Apple iPad 2 opinions?

[DustyDawg48]

How many of you own or have used one of these new wonders? Are they just a glorified iPod or a real legitimate threat to the laptop? I've been kicking around the idea of buying one for my wife who has a laptop on it's last leg. worth it or should I just bypass that and get a new laptop?

Thanks!

 

[spasmo]

I've had the ipad and now have the ipad 2. It depends on what your wife does on her laptop. If she works on her laptop frequently creating or working with documents, whether adobe, microsoft,etc, then this shouldn't be taking the place of her laptop. It's just not that easy on the ipad. Now, a different tablet may be for her though. Maybe she needs one with usb ports or something similar. Then check out some of the other tablets.

I love my ipad. I think I actually preferred my original over the iPad 2. It may just be the case I have this one in but it was easier for me to charge it than it is this 2nd one. The battery life isn't as good on iPad2 as it was on the original.

I mostly only view documents. I use dropbox so I can keep my documents accessible for my ipad or any other device I may be on at the time or just to give others access to documents. You gotta look at the keyboard. Does she need a keyboard? My new case has a bluetooth keyboard. It's nice but the design could be better.

It really just depends on what she uses her laptop for though. Good luck..

 

[96firephoenix]

It is a legitimate threat to the net-book, but not the laptop.

if she needs portability, ease of use and long battery life (like for taking notes in classes, meetings etc...), I would get an iPad and one of the cases with a built-in Bluetooth keyboard.

If she needs high processing power, the ability to run multiple programs (like for composing photographs, writing research papers etc...), I would get a laptop.

the only advantages that a net-book has over an iPad are the ability to run multiple programs, a USB port and an Ethernet jack.

A full-on laptop has the advantages of greater processing power, larger screen, better graphics, USB capability, HDMI i/o, CD/DVD R/W drives, SD slot, Ethernet jacks, Firewire ports, ability to run multiple programs with ease. (I have 7 running right now)

Bottom Line: if you were planning to get a net-book, get an iPad. if you were planning to get a laptop, get a laptop.

 

[Mike_Indy]

Agree with those above. Not a replacement for a laptop if you do document creation as a major item. Not having Flash may be an issue for a while for some folks. I prefer my v2 over the original.
Its great for general communication and quick reference.

Huge plus one on DropBox. I use it for my PCs, iPad2 and Droid Bionic. Nice to have documents sync'd.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

I have an iPad 1 and I see no reason to switch to the 2. Mine is small enough, fast enough, and I dont care abotu a camera. I love the thing. Its light, has a great screen for movies, has an awesome battery life, 2-3 days depending on how heavily I use it. I was with my wife in the hospital the past couple days, I was on it almost the entire day and had like 30% left when I went home in the late evening.

An iPad is more of a media device, movies, music, games, internet, youtube, email, etc. I can use it as a remote for my comcast DVR and HD boxes, I can use it to stream netflix, I can use it to rent movies, look at any newspaper or magazine nearly worldwide, at least ones you would want to read.

But its not a laptop. I wouldn't use it for word processing, documents, printing, etc. I have a case that has a built in keyboard and its a god send when I am typing extensively. Its a pain to use the keyboard on the screen.

 

[Fletch]

An iPad is more of a media device, movies, music, games, internet, youtube, email, etc. I can use it as a remote for my comcast DVR and HD boxes, I can use it to stream netflix, I can use it to rent movies, look at any newspaper or magazine nearly worldwide, at least ones you would want to read.

But its not a laptop. I wouldn't use it for word processing, documents, printing, etc. I have a case that has a built in keyboard and its a god send when I am typing extensively. Its a pain to use the keyboard on the screen.

This. The iPad (and pretty much all tablet-like devices, IMO) is a device for consuming content, not creating it. Let that be your guide.

I've had an iPad since the product launched a year and a few months ago, and I use it daily, but almost never to create any documents, only to read/consume them. It's too much of a pain in the ass. I bought a laptop at the same time, and I use it for document creation and management.

 

[sepe]

More expensive than tablets/pads with similar specs. Wasn't ever meant to be a laptop replacement (even though some people try to make it one even without the keyboard). I would have to mess around with the iPad2 to see if I liked it but when using a friend's iPad, I wasn't all that impressed.

Unless you "NEED" an Apple product, doing some research, you should be able to find something similar for several hundred less that will do almost everything (not to sure about using as a remote or streaming netflix as I haven't had any apps for that on my android devices but netflix is a free android app and there are many free remote apps for android).

I've heard about a lot of schools introducing iPads into the classroom but if the students use them for the semester (taking them home), I think they'd be better off with a 13" ultra-thin laptop.

That said, I'd take an iPad2 if it were free (not a horrible product but most of Apple's draw, especially today, is a result of marketing). I don't think I'd recommend an iPad as a netbook replacement simply because of the cost. If you need something simple and limited, save money and get a netbook. If you need a real computer, even a 14" laptop would work. You can get the dvd or bluray burner, fast processor, all that good crap. I picked up a 14" for less (shipped) than what an iPad2 costs and it is a nice computer.

 

[Caleb]

I think it could be a threat if equipted with a dock, wireless keyboard and mouse

 

[! twitty]

I think it could be a threat if equipted with a dock, wireless keyboard and mouse

And that would make it a laptop... exactly what the were not going for.

 

[Caleb]

And that would make it a laptop... exactly what the were not going for.

Not so... Lighter, thinner, longer battery life then laptops and more powerful then a netbook. Portable like an iPad, but add docking, keyboard, and mouse when you need to do documents. Sounds like perfect all arounder to me, and if it weren't for my bluray player and flash support(to do my school work online) on my laptop, my Dell xps would become obsolete. Anymore, my xps stays home and my iPad goes with me everytime my wife and I leave town.

 

[Scutter01]

The iPad is designed as a device for the consumption of media: movies, music, games, websites, etc. It is not designed to take the place of a computer, but does complement it nicely.

I disagree with the statement that it is a threat to netbooks. The netbook and the iPad serve two completely different niches. However, most people buy a netbook (or an iPad) for the wrong reasons, which feeds into that myth.

 

[sepe]

Not so... Lighter, thinner, longer battery life then laptops and more powerful then a netbook. Portable like an iPad, but add docking, keyboard, and mouse when you need to do documents. Sounds like perfect all arounder to me, and if it weren't for my bluray player and flash support(to do my school work online) on my laptop, my Dell xps would become obsolete. Anymore, my xps stays home and my iPad goes with me everytime my wife and I leave town.

You could have gotten an Android based tablet with similar accessories that welcomes flash...for less money (especially the silly people that get the 3g versions of the iPad).

 

[Scutter01]

(especially the silly people that get the 3g versions of the iPad).

The 3G iPad is great for internet access on-the-go. Public WiFi (free or otherwise) is not as ubiquitous as many people would like you to believe, and it's completely nonexistent on the road. Again, like the decision to buy a tablet in the first place, it makes sense if you buy it for the right reasons and not just because it's the latest shiny.

 

[DustyDawg48]

I really appreciate all the input. I was looking to get her something that she would never buy for herself. I like the '..to consume information, not create it...' description, too. I'll have to keep researching this. Thanks again!

 

[sepe]

The 3G iPad is great for internet access on-the-go. Public WiFi (free or otherwise) is not as ubiquitous as many people would like you to believe, and it's completely nonexistent on the road. Again, like the decision to buy a tablet in the first place, it makes sense if you buy it for the right reasons and not just because it's the latest shiny.

There are cheaper 3G Android based tablets. As far as access on-the-go, most people don't NEED to check their email a million times a day. If the tablet would be used for school (netbook would make much more sense) solid WiFi is there. As far as on the road, sure...I guess 3G is nice if you actually have coverage and want to pay for the service. If there were no data caps and there wasn't much of an added cost (to the tablet AND service) it would make sense if you need it.

Tablets that I've looked at would be for wasting time with media. Wouldn't need the 3G version of anything and wouldn't want to spend $500+ for a name when I can get one that has better specs for less money. Apple makes quality products but so do many other companies, they just don't market the brand as hardcore.

 

[! twitty]

Not so... Lighter, thinner, longer battery life then laptops and more powerful then a netbook. Portable like an iPad, but add docking, keyboard, and mouse when you need to do documents. Sounds like perfect all arounder to me, and if it weren't for my bluray player and flash support(to do my school work online) on my laptop, my Dell xps would become obsolete. Anymore, my xps stays home and my iPad goes with me everytime my wife and I leave town.

Where does this whole "more powerful" bit come from? Apple force feed you that line and you digest it? It is what it is, a toy. They are both in different markets. Laptops and netbooks are for production while Ipads are for personal enjoyment.

 

[PistolBob]

It is what it is. It is no replacement for a laptop. If I need to connect to a data switch and SSH into a host, I can forget it. No terminal emulations, no PuTTY...but it does have Angry Birds in HD.

 

[sepe]

Where does this whole "more powerful" bit come from? Apple force feed you that line and you digest it? It is what it is, a toy. They are both in different markets. Laptops and netbooks are for production while Ipads are for personal enjoyment.

Gotta love the commercials with bright colors and the glossy magazine ads. The best part of Apple is their marketing group.

 

[PistolBob]

I really appreciate all the input. I was looking to get her something that she would never buy for herself. I like the '..to consume information, not create it...' description, too. I'll have to keep researching this. Thanks again!

Buy a Hp Touchpad while they are almost giving them away. $149 for 32GB version, it has email, angry birds, MP3 player, plays porn flash vids, online chatting, web browser, all WiFi...can't beat WebOS.

 

[! twitty]

Buy a Hp Touchpad while they are almost giving them away. $149 for 32GB version, it has email, angry birds, MP3 player, plays porn flash vids, online chatting, web browser, all WiFi...can't beat WebOS.

You can beat WebOS since they are canning it. Lol