<p>Love my ipad. Im not sure I could use it for work though. My only problem is that you can’t have 2 windows open and visible simultaneously. Like a browser and a spreadsheet, for example. For business, I need the full multi-tasking ability to have multiple windows visible simultaneously. </p>
<p>That said, for email, twitter, web browsing, gaming, news/weather, etc. the apps can not be beat!</p>
<p>Scanned through this thread. Love my iPad2. I use Dropbox to load files on my iPad2 that I might need. Cloud computing is not perfect, but I don’t spend much time worrying about hacking and such. I also pay my bills online and purchase online. It seems to me security online is similar to IRL - if someone wants something, they WILL get it. You have to use precautions to deter the ding-dongs out there.</p>
<p>DH uses the little wireless keyboard. He LOVES his iPad. The other day he went to sit on the sofa and almost sat on it. I heard him say, “Sorry, buddy.”</p>
<p>SORRY BUDDY???</p>
<p>May keep pondering this–also don’t like the touchscreen keyboard, but it IS convenient. Kept mistyping what I was trying to write & had a hard time switching the keyboard language back to English (someone put it on Spanish & caligraphy). The wireless keyboard might be an option to also think of.</p>
<p>For the trip, may just try the netbook & see how that works for me. Am glad to have the option to return w/o any penalty–yeah Costco.</p>
<p>I have an HP netbook and absolutely HATE it. I bought it last year before a trip. It was okay on the trip but I find it is hard for me to read the screen. Plus I find it to be slow. I also bought it at Costco and should have returned it.
About 8 months ago I got an IPhone. I prefer using the Iphone while traveling over the netbook.
D’s laptop died this week and she has been using mine. I pulled out the HP netbook to use but I was reminded of how much I dislike it.
At first I disliked the touchscreen but you do get used to it. I would consider getting an IPAD2. I don’t need one but it would be fun.</p>
<p>What did you HATE about your netbook? The guy at Costco warned me that the connection is slow in the Acer I bought yesterday, but it is light and it was available, unlike the ipad2, which will likely NOT be available until after I get back from my trip, even if I ordered today. Also, if I HATE it, I guess I could resell it on eBay or something, otherwise, I’m stuck with it (nothing like Costco’s 90-days no Qs asked return policy).</p>
<p>Thanks for these additional thoughts.</p>
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<p>Really? I downloaded ALL of my apps directly ON to my IPad. I eventually did sync it to my netbook…but I had no trouble at all going directly to the app store on my IPad and downloading the apps directly to the IPad.</p>
<p>HIMom - I’m typing on an Acer Aspire net book that I’ve had for over 4 years. It works great. No issues with the connection.</p>
<p>Yea, the Acer I bought from Costco is finally out of the box & feels fine to type with. Need to have H make sure I put the battery in correctly & help me connect to the internet, but otherwise, it seems OK. It does run considerably hotter than the ipad & similar tablets, but not as hot as the laptop, so that’s a compromise.</p>
<p>I’m very glad that it’s easier to do touchtyping on it than the ipad. I am a touchtypist & can even type decently when it’s pretty dark, but NOT if it’s on a touchscreen where you can’t even feel where one key ends & the next begins. I think this is one of D’s major issues with the ipad as well. Both of us are pretty fast touch typists but VERY slow if we have to stare at the keys & what is going on the screen. Even when I stared at the screen & tried to be as accurate as possible, I had a tough time today using the sample ipads at the store. They keys are too sensitive & not sensitive enough for my typing.</p>
<p>Spoke with a secretary & clerk at Walmart & they also have challenges trying to type on the ipad. It is a cool gadget & the secretary was happy to get it free as a doorprize, but hasn’t found it as useful as she had imagined it would be.</p>
<p>An iPad and a small computer are simply not comparable devices. They barely serve the same function. Again- it really depends what you want. If you want something to do spreadsheets and type memos on while you travel, the iPad is not for you. If you want an absolutely fun device that is multi-purpose and can also serve as a great email/web surfing tool with lots of cool apps, then go with iPad.</p>
<p>The Acer isn’t going to help you find a good place to eat in the airport, give you GPS, let you read a book, find the cheapest gas for you, follow your ebay bids, let you immediately check the latest sports scores and turn on instantly with no annoying boot up.</p>
<p>She can do all of those things on her netbook once she has it connected to the internet…</p>
<p>I think people who don’t have iPhone/iPad really underestimate the apps that are available. You can NOT do those things on a regular computer with the ease and functionality of all the Apple apps. I’ve done both. Trust me on this one.</p>
<p>OK–thanks for these thoughts. Will have to think more about whether to acquire an ipad down the road, when we are back from the trip & it is more readily available. Generally, when I am home, I have ready access to my computer & when I’m out & about, I don’t but generally don’t need it much.</p>
<p>My friend who has an iphone swears by her iphone. I’m not sure I want to make the $70/month investment in one, but will have to give it more thought. It does fascinate me that everyone who has an ipad1 wants to add an ipad2 to their collection, which is a great sign to me that they’re quite happy with the device.</p>
<p>So much to think about! Dad is still learning to use is iphone but so far is pretty happy with it.</p>
<p>I agree with MomofWildChild- When I am in an unfamilar airport it is so easy to open up my GateGuru app and find out what food choices are available in each terminal and at what gate. With the netbook I have to get it out, turn it on, find a Wifi to connect. With my Iphone I do it while I am walking.
When I travel it is for pleasure, and for those needs an Iphone or hopefully in the future an Ipad are all I need. Easier and quicker to use. If I needed more I would just take my laptop.
I don’t like the heat of the netbook, I don’t like the slowness and I find it hard on my eyes. Granted before having the Iphone I used the netbook for traveling to get my email and to do some web surfing. The size is the biggest pro of the netbook. I thought I would use it in my kitchen at home but I find it easier on my eyes to just move the laptop downstairs if I need to read a recipe.</p>
<p>Well the good thing about iphone & ipad1 is that for now, those are unlimited web access, while for the ipad2, you have to pay for usage & figure out how much you plan to use. You can also pay by how much you plan to use.</p>
<p>^^That raises a good question. How much data usage do you IPad fans need? I’ve been thinking about getting an IPad2 with just wifi since the data plans seem to be very expensive for limited capacity each month. I have a 3G DROID smartphone on an unlimited data plan for 29.95/month. Can the phone be used to make an internet connection thereby obviating the need for the wireless version of the IPad or the cost of the data plan if I were to get the wireless version?</p>
<p>That’s a good question. Is the $29.95 is just for the data portion of your plan? How much is the voice/text portion? I’m not starting to explore smart phone/data/voice options as my plan is expiring in August and I’m not sure what I want next. Am leaning toward pre-paid since don’t talk all that much.</p>
<p>I grandfathered in so my $30 a month (iPhone) is voice and data. My law partners who have 3G on iPad (I just got wifi since I have iPhone also) find that they don’t need a heavy data plan. You just have to make sure you go ahead and get on wifi whenever it’s available.</p>
<p>My DH ordered an Ipad2 for my b’day and it should arrive tomorrow!! I have been reading up on the apps and such. I plan to use it a LOT for work…garage band instruments, music notation apps, music stand, etc. There is even an app so I can use it to control the computer that runs our A/V stuff during services…remotely. Cool.</p>
<p>Can you tell I love gadgets?? :)</p>
<p>I owned an ipod touch for a few months… lost it somewhere… I don’t know if it fell out of my pocket or what. Last time I saw it was at my parents house over a year ago. I had a few apps on it but wasn’t really crazy for it - didn’t bother to replace it after it went missing. I’m eligible for a new verizon phone in September and not quite sure what I’ll be getting… I’m grandfathered in my plan with them which I love, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be compatible with a lot of their new phones… so I may wind up having to change my plan if i get a fancy new one. Apparently they don’t like putting the fancy phones on the 450 minute unlimited data unlimited text for 55 dollars a month plan… which means I probably will be limited in picking a new phone unless i change my plan. if i changed to a new plan that did the same thing as what i have right now it would be the 47 dollar plan plus 30 dollars for an unlimited data… 77 dollars for the same thing i have already. bogus.</p>