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Long-time iPad owners: How often do you still use it?

  • Constantly throughout the day, most days of the week.

    Votes: 243 46.1%
  • Several times per day, most days of the week.

    Votes: 185 35.1%
  • Once or twice per day, on average.

    Votes: 63 12.0%
  • A few times per week.

    Votes: 24 4.6%
  • A few times per month.

    Votes: 5 0.9%
  • What, you mean that thing collecting dust over there?

    Votes: 7 1.3%

  • Total voters
    527
Wow, what a great response to the poll! I'm really appreciating all of the replies too. It's clear that most of the people responding are heavy iPad users. The top choice (constant use, most days of the week) is ahead by a mile.

I haven't yet purchased an iPad and keep wondering if having one would really make me want to break away from my OS X machines more often, or if I would gravitate back to OS X after the novelty of the iPad wore off and its limitations became nuisances, as I've seen happen with some other people who own a variety of computers and gadgets. Right now my only iOS device is an iPod touch, and I do use it a lot, but that's largely because it's pocketable and goes with me everywhere (I don't have an iPhone because I split my time about 50/50 between the USA and Europe and don't want to pay for two plans).

Anyway, thanks for the replies. Keep them coming! :)
 
I use it all the time, problem is it kind of gives me carpal tunnel symptoms, so I have started to cut my usage down A LOT.

Makes me sad ;(
 
Wow, I thought I used the iPad a lot, but didn't expect the poll to be like this.

Right now it's basically 97.5% of people use the iPad at least once or twice a day, with a large portion using it even more.

What kind of device gets that kind of usage? Heck, I don't even use my Microwave or TV that much. LOL

I use my iPad pretty much constantly through the day. Wake up and plan out my day, check my mail, work on documents, book flights, etc. I've gone as far as to write 20+ page patent applications for startups I help out on the iPad. (I probably would have done it on a computer -- but I was traveling on the East Coast with only my iPad.)

I think the iPad fits my needs nicely. I have an iPhone 4s, but the screen is too small to get real work done on it. (plus typing is a pain.) Typing on the iPad is a joy, and the screen is just big enough to get things done.

I think the iPad is really convenient to travel with. I have a macbook, but I hardly use it now. I mostly use my iMac for heavy work (software development, large financial models, etc.) my iPad for office work (Pages, Numbers, Wiki Editing, Reviewing and Signing documents), and my iPhone for basic communications and tethering.
 
Wow, I thought I used the iPad a lot, but didn't expect the poll to be like this.

Right now it's basically 97.5% of people use the iPad at least once or twice a day, with a large portion using it even more.

What kind of device gets that kind of usage? Heck, I don't even use my Microwave or TV that much. LOL

I use my iPad pretty much constantly through the day. Wake up and plan out my day, check my mail, work on documents, book flights, etc. I've gone as far as to write 20+ page patent applications for startups I help out on the iPad. (I probably would have done it on a computer -- but I was traveling on the East Coast with only my iPad.)

I think the iPad fits my needs nicely. I have an iPhone 4s, but the screen is too small to get real work done on it. (plus typing is a pain.) Typing on the iPad is a joy, and the screen is just big enough to get things done.

I think the iPad is really convenient to travel with. I have a macbook, but I hardly use it now. I mostly use my iMac for heavy work (software development, large financial models, etc.) my iPad for office work (Pages, Numbers, Wiki Editing, Reviewing and Signing documents), and my iPhone for basic communications and tethering.

And this is exactly why tablets will dominate in the future. Similar usage pattern for me. I can't wait for the day when my iPad completely replaces my Macbook Air.
 
Use it mostly when I'm on my daily 20-min commute on the train to work, while it's tethered on my (jailbroken) iPhone 4. Love that unlimited VZN data! I get the most use out of it when I'm sitting in an airport on a layover.

Otherwise, it sits in my briefcase all day at work and most of the time at home. Main go-to for web browsing, etc. is Macbook Pro. Looking to get the Macbook Air (hopefully by 2012 Q4) after the new release.
 
When I'm off work, I use it constantly during the week. I will start using it more once the jailbreak is available for it. I am used to my tweaks.
 
Lucky to be retired :). Play games of all sorts, have multiple books I am reading, email, banking, FB, magazines and Flipboard, work with photos from my camera. List is endless. The ONLY thing I use my laptop for is playing EQ2 and SW:TOR.

I love this iPad beyond belief. A tad scary actually!
 
I've had all three, beginning on day one.

It's a great device to have laying around the house for occasional use. I tend to use it a few times per week on average.

But for me, I'm much happier using my 13" MBA with it's terrific keyboard and wonderful trackpad.

Once you've used a trackpad as much as I do (via MBP, MBA, Mac Pro) it's just so fast, easy and effective that nothing else is as nice.
 
Regularly to constantly every day. It's replaced most computing tasks for me. I still have a desktop system, but use the iPad far more often. Love the portability, and am able to get a LOT of work done on it. It's equally a productivity and entertainment tool.
 
I kinda giggled at the title of this thread.

Since when did 2 Years equal a "Long Time"?

Yes, I've been a user since Gen 1.
 
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I haven't yet purchased an iPad and keep wondering if having one would really make me want to break away from my OS X machines more often, or if I would gravitate back to OS X after the novelty of the iPad wore off and its limitations became nuisances, as I've seen happen with some other people who own a variety of computers and gadgets.

FWIW, I've been using an iPad for over a year. I skipped the original iPad (didn't see a use at the time), got an iPad 2 to mess around with a month after it came out, and used the HELL out of it. Now I'm on an iPad 3 and use the hell out of that.

And, while I noticed what my MacBook Pro isn't going as many places with me as it used to, it's not the case that I'm using it less. There were lots of places where the laptop was just too awkward to bring out and actually use, and so even though I brought it with me in case it was needed, I deemed it too awkward to actually take out of the bag. It's those places where the iPad comes out and finds its greatest usefulness.

So, the laptop gets used where it's always been used: at home, in my office, in the hotel room when I'm travelling, or at sites where I have a table to lay it down and need a full computer with a file system. Other locations: on the couch, on a train or plane, in a meeting, or places where just a light email/web surfing/ light note taking device will do, the iPad is a great fit.
 
Started with an wi-fi only iPad 2 a year ago. Used it remotely with a mi-fi hotspot. It was a bit of a pain charging 2 devices, remembering to put the hotspot in my briefcase and getting 2 devices to quickly connect when needed.

Upgraded to a iPad 3 with 4G, using my mi-fi sim card cut down for the iPad and have never looked back. My usage has probably doubled or tripled with integrated 4g. This is truly the way an iPad was intended to be used.
 
Since I'm a good touch typist, I prefer the desktop. For outdoors and laying in bed, the iPad is a much better choice.

I use the iPad about 1 hour per day.
 
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I use mine a lot. I've owned all three generations. I use this one the most since I have signed up for 4G. Before I had sporadic 3G via my iPad or a mifi.

I use my current iPad multiple times a day and especially to surf the web before bed. My computers have a lot more time off than they used to.
 
I'm one of the 'several hours a day' respondents. My iPad is integrated in my work flow as a researcher. I spend hours reading research articles on it every day. It's superior to my MBA for that purpose because of the touch screen, the retina display, and the comfort with which I can hold it/place it in different angles. I also use it as my main portable device. It's superior for that purpose due to the combination of long battery life/ 3 or 4G and stylus input. When I go to seminars, I don't have to worry about sitting close to an electricity socket or not being able to get on wifi. It also serves as my digital notebook and has replaced all my paper notebooks. It's better than my MBA for this due to reasons above, and better than my smart phone due to screen size.

So for me, it's definitely a work tool more than a toy, and it has a competitive advantages for particular tasks relative to my MBA and smart phone. But it all comes down to your needs/ usage patters.
 
Lucky to be retired :). Play games of all sorts, have multiple books I am reading, email, banking, FB, magazines and Flipboard, work with photos from my camera. List is endless. The ONLY thing I use my laptop for is playing EQ2 and SW:TOR.

I love this iPad beyond belief. A tad scary actually!

My father , who is 87, bought the iPad 1, two months after it was available. He uses his constantly. He is deaf, and has very poor eyesight. but he can actually read easily on the iPad. He loves to read, so he reads over half the day. He also uses it to keep in touch with friends with email, since he has a hard time with phones. Notebooks are just too large and heavy for him to carry around all day long.

It is in his hands or by his side all day long. He loves it and it has made his life more enjoyable now that he can read an entire novel again.
 
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