The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Buying an iPhone/iPad type thing
Foolish Chaos
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So in terms of wireless devices, I have an 8GB Zune, a rather large laptop which doesn't get much use, and a phone. Just a regular phone which I use only for making calls, for our family of three it comes down to $120 a month for all three of our phones.
I have a birthday coming up, and I have been thinking about one of these fancy devices. Not necessarily an iPhone, just something that meet the following criteria. I was hoping that you guys could help me narrow down on what would be the best purchase for me, as I don't really know much of anything, and all the research I can do is going to be trumped by people with personal experiences with these devices commenting on what I do and don't want.
So, heres a quick list of things I need the device to have. If it can't do these things in some way, I am not interested:
What would be nice but I don't necessarily need:
So yeah, if you guys can help me find the wireless device that fits my needs, whatever it may be, I would be most gracious.
Also, feel free to just tell me "you can't afford it". The initial cost I am not so worried about, but as a general rule I would rather not pay more than $30-40 than what I am already paying for my phone (essentially $40 a month). If it were possible to get an iPhone plan for $80 a month, I would take it, for example. But I don't think it is.
I have a birthday coming up, and I have been thinking about one of these fancy devices. Not necessarily an iPhone, just something that meet the following criteria. I was hoping that you guys could help me narrow down on what would be the best purchase for me, as I don't really know much of anything, and all the research I can do is going to be trumped by people with personal experiences with these devices commenting on what I do and don't want.
So, heres a quick list of things I need the device to have. If it can't do these things in some way, I am not interested:
1. A PDF reader. I don't need an editor or anything, just a way to read PDF's which doesn't require my huge laptop with battery issues.
2. A book reader. I like the idea of reading on one of these devices. I've thought about a Kindle for a long time, but I don't know if that can do anything but read books.
3. Internet Browsing. So if I am understanding this correctly, 3G allows internet access anywhere with view of the satellites correct? Can just Wifi work with a non-configured router? I've never really dealt with this before. Is Wifi basically what laptops use to connect to a router, or is that something else? If my understanding of 3G is correct, I might be willing to pay for that, assuming it would be a reasonable rate. I've seen the charts for iPhones saying that the average user is spending something like $2,500 per 24 months on it, which is frankly too much for me to afford. Far too much.
4. Needs to be wireless. Obviously.
2. A book reader. I like the idea of reading on one of these devices. I've thought about a Kindle for a long time, but I don't know if that can do anything but read books.
3. Internet Browsing. So if I am understanding this correctly, 3G allows internet access anywhere with view of the satellites correct? Can just Wifi work with a non-configured router? I've never really dealt with this before. Is Wifi basically what laptops use to connect to a router, or is that something else? If my understanding of 3G is correct, I might be willing to pay for that, assuming it would be a reasonable rate. I've seen the charts for iPhones saying that the average user is spending something like $2,500 per 24 months on it, which is frankly too much for me to afford. Far too much.
4. Needs to be wireless. Obviously.
What would be nice but I don't necessarily need:
1. The ability to play music, and transfer my own music from the Zune software. I have grown rather fond of the Zune music software, and I would rather not go through the pain of transferring everything back to itunes or whatever it will take. If I went for something as large as a tablet, I would probably still keep the 8g zune around, as it fits easily in my pocket and is easy to maneuver when hooked up to my car.
2. The ability to make calls. I am really not expecting this functionality, as I have seen the iPhone numbers, as I've already stated. But it would be nice to be able to chuck the phone. Basically anything that removes one of the wireless devices from my life would be a blessing. The main reason I want one of these things is to replace my laptop.
3. Apps. Some sort of makeshift GPS would be nice, but unless I can find some kind of car port, it would have to be smalled than a tablet. Games are also appreciated, and all the other cool things you can get on one of these.
4. The ability to type up word documents. Not necessarily Microsoft word of course, but it would be nice to be able to take note on one of these things while in class.
2. The ability to make calls. I am really not expecting this functionality, as I have seen the iPhone numbers, as I've already stated. But it would be nice to be able to chuck the phone. Basically anything that removes one of the wireless devices from my life would be a blessing. The main reason I want one of these things is to replace my laptop.
3. Apps. Some sort of makeshift GPS would be nice, but unless I can find some kind of car port, it would have to be smalled than a tablet. Games are also appreciated, and all the other cool things you can get on one of these.
4. The ability to type up word documents. Not necessarily Microsoft word of course, but it would be nice to be able to take note on one of these things while in class.
So yeah, if you guys can help me find the wireless device that fits my needs, whatever it may be, I would be most gracious.
Also, feel free to just tell me "you can't afford it". The initial cost I am not so worried about, but as a general rule I would rather not pay more than $30-40 than what I am already paying for my phone (essentially $40 a month). If it were possible to get an iPhone plan for $80 a month, I would take it, for example. But I don't think it is.
Foolish Chaos on
0
Posts
Books: Kindle has an app for it, and on top of that there is also iBooks, which is Apple's implementation of an ebook reader. Reading books on it is an absolute joy.
PDFs: I believe there are some PDF reader applications in the App store.
Note-taking: Again, there are some great apps for this. You can either use your fingers to draw objects (graphs etc.) or you can use the built-in keyboard (or the dock keyboard) to type stuff.
Internet Browsing: 3G uses cellphone towers, not satellites. So, as long as you're in a civilized area, you should have 3G reception. Wifi is wireless internet, yes. The same one laptops use. So if you're at home you can use it, or if you're at a wireless hotspot you can use it.
GPS: Google Maps has GPS on the 3G version of the iPad.
--
The only caveats of ipad is with regards to your music - I don't think you can transfer your zune music directly without going through iTunes first. Also, iPad can't make calls obviously, except when you're at a wireless hotspot and are using skype.
iPad does this perfectly. Good Reader is wonderful.
iPad, again, does this great with iBooks. Not as good as a Kindle, but as you said the Kindle does little besides read books. Note that while iBooks does have its own store, it will also read any standard eBook format regardless of where you buy them.
3G = internet wherever you have satellites, WiFi = any standard wireless signal. I've used my iPad at a bunch of friend's houses and never had a problem connecting to their router.
This would be an issue with the iPad. You'd pretty much have to use iTunes.
Skype is nice, but you'll be stuck with the phone.
Even Android users admit the Apple App Store is awesome.
iPad is great at this.
And, finally, the iPad 3G unlimited data plan is $30/month. Alternately, if you have consistent wireless access you can get a 250mb plan for $15/month, or no plan at all. None of them require a contract.
It seems like it does all of those things you ask for, and I'm going the extra mile and gonna try to build a stylus to have it attempt to replace my sketchbook
I'm hoping to buy one Monday or Tuesday, if your still thinking about it, I'll be happy to tell you how much/little I regret it.
Might be unnecessary, since it looks like an iPad is more up your alley and there's no reason not to buy one of those right now.
1. If I were to get an iPad, how much space do app's generally take up? Basically I'm wondering if 16G is enough for what I do. I'd imagine it would be, as I don't even have 8G of music filled up on my zune currently, and pdf's/whatever-format-computer-books-use shouldn't take up too much.
2. What steps would I have to take in order to transfer word documents from an iPad to my windows desktop computer? For printing and such (no wireless printer). Would I have to somehow change the format to traditional microsoft word? Actually I have been a big user of Google Docs lately, I assume that I could access and use that pretty easily on an ipad? That would pretty much solve that problem.
I have 47 apps installed and they're using 2.54gb of space. 1.25gb of that is from five games. So, as long as you're not installing two dozen HD games simultaneously, you'll be fine.
Pages, the word processing app from Apple ($10) will export to and import from your computer in Word format. Unfortunately, Google Docs doesn't yet work on the iPad -- you can view your documents, but you can't edit them.
Games are always much higher.
The iPad does everything you want except calling directly, but I'm sure there are things like Skype or whatever.
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
According to the iPad thread, June 7 also marks the end of unlimited GB over 3G for $30. Instead, you'll be buying 2 GB a month for $25. That might not matter to the OP, but it's worth considering.
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
Yeah, that was a nice kick in the nuts from AT&T. If you can find an iPad 3G before June 7 and sign up for the $30 unlimited plan, they'll let you keep it - as long as you keep paying for it. Once you're off the plan, it's gone forever.