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I-Pad or Mac Book

R

RSchwartz

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
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May 5, 2007
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Location
Savage , MN
Looking to buy my first laptop computer around the holidays and could use some advice. I would like to go with the Apple macbook from apple but it has been suggested by a friend, that I consider purchasing the upcoming new version of the I-Pad instead.

I use my PC mainly for email, word processing, and the internet with occasional bookkeeping tasks. My friend says that the I-Pad can do all that and a lot more, costs approximately 50% less, has longer battery life, and is much lighter. The version 2 I-Pad, out later this year, will have additional features not found on a laptop.

So any thought Tuggers?; Laptop or new I-Pad. Which do you love and which would work better for my limited needs?
 
No one knows when the next iPad will be released. I'd be surprised if it's before next Spring.

What accounting application do you use? Is it web based? If not, I doubt it will work on an iPad. The MacBook is a great laptop.
 
I have an iPad and PC HP laptops. There's really no comparison...one is a little more than a toy and the other is something you can work with. You can't connect a printer to the iPad. No camera...no Skype. No Flash...Half the fun movies friends send won't run. Same thing for YouTube. It's so bad anything you want to load on your iPad has to be first loaded on a laptop and approved by Steve Jobs first. iPad is useless for reading books in sunlight and really too heavy for comfort. Buy the laptop.

Having said all that, I use my iPad every day...mainly for surfing the web or playing games. Videos have to be converted or bought from Mr Jobs to play, but they really look nice. But if I want to use Word, Excel, etc., no go. The iPad is a game changer but it's an entertainment device IMO. If that's what you want, you'll have fun with it but a lot of frustrations too.

Brian
 
I would go with the MacBook if it is your primary computer, as mentioned, the printing limitations of the I-Pad would be too difficult. I looked at it as a reading device and think it is too big and heavy for me and will either get a Kindle or wait till the I-Phone comes out for other phone companies. I think I could read fine on the phone, as well as have it serve all the other multi-functions of a smart phone.
Liz
 
I use my ipad as an extension of my desktop. There are work arounds for just about every issue mentioned. Ipad is a fantastic tool.
 
Go to an Apple Store or Best Buy and make the decision after trying both for awhile. The iPad can do everything, but you may not feel comfortable with its touch keyboard.
 
Apple has announced printing in the next update for the iPad. And, Apples $10 apps Pages and Numbers work extremely well for word processing and spreadsheets, even opening and saving Word and Excel docs.
 
Ken,
How long did it take you to get used to the keyboard? My son was using it happily within a very short time - maybe a day. I never had that much time with it (he doesn't want to let Mommy use his precious iPad). :rolleyes:
PJ
 
MacBook for sure

I have a MacBook and an iPad and if I had to live without one, it would be the iPad. Although it is a fun gadget, it doesn't have all the functionality I need and I have a number of freeware applications for the Mac that I love; none are yet available as iPad apps.
 
pjrose said:
Ken,
How long did it take you to get used to the keyboard? My son was using it happily within a very short time - maybe a day. I never had that much time with it (he doesn't want to let Mommy use his precious iPad). :rolleyes:
PJ
Click to expand...

Same. Not long at all. In fact, all the posts (until this one) I've posted on TUG over the last few days were from my iPad while I was waiting before/during meetings catching up on news... the iPad is a great device and I'm still thrilled with it. And I'm sure next year's version will be even better, and I'll be looking to sell mine then to buy the new one :)
 
pjrose said:
How long did it take you to get used to the keyboard?
PJ
Click to expand...

Maybe I've just been a touch typist for more years than I want to count, but I can't come close to my 80 wpm on the iPad, mainly because it's an entirely different 'touch' and I'm too old to learn new tricks. :) With a normal keyboard I rest my fingers in position on four keys...you cannot do that on the iPad touch screen or it will type so you have to hold your fingers above the screen which is an entirely different feel.

I now resort to using a couple of fingers on the iPad to type...and getting a little bit faster but no where near normal speed. I also have to read everything I've typed to make sure it's correct as the iPad annoyingly completes some words for you and not always the spelling you want.

However, if you are serious about typing speed, you can buy a keyboard attachment from Apple that also charges the iPad. However, that spoils the portability of the iPad. The main problem I have had is that I've never used Mac's in the past and it has given me the impression that even regular Apple computers don't have anywhere near the flexibility and connectivity of a PC for business work.

Brian
 
Thank you for all the great comments. I do use Excel to manage a couple of properties I rent out and I run TaxCut for my personal taxes. Looks like my next step is to visit an Apple store and compare both units and to see when vesion 2.0 might be coming out.
 
RSchwartz said:
Thank you for all the great comments. I do use Excel to manage a couple of properties I rent out and I run TaxCut for my personal taxes. Looks like my next step is to visit an Apple store and compare both units and to see when vesion 2.0 might be coming out.
Click to expand...

They don't know, so won't tell you... best guess is next Spring, since they tend to like annual renewal of each product. Now that Verizon is getting into the mix, though, who knows. Perhaps they'll release an iPad with CDMA for Verizon in January along with an iPhone (though I tend to doubt it).

I don't know of any native iPad accounting app that I would trust at this point. If you need an accounting solution, other than a 100% web-based one, I'd plan on buying a computer.
 
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