I am thinking about getting an ipad

[Jaranja]

Apparently, the big draw of having an iPad is how you can use it in business. I'd get one if I was going to be making documents on the fly or making power point presentations to show people personally. As a leisure tool... No, it looks crap. Apparently you can read a book on it but why would you need it to read a book? You could just carry a book around with you.

That's funny because I'd never consider using an iPad for business under any circumstances - a laptop would be far more appropriate not to mention versatile. However the gaming potential excites me after seeing Yahtzee "I hate casual games" Croshaw ramble on as if Castle Crash is a new concept. It'd be a nice toy and if someone gave me a free one no doubt I'd enjoy mucking around on it, however I don't think I'd ever pay for one.

It's far too big to be a portable gaming device.

I don't know the specifics in detail but a family member that needs to hand his boss presentations often makes them on the fly with his iPad and he can just hand it to him.

 

[BonsaiK]

Apparently, the big draw of having an iPad is how you can use it in business. I'd get one if I was going to be making documents on the fly or making power point presentations to show people personally. As a leisure tool... No, it looks crap. Apparently you can read a book on it but why would you need it to read a book? You could just carry a book around with you.

That's funny because I'd never consider using an iPad for business under any circumstances - a laptop would be far more appropriate not to mention versatile. However the gaming potential excites me after seeing Yahtzee "I hate casual games" Croshaw ramble on as if Castle Crash is a new concept. It'd be a nice toy and if someone gave me a free one no doubt I'd enjoy mucking around on it, however I don't think I'd ever pay for one.

It's far too big to be a portable gaming device.

I don't know the specifics in detail but a family member that needs to hand his boss presentations often makes them on the fly with his iPad and he can just hand it to him.

Who said anything about portable? Maybe Apple did, but I couldn't care less if my gaming devices are portable or not.

I guess maybe my industry's different from most, but if I've got something to tell a person, I just tell them, I don't hand them a "presentation".

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Well, it's pretty cool. But a netbook is better and you'll get more "serious" use out of it. But an iPad is just for fun really. If you have enough money to throw around to get one, then I would.

 

[crobulator]

How the fuck do you want to buy a product and not know if it's worth the money? You obviously know nothing about the product if you don't know how much it's worth to yourself.

No i have done a fair amount of research and just wanted a second opinion.

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

I think the iPad is a nifty little gadget and quite fun to use, but it isn't worth the price to me. But hey, if you have the money and wouldn't mind carrying that thing around, more power to you.

 

[TheAmazingHobo]

If you want/need an actual pc, do NOT get an iPad.
Its not a replacement device and it don´t think it really wants to be.

If you want a device for media consumption, web browsing and doing a VERY limited amount of work on, you might seriously consider an iPad.
In my opinion, it IS the best tablet currently avaible for those purposes. And why shouldn´t it be. It combines the 2 things apple actually doesn´t suck at. Industrial design and closed systems.

Edit: Somebody mentioned the Archos tablets. You might consider going for one of those, but read reviews first. Seriously, it is not as simple as saying "They are better, cheaper iPads.".

 

[strum4h]

If you could put linux on an ipad I would. Getting the touchscreen to work would be fun.

 

[A Weary Exile]

Too big to be a proper phone, too small to be a proper computer. I don't understand what their appeal is.

 

[crobulator]

I am thinking about getting an ipad, does anyone know if they are worth the money and if not why not?

Don't.

Looking over the posts you have made in this thread, it seems you just want a tablet PC, and are looking to the iPad as a possibility. This is good, as it shows you are doing your research.

I would like to direct you to Archos.

They have a multitude of tablets running both Android and Windows 7, both of which are much better than anything the iPad can offer, barring the use of AT&T's (terrible) 3G service.

For something running Android, you could go for the Archos 7o, which is the closest thing to the iPad. For the much better price of $349.99 USD (cheaper than even the lowest end iPad), you get a 7 inch screen with a resolution of 800x480, a 1GHz ARM Cortex CPU, and a staggering 250GB of hard drive space.

For Windows 7, the Archos 9 PC, which has an 8.9 inch screen with a resolution of 1024x600, a (kind of small) 60GB hard drive, and 1GB of RAM (no info on the CPU), all for $429.99 USD.

There are also a good many other choices. Search around on Amazon, Newegg, NCIX, and any other website you think might have them and you'll find what you're looking for.

The iPad. It's not the tablet you're looking for.

Thanks for the pointers toward archos their products look interesting

 

[Jaranja]

Apparently, the big draw of having an iPad is how you can use it in business. I'd get one if I was going to be making documents on the fly or making power point presentations to show people personally. As a leisure tool... No, it looks crap. Apparently you can read a book on it but why would you need it to read a book? You could just carry a book around with you.

That's funny because I'd never consider using an iPad for business under any circumstances - a laptop would be far more appropriate not to mention versatile. However the gaming potential excites me after seeing Yahtzee "I hate casual games" Croshaw ramble on as if Castle Crash is a new concept. It'd be a nice toy and if someone gave me a free one no doubt I'd enjoy mucking around on it, however I don't think I'd ever pay for one.

It's far too big to be a portable gaming device.

I don't know the specifics in detail but a family member that needs to hand his boss presentations often makes them on the fly with his iPad and he can just hand it to him.

Who said anything about portable? Maybe Apple did, but I couldn't care less if my gaming devices are portable or not.

I guess maybe my industry's different from most, but if I've got something to tell a person, I just tell them, I don't hand them a "presentation".

As I said, it's not me that's doing this. I haven't had a job since I was born.

If it's not portable... Why wouldn't you just play on a console or something?

 

[dogenzakaminion]

Hmm...well to give my honest opinion...the iPad is really cool (and I really don't like apple). My dad has one and it's really neat. The problem is that it's really more of a gadget than a proper tablet. If anything, give it 6 months and they will have brought out iPad 2 or whatever. Hopefully that one will add some of the features missed on the current one.

 

[BonsaiK]

Apparently, the big draw of having an iPad is how you can use it in business. I'd get one if I was going to be making documents on the fly or making power point presentations to show people personally. As a leisure tool... No, it looks crap. Apparently you can read a book on it but why would you need it to read a book? You could just carry a book around with you.

That's funny because I'd never consider using an iPad for business under any circumstances - a laptop would be far more appropriate not to mention versatile. However the gaming potential excites me after seeing Yahtzee "I hate casual games" Croshaw ramble on as if Castle Crash is a new concept. It'd be a nice toy and if someone gave me a free one no doubt I'd enjoy mucking around on it, however I don't think I'd ever pay for one.

It's far too big to be a portable gaming device.

I don't know the specifics in detail but a family member that needs to hand his boss presentations often makes them on the fly with his iPad and he can just hand it to him.

Who said anything about portable? Maybe Apple did, but I couldn't care less if my gaming devices are portable or not.

I guess maybe my industry's different from most, but if I've got something to tell a person, I just tell them, I don't hand them a "presentation".

As I said, it's not me that's doing this. I haven't had a job since I was born.

If it's not portable... Why wouldn't you just play on a console or something?

If the console had the same games as the iPad, I would.

 

[Jaranja]

Apparently, the big draw of having an iPad is how you can use it in business. I'd get one if I was going to be making documents on the fly or making power point presentations to show people personally. As a leisure tool... No, it looks crap. Apparently you can read a book on it but why would you need it to read a book? You could just carry a book around with you.

That's funny because I'd never consider using an iPad for business under any circumstances - a laptop would be far more appropriate not to mention versatile. However the gaming potential excites me after seeing Yahtzee "I hate casual games" Croshaw ramble on as if Castle Crash is a new concept. It'd be a nice toy and if someone gave me a free one no doubt I'd enjoy mucking around on it, however I don't think I'd ever pay for one.

It's far too big to be a portable gaming device.

I don't know the specifics in detail but a family member that needs to hand his boss presentations often makes them on the fly with his iPad and he can just hand it to him.

Who said anything about portable? Maybe Apple did, but I couldn't care less if my gaming devices are portable or not.

I guess maybe my industry's different from most, but if I've got something to tell a person, I just tell them, I don't hand them a "presentation".

As I said, it's not me that's doing this. I haven't had a job since I was born.

If it's not portable... Why wouldn't you just play on a console or something?

If the console had the same games as the iPad, I would.

Don't the iPod Touch and iPhone have the same games? Wouldn't consoles have better quality games, too?

 

[Fraught]

You obviously have too much money. You should give some to me.

That's a very good idea, OP, do that, Fraught needs his money.

OT: Don't, get a Laptop.

And all the money that's left over from your iPad budget - after you've bought a laptop - you can give to me!

 

[CarbonEagle]

From what i've seen the iPad is good at 2 things. Surfing the internet and playing cheap games. The cheapest ones have 16gb's of hd space and that will disappear a lot faster then you may expect so i would absolutely not recommend on of those. It really depends on weather or not you want to spend $700 to surf the internet and play games

2 Years (might 3 but i dont think so) ago i bought a laptop for $1200CAD. It can play all games out now for PC (some on low graphics) has a bluray player and a 160gb hd and the battery lasts 2-3 hours on hi power mode (about 1 hour doing something strenuous like gaming and up to 10 on low.) It also never overheats but thats besides the point. Bang for your buck the iPad has very little going for it. Id recommend a laptop or wait till theres a good android tablet out. The android phones have been kicking apples butt so it would also make sense that android tablets will do the same.

 

[superline51]

In my opinion, all Apple products are overpriced shiny pieces of garbage, but if you do decide to get one, hold off for a few months. They are coming out with the next generation around March I believe.

 

[Bluesclues]

It's basically a large iTouch

You mean it's basically a large iPod Touch? Don't Touch your i, dude, it hurts.

Umm...it's also known as the iTouch...