<p>^^^ there are a number of assisted communications devices that have been in use for some time now that are pad-shaped and that would look a bit like an iPad to most of us. Switching up to a pad computer that has many more useful features would be a wonderful option. There also is every chance that a pad computer would actually be cheaper than one of the communication-only devices.</p>
<p>I love my ipad–got it for Christmas last year. It’s not a substitute for a laptop, but it works in lots of situations. My husband travels frequently and he’s able to check emails on a screen that he can actually see. For those of us over 45–the small screen on the iphone is a killer. I rarely check email on my iphone anymore. As lots of posters have mentioned, it’s so much easier to take when you’re traveling–lighter, not as big as a laptop. Plus, you can keep it in a bag when going through security. At least that’s been my experience. With the laptop, you have to pull it out as you go through security–it just takes extra time, which you avoid with a ipad.</p>
<p>Apple does have a long history of working closely with the educational community, including offering very favorable prices for their equipment either through sale or rental.</p>
<p>Xiggi – this was a personal family vacation, so yes, laptops left at home, just brought an iPad for all of us to check email, read, and surf the web in hotels with free wifi. But for a work trip, absolutely I would have had a laptop and left the iPad home for the family.</p>
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<p>As I mentioned this is in a different thread, the Europeans security agents never got that memo! The iPad needs to be taken out of the bag as it is an electronic device.</p>
<p>According to the TSA’s own blog, the iPad and various e-book readers do NOT need to be removed from a bag for separate scanning at airports. Even the McBook Air is exempt. It really is an issue of size.</p>
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<p>I have taken my iPad through dozens of airports and never been asked to take it out.</p>
<p>Well isn’t that interesting. My bag has been flagged at least twice for me forgetting to remove my Kindle. Both times at Newark Liberty</p>
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<p>Well, I can assure you that the agents in Madrid’s airport must believe that TSA stands for That’s Solely in America! They want all electronic devices to be outside their bags and in one of those silly plastic baskets. They are so determined to see this happening that they do yell IPADs, IPADS and look at anyone who might be a tourist who does not understand.</p>
<p>Thanks for that post, cellardweller – its nice to know that I can leave my netbook in the bag (at least in theory). It should help speed things up through security as well.</p>
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<p>Do you have to be connected to the internet to access your Dropbox documents?</p>
<p>The netbooks have been great for our kids for school, but they also like having a desktop for when they’re at their desk. It gives them the best of both worlds and was cheaper than the laptops they returned when they both broke within the cc extended warranty.</p>
<p>Some ipad observations. </p>
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<li>It is a glorified ipod, and as others have pointed out, this is a great benefit to 50 year old eyes. Especially love the double tap auto-zoom feature.<br></li>
<li>I think its equal if not better than a laptop for web browsing (except for Flash), email, etc.<br></li>
<li>Some of the apps are terrific. My primary news source is becoming Flipboard. I can check most major news outlets in an interface tuned to exploit the ipads features. </li>
<li>For me, it travels wayyyy better than a laptop. I addition to being easier to get through security, the smaller footprint makes it much easier to use on a plane.<br></li>
<li>I would think the biggest drawback for college students would have to be the inability to have 2 windows active simultaneously. No way to have a browser visible while working in a document for example. Makes copy/paste cumbersome. For me, this is a deal breaker for using the ipad for work/school projects. That said, the more I use it, the more I get used to the keyboard.</li>
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<p>“I think its equal if not better than a laptop for web browsing (except for Flash), email, etc.”</p>
<p>"I would think the biggest drawback for college students would have to be the inability to have 2 windows “active” simultaneously. "</p>
<p>A bit of inconsistency here! </p>
<p>I hope you realize that, for some, the second drawback you listed us what what makes the iPad hardly comparable with a laptop for anything else than for leisurely wasting time on unproductive matters. </p>
<p>Fwiw, the browsing on the iPad is full of limitations in addition to the absence of Flash. It brought back the browsing of the early days of Windows and IE. Many sites do not respond to the strolling commands for windows within the main screen.</p>
<p>Even email can be a challenge when needing extensive cutting and pasting, or merely wanting a working delete key and a useful cursor placement. </p>
<p>I would love to be able to like the IPad a lot better than I have done so far.</p>
<p>Wow, xiggi. Quite a response. </p>
<p>Guess I dont see the inconsistency. I can browse using a browser with multiple tabs. And my experience is that, outside of a handful of flash-necessary sites, I can do anything I usually do on a PC while browsing. But I cant bring up 2 separate browsers or a browser and a spreadsheet, etc. </p>
<p>These are two different cases in my mind. And I think I did say that the lack of true multi-tasking is a deal breaker for me in using an ipad as a tool for work or school. </p>
<p>Btw, for windows in a webpage, a 2-finger swipe in the window will scroll the window without scrolling the entire page. Just learned that one in the past week. </p>
<p>Bottom line. Ipad has a ways to go before it can replace a laptop as a productivity tool. But outside the office, I find myself using the ipad way more than a pc/mac/laptop. Hope that just means I have a healthy division between my work/productive time and my leisure/unproductive/wasted time.</p>
<p>It is OK to disagree. We are individuals and we are entitled to different expectations.</p>
<p>All I know is that when given the opportunity to pick up my iPad or a laptop, I will never pick the first. If I am riding the train, I would prefer to start the iPad over the … iPhone.</p>
<p>Actually, I have no problems living with the absence of a USB, but this is because I do not think it would extremely useful to load many things on the iPad to start with. Other issues are much more annoying. Why have a great screen resolution if displaying pictures in an ORGANIZED way is so darn hard? Isn’t that something the iPad should do perfectly? </p>
<p>As far as browsing, having tabs is NOT the same thing as opening multiple windows. Again, this shows the target market of Apple. While that is OK, we should not pretend the iPad is better or equal to a laptop or desktop to browse the web. You mention a handful of sites? I think that that number is a LOT higher than a handful. But again, that must depend on the individual uses. </p>
<p>Setting all of that aside, may I ask you how well the iPad functions when watching an Amazon on demand video? Or a past show of ABC, NBC, CBS?</p>
<p>I love my iPad but will be reluctant to use it for work or school if only because the virtual keyboard and auto correction will cause some … very interesting reactions! I can use add on real keyboard but that will defeat the portability advantage.</p>
<p>The things I learn overtime accidentally such as double click on the home button will bring up the multitask app switch dock on the bottom page. It’s not the same as opening two apps but it saves a swipe or two. I wish there is a way to learn all these cool tips (like the one Goru mentioned above) but discovering it as you play with the iPad is fun too.</p>
<p>goru - Thanks for that tip about scrolling in a window within a window. And as much as I love my iPad, I was bothered by the need to register it through iTunes before I could even use it. I bought mine as a replacement for a stolen laptop and had to go to a friend’s house to do that. That lack of instant gratification was such a downer :(</p>
<p>Back to the original 10- reasons not to have one for COLLEGE students. They need a better portable computer- ie a laptop, and may already have a smart phone for pocket convenience. H received a free iPad 1 recently and it is a fun surfing toy. Still waiting for better nonApple formats- the ones coming out still need improving. ps- it is okay for us parents to twist a thread on our forum to ourselves.</p>
<p>Has anybody on here ever taken the Apple workshops in the store for Ipad?</p>
<p>I’m thinking of doing the 2nd one…</p>
<p>“I wish there is a way to learn all these cool tips” </p>
<p>There’s an app for that. Ha. </p>
<p>There’s an app called Appshopper (also a website). One of their top reco’s was an app called “IPAD Tips and Tricks”. Think its like 2 bucks, maybe 3. Much of the info you probably already know, but I have found a couple of nuggets like the one above. </p>
<p>I haven’t tried using on-demand video yet. So I cant speak to that. Much like you find your laptop better for web browsing. I find my TV better for watching movies and on-demand tv shows. Ha. </p>
<p>One last point. I can concede that the browser experience isnt as good (though, for my purposes, more than good enough). But, when i talk about ipad web browsing, much of that involves the apps as well. There are just lots of good apps for getting news, sports info, financial data (love the CNBC site), etc. “Browsing” by using these apps is a far better experience in my opinion. Being a slave to comcast, their app provides a better email experience for me than the ipad’s email tool or using the browsers. Google search and apps work real well, too.</p>