfull enough to use at work, since it uses android it can also be used with the various software we have there, even some remote desktop clients for them, basically a handy server remote, now i only have to get my boss to field the 200+ some odd dollars it costs.

i saw one used by one of the techs from another branch when he upgraded our rack VPN bridge.

Last edited by Oodain on 24 Oct 2012, 7:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

OTOH if it does run standard or "legacy" Windows apps, there have been tablets that have done that for years and nobody paid them any mind.

Could be useful but as a developer I have to warn you that the hardware is slooow. Despite it apparently being faster than other 7" tablets.

was editing, i have already seen it run,

it has a 1.2 ghz proccessor, as far as i know the same as in the ipad mini and actually a tad more powerfull than some thin clients i have seen.
in a handheld package that is more than impressive and at that price i would be willing to fork out for one for myself, no reason if the company pays for one though.

that said it isnt a laptop and to expect it to perform like one is unrealistic, nor is it practical for anything but gui work, writing in a prompt would probably be quite a bit slower than on a keyboard.