Apple iPad vs. Anything else

dougo83

dougo83

Joined
Feb 28, 2008
Messages
4,834
Ok...my mom has decided that she wants an iPad.

Her reasons:
It can be used as an e-reader.
It has games and apps she wants.
It is Wi-Fi enabled.
It is more portable than a laptop.

My objections:
It is super-expensive for what it is.
A netbook has all of the same functionality and then some.
It appears less functional than her iPhone.

So...I am trying to convince her of another option. Realistically, I think she wants it because it is a stupid Apple gimmick. I think a netbook, or even a quality e-reader, would be a better option.

What say you, BF folks?

Thanks Y'all
Dougo
 
I'd say go with you. The Ipad actually isn't that great an e-reader because it's still a computer screen that flickers so looking at it for a long time can give you a headache etc. I'd say get a small netbook and an e-reader, or to keep costs down, just the netbook.
 
MrOverkill said:
I'd say go with you. The Ipad actually isn't that great an e-reader because it's still a computer screen that flickers so looking at it for a long time can give you a headache etc. I'd say get a small netbook and an e-reader, or to keep costs down, just the netbook.
Click to expand...

Never had that issue.

My objections:
It is super-expensive for what it is.
A netbook has all of the same functionality and then some.
It appears less functional than her iPhone.
Click to expand...

$500 is not all that expensive for essentially a large display and applications.

A netbook has similar functionality, but not the same. First of all, you won't get the large display and battery life. Second you won't get the touchable interaction. You'll be forced to use an undersized keyboard.

It has the same functionality of an iPhone (minus calls / GPS) but larger. Ever watch a movie on an iPad or read emails? It's amazing.
 
I don't know how tech-savvy your mother is, but sometimes, it's better to just pay more so you get less grief with them asking difficult questions, or more frustratingly, easy questions that you answered last week :) If she already uses the iPhone UI comfortably, that may be a bonus.
Good luck whatever you do.
 
Josh K said:
Never had that issue.



$500 is not all that expensive for essentially a large display and applications.

A netbook has similar functionality, but not the same. First of all, you won't get the large display and battery life. Second you won't get the touchable interaction. You'll be forced to use an undersized keyboard.

It has the same functionality of an iPhone (minus calls / GPS) but larger. Ever watch a movie on an iPad or read emails? It's amazing.
Click to expand...

I concur + my IPAD has GPS :)
 
I got a chance to look at an Ipad and I wasn't impressed. It wasn't horrible, it was just underwhelming.

But bad things about it that make me never want to buy one keeping in mind, I only used it for 5 minutes some of it stuff I researched when looking for a portable gadget for animating.
1. $500, isn't worth it from what I saw.
2. I didn't like the user interface, I found it hard to do anything.
3. Too much to break on it. That's a big issue with me, maybe not so much for normal people though. Still, I'd be hesitant to even put it into a backpack with a book or two for fear of cracking the screen.
4. They're not user servicable (that's Apple in general); I can take apart my PCs and put new parts in pretty easily. You have to send it to Apple to fix any of their products, that makes me uncomfortable.

You could probably find a tablet PC for around that price, don't know if one in that price range would be any good though.

On a related note, I looked up underwhelming to make sure I spelled it right and the fourth link was a picture of an IPhone. :p
 
GWashington1732 said:
I got a chance to look at an Ipad and I wasn't impressed. It wasn't horrible, it was just underwhelming.

But bad things about it that make me never want to buy one keeping in mind, I only used it for 5 minutes some of it stuff I researched when looking for a portable gadget for animating.
1. $500, isn't worth it from what I saw.
2. I didn't like the user interface, I found it hard to do anything.
3. Too much to break on it. That's a big issue with me, maybe not so much for normal people though. Still, I'd be hesitant to even put it into a backpack with a book or two for fear of cracking the screen.
4. They're not user servicable (that's Apple in general); I can take apart my PCs and put new parts in pretty easily. You have to send it to Apple to fix any of their products, that makes me uncomfortable.

You could probably find a tablet PC for around that price, don't know if one in that price range would be any good though.

On a related note, I looked up underwhelming to make sure I spelled it right and the fourth link was a picture of an IPhone. :p
Click to expand...

Too much to break? It's just a screen.

And aren't you the guy who goes through phones like candy bars? Maybe electronics in general don't agree with you.

Have you seen a user serviceable cell phone? Even the newer (last 3-5 years) laptops are getting less and less user serviceable. Desktop PC's are not the same as mobile devices.
 
My wife and I gave our kids each one for Xmas - and I think they are well worth the money.

This after my wife and I switched to iphones (2007), too many ipods to count, and switched to macs(2010).

Microsoft lost me as a consumer with the whole Vista thing (that was the last straw). Most of my friends and I have suffered with their antics for way too long.

I have been using MS products since early 1980's, and I am tired of the frustration.

I need things that work, especially for wife and kids - since I am the "IT" guy at home.

The kids are digging the iPads, I am impressed since I had to set them up, and so far, after a few weeks of intensive use by the worlds toughest users (two teenagers), the only thing I have had to help them with is what additional apps to download. They are well built, great battery life, and easy to use.

My kids use them as an e-reader, and they do a really good job. If you read a lot outside - you need a Kindle or other non-backlit device. If you read inside - it really helps to have the backlite. It also handles magazines, comic books and newspapers great.

I think your Mom will have a blast with the iPad.:thumbup:
 
Josh K said:
Too much to break? It's just a screen.
Click to expand...

That's the problem.
Should have said too easy to break though.

And aren't you the guy who goes through phones like candy bars? Maybe electronics in general don't agree with you.
Click to expand...

I just hate phones.

Have you seen a user serviceable cell phone?
Click to expand...

No, but I don't like cell phones either.

Even the newer (last 3-5 years) laptops are getting less and less user serviceable. Desktop PC's are not the same as mobile devices.
Click to expand...

My laptop's only a couple of years old, I've taken it apart a couple of times, added more memory, replaced the hard drive and the keyboard, and plugged in the fan after the tech support guy forgot to. It's only broken, badly, once, when a power surge fried the motherboard, which led to me having to plug in the cooling fan. If anything they made my laptop easier to service, the compartments for memory, the fan, and the hard drive are pretty easy to get at.
 
I've owned 3 iPhones, 2 Android phones, an iPad, a Samsung Galaxy Tab and too many laptop computers to keep count. The iPad is definitely user friendly, durable and fun to use. LCD screens do not flicker, so whoever said that needs to drink a bit more coffee this morning to wake up. ;) The iPad is perfect for web browsing while in your recliner (or while at work behind overly-restrictive firewalls). LOL! As long as you get a decent case to slip the iPad into, it is not going to be damaged under normal use and minor accidental slips. It's certainly much more durable than any laptop computer. It's worth a couple of hundred dollars just to not have to mess with maintaining an operating system on a laptop. Buy one, you'll like it. :D
 
I have an iPad and used it through nursing school. It was great and had an awesome battery life. Lots of capabilities - though it is NOT a replacement for a computer.

What I did was to purchase an app that enabled me to connect to my computer at home with my iPad. This way, if I could not do something natively on my iPad, I could just connect to my computer back at home and use my computer remotely through the iPad.

Really... I can't say enough nice things about them. I spent many hours staring at the screen and never experienced this screen flicker that you mentioned.

As an eBook reader, you have the option of downloading any number of free apps to read books. However, the design of the monitor does not lend itself to reading outside in broad daylight. You'll burn out the system if you do this. If this is something your mom wants to do, go with a Kindle.

iPads are great, user-friendly, and have lots of capabilities. Trust me when I say that they are NOT just oversized iPod Touches.
 
I am using my iPad more and more. Screen is incredibly readable.

Time is worth money, and the absolutely INSTANT on/off of this unit comes in especially handy. No 'booting' or hibernating recovery. Click: ON. Gotta go? Click: Off.

I'm finding WiFi everywhere. Using it more than I would have with a laptop.

My son won't let me have it. It has some GREAT games available, and really helps kill the boring time in a car or out doing errands.

The only drawback that I am disappointed with is Apple's insistence on not viewing flash sites. Like my own.... :(

I say YES!

Coop
 
I think it all comes down to how your mother rates her priorities. As far as e-readers go, I think nothing beats the kindle. It's by far the easiest on the eyes, no backlighting, no screen refresh, great battery life, the page stays on the screen even if you shut it off.

If she wants a care-free do-all, nothing will beat the IPad.
 
wintermute said:
I think it all comes down to how your mother rates her priorities. As far as e-readers go, I think nothing beats the kindle. It's by far the easiest on the eyes, no backlighting, no screen refresh, great battery life, the page stays on the screen even if you shut it off.

If she wants a care-free do-all, nothing will beat the IPad.
Click to expand...

I completely agree, and couldn't have said it better myself, although I have given this same advice on numerous occasions. :)
 
What she using it for? Facebook,email? Ipads are nice. If she has the $$ get it. Net book is alot bulkier. Just another nice toy. Some just don't like it cuz it's$$ to thm. But if she has the ca$h. I thought the same. Too much. But when I borrowed one. I decided I want one. Just to search the web while I'm bored watch tv. Just easy to use
 
SharpByCoop said:
I am using my iPad more and more. Screen is incredibly readable.

Time is worth money, and the absolutely INSTANT on/off of this unit comes in especially handy. No 'booting' or hibernating recovery. Click: ON. Gotta go? Click: Off.

I'm finding WiFi everywhere. Using it more than I would have with a laptop.

My son won't let me have it. It has some GREAT games available, and really helps kill the boring time in a car or out doing errands.

The only drawback that I am disappointed with is Apple's insistence on not viewing flash sites. Like my own.... :(

I say YES!

Coop
Click to expand...

Flash kills battery life, which is one of the main reasons they won't allow it.

Solution? Don't build an entire website in Flash. ;)
 
I've been looking into this recently as its time for a new computer---the $900 for the ipad I was looking at will also buy an awesome computer---the ipad can't replace a computer and I've hated Apple since the Mac my mom had about 10 years ago---what a piece of junk.

I've pretty much decided to go with a new Sony or Toshiba laptop---because in the end--a real computer pretty much blows away anything an ipad can do for the same money spent.
 
omaha-beenglockin said:
I've been looking into this recently as its time for a new computer---the $900 for the ipad I was looking at will also buy an awesome computer---the ipad can't replace a computer and I've hated Apple since the Mac my mom had about 10 years ago---what a piece of junk.

I've pretty much decided to go with a new Sony or Toshiba laptop---because in the end--a real computer pretty much blows away anything an ipad can do for the same money spent.
Click to expand...

No, it can't. ;) You're still thinking the iPad is a watered down computer.
 
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