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Question for those with iPhone and iPad - benefits of having both?

M

mytoki

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 17, 2010
36
0
Hello,

I have the iPhone4S and of course love it :). I'm thinking about getting the new iPad, but am having a difficult time justifying getting one. For those of you who have both the iPhone and iPad, what are the reasons why you have both? Is it just b/c the iPad has a bigger screen so it's more convenient to use the iPad instead of iPhone? What are the benefits of having both?

Thanks a bunch for any feedback.
 
Have you ever been using your iPhone and thought, "Oh, this will be better if only I had a larger screen"? If yes, then the iPad may be for you. If not, then no, there is no benefit to getting an iPad.
 
mytoki said:
Hello,

I have the iPhone4S and of course love it :). I'm thinking about getting the new iPad, but am having a difficult time justifying getting one. For those of you who have both the iPhone and iPad, what are the reasons why you have both? Is it just b/c the iPad has a bigger screen so it's more convenient to use the iPad instead of iPhone? What are the benefits of having both?

Thanks a bunch for any feedback.
Click to expand...

Ummm...one is a phone, the other is a tablet. I don't understand the question. The tablet is not just a bigger phone.
 
mytoki said:
Hello,

I have the iPhone4S and of course love it :). I'm thinking about getting the new iPad, but am having a difficult time justifying getting one. For those of you who have both the iPhone and iPad, what are the reasons why you have both? Is it just b/c the iPad has a bigger screen so it's more convenient to use the iPad instead of iPhone? What are the benefits of having both?

Thanks a bunch for any feedback.
Click to expand...

The larger screen is much easier to read documents/books and watch movies/videos on. Website pages look much better on the larger screen, than the condensed iPhone, mobile version. Plus when I am on the road, in addition to not straining my eyes on the small iPhone screen, I don't use up my iPhone battery, which helps when you're not near an outlet. Hope that helps. Let me know if there are other questions.
 
Brett.F said:
The larger screen is much easier to read documents/books and watch movies/videos on. Website pages look much better on the larger screen, than the condensed iPhone, mobile version. Plus when I am on the road, in addition to not straining my eyes on the small iPhone screen, I don't use up my iPhone battery, which helps when you're not near an outlet. Hope that helps. Let me know if there are other questions.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your feedback! Very helpful. One more question, do you have the 4G one then or wifi only?
 
If you love the iphone you'll REALLY love the iPad. It's like having to squint all the time and suddenly getting glasses. Things are so much easier to see and do. You'll find yourself using your laptop less and less (perhaps not at all). You'll find yourself taking it to the bathroom or reading in bed.

I use my iPhone when I'm out and about but at home I use my iPad. Didn't see much sense getting 4G when I have wifi at home.
 
I can make phone calls on my iPhone and put it in my pocket.

My iPad has a big screen and higher resolution.
 
Love the display size and format of the iPad but it would look real funny holding it to your head to make a call
 
I would say the benefit of having both is that you look like a BADASS Apple geek. You can cruise around, iPhone in hand and iPad under your arm, looking all fly and such like!







Nah, but they are both nais to have.
 
iPhone is always great to have. I use my iPad when I'm in one place for a while and want a bigger screen. Like now on the train!

iPad is great for using around the house instead of my MacBook Pro. I use the iPad as a light use laptop.
 
I have the New iPad, Macbook Air and iPhone. I use the Air as my main computer since my daughters dominate the main powerful computer. I use the iPad all of the time at work and when laying in bed. This iPhone only get used when I don't have the iPad.

This weekend the i7 is mine for Battlefield 3. :D
 
I think that it is a valid question.
First of all the battery life of the iPad is substantially longer than the iPhone - you have to keep your eye on battery levels when out and about with your iPhone but you can forget about it with the iPad.
I also got the iPad for developing iBooks using Iauthor on the mac. This has to use the iPad to see what is out there and also for testing your own books.
Reading newspapers is also much better on the iPad - I pay for a subscription and it works really well. The iPhone version is okay but the iPad version is excellent.
If you are into photos and videos the new iPad is superb. I do some video editing work and the iPad is great as a demo tool to show some of our work that I have done - again possible on an iPhone but not the same level of experience. I do not currently edit photos or video on the iPad as I prefer to do this on the mac. Taking photos or video seems much easier and more normal using the iPhone rather than an iPad which is a bit unwieldy to be a camera despite now having HD capability.
Forum browsing etc. is much better on the iPad as is typing (compared to iPhone) - I too am doing this on an iPad.
FaceTime particularly with the family around me seems more natural on the iPad.
However all said and done I think that the iPad is more of a nice-to-have than a necessity like an iphone unless you want to do some the developmental stuff.
 
They are pretty much the same thing except the ipad is bigger and cant make calls. Personally, I find total redundancy in having iphone+ipad. At that point- ipad is a total luxury item, and UNECESSARY. However if u dont have an iphone, then it makes sense to own an ipad.
 
my iphone 4s is used for a ton of stuff when i am on the go. the ipad stays at home and serves as my media consumption device when i am in bed. i have a desktop that i use for any productive work or intense gaming. i do not own a laptop.
 
Great question OP.

To be honest, the iPad is an exceptional device. Having owned an iPhone since Gen. 1, I've been accustomed to iOS on a handheld device. Using an iPhone and it's features are great, don't get me wrong, but you always have that idea that you are on a "superior mobile" version of apps and web browsing.

I never understood the hype around the iPad since the beginning, as I thought that I already had everything it could do in my hand on my iPhone. After making my first iPad purchase a few weeks ago, Boy was I wrong!

Where the iPad excels in, is the UI. You don't have that feeling of using a "superior mobile" version of the Web, apps, docs., etc. The iPad is a lot more homey, intimate, a truly one on one experience. The web browsing as mentioned above by other members is by far the best browsing I've ever done. It's like using your desktop but much more intimate^. Full screen web pages, sharp crisp text, tabbed browsing; an elegant experience all at your fingertips.

Photos are FUN. Using a desktop there is time and management that is required. On an iPad, they are just there. You can easily edit them in iPhoto, email, tweet, etc. all with a click of a few buttons. Again, fun.

Most people who don't own both devices have the image of the same device with just a bigger screen. As proclaimed by azure247 above^. They couldn't be more wrong. The iPhone is a great product for what it does. And the iPad is a great product for what it does. They both differ in so many ways, and the UI, even though being the same iOS, vary greatly. As I mentioned above, it's a much more intimate and pleasurable experience. It's a desktop in your hand, not a cell phone.

In the end, the reason I have both is because they serve different purposes (although it may seem difficult to justify that claim) My phone is with me all day every day. I view it more as a tool. It has the web for info in an instant, local weather, Google maps.. Pretty much all useful tools. I use my iPhone as another tool for my workday. Now with my iPad, it pretty much took my MacBooks place. It's more of an at home device, a sit down and relax and read a book device. One where I can take full advantage of a desktop like experience all with my fingertips and the comfort of my couch or bed. And now with both the full iLife and iWork suites readily available on the iPad, It's an experience you have to take in yourself.

Oh and btw, my MacBook Pro gets used rarely now and my iPhone I only whip out when I need to make a call or when I don't have my iPad or when it's charging (which can seem like an infinity) Sad but true.
 
Last edited:
Got my Macbook pro sitting on my desk. Iphone for use on the go, and like what other people are saying iPad for bedside or tv reading. I pretty much have the iPad synced up to my macbook. Honestly before i even got the ipad i was skeptic about its usage, but once i got my hands on one, it is great to have.
 
I asked myself the same question when I was first considering my iPad. In fact, it was the reason I kept putting off the idea of getting an iPad to begin with!

Having the iPad is wonderful. It's great for an e-reader, as well as for web browsing and playing games/watching movies. I use my iPhone for…well…a phone, and an iPod.

Because I have 3G on my iPhone, and there's wifi all over campus, I just stuck with the wifi enabled iPad. I felt like it would be silly to get an expensive 4G plan that I'd hardly ever get any use out of, especially since my phone could work in those sort of situations.

Plus, my iPad, iPhone, and MBP all work together wonderfully!

If you can afford it, and you want it, you might as well just get it. The iPad is totally worth getting in addition to an iPhone.
 
i use my iMac as my main computer at home, my iPad as my lounging computer at home, and my iPhone as my computer when I'm not at home (and for the odd phone call)
 
mytoki said:
Hello,

I have the iPhone4S and of course love it :). I'm thinking about getting the new iPad, but am having a difficult time justifying getting one. For those of you who have both the iPhone and iPad, what are the reasons why you have both? Is it just b/c the iPad has a bigger screen so it's more convenient to use the iPad instead of iPhone? What are the benefits of having both?

Thanks a bunch for any feedback.
Click to expand...

In all honesty, on my iPad (still first generation, but I imagine it would transfer to the new iPad) I don't use many apps anymore. Games are fun on iPad but I don't particularly like them.

Think of it like this - if you want a tablet, get an iPad. If you don't want a tablet, don't get any tablet. The iPad is the best tablet, but if you really can't think of a reason to buy one don't.
 
OafTobark said:
Great question OP.

To be honest, the iPad is an exceptional device. Having owned an iPhone since Gen. 1, I've been accustomed to iOS on a handheld device. Using an iPhone and it's features are great, don't get me wrong, but you always have that idea that you are on a "superior mobile" version of apps and web browsing.

I never understood the hype around the iPad since the beginning, as I thought that I already had everything it could do in my hand on my iPhone. After making my first iPad purchase a few weeks ago, Boy was I wrong!

Where the iPad excels in, is the UI. You don't have that feeling of using a "superior mobile" version of the Web, apps, docs., etc. The iPad is a lot more homey, intimate, a truly one on one experience. The web browsing as mentioned above by other members is by far the best browsing I've ever done. It's like using your desktop but much more intimate^. Full screen web pages, sharp crisp text, tabbed browsing; an elegant experience all at your fingertips.

Photos are FUN. Using a desktop there is time and management that is required. On an iPad, they are just there. You can easily edit them in iPhoto, email, tweet, etc. all with a click of a few buttons. Again, fun.

Most people who don't own both devices have the image of the same device with just a bigger screen. As proclaimed by azure247 above^. They couldn't be more wrong. The iPhone is a great product for what it does. And the iPad is a great product for what it does. They both differ in so many ways, and the UI, even though being the same iOS, vary greatly. As I mentioned above, it's a much more intimate and pleasurable experience. It's a desktop in your hand, not a cell phone.

In the end, the reason I have both is because they serve different purposes (although it may seem difficult to justify that claim) My phone is with me all day every day. I view it more as a tool. It has the web for info in an instant, local weather, Google maps.. Pretty much all useful tools. I use my iPhone as another tool for my workday. Now with my iPad, it pretty much took my MacBooks place. It's more of an at home device, a sit down and relax and read a book device. One where I can take full advantage of a desktop like experience all with my fingertips and the comfort of my couch or bed. And now with both the full iLife and iWork suites readily available on the iPad, It's an experience you have to take in yourself.

Oh and btw, my MacBook Pro gets used rarely now and my iPhone I only whip out when I need to make a call or when I don't have my iPad or when it's charging (which can seem like an infinity) Sad but true.
Click to expand...
But I did have an iphone4s... I didnt like watching movies or using the internet on it. I used it mainly for texting and few calls. Apps are way more fun on ipad and ipad can text using textfree so what am I missing.. oh phone calls. I can do that on a regular cell phone.
PS. All I see in your post is claims that X and Y are different but you did not provide any supporting sentences to your claims. I wonder why?
 
Android on my Note on the go & business. iPad at the home when lounging in bed or on the boat with the GF watching movies. didn't see a point of having an iPhone 4s and an iPad.
 
The iPad has a much better web browser (it's not forced into crappy mobile sites nearly as often - okay technically that's the site designers choice but still. Macrumors is one of many examples. The Macrumors forums are designed to be basically unusable on an iPhone by forcing you into a clunky and unusable mobile site. Many other site designers pull the same BS), some really great business apps for theatre are available. I can program lights (MagicQ remote) with a full control surface anywhere in an auditorium, run our media server, DJ with a mixing surface, etc.

The iPad is great for use as an alternative to my netbook - a better alternative in most ways. There are some bad things though:

1. The biggest, as it affects the most people. Typing. Hurts. Oh, you can get pretty good at it. But it's extremely difficult and will hurt your hands, at least it does mine, after anything more than a page or so (if that).

2. No Wi-Fi chipset API access. Why does THAT matter, you ask? You clearly don't install and troubleshoot wireless networks like I do. I use an android phone (that rarely has my SIM card in it, I love my iPhone) for doing network site surveys. It works fine, but having this available on my iPad would be AWESOME on it's large screen and easy ability to show clients what I'm doing.

3. No filesystem access. Mostly for firmware upgrades. I can't just download router firmware, etc. and flash it from the iPad for clients.

4. No external media. Heck, I'm not asking an SD card. I'd be good with the ability to hook up a flash drive or external SD reader and have full access to it, including in DJ and photo apps :D

So, I carry around my iPad all the time for play. For work, I carry either the iPad and an Acer netbook or the iPad and a MacBook Pro.
 
mytoki said:
Hello,

I have the iPhone4S and of course love it :). I'm thinking about getting the new iPad, but am having a difficult time justifying getting one. For those of you who have both the iPhone and iPad, what are the reasons why you have both? Is it just b/c the iPad has a bigger screen so it's more convenient to use the iPad instead of iPhone? What are the benefits of having both?

Thanks a bunch for any feedback.
Click to expand...

One is a Phone, the other is not.
 
I have both too. Also I have a MBP that I use instead of a desktop. I'm a graduate student now and I need to go to school everyday. Sometimes it's just hard to carry MBP around all day and iPad let's me do document editing, pdf reading, taking notes, etc. I can't do that kind of stuff efficiently on my iPhone.
Especially last year when I was traveling a lot, it was just burden to carry my MBP with me wherever I go. iPad makes a lot of sense if you have a life on the go and you need something mobile yet will let you work for it at least for a couple of hours. This is my personal experience but I think they have both their advantages and definitely not replacing one another.
 
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