I drank the kool-aid ... iPad review

[adam]

Well for everyone that wants to hate let me just start off by saying, go **** yourself. If you don't like it, don't buy one.

My business partner and I never leave our houses without our laptops, and it is really annoying. Then we have to find wifi, or spend $60 a month on a data card from verizon or AT&T.

Doing remote it work and being on call 24/7 requires us to always have remote access to everyones computers and servers, and the iPad seemed to be an answer to having that available to us. Several of my clients have bought the wifi version of the iPad and I have been setting them up on networks for a couple weeks now.

Yesterday we purchased 2 wifi+3G ipads from the apple store, and started setting them up in our business network. Some of the new apps designed just for the iPad were installed for managing/editing word, excel, and PDF documents, and also installed an app for remoting into and PC server or workstation.

So far so good! I can't seem to put the thing down, and I can't stop finding stuff to do with it. I will start a pros and cons list and update it as time goes on.

Pros:

Full web browser - doesn't ever redirect you to to a mobile version of any site
Light and fast.
Really good battery life, I watched to episodes of House and lost 2% of the battery.
Document management is super easy and easy to edit docs as well
Unified messaging and calendar support
The 3G on this is much faster then the phones (AT&T has dedicated servers just for the iPad)
Camera support to just import your pictures directly to the device.
More to come!

Cons:
Still no flash support (doesn't matter much since flash is going away, and full HTML5 support)
A little too much glare on the screen (will most likely get an anti glare screen protector)
More to come, maybe



Disclaimer, this review is intended for those of you who might actually consider buying one. For those of you who could care less please keep your useless comments to yourself, as I will just delete them anyway. I understand this device isn't for everyone but it definitely has it's place in the market, and will surely be changing the way a lot of people do their day to day computing.


Thanks for looking!

[Bu11dogg2]

Sounds like a pretty neat computer

I prefer my GF's mac laptop over our PC laptop anyday

[Robk0000]

I like the idea of a tablet based pc, but i hate it when people try and use their technology for things that can be done much simpler. Ie. notepad... use a pen, dont tell the speaker to slow down so you can keep up.


My only con from a non customer.

[ishredNH]

I played with one in best buy the other day. It was aight. I still want one for the dash of my car.

[Bu11dogg2]

I played with one in best buy the other day. It was aight. I still want one for the dash of my car.


this

[TankGirl]

I always look forward to your reviews because you're pretty straight forward about everything. I won't say this has convinced me to get one, but I guess it has it's place in the world :)

[adam]

I always look forward to your reviews because you're pretty straight forward about everything. I won't say this has convinced me to get one, but I guess it has it's place in the world :)

Thanks, like I said before, I just figured people might want to know. Some people will have no use for this thing at all, while some could really benefit from it.

[Bigzach88]

i try to avoid buying 1st gen of anything but i definetly think i would consider getting one once the 2nd gen comes out and they work out all the little kinks. not as easy to carry around as my itouch but viewing webpages on the itouch kinda sucks

[apkarian100]

Consumer Reports stated how you can't run multiple Apps on the iPad. Have you had issues with running multiple Apps or is it normal to do everything once at a time?

They also said you can't plug in memory cards or USB connections. What do you feel about that?

[wrxtuner82]

Battery life is good? I wish they'd find a way to do that with smart phones. I watch a 4 minute youtube video and seem to lose 3/4 of my battery. 2% after an hour and a half of video is pretty good I'd say. I think that impresses me more than anything.

[TankGirl]

Battery life is good? I wish they'd find a way to do that with smart phones. I watch a 4 minute youtube video and seem to lose 3/4 of my battery. 2% after an hour and a half of video is pretty good I'd say. I think that impresses me more than anything.
^^ this!

[adam]

Consumer Reports stated how you can't run multiple Apps on the iPad. Have you had issues with running multiple Apps or is it normal to do everything once at a time?

They also said you can't plug in memory cards or USB connections. What do you feel about that?

The new iPhone os update is coming out and with it comes the ipad update as well that will have all the multi tasking. If you look up iPhone os 4.0 you can see all of the features.
As of now most apps remember where you left off so exiting it and going back into it is not really a big deal at all.


Consumer Reports is also wrong about the memory cards as well. There are a few accessories by apple that let you plug your memory card right into the device itself.

And with all of the online file repositories like google docs and box.net, everything is at your fingertips anyway.



As far a bettery life goes, i watched a movie this weekend and it killed 11% of the battery... I was impressed!!!!

[CTATV]

is the battery replaceable in these unlike the iphone?

[OMG.EVO]

I think the concept of the iPad is sweet - I love touch devices.

I can see this having applications in business right now. I'm glad to hear you guys are getting along well with it.

For my personal use though, I have to hold out for the MS Courier. I know lots of people don't like the stylus, but I want to use it as electronic paper instead of having a notebook, and I frequently have to accompany my notes with technical sketches, so the functionality of the stylus and the writing/drawing combo areas on the Courier seem ideal for me.

I guess there are two ways to look at the iPad - It is bigger than my phone and does the same stuff, and not as flexible as my laptop and does the same stuff. OR, you can look at it in that it combines the features of both into a package that lets you do things that weren't previously possible.

Time will tell!!

[adam]

is the battery replaceable in these unlike the iphone?

No it is not but it seems to last forever

[wrxtuner82]

Think it'll eventually NOT last forever though? I don't know what the iPhones are like?

[kburnell]

Think it'll eventually NOT last forever though? I don't know what the iPhones are like?

It's like any other device that uses batteries...eventually they stop holding the charge as well as they used to.

[im_so_blue]

I think the concept of the iPad is sweet - I love touch devices.

I can see this having applications in business right now. I'm glad to hear you guys are getting along well with it.

For my personal use though, I have to hold out for the MS Courier. I know lots of people don't like the stylus, but I want to use it as electronic paper instead of having a notebook, and I frequently have to accompany my notes with technical sketches, so the functionality of the stylus and the writing/drawing combo areas on the Courier seem ideal for me.

I guess there are two ways to look at the iPad - It is bigger than my phone and does the same stuff, and not as flexible as my laptop and does the same stuff. OR, you can look at it in that it combines the features of both into a package that lets you do things that weren't previously possible.

Time will tell!!

i just looked up that MS Courier thing

and that is pretty f'in badass.. That i like alot!

and they say technology was creeping slowly now a -days ... i think its got its second wind!

[adam]

Think it'll eventually NOT last forever though? I don't know what the iPhones are like?
most likely but like with the iphones, Apple replaces it if the battery is lasting less time... thay have a little meter to tell.

[adam]

and not to be a fun sponge but microsoft announced that they are canceling the MS Courier

[ishredNH]

and not to be a fun sponge but microsoft announced that they are canceling the MS Courier

"fun sponge" The last time i heard that phrase was from this british chick over here on vaca. I died. Best phrase ever. Thank you for reminding me of its awesomeness

[RCKSTR]

so Adam since my laptop sucks and I love my iphone... should I get an iPad instead of another laptop??

is it just like the iphone but bigger? same style keyboard pops up??

[OMG.EVO]

and not to be a fun sponge but microsoft announced that they are canceling the MS Courier


Yeah I just got word on that today.

One of my co-workers brought in an iPad however, and it seems like it might do what I want it to do.

This might be a purchase in my future...

I need to find an app that lets me type notes on a keyboard and use a stylus to draw sketches right next to the typed notes. I then need to PDF the note page and send it to a drive on my network.

If that is possible with an app, I will definitely buy.

[adam]

so Adam since my laptop sucks and I love my iphone... should I get an iPad instead of another laptop??

is it just like the iphone but bigger? same style keyboard pops up??

Yes but you can also use the apple Bluetooth keyboard.

[adam]

Yeah I just got word on that today.

One of my co-workers brought in an iPad however, and it seems like it might do what I want it to do.

This might be a purchase in my future...

I need to find an app that lets me type notes on a keyboard and use a stylus to draw sketches right next to the typed notes. I then need to PDF the note page and send it to a drive on my network.

If that is possible with an app, I will definitely buy.


There are quite a few apps out there that can do this

[OMG.EVO]

There are quite a few apps out there that can do this

Thats awesome. I was getting worried. I was searching around on my lunch break trying to find one, and I can't seem to identify:

- Styli with a fine points
- Solution for issues of resting your hand on the screen causing unwanted interface
- Styli that are good for "dragging" rather than just pointing and selecting

Can you point me in the right direction? I want to make sure I have everything at my fingertips before I go spend my wad on the top of the line toy

[wrxtuner82]

Bump? Do you still like it?

[adam]

Bump? Do you still like it?

I do... a lot. I keep finding that i dont lug my laptop with me everywhere any more and this thing rocks.

The battery life is unbelievable, and the 3g is stupid fast

[wrxtuner82]

6 month bump?

[98Wagoon]

he sold it.. :hide:




:rofl:

[wrxtuner82]

:rofl:

[wrxtuner82]

he sold it.. :hide:




:rofl:

It's been almost 4 weeks.....maybe he really did sell it..........or it's broken and he can't check NES :lol:

[Seraphinwolf]

No he sold it... On NES... Adam is like a 5 yearold and gets bored with toys quickly. :lol:

[method]

I would prefer a MB Air over the iPad anyway.

[wrxtuner82]

I would prefer a MB Air over the iPad anyway.

Whats an MB Air? I'm in the market for a new computer

[method]

Whats an MB Air? I'm in the market for a new computer

http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

[wrxtuner82]

ugh, not real interested in a mac, WAY too expensive for me, and I'm in the desert, so that's just asking for trouble

[wrxtuner82]

its too bad the panasonic tough books are so freakin expensive, i'd like one of those

[98Wagoon]

GALAXY-TAB FTW.

android powered tablet pc. (http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/aapl_ssnjy_samsung-unveils-galaxy-tab-its-android-powered-tablet-pc-1148910.html)

[adam]

I would prefer a MB Air over the iPad anyway.

I now replaced my macbook pro and ipad with a macbook air. I still have my mac pro upstairs for the big jobs

[wrxtuner82]

I now replaced my macbook pro and ipad with a macbook air. I still have my mac pro upstairs for the big jobs

Why'd you get rid of the iPad?

[98Wagoon]

Why'd you get rid of the iPad?


its a rubbish apple product? :hide:

[Seraphinwolf]

Your a rubbish product. iPad just isn't practical. At least by my opinion. It's Basicly a giant iPod touch. Not a replacemt for a laptop.

[98Wagoon]

wompwomp.


you mean apple made something mediocre and impractical? SAY ITS NOT SO!?

[adam]

Why'd you get rid of the iPad?

I just didnt need it, I am surrounded by computers and crap, i still would love to have one.

Your a rubbish product. iPad just isn't practical. At least by my opinion. It's Basicly a giant iPod touch. Not a replacemt for a laptop.

That is a false statement. It is not a giant ipod touch. you can connect a camera to it and download all your pics, you can print from it, you can create, edit and save Real word, excel, and pdf documents.
I have a client who ditched her laptop for an ipad and loves every second of it.

[jonny-rockets]

i didn't understand the product until i started using it a lot at work.

i definitely get it now.

everything adam said + think media player.

take one on the plane and it has what a 10 hour battery life?

its sweet.

[Seraphinwolf]

Okay it's just not rtacticle for me. I want something that can stand up on it's own. BTW with IOS4.2.1 you can print off iPhones and iPod touches.
For me it just isn't a substitute. I'd love an Air. Old or new!

[method]

To the Apple product bashers.

I know several users that have switched from PC's to Apple products...none of them want to switch back to PCs.

I know several Apple product users that have switched to PC's...they have ALL switched back to Apple products.

Food for thought.