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bryan676767

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 22, 2015
2
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Hi everyone. I'm an Apple fan, I have a MacBook Pro with Retina, and an iPhone 5s. My mom told me that she just bought an iPad Air 2, and she is going to give me her iPad Air. 4-5 years ago, I really "WANT" an iPad. Since I get the MacBook Pro and iPhone, I just don't know why do I need an iPad. So I want to know what can I do with the iPad Air in a more productive way, because I don't want to waste it.
Thank You
 
Why are you concerned about "wasting" it? Your mom is giving you this for free, right? Don't worry about being productive with it, just use it and enjoy. It's possible you will eventually find productive uses for it, but how about going in with a more relaxed attitude? An iPad is a great complimentary device for your MacBook and iPhone. I use mine mostly for relaxing on the couch, reading ebooks and surfing the web. Yes, I do sometimes manage to use it for more "productive" things, but that's a bonus.
 
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Why are you concerned about "wasting" it? Your mom is giving you this for free, right? Don't worry about being productive with it, just use it and enjoy. It's possible you will eventually find productive uses for it, but how about going in with a more relaxed attitude? An iPad is a great complimentary device for your MacBook and iPhone. I use mine mostly for relaxing on the couch, reading ebooks and surfing the web. Yes, I do sometimes manage to use it for more "productive" things, but that's a bonus.
Thank you so much for your advices. I just want to know how could I use this product when I already had a MacBook and iPhone. But you are right, it could give me another experience. I always use my iPhone on the coach, now the iPad could replace it. Thanks!
 
I was in a similar position as you are. Already have the MacBook and iPhone, but I just got my iPad Air 2 today, and I could not be happier. Reading on an iPad is such a more enjoyable experience. I can even see myself doing some light work on this thing. My heavier school work will be done on my laptop of course, but otherwise my iPad will probably be what I use most. You'll be surprised how handy it is! Enjoy :D
 
You could start by using it on your sofa to browse the web, listen to music / podcasts and watch videos. Then slowly start replying to forums and emails from your ipad. Baby steps.
 
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Hi everyone. I'm an Apple fan, I have a MacBook Pro with Retina, and an iPhone 5s. My mom told me that she just bought an iPad Air 2, and she is going to give me her iPad Air. 4-5 years ago, I really "WANT" an iPad. Since I get the MacBook Pro and iPhone, I just don't know why do I need an iPad. So I want to know what can I do with the iPad Air in a more productive way, because I don't want to waste it.
Thank You

If you don't know what to do with iPad then maybe it is not for you? See I have an iPhone 6 Plus, 2012 rMBP, and iPad Air 2 they served many different purposes for example I can use iPad to watch Netflix on the go, or play games on a big 9.7 inches screen. Much easier to carry around than 15" rMBP. I also found I can work with documents from Microsoft Word and Apple Pages and they have a good cloud support so I can finish it at home with rMBP. Think about it what you really want to do with iPad.
 
I was the same way having both MacBook Pro and an iPhone when I received my first iPad 3 as a gift a couple years ago. Before I knew it, i was hooked. While I have since upgraded both my MacBook and iPad, my air 2 has become my daily device and the rmbp only being used for heavier or preferred processing jobs.

As its a gift, you really have nothing to lose. Enjoy!
 
Hi everyone. I'm an Apple fan, I have a MacBook Pro with Retina, and an iPhone 5s. My mom told me that she just bought an iPad Air 2, and she is going to give me her iPad Air. 4-5 years ago, I really "WANT" an iPad. Since I get the MacBook Pro and iPhone, I just don't know why do I need an iPad. So I want to know what can I do with the iPad Air in a more productive way, because I don't want to waste it.
Thank You

Try taking it to the toilet.

"iPad : Serving your toilet reading needs since 2010"
 
Reading in bed.
Keep beside your chair to quickly fire up IMDB and answer, "Who's that guy? Wasn't he in that thing?" questions from your significant other while chilling with Netflix.
Heck, use it to watch Netflix.
Store recipes on it in Notes or Evernote, and use it in the kitchen.
Play iOS games
Examine the night sky with Star Walk.
...
 
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I use the iPhone on the road and my iPad mini at home ... Equally. For surfing in the living room, on the toilet or in the bed the iPad is better.
In the crowded commuter trains the iPhone has it advantage. So they are living in a peaceful cooexistence.
 
My various iPads are best suited for casual content consumption.

Of the three sizes I prefer my iPad Air 2 best.

The mini I won't replace when it's time, just too small.

The iPad Pro... Too big and bulky, not enough to ditch it now, but I won't replace it if something happens.
 
Works ok for light browsing, a bit of YouTube and a quick email reply - everything else I'm reaching for the laptop.
 
An iPad can do anything a laptop can do just about just in a smaller size and is bigger than a iPhone.
Yeah, that’s simply untrue.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my iPads and use them more than my laptops/desktops, but there are many specific tasks which the iPad simply isn’t well-suited for.
 
Screen-Shot-2013-04-26-at-5.02.22-PM.png

Though iPads now can do more, those tasks are still what iPad is best at. Although emails can't be too long. And eBooks could be expanded to include comics, magazines, text books, and PDFs. Also writing, drawing, and marking up should be added to the list (better if you have a stylus).
You can get more laptop functionality if you get a bluetooth keyboard or upgrade to iPad Pro--though whether or not the iPad is better at those functions than a laptop differs from user to user.
 
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Well, here's a list of things you can do on it out of the box;-

Send and receive iMessages with voice, text, photo, video, emoji and handwriting. You can use the calendar to schedule events across different calendar categories and make and receive invitations on multiple online accounts. You can manage, save and send, edit and organise photos and videos. You can take front facing and rear facing photos and videos. You can manage your contacts from multiple online accounts. You can configure a list of clocks across different time zones, set alarms, timers and even a bedtime routine. There's a stopwatch too. You can search for places on Maps, save them, get turn by turn directions and view your location via GPS. You can buy, rent and view movies and tv shows from iTunes and store them in iCloud. You can make notes with formatting and handwriting, images and share them with friends via iCloud and other online accounts with password protection. You can make reminder lists with alerts, location based reminders. You can take selfies on Photo Booth with special effects to send to friends. You can compare game scores and challenges on Game Centre. You can buy, read and manage iBooks and magazines with bookmarking, search and various reading modes. You can buy ringtones, music, movies, to shows and more through iTunes. There's an App Store to download millions of apps across a range of categories. You can change a range of preferences including parental controls. You can make and receive FaceTime calls. You can send and receive email from multiple online accounts with attachment support, flag, archive and other management options. Safari internet browsing supporting HTML5 and bookmarks, multiple tabs, favourites. You can manage your iTunes music library as well as use Apple Music via the Music app.

That's the basics... Phil, can I have a job at Apple's marketing department yet?!
 
an iPad is great for many different things. However, if you don't know what to use it for, let you mom know and she will give it to a different family member that will get maximum use out of it.
 
In addition to all those great uses, you can get Duet and use it as another screen for you MBP!
 
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