ipad for simple living?

[oceanfamily]

Looking into buying our first ipad but I told my hubby that I'd get on here and ask you folks what you use your pad for and do you regret getting one? Are there apps out there for simple living? We are scrutinizing every purchase and besides using it for maybe a couple movies and a couple other apps, I'm really not sure if we "need" one. Your input is greatly appreciated as always:)

[ctg492]

For me:
Simple, quick,easy, portable are the top pros. Have MacBook already, do I need the pros listed, toy, are the cons.

[herbgeek]

Ipads to me are overpriced, both the device itself as well as the monthly data plans for 3G/4G - but I do love the apple user experience with my itouch! I also have small hands and 10" tablets are just bulky and heavy for me to handle. I have the 7" tablet on order that Google just announced- I think it will be arriving next week so I can let you know. I like the "Kindle" size form factor, its easy for me to hold one handed, but I didn't want to buy a Kindle as a single purpose device. I will most likely use it as an ereader and web browser, as well as for Netflix. Some expected use for creating documents and the like, I can do this on my itouch but the screen is really too small to be of much use for "real" work. I do regularly use my itouch when traveling to check mail, get restaurant reviews, use google maps, read books, and expected I'll use my new tablet in the same way, and also be able to do more with it due to the larger screen.

I've been holding off on getting a tablet to 1) watch the prices come down and 2) get the 7" screen I'm looking for. The google tablet is 200 for the 8gb version, and 250 for the 16gb version. What you don't get that you would with the ipad is a back facing camera, the higher resolution of the screen, and phone connectivity (wifi only). These are not deal busters for me as I have a camera on my phone, as well as an actual camera with me most of the time, and I don't want to pay for phone connectivity anyways. So I'll be paying 1/2 the price for a comparable machine (the entry level ipad is 16gb). Apple is rumored to be coming out with a smaller and cheaper version in the fall as well, and Microsoft announced their entrance in to this market as well (but no release dates).

[Stella]

I love our iPad. We have one without the data package because we always use it at home. We use it a lot for homeschool. I can't think of any SL type apps that we have in particular. Most of ours are educational and there are some spectacular education apps out there.

[freein05]

I have been using the one I got for my birthday about a month now. I like it but it does not replace my lap top. I use it for web surfing, email. What I really like is it loads so fast. You open the cover and it is ready to go. The battery life is great. There are thousands of apps for it. It is my first apple product and apple tries to tie you to their products.

[SteveinMN]

When my wife's MacBook died (of multiple causes, including old age), we replaced it with an iPad. For her, it's about the perfect replacement. She likes the size, the portability, and the battery life. The downsides are the built-in screen keyboard (not optimal for typing long pieces; you can buy external keyboards for it, but then you're keeping track of two things) and the iPad does not play Flash software (so some Web sites don't load because lazy Web developers assume we all have big computers to throw at their Web site. No huge loss; Flash is a very inefficient way to package applications and will die in the next few years anyway. Apple is just close to the "bleeding edge" of technology on this one). (Ob Frugal:) We bought the 64 GB Wi-Fi version; Wi-Fi is prevalent enough now that we don't often miss having 3G/4G connectivity and we didn't want the on-going charges; it also allowed us to buy this iPad (a trade-in from someone who had to have an iPad 2 :~)) rather cheaply. FWIW, 64 GB has been more than enough to store about 4,000 pictures and several albums worth of MP3s with lots of room to spare but since it's not possible to just add memory to an iPad (any tablet, really; this is no knock on Apple), it's reasonable to buy more memory than you think you'll need.

I don't know how many simple-living apps there might be, but there are almost a quarter-million apps for the iPad (and even more for the iPhone and iPod Touch, almost all of which will run on the iPad), so I have to think that there are some connected to living simply. Certainly this Web site and others would be readily accessible.

A tip: it is possible to buy iPads refurbished at Apple's on-line store. I have bought nothing but refurb Apple products for years and about the only difference I've seen is that they come in a different-colored box. Nothing has looked used, everything came with the same warranty as new products, and everything has worked just fine. It's a good way to save $$ on an Apple purchase. We bought the iPad locally at a store that has sold Apple for decades; the iPad we bought still had several months of AppleCare left on it and the price was competitive with on-line.

[redfox]

I love my iPad. I have been traveling for work, and it is invaluable. I use it as a GPS & my work computer for emails & notetaking on the road. I download books on it, which are cheaper than print. I have a great cooking app I use in the kitchen. I stream music on it, watch movies on it, and I have a white noise app which I use at my bedside to help me sleep. It's pretty much my constant companion.

I pay $15 a month for data, and every once in awhile on a trip I need to buy more. It finds Wifi when it's available. It's been worth the price!

[jp1]

I love my iPhone's ability to act as a carry-around stand-in for my computer when I'm traveling, either for work or pleasure, but wish it were bigger, so I'd probably LOVE an ipad. But I don't think I'd like the ipad as a replacement for my real computer and its 22 inch screen. So, I can't really justify the cost of another gadget for such a relatively modest improvement over what I currently have. Even though I'd probably use it for additional things like storing the recipes that are currently all in printouts in a basket in the kitchen. But again, my basket of recipes is already perfectly functional, so the increased elegance of the ipad would be nice, but not worth the money.

[Tussiemussies]

Do really love our iPad as it allows me access to thing I normally read on the computer elsewhere. There is also a Kindle app. for it too. We are going to purchase equipment that will make it mobile so I can use it on long trips etc.

The only thing about it is that even though the keys are bigger I still find typos in everything I am typing out...

[AmeliaJane]

For me, the iPad is a truly portable computer. Laptops, even the netbooks and ultrathin ones, have always been too heavy or large for me to carry or use on a regular basis. The iPad is always in my purse.

Things I use it for that are better than a desktop:
--watching video. I cannot tell you how much I love being able to download a movie or some television shows and watch it on an airplane trip. You can also watch from services like Hulu and Netflix if you are connected up to wi-fi or data.
--reading ebooks. The ease of downloading for reading books borrowed from a library is much better than on my Nook e-reader (yes, I have both). When I am traveling, in particular, I love being able to take a lot of different books. They are also starting to do some amazing things with ebooks that print books cannot do (music, video, zoomable photos). If you get the iPad, check out the New York Library's Biblion apps.
--accessing the Internet anywhere in my apartment, or other places w. wifi--for instance if I am watching a movie, and I see a preview that makes me want to rent a movie, I can easily put it in my Netflix queue
--playing games with my preschool nieces and nephews. They can manipulate the iPad although a mouse and keyboard are still too difficult for them
--playing Scrabble with distant friends and doing the NY Times crossword--the tablet is perfect for these two functions
--giving presentations at work and marking up PDF documents in a way that can be emailed
--getting recipes for cooking

Things I do on my iPad that are handy but no more so than on a desktop:
--checking email
--online banking and shopping
--writing grocery and to-do lists--I have an app that syncs across my iPhone and iPad which is nice because I don't like typing on the phone, but I like having a list on the phone
--checking facebook
--using Google Reader to check blogs
--playing some kinds of games

Things I still prefer to do on my desktop:
--writing long documents or preparing spreadsheets or Powerpoint presentations
--certain websites just work better on my desktop (that may be the Safari browser--Chrome is now available which I have not used much yet)
--playing games wtih really detailed graphics
--anything involving Flash (I love escape-the-room puzzle games, which are almost all in Flash)
--making movie reservations--I can print tickets from my desktop, but not the iPad

I think it just really depends on what you are going to do with it. My sister-in-law and I both have iPads you would have to rip from our cold, dead hands but my brother gave his to SIL when she wore out hers and hasn't missed it...but he uses his iPhone so often for his business, he prefers to put the money into upgrading it fairly often. He is thinking about a smaller iPad if they come out. Most of what I like an iPad for, I prefer the bigger screen for, but I will be interested to see the smaller ones as I do find a full-size tablet a bit heavy for one hand.

[IshbelRobertson]

My sister was visiting from Australia and bought me an Ipad to quote replace your kindle unquote. She even copied all the books from my kindle to the ipad - but, I have to say, I still prefer to read on my kindle. She also bought me a keyboard for the Ipad, which I haven't yet used! It'll be great to take on holiday to places where I don't have access to the 'net, though.

PS, I'm typing this on the laptop PC we've had for a while.

[redfox]

I saw a Kickstarter vid for a device called Brydge, which I am definitely buying when it comes out. It basically converts an ipad into a small laptop.
http://thebrydge.com/

[cjones]

If you don't have a computer, and iPad is a less expensive and more portable option.

If you do have a computer, I see the iPad as something you can definitely live without. I've had an iPad for over 2 years now and almost never use it. Occasionally I'll watch a streaming video on it.

If you like to read, then a Nook or a Kindle would be cheaper, easier on the eyes, and lighter and smaller. I think the Tech world is very skilled in creating needs.

[herbgeek]

My laptop cost me $300 at Best Buy, but an entry level ipad without phone connectivity costs $500, and can't do as much as easily (like for "real work" doing documents and spreadsheets). The frugal Yankee in me refuses to pay more for something that does less, even though I know its the toy the Cool Kids use. But I probably wouldn't be here on this board if I were overly concerned with what the Cool Kids do. :laff:

[SteveinMN]

My laptop cost me $300 at Best Buy, but an entry level ipad without phone connectivity costs $500, and can't do as much as easily (like for "real work" doing documents and spreadsheets). The frugal Yankee in me refuses to pay more for something that does less
Folks have been commenting about the price of Apple products since the first Apple was introduced. Apple products are more expensive partially because the "cool kids" demand is there and partially because you get more. In the case of the iPad compared to your laptop, you are getting a much higher resolution screen on the iPad (and a superior and more expensive technology -- IPS -- behind it). Your laptop will not change the orientation of the screen to match an image or book being viewed -- it either will squish or stretch the image, making it harder to see. The iPad is much faster than the one in your laptop. The battery lasts much longer. The iPad is one-third to one-fifth of the weight of the laptop. Apps for your laptop are not vetted for malware or the ability to coexist with other applications on your computer the way they are through the Apple App Store. Apple offers international support for their products, which the generic Windows clone manufacturers (even some surprisingly big ones) do not.

If an iPad does not do what you need it to do, then, yes, it's kind of a toy. But just as GM can sell Cadillacs and Chevys and Safeway can sell small-roaster coffee and Folgers, if the differences are of value to you and you can afford it, then buying Apple makes sense. If the extras Apple provides don't matter to you, then it's smart not to pay more.