Thanks to everyone who responded to my iPad question. Many people asked for a hit
so I've put responses down below. I think I am going to hold fire for a bit. The 3G
version sounds great and I would like to see the price come down. Kindle is going
to be sold at Target soon and that should effect prices. I have to admit the size
is a big factor for older eyes but I would like to hook it to a projector so maybe
a laptop is a better option. Oh, but the portability!
Hit of responses:
Just search on Google for
iPad review
and you will find plenty of commentary.
David Pogue has written about it a couple of times in the NY Times .
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/apple-ipad-faqs/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/technology/personaltech/01pogue.html
Newsweek had a cover story on it a week ago.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/235565
In the Wall Street Journal , Walt Mosberg wrote about it......
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100407/the-answers-to-your-questions-about-the-ipad/
Walt appeared with a writer from the NY Times to discuss it with Charlie Rose who
demonstrated its capabilities on his hour-long show......
http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/746
Pluses
The size of the ipad makes all the difference. It is significantly easier to read a
document on the ipad than the touch. The keyboard is also large enough so that when
you hold it in landscape format you can touch type.
The ipads came preloaded with Winnie the Pooh from ibooks: the illustrations are
crisp and the color is good. Especially with the page turn feature, it feels far
more like reading a book.
I am not sure about neooffice, but you can purchase the iWork applications for $10
each. The apps are Keynote - presentations, Pages - word processing/documents, and
Numbers - tables/charts/spreadsheets.
I looked into purchasing iPads and a cart to house them from Apple for a grant
proposal. A class set of 25 - with power cords and camera connectors for each as
well as 2 connectors for whole group presentations - ran a little over $19,000.
We have one at our school. It is identical to the I-Touches that we
have, only much bigger. I wish we had waited and purchased a class set
of them instead of the I-Touches.
I purchased one for our high school library, and I'm still working out the
financial issues (for example, we are charged tax for iBook purchases), etc.
However, I (and the students and faculty) really like it so far. The ipod touch is
good too, but the screen isn't as big. The reason I purchased the iPad is that I'm
looking into different ereaders for the library.
I have one of the new iPads, and I am in LOVE!! I plan on selling my kindle since
there's a free kindle app that's great. I'll probably even get rid of my laptop
when the new 3G comes out. If I were you, I would wait a few more weeks and get the
3G, though.
Sent from my iPad
Have you been to an Apple store to play with it? I suggest you go see it. It is
awesome!I have an iPhone and love it. I have a kindle and have always loved it.
I cannot wait for the iPad with 3G! It is supposed to be released this month.I have
even purchased a new purse to hold it.
I want it very badly. The screen is so crisp. Pages in the ebooks turn quickly and
pages are marked easily. I used pages a notebook app and really liked it too. I
highly recommmend you go see it in person. We went last Sunday to pick one up for
my dad, but they are all sold out.
The photo app is incredible and easy to use.
Now, here is the thing. Many other companies are also coming out with a similair
device. Do you want to wait and see them first?
I love it. Sitting in a coffee shop right now and working online on my book order.
And didn't have to lug my laptop around all day to do it. I have a touch, and the
size of the iPad provides amazing possibilities (for libraries as well) that the
touch doesn't offer. It's early days, and I haven't had time to explore as
thoroughly as I might have, but I highly recommend it. Please don't use in a hit:
I'd want to write more carefully for a hit. Feel free to email questions if you'd
like.
Sent from my iPad
The iPad is the first screen I've wanted to read on. Reading the newspaper on it is
better than in print. I never thought I'd say something like that, but it's true. I
still prefer books, but for newspapers or if I'm traveling, the iPad is super.
And yes, it is just a big iPhone without the phone, but that's just fine by me.
It's an excellent toy.
iTouch:
Well, I bought an iTouch last year when I got my new Mac Mini, and my
wife got hers (for free) when she got her Mac laptop. We're not ready to
get iPads yet, mainly because the iTouch does all that we want for a
portable device, and it fits in a pocket. Another thing to think about
is that most likely the iPad will be half the current price in a year or so.
As for capabilities, I'd make a list for myself of what I want the
device to be able to do, and then go from there. For example, the iTouch
can run both Kindle and the B&N ereader software, so you can get books
from both vendors. I suspect that the print size on the iPad will be
larger than that on the iTouch, so if one of your mission requirements
is larger print that may tip the balance toward the iPad. On the other
hand, you can get two or three iTouch devices for the price of one iPad,
so if price is a concern the iTouch is ahead.
I LOVE my iTouch and have had it almost a year. I wish I could do more on the Net
with it but I can't connect to it wirelessly at school because it's not school
property. I too would like an iPad as a bo k reader but would like to see some
additional features first, such as a webcam, the ability to use memory cards and to
run more thna one application at anytime. I do think the iPad may be the death of
some other ebook readers. I decided not to purchase a nook from B&N after Steve
Jobs made the announcement.
My son has seen an ipad and thought I'd like it. He has an itouch and I
bought one about a month ago, took it on an overseas trip for 2 weeks and
loved having it. It was particularly nice when I had access to free wifi.
It takes some getting used to typing in such a small space and it's a little
"touchy" but I loved it. I've put some of my trip photos on it plus of
course all the music I had on my ipod. I've downloaded a bunch of free
stuff, games, classic books, a language translator, measurement converter,
atlas. I'd think the larger screen on the ipad would be nice but then again
it won't fit in your pocket, purse, or camera bag. I got mine at Sam's Club
which was a little bit cheaper than other stores, not much but every little
bit helped. The charger from my original ipod (which I'd won at an ALA
conference) works just fine.
Minuses:
One of my colleagues purchased one right away, but I wasn't impressed. You can't
use it with a projector, can't skype from it, and it doesn't support flash. I still
prefer a good laptop.
I recently purchased an iTouch that I LOVE. The main selling point for me was the
small size of the iTouch. I felt that if I wanted something as big as an iPad I
would just purchase a netbook. I can slip my iTouch in my purse or pocket and don't
even realize that it is there. I also downloaded the Kindle software. My thought
was that it would be hard to read books on my iTOuch, but I've had no problems with
it, in fact, I've found myself reading more because of the portability. I can read
a chapter or at least a few pages anytime I have a few minutes. I even pulled it
out while my husband was filling the car with gas last night. I also love the other
apps that are available.
For the cost it is just a large Ipod Touch. I would get a netbook
computer which can do anything your desktop computer can do. If you
have cash to burn then do it, but it is not anywhere near as usable as a
netbook computer that cost that much.
Just my opinion
Pamela K. Gelbmann
Media Specialist
Wilson & Franklin Elementary Schools
Anoka, MN
Pam.gelbmann@comcast.net
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