<p>EXPERIENCED USERS:
This thread are directed to those that already experienced the IPAD...I want to buy one for my kid's graduation, but I still don't know if I should....</p>
<p>-Does it work like a computer?
-It is wireless? Do you have to pay extra fees for connection?
-It is safe to use--secure connection?</p>
<p>I’m interested in the IPad too. I’m usually a bit of a Luddite, but may splurge on one of these . . .</p>
<p>(Are you talking about HS graduation? Make sure your child’s college does not include a laptop as part of their tuition–I know a few colleges we looked at did.)</p>
<p>While I don’t have an IPad, see the following link for the best review so far for this device: [Ars</a> Technica reviews the iPad](<a href=“April | 2010 | Ars Technica”>Ars Technica reviews the iPad | Ars Technica)</p>
<p>The Ipad uses the IPhone/Ipod touch OS, not Leopard. It’s not a laptop replacement. As Steve Jobs has stated, the Ipad is a media consumption device. Be sure to buy the most storage capacity that you can afford. There’s no way to upgrade the storage capacity like you can with a laptop.</p>
<p>I don’t have an iPad, but the problem I have with it is that it really isn’t a true laptop; it’s more of an iPod Touch (WiFi version) or iPhone (3G version) that can’t make calls. </p>
<p>My biggest problem with it is that it runs the same OS as the iPod Touch and iPhone, so it’s limited to running one App at a time. This would make multitasking difficult, if not impossible. It’s more of an e-reader than anything, IMO.</p>
<p>To answer your questions:</p>
<p>-They come in two versions, the WiFi version and 3G version. Both of them are capable of wifi connections (most colleges have campus-wide wifi for free). The only difference between the 3G and WiFi version is that the 3G version is capable of connecting to AT&T’s 3G network when wifi isn’t available (think of how the iPhone connects to the internet). While the WiFi connection is free, you have to pay more for a data plan for the 3G network.</p>
<p>-Yes. In all honesty, with any computer, they’re typically safe on a college wifi network, but to be safe I still wouldn’t do any personal stuff in a public network if I can avoid it. I’d either wire to an ethernet port or just wait until I get home to do banking or the like.</p>
<p>Anyone bought it yet?
“extra $130 you’ll have to fork over for the privilege”
<p>Anyone bought it yet?</p>
<p>Like I said, I haven’t bought the iPad yet, but I have read much about it and know it pretty well:</p>
<p>-Can you link to the page that said “Extra $130 youll have to fork over for the privilege”? Without context, it’s impossible to tell what that money is for.
-You can use Skype. It’s availible for free on the iTunes App Store.
-What do you mean by “search”? If you mean go on the internet, then yes and no. It has a fully functioning Safari web browser, but obviously no keyboard or mouse, and everything is operated by the touchscreen.</p>
<p>r31ncarnat3d; thanks…I was referring to the link in post #3.</p>
<p>The 3G model isn’t available yet. To use it over 3G instead of wifi, you’ll be able to buy monthly access for $15 or $30, no contract, with the lower price being limited data. </p>
<p>The ipad isn’t really a laptop replacement. I’d suggest going to daringfireball.net and reading Jon’s write-up of his experiences. He’s one of the best Mac commentators. </p>
<p>You can pair a wireless keyboard to it or buy a dock with a keyboard. You can’t connect a mouse and some keyboard movements may not be supported in some situations - this is version 1 after all. I wonder if they’ll eventually have a trackpad option because that makes more sense than a mouse. Without a keyboard it’s not for writing.</p>
<p>With a keyboard, the issues are:</p>
<ol>
<li>It’s not meant to store documents on but to consume them so the process for getting things on and off is not yet smooth. I wouldn’t expect that to change until the software advances. This is the iphone software expanded so it has certain limitations.</li>
<li>In performance, the thing is very fast but it is limited in ram and seems to have no use of virtual memory. This imposes limits on what you can do, like opening lots of web pages at one time. Not really an issue for consuming but an issue much more for doing work. </li>
</ol>
<p>I don’t have one. I’ll wait until the thing is more advanced. I’ve seen it. It’s quite amazing in the experience of how easily you relate to content, kind of like falling into it.</p>
<p>I don’t have an IPod TouchSo, so cannot compare IPAD with this.</p>
<p>If I have a laptop…then the only good thing of an IPAD is:</p>
<p>1-You can download books and read them wherever you go.
2- Will you always have connection?
3- Smaller and lighter than a laptop.
4- You can access the Internet.
5- It is fast and never gets warm
6- POSTERS ADD HERE THE NEXT ADVANTAGE</p>
<p>Question: So if I compare prices…maybe a Kindle will be better…I still want to Know the need of an IPAD if a person has a laptop
lergnon: Thanks for the site. I will read John’s article…</p>
<p>Read article: The writer agree with my concern: " One thing that’s making it hard for some people to grasp the purpose of the iPad is that no one has an answer to what precisely it is for."</p>
<p>6 - it’s lighter and more expendable than books! oh wait… it always has connection! oh wait… It doesn’t close so it’s screen must be indestructible! oh wait… Hey, it has a USB drive, so I can do important things on it! oh wait… At least it’s CHEAP because it’s made by Mac! oh gosh darn it… WELL at least it can replace my iphone because I’m legally blind and I actually needed a large print version!!</p>
<p>7 - we have developed something that could serve as a stepping stone for teaching John McCain how to use a personal computer.</p>
<p>It is wonderful! A friend got an IPAD: I have the chance to play a little bit with the IPAD: it is fast, super fast, it has a virtual key board, the keyboard can be used vertical or horizontal, as an open book you can move a page or see two pages, you can email, …went to two stores…the problem they were out of IPADS. Yes, I will get one…</p>
<p>
1-You can do this on a laptop as well
2-Same as 1, just requires you to pay extra money.
3-Lack of keyboard and probably lacking in some abilities compared to a laptop.
4-Same as 1.
5-Same as 3.</p>
<p>If your kid is the one who would rather have an iPhone than a Blackberry/Smartphone, then go for it. I really can’t see it being as effective as a laptop in the long run.</p>
<p>Apple announced a new operating system, 4.0, which will allow multi-tasking.</p>
<p>I haven’t done a load of research on this, but I’d consider a tablet PC where you can detach the touch-screen, which gives you ipad type functionality, but reattach it for the laptop experience with a full keyboard. </p>
<p>Another advantage of the tablet PC is that you can run a full windows operating system. It’s a computer, in effect, with a detachable functional equivalent of an ipad.</p>
<p>I know Toshiba makes several of them, but I suspect there will be others to compete with the ipad as well as more purely ipad-like devices.</p>
<p>It’s not a computer “in effect,” a tablet PC IS a computer. An iPad is essentially a glorified (and much more functional) e-reader. They have some overlapping functionality, but a tablet PC can do a lot of things an iPad can’t, and vice versa.</p>
<p>I doubt any PC companies will make anything that competes with the iPad, at least not in the near future.</p>
<p>You forget one major flaw: the lack of Flash support…and since 99% of the websites have not moved to HTML 5, you won’t be able to view a lot of them properly… There are obviously other flaws as well, but if you’re getting it for media consumption only, you’ll have some trouble with the web content…Apple screwed up big time this time…though I still remain their fan because of the MacBooks…They rock!</p>
<p>Before anyone complains about not being able to print from the iPad, remember that [where</a> there’s a will, there’s a way](<a href=“http://www.theformgroup.com/images/blog_ipad_printing_big.jpg]where”>http://www.theformgroup.com/images/blog_ipad_printing_big.jpg).</p>
<p>I own an iPad.
I am still a high school senior though.</p>
<p>The touch keyboard, in horizontal mode, is great. I can type at 60 words per minute on it.
The internet is functional and you honestly don’t miss the lack of Flash.
I haven’t bought Pages yet, though.</p>
<p>To me, an iPad is more like a niche item. For practical purposes, it’s useless.</p>
<p>^ you can’t have hardcore essay writing sessions on it, but you can do basic work such as studying for a test/looking over some sample questions, or outlining a project</p>
![http://www.theformgroup.com/images/blog_ipad_printing_big.jpg]where](http://www.theformgroup.com/images/blog_ipad_printing_big.jpg%5Dwhere){kind=link}
