iPad – great or not so great?

– May 25, 2010Posted in: Technology

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I know most of us on this blog community are into music and technology.

So I thought I’d see what you are all thinking and feeling about the iPad.

Is it the best thing since sliced bread?

Or is it one more gadget, that we just don’t need?

I’ve got an iPhone and a MacBookPro… Other than it’s e-reader functionality I’m not sure I can think of much value this would add to my life…

What do you think?

-Vicky

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arshield

I like my ipad. It is not a perfect device and I don't think everyone will really like it.

What I like about it is that it has a great screen. Very easy to use. My 2 1/2 year old niece understood how to use it instantly (never used an iphone). Even my 14 month old niece can turn the pages of her animal book (just taping the screen). I like it for email and web. It is a perfect walk around the house computer. My wife loves looking at cook books and epicurious (free app) is her favorite app.

I am a big reader, so I tried reading on it, but I prefer my kindle. The ipad is surprisingly heavy. I prefer the eink for reading (except in the dark). The bigger reading issue is I am tempted to check email and twitter and so I tend to read 10-15 minutes and then get distracted.

It is a perfect extra screen when I travel with my netbook. The netbook is pretty limited, but when joined with the ipad it is a great travel pair.

I do think it is a great tool, but not for everyone.
http://eremosanemos.com ian3008

I don't like to hold devices for extended periods. Checking facebook on my phone is a 2 min task, and then I put the phone away. If i want to spend longer, I'd prefer to sit at a desk with my laptop.

I don't like the 'walled garden' of the iPad. I like mac OS because it's fairly open – apple don't control what apps you can put on it.

Although, if I had a desktop machine, the iPad would be a perfect portable solution, i think. For me though, my macbook is convenient enough for me to carry around and also robust enough to work on.

Maybe i'm living in a world five years behind everyone else, but I prefer to do my computing on a laptop. If the iPad was cheaper I would be more tempted.
http://www.johnforbis.com John Forbis

I don't yet have an iPad (simply because I don't have the money), but here's the reason I want it…the Planning Center Online app. As a worship pastor I've been looking for a reason to justify getting an iPad – PCO has given me that reason…you're able to log on and download all your PDF charts and use the iPad as your music stand…even tap a switch with your foot and turn to the next page of the chart/or song.
http://twitter.com/rawkalways rawkalways

as a mac user, i honesty and wholeheartedly think the ipad is a waist of time. if you have an iphone and/or a macbook, whats the point? srsly.
so basically i vote “no”.
it's not that i have anything against it, it really is a cool item, but it really isn't necessary.
however, if the ipad is your gateway to no longer being a PC user, go for it.
http://bymarkcollins.com Mark Collins

disclaimer: i don't have one yet, but i do have 64gb 3g one on order.
Something interesting about life, is you can almost always find what you're looking for, so if you're looking for justification not to get something, you'll find it, same is true in reverse.
The interesting thing about apple's touch devices, they pretty much become what you want them to be, as long as you're not expecting them to be a computer, the reason for this is the vast number of applications available. after a few months my iPad will have a full set of capabilities that yours doesn't, and yours will have things that mine doesn't. This is because we have different interests and needs, so my favorite app that makes the device valuable to me most likely won't do the same for you, you'll have something completely different.
as a independent designer and artists i'm looking forward to things like doing quick drawings in a sketchbook app, to do apps like 'things', great calendar app. plus a impressive way of showing my portfolio to the person i meet randomly somewhere.
as a musician i'm looking forward to the music apps, there are a few drum machines, sequencers and such that can provide a great starting point for exploring while playing and writing music.
as a computer person who often has to fix problems at a moments notice, it's apps like transport for viewing and remotely controlling my desktop from anywhere, and the always connected to the net web browser for logging in the backend of a website to check on a time sensitive issue that i just got a email about.
as a web developer it's also important for me to have a full range of devices available to check on the usability and aesthetics of a site, across all the different screen formats.

in summary, i think the best way to figure out if it's something you need, it to look for apps that do things you want, google something like 'music creation on ipad'
because it's not about the specs of the device, the device is like a blank canvas that developers paint on, and when you launch a app, the canvas disappears and becomes whatever you just launched. it's no longer a touch screen tablet, it's a book, it's your calendar, it's the world of a game, it's a musical instrument.
http://www.jonathanpaulmusic.com/ Jonathan Paul

Nice to see you back here at the blog, Vicky! Missed you for a little while there while you were so busy with the launch of Eternity Invades. And congrats on releasing such a great album that's done very well for itself!

That article on the iPad is a great summary of the device! Love how you say that you don't have one… “yet.”

Mark Collins makes some great points about apps. As for my thoughts on the iPad though, I feel a little more like Linz/RawkAlways, it seems like a $500 toy. Outside of a backlit display for viewing PDF chord sheets on stage with, I haven't heard a compelling use case other than, “it's fun.” Talking with friends who have one, that seems to be the main thing they say. No question Apple makes a pretty cool product. For me, I'm entirely content with my 13.3” MacBook Pro. It's small and gorgeously designed while also being completely functional, and though I wouldn't mind it being a little faster at times when I'm crunching through a large directory of pics from a recent day's shooting, that's nothing that an iPad would solve.

Let's play devil's advocate for a minute though. Even if you figure an iPad is more of a frill than a need, if you think you'd really enjoy it why not go for it? What's the total cost of ownership? If you enjoy it for a year but use it less than you thought you might and decide to sell it, you could probably get $400 for it. So you paid about $8 a month for your fun. Practically nothing. And though you are wanting to be more productive rather than less, the truth is that everybody needs some down time too…

As for online friendships, I've really enjoyed a number of those. And a lot of my online friends eventually turn into non-cyber friends too. But the ones that stay cyber are great as well. And some face friends eventually turn cyber as we spread out around the world. Thank God for technology!
Christine Cooper

I think a laptop is better cos you don't have to hold it. Anyway, I was given something much better than a ipad- I was given a CD album by Vicky Beeching 'Yesterday, today, forever' and it's great, so I downloaded from Amazon her new album 'Eternity Invades'. God is going to bring massive revival to England very soon – BIG miracles are coming- so if Vicky wants another trip home, then get ready for some fun!! Well Done Vicky for showing a true worshipper's heart in your songs! I went to USA for 9 months to Bethel, Redding- CA, and Kim Walker-Smilth is similar to your kind of worshipping. Abundance of fruit for 2010!!! Blessings, Christine Cooper
http://davidbrider.livejournal.com David Brider

We-e-e-e-ll…

My iMac's currently dead. That's *hopefully* repairable dead, but if it's not repairable then I'd certainly *consider* an iPad as a replacement. If it ran Garageband, that would make it pretty much a done deal. But it doesn't. So…

Is that iMovie – second row on the left? Can't be, but I can't think what else that logo would be… *checks; nope, it's just the “Videos” icon*

All things considered, I think I'd be more inclined to go for a MacBook. I'm not convinced that there's much I'd get out of the iPad that I don't already get out of my iPhone.
http://www.montehorton.com Monte Horton

I agree with John… I've had mine for a couple of weeks and used it for the first time in worship last Sunday. WOW! It was great! No more fumbling around with charts, or caring about the next color wash in purple coming from one of those 1000 watt “search” lights.
http://www.montehorton.com Monte Horton

I agree with John… I've had mine for a couple of weeks and used it for the first time in worship last Sunday. WOW! It was great! No more fumbling around with charts, or caring about the next color wash in purple coming from one of those 1000 watt “search” lights.
Ebenezer

I soured on Apple products since the company (not the employees) gave 100k to oppose prop 8 here in Ca. For me I now look at alternative hardware. Anything but MAC.
http://www.discipleship.yuku.com ChuckT

I've been a computer user since 1983. I'm actually jealous of some Apple products but I don't like the contracts or user agreements that come with products.

I've read ipad teardown reviews which is where someone takes the ipad apart and talks about it. A lot of the parts are epoxied in place making it rugged but it also causes difficulties if only one of the parts goes bad but you can replace the batteries. Epoxied parts means that it isn't really upgradable like a desktop and I believe it isn't powerful as a notebook. It makes it almost impossible to fix.

I had a computer last me ten years. If all you do is word processing then going out every three years to spend a couple hundred on a new computer is a waste of money. Another question is, “How much computer is enough?” If you need a computer to run the latest web application then you will be constantly spending your money but if a technology is built to last and has an operating system that is efficient then it could last you ten years.

How many people would be safe in this economy if they saved a thousand dollars? How many in this country would be able to start a business if they saved a thousand dollars? When you spend, you don't have. My elders remember the Great Depression when people didn't have and with the price of oil (petrol) being unstable, the lack of jobs and inflation, it is important to save because you get old quick and mortages tend to need to get paid off quicker or else you won't have enough for retirement, kid's college, grandkids, etc.

I lost my cell phone and my normal reaction is to be concerned because it has my personal information in it. I later found it. It fell off my belt and was run over by a car. It was rendered useless.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

iPad – great or not so great?

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