Ipad v netbook...am I being seduced by style over substance

[DuffyMoon]

I have a netbook but I want an Ipad...but cant help thinking that I only really want one because they are so ...well...desirable really. I only use my netbook for going on internet and it only has a small spec so can be a bit slow and clunky.
Has anyone changed to an Ipad - hate it ? love it? - are they style over substance?
Do I get an Ipad 2 or 3 - is it better to get higher spec 3, will I see a difference...or do I wait for the mini
Can someone make my mind up for me - always concerned if I get one today in 3 months time there will be a new super whizzy one

We had a netbook a while ago and now have iPads 1 &3 - iPad wins hands down. Ours get used for surfing, online shopping and bill paying, film/tv, music, games. I have cookbooks on the kindle app. Etc etc. I think it's the ability to customise it to your own interests that's the big attraction.

hmm - Ipad 2 or 3? - its things like ooooo retinal display, oooo better camera BUT are they justified by the extra £100 - things you notice when you first get your new toy but dont really use on a day to day basis

What about all the other tablets out there? Asus Transformer pad gives you best of both worlds being a tablet with a detachable keyboard. Then there's the Microsoft Surface coming out shortly running windows 8 with a flexible rubber keyboard. Samsung have also just announced their own 11.1" Windows 8 laptop with detachable keyboard. All of these are both cheaper and better than any iPad. Netbooks themselves are a bit out dated now, tablet/laptop hybrids are the future!

i do keep looking at other tablets...just keep coming back to ipad, they are the crack of the technology world !

I ummed and ahhed over an iPad when they first came out. I have a cool little laptop provided by work that's always at home at weekends so wasn't sure if I could justify the iPad.
I got the ipad2 last summer as I don't like using work laptop for personal things. Dinky as it is, it's a lot bigger than the iPad. We have just got a second iPad and have a load of Pre school apps on them, as well as iTunes and kids films which kept them happy on holiday when it came to calming down before bed. DH has been totally converted.
I would not have one as the sole computer in the house. There are still too many things that we use that use Flash and program's such as MS Money have no good equivalent on a Mac OS.
If, as you say, you are using it mainly for surfing the net, I would get a higher memory spec a you can afford. Ours are 64 and 32 gig. The operating system is 5gig so on a 16g iPad, you lose over a third of your space. One film, such as Cars is 1.5gig and some apps can be big too.

• I've been apostrophised by the autocorrect - programs plural that should be!

I know very little about technology, but I DO know that with iPad, or any apple product, you can only use apple apps etc. Anything else you can go to google app store and the whole market is available to you.
Google nexus 7

IPad don't have USB slots either. And you need a special sim for it. And to upgrade you need to buy the next iPad, rather than getting upgrades online.
They customise everything so you can only use apple products with it, e.g.charger etc,

ahhh - more choices...I have an ipod touch and an android phone so am used to both and know how restrictive apple are; though I have read that not many android apps are geared to tablets (yet) Okayyyyy so what non apple tablet would you say competes with ipad 3

But you can link an iPad to a pc and move files over. A USB slot would be rather handy

There are fewer tablet specific apps on Android, but that doesn't mean that the regular apps don't work. And it also doesn't mean there aren't plenty to choose from, there's still thousands of tablet apps on the android market.

I'd go for an Asus Transformer TF300 or TF700, or a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. But there's plenty of other options for all budgets.

I had same dilemma. Bought ipad and have no regrets. It is not much use for typing docs etc so I still use laptop for letter writing. You can do this on ipad but it's strength is that it is so accessible. Switches on, does not need to boot up-instant acces to net, music, photos etc. I use mine all the time.

I'm in a dilemma as I have an iPad but need to do a lot of word processing for my new job, also son1 needs something for him to do his homework on etc.

Is there a word processing package for the iPad? How does that work with printing etc? I don't have a clue

Can I pass on a little tip about buying iPad from Joh Lewis? Ask about returned ones, we ought a 64GB for £100 less because someone had returned it to upgrade. It hadn't even been taken out of the box. But JL don't advertise these

Sorry ours was 32gb

You can get an office type app and also a keyboard dock so you can use like a pc to an extent.

The other day I saw a bluetooth keyboard for about 20 quid (but it was a one day special). At least for those who want to type, it would make some tablets more usable.

I went the other way (away from portability) and just bought an Android v4 gizmo that plugs into the HDMI port on my (big) TV. With a USB mouse and wireless connection to the internet, it's a non-portable 'tablet' that supports nearly all the apps I have used on mobile and (Archos 7") tablet (and only cost about 30 quid - don't remember if I had to pay post - got it on Ebay).

KGBdeals (part of TalkTalk [yuk]) has a deal offering a 10" Android v4 netbook for 90 quid (down from 199) - see the unit here but you'd need to join KGBdeals.co.uk to get the discount. (plus 9.99 delivery, in the small print on the KGB site.)

Cybbo I have tried a few word processing apps, all have been shitola but haven't really pursued it as more like to word process on laptop

I've had it all and nothing, I mean nothing, comes close to the iPad.
Just my 2p.

and there is the rumoured Ipad mini... just dont want to make an expensive mistake...thank you for replies btw :)

I love my Samsung galaxy tab2 I'm using it now, I've had no problems with anything I've looked at, i can expand the memory with a microsd and i got adapters so i can put my cameras schd in it and my usb stick.

However there is a massive difference between a tablet and a notepad, if you just want to mess around on the net read books and watch video then a tablet is for you, but if you want to do proper work as well a keyboard is vital, thus i would second the transformer for an all in one machine.

I already have a laptop so it's not for me.

Take a look at the Kindle Fire. I got an email about it Friday. Looks like it could meet you browsing requirements although I don't know about app availability.