Which Tablet

[CoenP]

Fwiw, if you're going the Apple route I suggest to save for the ipad three aka 'the new ipad'. No, I urge you to!
It's screen is the best I have ever seen. Razor sharp, fantastic contrast and colours.
This should really help navigating with xx. As an every day user if it I can contest that the difference with an ipad two is night and day.

And this forum is about high resolution, eh?!

Coen

[PeterSt]

If it is for XXHighEnd only, consider the Archos Arnova 8" 8 G2 4GB. Can be bought here for 118 euro incl. 19% VAT.

I selected this one myself at first, but went for a more expensive one because of 3G, GPS and longer battery life (Archos 8" 80 G9 8GB, 199 euro).

To only try out a few things only I'd really go for the cheapest which reasonably should do the job. 118 euro is a gadget. 199 already is not, let alone 400.

So, just some thoughts again.
Peter

[manisandher]

Haha, too late for me. I already ordered the iPad3...

I would have happily settled for a cheap Android tablet, but wanted one with ICS and of course bluetooth. After a bit of time researching, it became obvious that such a device isn't that easy to find. So I opted for the iPad3.

Mani.

[PeterSt]

Good. I just came back to emphasize on the size. So, mine is 8" and it really is too small to my likings. Not for XXHighEnd control (you will see ) but for general reading. The iPad is 9.7" I think, and that really makes a difference ...

[juanpmar]

Just in case the new iPad (iPad 3) would be the final choice, could someone tell me what model to choose?. I´d use it mostly as remote for XX but also occasionally as ebook and surfing the web. I think that I don´t need 3G (or 4G)...I guess

Best regards,
Juan

[CoenP]

I've got the 32gig one without 3/4G. Wifi seems ubiquitus in urban area; coffee stores and McDs are everywhere. Only if you want to use it on the road you should consider the 3g version.

Regards, Coen

[juanpmar]

Hi Coen, thanks for the advise

Regards,
Juan

[manisandher]

Juan, one of the things I really like about my iPhone is the FaceTime feature (video phone). I travel a lot for work and it's just great connecting to a hotel's wifi and being able to spend as long as I want talking to my family back home... absolutely free. I know that Skype do a similar thing, but it's really easy on the iPhone if the recipent also has an iPhone.

It occcured to me as I placed the order for my iPad3 that FaceTime would be great on it. But I'm not actually sure it works unless you have the 3G/4G version - I mean, how would it have a phone number without a sim card?

If you want to explore video phoning then a 3G/4G might be a better option. But I really don't know about any of this so a more experienced Apple user might be able to confirm this.

Mani.

[juanpmar]

Thanks Mani, maybe a more experienced iPad user could help us about to get the 3G model or not because could be a good idea to communicate with someone else using also the image.

Best regards,
Juan

[juanpmar]

It occcured to me as I placed the order for my iPad3 that FaceTime would be great on it. But I'm not actually sure it works unless you have the 3G/4G version - I mean, how would it have a phone number without a sim card?

If you want to explore video phoning then a 3G/4G might be a better option. But I really don't know about any of this so a more experienced Apple user might be able to confirm this.

Mani.

Hi Mani, reading the iPad manual I´ve found that you only need wi-fi to use FaceTime (see pg 55 http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/ipad_user_guide.pdf.) If you are outside in a place without wi-fi you can use your iphone with 3G to provide your iPad with 3G.

That means that if I am going to use the iPad mostly as a remote the best option is the cheapest one or as much the 32gb model , although I´m not sure if I need that extra 16gb. This extra 16gb cost 100€ that I could use for example to buy an authentic ebook. I´m not going to use the iPad to store movies or to play games so probably the 16gb is my best option. I´m going to wait for a while before I order it to see other´s opinion.

At 479€ for the cheapest iPad I must add also the price of the bluetooth dongles, two in my case, and that makes a total of 579€ which is a big amount for a remote.

Best regards,
Juan

[PeterSt]

If you are outside in a place without wi-fi you can use your iphone with 3G to provide your iPad with 3G.

Are you sure about this ?

Anyway, don't think that you can thether the iPad with WiFi from the iPhone. Alost any phone will do it, but not the iPhone. That's why you "have" to by the iPad 3G version - assuming that you also will have an iPhone.

At 479€ for the cheapest iPad I must add also the price of the bluetooth dongles, two in my case, and that makes a total of 579€ which is a big amount for a remote.

Wait until you spent that other 100 for "sh*t" you will need. It starts with a cover (unavoidable) and when not careful you want a keyboard, a mouse (but you can do without) and when not more careful you like gadgets like an Apple TV (which is a must-have, but costs a 100 alone).

For a remote ?


Peter

[CoenP]

If you keep things simple 16g will do, eur100 for 16 extra gigs is a lot of money. I was running into the limits of my 16g ipad1 though, thats why I opted for the 32g version.

Keep in mind that the ipad is potentially much more than a xx remote. On my work I use it for taking notes and reading documents and mail. Though I have a laptop from my employer I find the pad much more convenient for all tasks save for the making and editing of office documents. Whether you go the apple or android route, you will be amazed by the many (free) apps.

If you want a realistic picture of the total cost I would factor in the magnetic cover and a rear protection skin. Especially when you have kids running around.

Though I don't have a 3g version I am pretty shure that the ipad-apps do not care what kind of internetconnection is available (wifi or 3g). Facetime is through your apple-id between apple divices. For skype you need your own skype account.

Regards, Coen

[juanpmar]

If you are outside in a place without wi-fi you can use your iphone with 3G to provide your iPad with 3G.

Are you sure about this ?

Anyway, don't think that you can thether the iPad with WiFi from the iPhone. Alost any phone will do it, but not the iPhone. That's why you "have" to by the iPad 3G version - assuming that you also will have an iPhone.

At 479€ for the cheapest iPad I must add also the price of the bluetooth dongles, two in my case, and that makes a total of 579€ which is a big amount for a remote.

Wait until you spent that other 100 for "sh*t" you will need. It starts with a cover (unavoidable) and when not careful you want a keyboard, a mouse (but you can do without) and when not more careful you like gadgets like an Apple TV (which is a must-have, but costs a 100 alone).

For a remote ?


Peter

No, I´m not sure, I just read that it is possible to use the iPhone to thether it to the iPad.

Of course I know that I´m going to use the iPad also for some other things, like surfing the web or reading the XX forum but you are right, there are an unlimited world of accesories that can rise the final cost.
On the other hand the difference with the cheapest device to be used as remote could be around 300€. Does this difference make it worth what the iPad offers in terms of image quality or speed surfing the web?. I need to make further investigations.

Regards,
Juan

[CoenP]

Just a last remark on the new ipad screen. Do not underestimate the importance of this for reading (ibooks, but especially surfing the web). Next to the better sharpness, the new ipad screen had far better contrast, wich helps too. I think the money is well spent in the end.

I have not seen any comparable screen yet. The best other one is the Blackberry Playbook, which is much smaller and runs on RIM. You can emulate Android on it, but that doesn't work well for most apps. Not an option really I think. On the positive side this device is a super bargain compared to the alternatives..

regards, Coen

[PeterSt]

For those who can't decide :

You have to realize that the iPad has no other connections than WiFi. So, nothing, nada, zilch. Together with some Apple policies this means that certain file types (like eBooks) can't be obtained over your network because no functionality is there to do it. So, something like "Copy" doesn't exist, but grabbing files by means of applications (say "readers") can. If you have that app(lication).

This comes down to sheer stupid possibilities of DropBox to do things. I would go cracy for sure, and I am in much luck that I don't use the iPad at all.

So ... one key decision point is that I'd say any other tablet will have a USB connection. Now you are in lack of nothing. But watch for the USB connection anyway, because possibly the cheapest devices don't have it, but then to save on costs.

And about Apple's attitude ... yes indeed. So for example, when you activate your iPad you MUST install iTunes on some other (WiFi) connected PC. Installing iTunes is the worst, already because it needs QuickTime and it goes into everything. iTunes can be thrown out after the activation, but whether you will ever be able to throw out all ... maybe not. NEVER do this on your Audio PC.

Peter