ipad2

[gizzywizzy]

Been promised an ipad2 for Christmas, have a Samsung netbook at present which has just recently died a death. 

Question is should I ask for another netbook or go with the offer of the ipad?  I know the ipad looks coolio but is it as good as a netbook?

[Steve30]

It depends on what your going to be doing , but the ipad will will wipe the floor with it 

If you have the money get a macbook air or macbook pro which will P*ss on the ipad

[Jay]

iPad's are completely different in the terms of uses to netbooks or Macbook iProAirWillyWavingVTechOSToys


Depends what you need/want an iPad for or netbook/laptop for. Weigh up the pro's and con's and decide what you need/want more.

[bobotheclown]

You will still need a computer of some kind to transfer your music/video/ebooks to the ipad. Unless of course you want to buy all your music again via the itunes store. There is a limit to how many times I'm going to buy the Beatles White album.

[DubFan]

We have both a netbook (2yrs old) and an iPad2.
The netbook only gets used these days for playing video files on the TV. It wasn't as good as a full size laptop and battery life isn't that great.
The iPad, battery life is good, it's comfortable to use on your lap while sat on the sofa or in bed. Good for browsing the internet, Facebook, checking email (although writing email isn't great), great for the apps like BBC iPlayer, Amazon shop, games, etc.
But the downside is typing. You can't seriously type on it. Forget emails or documents, no chance as the on screen keyboard is rubbish for any typing beyond a 1 line email.
Also you can't print from an iPad unless you have a brand new AirPrint capable printer and there are only a few of those.

It's a personal  thing though and depends what you want it for.
My wife uses the iPad all the time cos she only wants to browse the internet and Facebook, but I prefer a fully functioning laptop.

[gizzywizzy]

Thanks for the replies, guess I'll go with the ipad offer and use our back up Acer laptop for emailing etc.  I will only be using the ipad for gaming and internet browsing really.

[DubFan]

Thanks for the replies, guess I'll go with the ipad offer and use our back up Acer laptop for emailing etc.  I will only be using the ipad for gaming and internet browsing really.

Fair enough. The one major downside with the iPad for internet browsing is that the iPad doesn't work with Flash content, so websites that use a lot of Flash will be terrible to use. Even simple functions on websites, like the zooming of product photos on the Argos website use Flash, but therefore that doesn't work on the iPad.

[vMWMv]

From reading a few of your updates, it seems an iPad is perfect for you. I'm in the technology industry and get into countless debates about Apple and their products. The majority of my friends and colleagues just don't get the point of them i.e. they do such intense computing that anything less than a high-spec laptop isn't good enough. But for the average user - as it seems you are - it's perfect. You can brose, e-mail and game a lot easier (arguably) than using a netbook or the like. So personally, I'd go for the iPad.

The only downside is if you download. But Jailbreaking (though I don't do it) would probably sort it out. And not to mention the rumours of a new iPad just after January - so you may be paying for a premium slate computer that'll be a version behind in a matter of months.

[Kerrse]

We have both a netbook (2yrs old) and an iPad2.
The netbook only gets used these days for playing video files on the TV. It wasn't as good as a full size laptop and battery life isn't that great.
The iPad, battery life is good, it's comfortable to use on your lap while sat on the sofa or in bed. Good for browsing the internet, Facebook, checking email (although writing email isn't great), great for the apps like BBC iPlayer, Amazon shop, games, etc.
But the downside is typing. You can't seriously type on it. Forget emails or documents, no chance as the on screen keyboard is rubbish for any typing beyond a 1 line email.
Also you can't print from an iPad unless you have a brand new AirPrint capable printer and there are only a few of those.

It's a personal  thing though and depends what you want it for.
My wife uses the iPad all the time cos she only wants to browse the internet and Facebook, but I prefer a fully functioning laptop.

I actually find the Ipad easier to type on than a normal keyboard i use it for all my emails nowadays. i also use it for airplaying films to my apple tv saves booting up the mac.

There are quite a few airprint capable printers, although maybe a tad expensive still!

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/printers?n=airprint&s=topSellers

[DubFan]

I actually find the Ipad easier to type on than a normal keyboard i use it for all my emails nowadays. i also use it for airplaying films to my apple tv saves booting up the mac.

There are quite a few airprint capable printers, although maybe a tad expensive still!

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/printers?n=airprint&s=topSellers

Well yes, it's a personal thing, if you get on with the small touchscreen keyboard that's fine. Some people prefer small keyboards anyway.
Yes there are AirPrint capable printers, but if you already have a decent printer then it's yet another thing you have to buy because Apple won't make their product compatible with standard network printers.
Perhaps Apple/someone could make an AirPrint wifi printer server that you can just plug any printer into and then it will be available to your iPad, and that would be cheaper than buying a whole new printer.