iPad Uses for iPad?

[Lightey]

I bought my iPad 3 last year, and I was really excited when I got it, but I have gotten little use from it, except for a brief period where my MacBook's charger was broken. I used it to watch videos in bed, but I found that it put strain on my hand to hold it up for extended periods and it was awkward to lean it against a pillow because then I had to lie sideways, versus a laptop where you can pretty much use it from any angle in the bed. I also use my laptop for other little things, like to watch videos while in a room not near my iMac, and I don't know why I haven't been using my iPad. I love it a lot and think it's a wonderful idea, but I haven't found many uses for it and I want to use it more. Any suggestions?

 

[YeahBuddy]

-dedicated ebook reader
-portable media hub
-dedicated kitchen accessory

I don't know. I personally don't own a laptop, but a desktop instead. I've found the iPad to be my laptop substitute, but I'm not sure how good it is at being that when you have a laptop.

 

[jhr3uva90]

Are you a reader?

If so, I like Flipboard and Zite for iPad.

 

[iAndyPham]

If you have issues holding an iPad on bed, consider iPad Mini instead, which weighs only ~300g (iPad 3 weighs ~ 600g).

Surf the Internet
Read eBook
Watch movie
Angry birds... Pew pew pew

 

[raccoonboy]

wish i could help but im experiencing the same problem.

Im at work from 8-6. Got home eat and spend 1-2 hours on my laptop. Ipad i only use in bed, its so heavy and i only have ipad 2 so i understand your feeling holding a 3, its heavier. My case also add more bulk but if i use naked then it would hurt my wrist even more.

Most of function dont replace a laptop and i cant put heavy game on a 16gb, although, i dont play heavy game anyway. Just a device to keep my movie and picture really. I dont use the camera, it sucks anyway and i dont skype. Why do i even own one????

 

[Badrottie]

Are you a FaceBook or Twitter addict? If so, use it to check with your FB and Twitter friends.

 

[Tysknaden]

- eBook reader;
- typewtiter;
- surfing, eMail;
- photo, music & video, sometimes;
- camera, sometimes;
- Chess (Hiarcs)

 

[Commy1]

Second display for my Macbook,
Sketch pad
Recipe book
Ereader
Travel computer
Classroom note taker
Netflix / Airvideo

Overall it's simply been an experience enhancer. My Macbook could do all of those things easily enough, but the weight and size are great for personal use. Not to mention the sketchbook feature is the best thing since Wacom released their Cintiq line up, except this is half the price and can go anywhere anytime.

 

[pmontanarella]

Used to own one, don't own it anymore but I deeply miss it and I used it/see myself using it for:

• Gaming - If you don't own a gaming console, like me, the iPad can be great for some light gaming.
• Reading
• Kitchen Use
• Entertainment on the go (Train, Plane, Bus)
• Email on the go (If you have an LTE one)
• Web surfing when a laptop is "too much" and the iPhone is "too little"
• Catch up on news, Facebook, Twitter in bed

Pietro

 

[PennCentralFan]

I have an iphone 5 and a mac book pro so there's really nothing on my ipad that I can't do with the phone and the mac book.

Now I have an ipad mini which I really like for the size and convenience. It's easy to use as a reader and to do some surfing on the couch or to do watch some youtube videos and some email on the couch or in bed.

Now I use my ipad mini for work in that I answer emails and do some word processing on it. I find it easier to use the ipad mini for meetings to take notes to look things up on the web or work network.

An ipad is basically a convenience or luxury in my opinion. Now as tablets get more powerful I can see people buying them instead of laptops for home computing and net and communicating.

 

[xkmxkmxlmx]

I use mine for literally 4 things:

ebook reading
comic book reading
looking at my pics
studying (language programs mostly)

I might pop on the web or use flipboard if I am already using it for one of the top things.

Even though I don't take 'full advantage' of it (no games, videos, etc), I feel that it does the small things I want it to do so perfectly well, it is well worth the price.

 

[Internaut]

My iPad Mini is my library, TV catchup device (when the other TVs are in use), the day's papers, magazines and a general purpose Internet surfer, and Internet communications device. Oh, and it does Angry Birds.

When I'm travelling, you can multiply te importance of all of the above by two.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I use mine for:

Main uses:

Web browsing
Watching videos
Reading comics
Shopping
Reading magazines


Also:

Reading books
Listening to music
Playing games
Content creation/editing documents

 

[aenflex]

My real-world usage

Work a lot. For downtime I go sit at restaurants and have bourbon, and surf the net. I also read a lot. So nice to go to a park and just read and pass time.
I don't a lot of pictures with it, but I take them with my 5 and store them on the iPad, where viewing and editing is much better.
My partner and I will lay in bed and watch youtube or look at 9gag until we get sleepy. I do play some games on it, Final Fantasy and Quell, etc. And gaming is just better on the pad versus my 5, IMO.
My partner travels a lot, and he loves it for waiting around at the airport, etc. I have a smart case on mine, the stand feature helps a lot.

I have a power-house desktop pc which I rarely use since getting iPad.

 

[AppleRobert]

Before I recommend the Mini, do you have a smartphone and get use from of it outside just calls and texting?

You have duplicity between your at home devices. The Mini opens up the opportunity of a very portable browser, music and video watching, games, reading, etc. etc. for when you are on the go (especially a cellular one).

 

[thelookingglass]

I have or have owned every single iPad and iPad mini. The truth is I don't ever use then anymore. For reading, I have a Kindle. For on the go Internet, I have my trusty iPhone. For everything else big and small, I have my iMac and my MacBook Air. The iPad is sort of the odd one out. Occasionally I'll use it if I want to watch streaming video in a place where it's more convenient to have an iPad than a laptop. But other than that ... I just don't use it.

 

[PeterJP]

I just borrowed a brand new iPad to see if it would be something for me. I have a Samsung S2 which I love to bits: I take it everywhere and my productivity and access to information has shot up. Since going mobile is going well, I'm thinking about my next step. One option is an MBA 11" or rMBP 13" to use as my main computer (docs synced with a desktop PC, or with an external screen/keyboard/mouse for work at a desk). Another would be a tablet, like the iPad.

Using the tablet, it really doesn't seem to fit anywhere for me. Most of what I would do on it, I can do on my phone as well. If I would get another very portable device, it would be a phone with a bigger screen, like a Galaxy Note (I prefer Android for a phone because I can swap the unusably small qwerty for something very different: I'm using MessagEase. No fanboyism here.)

So, I'm going to get a good, but very portable, laptop to add to my phone. It seems like a few others here have come to the same conclusion.

 

[Mainsail]

For me;
Smartphone = portable communications device
Desktop = workhorse for large docs and files
Tablet = everyday device for common activities

Tablet for work;
Email
Contacts
Calendar
Notes
Draft short docs and memos
Review and Annotate docs and PDF

Tablet for personal use;
Web
Photos & slideshows
Finances
Books
Music
Access cloud docs
AirPlay
Occasional games

Also, while traveling, I prefer to take a tablet rather than a laptop.

 

[DisplacedMic]

I bought my iPad 3 last year, and I was really excited when I got it, but I have gotten little use from it, except for a brief period where my MacBook's charger was broken. I used it to watch videos in bed, but I found that it put strain on my hand to hold it up for extended periods and it was awkward to lean it against a pillow because then I had to lie sideways, versus a laptop where you can pretty much use it from any angle in the bed. I also use my laptop for other little things, like to watch videos while in a room not near my iMac, and I don't know why I haven't been using my iPad. I love it a lot and think it's a wonderful idea, but I haven't found many uses for it and I want to use it more. Any suggestions?

sounds like one of these cases or something like it might solve your comfort problem.
other than the obvious touch screen, there is little or nothing an iPad can do that a laptop can't - but an ipad is cheaper than a macbook, quieter, and holds a charge longer.

i don't really use ours buy my wife and kids use it all the time. my wife likes to browse with it because it's easier on her wrists than a laptop and she watches netflix movies on it at night. my kids play games. there are a boatload of educational games which i like and we allow them to play the odd non-educational game like angry birds from time to time.

one thing i don't like is using the ipad as an ereader - but lots of people do. i much prefer my $60 kindle for that...no eye or wrist strain as there's no light and it's lighter than an ipad.

ultimately while i know many people use their ipads as productivity tools and even directly in their work, to me it's primarily a toy and we use it as such

 

[cardfan]

I basically gave my Mini to my daughter to replace her ipod touch which is getting ever slower. I hardly used it. The screen is too lousy for one and it's just slower than the iphone 5 which goes with me everywhere. An iphone is superior in many ways.

Looking to get a retina Macbook later and will leave the tablets alone unless Apple ever makes a retina Mini.

 

[343matt]

Uses for iPad 3

Use it as a digital photo frame? Thats where my old iPad 2 ended up.

 

[pmontanarella]

I basically gave my Mini to my daughter to replace her ipod touch which is getting ever slower. I hardly used it. The screen is too lousy for one and it's just slower than the iphone 5 which goes with me everywhere. An iphone is superior in many ways.

Looking to get a retina Macbook later and will leave the tablets alone unless Apple ever makes a retina Mini.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this in a few months. I felt exactly the same back in February when I gave my iPad to another family member but have since found I deeply miss it and I'm going to be buying a new one relatively soon.

Pietro

 

[Geekbabe]

At work to check email & other notifications as well as taking notes in meetings - Galaxy Note 2

At home or in the hotel when I travel MacBook Air for work that requires more computer muscle.

Relaxing on the sofa, in bed, out on the porch .. Watching movies, reading, surfing the web, checking facebook & twitter, enjoying a game or two.. checking on my website & posting..My ipad fills these needs beautifully!

 

[hexonxonx]

I use mine for catching up on my local news since I don't have cable or satellite. I also use it for internet and iTunes Match and SiriusXM.

If I didn't need a phone for a few calls a month, I could get away with just having an iPad. I have T-Mobiles $30 100 minute, 5GB plan on both of my phones simply for the internet on each. I maybe make 1-5 calls a month and throw away minutes each month with this plan.

I've tried some of the voip apps and just haven't found one that can make a reliable quality call.

Between all my devices, I have 16GB of data to use per month so yes, internet usage is a big part of my life. I use most of the allotted data each month on my two phones, Nexus 7 and iPad Mini.

 

[AppleRobert]

I'll conclude by saying if you don't use it, you don't have any use for it personally regardless of what we use it for.

I'd sell it, try the Mini or Mini 2 perhaps but if neither of those which allows more portability, do not buy another ipad.