Advice on I Pad 2 please

[C2 RIBS]

I have been looking at upgrades to laptop and I Pad 2 was demonstrated on board a cruiser some months ago and I was impressed.

Can those who have used the I pad give me some advice, should I consider with wi-fi or with wi-fi and 3g. What are the advantages/disadvantages of each and what GB level16 32 or 64. I would use for surfing internet, e mails and video/photo management

I see Tesco direct offer prices at wi- fi 16GB5 £399.0032GB5 £479.0064GB5 £559.00
and wi-fi + 3g 16GB5 £499.00 32GB5 £579.00 64GB5 £659.00.

Cheers for ideas and thoughts

[Kernow Buoy]

If you've got an Iphone 4 you may well not need the 3G, depending on who your with it's free to tether the phone to the ipad to provide 3g. Bought an Ipad 2 for swmbo recently in an Apple store, impressed with the experience

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by Kernow

If you've got an Iphone 4 you may well not need the 3G, depending on who your with it's free to tether the phone to the ipad to provide 3g. Bought an Ipad 2 for swmbo recently in an Apple store, impressed with the experience

Cheers I use I phone 3, as I dont like paying so much for a smaller sim for a very similar facility( price charges from circa £15 to £45 a month to upgrade to i PHONE 4). Where I live I dont get 3 g so would lock onto wi fi,

[Courageous]

Yes my chancellor also has an IPAD albeit a "1". I guess the 2 is much better so its a thumbs up for me but I'd imagine photo's and video will soon eat the space so usual rule applies - go for the highest numbers you can justify/afford. We don't 3G here in spain as the prices are high so we wifi.

[Boats&Outboards]

Im hooked to Apple. I've got both the iPad 1 an 2, 2 iPhone 4's and just sold the older 3 so would say I'm well placed to offer my experiences.

The pads are great but limited. The Adobe Flash is a pain which restricts some sites. Not a lot of difference between the 1 or 2, just a camera (which you won't use) and a bit quicker, lighter. The FaceTime (similar to skype) is good on the iPad 2 but only if you know others with compatible devices.

Memory is not an issue. I've the basic 16gb and a 64gb which is way over spec. You don't need that much and it makes no difference to performance or speeds. I have 2000 pics, 300 tunes and 45 apps on the 16gb with 7 GB left.


I'd say go for the 3G as it's great on the move. Wifi hotspots are ok but limited. I use mine more at home on 3G then I do wifi due to where my hub is, the pads don't have a huge wifi range!

I pay £15 per month via the company called THREE and am yet to find a location where the signal drops out.

Things to consider

Video quality poor when using 3G. Wifi can watch HD videos on YouTube etc.

What you want to use it for. Forget BBC videos etc. surfing is great.

You can get them "JAIL BROKEN" which opens them up to new levels and de-restricts all Apple settings. Free iTunes, watch what you want etc but it invalidates your warranty!!!!

My advice is go for it

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

[martini]

You'll probably want to buy the 3G version as non 3G's don't have gps

[Courageous]

Peter you mention pics, tunes and apps all of which take up little space compared to Video. That's why I would advise going for the greater memory IMHO.

[Boats&Outboards]

Agreed but the iPad compresses videos and files which have been recorded on other compatible devices to allow integration onto the unit. Add to that the fact the only real video it likes to store is ones being taken by an Apple device and the memory should suffice for most general usage.

As with most gadgets I normally go for the top spec (then regret it later) simply because for the extra £100 odd it's better value. My 64gb has over 3500 pictures, 30 movies, tv clips, loads of music, over 100 apps and it's still got 24gb left to waste. If I ever got close I'd simply "clean" through and delete what is not used back onto iTunes or the desktop for a later date.

Buyers choice but rumours are the iPad3 is due out very soon.... Thats why I've just sold the original iPad whilst the value is still in it

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

[Courageous]

IPAD 3? Aaaaaaargh! Will it never end? Sounds like apple have the video compression thing pinned down then Peter I'm still up for the max available though.

[Max...]

I'd check the Macrumours forums too - a useful place for tech info (plenty of opinionated cr@p too as usual!).

iPad - MacRumors Forums

Something new is always around the corner but don't hold your breath for the updated iPad - no iPad 3 is rumoured until late spring/summer even in the US so we're probably talking at least a year to the UK.

I don't have an iPad but use an iPod Touch 4th gen and consider it the best little gadget ever made, no 3g but I really only use it in the house/office for everything a laptop can do but more intuitively and quickly (including Ribnet access). I've got 75 music albums, 3500 photos, numerous Appps, podcasts and a few films/videos on there and I've used half of the 32GB.

Not sure of the OP's exact spec requirements re' video but if you mean storing and editing video film then go 64gb, if not then 32gb should be ample.

Apple do all this stuff like no-on else and round a big family gathering this weekend the advice from the younger ones to the olders was forget laptops and get an iPad.

If you plan to just use it in the house/office then Wi-fi is tops - much faster (data access) and easier and cheaper then 3G, that's why I use a Touch and not an iPhone. A wi-fi Apple unit is a one off cost - a contract 3g unit will add at least another £200 to £400 a year to it in running costs. I would always check Amazon for anything like this as their service and no-quibble returns/problem sorting is second to none (many people have found that Apple stores are not quite so accomodating when things go wrong).