IPAD Pros and cons to laptop

pirelli

I can get a laptop now with i3 core which is faster than a dual core. The laptop is light and easy to use. It is on Dell now on special offer the vostro 3500 and has great
reviews.http://ireland.dell.com/ie/en/business/Laptops/vostro-3500/pd.aspx?refid=vostro-3500&s=bsd&cs=iebsdt1


However it dawned on me that for the same money i could buy an ipad. I also realised i know very little about it.

Questions

What is the battery life of an IPAD? -

How do you get the internet -

Do you signup and use 3G /vodaphone/eircom mobile internet devices.

Does apple provide its own device.

Does it come with Wifi so you can use it in hotspots.

Would it be suitable to use for fast internet access to surf many
websites at once as well as use some basic applications.

Is it slower than a regular laptop like the one i listed.


Now i have a desktop computer at home and want the IPAD or LAPTOP to use for simple tasks while out and about. I would like to use it for access to the internet and would really want to be able to access alot of TABS and web pages at once and really it's all about internet speed.

VisionaryP

Here you go

naasrd

Put your hands in the air and step away from the iPad sir. Base, we got a PC user over in Apple Media Devices...request back up.

pirelli

Ha Ha ! you guys are so funnny. I don't have any laptop yet so techncially i am a potential Apple customer..

I have read all the self serving Ipad ( ipad explained ) videos.

Do you have to sign up with apple to use internet when you buy the ipad?
How much does it cost .. is there strict download limits.

A fair question .. is it not.

VisionaryP

pirelli wrote: »

Do you have to sign up with apple to use internet when you buy the ipad?
How much does it cost .. is there strict download limits.

A fair question .. is it not.

Yes. It's a €150 sign-up fee, then €50 a month. The download limits aren't too strict. You get to view unlimited .ie sites and 80 .com sites each month. Emails are free under 140 characters, and 5cent each if you go above that.

Inquitus

VisionaryP wrote: »

Yes. It's a €150 sign-up fee, then €50 a month. The download limits aren't too strict. You get to view unlimited .ie sites and 80 .com sites each month. Emails are free under 140 characters, and 5cent each if you go above that.

Aye and you can only use flash on the 8th day of each week.

djgaillimh

pirelli wrote: »

Would it be suitable to use for fast internet access to surf many
websites at once as well as use some basic applications.

Is it slower than a regular laptop like the one i listed.


Now i have a desktop computer at home and want the IPAD or LAPTOP to use for simple tasks while out and about. I would like to use it for access to the internet and would really want to be able to access alot of TABS and web pages at once and really it's all about internet speed.

If those are your requirements then do not, under any circumstances, get an iPad.

It's a luxury device, it's not a replacement for a laptop. In fact you'll find browsing very slow compared to most laptops. You may even find it slow compared to some mobile phones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdgG5NNxARo

Also, it only has 256MB RAM so you won't be able to have loads of tabs open at once (google ipad low memory warning) and, of course, there won't be any multitasking. So forget about alt-tabbing between open applications. No USB ports either.


It serves its purpose, but it's a very, very limited device...

For browsing, get the laptop and download Google Chrome. Get the iPad if you just want something lying around the house for casual browsing and games.

cornbb

djgaillimh wrote: »

In fact you'll find browsing very slow compared to most laptops. You may even find it slow compared to some mobile phones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdgG5NNxARo

citation needed? I've only heard that it's fast.

From the NY Times:

At least Apple had the decency to give the iPad a really fast processor. Things open fast, scroll fast, load fast. Surfing the Web is a heck of a lot better than on the tiny iPhone screen — first, because it’s so fast, and second, because you don’t have to do nearly as much zooming and panning

Talking about how much RAM is has is a bit beside the point when the numbers don't describe what the experience is like.

VisionaryP

Browsing is just as fast as on a desktop PC when you're on WiFi. Obviously slower on 3G, but then so would a laptop be. And I've had 9 tabs going without a hint of slowdown or any low memory warning.

djgaillimh

It has a 1GHz A4 CPU.

Whatever way you want to spin that, it's not as fast as the 2.2/2.4 Ghz i3 CPU in the laptop he's looking at.

See the video in my post above for evidence of a mobile phone browser beating the pants off the iPad browser.

Google Chrome on a laptop with a 2.4GHz CPU is going to load and render pages a lot faster. There's no debate here...


The RAM point is important because he said he likes to have loads of tabs open at once. The available memory will limit how many windows/tabs he can have open at the same time. I don't know what the exact limit is, but I've heard of people running out of memory with only 4 or 5 pages open on the iPad.

The laptop will have at least two gigs of RAM, meaning he can have quite a few tabs open (as well as background apps) without slowing down his machine.


Like I said, the iPad serves its purpose, but it's very much a living-room gadget and it doesn't in any way suit this guy's needs.

Inquitus

VisionaryP wrote: »

Browsing is just as fast as on a desktop PC when you're on WiFi. Obviously slower on 3G, but then so would a laptop be. And I've had 9 tabs going without a hint of slowdown or any low memory warning.

Thats crap, it's much slower then my phone, and my laptop or desktop on wifi, and its not the wifi connection either cos 720p movies stream just fine. Its slow to load and render webpages, faster than an iPhone 3GS, but slower than Froyo Android, and way slower than a laptop or desktop.

VisionaryP

The average web page is about 200 to 300KB. If you think there will be a noticeable speed difference loading that, well God bless you and your bullet time reflexes.

djgaillimh

VisionaryP wrote: »

The average web page is about 200 to 300KB. If you think there will be a noticeable speed difference loading that, well God bless you and your bullet time reflexes.

Depends on the site though. If there's a lot of multi-media content you'll see a huge difference in load times.

And then there's the flash issue, which I'm not going to rehash but it's still a big deal if he's getting it primarily for browsing...

I'm not saying the ipad is rubbish or anything, but it is limited and it's definitely not what the OP is looking for.

VisionaryP

djgaillimh wrote: »

Depends on the site though. If there's a lot of multi-media content you'll see a huge difference in load times.

And then there's the flash issue, which I'm not going to rehash but it's still a big deal if he's getting it primarily for browsing...

I'm not saying the ipad is rubbish or anything, but it is limited and it's definitely not what the OP is looking for.

Aye, no argument there. I'm not sure the OP knows what he's looking for, tbh. If heavy browsing is his thing, that's not a great laptop for him either.

Inquitus

VisionaryP wrote: »

The average web page is about 200 to 300KB. If you think there will be a noticeable speed difference loading that, well God bless you and your bullet time reflexes.

The BBC Sports Homepage, as an example, loads 5x to 10x faster on this laptop then on my iPad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport

VisionaryP

Download the BBC news app.

Inquitus

VisionaryP wrote: »

Download the BBC news app.

It's a reactive app, it has nothing on Spains win over Portugal yet......bar the one line latest update that scrolls across the top. It also cherry picks what to report, no tennis news apart from the one match featuring Venus and her shock defeat. Indeed it has nothing on the 3pm football game yet either.

djgaillimh

VisionaryP wrote: »

Aye, no argument there. I'm not sure the OP knows what he's looking for, tbh. If heavy browsing is his thing, that's not a great laptop for him either.

It's a little bit big, I reckon. 15.5 inches is less portable than it sounds. It's a good price though.

Maybe wander into the sony shop and have a look at some of the vaio models, OP. If nothing else it'll give you a feel for the relative sizes and weights of the laptops.

displaced dub

Inquitus wrote: »

It's a reactive app, it has nothing on Spains win over Portugal yet......bar the one line latest update that scrolls across the top. It also cherry picks what to report, no tennis news apart from the one match featuring Venus and her shock defeat. Indeed it has nothing on the 3pm football game yet either.

What do you need to know about Spains win except they won, you probably watched it so you know what happened:D:D

Hi P, ive had my iPad pretty much since launch in the states and i cant and will not be separated from it, even my misses loves it and my 2.5year old loves the books on it.

Its better than a laptop to me for what i need it for, web, mail, stocks, videos and apps. You could also help my apple stock by buying one so please do

djgaillimh

displaced dub wrote: »

Its better than a laptop to me for what i need it for, web, mail, stocks, videos and apps. You could also help my apple stock by buying one so please do

Yeah, I'd move that now if I were you! Dropped 12 today and on top of the economic worries that hit the market this week, they may be facing a class action lawsuit over the iPhone (it's already in the works apparently).

It's looking more and more like the antenna issue is affecting all their new phones, and the problem is just being masked in areas with very good reception. Bad news... could easily translate to a $30 drop.

adox

Op I'd advise you to research beyond this thread for info on the iPad, cause there is a load of misinformation to say the least.

There are plenty of threads on boards about it.

SolarNexus

pirelli wrote: »

I can get a laptop now with i3 core which is faster than a dual core. The laptop is light and easy to use. It is on Dell now on special offer the vostro 3500 and has great
reviews.http://ireland.dell.com/ie/en/business/Laptops/vostro-3500/pd.aspx?refid=vostro-3500&s=bsd&cs=iebsdt1


However it dawned on me that for the same money i could buy an ipad. I also realised i know very little about it.

Questions

What is the battery life of an IPAD? - All day, possibly longer if you use 3G/WiFi sparingly

How do you get the internet - See Below

Do you signup and use 3G /vodaphone/eircom mobile internet devices. - You would sign up to one of the many 3G mobile broadband offerings from o2, VodaFone, Meteor, Three etc. Typical pricing pegged at approx 20eur p/m

Does apple provide its own device. - Yes, in the 3G model. No extra hardware/devices required, its built-in.

Does it come with Wifi so you can use it in hotspots. - Yes, all models do.

Would it be suitable to use for fast internet access to surf many
websites at once as well as use some basic applications. - Your mileage may vary, but for the most part yes.

Is it slower than a regular laptop like the one i listed. - Yes, quite a bit more limited in scope and functionality too. I'll explain below.


Now i have a desktop computer at home and want the IPAD or LAPTOP to use for simple tasks while out and about. I would like to use it for access to the internet and would really want to be able to access alot of TABS and web pages at once and really it's all about internet speed. - In that case, you want a netbook or other laptop, not an iPad.

I think given your requirements, you'll be better off with a netbook or at least scaling back your requirements if your dead set on an iPad.

Personally, I couldnt recommend an iPad for productivity use, it is a luxury item like djgaillimh said and its made for consuming media (Video, Music, Games) its not really made for productivity. Sure theres some stuff on there that'll allow you to get stuff done if your out in the field and all you have is an iPad, but no, I would never recommend it as being a general productivity tool like a laptop is.

pirelli

displaced dub wrote: »

What do you need to know about Spains win except they won, you probably watched it so you know what happened:D:D

Hi P, ive had my iPad pretty much since launch in the states and i cant and will not be separated from it, even my misses loves it and my 2.5year old loves the books on it.

Its better than a laptop to me for what i need it for, web, mail, stocks, videos and apps. You could also help my apple stock by buying one so please do

Hi D

I was considering but I am leaning back towards a light laptop. I think i will wait for a more powerful version. Knowing Apple of late they have been relentless in improvising and upgrading exisiting products. I expect the ipad will be no different.

I did want to use it for stocks while on the move, so it would have to be fast and handle the broker software and platform and many many tabs that come with searching for news etc.

pirelli

djgaillimh wrote: »

It's a little bit big, I reckon. 15.5 inches is less portable than it sounds. It's a good price though.

Maybe wander into the sony shop and have a look at some of the vaio models, OP. If nothing else it'll give you a feel for the relative sizes and weights of the laptops.

Thanks djgaillimh

SolarNexus wrote: »

I think given your requirements, you'll be better off with a netbook or at least scaling back your requirements if your dead set on an iPad.

Personally, I couldnt recommend an iPad for productivity use, it is a luxury item like djgaillimh said and its made for consuming media (Video, Music, Games) its not really made for productivity. Sure theres some stuff on there that'll allow you to get stuff done if your out in the field and all you have is an iPad, but no, I would never recommend it as being a general productivity tool like a laptop is.

Thanks solar nexus

uvox

adox wrote: »

Op I'd advise you to research beyond this thread for info on the iPad, cause there is a load of misinformation to say the least.

There are plenty of threads on boards about it.

Agreed. Not that the mainstream newspapers are any better (None of journos have an understanding of user experience in either the consumer or enterprise space for that matter). Look at the number of its "a bigger iPhone/not as a good as a laptop/I'll need a different sized bag for it" claims. None of this stuff stands up to any analysis in terms of usage requirements.


More: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showp...7&postcount=37

To be honest if you haven't got a clear use case of why you want any device you're setting yourself up to be personally disappointed.