What advantages will an iPad have over my laptop computer? I’m thinking about getting an iPad2. I love gizmos. Tell me what these things can do. I don’t speak technical terminology very well, so be gentle.
My laptop is rather large with a 17" screen. It does so much that I am overwhelmed by it. It’s an HP with a lot of memory. That’s all that I remember. It’s been inconvenient for me to use it for the last couple of months due to renovations.
Your input would be much appreciated.
Since answers to the OP will probably involve opinions, let’s move this one from General Questions to IMHO.
samcldem, Moderator
Well, the important thing to understand is that they’re not laptops, and not replacements for one. They’re primarily media consumption devices - that’s what they focus on, and they do that very well indeed. So they’re great if you want to watch videos, browse the web, read books or comics, listen to music, play games, send/receive emails and so on, but they’re not really ideal for heavy duty stuff like work. They’re astonishingly easy to use because of this.
There are apps which can do most things, but you’re not likely to write an essay or edit a photo or make a spreadhseet, etc. Sure, you can do these things on it, but it’s just on the wrong side of “too fiddly” to make you want to.
It is difficult to overstate how easy the iPad is to use.
My 3 year old can take the iPad, turn it on, unlock it, page through the system to the folder he wants, select his app, do his puzzles, or whatever, then close that app, select YouTube, watch a cartoon, turn that off, then go find another game to play. I barely had to instruct him at all in its use, all he had to do was watch me use it, then play with it himself.
My family actually is “replacing” a computer with an iPad, because our home computer needs are mostly the things an iPad is quite good at, media consumption, little games and email.
There really aren’t that many choices to make. Color, amount of memory and 3G support.
The first is personal preference, the second depends on what you store on it - movies and thousands of pictures have the greatest effect, books, music and apps much less. 3G support depends on whether you want to use it on the go or as a navigation device - and pay the monthly tab for it. Don’t forget that lots of places have free wifi.
I got the 64Gb wireless only version. Now that I am addicted to it, I wish I had gotten the 3G version since I don’t leave home without it but am not always at a wifi hotspot when I absolutely positively need to check something on it.
I got the full blown 64GB with 3G in black. The best description I have heard is Mobile Internet Device (MID). It does not replace our desk top and lap top computers. They each have their use. I can surf the internet check email and as I’m doing now posting on the Dope. There are some great apps and games too.
This is the most succinct summary I’ve seen on the options and is accurate too! 
I use the 64gb version and it’s almost always full of TV shows and movies but I also used getting it as a reason to get rid of cable.
Right now I have
20 photos .02gb
102 apps 9.4gb (which includes several hundred books)
10 videos 10.2 gb (I delete as I watch, these are mostly 1hr tv shows)
I don’t keep music on my ipad, I use my phone for that.
Your answers were all helpful. I think I want to get built in wifi with 32gb. I really appreciate your responses.
The story of the three-year-old just knocks me out!
If you do a lot of typing (emails, etc), then you also need to consider that the iPad has an onscreen keyboard which isn’t that easy to use.
Although you can user a Bluetooth keyboard.
I’m typing on my iPad now; it’s one of the first generation that I bought after they announced the second generation, which meant it was a lot cheaper. Doesn’t have a camera, but I’m fine with that. it’s a 32gb one with 3G, prepaid; I just buy access when I need it, when I’m on the road.
it’s great for casual surfing and media consumption, but it’s not a replacement for a laptop. I’d hate to do much typing on it, for instance.
After a few weeks of loving the minimalist Apple cover I bought a cover with a built in bluetooth keyboard and although I only rarely use it, having it available when I need it is awesome.
That’s true of tablets in general. It’s possible to get external keyboards (probably easier to find at a reasonable price for an Android tablet than for an iPad), but if you expect to do enough typing to make that an issue you might be better off with a netbook.
Bah, ten minutes practice and you are typing as fast or faster than with a keyboard.
I agree. I use an iPad for work, and frequently type out emails or notes on it, and have gotten quite good at touch typing on it, around 30 wpm, when I type at around 35-40 wpm on a regular keyboard. The only thing that trips me up is that I frequently hit the bezel instead of the space key, which Is why i haven’t gotten any quicker.
I’d highly recommend using a typing tutor app to retrain yourself if you expect to a lot of text-heavy use. I use a free one called TypingTest, but there are a few others on the App store.
I’m glad you started this thread or I would have never noticed this feature of the IOS 5 upgrade.
I happened to glance at the stats after the upgrade and was surprised by the numbers so I came back to verify here.
20 photos .01gb
87 apps 7.5gb all the books are still there, I cleaned out some trial apps during the upgrade
17 videos 14 gb
In general the new OS seems to be more efficient.