<p>Thanks to eveyone who posted! I’ve been having this same debate with myself over whether to get an iPad . . . . .and all your info helped me decide. Think I know what I may be getting for Christmas :)</p>
<p>Decided to get the wifi w/ 3G. Probably will not need to use 3G often. But when I do want it, it will be an option. I went with it because the 3G was not a contract but on an as need basis. And I want to have the option.</p>
<p>Bought the same ipad for my H.</p>
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<p>I think that it was a wise decision. Contrary to almost everyone who has posted on this thread, I am NOT a big fan of the iPad. But, you should know that it is because I measure it by its usefulness for anything else than wasting time. While I admire the technology, the iPad is a glorified smartphone without … phone capabilities. </p>
<p>Yes, you will read articles and books on the iPad. Yes, you will be able to play some games. Probably run a few dedicated applications. Surfing the web? Yes it works but with several limitations such as the absence of Flash and the smallish memory that will cause the iPad to drop the connection and kick you to the main page. Many sites that use frames will simply not work. </p>
<p>In addition, certain things that you’d expect to do better than other devices will be lacking. Examples? Managing photos is a complete disaster. As I wrote before, I still do not understand how anyone finds surfing THIS site enjoyable on a iPad, unless limited to reading or lurking. Copying and pasting is a chore.</p>
<p>I give the iPad an occasional “chance” but the reality is that it sits idle most of the time between the kitchen and the living room. Oh yes, it works pretty well as a TV guide! :)</p>
<p>I asked D2 if she would like an iPad for Xmas today, she wasn’t jumping up and down for it. Apple was having 50 off on iPad today, but I didn’t get one. </p>
<p>Cut and paste is not easy on iPad. Scrolling is much better now, but not having flash is difficult on some sites. </p>
<p>I don’t use iPad at home. I mostly use it when I am traveling because it is lighter. I download magazine on iPad instead of buying a hard copy (I am going green).</p>
<p>Xiggi, there is so much misinformation in your post that I don’t even know where to start. Browsing is great. Frames are not a problem. You don’t get kicked back to a main page. Yes there is no flash but it is not an issue for me. And Adobe just killed mobile flash anyway.</p>
<p>Since I’ve gotten an iPad my PC is gathering dust. I only use it for Quicken.</p>
<p>DS has both iPad and Macbook Pro. For some reason, he used Macbook Pro almost exclusively. I believe most of “handouts” from professors are on computer rather than on paper.</p>
<p>He also said, in general, it is much easier to transfer his courseware (or some non-Apple stuff, maybe Google calendar also?) from Macbook to iPad, rather than the other way around. This is one of the reasons why he uses Macbook much more than iPad. (I heard many of his classmates do the same.) It likely has something to do with the fact that most of these tablets, including iPad, are not as compatible with the “old world of computers” as the true computer like Macbook yet.</p>
<p>FYI- apple has them on sale today for $50 off. Get it now!</p>
<p>“Xiggi, there is so much misinformation in your post that I don’t even know where to start. Browsing is great. Frames are not a problem. You don’t get kicked back to a main page. Yes there is no flash but it is not an issue for me. And Adobe just killed mobile flash anyway.”</p>
<p>Misinformation? Do you happen to know more about my own experience than … myself? That is so typical from the ranks of people who cannot stand any reasonable critic of the iPad. Fwiw, I just tried to book two tickets on Southwest. I am on a very fast internet pipe and the experience was agonizing. I got booted off the site THREE times and finally gave up. </p>
<p>Feel free to post your own experience, but do not be so quick to label the experience of others as misinformative. I have no ulterior motives in describing the weaknesses of the iPad. Actually, I wished I could like it more than I do and wished it was more like the fanboys describe it.</p>
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>PS The coments are based on a first generation IPad 3g and a newer iPad2 wifi.</p>
<p><a href=“https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3378553?start=0&tstart=0[/url]”>Safari constantly crashes on IOS 5 for ip… - Apple Community;
<p><a href=“https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2460899?start=135&tstart=0[/url]”>iPad Safari crashing regularly - Apple Community;
<p>Although it is nice to have exposure to the new gadgets like smartphones or tablets, I always try to persuade my family members (if they are still willing to follow my advices) to keep their old/established computer systems (MacOS and Windows) alive, especially when they are not interested in “wasting” too much of their precious time on messing with the computers. (that is, their interest is not in this area.)</p>
<p>The reason: You never know whether someday some professor may ask you to run some applications that only work on that “non-sexy” operating system. Some companies are just not willing to support their applications on these new systems unless they have to or it could help bring in money without too much investment. Many research labs may still use some applications written in an old computer language like FORTRAN. I doubt they will have resources to port their code to the new platform even if all tools are readily developed by the operating system vendors (Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Linux community?)</p>
<p>I have to say that I rarely had Safari crash on me, but we never upgraded to OS5 with iPad I. My iPad II has been very stable. I am on the Continenal website quite a bit. D1 did upgrade her old iPhone 3 to OS5 and it completely destroyed her phone, whereas D2 didn’t have any problem with 3S upgrade to OS5.</p>
<p>I have had an Ipad2 (wifi only) since last April and I LOVE it! I use it in conjunction with my macbook pro…</p>
<p>One delightfully unexpected use has come about because of the fact that I began weight watchers a few months ago. Weight Watchers online together with WeighWatchers Kitchen companion has actually made grocery shopping fun for me. With the Kitchen companion app, you can browse recipes and add them to a “favorites” list. From there you can select recipes and add them to a shopping list…which is created for you on the iPad. You can also add recipes to favorites using any other computer from the weight watchers online site, and they are sync’d automatically. </p>
<p>I must also say that my iPad is a huge favorite of my 2 year old grandson. It’s amazing to watch him use it to play games, “read” books, match letters to spell words, etc. </p>
<p>Another rather interesting and fun use is for an app called “music stand” (for singing in a praise band) and one that allows me to use the iPad as a remote control device for our church’s audio/visual system (through the program ProPresenter). </p>
<p>Can you tell I am a geek?? :)</p>
<p>I think some people who don’t appreciate Ipads aren’t technically savvy.</p>
<p>^^ :rolleyes:</p>
<p>So I gave in yesterday - got it fully loaded with 3G. With discount and 12 months interest free payments it was finally OK. So many friends are using them for business successfully I decided to join them. It shoudl be here by Friday. churchmusicmom, when it gets here I’ll have to explore the Weight Watcher’s app.</p>
<p>Talking abut music, is there any difference between Garage Band on iPad and that on Macbook Pro? We have an Apogee Duet (the “silver”/first version, not the “black”/second version.) It is hooked up to our Mac mini now. I wonder whether it works on Lion on MacBook Pro or iOS 5 on iPad. Basically, I do not know whether Apogee still supports the driver for the “old” Apogee Duet on the “new” OSes from Apple, or they would force the user to buy a new version of Apogee Duet.</p>
<p>DS got a keyboard during Thanksgiving. I wonder whether he would hook it up to his iPad 2 3G (He is not on contract for his iPad. Actually he does not have a smartphone either.) or to his Macbook Pro when he got to the school. (He did not acquire iPad 2 by himself or by us. He got it from his school “free of charge”. Otherwise, he likely would not buy it. One computer is good enough for him.)</p>
<p>He said having computes andall these new gadgets in the dorm room is really a distraction for his study. When he eventually gets a smartphone (he can not postpone it forever), it will be an even greater distractor.</p>
<p>“I think some people who don’t appreciate Ipads aren’t technically savvy.”</p>
<p>It is obvious that Ipads were designed wiith the technically savvy in mind. The Ipad and your big screen TV or your toaster.</p>
<p>The IPad is designed for those who are NOT technically savvy. </p>
<p>Different strokes for different folks. I thought I wanted an IPhone but really, I’m doing fine without it.</p>
<p>Have no experience with ipads. DW got one from the kids before her European trip. The pictures she took with it are horrendously grainy. Does anyone know if there’s a default setting that needs to be changed to get at least halfway decent pics?</p>
<p>Somehow Apple has fooled 40 million iPad buyers with their advertising hype. 
With so many sold, we will hear of some users being dissatisfied.</p>
<p>I like how a photo taken with my iPhone appears instantly and automatically on my couch iPad and office iMac. And how my entire iMac CD collection is instantly available on my iPhone and iPad, and how new music added to any device automatically appears on the other two. And how email is automatically synced on all three. And how the products are attractive and fun and easy to use. I wish they were cheaper. --fanboy</p>