iPad question.

Darkshore · Jun 28, 2011

Hey there all. I'm thinking of saving up some cash for an Ipad before college resumes in August. I'd mostly use it for writing with a blue-tooth keyboard case, but the other features have a lot of appeal as well. My question is this, does the 16gb Ipad work just as well as the others for the most part? or will there be a lot I can't use it for? Thanks.

Deleted member 42 · Jun 28, 2011

You simply can't store as much--music, files, apps, movies--as on a larger one.

I'd wait as long as possible before buying one.

I think we're going to see a fairly major price drop.

Cassiopeia · Jun 28, 2011

I bought the iPad2 when it came out this year. I had waited since the first generation iPad to get one. I bought the 16gb with only wireless capabilities.

I have to say, I don't think I'd use it in class that much. Though you never know. I think a laptop is handier in that it's an all in one deal and you really can't take notes on the iPad screen. Or I can't anyway. I do like it for reading PDF's from professors. I can take it anywhere.

I was hoping for a drop in price but I have waited so long I figured I'd just get one anyway. That and Uncle Sam gave me a refund I wasn't expecting.

TheMindKiller · Jun 28, 2011

It's hard to say because Apple's normal routine got messed up, but I'd say we're closer to the release of the ipad 3 than the release of the ipad 2. In other words, if you'd wait a few more months you could either get the new iteration for the same cost or the old version for much much cheaper.

As for storage, that's all it is. Storage. And with the release of Cloud Storage, plus the fact that most of the things you look at it is streamable, you don't need much storage. I bought the lowest storage amount for my ipad 2 and I barely use it. Apps don't take up much space at all.

Probably the biggest reason for storage is music or photos, but you can put photos on places like flickr or whatever. For music just use last.fm or Pandora (or use the storage available to you, just be picky about what music you want), and you'll be fine.

The extra storage isn't worth the cost in my opinion.

kuwisdelu · Jun 28, 2011

I still don't think we'll see much of a price drop anytime soon, except maybe just for the holidays or something, and I don't believe there'll be an iPad 3 until 2012.

The storage size question really depends on what you'll use it for and how much media you'll want to store on it. A friend of mine doesn't keep any music, photos, or videos on his, and probably uses far less than 16 GB. Me, on the other hand? I can't comfortably fit my music into less than 32 GB, let alone my photos and movies. I using 62 GB of my 64 GB right now. I'm on vacation with only the iPad, and without the extra space, I wouldn't have room for the all the new episodes I wanted to bring for the plane ride.

But yes, the functionality is identical.

As for college, IMO, it's indispensable as a PDF reader, and I plan to use mine to take notes with the note taking apps and a capacitive stylus.

Darkshore · Jun 28, 2011

Edit: Never mind, I apparently didn't look over it thoroughly hehe figured out the problem. Thanks for all the info definitely looking forward to it's arrival.

tim290280 · Jun 29, 2011

On the note taking thing: someone in our meeting today was taking notes using his iPad2, using the touch screen keyboard. It seemed pretty decent and it surprised me. Definitely more convenient to carry around.

Personally I have a convertible Tablet PC. Much more storage, can do more stuff, etc, etc. The only problem is that it is heavy for reading e-books and e-comics.

Williebee · Jun 29, 2011

I do "ok" on the keyboard. It's definitely a different finger pattern for me, but I have less than dainty hands.

TheMindKiller · Jun 29, 2011

I got Zagg's bluetooth keyboard for my ipad 2, by the way. it works really well, it holds the ipad firmly. It's just a flip and go kinda thing. The keyboard is a little smaller than a normal keyboard but it's much easier to adjust to than the touch keyboard, especially if you're a fast typer like I am. The touch keyboard just wasn't responsive enough for me.

Not advertising, don't work for zagg, just a recommendation if you want a bluetooth keyboard

Darkshore · Jun 29, 2011

I saw Zagg's Scratch Guard video on youtube while I was browsing reviews. Looks like they make some good stuff.

Williebee · Jun 29, 2011

I have a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad, for serious writing bouts. I've been impressed with how well it keeps up. Cool tool indeed.

TheMindKiller · Jun 29, 2011

Darkshore said:
I saw Zagg's Scratch Guard video on youtube while I was browsing reviews. Looks like they make some good stuff.

They do make good stuff. The bluetooth keyboard they have is kinda cheap feeling, which I didn't like. But it's sturdier than it looks. I beat the crap out of mine. And it works really well. It's easily recognized by the ipad. The battery will last pretty much however long you need it. (supposedly up to 3 weeks or so) I've taken the keyboard on trips with me without taking the charger and never had to worry about it. So that's really nice considering the ipad is a battery hog.

But you can also find cheaper keyboards. The Zagg's is probably 90-100 dollars. But that's also because it's supposed to be a hybrid keyboard/case. You can get Apple's official bluetooth keyboard for 60 bucks or so, but then you need a way to move the ipad and the keyboard around if you're traveling with it. I can just stick my ipad into the zagg case, grab and go.

Ok, lol, no more free advertising. They need to pay me.

kuwisdelu · Jun 29, 2011

I have the Apple Bluetooth keyboard, and I brought it on the trip, but I just haven't felt the need to use it except for coding over ssh. For writing so far, I've just been using the software keyboard.

Darkshore · Jun 30, 2011

What are some good cases? The smart-cover imho seems a bit well "useless" for the price.

Deleted member 42 · Jun 30, 2011

Darkshore said:
What are some good cases? The smart-cover imho seems a bit well "useless" for the price.

It's actually kinda sweet since it works as a stand as well, and the instant on feature is nifty.

Darkshore · Jun 30, 2011

Hmm, maybe I've been watching some biased reviews then. All the ones that I have seen say it's flimsy and such.

Deleted member 42 · Jun 30, 2011

Why not go to a Target or BestBuy or Apple store and play with one?

TheMindKiller · Jun 30, 2011

As far as default cases released with the product go, it's super outstanding. Usually the first case is the worst case. This one is actually pretty nice. It does protect the ipad and work as a stand, and getting multiple uses out of something that'll run you a hefty chunk of change is always a plus.

I almost got the smart case, but I really hated the touch keyboard enough that I wanted a bluetooth keyboard/case thing.

Anne Lyle · Jun 30, 2011

I have the Zaggmate keyboard/case - in fact I'm typing on it right now. Not as comfortable as a full-sized keyboard, but not bad (better than most netbook keyboards, IMHO). I have the 32GB 3G model, but storage isn't an issue for me - I sync across a few albums and videos for travelling, but most stays on my desktop.

(I have the original iPad, btw, not the iPad2 - it's fine for writing and surfing. I'm in the process of writing my next novel on mine...)

Darkshore · Jun 30, 2011

I see, well I did sort of plan on getting a keyboard case anyways so I suppose my best bet would be to save my money and forgo the smart-cover. Thanks for all the advice all. Would this be the right place to ask about apps? Just wondering what ones would be good to get right away; specifically for writing, but any other cool apps would be nice as well.

TheMindKiller · Jun 30, 2011

Depends on the kind of writing you want to do. If you have a blog, WordPress has a free app for updating Wordpress blogs. Also Blogsy, if you have 5 dollars is apparently a really good blog-updating app built for the ipad. (I ain't payin' 5 bucks for it though!)

If you just want to write, there's a lot of apps.

I'd recommend "ia Writer" because that's the app I use. I love it. It syncs with Dropbox (get a Dropbox account if you don't have one) every two seconds (Mmmm document security tastes yummy). The files are so small you'll never run out of room on Dropbox, probably. They can be emailed directly from the app. The app has a "Focus" mode that turns off everything else and even fades all the text except for the most recent lines. Really fantastic. Plus, it's only a dollar. Or it was. Hopefully hasn't changed.

Anyway, here's Gizmodo's list of essential ipad apps. Download any of the ones that are free, lol. If you want to pay money, pick and choose.

As far as writing goes, I have Dragon Dictation, Dropbox, Simplenote, iaWriter and Bento. Use them all pretty effectively.

kuwisdelu · Jun 30, 2011

Personally, I love the Smart Cover because I don't personally want to lug around a keyboard with my case/cover, and I don't mind the software keyboard for most things. It works great as a stand when I do want to get out my bluetooth keyboard or watch a movie. And best of all, since it's magnetic, when I want it off, I just pull, and when I want it back on, I just hold it close to it. But I'm also the kind of person who carries my iPod Touch naked except for a clear skin for scratches.

Anne Lyle · Jun 30, 2011

I'm using Notebooks for writing my current draft, because it syncs nicely with Scrivener via DropBox. I've played with Index Card for the same reason (looks a lot like Scrivener's corkboard view), but for general plot brainstorming I like Outliner from Carbon Fin - very basic but it does the job.

If you're more the mindmapping type, iThoughts is awesome. I could never get into desktop mindmapping software, but doing it on the iPad is so much more intuitive, almost like drawing on paper but neater!

For proofing my last ms I used iAnnotate, which is a nice PDF reader with annotation features (well, duh!), though handwritten annotation is obviously a lot easier with a stylus. You need to buy (or make) a capacitive stylus, though, as the regular kind used by PDAs doesn't work with the Apple touchscreen.

Darkshore · Jul 1, 2011

Once again, great advice from everyone. I loved that Gizmodo link there were tons of cool apps there. As for Kuwisedulu's comment, I think I need a sturdier case along with some type of film cover for the touch screen. This is the most expensive thing I've ever bought for myself besides my car hehe, so I'd like to know that if I accidentally drop it or something the case would protect it a bit at least. EDIT: Also thanks everyone for the cool writing apps

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Anne Lyle · Jul 1, 2011

I have a MediaDevil "Magic Screen" protector on mine - it repels greasy fingermarks and greatly reduces reflectiveness without much effect on touch sensitivity. And of course the Zaggmate is a great hardcase, though I also have a soft slipcase to reduce scratches as well!

iPad question.

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