Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Would an iPad 2 work in this situation?

Snowy_River said:
If you use a real keyboard with the iPad, the arrow keys work... :)
Click to expand...

Even at that, though, not being able to position the cursor with a mouse and drag to select text, then using the key combination commands (command-C, etc), makes editing text on the iPad a bit of a slog for me. Not that I can't or don't do it (I'm typing this on my iPad right now), but I don't find the touch screen text selection process nearly as streamlined as using a keyboard and mouse to select and manipulate text. It works on the iPad, but if it was my only option I'd go mad in short order if I had a lot of text to edit.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

Wow, lots of replies. After reading all of your input, I think that I'll try the iPad 2. Somebody mentioned that if I tried it for a week and it didn't work out I could return it. I figure that if a fairly good amount of people have had positive experiences using the iPad with the wireless keyboard (which I did say I was planning on getting), it could work for me.

Thanks again for the responses.

~AppleGirl:)
 
School at all different levels really requires an actual computer. I am working on my second degree now and i couldn't imagine only using an iPad for all of the work and tasks school requires. There are a lot of decent $500 laptops out there which would work great for your educational needs. Not to bust your bubble, but the iPad really would not be an ideal solution. Others will argue this, but it's true.
 
My son is a junior at willamette university in Oregon, he has been using his ipad since day one for taking notes, but he does most of serious work on his desktop. He loves the soundnote app and goodreader.

His math book this year was electronic and ouch 75 bucks but thats another story.

He loves his ipad
 
Toiletpapers said:
Dont listen to the bs these guys are feeding you op, the iPad can be used for literally everything. Im a college student and I use it in replace of all notebooks, folders (scan the documents), and some textbooks. It's mad easy to take notes. All my work is now organized, easy to find, and in result my grades have improved.

I used to use a laptop in college, and boy it was annoying. Its large, theres really very limited ways to organize your notes, and forget about trying to replicate diagrams and stuff that really require precise drawings. The iPad can easily do that. I just take out my stylus and bam, perfect diagrams, even more neat than using pen and paper.

All you need is an iPad, it's that simple. I type all my reports, homework, class notes, emails, EVERYTHING, on my iPad, without an external keyboard too, just my ipad.
Click to expand...

How do you do extensive research, works cited, advanced editing and formatting (MLA, APA) solely on an iPad? I am not saying it's impossible, but boy seems like an enormous time waster and school is tough enough as it is. This girl would be doing a disservice to herself, her education, and her (or her parent's) money by not equipping herself correctly. The iPad is a great supplemental device, but not as a primary.
 
poe8 said:
How do you do extensive research, works cited, advanced editing and formatting (MLA, APA) solely on an iPad? I am not saying it's impossible, but boy seems like an enormous time waster and school is tough enough as it is. This girl would be doing a disservice to herself, her education, and her (or her parent's) money by not equipping herself correctly. The iPad is a great supplemental device, but not as a primary.
Click to expand...

And she has stated that she has a desktop computer that she can use to do heavy lifting, if she needs it. Given that, the iPad could be an ideal solution for her.
 
using an ipad for school work is foolishness, how can that even cross your mind have you done any sort of research

anyway, post some pics of yourself OP
 
SydneyJunkie said:
using an ipad for school work is foolishness, how can that even cross your mind have you done any sort of research
Click to expand...

I wish I'd had an iPad when I was in school, I can think of a dozen different ways an iPad could have made doing research easier. It wouldn't work if it were my only computing device, of course, but it is a great supplementary device to have with you on the go.
 
Night Spring said:
I wish I'd had an iPad when I was in school, I can think of a dozen different ways an iPad could have made doing research easier. It wouldn't work if it were my only computing device, of course, but it is a great supplementary device to have with you on the go.
Click to expand...

I could easily have used an iPad as my only computing device when I was in high school and under-grad college. I didn't have anything that rivaled the capabilities of the iPad until my senior year of college and into my graduate work.
 
forget the ipad 2

It's a fad. I don't think they upgraded the RAM. The camera resolution is gonna be toilet quality. No improved display. The only real upgrade is for something that doesn't even come with it. The case is nice but I have to pay more for it?
Common Apple why not just wait until you have something reasonable. The main thing I would like ipad 2 for would be redlaser but, it won't work with that camera. I mean wow it's thinner and lighter big deal.
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-04/tech/new.ipad.camera_1_camera-ipad-image-sensor?_s=PM:TECH
there are other links like this many claiming that the Ipad 3 is coming out by August and it will blow away the Ipad 2!
 
It will definitely work for everything, but get the keyboard.

Also, READ THIS - http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetrev...ad-revamped-for-improved-mobile-editing/20663

You can use Google Docs for all your docs and it will be saved and accessible from anywhere.

Also, look into Jump Desktop. www.jumpdesktop.com you'll be able to remotely connect to your home computer at any time and access your files, so if you leave your homework saved on the home computer, login via Jump Desktop and email it to yourself!

Contrary to what people say, the iPad can be a computer replacement IF you have the right apps. Jailbreaking can help too.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

SydneyJunkie said:
using an ipad for school work is foolishness, how can that even cross your mind have you done any sort of research

anyway, post some pics of yourself OP
Click to expand...

I have done research, thanks. And I'd rather not post any pictures. For me, the iPad would be something to use for light schoolwork, and I would do the more extensive school work on our home desktop.

~AppleGirl:)
 
Hint of Caution

I have done research, thanks. And I'd rather not post any pictures. For me, the iPad would be something to use for light schoolwork, and I would do the more extensive school work on our home desktop.

~AppleGirl:)[/QUOTE]



I plan to be in line on Friday, but I caution you on this purchase. I think it would work great for your tasks, but the problem is compatability. I'd make a quick run to the Apple store and present your situation. The reason I say this is because your home computer is windows based. You're going to want something you can back-up (VERY IMPORTANT), transfer info to and from, and is compatable. You may not have all of that with the iPad. Anyway, happy hunting!
 
School Work?? Constantly??

Okay the iPad is nice and heck I'm going out to get me one to. But I would never think to use it as a foundational school tool. Granted everyone is different but plenty of portable laptops out there that will handle school work. Now have at the iPad 2 for lots of fun and some supporting of school work but you may be selling yourself short in terms of dedicated school work. Good Luck to you.
 
frog22 said:
I plan to be in line on Friday, but I caution you on this purchase. I think it would work great for your tasks, but the problem is compatability. I'd make a quick run to the Apple store and present your situation. The reason I say this is because your home computer is windows based. You're going to want something you can back-up (VERY IMPORTANT), transfer info to and from, and is compatable. You may not have all of that with the iPad. Anyway, happy hunting!
Click to expand...

What are you talking about???? iPad works perfectly with Windows. iTunes for Windows have been around for years, and while people like to complain about this or that, it has handled backup and syncing for iPods and iPhones and now the iPad perfectly well.
 
Night Spring said:
What are you talking about???? iPad works perfectly with Windows. iTunes for Windows have been around for years, and while people like to complain about this or that, it has handled backup and syncing for iPods and iPhones and now the iPad perfectly well.
Click to expand...

Sorry, my first message wasn't very clear....Let me try again. I understand that the pc and iPad will sync very well, but my concern comes from the conversion of documents from the iPad to the pc. I don't own an iPad, so I only know if iWorks for taking notes and such. If she is using Pages with her iPad, how is she going to convert those files to word documents for her pc. That's my concern, is being able to use those documents outside of the iPad? Anyway, hope this clarifies everything!
 
frog22 said:
Sorry, my first message wasn't very clear....Let me try again. I understand that the pc and iPad will sync very well, but my concern comes from the conversion of documents from the iPad to the pc. I don't own an iPad, so I only know if iWorks for taking notes and such. If she is using Pages with her iPad, how is she going to convert those files to word documents for her pc. That's my concern, is being able to use those documents outside of the iPad? Anyway, hope this clarifies everything!
Click to expand...

Pages for iPad exports documents in Word doc format. Complicated formatting sometimes have problems converting, but basic documents do okay. There are also many other document editing apps in the app store, most of them compatible with Word. Having a PC is not a problem when working with iDevices. There always was a large number of users using them on Windows, so Windows support is very well developed at all levels.
 
Touch interface is a PITA for editing documents... So I wouldn't recommend an iPad. If I was still in school, I would 100% go for the Macbook Air.
 
I think a lot of people are either skipping over or outright ignoring a few of the things Applegirl stated.

First, the iPad will not be her only computer. They have a desktop computer at home. Yes, it's windows based and not a Mac, but it'll support an iPad regardless.

Second, she'll be using an Apple Wireless Keyboard with the iPad so she won't be spending hours typing on the on-screen keyboard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back