iPad: To buy or not to buy...

[cardfan]

Originally Posted by The Phone Diva

Not in my case. Web and email is all I need while on the road. The iPad would have been perfect. I love my laptop but with laptop theft very high while traveling, it's unsafe to take it with all your info and files on it. If someone gets the iPad, they have limited files and info. And I think iPad is password protected and Mobile Me protected also.

Still don't get it. Your iphone or whatever can't do web or email? Buying a 1000 dollar device (after you get a cover, a few apps, etc) to do something that simple because of a slightly bigger screen? Ipad sucks in daylight IMO.

And it seems an ipad would be an even bigger theft target if that's what concerns you. (you can secure laptops you know).

[The Phone Diva]

Concerning using a phone over an iPad. I'm guessing you have 20/20 vision? I don't and the option of a larger screen would be nice to have. 16GB is all I would get since I do think the price is a little high considering no USB and no card storage. Cases are about $30-$40 online. The apps I would use would likely be almost the same ones as on the iPhone and most of those are free or aren't too much money. I wouldn't be buying any that I feel are unnecessarily overpriced over the iPhone version.

And even if I secure my laptop, it will be a severe loss if stolen. Even if they can't get in. This means I gotta dig up a new $1200 out of somewhere and start from scratch. I have the files backed up on an external drive, but that would still seriously bite to have it stolen. Now if it's a common thief, maybe they'll just wipe the drive, but someone more tech savvy may still be able to recover sensitive info. I don't want my whole life out there for some stranger. I even cringe when sometimes I buy phones from others, their info is still on it. I hard reset ASAP.

[Weaser999]

Originally Posted by The Phone Diva

For me, it was more that the data was integrated. With netbooks, I'd still have to get an expensive card. But thanks AT&T(read sig).

I didn't get the 3G version of iPad since I can tether it to my Pre for free. With a small two minute hack of course.

[Urkel]

Originally Posted by The Phone Diva

Not in my case. Web and email is all I need while on the road. The iPad would have been perfect. I love my laptop but with laptop theft very high while traveling, it's unsafe to take it with all your info and files on it. If someone gets the iPad, they have limited files and info. And I think iPad is password protected and Mobile Me protected also.

The thing about theft is that they don't target based on monetary value, they target based on "what's easier to flip". My Macbook Pro is about $2000 but if you strolled in with your $500 iPad then the thieves wouldn't even be looking at me.

As much as I'd like to take my iPad everywhere, I tend not to because I live in LA and it's still too much of a head turner to use in public safely. I used to feel the same way about the iPhone but now that everyone has one then it's not a big deal anymore so maybe one day it will be the same with the iPad.

[mobileman]

Originally Posted by cardfan

Still don't get it. Your iphone or whatever can't do web or email? Buying a 1000 dollar device (after you get a cover, a few apps, etc) to do something that simple because of a slightly bigger screen? Ipad sucks in daylight IMO.

And it seems an ipad would be an even bigger theft target if that's what concerns you. (you can secure laptops you know).

Why buy a 50 inch flat panel when a 20 inch will do the same?

For most things, the larger screen real-estate makes the experience far better. For example, I would rather read ebooks on my 10 inch screen than my 3.5 inch screen. It makes a huge difference.

[The Phone Diva]

Originally Posted by Urkel

The thing about theft is that they don't target based on monetary value, they target based on "what's easier to flip". My Macbook Pro is about $2000 but if you strolled in with your $500 iPad then the thieves wouldn't even be looking at me.

As much as I'd like to take my iPad everywhere, I tend not to because I live in LA and it's still too much of a head turner to use in public safely. I used to feel the same way about the iPhone but now that everyone has one then it's not a big deal anymore so maybe one day it will be the same with the iPad.

And yet laptops are very high on the theft/loss list, especially when traveling. Also in home buglaries(another thing that makes me very nervous). I wouldn't have the iPad too much in the street anyway. More in the hotel room where I don't have to pay for overpriced hotel internet.

[west3man]

Originally Posted by cardfan

I'd rather have a smartphone. And a ultralight laptop with a real OS & apps for anything a smartphone can't do well.

The iPad is like bringing a large limited iphone with you. There's not much of a point to it.

I could easily kill an hour or two with a smartphone if traveling (especially the iphone 4). Why lug an ipad around and be so uncomfortable trying to use it? And if you want to do anything productive you have to carry a small laptop (choose wisely, some have great battery life) anyway.

I dunno. People say that, but the iPad seems capable of doing pretty much any of the "productive" things that I do and, with LogMeIn, I have remote access to a great deal of the rest.

Smaller and lighter than a laptop, with no moving parts, lonnnnnng battery life and zero heat output - plus an always-on Internet connection. It's bigger than my smartphone, which is useful when I'm typing too much for the Pre's little keyboard. The advantages go on from there.

[Really mobile]

cardfan, I think it's time for you to return your iPad - if your wife and kids will let you :-)

[Urkel]

Here's a bad idea:
iPad Car Windshield Holder - $12.99

[miata]

Originally Posted by Urkel

Here's a bad idea:
iPad Car Windshield Holder - $12.99

Cool. Now you can do Webex while doing concalls in the car

[palmosteve]

Originally Posted by netwrkr9

An overpriced over sized ipod touch, no thanks.

Totally agree!!

[SDash]

Misconceptions of Windows 7 Touch UI

It felt like I should post this when I saw it.