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What do YOU use your ipad for?

K

kettlecorn

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 21, 2011
284
0
I really want an ipad and yet, i find myself in this internal battle between wanting it and justifying the purchase vs. not really needing it. Frankly, I don't know anyone that uses one and ive only played with it for about 10-15 min at the Apple store and I really didn't get sold on it...mainly cause i feel like i couldn't get a proper feel for it.

Anyway with the new refurb prices, I am wondering what everyone uses their ipads for. I think that its may be one of those things that you don't think you need until you get one. Then you can't go anywhere withtout it. Kind of like a smart phone. I really did not NEED one but now I can't live without it because I know all of what it can do and it's embedded into every facet of my life.

So, just want to hear how some people use their ipads on a daily basis. I saw one post of a photographer that uses it to show clients photos which I thought was neat. The commercials i see about using garage band or whatever really doesn't appeal to me at all. I find myself asking myself "when am I EVER going to use that. why not use my MBP?" but i don't own an Iphone (Android mytouch 4g here) so the app market is a little different.

Is there netflix on the ipad? Can you switch tasks like have open a chat agent on gchat, then switch over to your browser, switch back and forth without restarting applications? Is iOS 4.3 coming to ipad1 or is it only for ipad 2? It says something about better multitasking.
 
www.alvinnguyen.com <- every image on there is on my iPad, I take it and put it in the hands of my clients and give them an awesome viewing experience without having to print - this is much easier to keep up-to-date and environmentally friendly ;)
 
So you just want us to justify your buying something you honestly can't find a reason to buy other than you just want?

Really, your post screams "I have no use for it, but I want it". Well hell, if that ain't enough reason to buy it then what is? If you need people to help justify it then it clearly shows you have no need other than want.
 
Shivetya said:
So you just want us to justify your buying something you honestly can't find a reason to buy other than you just want?

Really, your post screams "I have no use for it, but I want it". Well hell, if that ain't enough reason to buy it then what is? If you need people to help justify it then it clearly shows you have no need other than want.
Click to expand...

And what's wrong with that? you just reiterated what I wrote and why i started the thread. I specifically said that I don't know if I need it but I want it. So how about less holier than thou sermon and more logical and constructive yay or nay with reasoning.

I WANT IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED IT. SUE ME. clear enough for you? i swear every thread you find one hostile person who has nothing constructive to add.
 
Personal uses:

  1. Presentation to customers either across the desk, or connect to projector
  2. Watch movie while flying
  3. Read magazines / books
  4. Surf the net
  5. Play games
  6. Let my kid play games
  7. Keep all essential information with me (under secured app)
  8. Remote control my computers at home while traveling to provide IT support for my wife
  9. Listen to music
  10. Pass the time on the toilet more productively ;-)

Overall, the iPad is a great tool for people who travel a lot (i.e. me) but also for someone who doesn't (i.e. my wife) who likes to surf wherever she wants.

The instant-on/off takes the frustration out of using a laptop/netbook when it takes forever to boot up/shut down.

Again, this is personal reasons, and I am sure some people will disagree...
 
If you won't find any uses for the device other than as a FaceBook-checking device, then don't buy it.

It's not being "Holier than thou". It's just good sense. Sorry if Shivetya insulted you with too much logic.
 
I use mine to:

Surf the web
Read ebooks
Light document editing while on the go
Light emailing
Twitter -- I love the Twitter app for iPad, and use it almost exclusively for checking my Twitter feed
PDA -- calendar, contacts, todo lists
Watch videos -- just watched iPad2 keynote on my iPad1 ;)
Play music on my bluetooth-enabled speaker in the bedroom

Now, all of this can be done on a smartphone or laptop, but iPad is more comfortable bacause of larger screen than smartphone, and no keyboard bulk getting in the way like with a laptop.
 
Abstract said:
If you won't find any uses for the device other than as a FaceBook-checking device, then don't buy it.

It's not being "Holier than thou". It's just good sense. Sorry if Shivetya insulted you with too much logic.
Click to expand...

Where exactly do you see "too much logic"? All I see is a condescending and rhetorical post that didn't give me any help. I came here stating exactly what my problem was (which was I want the ipad but might not NEED it. And that I really don't have enough first hand experience to pull the trigger and needed some users' input) and all the fool writes in his post is a condescending synopsis of my exact problem.
Anyway I'm over it. Let's keep the thread moving. :apple:




weenie said:
Personal uses:

  1. Presentation to customers either across the desk, or connect to projector
  2. Watch movie while flying
  3. Read magazines / books
  4. Surf the net
  5. Play games
  6. Let my kid play games
  7. Keep all essential information with me (under secured app)
  8. Remote control my computers at home while traveling to provide IT support for my wife
  9. Listen to music
  10. Pass the time on the toilet more productively ;-)

Overall, the iPad is a great tool for people who travel a lot (i.e. me) but also for someone who doesn't (i.e. my wife) who likes to surf wherever she wants.

The instant-on/off takes the frustration out of using a laptop/netbook when it takes forever to boot up/shut down.

Again, this is personal reasons, and I am sure some people will disagree...
Click to expand...

#10, very good point. :) About #7, what kind apps allow you to do that? Do you keep documents in a vault-type app?

Good point about the instant-on. Those types of functions you forget about or don't really get to use when in the store cause the experience is really just standing at the wooden table playing with it. I thought about getting a netbook instead and even though the ipad isn't a complete laptop replacement, the ipad would be able to do most of what I would need it for.

The battery life is also very enticing. Apple rates it at 10 hours I think, how much real time battery would you get if you did something heavy like watch movies straight for hours or youtube?

How is the browsing experience? I was reading some people saying that it can only have like 3-5 tabs open and even then it crashes due to the small amount of RAM? Anyone experience this? Is there anything that you find frustrating on the ipad? (typing, browsing, anything)

Will "jailbreaking" void the warranty? What does it allow you to do other than get bootleg apps? Would I be able to flash or install iOS 4.3 when it gets released?

Are there any special 3rd party apps (jailbreak or not) that allows you to get flash contents on your ipad? I watch megavideos a lot and I know its not practical to watch it off the Safari browser but if there are apps hat allow for viewing of flash videos (NBC.com for Parks and Rec, the Office, etc.) then that would def justify getting it for me.
 
I design shirts/fliers for people and companies and i use the iPad frequently to show them the finished product.
I also use it for general browsing and playing some games.
 
Social networks, newspaper, edit documents on the fly, stream music from my MB Pro, browse the web, and my favorite is the Xfinity App which allows me to change the channel without picking up the remote.
 
djransom said:
Social networks, newspaper, edit documents on the fly, stream music from my MB Pro, browse the web, and my favorite is the Xfinity App which allows me to change the channel without picking up the remote.
Click to expand...

Maybe I need to familiarize myself with apps and not the actual hardware of the ipad. I don't own anything that uses the mobile/tablet apps but sounds like there are a lot of things you can do.

Xfinity. Is that only for directv or something or how does it work? IR?
 
kettlecorn said:
Maybe I need to familiarize myself with apps and not the actual hardware of the ipad. I don't own anything that uses the mobile/tablet apps but sounds like there are a lot of things you can do.

Xfinity. Is that only for directv or something or how does it work? IR?
Click to expand...

Xfinity is Comcast app. Allows your to change the channel from the iPad as well as set DVR recordings. There are a couple of other features within the app as well. Just checked iTunes and it looks like DirecTV just dropped an app for the iPad Monday.
 
What I use it for:
- Reading tech manuals
- Reading books
- Showing photography portfolio
- Podcasts
- Remotely controlling iTunes
- RSS Reading
- Lightweight games
- Words with Friends
(and soon)
- iMovie clips of baby
- Facetime with all the people i convinced to get one

What I dont use it for:
- Typing anything. Email, message boards etc
- Flash. I usually go to the computer when i hit a flash site. its annoying
- Real photo editing (Aperture)

For me, the iPad replaced 90% of my general non-income generating computer use. Thats why you'll see me on the boards so frustrated with the camera. It sucks they cheaped out.
 
Things I use my iPad for:

  1. Watch a little Netflix and keep track of my Queue from the comfort of my couch.
  2. Watch ABC shows from the comfort of my couch. Also the ABC app works much smoother then their web browser interface.
  3. Catch up on news sites. The CNN app especially is quite amazing. Video loads QUICK and it's stable and fun to use.
  4. Catch up on website's I follow, including this one, through the Pulse Newsreader app. It's great to see so many sites at the same time.
  5. Look up actors and movies in the IMDB app while watching TV. My partner and I always seem to have questions about something we are watching. The iPad has been quite helpful here, because before we would forget to run upstairs and check the computer.
  6. Stream music or videos from the computer wherever I happen to be in the house.
  7. Play games - Including four player ones which are great for parties.
  8. Twitter - Find it's quicker and easier to pop into Twitter on the iPad vs. the computer
  9. Alarm - The iPad makes a really good and loud alarm clock. Has saved my bacon on more then one occasion
  10. Relaxation - Whenever I want to de-stress, I prop up my iPad next to me and use one of the apps that show a nice image while playing white noise sounds like waterfalls and birds chirping. Sounds silly perhaps, but there are some really stressful people and things in my life right now and it really helps me!
 
Ding! Ding! Ding !! ....... and the Winners ARE:

2 OWLS for "Floatation Device"
mgamber for "Porn,Duh"
Sdahe for "Spiritual Guidance" - I think he is just saying what mgamber said ... nicely ;)
 
Last edited:
I sure hope you folks wipe down your ipads/phones after using them on the can - those lovely fecal particles are smeared all over your devices :)
 
What DON'T I use my iPad for. Probably typing reports up for school is the only thing that I don't use it for.
 
kettlecorn said:
I WANT IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED IT. SUE ME.
Click to expand...

me too.. lol. we are in the same freakin' boat! i can get it if i want to, but since im buying it with my own $$$ i want to "justify my needs and purchases too".. $385 might be a lot of $$$
 
For me personally, it's the best possible reading experience I can have. My eyes have trouble reading print on a page so viewing text at different sizes on the iPad is phenomenal. From books, to comics, to the NY Times every day, the iPad is a love letter to my eye balls. I just make sure the brightness is turned down quite a bit (and an anti-glare screen helps when you're outside or near a bright light source).

After that, its the easiest and best way for me to view my photo albums and I find myself just flipping through pictures on a daily basis because it's so much fun.

I also use it daily for my main email client. Easy to pick up and type a quick message.

For trips, I use Netflix and the video app for movies and tv shows (along with the aforementioned books and comics). The battery life is so good that you can watch multiple movies and still have a ton left over. I don't have an ipod or iphone so I also use it for my itunes library. It's alittle more inconvenient since its quite a bit larger, but if you're just sitting on a plane or in a car its not too bad.

And finally, I use it for a couple of really fun games. Cut the Rope and Infinity Blade in particular.

So yeah, reading in general, photos, email, video and games. In that order. It's not a necessary device, but it sure has made some of the things I do on a daily basis alot more easy/fun.

Oh and I also use Sketch Book Pro. Takes some getting used to but for an illustrator like me, its kind of a neat alternative to a traditional sketch pad and pencil. Just make sure you get a stylus.
 
I'm currently stationed on a submarine so I use mine when we go out to sea. Since there is limited space on board it's perfect. I use mine mostly for entertainment; movies, music, pictures,games, schedule's, note taking.
Mando
 
I'm torn between the new Macbook pro 13" with the core i5 or a 2010 MBP + ipad gen 1. I'll be satisfied with either one. Or, i'll be unsatisfied with either one. When I research and put time into finding the best ANYTHING, i find the hunger for the next best thing insatiable. It's a problem really. Probably an addiction. :D
The only way to combat it is literally to not give a **** about it all and get some janky HP pavilion laptop from 5 years ago. Technology has made me a slave. Now, to find me a used ipad.. maybe.
 
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