OT: Apple Tablet Tomorrow - Mgraw-Hill CEO soon to be dead

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:11 pm

I am so close to pulling the trigger on an iPad. Damnit.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:15 pm

Diablo25 wrote:I am so close to pulling the trigger on an iPad. Damnit.

LOL. Me too. Have my Wii and other things up on craigslist as I type...

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:56 pm

Come aboard boys; you won't regret it! The iPad just keeps getting better as far as I'm concerned.

Badgun · Post by **Badgun** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:09 am

Does anyone have them in stock?

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:45 am

Swung by a Best Buy today with the intent of grabbing one. Sold out.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:48 am

Sport73 wrote:Come aboard boys; you won't regret it! The iPad just keeps getting better as far as I'm concerned.

Find any hidden gems or killer apps so far?

macsomjrr · Post by **macsomjrr** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 2:28 am

I'm still loving mine! It's been a great week experimenting with it:)

Though the typing is still my biggest gripe

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:28 am

JRod wrote:
Sport73 wrote:Come aboard boys; you won't regret it! The iPad just keeps getting better as far as I'm concerned.
Find any hidden gems or killer apps so far?

Probably not anything you haven't already discovered. The Zinio magazine app is treat for showcasing what digital magazines will be like; I like Newsrack for my RSS news; the biggest 'surprise' app for me has to be the free AIM client. Rather than just providing chat capabilities, they added a 'Lifestream' that blends Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Youtube, Digg and more. You see all your friends Facebook updates woven in with your Twitter feed etc. Nicely done.

I use the iWork apps for presentations and it's great - should you need it.

Any recommendations to share?

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:33 am

Badgun wrote:Does anyone have them in stock?

Do you have an Apple store within driving distance? I was in Braintree, MA on business this week and they had plenty in stock. It was great because they had 20 or more demo units out so I had plenty of time to try one out. I am a big fan of Apple and our family owns a Macbook Pro, 2 iPhones, and 2 Nanos. I fully intended on trying and buying one. However, I was not impressed enough by the product at any of the price points (lower the $599 model to $399 and I would have bitten). Here are some thoughts:

- the unit was surprisingly heavy
- it was almost impossible to type any way but "hunt and peck." I'm a good typist so I can't imagine going without a physical keyboard for typing anything other than a short email, URL, or search string. This was by far the worst thing and the "dealbreaker" for me. I am also pretty good at the "double thumb" iPhone typing and you can't do that on the iPad.
- the e-reader seemed real nice, but I am an advocate of free library reading materials and it just seems so much more convenient many times to have a book. Plus, since you can't have the thing on during takeoff/landing I'd still have to drag along a book/magazine for flights. We are taking a couple beach trips this year where I'll knock off a few books and I can't imagine taking this down to the shore due to fear of damage/theft. I read a lot in waiting rooms/downtime and the iPhone is fine for that.
- Movies are nice but I have HBO, Netflix, and 3 HD TVs. I'm not going to pay any more money to download movies and I'm too busy to rip them and I'm not going to watch something on an iPad when I can watch it on a bigger TV. The iPad would be great though for children or my wife on long car trips.
- Surfing the net was awesome compared to the iPhone but not that much more enjoyable than on my 15 inch MacBook Pro with a mouse and keyboard. Flash is used at a lot of sites and you are still going to need that laptop for any downloading.

The bottom line for me is that the iPad did not impress me enough to stop me from waiting to see what the competition will bring, flash/multitasking, and/or a substantial price decrease.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 9:47 am

I have an opportunity to sell my Macbook, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GHz processor speed, 1 GB memory, 50 GB hard drive for $525. Was thinking of putting this towards an Ipad since we have a Imac already. Do you guys with an Ipad think this is worth it?

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 11:21 am

sportdan30 wrote:I have an opportunity to sell my Macbook, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GHz processor speed, 1 GB memory, 50 GB hard drive for $525. Was thinking of putting this towards an Ipad since we have a Imac already. Do you guys with an Ipad think this is worth it?

Depends on your expectations; but if you're like me you were using that Macbook for 'couch-side browsing', mostly for surfing, checking email, Facebook, etc. The iPad is a better couch-side device than any laptop (IMHO). So, if you're content using your iMac for 'real work' (editing movies, photos, writing long docs) and you want a couch side computer for the purposes outlined, the iPad is great.

For me, it's way more than couch-side. Granted, it's new, but it's been my constant companion for the last week at home, work and travel; and can accommodate 90% of my daily activities, and most of those in a manner I find preferable to a laptop.

I take my iPad to meetings for notes, where I can type on screen or even draw out ideas.

I use my iPad (with VGA output) to give ppt presentations.

I use my iPad when I need a break at work, push away from my laptop and recline in my office chair for some web browsing or news.

I use my iPad to watch podcasts and live streams of net shows.

I prefer browsing on my iPad to any other device.

I play the occasional game (plants v zombies is the best)

I watch movies, including netflix via their great app.

I read magazines, books and newspapers on my iPad.

I view photos, listen to music etc..

I DON'T type lengthy word documents on my iPad (though i could).
I don't view flash games or websites on my iPad, and I rarely notice it.
I don't do video chats on my iPad.
I don't play online poker for money on my iPad.
I don't use obscure or specialized business applications on my iPad.
I don't play PC/Console games on my iPad.

If that sounds like how you use your laptop, you'll be really happy with the iPad.

PS - Every post from me lately has been typed on my iPad, and while not as fast as a physical keyboard; the iPad in landscape mode with the Apple case/stand is perfectly usable for me.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:33 pm

Thanks Sport. I don't write long docs or edit movies. We simply use it for checking email, Facebook, browsing the internet, photots, and some music. Therefore, I can justify an Ipad as laptop replacement, however I imagine the wife will miss the web cam for skyping. Is it possible to purchase a separate web came for the IMac?

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:49 pm

sportdan30 wrote:Thanks Sport. I don't write long docs or edit movies. We simply use it for checking email, Facebook, browsing the internet, photots, and some music. Therefore, I can justify an Ipad as laptop replacement, however I imagine the wife will miss the web cam for skyping. Is it possible to purchase a separate web came for the IMac?

How old is your iMac? They have had built in cameras for quite a while...but yeah you can always get a USB cam for it.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:55 pm

The bottom line for me is that the iPad did not impress me enough to stop me from waiting to see what the competition will bring, flash/multitasking, and/or a substantial price decrease.

I don't think any tablet would meet the things you listed.

I would say the browsing experience is better than my Mac. One reason is the ability to "zoom" in on text. It makes reading what you want easier.

After getting my iPad, I use it more than my MacBook. But like I said they need to solve the keyboard problem.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 2:12 pm

If you buy one now, know full well that next April, there will probably be a webcam in the new model.

To get an idea of Flash content you might be missing, install ClicktoFlash on your computer and see all the Flash objects on web pages. A lot of them are ads so no loss. Embedded videos can be clicked and then it will only load that Flash object.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 4:50 pm

I'm getting one, but as always with Apple, I will wait for the 2nd version to arrive, which will surely be vastly improved over the first iteration.

The only time I didn't wait was with this 13" MacBook, and that was because my old laptop was dying and beyond Apple Care's help. Had it failed for a 3rd time while still under Apple Care, they would have sent me a new laptop off the shelf, whatever the new product was that was closest to mine, but alas, that 3rd failure didn't come.

But anyway, I haven't had any problems with this aluminum uni-body MacBook, but I'm still going to wait for the 2nd iPad, as hard as it is right now to hold off.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 4:59 pm

Zeppo wrote:I'm getting one, but as always with Apple, I will wait for the 2nd version to arrive, which will surely be vastly improved over the first iteration.

The only time I didn't wait was with this 13" MacBook, and that was because my old laptop was dying and beyond Apple Care's help. Had it failed for a 3rd time while still under Apple Care, they would have sent me a new laptop off the shelf, whatever the new product was that was closest to mine, but alas, that 3rd failure didn't come.

But anyway, I haven't had any problems with this aluminum uni-body MacBook, but I'm still going to wait for the 2nd iPad, as hard as it is right now to hold off.

The sale fell through on my Macbook, so perhaps waiting for the second generation Ipad like yourself is the way to go.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 5:32 pm

wco81 wrote:If you buy one now, know full well that next April, there will probably be a webcam in the new model.

To get an idea of Flash content you might be missing, install ClicktoFlash on your computer and see all the Flash objects on web pages. A lot of them are ads so no loss. Embedded videos can be clicked and then it will only load that Flash object.

I bet we'll see a 2g version in 8 months or so just in time for the Xmas season.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:08 pm

I'm in the process of Ebaying my Nook to supplement some of the cost of an iPad IF I pull the trigger. Still not sure if I'd go with a WiFi or wait a few weeks for the 3G. I can't get a 3G signal where I live but I would like the option for when I travel and if a 3G signal ever shows up where I live.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:25 am

Just a warning to iPad owners, make sure to not put heavy things or something that can exert pressure on the back. Today I put a small ding in the back of it. It was in a Patagonia laptop bag that had a padded cover for a laptop inside a foofbag which is just like a soft cover for a macbook. I don't know how much pressure was put on it but it was enough to make a small dent.

So if you travel or put the iPad in a bag make sure to protect it. I'm plenty pissed right now. It's like what happened with the 1st gen iPhone and how that aluminum case got dinged.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:31 pm

JRod wrote:Just a warning to iPad owners, make sure to not put heavy things or something that can exert pressure on the back. Today I put a small ding in the back of it. It was in a Patagonia laptop bag that had a padded cover for a laptop inside a foofbag which is just like a soft cover for a macbook. I don't know how much pressure was put on it but it was enough to make a small dent.

So if you travel or put the iPad in a bag make sure to protect it. I'm plenty pissed right now. It's like what happened with the 1st gen iPhone and how that aluminum case got dinged.

Sorry to hear that Jrod. Not that I would ever encourage this, but you might consider going to the Apple store and explaining that, perhaps: "my headphone Jack cuts out a lot; it sometimes works and sometimes goes dead". Apple is pretty good about just issuing a replacement rather than dealing with potential hardware issues on site at the busy stores...

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:04 am

I come to find out that my IMac does not support the Ipad because it's only a Power PC G5, and therefore you need OS 10.5 and higher. Mine only supports 10.4 and won't upgrade any further. So, I'm S.O.L. at this time anyways which is probably a good thing, as the IPad would be more of a "want" than a "need".

Instead of attempting to sell my Macbook, I'm going to try and sell my IMac and upgrade to a newer IMac, which the kids would most likely enjoy even more.

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:17 am

as the IPad would be more of a "want" than a "need"

To me this is the huge factor that is being missed when people b*tch about the iPad. I didn't need an iPhone when i got one, but i love having it. I didn't need a 52" HD Tv when i already had a 42", but it's been great to have. I didn't need an Acura when i could have bought a Honda. I didn't need to trade in my Ping i's to get the G2's after a couple of years, but damn do i love hitting them.

Once i got pass the idea that this thing was supposed to do more than it does and realized it was something that i just like owning and enjoy using, the iPad became a device that i really am glad i bought.

Anyone that tells you it's a must have device is kidding themselves. But as a "luxury product" for those with the $$, it's fantastic.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:49 am

RallyMonkey wrote:Anyone that tells you it's a must have device is kidding themselves. But as a "luxury product" for those with the $$, it's fantastic.

I stopped by Best Buy to pickup some toner and and gave the iPad another test spin. Since they weren't crowded I was able to sit for 30 minutes and spend some more time with it. They had two of my favorite apps installed...MLB and LogMeIn. This gave me a much better feel for what I would actually be doing (along with surfing the Net) with an iPad. Watching a baseball game and then controlling my home desktop PC and playing OOTP from the iPad had me hooked. I then went over and tried a netbook and realized how much it sucked compared to the iPad. Best Buy didn't have any in stock but an Apple store did so I picked up the 32GB version. Obviously it is much cooler when I have *my* content loaded and I am sitting down relaxing instead of standing in an Apple store with the bright lights reflecting off the unit. I'll admit that I was dead wrong on my first impressions and after further time with it I think it is cool as sh*t.

I would definitely put it in the luxury department, but with 4 of us in the family now using Internet devices/computers it's not bad to have 3 around (barebones PC, Macbook and iPad) plus an iPhone when I'm away from home.

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:57 am

BTW, I bought no assessories because they didn't have the Apple case and I wasn't sure what to buy.

Any suggestions on cases/screen protection?