Comments | rdhdsnippet: Gadet lust

rdhdsnippet

Gadet lust

Mar 22, 2010 14:11

Can someone convince me that an iPad with connectivity therefore for 30$ a month providing me with internet service basically any and everywhere at any time in a form that's less convenient than a laptop but way more convenient than my phone, and could also be used as a makeshift Kindle would be a bad idea? Otherthan the start up cost, obviously ( Read more... )

gadgets, techie

Comments 16

arashinomoui March 22 2010, 18:14:49 UTC

Can't multitask, no USB ports, no Flash are the three strikes against it. In my opinion, it is worth waiting until a competitor comes out (rumor mill has good things about an Android version) that can do those three items.

rdhdsnippet March 23 2010, 13:31:58 UTC

Flash is a huge issue, agreed.

whitebird March 22 2010, 18:40:58 UTC

The iPad isn't actually a phone in any way. But you'll likely be able to use Skype or Google Voice with it, so that might not be a problem for you.

I don't know that it's form is any less convenient than a laptop is. You pull it out of your bag and start using it immediately, without having to open it up first.

But it will definitely get you internet access most everywhere in a form that, as an iPhone user, I've found to be so very much nicer than via most other phone browsers. (I have a Palm T|X upon which web browsing was the most painful thing I've ever done.)

rdhdsnippet March 23 2010, 03:02:53 UTC

Oh no, I didn't intend it to be a phone. If I have a more robust internet gadget I can actually acclimiate to using, I'm happy to keep a lesser functioning phone.

Web browsing on the Centro is painful as well. The pre is better, but still not great.

whitebird March 23 2010, 05:52:21 UTC

Then I'd say wait until the wireless-only version is released and poke at one that one of your friends who will be an early adopter of one will get pretty rapidly upon release. (I'm sure you know one. Me, I'm not actually one.) Or go into the Apple Store near you a couple of times until the 3G unit is released to see how you like working with them.

Also, PC World has recently released a test of the major 3G networks and their speed. AT&T seems to be the clear winner in their tests. I've been an AT&T, then Cingular, then AT&T user for a long while now, and have had excellent service from them. Your mileage may vary, of course.

rdhdsnippet March 23 2010, 14:08:02 UTC

Oh, and by less convenient I mean that I get full computer functionality out of a laptop, including real keyboard and a useable touchpad. :)

redhotlips March 22 2010, 19:02:08 UTC

Maybe this will help?
http://government.zdnet.com/?p=8177

I saw it basically as a bigger version of my Acer Netbook and Kindle, so had no need to look into it much.

bheansidhe March 22 2010, 19:18:28 UTC

AT&T is planning to add the Palm Pre and Plus. Don't know if the handset would translate, though.

trouble841 March 22 2010, 19:19:47 UTC

Hey, I'm with John. I love my Pre. And AT&T is rated the worst among the big carriers for customer service and network speed, just FYI.

I have a Sprint air card, and I get web access any time anywhere with it, on whatever laptop I want. My Sony Vaio laptop has a "browse web" button that allows me to hit the internet without booting Windows, and taking a couple of minutes - it's almost instant.

But, I'm not a Mac person. Windows apps have finally caught up to the desktop publishing capabilities of the Mac, and I just don't see a reason for them.