iPad, Quick Review and things to know if buying from the US. (now with pics)

culabula · 31-05-2010 11:27PM

Branoic wrote: »

I can't say i've come across this problem, and I've done a fair bit of ipad typing.

S O R T E D

It was the keyboard layout was wrong. Somehow I'd chosen Qwerty instead of English (UK) and qwerty hardware layout (I have multiple keyboards for various language).

Basq · 01-06-2010 11:39AM

Has it been confirmed how much iPad pricing will be here in Ireland when it's released in July? I know I saw "Euro-Zone" prices banded about of either €479 or €499.

I'm in Miami in a fortnight but I was half-thinking of waiting til it's released here. I mean in Miami, I'll be paying $499 + $30 (6% sales tax) = $529 (or €430) and not to mention customs.

That plus I'll be getting a US plug with it.. I mean, if it's the €479 for the base model here, I reckon I'll wait the extra month.

Dades · 01-06-2010 12:28PM

If it's much under €500 I'm thinking of getting the missis one as a surprise. (I still owe her something for producing my kids.

)

I've bitched about them but it's perfect for her couch/home surfing antics.

Basq · 01-06-2010 12:42PM

Dades wrote: »

If it's much under €500 I'm thinking of getting the missis one as a surprise. (I still owe her something for producing my kids. )

I've bitched about them but it's perfect for her couch/home surfing antics.

I reckon it'll be €499.

Father of the year right there!

Just hope you don't refer to them as "produce" on a daily basis.

Dades · 01-06-2010 01:26PM

Yeah €499 sounds like a nice round number for pricing.

As long as the eldest produce doesn't get her hands on it.

adox · 01-06-2010 08:35PM

adox wrote: »

None to be had here in NY. Rang the Apple store Saturday morning to see if they had stock or if I could reserve one. No stock and at least a weeks waiting list.

Well it's my last day here in NY, flying home tonight. Decided to take a trip up to the Apple store on 5th avenue as I have a few hours to kill.
Asked on the off chance if they had any ipads in stock and the guy told me they got a batch of 16GB wifi in half an hour ago. I couldn't resist and pi ked one up.

More bizzarely the sales guy lived in Ireland for a couple ofyears and actually lived right across the road from where I grew up and where my parents still live. I nearly dropped when he said he had lived in Portmarnock.

I also picked up $40 worth of iTunes vouchers when I was there. Was tempted to pick upa pouch too but $40 seemed a bit steep.

Question about bringing it back(and I'm not looking for direct advi e at avoiding potential customs payments). I intend to take it out of the box, put the charger and leads in my suitcase and put the ipad itself in my rugsack to carry on the plane. Seems like the best solution? Will I need to take it out of my rugsack going through the x-ray machine does anyone know? Like you do with laptops?

Basq · 01-06-2010 08:40PM

adox wrote: »

Will I need to take it out of my rugsack going through the x-ray machine does anyone know? Like you do with laptops?

I'd certainly assume it'd need to be taken out of your rugsack alright.

Vorrtexx · 02-06-2010 12:02AM

adox wrote: »

Will I need to take it out of my rugsack going through the x-ray machine does anyone know? Like you do with laptops?

You shouldn't need to if you're traveling in or from the US. TSA stated on their website several weeks ago that you don't need to remove e-readers, netbooks or ipads from your bag to put through the x-ray separately. However it could all be up to the security officer's discretion on the day.

jesus_thats_gre · 02-06-2010 02:10AM

basquille wrote: »

I'd certainly assume it'd need to be taken out of your rugsack alright.

Read somewhere that you don't need to.

adox · 02-06-2010 02:13AM

Vorrtexx wrote: »

You shouldn't need to if you're traveling in or from the US. TSA stated on their website several weeks ago that you don't need to remove e-readers, netbooks or ipads from your bag to put through the x-ray separately. However it could all be up to the security officer's discretion on the day.

Thanks for that. I already went through before reading your post. I took it out just in case, as they weren't the friendliest.

Picked up a screen protector, screen wipe and silicon sleeve in the airpot and just put them on(air bubbles of course, I never get that 100%). Powered up and found I could get an hours free wifi here, so typing on And using my iPad for the first time, hearer in jfk.

Lovely jubbly so far. Will download some apps when I get home. I have $40 in iTunes cards that I picked up also so that should keep me going.

adox · 02-06-2010 08:09PM

Back home now and have had a couple of hours to have a play with the iPad. Loving it so far. Very fast and the screen really is a thing of beauty.

Favourite app, from my limited use so far, is easily Airvideo. It was a great little app for the iPod touch, but it absolutely shines on the iPad. Can stream all my divx files etc with on the fly encoding to the iPad. Can watch 350mb tv shows in full screen without any real loss of quality. I loved the idea of this app when I got it for the iPod touch, but in truth rarely used it as the screen was so small. It will be used big time now.

On the flight home, the guy sitting beside me has an iPad with the apple case that opens like a book. It looked lovely in it and seemed quite practical, the way he could use the cover as a stand really impressed me. He sat beside me watching tv shows with his iPad on the table in front of him, free standing and angled towards him with the aid of the cover.

I really want to get one of these covers now. I didn't see them at all in the apple store in New York, just third party ones and nones that really looked too inviting. Anyone know where these may be available online?

Connected my iPad up to iMac earlier and it synced no problem, but one oddity was that it didn't charge at all while connected. It actually had text next to the battery display saying "not charging" when it was connected. I have a 3 pin mains adaptor so that has charged fine. I just tried it to make sure. Not that it needs charging yet. It seems to have really good battery life, I'm still only down to 62% and that's after roughly 4 hours use, browsing video playback etc.

Basq · 02-06-2010 08:12PM

adox wrote: »

On the flight home, the guy sitting beside me has an iPad with the apple case that opens like a book. It looked lovely in it and seemed quite practical, the way he could use the cover as a stand really impressed me. He sat beside me watching tv shows with his iPad on the table in front of him, free standing and angled towards him with the aid of the cover.

I really want to get one of these covers now. I didn't see them at all in the apple store in New York, just third party ones and nones that really looked too inviting. Anyone know where these may be available online?

Yep.. I saw this case on the iPad release and thought it was an absolute must-have. The way you saw it sitting angled is the way Apple advertise it. Like so:

Don't know if it's widely available over here yet - possibly up North in short supply.

EDIT: £30 on Apple Store UK.. but can't be shipped to the Republic obviously. But doesn't have the best reviews!

adox · 02-06-2010 08:25PM

Yeah that's it. That's exactly how he had it. I'm surprised at the negative reviews as it looked so practical. Having said that I didn't actually get my hands on it. He fell asleep and it was sitting there for a couple of hours without budging, even when we went through turbulence with seat belts back on, it didn't move.

The op (Graham?) said he got a case with his and thought it was essential. I wonder if it's the same one? I have a plastic protective screen cover and a black silicon case but I'd much prefer the book style option,especially with the option in the picture.

Basq · 02-06-2010 08:31PM

Yep.. when I get my iPad, I'm definitely picking up that case or something similar.

The way it's angled just looks ideal for watching movies.

There's a fair few like it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_p_6_2?rh=n%3A560798%2Ck%3Aipad+leather+case%2Cp_6%3AA3P5ROKL5A1OLE&bbn=560798&keywords=ipad+leather+case&ie=UTF8&qid=1275507058&rnid=367776011

culabula · 02-06-2010 10:37PM

I got the Incase for iPad "in case" you're interested :-). It's great and costs 49 euro.

yawnstretch · 02-06-2010 10:53PM

Got an ipad for myself and my bro while in Oregon a few days ago.

Right now I am actually 30,000 feet in the air surfing via wifi on my 16gb ipad.

Feeling quite futuristic I must admit!

ant043 · 03-06-2010 09:04AM

Anybody else having this problem with the iPad. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2444318&start=0&tstart=0

Looks like a trip back to apple store is in order. I didn't pay over 800 eurobfor a device which isn't perfect.

adox · 04-06-2010 02:59AM

Heres a cheesey posing photo of me outside the Apple store on fifth avenue on Tuesday, after unexpectedly picking up a 16GB wifi iPad:

Basq · 04-06-2010 09:37AM

Not long after..

adox · 04-06-2010 05:29PM

gfog wrote: »

I just wanted to share I used blackvpn last night so I could us abc, fox, hulu and pandora websites on the mac and they send you out detailed instructions on how to set it up on your iphone and ipad aswell. It worked perfectly for all the sites above, was able to watch all the content, and on the iphone worked perfectly for pandora! when my iPad arrives the having access to the abc app, net flix and hulu when it comes out will be amazing. does anyone no what the story is with using a service like this while on O2's 3G service could there be any extra charging going on?

If you want to try it out us this code and i think it works out at 5dollars for 3months. all via paypal. CODE = DKCDUTC

Thanks, just signed for 3 months.

*Edit*. On a side note, just realized today that you can have up to six iconsnin the dock!

Am I right in thinking that its only ABC that will work on the ipad? Im pretty sure Hulu etc are flash based.

banquo · 04-06-2010 11:40PM

Hulu won't work. Abc works fine! Quality isn't perfect, think 360p on YouTube. Blackvpn works flawlessly as advertised. Using it right now.

adox · 04-06-2010 11:42PM

banquo wrote: »

Hulu won't work. Abc works fine! Quality isn't perfect, think 360p on YouTube. Blackvpn works flawlessly as advertised. Using it right now.

Yeah been using it myself and it works fine.

adox · 05-06-2010 12:03AM

Anyone know if we can use the Netflix app? I have the VPN and can fake a us address but I presume problems will occur when entering an Irish credit card?

They have a two week free trial that I'd like to try but you have to enter the above details.

jesus_thats_gre · 05-06-2010 03:33AM

banquo wrote: »

Hulu won't work. Abc works fine! Quality isn't perfect, think 360p on YouTube. Blackvpn works flawlessly as advertised. Using it right now.

When I log into the UK server, I am being assigned an IP address based in the Netherlands.. Cant use iPlayer!

alexlyons · 05-06-2010 08:36AM

basquille wrote: »

Has it been confirmed how much iPad pricing will be here in Ireland when it's released in July? I know I saw "Euro-Zone" prices banded about of either €479 or €499.

I'm in Miami in a fortnight but I was half-thinking of waiting til it's released here. I mean in Miami, I'll be paying $499 + $30 (6% sales tax) = $529 (or €430) and not to mention customs.

That plus I'll be getting a US plug with it.. I mean, if it's the €479 for the base model here, I reckon I'll wait the extra month.

If the power adapter is swaying you, I'll sort you out with a new head for it. They're interchangeable and I'm pretty sure I've one or two spare bried in a drawer somewhere.
BTW, you can also swap it out with a mac charger (just take the lead off the block) on a temporary basis.

Like so but with the 3 pins, its slightly bigger for obvious reasons.

Basq · 05-06-2010 10:14AM

Cheers Alex.

Will see if I get one first.. this shortage of them certainly isn't making very comfortable. Might give one of the Apple Stores in Miami a call late next week to see if I can get one reserved. Think I'm just gonna go for the base model (16GB WiFi), while 3G would be great, I just don't think I'd use it.

I have a couple of MacBook and iPod chargers sitting around that I can swap out the heads actually. Never thought of that!

adox · 05-06-2010 07:49PM

Just ordered one of these cases for mine. Seems to have a bit more quality than the official one.

06-06-2010 12:05PM

Can you connect to a VPN on an i-pad? I use Sonicwall Global VPN to connect to work network, but can I do that with an i-pad? Can't see anything to say it can, but surely its possible

2nd Q, as I can't use MS Office on an i-pad, I still would want to use our corporate e-mail addy to correspond, I can shoot out from our mail server all e-mails, say to a google address, but if a user 'replies' - that reply will be stamped/shown as the Google addy, can this be changed to say come from johndoe@abc.ie or how do i-pad users work with e-mail after using MS Outlook prior?

Graham · 06-06-2010 12:21PM

1) iPad VPN Setup:

http://apple-ipad-tablet-help.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-setup-ipad-vpn.html

2) iPad supports Activesynch email which enables amongst others the two largest corporate email solutions (exchange and lotus notes).

adox · 06-06-2010 02:59PM

Re VPN I signed up to blackvpn for three months and it works perfectly. If you look a few pages back someone posted how to set it up and also a code which will give you three months for five dollars, and give an extra two weeks to the poster. If not I can post a code for you that will do the same.

Edit - here's the code blackvpn sent me: BUVWXBF. If you are signing up, use this code to get 3 months for $5. It will also give me an extra 2 weeks. They also send you instructions on setting up VPN on yout iPad which takes 2 minutes if that.

iPad, Quick Review and things to know if buying from the US. (now with pics)

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