iPad Sale

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Glenn R. Howes |
Date: 2010-06-03

I have 2 iPads. A 64 GB WiFi only model which I bought the day it was available, and this 32GB 3G model which I picked up last week. They are about the same price; if you have to choose between an extra 32GB of storage and 3G capacity, definitely go with the 3G if for nothing else future proofing. I consider this to be the sweet spot of the 6 iPad variants.

Right now, my wife is in China with a WiFi only model. She is not a technical person, and can rarely find an open WiFi hotspot. So, she goes days between checking her e-mail. E-mail which might be critical to her business. If she had a 3G model, I could have purchased a modestly priced data plan from Chinese Unicom, modified a data SIM to a micro-SIM, and she would be getting her e-mail every minute, and doing some light web browsing. On the other hand, her iPad is loaded with media with over a dozen DVD quality films, all her music, and a large number of family photos. This does take advantage of the extra storage, but is a poor substitute for the whole Internet.

3G is not quite the great deal as it was yesterday, AT&T is eliminating unlimited data for new accounts. In the past, the deal was you could get unlimited data for $30/month with no contract. Now you can get a $25/month deal for 2GB, which is probably more than enough if you don't watch video. Existing $30/month users might as well be on contract, because they will have to keep paying to get the original deal. There are also cheaper smaller plans. Right now I'm on the unlimited plan, and it is great. I have been Skyping to my wife in China, using Google maps, browsing the web in the dentist office and at lunch. It is very slick. I tried the 250 MB/month plan and that was just too small for what I was doing.

As for the rest of the iPad, it is great. I downloaded a free novel from the iBooks store and read it comfortably without any eyestrain or hurting my arm. It's my preferred device for browsing the web, although you do get to notice the lack of Flash. It's mostly ads though so that's fine, but occasionally there will be a graph or video which you just can't see. Over time, I expect this will be less of a problem as Flash dies out, but it is mildly annoying now.

The glass does get awfully greasy, but that is easily wiped away. Typing is surprisingly OK, I can type about as fast as I normally can if I concentrate. My kids like watching YouTube every night, and that is slicker than going to the website. So, I find I use the iPad several hours a day, which means I can get 2 or 3 days out of a full battery charging, which is a relief compared to being worried about keeping my iPhone charged.

This is indeed a game changing device, and I think most anyone will find there are hours of the day whether it be on the couch, bed or passenger's seat where it is nearly the ideal computing companion.

Etta Wildberry |
Date: 2010-07-31

OK - so not ANYTHING - but the iPad had enabled me to get so much done when I am on the go. I understand why people might say it is a glorified iphone, but let me tell you - the screen size is critical and all of the cool apps that are available have opened up a whole world of, well, everything. Some of the most helpful things:

- Internet access on the go (Yes - GET 3G if you you are going to get this!!). I can cull email, order something I need to buy online, look up information I need (addresses, phone numbers, directions), and just read something interesting on a nice, readable screen.
- Entertainment for my kids on the go. There are lots of cool apps for kids and it has saved me from some really otherwise difficult situations with active boys (doctor's waiting room for 45 minutes...). They have read-along books and lots of educational options, so its not just brain candy stuff, either.
- There is a kindle app, so it can do everything a kindle book reader can. I LOVE being able to read a book on my iPad and highlight it digitally.
- It is small enough that I can carry it around the house with me from room to room and use the notepad feature to make notes of things that would otherwise end up on scraps of paper littered around the house.

It has greatly enhanced my quality of life and now that I am accustomed to a computer I can carry in my purse, I cannot imagine not having one. If mine broke, I would replace it - right away.

R. Smith |
Date: 2010-08-19

When the iPad was first announced in January my reaction was ho-hum. I thought it was just another uninteresting gadget. Then, in April after they were released I tried a couple of them at a univerity and immediately felt that I must have one.

This is the kind of device I have long waited for, a fantastic tool for reading technical manuals and books, access to internet, weather radar, GPS information, e-mail, etc. Having communications available anywhere anywhere I can get wifi or AT&T cellular is more than just a novelty for me, it has become important and useful. iPad is a surprisingly good tool for writing. Some really excellent apps, like the iAnnotate PDF reader, which is vastly better than the Adobe reader (and it allows you to create your own bookmarks and annotations in the PDF.) In summary, the iPad redefines what a personal computer is for me.

Addressing some concerns I and others have had:
1) It requires you to have a PC or Mac so you can initially set it up, and you need to connect to your PC to perform some kinds of operations, like setting up some e-mail accounts.

2) Eye strain has not been an issue for me, and I use it mostly for reading. The display is fantastic.

3) The keyboard seemed at first glance like it would be horrible. This is not the case at all. I am surprised at how good it is, and I can touch type with it efficiently when using the wide screen, or use it in Blackberry fashion when using the narrow screen.

4) There have been some usability issues on web sites because not all of them support the iPad yet, at least not fully. There seems to be an effort afoot to replace Flash with a new standard, but meanwhile many videos cannot be viewed because the iPad does not support Flash.

5) Magazine subscriptions are not widely available for the iPad.

6) I am a life-long "book person", and have had bad previous experience with electronic books and PDF documents. I must honestly say that reading with the iPad has been superior to using a physical book in all ways but one: the ability to pre-read the book quickly, and as I use it more, I think I will find ways to approximate the value of a good preread. It's truly amazing. I have not tried the latest Kindle and similar devices, but I assume they are comparable to the iPad in readability and responsiveness. If you are a book person and resist these electronic gadgets, as I did, I recommend you try one out at a time when you can spend at least 15 minutes with one. It may sell itself when you become familiar with it.

Susan |
Date: 2010-08-03

At work we have been exploring making pod cast. I felt I couldn't understand the process without reviewing so I decided to purchase this ipad. I contacted Apple 3 days off and on to get set up and 80% of the time techs had patience and understanding as we problem solved and reached some understanding. I have taken it from DC to Orono Maine in the few weeks I have used it and I find it protable and useful for taking notes, checking email, surfing and I gotta admit playing doodle and manging photos. I am just begining to understand the 3 g wifi differences I have blown through my monthly $25 dollars worth of data time in 2 weeks and I am trying to decide if I need a bigger plan or to manage my access differently.

Helo |
Date: 2010-08-06

Ipad its simply the best device from Apple. And it much more than fun. Its a powerful device to work. Many apps turns it to a desktop! Buy a 64GB ipad