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Original poster

Who has an iPad??

13 replies

mosschops30 · 07/02/2011 14:52

I have to get rid of my ancient desktop computer as we are having a new sofa which will go where I am sitting right now.

dh thinks I should get an ipad. We have 2 laptops in the house (dd's and dh's work one). I only used t'internet for browsing/shopping/MN/booking hols etc.

Are there any drawbacks to the ipad? Should I consider anything else instead?

Any advice would be great

OP posts:

pigsinmud · 07/02/2011 15:14

I have an iPad. It is great for most Internet stuff. Some thing are easier on a laptop. Hate doing sainburys shop on iPad as there is no app.

I use iPad for emails, put photos straight on it. It is fab. As long as you still have access to laptop you will be fine. I have a job hanging on to mine as the children want it.

MmeLindt · 08/02/2011 08:11

It is not suitable as only PC in the house, as you cannot view websites with Adobe Flash, and it does not have USB port.

This means that you may have to use your laptop to access certain websites.

Aside from that it is great.

You might want to wait until the new one comes out though, as it is rumoured to have a front facing camera so you can use Facetime (video telephone to other iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch user) and USB.

I would go for a cover with integrated keyboard, like this kind of thing.

The only thing that I am not sure about is shopping. I have not looked into this properly, but since the iPad does not have anti-virus program, I am a bit cautious about using it to shop online. And I never use it to do online banking.

prism · 08/02/2011 09:03

Yeah- it really isn't suitable as your only computer as MmeLindt says, for those and other reasons. It's a great toy and doesn't have any anti-virus software as there are no viruses that affect it, nor are there any that affect Macs.

Personally I am not that fond of the iPad because I don't like on-screen virtual keyboards (yes I know you can connect one but then it's not the elegant thing the iPad was meant to be). But that is just my personal preference- many people love them.

MmeLindt · 08/02/2011 09:13

Prism
Is that true? Why do no viruses affect Macs?

And what about phishing?

It may be coincidence, but my credit card was used fraudulently 3 times in the past year since we bought the iPad. That was when I stopped using it to shop on.

malovitt · 08/02/2011 09:14

I use mine all the time, although I have a proper iMac too at home.

I do a lot of train travel and it's brilliant for watching films on the go and fits in my favourite handbag.
The lack of Flash is a bit of a problem sometimes. Looking forward to to iPlayer app which is supposed to be coming out this Friday.
I do shopping and banking on it - never had a problem.

pigsinmud · 08/02/2011 10:43

I have used it for shopping and online banking with no problems. I am on it now and have got used to the onscreen keyboard, although I frequently hit "b" instead of the space bar!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 08/02/2011 11:05

The no virus thing is simply because no bugger can be bothered to write them for Macs. Why do that when you can stuff up all the Windows computers? :o Having said that, viruses do surface for Macs from time to time, certainly more than there used to be but it's still negligible.

MmeLindt · 08/02/2011 13:41

That is all very reassuring. Still no nearer to finding out how my credit card details were stolen then.

I find that I often have a row of ppppppp when I have tried to delete something.

Must order one of those cases that I keep banging on about.

Original poster

mosschops30 · 08/02/2011 16:53

Really no USB??? How can you download from itunes then?
What sort of sites would I be using for adobe flash?

Not sure if I should get a laptop instead then

OP posts:

MmeLindt · 08/02/2011 19:33

You download straight from iTunes on the iPad. There are ways around not having a USB.

I use an app that enables me to shove data and photos from PC to iPad (or to iPhone). It is really great, because you can have it on all your PCs and gadgets and you don't have to email stuff to yourself, just drag and drop into your dropbox. Great if you have larger amounts of data to transfer.

Flash sites are getting less common, I think. There are few websites that I try to get on that don't work, but there is again a workaround with an app. It is not 100% but not bad.

Other than that, if you don't mind waiting, the new iPad is rumoured to have these things, and more new stuff too.

WotzNotNot · 08/02/2011 19:37

I don't, but I am willing to trial one for free, for research reasons if apple wants to send me one.

RustyBear · 08/02/2011 22:16

MmeLindt - have you ever shopped online with Lush?

Niceguy2 · 08/02/2011 22:35

I have an ipad & I love it.

But I'd have to say I'd wait until the ipad2 comes out in a couple of months. Either get that or get a clearance one or even a 2nd hand one from people trading up.

If you are just doing some light surfing they cannot be beaten but are no replacement for a proper computer.

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