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[dkellis]

Since my netbook is getting obsolete (4GB of internal SSD memory does not help when the latest Ubuntu Netbook Remix requires 4.2GB or so), and the battery is dying horribly (from 6-8 hours of function to 30 minutes), I'm looking to replace it. It's been with me for about five years, so it's probably time. And I've had so much use out of it that I

Comments

[kitchenqueen]

I love my iPad2. As others have said, if you require flash, then it's a dealbreaker. I've never had a problem finding videos on YouTube on my iPad. I frequently go to bed with my iPad and get stuck in a YouTube Time Warp. I do have a few issues with Safari compatibility with my psychology class, but any extended schoolwork that I need to do is done on the PC anyway.

Here's how I find my iPad measuring up against your criteria:

Sturdiness: It's pretty durable, but a case is a definite must. I spent $$$ on this device, and I'll be darned if I'm not going to protect it. If you drop it while it's naked, you definitely risk breakage, but isn't that true of any computing device? Put it in a case and don't play tennis with it, and you'll be fine.

Weight: I'm not sure how it measures up with other tablets in this area, but it's an iPad. It doesn't weigh a ton. I have it in a case, so holding it while using it isn't much of an issue. I agree, lugging my laptop around is so CUMBERSOME! Case in point:

Battery life: You'll only hear good things here too. I've been using it off and on all day long, and it's still at 71% charged. The kids use it a lot for games and schoolwork, and I don't think I've ever gotten a Low Battery warning. I think it's gotten down to about 30% before.

Typing: I don't have an issue using the touchscreen to type. I've done blog entries, blog replies, entries to my personal journal, and taken sermon notes on it. My biggest issue is the autocorrect, but on the scale of annoying things with 1 being not annoying at all and 10 being OMG GET THIS AWAY FROM ME, it's about a 2. I have a friend who blogs using her ipad, and she uses a bluetooth keyboard that's not cumbersome at all. She uses it at the library, and you know that she's not lugging her 4 kids plus something annoyingly large halfway across town. I don't have any lag with the ipad, and find the click-clack sounds it makes comforting. You can turn that off, or mute it using the little switch on the side.

The last one - you're going to get a blank stare from me here. I only speak English, and some really bad Spanish. Speaking of which, I need to brush up on my Spanish phrases for the summer. A few of the camp kids' parents only speak Spanish.

Good luck on your tablet search! I was tossed up between a netbook and an ipad, and I'm glad I chose the iPad. I also have an iPhone 3GS, and love it. You all can have my iTech when you pry it from my cold, dead hand.