Chicken boarders

[Egluntyne]

Do I need one? Discuss.

 

I'd be glad of some info. Ta muchly.

[Ms Marple]

I love mine!! Depends what you have I guess. I have ipad 2 without 3g as I use my phone when I need to as the router/modem thingy- tethering I think it is called. I don't have a Kindle, but I read lots on my iPad. I have downloaded the Kindle app too! I use office software on it- can't remember its name will get back to you but I think a version of Microsoft Office is now available for iPad. I watch iplayer and stuff like that. Email etc etc. Handy in lectures for notes and taking a photo of the board_ Although I am usually giving the lecture rather than listening.I don't have a laptop.

 

Edited to add that I use it for my online shopping- food and other. I use it to follow recipes when I am baking/cooking- means I can look at what is on omlet or whatever without having to print the instructions. It fits easily into my handbags- most of them. I have music and some photos too. Better than my phone for things like the forum as screen is better size to read and type. Much prefer to my old laptop. Still use a pc though at work and for regular work at home. Havin g said tha it is an iMac

Edited September 17, 2012 by Guest

[Olly]

Gosh, I'm very interested in this thread - I desperately want one but I cannot justify the cost to myself at the moment. Friends who have them all say they wouldn't be without it. What do you all use yours for?

[craftyhunnypie]

Mum has an ipad, both hubby & I haven't. Hubby is a real techno, so I'm surprised he has never wanted one. But he knows his stuff & does a lot of research. He doesn't like them, but each to their own. I'm also not keen. You can't upload photos direct from your ipad to say preloved etc. It has no file management system ( like windows explorer for example). We both have HTC phones, normal sized laptops for home & netbooks for out & about. We much prefer our netbooks over an ipad.

He has a Toshiba, I have an Asus. Both of which do everything we desire.

This is just our opinion, others will have their own views.

Emma.x

[Eggasperated]

I'm still using my iPad 1, bought when they first came out, and looking for a reason to justify buying the newest one . I love mine, use it for all emails, Internet browsing and shopping, store recipes on it, have a docking station to listen to my music on it; don't read much on it but have downloaded the kindle app. Ashamed to say also have lots of game apps on it . Great when I travel, wouldn't be without it - OH thought it would be a fad but it's on every day and I hardly ever use the PC now.

[scubababe]

I bought one and didn't know how to use it Only used it for taking photo's to upload to my work system as my camera was broken

My dad saw me with one & although I told him not to buy one he did!!

 

He gave it to me so I gave it to my boys (aged 3 & 5)

 

My assistants children showed me how to use it & although I'm still not ofay with it I am using it more and more. The back-up in icloud saved me from losing all my contacts last week..phew

 

My kids & childminded kids love it and fight over it daily

 

Must admit that I am now looking to change my phone to the Iphone5 to complement what I do on the ipad. It is a nifty piece of IT but does take some getting used to after a PC. I am having problems getting it to talk to my printer but I'm sure that is just me being a PC dinosaur

 

P.S I've had to hide mine from the kids deciding they've got one each

[scubababe]

just thought i'd send this from my ipad

[patsylabrador]

Don't go for a Sony tablet. I love it when it's working well, but it loses WiFi signal all the time and I occasionally have to hard reset it when it stops altogether.

[counturchickens]

Typing from my I pad! I use it for emails and the Internet mainly, but we also got a connector so you can download a film or tv and watch it on your telly. The main thing for me is the portability, so for example I can sit on the sofa and do my thing whilst oh is watching football or some such! Oh, and I always take it on holiday, so I can keep up with the omlet forum

[Chucky Mama]

Just bought the latest 32g model for ES as a A Level/Uni gift (thought the large bar of Dairy Milk wouldn't cut it) - It has proved very useful so far. There are so many useful apps that can be downloaded and it looks very easy to use. It looks like a giant iPhone to me. The size means that it is truly portable. I don't think it is that good to work on but in terms of photos, videos, diary, email, skype etc, it is a neat gadget.

[Chickendoodle]

Treated myself to one a couple of months ago with an unexpected bonus and I love it.

 

Didn't really know what it could do but this is what I like

 

Instant internet access - if you want to check a fact quickly you can be on google as fast as you can open the case!

 

When you set it up you link it into your email, facebook and twitter accounts and have separate icons for each on the screen so you can instantly see if you have emails to check, facebook messages etc without having to go via the internet

 

It is brilliant for games and loads are free

 

You can link it into sky tv including your anytime stuff so you can watch programmes separately to anyone else in the house

 

Also links to BBC iplayer

 

Links to Kindle - I have started to use it to read books on indoors instead of my Kindle - the screen looks like pages and you can see the covers of the books (also shows you the title at the top of the page so you know what your are reading) Kindle is better to read outside with the anti glare screen and is much more portable and lighter so I wouldn't use the ipad to read outside

 

Takes brilliant photos - again I wouldn't take it out and about , just use it inside

 

I haven't tried to do anything that would need word or the equivalent on a PC but I haven't needed to use the PC at all since I had it. It is in my reach all evening and I probably use it for a couple of hours every day at least. It is mine but my OH also likes it - I was reading at the weekend and closed my eyes for a few minutes for a little snooze and caught him trying to sneak it off my lap

 

I would heartily recommend it

[chickric]

Do you need one? No

 

Do you want one? Maybe

 

Would I have one? No (unless it was a gift )

 

Whilst it is a nice toy, there are a lot of cheaper options that do the same thing and don't have the limitations that Apple insist on building into their tech.

 

Think about what you would want to use it for and evaluate each activity, would you be doing a lot of typing (not comfortable for long periods on a tablet ), watching or using Flash content (ie YouTube).

 

Have a read of the 1 star reviews (and comments) on Amazon, there are some very good detailed reviews giving pros and cons.

[The Dogmother]

Our technophobic MD has one and finds it very user-friendly. My techie friends begs to differ for the reasons chickric has given above.

PC World are doing a very good offer on the Samsung galaxy 10" tab at the moment (£50 cashback too!) brilliant software too - if I had the dosh to spare I'd be getting one!

[Egluntyne]

Thanks folks .. .keep the opinions coming please. I've had an unexpected (small) windfall, and am going to treat myself.

 

I also find myself rather fancying a Kindle Fire HD.

[The Dogmother]

If you had a tablet then you wouldn't need a Kindle Fire as you can use the Amazon/Kindle app on it. Works the same with that.

[Space Chick]

I couldn't live without mine (she says typing on her iPad!)

 

I still have the original iPad 1 had it well over 2 years now and it's my lifeline

 

I use forums on it, emails, Internet, do my shopping online. I also store photos on it.

 

Other benefits I find are the kindle app (which you can also read in bed without a light due to the screen light), I also have a video application so download a lot of TV programmes to it too.

 

I use it for my organisation... Great diary application on it with built in reminders!

 

It's also my music collection too using the iPod section which I can dock with my speakers at home too.

 

I have a few puzzle and game apps too, which are really handy for train journeys or waits anywhere!

 

I have the 3G version as I find it really handy to pop in my handbag and have decent sized Internet on the go.

 

I also have a keyboard, and often use it to type things in meetings using a proper keyboard rather than the touch pad screen (the pages app is like word on a PC and very useful)

 

I know it has it's critics, but I can honestly say I can't imagine life without it.... It has revolutionised the way I am "on the go". I think back to days when you carried a laptop, portal DVD player, DVDs, a book, your iPod, maybe a travel scrabble game or a pack of cards.... Now you have EVERYTHING you need in one convenient handbag sized little package... And as long as you can get to a plug socket every 10 hours, then you don't need to worry about battery life (that's 10 hours constant use, will last days if you aren't using it!)

 

DO IT!!!! You won't regret it, I promise!

[Ms Marple]

[chuckmum6]

I love my iPad and use it LOTS, mostly for surfing and games, but also for publishing etc. I am on my second, as I upgraded from a 1 to 3, I love the fact it connects seamlessly to my other apple devices. I would hate not to have it. It is very clever but simple and intuitive to use! My advice is GET ONE!

[jasperaliceuk]

Got mine as a birthday present last month - love, love, love it.

 

Have just spent a couple of hours with an elderly lady to show her how to use Facebook on her computer. Took my ipad - was she blown away by it.

 

At the moment I am databasing and photographing our local cemetery. The database programme is on the ipad and I do it in situ. So handy and it does this icloud thingy whereby it is saved automatically and sent to my iphone and the web, along with photos, contacts, calendar. Amazing!

 

Didn't know about Kindle - off to take a look at that!

 

Sue

[UKMARCH]

I love mine too very handy can even take it in the garden while chicken watching the only downside to mine is that I can't see the screen with my polarising sunglasses so have been unable to read on iBooks when out and about in sunny weather. Really good if you have an iPhone too as can liaise and update diaries etc and great for showing photos to friends and family. Very lightweight when on your lap I have an invision case which I like which protects the back and locks the screen and folds like the apple but much cheaper.

[laurmurf]

OH has one from work that I use occasionally and I hate it.

 

The typing/keyboard is the worst bit. If you are only reading and not responding then it's just a very light laptop. If you want it to replace a laptop's use then you may find this aspect of it VERY frustrating, especially if you touch type.

 

Borrow one if you can and try it out, I wouldn't have one if it were given to me...

[Cinnamon]

If you had a tablet then you wouldn't need a Kindle Fire as you can use the Amazon/Kindle app on it. Works the same with that.

 

Ah,but the Kindle Fire HD has anti glare technology,which means that if it is going to be used as a Kindle,it will be much more comfortable to read, especially in bright sun.

[Looney]

I love my iPad, but it isn't the do-all, be-all, end-all gadget.

 

Mine was bought for me as a present and I use it multiple times a day. I use it all over the house to browse the internet, it's handy as it is so portable (compared to a laptop) and it turns on instantly (unlike my laptop ). I have a couple of games I play on it and can use it for my Kindle books. I occasionally let my son play games on it too.

 

Typing on it is ok for short messages but not as comfortable as a convential keyboard for writing loads. It is also frustrating to try and fill out online forms using the ipad.

 

Would I buy another one if I broke mine? Hmmm. Perhaps. I would definitely miss it loads but they are expensive and I could probably manage to live without it if I really had to!

[Ms Marple]

Still sayindg I LOVE MINE!! how sad am I?? VERY. It can do so much more than Kindle Fire.......

[chickric]

Still sayindg I LOVE MINE!! how sad am I?? VERY. It can do so much more than Kindle Fire.......

 

Sorry to disagree but what can an iPad do that a Kindle Fire can't?