Dye Tied
Garden Variety Gnome
I soon need a new computer and would like people to weigh in on the pros and cons of desktop versus tablet.
ipad 1 or ipad 2?
- Thread starter lmor
- Start date
I soon need a new computer and would like people to weigh in on the pros and cons of desktop versus tablet.
bcp
In My Opinion
Only Apple would release 3 after 9.
You are not thinking outside the box.
Tilted
..
Yes. But, depending on her set-up, printing functionality might not be as straight-forward (to use and set-up) as she would like. If she has or buys an AirPrint compatible printer, it will be easy peasy. If not, set-up may take a little more effort and use may be a little less convenient.
I would say though that iPads (and I'll give other tablets the benefit of the doubt and assume the same is the case for them) are the kinds of things that rationalize themselves. You don't necessarily realize how much they'll mean to you or how many 'needs' they'll fill until you have one and live with it for a while.
Tilted
..
The iPad (or other tablet devices) is not a pure laptop replacement. In many ways, it is much more and much better. In some ways, however, it is inadequate for the job. The iPad isn't so much a computer, it's more an all-purpose media / creative potential interaction portal (though more and more vertical industries and industry in general are finding ways to use it as an efficient and/or transformative enterprise tool).
There are definitely some things (e.g. heavy word processing) for which you'd find a tablet to be a poor substitute for a laptop. On the other hand, a tablet is superior (far, in my experience) to a laptop when it comes to many of the things that a lot of people primarily use their laptops for. The internet browsing experience is much better with a tablet in my opinion. Reading content (i.e. magazines, books) is easier and better. Playing games, watching movies, listening to music - all appreciably better and fuller experiences with a tablet. Tablets also open up creative potential in ways that laptops simply cannot - creating music (e.g. with garage band) and visual art is possible now, even for the novice - it's right there at your fingertips.
It's hard to explain the enormous real potential of these devices - as the devices themselves are, sensing that potential is experiential. They are much more interactive and convenient devices. I can't recall opening my laptop since I got my iPad (I may have once or twice, but at this point I don't remember doing so). Then again, I never used it for some of the work type things others surely use their laptops for.
Whether or not a tablet would work as a laptop replacement depends heavily on the needs and uses of the person in question. I definitely would not generically recommend an iPad (or other tablet device) to someone as a laptop replacement. If you do a lot of word processing or have some other specific work related needs for a laptop, a tablet may be a horrible fit for you. For me, and I'm sure many others, a desktop (or two) for when I (they) need to do certain kinds of things and an iPad/tablet (or two
) for everything else, and for mobility and convenience, fill out my (their) needs and wants. A laptop is a completely unneeded and redundant device.
Chasey_Lane
Salt Life
We love our laptops. They're much more functional, and you can take them anywhere. If you have the money to splurge, I definitely suggest a MAC. It takes a while to get used to the interface, but it's soooo awesome and FAST! I cannot believe we've been purchasing Dells -- what a waste!!!
Dye Tied
Garden Variety Gnome
The iPad (or other tablet devices) is not a pure laptop replacement. In many ways, it is much more and much better. In some ways, however, it is inadequate for the job. The iPad isn't so much a computer, it's more an all-purpose media / creative potential interaction portal (though more and more vertical industries and industry in general are finding ways to use it as an efficient and/or transformative enterprise tool).
There are definitely some things (e.g. heavy word processing) for which you'd find a tablet to be a poor substitute for a laptop. On the other hand, a tablet is superior (far, in my experience) to a laptop when it comes to many of the things that a lot of people primarily use their laptops for. The internet browsing experience is much better with a tablet in my opinion. Reading content (i.e. magazines, books) is easier and better. Playing games, watching movies, listening to music - all appreciably better and fuller experiences with a tablet. Tablets also open up creative potential in ways that laptops simply cannot - creating music (e.g. with garage band) and visual art is possible now, even for the novice - it's right there at your fingertips.
It's hard to explain the enormous real potential of these devices - as the devices themselves are, sensing that potential is experiential. They are much more interactive and convenient devices. I can't recall opening my laptop since I got my iPad (I may have once or twice, but at this point I don't remember doing so). Then again, I never used it for some of the work type things others surely use their laptops for.
Whether or not a tablet would work as a laptop replacement depends heavily on the needs and uses of the person in question. I definitely would not generically recommend an iPad (or other tablet device) to someone as a laptop replacement. If you do a lot of word processing or have some other specific work related needs for a laptop, a tablet may be a horrible fit for you. For me, and I'm sure many others, a desktop (or two) for when I (they) need to do certain kinds of things and an iPad/tablet (or two
Thank you for the info. I have my work laptop that does all the heavy duty Power Point and Word projects I need.
At home I browse, play games, social media and collect music and do no work on my desktop so I think a tablet could work. I occasionally print boarding passes and pictures to a wireless printer.
I also think you have some weird electronics addiction
Tilted
..
Thank you for the info. I have my work laptop that does all the heavy duty Power Point and Word projects I need.
At home I browse, play games, social media and collect music and do no work on my desktop so I think a tablet could work. I occasionally print boarding passes and pictures to a wireless printer.
I also think you have some weird electronics addiction
It only recently developed when I got my iPad. Before that, I was mostly a non-tech-device person. I didn't even have a 'smart phone' until about a month ago - my phone was 3 decades old and it barely knew how to send text messages. I've just found that I'm able to do so much with my iPad, and I'm so much more willing to start things (e.g. reading a book, watching a movie, playing a game, blundering some art project) because I don't feel like doing so is a time/place commitment - the mobility and convenience is, for me at least, transformative, and the added opportunity equity is close to being invaluable.
jrt_ms1995
Well-Known Member
ylexot
Super Genius
On Android, you can print to the cloud...
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.pauloslf.cloudprint&feature=search_result
I always do the same thing with technology because I'm a cheapskate, I just wait for the next generation to come out so I can buy the older generation at a steep discount.
Same goes for the iPad 2 (which people are calling the iPad 1.5 because of the lack of additional features or iterations), as soon as the iPad 2 comes out I'm getting the iPad 1st version.
Looking forward to Angry Birds on the iPad!!
Same goes for the iPad 2 (which people are calling the iPad 1.5 because of the lack of additional features or iterations), as soon as the iPad 2 comes out I'm getting the iPad 1st version.
Looking forward to Angry Birds on the iPad!!
Tilted
..
My iPad 2 arrived yesterday, which wasn't the best possible timing as my desktop had essentially crashed the day before and I was still (and still am) in the process of recovering data and putting it where it needs to be on my new desktop. I was pretty excited to see it nonetheless and I had already managed to get my new iTunes library up to speed so that I could sync it when it arrived.
It is not just a slight improvement over the original. It is a major improvement, and other than the addition of cameras, I hadn't thought there was much room to improve the original. It is appreciably faster, even though I hadn't previously sensed that my old one was at all slow. It seems to load web pages faster than my desktop does now. In addition, it is much thinner and lighter. It's more comfortable in the hands and is easier to hold for long periods of time. It feels as close to not being there as I can imagine is possible (though I'm sure that will eventually turn out not to be true also).
FaceTime is incredibly cool and easy to use - so much so that I find myself trying to think of excuses to call people (though I'm not big on talking on the phone). And the cover is beyond cool - nothing short of ingenious. I just have to get in the habit of laying it down face down so that the back doesn't get scratched too bad - it's left exposed.
Perhaps the best thing: I was able to switch the SIM card from my old iPad to my new iPad 2 so that I can keep my $30/month unlimited data service plan from AT&T. And, both devices are linked to my iTunes account, so the new owner/borrower of my old iPad will have for free all of the apps and content (e.g. iBooks or Kindle books) that I've bought or will buy for my new iPad. I must admit to being a little surprised that Apple essentially allows people to have 5 copies of purchased apps and content on 5 different devices with only a single purchase (as I think, e.g. Amazon, does as well).
It is not just a slight improvement over the original. It is a major improvement, and other than the addition of cameras, I hadn't thought there was much room to improve the original. It is appreciably faster, even though I hadn't previously sensed that my old one was at all slow. It seems to load web pages faster than my desktop does now. In addition, it is much thinner and lighter. It's more comfortable in the hands and is easier to hold for long periods of time. It feels as close to not being there as I can imagine is possible (though I'm sure that will eventually turn out not to be true also).
FaceTime is incredibly cool and easy to use - so much so that I find myself trying to think of excuses to call people (though I'm not big on talking on the phone). And the cover is beyond cool - nothing short of ingenious. I just have to get in the habit of laying it down face down so that the back doesn't get scratched too bad - it's left exposed.
Perhaps the best thing: I was able to switch the SIM card from my old iPad to my new iPad 2 so that I can keep my $30/month unlimited data service plan from AT&T. And, both devices are linked to my iTunes account, so the new owner/borrower of my old iPad will have for free all of the apps and content (e.g. iBooks or Kindle books) that I've bought or will buy for my new iPad. I must admit to being a little surprised that Apple essentially allows people to have 5 copies of purchased apps and content on 5 different devices with only a single purchase (as I think, e.g. Amazon, does as well).
Tilted
..
Obviously, you can work with/through the cloud from iPads as well.
Tilted
..
I can't speak about the Zoom (though I suspect it's much the same), but the iPad is not ideal for heavy wordprocessing. I use it to type quite often - and it gets the job done, especially if you use the case to have it at a slight angle - but if I'm typing something really long, I prefer to use a regular keyboard attached to a desktop. I would think using a bluetooth keyboard would make typing to a tablet much the same as typing to a desktop or laptop, but then you have the inconvenience of carrying the keyboard around.
I have found that I'm able to use the convential typing technique on the iPad (whatever it's called) rather than hunting and pecking like I do with my iPhone. So, it isn't too bad, it just isn't ideal if you have a lot to type. And, the iPad (and I'd assume the Zoom) auto corrects for spelling if you want it to. Sometimes the auto correction can yield unwanted results, but the software does learn the non-convential spellings that you use (i.e. so that it doesn't keep auto correcting them).
ylexot
Super Genius
Tilted
..
Well...except for syncing apps
I don't follow.
But, I will say that I've found that a lot of non-iPad/iPhone users are misinformed with regard to what they think iPads/iPhones can't do. I don't know if there's been an organic (or even coordinated I suppose, though I've no real reason to believe) misinformation campaign, or what. But, I often hear things like 'Oh, I thought you couldn't do that on an iPhone/iPad?' 'Really, why would you think that.' 'It's just what I read/heard.'
As to using the cloud - I can't speak in specific to how it is able or unable to be used from i0S devices, because I have no need to use it (and I'm still not comfortable with the basic idea of it). However, I've heard numerous enterprise anaylsts speak to how well suited the iPad is for enterprise use and how capable it is in that regard (including, as through the cloud). The more closed Apple app system draws criticism on principle (some of it perhaps deserved), but enterprise customers are finding it advantageous (when compared to the more open Android system) from a security standpoint. If Android hopes to make major inroads into RIM's share of that market, it may have to rethink its wide open approach/concept. It has become a point of concern for would-be enterprise customers.
Speculation is that using the cloud, or adapting its own aspect there of, will be the (or one of the) next big push(es) for Apple.
ylexot
Super Genius
Aren't apps handled through iTunes which requires a cable connection to sync? If it is a misinformation campaign, then Engadget and Gizmodo are involved.
Tilted
..
As I indicated, the misinformed comment was a general one - not with regard to syncing over the cloud, as I don't use the cloud so can't address specific functionality there.
As to how apps are handled, I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to. You buy/acquire them through the Apps Store, either on one of your devices or through iTunes on your PC/Mac. Any device can acquire them (or content, e.g. iBooks or Kindle books) on its own, without needing to be connected to iTunes on a PC/Mac. I go long stretches of time without ever connecting my iPad to my PC, I just don't have much need to. When I do, it's either to do a full backup of all the settings/data on my iPad, or to load music that I've recently ripped off of CDs.
And, no, you don't have to use a cable to transfer files - there are all kinds of apps (some free) that allow you to wirelessly move stuff around.
Again, I'm not sure what operations in specific you are referring to, so I can't address them in specific - if you are a little more specific, I'll try to answer whether or not you can do whatever it is (though much of what you can do I'm probably not even aware of because I've never needed to figure it out). As for me, I've not had issues not being able to do things I've wanted to do. I've found the opposite to be more so true - I've discovered that I could do things I hadn't considered that I might be able to.
Tilted
..
You're welcome.
When I say heavy word processing, I mean to refer to a lot of typing in general. I wouldn't mind typing any of the posts I've made in this thread on my iPad, but I'd much prefer to type some of my longer posts on a desktop keyboard - especially if I feel the need to do any significant post-typing editing.
The on-screen keyboard is considerably smaller than a traditional keyboard, but at the same time it is much more usable (in landscape mood) than what you'd find on a Blackberry or touch screen smart phone.
