I'm not convinced.

[dh2005]

Hello folks,

Forgive the attention-grabbing title! It's perhaps excessively dramatic, but largely true: I love my iPod Touch, I love my MBP... but when it comes to the iPad? Honestly, I just don't get it.

My father has an iPad 2, and I spent an hour messing about with it this afternoon. I thought to myself, 'yeah, this is kinda fun... not sure what I'd use one for, though.' Particularly with the lack of Flash, it's not exactly a comprehensive internet browser.


What I'd like to know, from people who love their iPads, is what it does for you. Why do you love it? What am I missing? With iPad 3 around the corner, if someone can open my eyes, what could I gain from investing in one?

Thanks in advance,




DH.

 

[McGiord]

The only reason will be to read books in a larger screen than the iPod.
As using any of the iPad exclusive Apps.

I bought one for my wife, and I will not get one for me.

It is very uncomfortable to hold for a long time (more than 30 minutes), and worse for using it while lying on the bed or on the couch.

I prefer my iPhone 4.

 

[filmbuff]

I could see that if you already have an iPhone and a small/portable laptop an iPad would not be very useful. It would be more of a toy or an ereader. Many people who buy them have an actual use in mind, like taking notes in class without having to carry a big laptop all day. Or taking travelling for the 10 hour battery life. Or navigating an aircraft. The lack of Flash is not an issue at all.

 

[bjpad2]

It is very uncomfortable to hold for a long time (more than 30 minutes)

I put my ipad case in "typing position", set it on my lap, and it works great. As for why the ipad might be better than the iphone, the larger screen makes it easier to use, and apps can do a lot more with the extra space available.

 

[dh2005]

The lack of Flash is not an issue at all.

I'm afraid that's a matter of opinion, friend. Today, using an iPad for the first time, I navigated to the BBC website and discovered that I couldn't watch the sporting clips because Flash was required. That, right there, is Flash being "an issue".

 

[aristobrat]

I'm afraid that's a matter of opinion, friend. Today, using an iPad for the first time, I navigated to the BBC website and discovered that I couldn't watch the sporting clips because Flash was required. That, right there, is Flash being "an issue".

I'm not sure if you caught Adobe's announcement back in November, but they are not long developing new versions of Flash for *any* mobile platform.

To quote from their announcement:

"However, HTML5 is now universally supported on major mobile devices, in some cases exclusively. This makes HTML5 the best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms. We are excited about this, and will continue our work with key players in the HTML community, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and RIM, to drive HTML5 innovation they can use to advance their mobile browsers."

Many other major websites saw this coming and switched from Flash to HTML5 before Adobe announced this. Why the BBC didn't, I don't know. But now that the writing's on the wall, the issue isn't that the iPad can't do Flash (IMO), it's how soon can the BBC switch their website to HTML5, so that mobile clients can view all of the content.

 

[dh2005]

Many other major websites saw this coming and switched from Flash to HTML5 before Adobe announced this. Why the BBC didn't, I don't know. But now that the writing's on the wall, the issue isn't that the iPad can't do Flash (IMO), it's how soon can the BBC switch their website to HTML5, so that mobile clients can view all of the content.

Well, that's good to know. Thanks. If that means that the iPad will be, shortly, a fully-featured and very portable web-browser, that's something in its favour.

But what about other features? Come on, you iPad fanboys. Sell me...!

 

[poloponies]

Why do you need to be "convinced" that you need something? Tens of millions of iPads have been sold but there are hundreds of millions of people out there who don't see a need for one. So what?

 

[Aspasia]

What I'd like to know, from people who love their iPads, is what it does for you.

The search bar is your friend:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1303677/

 

[dh2005]

Why do you need to be "convinced" that you need something? Tens of millions of iPads have been sold but there are hundreds of millions of people out there who don't see a need for one. So what?

Aww, don't be a baby. It's a light-hearted trigger for conversation. I'm asking people who love these things - and there are indeed "tens of millions" of them - what these devices do that iPods, iPhones and MacBooks don't. Sorry to've irritated you.

 

[adnbek]

I'm afraid that's a matter of opinion, friend. Today, using an iPad for the first time, I navigated to the BBC website and discovered that I couldn't watch the sporting clips because Flash was required. That, right there, is Flash being "an issue".

Speaking of BBC, they've recently announced that they're migrating all their videos to HTML5. Only a matter of time before HTML5 and H.264 replace Flash everywhere.

 

[dh2005]

The search bar is your friend:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1303677/

Thanks, but the specific phrase "what's the point..." never occurred to me. I probably wouldn't have found this.

----------

Speaking of BBC, they've recently announced that they're migrating all their videos to HTML5. Only a matter of time before HTML5 and H.264 replace Flash everywhere.

Excellent. Good to know. Cheers.

 

[McGiord]

Isn't there an app for the BBC?

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I put my ipad case in "typing position", set it on my lap, and it works great. As for why the ipad might be better than the iphone, the larger screen makes it easier to use, and apps can do a lot more with the extra space available.

So you are using it on your lap while laying on the bed?

 

[dh2005]

Isn't there an app for the BBC?

There's an App for watching old content - the iPlayer - but the clips on their news website of sportsmen and politicians giving press interviews etc. don't work.

 

[Zcott]

iPads are great if you have a specific use for them. For casual browsing, it's ok, but a laptop is better and rests on your lap. For casual gaming, it's ok.

Where the iPad really comes into its own, for me, is for replacing printed text. I'm a musician and have all my music on the iPad so I can access it all when I'm on a gig. I read articles and books at night when I'm in bed because the form factor is like a book.

I can't speak for everyone when I say iPads are great - my girlfriend has no interest in one, despite having a Mac and an iPhone. It has to have a slot to fit into your life for you to want an iPad.

 

[anthonymoody]

I'm afraid that's a matter of opinion, friend. Today, using an iPad for the first time, I navigated to the BBC website and discovered that I couldn't watch the sporting clips because Flash was required. That, right there, is Flash being "an issue".

Did you try the BBC app?

Btw, to the original question...I use my iPad for *everything* (see my signature...)

The question I always ask people to mull is...what tasks do you do on a computer which *cannot* be done on an iPad - either at all, or not without significant limitation.

For most people, believe it or not, the answer is....not much, and less so over time as the capabilities in iOS and apps increase inexorably.

Coding, high end video editing, and massive spreadsheet jockey stuff are all things I'd say...get a laptop or desktop. Beyond that I am ecstatic to have a sub 1.5 pound device that does all the rest, most of it extremely well.

 

[dh2005]

Did you try the BBC app?

Btw, to the original question...I use my iPad for *everything* (see my signature...)

The question I always ask people to mull is...what tasks do you do on a computer which *cannot* be done on an iPad - either at all, or not without significant limitation.

For most people, believe it or not, the answer is....not much, and less so over time as the capabilities in iOS and apps increase inexorably.

Coding, high end video editing, and massive spreadsheet jockey stuff are all things I'd say...get a laptop or desktop. Beyond that I am ecstatic to have a sub 1.5 pound device that does all the rest, most of it extremely well.

Thank you for this, and thanks also to Zcott: these are the kinda replies that I've been looking for.


I've been thinking about it a little since last night. The iPad could potentially do a job for me, because I don't have a smartphone (because I hate the damn things): I thus, do not currently have an ultraportable means of browsing the internet and watching video etc. The iPad could certainly help me out, there.

Further to that; with regards to the iPad being a closed system, are there logistical problems with getting video files onto an iPad? I'm assuming that I'd need to transcode my DVDs and Blu-rays to .M4Vs and synch them to an iPad through iTunes, yes?

 

[Night Spring]

Further to that; with regards to the iPad being a closed system, are there logistical problems with getting video files onto an iPad? I'm assuming that I'd need to transcode my DVDs and Blu-rays to .M4Vs and synch them to an iPad through iTunes, yes?

Basically, yes. But if you have videos in other formats, there are numerous apps that play them on the iPad. You can also buy videos from the iTunes store, if you don't already have a DVD / blu-ray.

 

[dh2005]

Basically, yes. But if you have videos in other formats, there are numerous apps that play them on the iPad.

Oh, cool! Like what? Which codecs are supported?

 

[danny_w]

I have owned both versions 1 and 2 and returned or sold both because I didn't really find a use that warranted the expense. However, just before Christmas my wife got all excited when our daughter showed her some Korean gag shows on her iPad. She's Korean and has never before shown any interest in computers of any kind; she gets very tired and headachy after using a computer for more than a few minutes, so this was a very big surprise that she would be interested at all. I got her a base 16GB Wi-Fi white for Christmas and our daughter bought her a case for it. She has since been using it a lot for viewing shows, and what makes it really great is that with Airplay everything can be easily streamed to our TV2 for display on the big screen (I frankly never saw a use for Airplay before this). Yes it can be difficult to find sites that have the shows that she likes and are iPad compatible (no Flash) but it can (usually) be done. She has it set for Korean and keeps the keyboard in Korean as well; switching the keyboard to English is quick and easy (there is a language key on the keyboard that toggles between the installed languages), but the other writing is still in Korean so I am kind of lost whenever I try to use it (I wish Apple would provide an easier way to switch languages on the fly).

I know this is a very specific example and makes very little use of the capabilities of the iPad, but it works for us. I always thought the iPad was a solution in search of a problem; we found our problem and it is a great solution for us. Find your specific use(s) and the iPad will be essential to you too.

 

[dh2005]

I always thought the iPad was a solution in search of a problem; we found our problem and it is a great solution for us. Find your specific use(s) and the iPad will be essential to you too.

Precisely. Couldn't put it better myself.

Thanks.

 

[Night Spring]

Oh, cool! Like what? Which codecs are supported?

It's more like what codecs are *not* supported? Go to the App store from iTunes on your computer or from your iPad's App store app, and search for "media players." Then read the app descriptions to see which codecs are supported by each particular app.

 

[dh2005]

It's more like what codecs are *not* supported? Go to the App store from iTunes on your computer or from your iPad's App store app, and search for "media players." Then read the app descriptions to see which codecs are supported by each particular app.

Well, that's great to hear; though I'm somewhat surprised that Apple allow software to be sold through the App Store that can play ripped discs and/or torrents. Bearing in mind their history of control - DRM and device-registration - re iTunes content.

 

[Night Spring]

Well, that's great to hear; though I'm somewhat surprised that Apple allow software to be sold through the App Store that can play ripped discs and/or torrents. Bearing in mind their history of control - DRM and device-registration - re iTunes content.

Well, there's still no apps that lets you download torrents directly to iPads!

As for videos in other formats, well, they don't all come from illegal sources, so why shouldn't Apple allow such apps? It's a lot more convenient than having to convert all my video files to iTunes-compatible format and ending up with multiple copies of the same video on my hard drive.

 

[bjpad2]

So you are using it on your lap while laying on the bed?

Yes, or reclining on the sofa. If you want to lay down almost completely flat on your side and set the ipad beside you turned 90 degrees then you would need a different solution, maybe prop it up on a stack of pillows.

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what these devices do that iPods, iPhones and MacBooks don't.

To me it is a device for casual use that is smaller and lighter than a mac or real laptop, but has a larger screen than an ipod/iphone. I have tried browsing the net with my iphone and while it will get the job done for some things, for others the screen is just too small. I can turn the ipad on and leave it laying on the table, and if I need to pick it up and check something in the internet I can do that. I don't normally leave my larger computers running all the time.

I also read books and play games on the ipad, things I wouldn't do on my computer, plus it is even easier than a laptop for carrying around the house to browse the net with. I anticipate watching movies on it when I'm away from home but I haven't tried that yet.

I am in construction and at a large jobsite a few days ago I saw 2 guys up on a lift, one with an ipad. These were workers, not supervisors. I don't know what they were using the ipad for but it was probably for viewing PDF's, and I couldn't tell how they were taking care that it didn't get harmed with the rough treatment.