Which iPad?
 

Wifey wants an iPad for xmas....

...and since we're going to the UK for xmas I can claim GST back and probably claim the rest as a tax deductable business expense in next years tax return anyway - so my 'out of pocket' cost is going to be < $450 eventually regardless of which 'type' I get.

So the big question is of course 3G or not to 3G? I'm pretty sure that 99% of the time it'll be used in the house anyway so not need it - and even when we're out and about we could wifi tether off our phones with a plain wifi iPad - but really who needs the hassle?... and wouldnt it be nice not to worry about where you are and have that flexibility to take it when out and about?

...and then how big does the thing have to be? JB Hifi at the moment have their 64GB iPads cheaper than the 32GB ones which is clearly daft - so I'm wondering if theres any reason not to just by the 'top of the line' model?


Must be plenty of iPad users out there - so anyone suffer from buyers remorse and wish they had a different model? Do you use the 3G capability at all? Have you filled your 16GB iPad and crave more space?

Any 'must have' accessories? I'm thinking:

- Camera connection dongle (http://store.apple.com/au/product/MC531ZM/A)
- External battery charger (recharge when away from power i.e. on flights) http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5000mAh-E...item43aa326789
- ..and some kind of leathery folder/case thingo.....

Re: Which iPad?
 

My OH bought me the first version last year.

We love it. The newer version has the camera option which for us, as Skype users, is a wishlist item but that's about it.

We toggle ours to our phones when internet is needed away from home.

We have a plug in keyboard which I don't use as much as probably would use if there had been the bluetooth wireless option available which there is now. (I have to take the case off to be able to slip the connector into the keypad - that's a phaff!)

We don't worry about any extra battery charging options other than the standard usb/plug - most airports and planes allow usb charging now anyway. (And cars for that matter too).

I have the smaller size and still only 20% full. But then I'm more likely to have more music on iPhone than iPad and we don't use it currently to watch movies etc But probably has 2000 odd photos on.

All in all, it's an excellent product for the whole family. Just found an excellent free App to help my youngest son improve his spellings - suddenly I'm not having to nag so much anymore!

Re: Which iPad?
 

I bought a 16Gb Wifi iPad yesterday actually. I didn't feel the need for 3G as I don't plan on taking it on the road much.

I think the capacity will be fine as I don't plan on filling it with movies/music and it will be more of an app runner (musical stuff, mainly) ... I use Splashtop to remote into my home PC so I can use that for media playback with no conversions necessary.

I've just ordered a camera connection kit and other bits and peices from eBay, much cheaper than the offical stuff and just as good in my experience of iPod Touch accessories.

I was going to hold out for the iPad 3 launch but couldn't help myself, it's ace. :thumbup:

Re: Which iPad?
 

Never seen a USB port in any airplane seat I've sat in. (Although the 1 time I sat in business class I did have power).

I'm pretty sure Qantas planes dont have powered seats in "F^ck you - get to the back of the plane and stay there until we say so" class.

(ETA: Just checked and it seems Qantas A380 economy seats do indeed have a USB socket in them now.... who'd have thunk it?)

Re: Which iPad?
 

Try this one...

http://www.wms.co.uk/sharedimages/Medium/D320.jpg

Re: Which iPad?
 

Awesome - that'll save me a few $$$$s!!! :rofl:

Re: Which iPad?
 

Also have a look at online stores like Kogan for ipads, could be cheaper.

Re: Which iPad?
 

Most Apple fans are one-eyed, it has to be said :D

Re: Which iPad?
 

Watch out - I think you may have infringed one of Apple's patents there...


S

Re: Which iPad?
 

Singapore have them on their economy seats

Re: Which iPad?
 

The only thing that fill sup the ipads we've got in the household are the movies. The apps tehmselves use very little space.

My 32gig is full of about 50 hours of movies/TV shows because I fly long haul and use it intensively to watch TV etc. There is approximately 50 1hr TV Episodes on there and I watch them using CinexPlayer (about 9$ app- worth its weight in gold)

as for 3g vs wifi - I have had both , the 3g is handy but really if you've got a samrtphone the tims when you'd want to browse on the ipad (getting it out the bag, etc) I cannot really see a scenario where that would happen - Iphone is as good for general stuff out + about.

I currently use the 32g 3g one but honestly I rarely use the 3g

You wont need a spare charger - the battery is 10hrs of real use watching movies in my experience. Do get a cover - ifonly for peace of mind - they have gorilla glass so they dont scratch - but you will be happier taking it out + about if its got a cover on it. I have the apple smart cover which is fine.

Re: Which iPad?
 

Regarding space for apps, it depends, I'm a bit of an app junkie and most of my 32Gb iPod Touch is taken up with them.

NOVA 2 takes over a Gig, Asphalt 4 is nearly a Gig, Garage Band is half a Gig ... A quick look in iTunes reveals 265 apps, 49 of which are over 100Mb.

Of course, I am a sad case and am pruning them back gradually ;)

Loving the iPad so far, so snappy, so ... right.

So not the webOS side of my $150 firesale HP Touchpad (which is dual-booting Android quite nicely ...).

Re: Which iPad?
 

We bought the top of the wozza one with 3G and wifi. We have used ours quite a bit on the road but that is only something you can know about your own circumstances.

Re: Which iPad?
 

I need something to make sure I am clean at night and free to roller skate in the day whilst wearing white.

Re: Which iPad?
 

You won the lotto ?:sneaky:

Re: Which iPad?
 

ATO refund ... :)

Re: Which iPad?
 

Very noice:sneaky: Couple of new pads, a Kookaburra and an indislodgeable middle stump wouldn't go amiss either

Re: Which iPad?
 

And a large glob of talent :lol:

Re: Which iPad?
 

Well said and something the Android fans don''t seem to get 'when the moan about lack of this and that.

Re: Which iPad?
 

I'm a big fan of functionality over OS religion. I'll use anything if it gets the job done.

I bought a $150 firesale HP Touchpad a few months ago (and am using it right now) webOS was OK but immature and I'm very grateful the Cyanogenmod team ported Android to it. ICS will be even better.

Choice is good, I'm too long in the tooth to be an all or nothing OS fanboy.

I bought the iPad because of the apps, I have a shedload of iPod Touch apps that just work on the iPad and I'm accumulating a collection of quality stuff that is just silly value for money.

Yeh, it's a lot of money for a tablet but it 'just works'.

(edit) iTunes is, however, a pig to deal with.

Re: Which iPad?
 

And that's the main reason i'm edging towards the tablet:unsure:

Re: Which iPad?
 

Go fully Apple and iTunes is a breeze.

Re: Which iPad?
 

Why should I not use my Touchpad running webOS/CM7/ICS?

It will browse Flash websites which is more than the iPad will do ...

Horses for courses, etc.

Re: Which iPad?
 

As an aside did you hear the news...future flash development for mobile devices is dropped...could have announced it before steve died :)

Re: Which iPad?
 

I do get miffed that there isn't that cross over between the 2 platforms, it's almost like us Mac people are being punished for not liking a regular PC and it's associated software!

Re: Which iPad?
 

Yup, it's all going HTML5 apparently, time marches on ...

As another aside I did my first bit of real techie work for over a year yesterday, I installed Apache on my XP box. I didn't even need the manual so I've still retained some geekery :D

Well, it's not as bad as a few years ago, there is some convergence.

I don't get all that tribal stuff, it either does the job for you or it doesn't.

My Touchpad will be a fine Android box to play with, choice is good :)

Re: Which iPad?
 

If you're talking about the lack of flash on the iPad that's more a specific Apple mobile device thing rather than a PC vs Mac thing. Obviously flash is on the Mac desktop.

People have surmised Steve refused to allow Adobe Flash on his mobile devices because lot of games are flash based - would detract from app store sales.

Steve said it was because Flash is a very heavyweight add-on that crashed/slows down mobile devices. He didn't want it affecting his mobile devices. From the announcement the other day that Adobe are abandoning flash on mobile devices it seems he may have been right or at least contributed to its demise.

Re: Which iPad?
 

He could not control it so he did not want it. He was right about flash being buggy and insecure.

I look forward to never having to update flash again.

Re: Which iPad?
 

Can she wait? Word on the street is that iPad3 will be available Autumn (Oz Autumn that is) 2012.

Re: Which iPad?
 

Working in IT I've always gone for the most fully specced device that was flexible and open and let me do what I want. I would have chosen a fully specced Android device every time.

After leaving many a fully specced/flexible/open device in the draw cause I couldn't be arsed getting it to do what I want I have changed my mind. I now buy on the eco-system/device integration and out of the box ease of use and have switched to apple devices. I understand for the more diligent hacker this may not be the case.

Now every time I leave my iMac and go back to my PC in the other room I am really surprised how crap it feels. It's at the point where I'm going to add Windows 7 as a boot option or virtual machine on the iMac so I don't have to use the PC. (I'm a MS Windows software developer)

And for the first time I am getting actual real use out of the integration between desktop/mobile/stereo/photo/web etc rather than just perceived possibilities.

This is just in my situation though and others may have different requirements.