Do I need an iPad?

NewKidOldKid · Apr 2, 2011

I have a new laptop I use for all my writing. I also have a mini-netbook that I bought a while ago. Not because I wanted it but because I broke my previous laptop and needed something to get me through until it was fixed. The mini-netbook was really cheap, so I went with that.

Do I need an iPad? I know I want one, but I'm not sure I'd have any use for it.

For those who own one, why? What exactly do you do with it? What do you use it for? Is it really worth it to have one? Yes, I know they're cool and all that, but are they really a useful tool to own or are they mostly for fun? If they're for fun, what's so fun about them?

Deleted member 42 · Apr 2, 2011

I love my iPad. I bought because I was hired to write a book about using iPads last year, and am now working on the second edition.

The iPad is designed to privilege consuming/browsing information--music, text, books, Web pages, movies/videos, email--but it's gotten so it doesn't suck, at all, for writing.

Since you have a net book, I'd probably say, don't bother--but I adore using my iPad for ebooks (Kindle, .pdf, ereaders, epub, etc. etc. ), and I love watching movies/video on it.

I'm pretty sure there's going to be a device with a screen that's in between the iPhone/iPod touch, and the iPad; you might want to wait for that.

NewKidOldKid · Apr 2, 2011

Thanks, Medievalist. I forgot to mention I also have a Kindle, so I'm set for reading ebooks too.

maestrowork · Apr 2, 2011

If you have a netbook and like it, then you don't need an iPad. However, there are apps on iPad that won't be available on the netbook. So if you need those apps, then I'd suggest ditching the netbook and get the iPad instead.

What can you do with it? Gosh, lots. Do real web surfing. Write your novel. Pay your bills. Do online trading. Play music. Play instruments. Become a DJ. Compose songs. Play Angry Birds. Watch TV. Watch movies. Watch Netflix movies. Play all kinds of games. Check email. Video conferencing with FaceTime. Access your work or home desktop computer. Edit videos. Read books. Read magazines. Read newspapers. Edit photos. Organize photos....

There are over 100,000 apps. Thus there are over 100,000 reasons why you should consider an iPad.

maestrowork · Apr 2, 2011

NewKidOldKid said:
Thanks, Medievalist. I forgot to mention I also have a Kindle, so I'm set for reading ebooks too.

Yes, but now you have to take three devices. How about just carrying one?

jmarkbyrnes · Apr 2, 2011

NewKidOldKid said:
I know I want one, but I'm not sure I'd have any use for it.

Of course you would. It's a great device. Even if you only want it because it's one of the coolest toys in the world, I say go ahead and get it.

-J. Mark Byrnes

Westie · Apr 2, 2011

I've another question along this line - we have an iMac desktop, but we need a second 'computer' to accommodate our family's needs. The second electronic device would be used for basic internet, email and writing on the Apple version of MS Word.

Can an iPad do this, or should I invest the extra $$ on a laptop?

Don Allen · Apr 2, 2011

I now have an Ipad,Ipod,mac lap top, and drool when ever close to an apple store. I'm insane,, I can't not be connected, and for no other fucking reason that i'm insane. 52 fucking years old and I look like some idiot from the 60's walking around with wires coming out of my head. I don't need this shit, but I got to have it... I strongly suggest you get an Ipad and anything else with an I in it......HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA

NewKidOldKid · Apr 2, 2011

Maestrowork... I LOVE your avatar. Love it.
I'm going to spend some time online exploring the apps. available. Maybe that'll give me a better idea of what the iPad can do!

NewKidOldKid · Apr 2, 2011

You guys are not helping.
I already know I want one! Don't give me excuses to buy it!

maestrowork · Apr 2, 2011

You can also draw, paint, jot down notes, handwrite, etc. on the iPad. Things you can't really do with a laptop or desktop without special software and tablets..

The thing is, most apps are either free or under $10. iWork, for example, is $79 for the Mac, but the iPad versions are $9.99 each.

The question of "what can I do with it" is kind of like a blind person asking "what can I do with sight"? Well, it's hard to explain, because you can't miss what you don't know or experience. But now I have an iPad, my laptop is very boring (I use it for more complex stuff like Photoshopping and editing professional videos and music).

And yes, you can get the iPad versions of iWork which includes Pages (word processing), Keynote (presentation), and Numbers (spreadsheet). There are other apps that does MS Office stuff.

maestrowork · Apr 2, 2011

NewKidOldKid said:
You guys are not helping.
I already know I want one! Don't give me excuses to buy it!

Resistance is futile.

But at least you can say, "With an iPad, I can finally sell my old laptop, get rid of the netbook, and retire my desktop until I really need it to do intensive work. But who wants to do INTENSIVE work anyway?"

I now travel with only my iPad and don't miss a thing. I can go for weeks without want or needing my laptop. I can do almost everything I need on the iPad, including writing my novel.

AlexPiper · Apr 2, 2011

To give you an idea of how I use /my/ iPad as a writer...

I keep all my writing notes in a tool called Evernote. Evernote's available on Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad and even just directly on the web. So I can tweak my writing notes, or toss new ideas in or whatever, even from my phone wherever I am. When I sit down to write, I usually use my laptop. I load up Scrivener and write in full-screen mode... but I put the iPad beside me, with Evernote open, to have access to all my notes.

Could I use the iPad for actual writing? Sure. I can type on it pretty quickly, and I have a bluetooth keyboard as well. But I find that within my own writing method, the iPad works better as a 'magic notebook' with all my writing notes.

I use it quite a bit for other things, too. I get a lot of my comic backlist digitally at this point, using Comixology on the iPad. I play games on it. It docks next to my bed, and functions as an alarm clock and stereo. And most of all, it's replaced my little netbook as 'the thing that sits in the living room when I'm on the sofa,' in terms of quick IMDB lookups or Wikipedia checks while watching something.

But I figure, on a writing board, how it fits into my writing is probably important.

VP_Benni · Apr 2, 2011

NewKidOldKid said:
For those who own one, why? What exactly do you do with it? What do you use it for? Is it really worth it to have one? Yes, I know they're cool and all that, but are they really a useful tool to own or are they mostly for fun? If they're for fun, what's so fun about them?

NewKidOldKid said:
You guys are not helping.
I already know I want one! Don't give me excuses to buy it!

I don't exactly understand what you're asking for. You ask why we like them, but you tell us not to give excuses to buy one. Wouldn't the reasons we like them also be reasons to buy them?

I also don't understand exactly why you want one. You say you have a new laptop, and you don't mention any particular reasons you need an iPad. Do you want it just because they're fun? Or are you planning to use it instead of the laptop?

Forgive me if I'm confused over nothing I just don't understand why you're asking...

~Amber~

Deleted member 42 · Apr 2, 2011

Westie said:
I've another question along this line - we have an iMac desktop, but we need a second 'computer' to accommodate our family's needs. The second electronic device would be used for basic internet, email and writing on the Apple version of MS Word.

Can an iPad do this, or should I invest the extra $$ on a laptop?

I'd get a low end Mac Book. You can get some deals right now on Apple refurbed with a full warranty Mac Books.

I love the iPad, but it's not a laptop. Yes, you can do a lot with it, but for family use especially, I'd go with a Mac Book.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 2, 2011

AlexPiper said:
But I figure, on a writing board, how it fits into my writing is probably important.

I find myself using it a lot as a sort of digital notebook/clip board, while I'm writing on my laptop.

NewKidOldKid · Apr 2, 2011

xXVampyrePrincessXx said:
I don't exactly understand what you're asking for. You ask why we like them, but you tell us not to give excuses to buy one. Wouldn't the reasons we like them also be reasons to buy them?

I also don't understand exactly why you want one. You say you have a new laptop, and you don't mention any particular reasons you need an iPad. Do you want it just because they're fun? Or are you planning to use it instead of the laptop?

Forgive me if I'm confused over nothing I just don't understand why you're asking...

~Amber~

I was recently hired to write a "vook." This is an ebook/video combination that can only be read on the iPad, iPhone, etc. I did the writing part and somebody else did the video part. Haven't seen the final version because I don't have an iPad/iPhone and no other platform supports it. Because of this, I started reading about the iPad online and realized it sounds awesome. Mostly, it sounds fun.

I'm asking here because it sounds REALLY fun but I'm not sure if I could actually use it for anything besides "having fun." I guess I'm trying to justify the purchase. I don't plan on replacing my laptop, no. I don't think the iPad is meant to be a replacement either.

The "you guys are not helping" was a joke.

ETA: No, I don't want the iPad just to read the vook, in case anybody's wondering! I only mentioned that because it's what started my search.

blacbird · Apr 2, 2011

The iPad was designed, explicitly, for consumption of information, not for production of it. This is Steve Jobs' focus, and he's damn good at getting his company to make products fulfilling that purpose. Yes, you can produce content on it, but that's pretty much secondary, and it's not as easy to do as it would be on a standard laptop.

NewKidOldKid · Apr 2, 2011

blacbird said:
The iPad was designed, explicitly, for consumption of information, not for production of it. This is Steve Jobs' focus, and he's damn good at getting his company to make products fulfilling that purpose. Yes, you can produce content on it, but that's pretty much secondary, and it's not as easy to do as it would be on a standard laptop.

Thanks. This is probably the best description I've heard of an iPad.

Deleted member 42 · Apr 2, 2011

blacbird said:
The iPad was designed, explicitly, for consumption of information, not for production of it. This is Steve Jobs' focus, and he's damn good at getting his company to make products fulfilling that purpose. Yes, you can produce content on it, but that's pretty much secondary, and it's not as easy to do as it would be on a standard laptop.

I'm still not planning to ditch my laptop, but iOS 4.3 has made major improvements from the OS on the iPad 1 a year ago.

It's much much easier on iOS 4.3 to create content, not only text based content in various text editors/word processors/blogging tools/email, but music, and art.

I've written an entire chapter of the second edition of our iPad book using only the iPad, for text, for image editing, and for file distribution.

And I'm using the built in digital keyboard; the blue tooth keyboards make it all even easier.

ejket · Apr 2, 2011

NewKidOldKid said:
I already know I want one! Don't give me excuses to buy it!

This is where I'm at. I'm a shameless gadgeteer, and I want an iPad for all but practical reasons. Realistically I know that my netbook is better for writing on the go.

Anne Lyle · Apr 3, 2011

If you have a laptop and/or netbook, you really don't need an iPad. There, you have my permission not to buy one

I put off buying an iPad for ages, because it was obviously designed primarily for the consumption of content, not creation. However once the productivity apps started to be appear, it became a much better proposition as a laptop replacement. I have a two-year-old MacBook Air, but I'm very protective of it because it will be expensive to replace, so I prefer to take the iPad when traveling.

Reasons I like the iPad:

* Battery life is about 3x that of my laptop

* Weight is about half

* I can handwrite notes in meetings, using a stylus and a suitable app (I like Penultimate, for its sheer simplicity)

* There are now apps that will sync with Scrivener, my favourite writing program on the Mac

* it doubles as an ereader, though I wish I could turn down the backlight even further!

I recently (as in, this week) bought a Zaggmate bluetooth keyboard that doubles as a case, and I've just started writing my next novel on the iPad. It's not a complete replacement for a fully functional Mac, but it does most of what I need in a neat, lightweight package.

kuwisdelu · Apr 3, 2011

I don't have a netbook or an iPad, but in my limited experience, I've had more trouble typing on the netbooks I've used than the iPads I've used. If you can get used to typing on a netbook, you can probably get used to typing on an iPad.

I'm hoping to get one after graduation. Work- and productivity- wise, I'll probably get one of those capacitive pens to take notes on it during class, as well as use it as a convenient PDF reader for journal articles, and there are a few SSH and VNC apps that'll let me log into my MBP or our school's servers when I'm on the go. Also, I only have two guitars, so the extra touch instruments in GarageBand will be pretty awesome, and maybe I'll get back into writing songs. Plus, y'know, writing. All I'm ask for in iOS 5 is a user-accessible file system of some sort, or something that'll make sharing files between apps easier. I emailed Steve Jobs about it, but he didn't get back to me.

PinkAmy · Apr 3, 2011

NewKid- I feel your pain. I want one REALLY bad--do I need one? Unfortunately not. Can I afford one? Unfortunately not. Will I buy one as soon as I can scrape together the money? HELL YES.

djf881 · Apr 3, 2011

maestrowork said:
You can also draw, paint, jot down notes, handwrite, etc. on the iPad. Things you can't really do with a laptop or desktop without special software and tablets..

The thing is, most apps are either free or under $10. iWork, for example, is $79 for the Mac, but the iPad versions are $9.99 each.

The question of "what can I do with it" is kind of like a blind person asking "what can I do with sight"? Well, it's hard to explain, because you can't miss what you don't know or experience. But now I have an iPad, my laptop is very boring (I use it for more complex stuff like Photoshopping and editing professional videos and music).

And yes, you can get the iPad versions of iWork which includes Pages
(word processing), Keynote (presentation), and Numbers (spreadsheet). There are other apps that does MS Office stuff.

The IPad has two key advantages: it has a ten hour battery life and it puts out no heat. It is nice for surfing the Internet on the sofa or in bed. It is a fun toy for watching videos and playing with apps. It is not great for writing. The onscreen keyboard slows you down and takes up half the screen, and the touch screen is inferior to a mouse for manipulating text.

A laptop and a smartphone are fairly necessary. A tablet is a luxury.

Do I need an iPad?

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