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    How many of you MBP owners dont have or care for an ipad?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Helpmyfriend, Apr 14, 2011.

  1. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

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    Just curious, I want to see if MBP owners generally shell out for an ipad 2 or just stick with their MBP? If you dont care for getting one and have no interest, why? I know Ive had quite a few people tell me its kinda pointless especially if you have a 13" MBP.
     
  2. Lieto

    Lieto Notebook Deity

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    i am used to do occasional cafe wi-fi internet surfing on iphone when i am bored so i guess that does the ipad job for me, not the notebook.
    I am not the big fan of going out with a notebook, there is nothing that cant wait till i get home. (besides the stuff that is done with iphone)
     
  3. Morgan Everett

    Morgan Everett Notebook Consultant

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    I see it as a toy. It would be pleasant to play with every so often, but given the price, I'd rather pass.
     
  4. MaxGeek

    MaxGeek Notebook Evangelist

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    I have both, but the iPad is not a useful tool to me, its just a toy.
     
  5. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

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    That's a very good point. I'm using an iPad 2 right now but to be honest I'm selling it tonight because it's a toy to me and instead I'm gonna get an iPhone 4 next month when my contract is up, cause I can get it for really cheap. The only thing i see myself using the ipad for is web browsing....which i can easily do on my iphone when im out and about or bring my MBP with me. Its not like the 13" MBP is huge to carry around.
    I can't store my work on ipad, I can't have tons of space on here, I can't run my work programs on it. I played around with the apps and they're cool but it's not something I have a huge interest in. Its more of a time killer than something id use daily. I'd rather have a phone size for the apps and I just can't see myself carrying the iPad around with me everywhere. To me an ipad is only worth it if Im willing to bring it everywhere with me all day, everyday. But Im not and I see it nothing more than a toy that sits on my living room table most of the time. And paying 600 for a couch web device just isn't worth it to me.
     
  6. Lieto

    Lieto Notebook Deity

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    ^^ Exactly. I was using my friend's ipad for few weeks and it just didnt feel convenient — carrying 2 devices that do virtually the same job, with only difference that ipad got bigger screen. I cant carry it my pocket though and since i am carrying my phone with me 24/7... well it got enough toys inside it to make me busy for half an hour while i wait for smth.
     
  7. diggy

    diggy Notebook Deity

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    I see them as toys also, and dont really care for them. My wife bought a 64GB iPad 2 when it came out, so I guess I own one by association. She mainly uses it to watch some movies when we're travelling, and playing some games on it. For her, its easier to bring that than her 14" Vaio
     
  8. Lieto

    Lieto Notebook Deity

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    But you cant just download avi files from the internet and watch it, right?
    Thats a major setback of such a solution :p
     
  9. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

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    I have both a 13" MBP and an iPad (not an iPad 2). I actually use my iPad on a daily basis and it always follows me wherever I go. I went with the wi-fi only model but my Droid X can make a wi-fi hotspot anyway so I didn't have to rely on at&t craptacular service.

    I use my iPad for both work and play so it definitely isn't a toy to me. I take notes on it during meetings, I have given PowerPoint presentations with it, I can pull up Excel spreadsheets to quickly show them off (or edit/save them), I can open Word documents (along with edit and save them), I have it synced to my work e-mail and my Gmail account, I carry around a bunch of research papers in the PDF format for quick reference (I have also added notes to those PDF files), and I put some games, movies, TV shows, and other media on it.

    I probably represent a non-average iPad user but I do a low of work on my iPad while my 13" MBP really only goes out with me when I need access to MATLAB on-the-go or I will be working out in the field watching movies (which generally run in the background) where the extra ~4" display increase really makes a more enjoyable experience. It also doesn't hurt that my iPad weighs a lot less than my 13" MBP, has better battery life, and takes up as much space as a magazine that I would typically read all while providing basic PC functionality (e-mail, internet surfing, YouTube, etc.) for when I just want to mess around. I was even lucky enough to download VLC before it was pulled from the app store so I can sync my Xvid/Divx AVI files to my iPad and watch them.
     
  10. Lieto

    Lieto Notebook Deity

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    Well if your work evolves around typing something then in fact mbp doesnt provide any real benefit comparing to ipad (i mean the ipad is the way to go). For those of us who draw / take pictures / video edit / build complex presentation / research / calculate / model / etc — it cant offer much -)
     
  11. Morgan Everett

    Morgan Everett Notebook Consultant

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    Really? I can't imagine writing an essay on an iPad.
     
  12. Bomino

    Bomino Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't own an ipad, but i have tested the pages app in the mac store, and i found the keyboard and typing to be quite a good experience actually (especially with the smart cover folded into a stand). granted, i was only typing on it for about 5 minutes. but i do think the touch keyboard is very usable for typing word docs when your on the go. however, if you are at home and have a desktop or laptop, obviously a physical keyboard is much better.
     
  13. Asherek

    Asherek Notebook Consultant

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    If you have to make a lot of formatting changes, etc. the iPad will be a very painful experience. Touch interfaces are just not feasible in this regard.
     
  14. gold.larry

    gold.larry Newbie

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    I have been trying to justify a purchase for the iPad 2 ever since the rumours finally spread like fire in 2009. But I failed.
    iPad browser was really fun to use. I don't use apps that much on my iPhone, so not exactly a deal breaker there. I guess I could write essays or presentations on the iPad but the multitasking isn't perfect, prefer the feel of the RIM Playbook for that. x)
     
  15. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    The iPad does fulfill a niche in my lifetstyle, albeit a narrow one and is definitely more of a luxury than a need.

    It's not great for extensive productivity, but it's good for those times when you gain more time from the speed at which you can unpack it than you lose while doing your task (assuming that you would be able to do that task more efficiently on a laptop over time once unpacked and booted up).

    It is, as others have pointed out, primarily a tool for content consumption and editing as opposed to creation from scratch, although for word processing needs even adding an external keyboard wouldn't add much to its footprint (e.g. Zaggmate).

    There are definite uses for an iPad even if you have a MBP (and even if you have an iPhone as well). Just consider there are degrees of portability for any activity you do during the day, and one would be more or less suited to those activities (walking down street-iPhone; sitting in cafe-iPad; extended meeting out of office-MBP). Whether or not the marginal benefits of that limited use is worth the money is a different matter entirely of course.

    1. The MBP is not sufficiently mobile, especially if you use it as a main computer. For example, my home setup fills every expansion slot on the MBP. Just disconnecting and reconnecting all those wires everyday is annoying, so most of the time I don't even bother to take my MBP with me. While on the run, having to unpack a MBP is much more time-consuming than just pulling out the iPad. Don't underestimate how much space you save too--and you actually have to find a flat surface to use the MBP (your lap doesn't count unless you like having bad posture).

    2. The iPad is especially useful on those days when you don't anticipate needing a laptop, but want something handy just in case something comes up out of nowhere. You can also take it with you to places where you otherwise wouldn't carry a full laptop bag.

    3. The iPad is great for those times when you don't want to get out of bed or even sit up (c'mon we all have those days). The MBP would require you to sit up at least.

    4. If you don't have a Kindle or nook, the iPad is a good ebook reader.

    5. It's probably the best medium for consuming online news and blogs. You wouldn't boot up your MBP even if it's with you just to read the news for 2 minutes, but you sure would with an iPad.

    6. Much easier access to 3G.

    7. It doubles as a surprisingly effective second screen next to your MBP.
     
  16. SP Forsythe

    SP Forsythe Notebook Evangelist

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    I had an iPad, and then bought a MBA 11 a few months later. I found no practical use for the iPad, so I sold it.

    The iPad may perform certain tasks better than my iPhone, simply due to its size, but it certainly does not replace or rival a good notebook, especially one near its portability.
     
  17. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    I've seen people bring both to meetings and then end up using the Air as a footrest for the iPad lol. It was kind of funny(sad).

    But the integrated 3G on the iPad is a big plus for me too. It helped tremendously when traveling overseas.
     
  18. sugarkang

    sugarkang Notebook Evangelist

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    I have an iPad 1. I could use the speed of an iPad 2, but this is still okay. Most likely going to sell it anyway when Galaxy 10.1 is out.
     
  19. Lieto

    Lieto Notebook Deity

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    i disagree that ipad offers any extra portability compared to mbp 13.
    For me its either "you need to take a bag" or "you can leave bag at home".
    I cant carry ipad in my pocket and if i am taking my bag it doesnt matter if i drop ipad or mbp there. Extra weight doesnt make noticeable difference while having a usb host does.
     
  20. scarletvw

    scarletvw Notebook Consultant

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    I'd never buy an iPad but would try to use it if one was gifted to me or I traded for it, otherwise I have an iPhone 4 so thats what I use for mobile internet.
     
  21. Adivino

    Adivino Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't own an ipad, but if I were thinking of buying something light i would go with the 11'' MBA: similar portability, confortable keyboard, and you can run any software you need.
     
  22. Bomino

    Bomino Notebook Enthusiast

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    off-topic, but i just ordered mine. yay! ^_^
     
  23. Morgan Everett

    Morgan Everett Notebook Consultant

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    My condolences.
     
  24. OldJim

    OldJim Notebook Guru

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    This will never happen, but my "killer app" for the iPad is... a cursor. Give me bluetooth and an optional mouse input mode, and I'll buy two, right off. As it is now, I find it the touch method a bit hit and miss for the things I want to do (such as text editing, cutting and pasting).
     
  25. CanadianDude

    CanadianDude Notebook Deity

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    I had an iPad 2 for a while. Bought it from the USA before the official Canadian release. I did find it somewhat useful. My main magazine subscriptions had all of their issues available for the iPad and it was a joy reading them on there. It was a very interactive experience because the articles had additional links I could look up, I could save the articles, take part in the polls and a bunch of other neat things you cannot do with a standard magazine. One magazine was a health magazine, and it showed you how to do certain exercises through video and audio clips.

    That alone was worth the price to me. In the end, though, I ended up selling it locally for a small profit, as it wasn't officially out at the time. The reason? THe company I subscribe to does not offer a yearly subscription service for the iPad version of their magazine, which means I have to pay $6.99 for every issue per month, or $84 yearly. No thanks, I'll stick with the standard mail service for $20 a year.
     
  26. kaworu876

    kaworu876 Notebook Evangelist

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    You know, I'd been a (somewhat involuntary) Mac user for about 7 years, until a few days ago when I switched back over to a PC - although I'm still keeping my old MBP as a backup, because despite it being 3.5 years old, other than the battery it still works fairly well. I still think that Macs are great machines, and that they have amazing aesthetic design and value, and probably some of the best advertising in the history of Western civilization. There's something undeniably appealing about their products, and I fully understand and respect that. I have absolutely no intention of getting rid of or replacing my iPhone, which I believe is a truly wonderful little gadget; one of those things that I never thought I needed before I tried one out, and now that I have one I can't even imagine living my life without it.

    All of that being said, I have very mixed feelings about the iPad.

    First off, I really and truly do not understand why they're so incredibly popular. I mean, I can see why they exist, and I get why there are people who buy them, but I quite simply do not understand why SO many people like and want them, and why they're selling so well - even selling out in many places, recently. They just seem so... unnecessary, to me. They're like the least practical thing ever. I've played with them and they're kinda fun, but that's it. I mean, it's a giant iPhone that isn't a phone! What makes the iPhone practical and useful is that it's a *phone* - you put it in your pocket and bring it everywhere, and you can access the internet/play touchscreen games/use all variety of apps/all that stuff whenever and whereever you want.

    The iPad just bothers me, because it feels like most people I know who have them tend to be very affluent, and can just afford to spend $600 or whatever on a big toy that they don't *really* need. A friend of my parents, for example, is this sort of person. He travels a lot and wanted something to play with on airplanes, and guess what? About a month after he bought his iPad, he promptly lost it by forgetting it on a plane. You know those pockets that are on the back of the seat in front of you, where you leave magazines and such? He left it there and forgot about it as he was deboarding. Whoops. The next day, he just went to The Apple Store and bought a brand new one. That's how I imagine the typical iPad user, although that's probably more than a little unfair of me, I admit.

    All of that being said, there is one group of people whom I can understand wanting and needing an iPad: the very elderly, who have a difficult time understanding and using computers. My grandmother is 89 years old, and still in good enough health that she lives on her own and mostly takes care of herself, with a little bit of help. She has a computer but cannot figure out how to even check her e-mail on her own. She got an iPad recently, and absolutely adores it, and can easily use it. Now, she can finally check her e-mail by herself because all she has to do is press a big picture of a mailbox, and presto - there's her e-mail. She is also an avid bridge player, and the iPad allows her to play bridge against an AI or other people online to her heart's content, so she doesn't have to wait for her weekly Bridge game. A big part of what makes the iPad useable for her as well is its size - she doesn't have very good eyesight, and all the icons and everything being so big is ideal for her. So in terms of the elderly, I think the iPad actually *is* practical and useful, and more than just a toy.

    But it still bothers me. My mother wants to buy one, and I am desperately trying to talk her out of it. What she really needs is a new Macbook (hers is at least 5 years old, yikes) and she has somehow gotten it into her head that an iPad is an adequate replacement for a dying laptop. It's just an absurd notion, and it honestly depresses me that she's going to spend so much money (she doesn't have a huge amount of it, or anything) on a toy when she could be buying something that she really and truly needs. I'm still hoping I can convince her to utilize her resources more wisely.
     
  27. ajreynol

    ajreynol Notebook Virtuoso

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    I don't like the poll options. I have an iPad and I enjoy it. But it's not something I couldn't live without, you know? It has its uses for sure, but I wouldn't lose sleep if I no longer had one. It just makes certain, specific tasks much more enjoyable or much more convenient than a traditional laptop.
     
  28. Bomino

    Bomino Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't get why people have such a hard time figuring out why the ipad is so popular.

    - Portability. sure, not as portable as an iphone/touch, but it does, believe it or not, have apps that are more enjoyable on it over the iphone. And compared to a notebook and netbooks, it would be much more portable.

    - Larger screen. This is huge if you think about it. my buddy is a photographer, and he's considering one, because of how great it would be to show his portfolio to customers on it. The larger screens also makes it much more enjoyable for most games, web browsing, on screen typing, and of course movie watching.

    - super slim design. people love the aesthetics.

    - laptop replacement. now most of you will say that there is no way this can replace a laptop, and that may be true... for you. a lot of people, such as most netbook users and some notebook users, solely use there laptop for surfing the web, and some other small things such as for word docs. and for task such as these, the ipad is necessary. yeah, i know the touch keyboard is nothing compared to the physical ones, but what about bluetooth keyboards? I, myself, am considering getting the apple wireless keyboard, which would still keep the ipad more portable than most netbooks.

    - E-reader. sure, not as good as the nook or kindle, but it is quite neat none-the-less, and very useful.

    - Fun factor. If you've ever used one, you'll probably agree that it is just a joy to use.

    all of these points combined (plus a few others i've missed), make up quite a good product, IMHO. I plan on using mine for taking notes in class, web browsing, facetime, and of course having some fun with all the cool apps. Obviously if someone wants something to do accounting with, play runescape on, or do other computer-exclusive tasks, than the ipad is not for that person. but to all others, the ipad is great. however, i do think if you have an iphone, there is less reason to get one versus someone who does not have one.
     
  29. CanadianDude

    CanadianDude Notebook Deity

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    Another use that I think is useful is Facetime. Some of my co-workers who have kids away in college use the ipad to connect to their kids' iphone 4 via Facetime to video chat.
     
  30. aznguyen316

    aznguyen316 Rock Chalk Jayhawk

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    I have the 15" MBP and I LOVE the iPad. I use it a lot in bed, and the apps are great. Netflix, hulu plus, all in bed is nice. Casual gaming is great too especially since the MBP isn't the best to put on your chest/lap while in bed or on the couch. I use the iPad for 90% of that type of usage. Browsing etc is not a problem, reading RSS feeds, listening to music/audiobooks, airplay, and my GF reads books on it. I use my MBP a lot, but I'm surprised how much I use the iPad still in those portable situations where I don't need power or a keyboard =)

    I have to say the 10" screen makes a world of difference vs an iPod Touch. I had a 4G and used it a LOT. Sold it for this first gen iPad and wow, yeah basically the underlying hardware is the same but damn does extra 6" or so of screen make a big difference. iPad specific apps make it even nicer to use, but web browsing all that on the 10" screen is a big difference. It sounds obvious, but yeah, it's an amazing product.
     
  31. Lieto

    Lieto Notebook Deity

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    Its a nice toy for your mom, sister, grandpa, child etc — thats why it is so popular. Apple fanbois aside its a good tool for anyone who want to read his newspaper, have a skype chat or watch photos on facebook every once in a while. Its hard to imagine but there are quite a few people doing JUST THAT with their computer.
     
  32. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    The iPad has single-handedy doubled the amount of time I spend procrastinating in bed when I wake up on weekends...although that's not necessarily a good thing.
     
  33. aznguyen316

    aznguyen316 Rock Chalk Jayhawk

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    So freaking true. It keeps me up later at night, been on this weird PvZ kick. And then when I wake up, my GF is already out and about having coffee, and I stay in bed for another half hour to an hour catching up on feeds, FB, espn etc. I did that this past weekend Saturday and Sunday haha
     
  34. sugarkang

    sugarkang Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't think anyone at this point is having a hard time. This time last year, maybe. Not now.
     
  35. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    More proof that the iPad is the source of all of society's problems! We can add "reduction of productivity" to its list of evils: unemployment, the demise of publishers, and outsourcing of US jobs!

    Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Blames iPad For American Unemployment (VIDEO)

    It must be true if a politician says it!
     
  36. Bomino

    Bomino Notebook Enthusiast

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    check it:
    (sorry kaworu, i didnt really wanna single you out :p)




    EDIT:
    this was hilarious. I had to share it on my FB :D