Why do you have an iPad?

[iCrosoft]

So I don't have to carry around a laptop that'll need to be plugged in all the time or fumble around on a tiny smartphone screen.

 

[Caliber26]

I have it because of its portability and capabilities. It has completely replaced my need for a laptop since 95% of my computer usage consists of surfing the web, Facebook, email, instant messaging, and YouTube. While I could do all those things on my iPhone, the screen size would make that a real pain the a$$ and a laptop (even the MacBook Air), although portable, doesn't give you the type of mobility and flexibility that the iPad does, so the iPad hits that middle spot perfectly.

Ever since I got the iPad, I only use my iMac very sporadically. Mostly to run updates on it or to sync new material to my iPhone and iPad. It has basically become a $1,200 paperweight.

 

[tomtendo]

I too already own a MacBook air and an iPhone. I bought the first iPad and now the third iPad. I can say that I really love using my new iPad over the first. It's just faster and a great screen.

It's really up to you. I mean, I own a pretty mobile laptop - 11 inch MBA. But I hardly use it anymore since I got my iPad 3. It's just easier to have something you don't need plugged in for 1-2 days with extensive use.

 

[Wrathwitch]

I use it to play Zinga poker, read RSS, and check email in bed AND

Stream video content from my iMac's hard drive to my TV downstairs.

 

[Study13]

It was a birthday/graduation gift. Plus, I'm the tech "guinea pig" for my family so I get to try all of the stuff before I recommend it.

 

[rever3nce]

I use mine a lot for work ( keeping track of customers with numbers) , reading ibooks, Zite magazine is great app for news on the ipad. Its a little more portable , the screen is amazing on the ipad 3rd gen. I use a lot of photo editing apps, and it makes it much easier on the ipad due to the larger screen.

I too take my MBP to work but never seem to use it , unless someone has problems with their itunes lol

 

[Axne1]

When using the iPad, it's portable so instantly you save space.(laptop) also entertainment. There is nothing like playing a iPad game"I love the experience "

Creating music using Garage Band, and play with friends. I'm alway on the go so I find it more practical to carry a lil bag that holds my tech.

Looks cool to. When you purchase a iPad you will leave the heavy stuff at home a lot more

 

[JMG]

Because work bought it for me. I seriously wouldn't have one otherwise, I have an Android tablet that I MUCH prefer for personal use. Work asks that I provide support for iOS devices so they got me one. Even after a little over a month, I would still MUCH prefer my personal tablet for my personal use but as a business device I can see (and make use of) the benefits of the iPad.

Yes, the iPad is nice but I'm still an Android guy, there are a few things I like better about that OS.

When it comes down to getting something done on a tablet, they are all the same. There is no real difference, just marketing and personal preference. Sure, there are different features and ways of doing things, and some ways are harder than the other, but a tablet is a tablet like a PC is a PC. If I want to check my email, i'll be able to do it on an iPad or an Android. It's all minutia.

 

[RetiredInFl]

I bought the iPad for it's excellent ability to keep food warm. Great for parties.

 

[Mainsail]

I think labeling an iPad as a luxury is too broad of a generalization, since it really depends on your situation.

For home use, my wife and I shared a laptop. We were constantly bumping into each others as users. Now, I could have purchased another laptop, but I got an ipad instead because it does essentially everything I want to do, cost half as much as a MacBook, and is very portable for family vacations.

For our use case, buying a second laptop would have been a luxury, and the iPad was the most cost effective option.

I think folks sometimes narrowly look at a device in the context of a single person or single user, rather in the case of multi-user family situations. "Luxury" is relative to the users' needs.

 

[wacky4alanis]

For me it's purely a luxury item. I use it to be "connected" while I am lying around the house - most often while watching TV. I never take it out of the house. I use my iPhone to stay connected while I am out and about. And I use my desktop computer for any computing that requires horsepower.

 

[Medic311]

For our use case, buying a second laptop would have been a luxury, and the iPad was the most cost effective option.

unless you bought an iPad 2 refurb like me for $319, a $499 base model iPad price tag would buy you a pretty nice sandy bridge i5 14" screen laptop. buying an iPad was not the most cost effective solution for you from purely a cost standpoint, it was the most cost effective apple solution...yes.

if a second computer was needed that badly, a Windows 7 laptop would have sure met and exceeded your requirements of a second half-machine until your financial situation improved to the point where you could buy another Macbook

 

[johndallas999]

I tried to get my former employer to adopt iPads in lieu of paper-based routers and work instructions. (lean effort in manufacturing environment). IT would not budge, so I bought an iPad myself and created a proof of concept - warmly received by everyone except for IT.

After that started to use it in place of a notebook, and have since fallen in love with the display and realized what other potential this device has.

Edit: One of the biggest advantages I found using it in the workplace is sleep/wake times. For me to shut down or sleep my laptop before pulling it from the dock took 4 minutes every time. Switching locations with the iPad takes just seconds to sleep / wake and resume work.

I can understand IT's non-warm reception as that is very annoying to have someone do something like that. Like going into McDonalds with a hamburger cooked/seasoned the way you like it and asking them to change their recipe.

----------

For me it's purely a luxury item. I use it to be "connected" while I am lying around the house - most often while watching TV. I never take it out of the house. I use my iPhone to stay connected while I am out and about. And I use my desktop computer for any computing that requires horsepower.

Agreed. Bought one refurb since it's a luxury item. While I find I used it 99% of the time for browsing it can no way replace a laptop/computer for everything you do.

 

[Gator24765]

I got mine at a great rate. I am not sure that I would have got one if I didn't get such a good deal. I also have an iphone and it is a bit redundant.

I do like the ipad for its larger screen when watching videos etc.

I have still yet to find a ipad specific use, maybe when school starts up again for note taking etc.

 

[takeshi74]

haha but, it can be done from my iPhone and labtop. I was wondering if there are any other specific reasons you would use it.

You're confusing "you" and "I". We can't give you your reasons. You need to determine them.

When you ask other people for their reasons what you can do on your iPhone or laptop (it's not a labtop) is irrelevant.

 

[klover]

100% relaxation device.

Nothing beats just sitting out on the porch with a cold beer and browsing the web and using iMessage. It's light, thin, and has an amazing screen. Some evenings I'll spend 2-3 hours with it just to unwind and take my mind off things.

My laptop just reminds me of work, my iPad doesn't.

 

[Skika]

-Reading manga
-Reading books
-Browsing web
-Mail
-Games
-Doing design ideas
-Garageband ( GREAT for demos/basic song ideas which i can import in Logic)
-Watching anime
-Writing all my notes in class
-...

Overall its just such a great device that once you have it, you just keep finding great uses for it.

 

[Mainsail]

unless you bought an iPad 2 refurb like me for $319, a $499 base model iPad price tag would buy you a pretty nice sandy bridge i5 14" screen laptop. buying an iPad was not the most cost effective solution for you from purely a cost standpoint, it was the most cost effective apple solution...yes.

if a second computer was needed that badly, a Windows 7 laptop would have sure met and exceeded your requirements of a second half-machine until your financial situation improved to the point where you could buy another Macbook

But my decision was not purely a cost decision (portability, ease of use, instant on, etc.), and I didn't want a windows machine. I like using Apple products, with the ease of syncing and maintaining the devices. I do not need to lug around one of those wonderful 6 lb windows laptops to do the stuff I want to do. If I bought a second laptop, it would have been an Air.....which is about twice the price of an iPad. Don't get me wrong, I think the Air is a great machine. We just didn't need one as a second computer.

Somehow, if I buy a windows laptop to do everyday stuff, it is not a luxury item. But, if I use an iPad, I am being frivolous. BTW - I can afford to buy whatever I want, but I chose to buy the devices that best suit my needs....and of course, I like to get a good value.

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

I can understand IT's non-warm reception as that is very annoying to have someone do something like that. Like going into McDonalds with a hamburger cooked/seasoned the way you like it and asking them to change their recipe.

----------



Agreed. Bought one refurb since it's a luxury item. While I find I used it 99% of the time for browsing it can no way replace a laptop/computer for everything you do.

This was not what you assume, it was simply a case of old dogs refusing to learn new tricks. IT knew about the device, it was not a security risk, their arguement was about difficulties with a new platform. In my application an iPad was actually more secure than their existing infrastructure.

 

[irnchriz]

I use the iPad for:
Web Browsing
Email (3 exchange accounts and iCloud)
Reading Books
Reading comics
Watching Videos (Netflix and iTunes streaming)
iMessage
RDP
Remote support (go to assist)
Bria VoIP
Skype
Oh, and a bit of gaming too.

Its great for supporting clients when out and about and for any heavier lifting I get the MacBook out.

 

[migdaddy]

So I don't have to carry around a laptop that'll need to be plugged in all the time or fumble around on a tiny smartphone screen.

100% my exact reason as well.

 

[Jessemtz25]

haha but, it can be done from my iPhone and labtop. I was wondering if there are any other specific reasons you would use it.

You asked what people did on theirs not what unique thing that can't be done on any other device. Wtf is a "laptop"?

 

[Medic311]

Everything I said still stands and this is why:

For our use case, buying a second laptop would have been a luxury, and the iPad was the most cost effective option.

then you said...

But my decision was not purely a cost decision (portability, ease of use, instant on, etc.),

1) Make up your mind. For your case it was the most cost effective solution, I get that. I simply corrected you, that the iPad is the most cost effective Apple solution for your situation, there are plenty of other solutions out there if you are that desperate for a 2nd machine and cannot justify spending $1,000+ for a Macbook Air. One cannot compare a Macbook Air to an iPad in any regard, they just are not even on the same level. Look at every thread in this forum where someone says "Macbook Air or iPad?" and you will see all of us telling the OP they are totally different machines for totally different intended purposes. They may have overlapping functionality, but that ven diagram comes with many caveats. It's not the same as comparing a 13" MBA to a 13" MBP.

and I didn't want a windows machine. I like using Apple products, with the ease of syncing and maintaining the devices. I do not need to lug around one of those wonderful 6 lb windows laptops to do the stuff I want to do.

2) don't get me wrong, i love apple products too. i own several including an iPad 2, but i also have an acer laptop (running windows 7). it's 15" and weighs less than a 13" macbook pro. so before you start exaggerating yourself into the sky, settle back to reality and realize that there are other options than a 6 lbs custom gaming laptop. the "ease of syncing" you are referring to... the iCloud control panel runs on Windows and quite well for that matter.

If I bought a second laptop, it would have been an Air.....which is about twice the price of an iPad. Don't get me wrong, I think the Air is a great machine. We just didn't need one as a second computer. Somehow, if I buy a windows laptop to do everyday stuff, it is not a luxury item. But, if I use an iPad, I am being frivolous. BTW - I can afford to buy whatever I want, but I chose to buy the devices that best suit my needs....and of course, I like to get a good value.

3) when did i say you were frivolous buying an iPad? i own an iPad and i wouldn't consider myself frivolous and i never judge what other people spend their money on because it's their money. if they think something is a cool device and they buy it, that's a fine decision by me. i will question someone's reasoning if their logic in their justification is majorly flawed though. i certainly will call out people who claim that purchasing an iPad instead of a laptop is a cost savings when it clearly is not for two reasons. #1 an iPad should not be functionally compared to a Macbook Air or any laptop for that matter , #2 following the logic of #1, you can't compare a tablet to a premium priced laptop (MBA) from a cost perspective




instead of trying to justify my purchase of an iPad 2 with some BS reason to members in a forum, i will just say flat out that i wanted one because it's a cool device (can't argue with me there). did i need one to fulfill a specific need? nope. do i have other portable devices that i use or could have used instead of an iPad and thus saved $319? yes, i have an AMD C-60 ultra-portable laptop

 

[Mainsail]

Telling me that a windows laptop is a cost effective alternative to my needs is like telling me that I should buy a pick up truck rather than a compact, even though I don't plan to haul stuff around...but gee they cost the same and the pickup has more load carrying capacity..so it must be more cost effective.

My point is that it is not cost effective if it doesn't meet my needs. I want to get good gas mileage and drive around town plus I already have a suburban in the garage. Sorry, you need to buy a pickup, so you can do real work. But, I can't park it in small spaces and I don't plan on hauling any manure. Sorry, buy the pickup. Ughh. Cost effectiveness and value are based on use case..and that is were your logic fails.

Yes, I did compare the cost of more pricey Apple laptops to an iPad because this is an Apple forum, so most people here use their products. Neverthess, I have no need for a windows laptop.

 

[chokem]

Because I don't like laptops and it is more comfortable to use in bed than my iPhone.

Agreed. Plus I believe the screen size is perfect, so much more convenient to use than my laptop.