Ipad...

[pavmentsurfer]

I just got an Ipad...
After doing some research (and only doing that because I needed to find an excuse to own one) I found out the Ipad supports external keyboards through bluetooth. This, along with DocsToGo means I can create and edit word and excel documents using a proper keyboard on an Ipad. I travel alot and take my computer every where I go, but I only use it for writing and surfing the net... so its really overkill to have my laptop with me. With the Ipad I can do all these things just as easily, AND its smaller, AND I can watch movies and stuff on a plane without having to hold it all weird because the guy in front of me has put his seat back and theres no room to open my laptop screen all the way (happens every time)
After owning this thing for about a week now (32gig non 3G) I have to say im really impressed. Obviously for the money it had better be good... but I also have 2 netbooks right now and asside from USB connectivity, the netbooks cant hold a candle to the Ipad. Its faster, easier to use, has better battery life and is lighter. Realistically, it also has greater functionality due to all the apps available. I paid $599 for my Ipad, I bought a case and I went on e-bay and for $26 I got a bluetooth keyboard (looks just like apples, but isnt) and a knock off USB/SD adapter for importing photos for $20 shipped. So far, I see no reason to take my laptop with me when I travel now. So, as much as my original purpose for this thing was truly just to own a cool toy, I think its actually going to simplify my travel and be worth the money I spent on it.

Now I think the only thing im missing is an App from Castle to program their ESC's... how sweet would that be.

Just thought id post my experience.
Pave

[streetdemon]

I just got an Ipad...
After doing some research (and only doing that because I needed to find an excuse to own one) I found out the Ipad supports external keyboards through bluetooth. This, along with DocsToGo means I can create and edit word and excel documents using a proper keyboard on an Ipad. I travel alot and take my computer every where I go, but I only use it for writing and surfing the net... so its really overkill to have my laptop with me. With the Ipad I can do all these things just as easily, AND its smaller, AND I can watch movies and stuff on a plane without having to hold it all weird because the guy in front of me has put his seat back and theres no room to open my laptop screen all the way (happens every time)
After owning this thing for about a week now (32gig non 3G) I have to say im really impressed. Obviously for the money it had better be good... but I also have 2 netbooks right now and asside from USB connectivity, the netbooks cant hold a candle to the Ipad. Its faster, easier to use, has better battery life and is lighter. Realistically, it also has greater functionality due to all the apps available. I paid $599 for my Ipad, I bought a case and I went on e-bay and for $26 I got a bluetooth keyboard (looks just like apples, but isnt) and a knock off USB/SD adapter for importing photos for $20 shipped. So far, I see no reason to take my laptop with me when I travel now. So, as much as my original purpose for this thing was truly just to own a cool toy, I think its actually going to simplify my travel and be worth the money I spent on it.

Now I think the only thing im missing is an App from Castle to program their ESC's... how sweet would that be.

Just thought id post my experience.
Pave

I have been thinking the same thing for my phone, that would be awesome. Maybe some day, with a rooted device, it will be possible.

As for the keyboard thing, doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose if you use an external keyboard? Makes it bigger than a laptop then.

[Z-Maxx 3.3]

The iPad is definitely a cool little device (I'm posting from mine) I bought it because I was sick of my family's home computer (it has windows vista, need I say more?) the only complaint I have is that my mom is always using it for "important" things, I can hardly get it away from her!

[pavmentsurfer]

The apple size (and style) bluetooth keyboard I bought is about the same size as the keyboard on my laptop but WAY thinner... so ill just pack that in my suitcase, the Ipad itself is WAY smaller than even my 13 inch macbook pro (its about the same footprint as my 10 inch netbook but 1/4 the thickness) so with both of them combined it doesnt take up as much space a netbook and certainly less than my macbook pro. And since I only need the Ipad in my carry on or backpack and can pack the keyboard seperately im carrying less around an airport. Apparently theres an app that lets you use the smaller thumb size keyboard on your Iphone, but it types on the Ipad... that seems a little silly. I can almost type as fast on my Ipad keyboard (the touch keyboard on the screen) as I can on my actual macbook pro keyboard. Its much better than I thought.

[dodge_guy43]

For what your talking about, I would almost try something like this.

http://www.ixbay.com/en/waterproof-s...-for-ipad.html

[Slasher]

iPads are amazing for some people. For others, they're a little redundant.

I think they're neat, myself. But I would never own one or have a use for one.
On the flipside, I ordered a MacBook a couple days ago. Free shipping is awesome, but it's not as fast as I would like.

[pavmentsurfer]

Dodge guy, I like that keyboard. I may look at trying one of those.
Slasher, you don't like your MacBook? I haven't owned a Mac I don't like.
But to each his own, that's for sure.

[Slasher]

Slasher, you don't like your MacBook? I haven't owned a Mac I don't like.
But to each his own, that's for sure.

No no -- you misunderstood. It's the transit time with free shipping I don't like.

I ordered the MacBook on Monday, noonish. I want it now, now, NOW!

This will be my first Mac so I opted for a less expensive route and didn't get the 'Pro. I got a refurb (current gen) and a discount. I'm excited.

[pavmentsurfer]

Ahhh... I got ya... and I feel your pain. i hate waiting. I think youll like your macbook. I loved mine and only upgraded to a pro because of the LED screen and better video support (which at the time wasnt available in the macbooks). The plastic case is very very durable and feels great in your hands.
Anyway, you dont need a sales pitch, you already bought it. Hehe... congrats.
A few thoughts, you can easily buy non apple power supplies from ebay for less than half the price of real mac ones. I have one and it works perfect. I needed an extra and they work great. The plastic on the macbook lids scratches easily and the palm rest area can discolour easily. Its just a suggestion, but getting some palm rest film and a lid cover is a good idea to keep it looking new longer. (I have a moshi palm rest cover on my macbook pro... its really nice)
Also, if its not already upgraded... dont upgrade to Quicktime X... stay with quicktime 7... its better and its hard to revert back if you do the upgrade.
Anyway, just a few things ive learned that I thought may help.
Pave

[Slasher]

I have seen palm rests on other brands get worn from rubbing, but it wasn't something I had considered/remembered until you mentioned it. I'll look into a cover. Thanks for the tip.

As for Quicktime. Unless it offers something better on its native OS than it does on Windows, I probably won't use it much. I've become a huge fan of VLC for any kind of video play back.

My last notebook was a Dell D600. Actually, it was the only notebook I've ever had. It was aged at the time (sold it months before Vista came out) and I needed some cash to make repairs on my car. Thanks to Craigslist I got a pretty penny for it. Any way.. my point is it'll be neat to have not only my first Mac, but a new portable.

[superUEmaxx]

I got an iPad the first day they came out, 32GB no 3G. At the time I had a Blackberry Bold 9000 as my phone(running a beta release 5.0.xxx build OS), and thought it was great. I wouldn't really say it was functional for word processing or inputing text, but it was amazing at web surfing. First time I hooked it to my MacBook Pro(mid-2010 13.3), it gave me a frown face screen and wouldn't boot out of it. Brought it to Apple, they couldn't figure it out and didn't have any others in stock, so I got a refund. I was planning to get one when they were back in stock again, but never did. Fast forward to now, I have a iPhone 4 that's jail-broken, and feel it does everything the iPad did more or less. Anything it doesn't do, I could do on my MacBook over the iPhone's 3G through MyWi 4.0. The iPad is crippled by 256MB of RAM, where as the iPhone 4 has 512.

Hopefully the next gen of the iPad has a retina display, along with the jail break ability to run OSX. Then I'm in, until then MacBook Pro / iPhone 4 FTW

[brushlessbandit]

Hopefully the next gen of the iPad has a retina display, along with the jail break ability to run OSX. Then I'm in, until then MacBook Pro / iPhone 4 FTW

I'm thinking that most likely won't happen. would be awesome though.

I believe the processor is a4 1ghz, which is good for an iPhone, iPad, or Ipod Touch but might not have the power to run osx

if they double the power sure but then battery life might stink.


They should base an optional iPad OS based on OSX (iOSX)

[Slasher]

I believe the processor is a4 1ghz, which is good for an iPhone, iPad, or Ipod Touch but might not have the power to run osx

C'mon man! OSX Mobile.

Microsoft did it. (well, sorta. Ha)

[Cubic]

*iPad skeptic*