I Pad vs. Computer

[Just Because]

I keep reading I Pad this and I Pad that.

What is the advantage of an IP vs a laptop? Guess that you can tell I'm not computer savvy.

[Tha_Rooster]

iPads which I am using now has no moving parts, small and easy to us. This will be one of those subjects like gas verse diesel. I suggest go to a store that sells both and figure out what your needs are with it.

[sdennislee]

The iPad is much lighter and smaller, so much easier to travel with.

I use it for work. I installed the Quick Office App for Word, Excel and Power Point. Quick office is a great editor but not a strong document creator. I also use DropBox to store my documents on the internet as the iPad storage at 64 gb is far less than the 500 gb on my laptop. I added Print N Share so I can wirelessly print from my iPad. I also have slim case for mine that has a built in keypad, easier for me to take notes in meetings. Battery life is longer on an iPad than most laptops.

With all the apps available for an iPad it is more versatile than a laptop. It boots up much quicker than a laptop so if you have Woodalls, Allsstays, etc... and want to find a CG close by you can be on the phone making reservations based on the iPad data before the average laptop boots up.

Doesn't get hot like a laptop so comfortable to leave in your lap.

Screen on the iPad is smaller than available on a laptop.

For use outside of work it's every bit as functional as my laptop. For business use it's tough to beat a laptop when entering complex equations in to Excel.

[Qwert66]

not promoting either one - just more to consider-

ipad may not work with flash imbedded sites.

ipad doesn't have a usb port for getting files in/out easily.

great otherwise.

newer tablet pc's will have the best of both worlds soon. apps may suffer with these though.

food for thought.

[rjf7g]

I have both and I use both...I see them as pocket knife vs steak knife. I can use my pocket knife to cut my steak, but I would rather use a steak knife. I could carry my steak knife with me, but I would rather carry my pocket knife. The only kicker is, the price tag on my iPad is more than any pocket knife I will ever own and the MacBook Pro costs much more than a steak knife!

[wa8yxm]

I Pad v//s a computer.. Well first the I-pad IS a computer. and Apple products are very capable and very fast going all the way back to the days when they first started using Motorola 6800 instead of Intel like IBM did.

Some folks like the no keyboard, no moving parts etc.. I like a genuine KB (The netbook I'm suing now is a pita however since it has the infernal glide pad, So i plugged in a genuine KB and mouse)

You can do that with an I-pad as well.

[450Donn]

Ipad like all Apple products restrict where you can get an app. DW has an Ipad and it is good for her. Personally I like the android platform better. But to answer the basic question. A tablet can do about 95% of what a computer can do. If all you want is basic email light web surfing then a tablet is perfect. If you are a power user then a tablet will not work well.

[sdennislee]

Apple doesn't restrict where you can get the apps, they only require the app to work with their operating system.

More than half my apps have come from places other than the Apple app store.

I installed the droid's spell check on my iPhone.

[450Donn]

By restrict I was referring to the fact that unless you have an unlocked Apple product you cannot install any apps that are not Apple approved. Try PDANet for example. Will not work except on an unlocked (jailbroken) Apple product. You do not have to have an unlocked android product for most apps to work correctly.

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450Donn By restrict I was referring to the fact that unless you have an unlocked Apple product you cannot install any apps that are not Apple approved. Try PDANet for example. Will not work except on an unlocked (jailbroken) Apple product. You do not have to have an unlocked android product for most apps to work correctly.

Wasn't aware of that. Guess I haven't run across any of those apps yet.

My iPhone is jailbroken, but haven't done it to iPad yet. Tempted to, there are a couple mouse programs out there for the iPad if you jailbreak it.

[smartguy]

You might find that you'll want both. The Ipad or tablet whichever you're using are great but I don't want to composes a long email on one nor do I want to read my hometown paper on it either. Its great as you can carry it around and it will do the same as a laptop and thats great when you're away from your rig.
Enjoy and Have a Happy New Year!!

[RaynMary]

I have both, but I use the ipad 95% of the time. It's convienent when traveling to use an app to check traffic, find a campground or a restaurant, etc. If I'm in a campground that only has wifi in the office, I can easily carry it there.
I still use my laptop to print and to store documents and photos. My laptop has way more storage than the ipad.

[Wayne M]

I'm waiting for iPad3. The rumors I have is that it will have an USB port. That would be great for hooking up an external drive and doing more with it.

DW has the "Original iPad," and really likes it. For her it's great. For me it's a toy.

You can view Flash programs on the iPad. There is an App and you just cut and paste the link into the app and it will display the flash site.

Personally, the iPad cannot take the place of a laptop yet. Maybe down the road a piece it may be able to, but right now I think it is limited in its applications. Great for what it does, but not good enough for what I do.

[DriVer]

Perhaps this is trivial but when I see "vs" or "versus" it's like chalk rubbing the wrong way on the blackboard.

The 1st definition I see is; Against. I just can't see pitting something against something else however I don't mind comparing the two items and looking for the advantages. I would rather be for something than against something else but that just me.

The question IPad vs Computer just doesn't compute IMHO. They are both different systems and each has it's own benefit and merit!