Do I need an ipad ?

[carollee]

Okay I am so behind with technology, only in the last 2 years did I get an ipod nano so I can listen to podcasts and talking books on it in the car. I don't much listen to music on it, only sometimes.

SO I see everyone getting caught up in the ipad, and I'm just wondering do I need one too?

Can I ask for those that have one, what do you use it for? Now that you have one, could you bear to be without it?

I gather you can hook up to the internet on wifi on it? But do you make phone calls on it too? Can you type documents? I have absolutely no idea, so I'm trying to gauge whether I think I need one or not.

Would love your input in spending my money! ha!

[esther_a]

Do you wish you could read the news without having newspapers all over the table? Do you wish you could take lots of books on holiday but hate lugging them around? Do you wish you could check your email and surf the web when you are away from your computer. Would you love to instantly access your photos and LOs on flickr to show admiring friends?
Then an iPad is for you
But I don't have one!! One day...

[carollee]

Would I still be able to listen to talking books on it? And do you have to use headphones? Or does it kind of have speakers built into it?

[digigrandma]

Carol, you don't make phone calls on it, at least not on my version of the iPad (1st generation!) however, here's how we use ours:

I store photos and layouts on it for showing to my mil who is in a nursing home and has poor eyesight. The iPad has an awesome screen for showing photos and layouts.

It is my DH's only computer...he uses it for email and surfing the web and he uses apps like the Weather app and Soduku and he listens to some radio shows using an app for that.

I read books on it, especially when we travel...means I don't have to lug several books along.

I play Boggle, Scrabble and Jumbline2 on it.

We entertain the grandsons with uTube videos of the Sesame Street characters and a few other word games for kids.

We have our music on it, too, although we don't seem to use that feature as much because we each have iPhones and I have an iPod Touch. You do not need earphones to listen to the music unless you want to plug in a set of earphones so that only you can hear it.

Seriously, it is a great invention!

[Deirdre]

Thanks for asking. I just ordered one yesterday. My reason is kind of lame- I wanted a calendar program. My phone has a little one but due to it being so small it's hard to see the 'big picture' of a day or month. And with 5 kids, I need a big picture Of course, I'm just as excited about what I can do with my photos and digiscrapping- even though I don't really know what all is can do in that area. I'm just starting to try to learn what apps to use for scrapping with it, how to connect that to my laptop, etc.
Good luck with your decision- though my bet is that it's so diverse there would be more than one way you would really use it.

[DebbieHodge]

I watch netflix & hulu on it when I'm doing busy work -- can easily set it up anywhere. I play games on it to wake up in the morning. I browse stumbleupon and pinterest and facebook and twitter with it. I read ebooks on it. I read blogs on it. It's really really really useful for consuming content. I don't do much posting with it because I'm either lying down or working on something else simultaneously when it's going.

[Dawneephay]

I work at a very boring job that I sit all day and wait for people to come in and rent storage units. I spend 7 hours sitting and 1 hour helping people. I bought an ipad2 to watch movies, read books, listen to music and play games during those 7 hours! I love it for what I use it for. I transfer movies onto it using my dvdfab8 dvd ripper program and they are so crisp and clear on the ipad. You don't need headphones, but there is the capability to use them if you don't want to disturb those next to you. The only issue I had was which size to buy! I bought the 32 gb. When I am done with one movie I erase it to save space. I love it! Also, there are so many cool apps. I actually found one called "ancestry" that imported my genealogy tree..Love it!

[whatnext]

yup. you need one. it's like having a cool little laptop to use anywhere in your house. you can take it with you and surf the Net in the Mall while you're eating lunch. you can download videos from iTunes and never be without entertainment...anywhere! you can download free apps of all sorts. you can download the free Kindle app and the iPad then can function as a Kindle.

and it's an Apple product, so it is kind, comprehensible and fun.

[esther_a]

You can also use it as a light source for photography. There's an app that makes it replicate sun shining through a window or a lamp, or all sorts of other types of light! You've seen the music video that was posted here? I don't know that any of those things are essential, but they sure look fun!

[Christinas]

YES you need one !

[Melissa Hill]

I'm glad you posted this question Carol...and thanks to everyone who answered because now I want one more than ever !! Loved learning what others use it for too.

[Myra]

It will be your best friend in the world. Sad but true.

[Amson]

Originally Posted by carollee

Okay I am so behind with technology, only in the last 2 years did I get an ipod nano so I can listen to podcasts and talking books on it in the car. I don't much listen to music on it, only sometimes.

So funny Carol as I got my first Ipod (also a Nano) about 8 months ago when I was sick last year and wanted to listen to podcasts in bed. Love it to death and listen all the time now. As for an Ipad, I am sure I would love one but know it could not be justified given the amount of time spent at this computer anyway....

When would I have time to play games? It would have to come out of scrapping time.

So fun to read everyones ideas.

[anxela]

Originally Posted by myra

it will be your best friend in the world. Sad but true.

lol!

[MIDA78466]

I just bought one a month ago and love it! Yep! You need one.

[carollee]

I told Mike earlier tonight I'm buying an ipad and he said "what for?" and I told him "because the ladies at DD said to". He rolled his eyes.

hahahahhhaha

Okay you have me sold, it's the next big thing on my shopping list for sure. I wonder if I can get it online cheaper than in the stores. Must do some investigating.

Thanks so much for the input, I really appreciate it.

[muddygirl]

Carol, Im trying to buy one for my son's kindy at the moment, so if you find a cheap one can you let me know ?, and I'll do the same

[readstoomuch]

I might NEED one too.

Maybe when you and Esther get one . . . let me know.

[carollee]

Okay, I have another question, can you skype on an ipad?

[Steph]

I'm the odd man out. My Dh bought me one a year ago and I rarely used it so I sold it. I use my iPhone for everything and the iPad was just redundant for me. Plus my iPhone is much more portable - I thought the iPad was a bit too big. I'd love to see a version that is closer in size to the kindle.

[carollee]

Ignore my question, I'm just reading about facetime.

[maureenreynolds]

I may be the odd one out too. Not much interest right now. Steph's answer reminded me of a conversation with my dil last weekend. We were talking about movies, Netflix etc. which she watches on her iphone @ swim matches etc. which would put me into the legally blind category! 40 yr old eyes vs 60 yr old eyes. When I go to their house I take the 17" MBP for dvds or Netflix etc. The 13" Macbook is a strain by the last hour. Ok for a flight...maybe.

Now dh loves his iPad. I mean LOVES. He reads newspapers, books, cks email, sudoko, blah blah blah. I like my daily print paper which I do read, I like my books in hand and found the iPad heavier for my hands - I read laying down mostly. I tried the on line magazines, but found I had to enlarge them to read the article, and then keep tapping to see various parts of the same page. ugh. I am still trying to use his for reading Cassie's tutorials while I scrap on another machine. We just don't seem to coordinate usage time.

I hope more people add additional ways they use it cause himself is anxious to get ME a new one so he can have it and I get his old one...uh think again, honey.

[jazzmatazz]

Yes, Carol, you can Skype on iPad. I prefer it to Facetime, but that's because I'm use to Skype on my computer and already had a database for it.

Have fun!!!

[ValerieP]

Fascinating discussion, my sons and dad have one and my sons play games-and my dad uses it like a laptop-he is 90 and a laptop is too difficult for him.
I would like to have one, but it is pretty low on my fun stuff wish list- And who knows what I will add before I get to number 3!
1. New travel harp
2. Kayak
3. IPad

[maureenreynolds]

hmmm...you with a travel harp astride a kayak. Not doable I know but oh what an image! (and a fun collage to imagine)

[ValerieP]

I agree!

[carollee]

A travel harp? Like a musical instrument harp that is small enough to travel with? Is that what you mean? How fascinating. Sorry if I stated the obvious, but I've never heard of a travel harp before.

[carollee]

I'm giddy with excitement - I've ordered one!

[Aino]

My dh got me a tablet for my bday - an Asus Transformer - running on Android and I love it!!! IT seriously has become a friend and I can't imagine being without one now.


Sad, but true - like Myra said.

[carollee]

Okay well if that's the case and it becomes my friend, I shall need to name it. I think it will become known as Harry. I think that's a good name for it! LOL