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I have a question about this newfangled iPad

D

DataEast

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 13, 2011
64
0
I've gone through 3 pc laptops in about 5 years despite taking care of them. I don't really want to drop $1,100+ on a Macbook because I just think that's rediculous even though it would probably be a better long term investment. But, what about an iPad? Could that be substituted for a laptop? All I do is browse Facebook, 4chan, listen to podcasts on youtube and other sites, write papers on Word and torrent music, movies and tv shows. Which of these couldn't I do? Is it a bad idea to just have an iPad and no laptop? Netflix available?

Thanks.
 
Netflix works great on the iPad. Flash sites don't work, which is a real problem on occasion. I take my ipad with me on trips and don't miss the laptop very often. It would be a problem if you don't have access to a "real" computer for those occasions where the ipad fails though.
 
Out of the box, you can't torrent but everything else on your list is ok. The iPad is brilliant for browsing, podcasts and YouTube, it's good enough for writing papers, but not so much on the torrenting.
 
Torrents, no.

For the basic stuff, the iPad works great. From what you say you do, the iPad would probably work out well for you. It does have its limitations though. I've traveled with both and never touched my MacBook, but then I've traveled without my MacBook, and ended up needing it. It depends on what you do. I do find the iPad extremely useful though, and would be a lot less informed without it. (Well, and possibly more productive without it too:rolleyes:)
 
basesloaded190 said:
Unfortunately you won't be able to steal music, and movies on the iPad :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

That's funny.

For typing out papers I would recommend a keyboard for your ipad, which are easy to find. You can do everything else you listed. For free music, tv shows and movies just look on YouTube, plenty of methods.

Check Craigslist for cheaper prices on iPads, and if you don't care about the better screen and camera on the 3, your best deal would be to buy a iPad 2 refurbished through apple.
 
Thanks everyone. Someone mentioned YouTube. I thought that used flash? Nvm then. Thanks again
 
DataEast said:
Thanks everyone. Someone mentioned YouTube. I thought that used flash? Nvm then. Thanks again
Click to expand...

A good portion of youtube is still flash based. The app in iOS displays alot of what youtube (or others) have already converted out of flash, but some of it still exists as flash alone. Considering Adobe has all but abandoned flash for all mobile devices now, another year flash will be a non issue altogether.
 
DataEast said:
I've gone through 3 pc laptops in about 5 years despite taking care of them. I don't really want to drop $1,100+ on a Macbook because I just think that's rediculous even though it would probably be a better long term investment. But, what about an iPad? Could that be substituted for a laptop? All I do is browse Facebook, 4chan, listen to podcasts on youtube and other sites, write papers on Word and torrent music, movies and tv shows. Which of these couldn't I do? Is it a bad idea to just have an iPad and no laptop? Netflix available?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Even though I have an iPad2 and I love it, I do require my MBP for other tasks that the iPad is not capable of. Namely: Flash support, ODD for watching movies, more storage...and others as well.

If the price of a $1100 notebook is not appealing and you'd be willing to consider an iPad2 to save money, then why not get a refurbished MBA from Apple? That way, you still have the computer functions available when you need them, it's very portable, you get more storage than an iPad, and with OS X ML, the OSes are becoming more and more similar.
 
DataEast said:
Thanks everyone. Someone mentioned YouTube. I thought that used flash? Nvm then. Thanks again
Click to expand...

Apple worked a deal with Google to convert videos to h.264 so that IOS devices could play them. You'll notice that you don't get YouTube ads on IOS devices either. I wonder how much that perk set Apple back. :D
 
DataEast said:
But, what about an iPad? Could that be substituted for a laptop?
Click to expand...
DataEast said:
Is it a bad idea to just have an iPad and no laptop?
Click to expand...
Subjective on both counts.

DataEast said:
All I do is browse Facebook, 4chan, listen to podcasts on youtube and other sites, write papers on Word and torrent music, movies and tv shows.
Click to expand...
Torrenting on an iPad probably isn't ideal and Word doesn't exist on the iPad (there are alternatives) but everything else would be easily handled by an iPad. Regardless of what you read your best bet it to try it out for yourself. Take full advantage of your return period and take a test drive.

DataEast said:
I've gone through 3 pc laptops in about 5 years despite taking care of them.
Click to expand...
AppleCare might be a good idea but you don't have to buy it right off the bat. Who knows what your idea of "taking care of them" actually means. :D
 
Okay I'll look into a refurbished MBP. What is the word alternative? Is it preinstalled? Can I look at porn sites like xhamster and tube8? Thanks!
 
basesloaded190 said:
Unfortunately you won't be able to steal music, and movies on the iPad :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

not everyone uses torrents to pirate things.. just most lol

you can use Boxopus. Its a web based torrent client that will actually download the torrents directly to you Dropbox.

if your device is jailbroken its easy as 123 to get torrents running on it.

----------
DataEast said:
Okay I'll look into a refurbished MBP. What is the word alternative? Is it preinstalled? Can I look at porn sites like xhamster and tube8? Thanks!
Click to expand...

most sites have html5 versions. so yes.
if not download puffin browser or various others that will support flash.
 
I'm sort of concerned by the fact that you've gone through 3 laptops in 5 years. Either you have REALLY bad luck, aren't taking care of them as well as you might think, are buying very cheap quality laptops, or are browsing materials that are screwing them up. Torrenting and porn sites, after all, are notoriously dangerous as far as viruses and such. An iPad or Mac PC is safer from those things, but not necessarily completely immune.

Just saying, you know?
 
TheWheelMan said:
I'm sort of concerned by the fact that you've gone through 3 laptops in 5 years. Either you have REALLY bad luck, aren't taking care of them as well as you might think, are buying very cheap quality laptops, or are browsing materials that are screwing them up. Torrenting and porn sites, after all, are notoriously dangerous as far as viruses and such. An iPad or Mac PC is safer from those things, but not necessarily completely immune.

Just saying, you know?
Click to expand...

Okay I'll look into a refurbished MBP. What is the word alternative? Is it preinstalled? Can I look at porn sites like xhamster and tube8? Thanks!
Click to expand...

thats the kind of sites hes on... maybe the keys are getting stuck???


i kid i kid OP i couldn't resist
 
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