So Who Folded and bought an IPad?

[gettingthere]

Why did you buy it? (or any other brand for that matter)
I bought it for my 89-year-old mother, thinking it would be the easiest for her to manage.

Which one did you buy (gig size and wireless or 3G)
the most basic version. (first generation Ipad)

Do you use it often?
She uses it several times a week

What do you use it for mostly?
She uses it for reading ebooks, listening to audiobooks, watching Netflix movies

Do you have a net book or other laptops?
I do, but she does not

What do you like about it, and what do you not like about it?
She does not find it at all intuitive to use - Frequently needs help navigating menus in different apps, and constantly needs reminders on how to shut it off. Several times she has left an audiobook playing and turned down the volume, thinking she was shutting it off. Because the screen goes blank while the book continues to play, with the volume off she thinks she has successfully turned it off.
I share ebooks I get for my Kindle with her, and also load library ebooks for her, but she has trouble remembering which app to use to access the books - some are in the Books app, and some in the Kindle app. Also, audiobooks from Audible have their own app, but audiobooks from the library load to the Ipod app. This is confusing for her, but if I get her started with a particular app, she is usually able to continue operating from there. But by the next day, she has forgotten again.
The touch screen sometimes does not respond to her touch - I think because of dry skin. it seems to help if she first rubs her fingetips on her palms, or breathes on to them to pick up a slight amount of moisture.
She also has trouble understanding that when she turns it off, it is not really off, but just sleeping, and will continue to draw power if she does not turn off the wifi.
I do not have great hopes of the battery lasting very long on this one.

What I like about it - it starts up quickly and is useful for quick searches in the internet, rather than waiting for my laptop to boot up. I can't say too much else good about it. I'm still a PC (& Kindle) person. Personally I prefer my Kindle for ebook reading - it is much easier on the eyes.
What I don't like (other than the issues she has) - iTunes. Hate that.

Any regrets in buying it?
Probably was the best option for her at the time. One of the newer tablets may be better for her.

 

[donheff]

It appears to be free. I just downloaded it; it has been years since I played bridge but I think I would enjoy starting again.

Ha

I may try that myself. I played briefly as a kid but I never got good. I wouldn't play with serious players now unless I really got the hang of it since they can be a bit overbearing, or so I hear.

 

[donheff]

I may try that myself. I played briefly as a kid but I never got good. I wouldn't play with serious players now unless I really got the hang of it since they can be a bit overbearing, or so I hear.

Nevermind, its $20. I will look for something free initially.

 

[modhatter]

Well I am still torn. It's either a new smaller laptop with nice screen, or the Ipad. I know they are two different animals. With the computer I can do everything the Ipad does and more, without the fun applications. With the Ipad, I have convenience, some useful applications at my finger tip and a new fun toy. I don't think I would use it as a book reader, as I have the Kindle, but would use it for magazine articles which are more appealing in color.

Just wish the toy wasn't so expensive.

These are my choices

Less expensive ($500-$600) average size 14" to 15" with better screen resolution, as these are the size most reasonable.

A Mac Air. Much more expensive, but light, and I'm not sure about all my Windows programs on a Mac.

IPad for fun, and internet browsing, and just use older computer with lousy screen for travel.

 

[MBAustin]

I have a 32gb iPad wifi that DH bought me for my birthday last fall. What he didn't know was that my birthday was a week before I retired and I came home the same day with an iPhone to replace my megacorp phone. So we were worried that the iPad would be redundant. Quite the contrary.

I had always wanted a computer in the kitchen to look up recipes, cooking techniques, etc., but I'm not a particularly neat cook so I was worried about it getting trashed. The iPad is the PERFECT kitchen computer.

It is also great when traveling - no laptop to drag around but can do most of what we can do at home and just about anything you need to do when on the road (except print).

We LOVE it. Still have two computers in the house - iPad is not great for heavy typing (although I can do a reasonable facsimile of touch-typing in landscape mode when needed).

 

[Ronnieboy]

My almost 22 y.o. buys every new gadget that comes out, so I just wait for him to upgrade and I get the hand me down. That is how I have two itouch (one with a speaker one w/o) and 1st gen ipad. The iPad gets used a lot but I think we'd survive without it.

 

[sheehs1]

Have not bought the Ipad yet. I tend to wait for "new gadgets" to mature. Even so...I really don't need it. I am as "in touch" as I want to be with my Macbook Pro and a phone. If I traveled more...perhaps I would bite.
Look at them seriously in December and realized there were things I wanted to do that the IPad did not do so well...and that I'd had to take my Mac around with me anyway....

 

[audreyh1]

I need a IPad like a whole in the head. I have two laptops, one 17" that I use as main computer with nice screen resolution, a 15" laptop with lousy screen resolution that bothers me, a Asus net book with lousy screen resolution, and IPod touch, and a newer Kindle. (Plus two Dell Desktop computers)

I know we have a thread about the IPad, but most through that thread had not bought one, or were thinking about it, or had just bought one. Now that some time has passed - how many of you have bought one?

Why did you buy it? (or any other brand for that matter)
Early 2010 - April?

Which one did you buy (gig size and wireless or 3G)
iPad1 64G with 3G. I waited specifically for this model because I needed the 3G for data when I was running around shopping, etc. I don't have an iPhone. I also needed the GPS.

As soon as it the iPad was announced I knew I needed one, because the iPod Touch I had was too frustratingly small screen-wise and didn't have 3G.

Do you use it often?
For many hours every day.

What do you use it for mostly?
I have started watching a LOT of videos - this is the latest thing. With headphones it's awesome for watching videos. At first I was mostly web surfing, doing some emails, using it for traveling. Using it when out shopping. Using it in the kitchen to display recipes. Entertain myself when waiting at a doctors office, car service, etc. Showing people photos. Then I started reading books on it. Then I started watching videos a lot which has now actually taken over a lot of the book reading time. I'd love to get workout videos on it, but the one's I like haven't been made available for it yet. I also use it a great deal with our audio/video system at home (more on this follows).

Place to go orders from PFChangs! LOL! When out shopping.

We occasionally use it as a GPS in the car. On our last trip we rented a car, so we used the iPad as a GPS since we didn't have our usual car GPS. We really needed it!

More details on using the iPad with the AppleTV
One of the best things we did was get an AppleTV device for out home audio/video system. With this I send music from my iPad to the stereo when I want to listen to music. I can even control the volume from my iPad. This is especially great in our workout room which is out of infra-red control range from our stereo even though the speakers are attached. The iPad talks to the Apple TV device via the house WiFi.

If there is high-res video available on a YouTube video, I sometimes send that to my big-screen TV via the iPad. The iPad controls the play like a very smart remote control in this scenario.

We also display photos on the big-screen TV from it when we want to do a slide show for guests.

Do you have a net book or other laptops?
I have a laptop.

What do you like about it, and what do you not like about it?
I adore the high-res touch-screen interface. Form factor and compactness and so easy to carry. Being able to read a book or watch a video.

I wish more websites used HTML5 or other more iPad compatible formats, but they are increasingly doing so, so it's getting there. There have been a LOT of improvements even in the OS upgrades they have had in the past year.

I really wish it had a camera, but I haven't been in a hurry to upgrade to the iPad2.

Any regrets in buying it?
Absolutely not! It's a brilliant device. Increasingly useful. I would say that I spend 3 to 4X the amount of time using it now than I did at the beginning cause you find you can adapt all sorts of things to it.

Audrey

 

[Zero]

After watching the users of iPads, I have pretty much decided that I need a keyboard. I speed type and cannot imagine having the patience to use the keypad on the iPad.

I watched a woman type with one finger for about 5-10 minutes while holding her iPad with the other hand. It made me nearly have an anxiety attack.

Will be interesting to see how the markets sort this out. I was reading today that texting seems to be waning a bit.

 

[audreyh1]

I do two finger typing on the iPad. I ca get a few paragraphs entered that way, np problem. But iIf I need to type a lot, I use my laptop. I'm not motivated to use my iPad for a lot of data entry.

 

[donheff]

What do you use it for mostly?
I have started watching a LOT of videos - this is the latest thing. With headphones it's awesome for watching videos.

I am curious about the videos. Do you stream them? Download them? Free? Purchased? I have thought about using a pad or my Nook Color for videos for watching on planes but I haven't paid much attention to sources. I am particularly interested in free sources -- after all, I am ERd.

 

[TromboneAl]

On my laptop I just think and the words appear. But I have gotten much faster with two thumbs on my iPod touch. I wrote this paragraph in 57 seconds.

More importantly, it's gotten to the point that it is almost effortless to type. Or perhaps i should say, no longer annoying. It's very weird that the thumbs just know where to go.

Also you learn to take advantage of the auto completion and correction features.

 

[Sarah in SC]

I have a 32gb iPad wifi that DH bought me for my birthday last fall. What he didn't know was that my birthday was a week before I retired and I came home the same day with an iPhone to replace my megacorp phone. So we were worried that the iPad would be redundant. Quite the contrary.

I had always wanted a computer in the kitchen to look up recipes, cooking techniques, etc., but I'm not a particularly neat cook so I was worried about it getting trashed. The iPad is the PERFECT kitchen computer.

I assume you have the Epicurious app for the iPad? It is such a great app--and I love the shopping list feature, too. I made some recipes from it for a party last weekend and they were fantastic.

 

[Zero]

iPad thumb syndrome?

If we had two more hands (maybe branching off from our current elbows), it would make typing on the iPad a breeze. They could fold up against the current arm and hand until needed, then be pulled out and activated when an iPad is being used.

 

[M Paquette]

For folks who like the idea of an iPad, but also need to type significant lengths occasionally, I suggest a bluetooth keyboard. I like the Targus keyboard:
Amazon.com: Targus Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for Apple iPad 16GB, 32GB, 64GB WiFi and WiFi + 3G, iPad 2 with Smart Keys AKB32US (Black): Electronics

There are also cases that include a keyboard, effectively making the iPad a netbook-style device while in the case. I haven't tried any of these yet.

Amazon.com: Kensington 2nd Generation KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard Accessory Case for Apple iPad 2 2nd Generation WiFi / 3G Model 16GB, 32GB, 64GB NEWEST MODEL & for Apple iPad 1 OLDER ORGINAL MODEL (Black): Electronics

 

[FIREd]

There are also cases that include a keyboard, effectively making the iPad a netbook-style device while in the case. I haven't tried any of these yet.

Amazon.com: Kensington 2nd Generation KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard Accessory Case for Apple iPad 2 2nd Generation WiFi / 3G Model 16GB, 32GB, 64GB NEWEST MODEL & for Apple iPad 1 OLDER ORGINAL MODEL (Black): Electronics

My wife has this "keyfolio" and it works great (though it is a bit heavy for my taste).

I have the Apple wireless keyboard, but I don't use it often. I actually can type as fast on the iPad keyboard as I can on the wireless keyboard except if I have to use a lot of numbers or special characters.

 

[Ally]

I was talking to my husband about the ipad vs a netbook (we don't have even a laptop, only desktops and one iphone.) I love my iphone and my husband keeps telling me to go buy an Ipad for myself (even though normally my husband doesn't like to spend money any more than I do.) I just can't figure out if I would love it that much more than my Iphone alone. We do have wifi in our home, so would I have to pay for service for the Ipad, too?

 

[Sarah in SC]

Ally, you can use the wifi in your house, but you'll probably want to spring for the cellular service as well, which at Verizon is $20 per month.
I have both the iPhone and the iPad and they are useful for different things. If you husband says get it--GO!

 

[Ally]

Thanks, Sarah! I plan to talk to my son (a software engineer) this week or next when they have their first baby. I am flying to Kansas City to help them for a week. My son bought me the Iphone a year ago on Mother's Day, then a Kindle this past Mother's Day. I need for him to explain more about the Ipad 1 vs. 2 to me, etc. Plus I need for him to tell me about Blueray, so we can get one of those, too. I wish he lived much closer. He is our IT guy. They are in their late 30's and finally decided they want a baby after 10 years of marriage.

 

[Sarah in SC]

Awww, that is great about the new baby! Yay for you! And he should be able to tell you more about them. Having only the iPad 2 myself, I probably can't tell you much about the 1, but I think you should go with the later version of most things when possible. I have a Kindle my SIL gave us, but I use the Kindle software on the iPad more frequently now than the Kindle itself.
Have fun with the new grandbaby!

 

[norcaldreamer]

I have an iPad 1 (16GB/3G) that I bought last year when it first came out. At the time, I didn't have a smartphone and I really wanted 3G access, so the iPad's no commitment, unlimited data contract was very attractive.

I love my iPad, and use it pretty much every day. Mostly, I surf the web and read news sites, but I also sometimes stream Netflix or Pandora. I also used to use it as an e-reader before I splurged on a Kindle a few months ago. I don't have too many apps on it, and I don't take it around much, but I really appreciate the 3G when traveling.

I have a laptop that I love, but I find myself using it less and less these days, and only for apps that I don't have on my iPad or creating "content" - e-mails, Word docs, etc. Even though my laptop is relatively thin and last 7 hours on a charge, it doesn't compare to my iPad in size, weight, or battery life.

I like the fact that my iPad has a gorgeous screen, is very easy to use, and is the perfect size for taking places. It feels very well built, and it looks great. Things I don't like are the virtual keyboard and the screen that smudges very easily.

I don't have any regrets about buying it.

 

[steelyman]

Going on info provided in the Buyer's Guide at Mac Rumors: Apple Mac iOS Rumors and News You Care About I'm looking forward to ordering an iPad at the end of this week. Sure seems like people on here (as well as the rest of the civilized - and perhaps uncivilized - world) really love them

 

[Rambler]

Thanks, Sarah! I plan to talk to my son (a software engineer) this week or next when they have their first baby. I am flying to Kansas City to help them for a week. My son bought me the Iphone a year ago on Mother's Day, then a Kindle this past Mother's Day. I need for him to explain more about the Ipad 1 vs. 2 to me, etc. Plus I need for him to tell me about Blueray, so we can get one of those, too. I wish he lived much closer. He is our IT guy. They are in their late 30's and finally decided they want a baby after 10 years of marriage.

If he has an ipad2 or a Mac with a camera, and you got an ipad2, you could use FaceTime to see that new grandbaby! ...anytime.

R

 

[Ally]

Oh really! Now that is something to think about. My daughter also has a Mac with a camera and she will have her 5th child this fall. Even though they only live 90 miles away, it would be fun to see those grandchildren, too.

 

[obgyn65]

I have not bought an ipad either.