iPad

[Jon the Hat]

Because I am genuinely confused as to why anyone would ever buy one, and yet they are so popular, I don't understand why unless it's just blind consumerism

You are out of touch, deal with it and move on. You may as well try to understand the appeal of Nicki Minaj.

[Captain...]

Because I am genuinely confused as to why anyone would ever buy one, and yet they are so popular, I don't understand why unless it's just blind consumerism

Because they are so much faster at what they do compared to a laptop of around the same price, yes they are limited in what they do, but every laptop I have ever had/used and some of the work ones are fairly high end, and have decent processors just always get bogged down and slowed down by the amount of crap going on. (I am mainly talking about windows here).

Tablets, as I don't have an ipad, are much more streamlined in doing what they do, they are basically designed for the facebook generation, they are good at taking, editing and sharing photos, they will play you the latest music, videos, films and allow you play multi-player games, write a short amount (not reccommended for essay writing), read a book and I would say they do this faster and better than a laptop, the use of a touch screen is intuitive and fun.

They are superficial and don't have the power of a laptop nor the range of software, but they are fun and convenient and light, don't get so worked up over it.

[Rocket-Ron]

Bit late now. But was going to suggest the playbook. You'd. Be frustrated to **** about the lack of apps,but Internet works perfect as do some other programmes.

I've use it Whilst travelling and it's a lot more portable than the ipad.

At £129 a lot cheaper also.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/blackberry-playbook-tablet-pc-16-gb-10647929-pdt.html

[Legend_in_blue]

Get a case for your iPad off amazon. The Tecknet ones are very good and cost about £11. Comes with protective screens as well.

[FoxesAreBlue]

What's so awesome about it? What do you use it for?

I use mine for work and leisure.

I have my entire business based on one tiny device which is in a water resistant and shock proof case (unlike any laptop I've seen).

I can plan, design and send client sessions out with all my branding on it, schedule my diary, update client profiles and it is all automatically updated on my phone at the same time.

I have access to the Internet everywhere and don't have to struggle with the tiny buttons that the phone has too.

[Legend_in_blue]

Takes about 20 seconds for my laptop to start up, so you save 20 seconds about 1000 times over a couple of years. That's about five hours saved at a cost of about £500. So the time saved costs £100 per hour. Am I sold yet? No.

The great thing about it is that you can have both.

Don't you want to have a choice?

Push the boat out and get one.

[Daggers]

You may as well try to understand the appeal of Nicki Minaj.

A what now?

Curling tongs?

Is it a tent?

Last guess: a jam-based snack?

[DB11]

Used to see no point in them, and then I got one and now I love it!

[Jon the Hat]

A what now?

Curling tongs?

Is it a tent?

Last guess: a jam-based snack?

Closest to the last I would say. Very popular with the youngsters.

[Monk]

I have had an iPad 2 for about a year and have mixed feelings. On holiday it is pure brilliance in terms of ultra portability I can do all my photo editing and sharing on the move with the sd card reader add on. FIFA on it is awesome and provided many hours of fun. Also great for watching I player, ted, 4od in bed.

However it falls short in a few areas.

First off it will get very dirty- all the time.

Second personally for work I find it lacking key functionality, though it is good to demo work to my clients (i am a freelancer)

Its also awkward in terms of the position you hve the screen when typing. Not convenient to hold but not great on a table.

I've since got.a MacBook air and much prefer that.

[Jon the Hat]

I have had an iPad 2 for about a year and have mixed feelings. On holiday it is pure brilliance in terms of ultra portability I can do all my photo editing and sharing on the move with the sd card reader add on. FIFA on it is awesome and provided many hours of fun. Also great for watching I player, ted, 4od in bed.

However it falls short in a few areas.

First off it will get very dirty- all the time.

Second personally for work I find it lacking key functionality, though it is good to demo work to my clients (i am a freelancer)

Its also awkward in terms of the position you hve the screen when typing. Not convenient to hold but not great on a table.

I've since got.a MacBook air and much prefer that.

If you could get a Macbook Air for 400 quid I would have one certainly. On the other hand a wireless keyboard is what 50?

[Monk]

If you could get a Macbook Air for 400 quid I would have one certainly. On the other hand a wireless keyboard is what 50?

Yeah I've a few friend who use the wireless keyboards but to me it kinda defeats the whole point of tr iPad. I'll keep it for travel and for client demos etc but just wont use it for working. Still a great piece of kit.

[MooseBreath]

I've seen people using an iPad with a wireless keyboard and a stand, so it looks and works just like a laptop only with less power and longer set up time. And the point is?

[Jon the Hat]

I've seen people using an iPad with a wireless keyboard and a stand, so it looks and works just like a laptop only with less power and longer set up time. And the point is?

You don't have to hold them while using the ipad to read, or watch a movie, or play a game or surf the interweb, or skype or whatever. You would only need a keyboard if you were actually working for extended periods, in which case the set up time is less of an issue.

[Rocket-Ron]

I've seen people using an iPad with a wireless keyboard and a stand, so it looks and works just like a laptop only with less power and longer set up time. And the point is?

Does it really bother you that much that someone has bought an i-pad ??

[danny.]

I've seen people using an iPad with a wireless keyboard and a stand, so it looks and works just like a laptop only with less power and longer set up time. And the point is?

It's smaller and the battery life is 12 hours? I use my Ipad all the time when commuting to London, great on the train, needs hardly any space and the battery lasts all day no problem even if it's only half charged. An 11" MacBook air would probably do the same but they cost more and aren't quite as portable, or have the same battery life.

[Daggers]

Does it really bother you that much that someone has bought an i-pad ??

He can't afford one.

[Bryn]

I got a free iPad today

[Captain...]

I got a free iPad today

Bet you didn't.

[MooseBreath]

Does it really bother you that much that someone has bought an i-pad ??

I'm not bothered, just interested. I still think their popularity is mostly down to branding and prohibitive cost with the resultant apparent exclusivity and superficial status improvement. Got to admit it's brilliantly executed by apple.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Genuine question this, what's the difference between the apparently millions of tablets you can get now? My missus is desperate to buy an Ipad based on zero research and I'm struggling to see that they do anything significantly different to any other tablet. The Google Nexus 7 looks alright to me and it's only £200

[Captain...]

I'm not bothered, just interested. I still think their popularity is mostly down to branding and prohibitive cost with the resultant apparent exclusivity and superficial status improvement. Got to admit it's brilliantly executed by apple.

For sure that plays a part, but it wouldn't work if ipads served no function and were crap, they are luxury items, nobody needs one, but people want them because of what they can provide, whether it is a portable media centre, fast and easy internet browsing, or video calling with the inbuilt cameras.

If you have no use don't buy one.

[Jon the Hat]

I'm not bothered, just interested. I still think their popularity is mostly down to branding and prohibitive cost with the resultant apparent exclusivity and superficial status improvement. Got to admit it's brilliantly executed by apple.

They do marketing extremely well, but it is mostly making things which can be fiddly or annoying really really simple to use, and providing them in a beautiful design.

[Captain...]

Genuine question this, what's the difference between the apparently millions of tablets you can get now? My missus is desperate to buy an Ipad based on zero research and I'm struggling to see that they do anything significantly different to any other tablet. The Google Nexus 7 looks alright to me and it's only £200

The nexus 7 is too small for me, you may as well be on your phone.

If you have an iphone and other apple products you are better off with an ipad as it is all compatible and can synchronise things better.

If you have an android phone an android tablet would make more sense, but it is not the be all and end all.

The Ipad has more apps and features than the others and a better camera and display, but unless there is something specific you want an Ipad for they all play music and videos etc

I bought the Asus EEE pad transformer recently, has a detachable keyboard that also acts as an extra battery, so you can just slot it in and it charges the tablet and provides a physical keyboard should the need arise to type a long winded post, normally in response some idiot on here, although saying that it does find this website troublesome, but that seems to be more down to the browser than the tablet.

I love it, but it was a totally frivolous purchase, and there are some frustrating things about it, there are plenty of android tablet options I think the new Acer tablet is one of the best value for money wise, but not as powerful as some of the others.

[Bryn]

Bet you didn't.

I did, courtesy of Manchester medical school. Pretty nifty, all our course content is uploaded onto it, no longer will I swim in booklets, textbooks and handouts.