[ikeaqueen]

I use it for internet, games and watching movies.

The iPad in this house is technically DS1s but he goes to sleep early enough for me to play too

[niggles]

There is a word processor app. It's called Pages and I think it's about $10.

I love my ipad. I would never turn a laptop on and off and on and off just to do something menial like check the weather or read the news for 2 minutes with my cup of tea in the morning. The ipad on the end of the kitchen bench is a whole other story. It's made itself indispensable although I recognise it as complete indulgence.

[klr70]

There IS a word processor & a spreadsheet, etc - the Apple versions of these, of course... Pages = word processor, Numbers = spreadsheets. These are available on iPhone as well as iPad. There's also a version of Microsoft Office that runs on the MacBook - not sure if this is also available on the iPad and/or iPhone, though.

My husband uses his iPad ALL the time, both at work & at home. He has 3G internet access using a Telstra sim, as Telstra has the best network coverage for his train trip to/from work. There are really good apps for giving presentations, 'airplay' means that you can put what's on the iPad to the TV to show others, rather than all crowding around a small screen...

SuperFoodIdeas has a great interactive magazine app for 99c per issue. My SIL showed it to me on the weekend & it's great. It's available on iPad, but not iPhone.

I could go on & on...

If you want to get one & can wait a little while, the iPad 3 is due out in the next couple of months - will most likely be announced in March & released in April. Would probably be worth the wait

P.S. You CAN make calls with the iPad... there's a Skype app & also the Apple FaceTime app. Our 4 month old son has already "facetimed" with his grandmother. Yep, we're Apple tragics in this house & we start 'em young

ETA - Snap! *niggles* posting at the same time...

Also, if you like your iPhone, the iPad interface is the same. I "played" with one of those "other brand shall remain nameless" tablets the other day & didn't like it. Compared to the iPad, the interface felt "clunky". For me, the $200 price difference between the iPad & the others will not break the bank. Plus, the apps you've already bought through iTunes can be loaded onto your iPad as well as your iPhone.

This post has been edited by klr70: 01/02/2012, 03:31 PM

[j-gray]

I have an iPhone, iPad, and Macbook. I obviously use the iPhone more but would get equal usage from the other two.

iPhone = phone, music, texting, the odd game when on the go, photos
iPad = browsing the web, using apps that are better on the bigger screen, reading books, DH plays poker and I'll also use it for movies on the train when I go back to work
MacBook = emails, downloading movies/music

The best thing is that apps, downloads, emails, calendar are now sync'd through 'the cloud'.

I wouldn't get it to use for word, excel etc even if they're on there because the keyboard isn't great to type with. Though you can use the mac bluetooth keyboard with it if you want to (i think they're about $70).

[idignantlyright]

DH has been able to download a couple of apps so that now when we go out or to football for the day, he just puts the Ipad in my bag instead of having to take his laptop and bag.
He also uses it to read the paper and other stuff.

[Working_Mummy]

I'm a little disappointed actually - didn't occur to me that it wouldn't use excel, word etc so I can't use it like a mini computer. I wouldn't normally pay that much for a web browser and kids toy!

There IS a word processor & a spreadsheet, etc - the Apple versions of these, of course... Pages = word processor, Numbers = spreadsheets. These are available on iPhone as well as iPad. There's also a version of Microsoft Office that runs on the MacBook - not sure if this is also available on the iPad and/or iPhone, though.

We got Pages & Numbers i think they were about $12 each and sync with computer and files open direct in Word/Excel without doing anything special.

If you have a iMac you can use the same wireless keyboard on the iPad (reSync it) and you can type normally.

There are very few functions on the iPad that i miss compared to my old laptop (Screen Shot - I am sure there is a way and Cropping Photos in facebook without the need of a special app).

[Mrs Optimus]

I have an iphone and an ipad. I use the ipad for accessing the Internet and reading documents in place of a laptop. The small iphone screen just doesn't do it for me. Now, I use my iphone mainly as a phone and emergency internet access.

This.. and my DS and DD have educational apps on it..

I have an iphone and an ipad. I use the ipad for accessing the Internet and reading documents in place of a laptop. The small iphone screen just doesn't do it for me. Now, I use my iphone mainly as a phone and emergency internet access.

This.. and my DS and DD have educational apps on it..

[Guest_Buy Me A Cat!_*]

It's not an ereader.

It's a tablet.

[countrymel]

So basically it is a big expensive iPhone that doesn't make calls?

This.

We filed it under 'unnecessary indulgence' in this house.

Sigh....

DP brought one home from work, we played with it, everyone who visited played with it, we ooh-d and aaah-d but try as we did we simply couldn't justify buying one.

[Boombox]

I have a burning question if you don't mind-

Is it any good for a portable movie player. I understand it doesn't play DVD's or have a USB connection, is this right?

I'd like to take something traveling overseas with us that the kids can watch movies on the plane, and I can use to connect to free wi-fi were available. Is an iPad a good choice- any other suggestions?

Thanks for the thread!