iPad users

[elliottlale]

looking to get an iPad 2, whos got one and what are they like?
i use my mac mostly for itunes, internet, playing poker, watching tv series/flims and forum chat. will the ipad be ok for all of these? also, can i attach an external hard drive so i can watch my films etc.
thanks

 

[Aztecs27]

Wait until Christmas. There's rumours of another new one coming out just before then.

 

[elliottlale]

another new iPad?? the iPad 2 isnt even out yet!!
well, im off to america in less than 3 weeks!!! (yay!!! vegas and LA!!)
would this work over in the UK too, im guessing so.......

 

[Imurg]

Apple - the new TaylorMade.......

Is it worth buying anything these days? By the time you've got it home the next version's been superceeded!

 

[GeordieAggro80]

I'm using it now and although its great for ease and convenience there are a couple of down points. It tries to respell everything so you often post gargled messages. Apart from that it has no flash player so you'll find playing poker and the like very hard.

Overall though very easy, very handy as it's by my side watching tv or by bed and is on with the click of a button.

Mine is 64gb so can hold enough movies and music until you re-sync it. Don't think you add an external HD but could be wrong. Typing is easy and as fast a normal keypad as the touch screen is excellent.

Overall worth the buy I would say

 

[MikeH]

I have one too. in short it's immense. to be able to press a button and be instantly online using a good sized screen with superb defintion is awesome. then add in apps, movies, music and photos and i reckon it's a genuine replacement for home computer
ipad2 has a few more features but it doesn't make the original redundant.
i have to say i never get the for want of a better word, 'negative' comments about new versions of a product coming out - be it a car, mobile device or golf club.
It a combination of technology advances and marketing. If you're a sucker for either or both then I guess you're suceptible to wanting to frequently upgrade but at the end of the day the original version still works its just not got the very latest bells and whistles
Go on buy one, you know you want to

 

[janmolby]

Geordie, you can turn off the auto correct feature in the settings app under general, then keyboard then put auto-correction to off.

 

[Aztecs27]

another new iPad?? the iPad 2 isnt even out yet!!
well, im off to america in less than 3 weeks!!! (yay!!! vegas and LA!!)
would this work over in the UK too, im guessing so.......

Yep, it will work.

 

[Ethan]

There won't be another model before Christmas (apart possibly from specific models to work with specific US mobile networks, which doesn't affect us). Apple has a clear release cycle for their products. Likewise the iPhone update usually happens in June.

US IPads will work just fine here - they are unlocked and a UK micro-SIM fits right in (to a 3G version), and it is even easier if you want a Wifi version.

If you are buying a 3G model in the US, make sure you get a GSM version rather than CDMA. These are two different mobile network technologies, one used by AT&T, the other by Verizon. UK mobile networks are GSM.

 

[GeordieAggro80]

Geordie, you can turn off the auto correct feature in the settings app under general, then keyboard then put auto-correction to off.

Cheers for that big Jan!!!

Back in the world of English rather than Apple speak!!

Ta

 

[USER1999]

Have looked at one, and am still miffed it doesn't support USB. Stupid apple stuff. You have to buy an adaptor for the apple port/docking thing that converts to USB.

 

[Macster]

I love mine too

Bought it mainly for when I'm away, but very very useful at home too.
Incredibly more portable than a laptop, and for music/films etc, absolutely fantastic.
Ok, you cant store files like a laptop, but I dont need to, so no problem.

 

[surefire]

another new iPad?? the iPad 2 isnt even out yet!!
well, im off to america in less than 3 weeks!!! (yay!!! vegas and LA!!)
would this work over in the UK too, im guessing so.......

If you're planning to buy it in the US to save money, you probably won't save that much.

Both NV and CA have state sales taxes around 8% plus when you add in any local city taxes figure this will probably be nearer 10%. Once you add tax onto the price of the product, the amount you save isn't massive.

Add into the fact that if you don't have other apple devices, you might have to go out and buy a UK charger, and the fact that unlike for ipods there is a question about whether the warranty will be valid here without extra cost.

From Apple

Apple may restrict service to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally
sold the hardware product.

Source - Page 3 about 1/4 of the way down OBTAINING WARRANTY SERVICE section

I can see why someone would do it if they were not going to be out here for a long time though.

 

[Ethan]

Apple may restrict service to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the hardware product.

You will find similar statements in most global warranties. Apple honour the worldwide warranty. This clause is intended to cover countries where there is no authorised Apple distributor or service provider. That doesn't apply to anyone in the UK or Ireland.

The iPad charges with a USB charger, and this can be used in an existing Apple mains socket for an iPhone or previous gen iPad, or with an adapter plug.

On price, if the iPad 2 is the same price in the UK as the old model, the top model (64GB, 3G/Wifi) is £579. In the US, that top iPad 2 model is $829. That is £508, roughly, so if sales tax adds less than £70 (i.e. is less than 13%) you come out (slightly) ahead. Is it worth it? Hard to say. If the $ weakens a bit more, perhaps.

This pricing shows that Apple doesn't actually rip off the foreigners. Take away VAT at 20% and the base (pre-tax) price of the iPad (£483 for the 64GB example above) in the UK is actually slightly less than the US price before sales tax.

 

[surefire]

On price, if the iPad 2 is the same price in the UK as the old model, the top model (64GB, 3G/Wifi) is £579. In the US, that top iPad 2 model is $829. That is £508, roughly, so if sales tax adds less than £70 (i.e. is less than 13%) you come out (slightly) ahead. Is it worth it? Hard to say. If the $ weakens a bit more, perhaps.

I heard the iPad 2 was planned to be about £30 cheaper than the old model.

 

[Ethan]

On price, if the iPad 2 is the same price in the UK as the old model, the top model (64GB, 3G/Wifi) is £579. In the US, that top iPad 2 model is $829. That is £508, roughly, so if sales tax adds less than £70 (i.e. is less than 13%) you come out (slightly) ahead. Is it worth it? Hard to say. If the $ weakens a bit more, perhaps.

I heard the iPad 2 was planned to be about £30 cheaper than the old model.

Maybe. US prices were the same as iPad 1.

 

[Pip]

There is likely to be an iPad 3 before Xmas. Tablets are still very new and with more companies bringing them to market already, Apple can't wait around with update or they will lost a fair chunk of the market share, hence the more rapid updates.

The iPad 3 will also get the super sharp retina display that the 2 should have. Remember where you heard it first

 

[Timberbonce]

They are amazing. It is all I have used now for the last year. The pros greatly out number the cons, but I'll give you the cons and if you can get passed them, then buy one.

Can only print to a compatable wireless printer (or upload / email to a pc)

Cannot plug in USB peripherals such as memory sticks.

No flash player.

.......I think that's it. I can't think of any more at this time.

But like I said the list of pros would be endless. The vast array of apps available make it truly customizable, and as mike said you can turn it on and access a web page within probably 3 seconds. ( and the iPad 2 is supposed to faster).

 

[Ethan]

There is likely to be an iPad 3 before Xmas. Tablets are still very new and with more companies bringing them to market already, Apple can't wait around with update or they will lost a fair chunk of the market share, hence the more rapid updates.

The iPad 3 will also get the super sharp retina display that the 2 should have. Remember where you heard it first

I heard it elsewhere already a long time ago. Apple is not losing any market to anyone. The iPad 2 is selling as fast as they can produce it.

Most of the other tablets are a long way behind the iPad, and the much vaunted and more expensive Xoom is turning out to be a bit of a flop in the US, with neither the hardware nor Honeycomb being up to the task. Motorola is scrabbling to rescue it before it becomes another Microsoft Zune-like disaster.

 

[Pip]

I heard it elsewhere already a long time ago. Apple is not losing any market to anyone. The iPad 2 is selling as fast as they can produce it.

Not strictly true as all tablet sales are on the up, good and bad. The more people who make them, the lower the market % of iPads will go. Apple are doing their bit to keep it as high as they can with updates to try and keep ahead of the competition. However, the anti-apple community will always go for an alternative and the more choice they have, the more likely they are to buy one.