What use for an iPad?

[p38arover]

a couple of months ago my wife gave me an iPad 2. I haven't yet worked out what to do with it but can't see any use for it.

Does anyone else here have one and like me have no idea what to use it for.

My wife has one of the new iPads and uses it all the time, but I can't get used to the touchscreen typing.

As a result, I haven't really used it - maybe an hour all up just playing around.

[dirtdawg]

I do everything on mine including float around here

[wannabeexplorer]

If you don't like the touchscreen typing, you could get a keyboard for it, but then it becomes a less than useful computer...

I basically just use it as a browser to catch-up on the news, this forum, have video calls with family overseas, that kind of stuff. Much nicer than a heavy warm laptop on your lap in front of the tv...
(Of course there are a billion applications and silly games you could use it for)
I have an older 3G one too (which also has built in GPS), and that now lives in the car and also has some cartoons loaded for the kiddies to watch on longer drives. (The battery life on these things are pretty amazing compared to a smartphone or even a laptop)

[Yorkie]

chopping board, nice to cook every now and again!.
:D

[PhilipA]

I bought an ALDI tablet recently.
My objective is to use it for Email and net while travelling using a mobile wireless modem , as it takes up much less space than a laptop. I have previously only used a laptop as it doubles as a TV.

In addition , I plan to connect to a bluetooth GPS and buy Oziexplorer and Hema maps , so that it should be far more useful than the bloody Garmin with Topo where the scale has to be so large if you want to see track names that it is useless to give you a feeling of where you are.
So ther eare a few ideas.
An Ipod with GPS and 3G would be much easier and better to use, but I don't have that sort of money. Wanna swap?
Regard s Philip A

[101RRS]

I am with Ron - a gizzmo for the latte set.

My laptop and phone does heaps more and is more convenient.

Garry

[Steve223]

a couple of months ago my wife gave me an iPad 2. I haven't yet worked out what to do with it but can't see any use for it.

Does anyone else here have one and like me have no idea what to use it for.

My wife has one of the new iPads and uses it all the time, but I can't get used to the touchscreen typing.

As a result, I haven't really used it - maybe an hour all up just playing around.

I carry two of them when we travel and using it right now for writing the post here are some software recommendations of stuff I use:

Hema Maps
Motion X
Tapatalk
PK weather
WikiCampers
SunSeeker
MetroView Australia

cheers

steve

--
Disco 3 - Great Aussie Camper

Have something to sell? Check out our custom Shopping Cart Solutions
http://www.4sprung.com.au

[superquag]

Flyswat...


The Newsday commercial Apple doesn't want you to see. - YouTube

[Jonno007]

My wife bought me an iPad for work. It took me a while to get used to it but now I use it for everything, even using it to write this reply. I haven't used a computer for months and all the apps you can get for it, I get Landrover monthly magazine on it! I can write emails, Skype, browse Internet, Facebook, do all my drill plods, diary and of course.. Angry birds! I use the wireless hotspot on my iPhone so i can do it all anywhere.

Once you get used to it you will use it for everything even if there is a comfortable desktop computer in your lounge room.

I used to dis them thinking they were just a 'big' iPhone but there is more to them than that;)

[vnx205]

Some people seem to be assuming that Ron has been given a device that isn't faulty. With his record, I think that is a dangerous assumption.

A chopping board, a fly swap or possibly a coffee cup coaster are looking like the safest suggestions so far.

[Yorkie]

iPad chopping board - YouTube

:cool:

[1976_michelle]

Not for me, I can see a use for them for people who cannot bear to be out of touch on regular flights. They might be comfy sitting up in bed too as opposed to laptop (but then get a smaller laptop and still have more grunt), I use my nokia n97 mini for browsing if I'm too lazy to wait to fire up laptop or too comfy to get out of covers (though its underpowered sometimes when I stress it out)
So no, ipad or any of those things, don't do it for me

[Barefoot Dave]

The more I use mine the more uses for it I come up with. A little like a Swiss Army Knife, carry it around for a while and you will discover what you can do with it.
I'm in the outdoor Recreation industry andrun sessions for any of30+ activities and need to refresh my mind on somethings. It also has all my 'Work Directions' and policies etc on hand.
As a Group leader and Instructor in the SES,it replaces about 6kgs of manuals and guides. Additionally, for participants that are visual learners, I can show videos instead of pictures to demonstrate techniques and skills eg perfect for showing a short movie on turbulent water flows to floodboat operators.
I am also the type of person that needs to jot ideas down as they come, so even though the touch keypad isn't great, it's better than a blackberry!
Cheers, Dave.

[p38arover]

I tried it for the forum but it's not that useful for doing Admin/Moderator stuff. I have multiple tabs open on my PC and I don't seem to be able to do that with the iPad.

I don't play games nor read newspapers. About the only use I have so far is to keep some PDF owner's handbooks readily to hand. I don't use Skype, Facetime, Facebook, or Twitter, etc. I rarely reply to emails.

I don't go 4WDing so I don't need mapping.

I have also two iPhones I rarely use (about to get a third when my daughter upgrades from her 4 to a 5).

[kenleyfred]

You don't really seem to want to use it or find a need for it. Why don't you give it or sell it to somebody who does want/need one.

[p38arover]

You don't really seem to want to use it or find a need for it. Why don't you give it or sell it to somebody who does want/need one.

I'll use it instead of my netbook for email, etc., when I go away but I can't see a use for it at home.

[Fluids]

I have multiple tabs open on my PC and I don't seem to be able to do that with the iPad.

I don't play games nor read newspapers. About the only use I have so far is to keep some PDF owner's handbooks readily to hand. I don't use Skype, Facetime, Facebook, or Twitter, etc. I rarely reply to emails.

I don't go 4WDing so I don't need mapping.

I have also two iPhones I rarely use (about to get a third when my daughter upgrades from her 4 to a 5).


I'm typing this now on the iPad, from the XBG. If you use safari as your browser, click on the cross in the top right hand corner of the screen. This will open multiple tabs.

Games & newspaper, no. PDFs yes. Social networking, don't use any of it. Email, it's brilliant. It won't replace my laptop, but it's a great go to for a cut down subset of what I do on the pc day to day. The battery life leaves the laptop for dead. It's lightweight. For typing I find the case mines in, just a standard flat wrap around, that folds behind and lets the screen face you at a 45 deg angle makes typing much easier than having the iPad lie flat.

It's really just a big ol' BIG SCREEN version of an iPhone, that doesn't makes phone calls.

If you dig in, you'll find a use for it ... Or not ...

Sent from my iPad using Braille

[phl]

I use it as a large screen replacement for Ozi, using Bitmap. Not perfect, but works quite well.

[p38arover]

I use it as a large screen replacement for Ozi, using Bitmap. Not perfect, but works quite well.

Yes, I can see a use there but as I don't go off-road......

[Rusnut]

take a photo of a self satisfied grin, or a sunrise whilst bent over and nail it to a wall

[Scallops]

As mentioned - multiple tabs etc - all actually built in. It's a matter of familiarity.

I use one for anything I might use the desktop for, but with the obvious benefit of it being portable and with a usable screen. So - out and about and when travelling, lying around in bed, sitting on the veranda being digital with my gin and tonic..the list goes on and on.

I'd have thought the question is what don't people do with iPads.

[Craig K]

I use my iPad all the time. I have a 27" Mac at home which is a media center and general family use computer. The iPad is great for travel as it is light and has a great battery life. I am sitting in Bali at the moment typing this by the pool, so conveint! I use it at home if someone is using the desktop Mac, I use it traveling, it's an in car entertainment system for the kids (one hell of a lot cheaper than the Range Rover built in DVD system) and you can take it our of the car. The uses are many and I have not mentioned the built in gps and mapping options. I could also quote all the things my kids do on it but I think I have made my point.

[WhiteD3]

Ron,

My Mrs would leave me before she left her IPad :( On the odd occasion I'm allowed (or told) to use it I:

Go to the SMH IPad site. Excellent site and well built for IPad.
Do the Soduko at SMH.
As am SWMBO's kitchen slave I use it to show recipes via GoodReader.

That's it for me but SWMBO has some 300 apps on it that she uses so it must be good ;)

A bloke at work uses a Photoshop app for doing quick edits. Think it cost him $10.

[slug_burner]

I just use it as a laptop for it's light weight and battery life and small size. Bought one just before traveling O/S to do all the things we do at home that we would would rather not do without, e-mail, web browsing for things like flights, hotels and car bookings and to view the photos off the camera and to share photos from home with others while traveling.

Nothing overly clever just the convenience of slipping it into your hand luggage (a backpack/day pack).

[theresanothersteve]

When I got mine (I won it) I considered it to be just like a mobile phone, except I couldn't make calls with it. I've since found its strong suite is Internet related, It is great for browsing and email, I no longer take the laptop when I travel but just slip the iPad in my carry-on. I've got a couple of magazine subscriptions and its connected to my kindle account so I have a vertitable library, so it takes care of on flight entertainment as well.

Its main job, however, is sat on the coffee table at home. If an interesting website comes up on TV, it can be accessed within seconds.

[OffTrack]

a couple of months ago my wife gave me an iPad 2. I haven't yet worked out what to do with it but can't see any use for it.

Does anyone else here have one and like me have no idea what to use it for.

My wife has one of the new iPads and uses it all the time, but I can't get used to the touchscreen typing.

As a result, I haven't really used it - maybe an hour all up just playing around.

Best way to type is by splitting the keyboard and thumb typing whilst holding the iPad with two hands.

Like the previous poster I tend not to use my laptop for web browsing, email and forums. I'll use the iPad while sitting on the couch instead.

I've found it's great for taking rental movies away on holiday. With the addition on the camera connection kit the iPad is great for viewing, editing and sharing photos while you are traveling

I also use mine as a portable workshop manual. I have freeraved copy of the relevant portions on the D2 cd updated with later release tech bulletins . The ipad screen is perfect size for reading the manual pages.

[rar110]

I use it for quick net and email access.

I also use it for watching ABC iview and SBS on demand instead of TV.

The iPad also automatically downloads any new photos I've taken with my iphone (via iCloud) so I can see/show them on a bigger screen.

[p38arover]

I've pretty much given up on the iPad 2.

I have extreme difficulty getting it to connect to the home WiFi network - even when in the same room as the router. It's useless in any other room. My iPhone 3GS is OK.

Oddly enough, when my wife uses it, she can connect anywhere in the house. My wife reckons I've ruined it. Trying a reboot doesn't help (that's something I need to do regularly on the iPhone as it just gives up receiving data - it still works as a phone but that's all).

We had much the same problem when we used to use an AV sender to distribute pay TV to another TV in another part of the house. If I (and only me) walked anywhere near the AV sender, it would kill the transmission.

[gavinwibrow]

I've pretty much given up on the iPad 2.

I have extreme difficulty getting it to connect to the home WiFi network - even when in the same room as the router. It's useless in any other room. My iPhone 3GS is OK.

Oddly enough, when my wife uses it, she can connect anywhere in the house. My wife reckons I've ruined it. Trying a reboot doesn't help (that's something I need to do regularly on the iPhone as it just gives up receiving data - it still works as a phone but that's all).

We had much the same problem when we used to use an AV sender to distribute pay TV to another TV in another part of the house. If I (and only me) walked anywhere near the AV sender, it would kill the transmission.
Perhaps you're just a bad conductor - wouln't get a job on the buses then!

[Eevo]

Posting on aulro while on the toilet

[p38arover]

I forgot to say, that I have the same problem with my wife's new iPad.

[OffTrack]

I forgot to say, that I have the same problem with my wife's new iPad.

Which is a very good indication your wireless access point is ****ed. I say that as an IT Professional. ;)

What wireless router are you running?


Seriously there are some wireless router brands that don't play nicely with Apple products.

The latest linksys/cisco updates for some of their older (2-3 year) routers made it impossible to connect any Apple product to wifi, for example. The only solution was reverting to a version they no longer make available on their website. Needless to say when I replaced the modem/router a couple of months ago Cisco wasn't on the list of candidates.

I've had a good run with Netgear products. On theother hand Linksys/Cisco gear falls over too regularly for my liking - latest was a 48 port managed switch at work which had a couple of ports randomly fall over. Same switch has failed to reboot properly after power outages. It's not really surprising that Linksys/Cisco doesn't score highly in the reliability stakes.

[Scallops]

That's interesting - my modem is a WIFI Cisco (Optus supplied for "high speed internet) and all our Apple products (2 iPhones, the new iPad, & the iMac) have zero WIFI issues running with it. I'm certainly no expert here - am I just lucky?

[OffTrack]

That's interesting - my modem is a WIFI Cisco (Optus supplied for "high speed internet) and all our Apple products (2 iPhones, the new iPad, & the iMac) have zero WIFI issues running with it. I'm certainly no expert here - am I just lucky?

Perhaps Cisco product is an improvement. They have killed off the Linksys, and Linksys by Cisco brands, which is what I've had problems with. It was an update for some "legacy products" which crippled Apple support - I had a WAG54v3. Quite amazing - worked fine prior to update, and stopped immediately after. Even after a full reset and reconfiguring from scratch it sill refused to allow Apple devices to connect, my partners PC connected without a blink. When I was searching for a solution I came across a lot of people in the same predicament.

Optus were supplying D-Link modems to business, and Siemens Speedstream modems for non-wifi. I steer clear of ISP supplied modems where ever possible.

cheers
Paul

[Scallops]

Probably just lucky then! Prior to having this WIFI modem, I setup my iMac's own WIFI signal (built in standard feature) - so that might be a solution for the OP if he has a Mac. I don't know if PC's do this too as standard, if they do - and he doesn't have a Mac - maybe try that.

[OffTrack]

Probably just lucky then! Prior to having this WIFI modem, I setup my iMac's own WIFI signal (built in standard feature) - so that might be a solution for the OP if he has a Mac. I don't know if PC's do this too as standard, if they do - and he doesn't have a Mac - maybe try that.

That would work providing the iMac is hooked up via ethernet to the modem.
From memory you can't share the same interface you are using to connect to the network. You can share for example Wifi -> Ethernet, or Bluetooth -> Wifi but not Wifi -> Wifi.

[Scallops]

That would work providing the iMac is hooked up via ethernet to the modem.
From memory you can't share the same interface you are using to connect to the network. You can share for example Wifi -> Ethernet, or Bluetooth -> Wifi but not Wifi -> Wifi.

You can probably tell I'm no expert :D, but yes - my old standard modem provides ethernet to iMac, iMac generates a WIFI signal, that is available for any gadget - PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, iPad - had them all running at one time or another, and the data usage gets pulled from my monthly internet quota, which is huge.

It's a good system.

[Andrew D]

I've pretty much given up on the iPad 2.

I have extreme difficulty getting it to connect to the home WiFi network - even when in the same room as the router. It's useless in any other room. My iPhone 3GS is OK.

Oddly enough, when my wife uses it, she can connect anywhere in the house. My wife reckons I've ruined it. Trying a reboot doesn't help (that's something I need to do regularly on the iPhone as it just gives up receiving data - it still works as a phone but that's all).

We had much the same problem when we used to use an AV sender to distribute pay TV to another TV in another part of the house. If I (and only me) walked anywhere near the AV sender, it would kill the transmission.


Ron, have you tried removing all the established Wi-fi connections from your Ipad. Remove all of these and then re-establish them (or just the one). Believe this could/may solve your problem.

I don't have mine with me so I'm not sure of the correct screen names.

Regards
Andrew

[p38arover]

What wireless router are you running? .

Netgear WNR2000

[Steve223]

you may also want to try to use a different encryption method WAP, WAP2 as that sometimes makes a difference, as suggested previously deleting all networks does often also help.

[p38arover]

I've deleted all other network connections (there were none).

I have the router set up with a Wireless Card Access List so that only wireless devices whose MAC address is enabled in the router can connect. Currently, I'm still using WEP as I can't work out how to get my wife's MacBook to connect with WPA. I know nothing about Macs except that they are an Apple product. Admittedly, I haven't looked into using WPA for well over a year, maybe longer. That's why I went to a Wireless Card Access List.

[Steve223]

I would suggest;

Update router's firm ware (if you haven't done so)
disable wireless access list
try WPA or better WPA 2

On you wife's MacBook


Preferences/Network/WiFi

It should see the wireless network in MacBook, choose it and you should just enter the WPA password

[mikehzz]

I've found that a lot of Apple stuff only works with TKIP not AES. On many modem/routers AES is the default when using WPA/2. Change to TKIP, there's a fair bit about it in Google land.

[p38arover]

Jeez, Mike, I'm gunna have to go and Google those terms! :D

[jspyle]

Ron,
Looking at your signature picture and the amount of hair involved.
You need to check two things.
Smoke Theory of Electricity. (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php'topic=69445.0)
This forum discusses the electronic smoke theory, which can be seen escaping in your signature.
The other thing to postulate is the static electricity (dare I say halo) emanating from the display of hirsute "superiority" displayed in the signature.
Perhaps these two minor infractions are causing your grief with modern electronic "gizmos".
Did you suffer this sort of "when I purchase stuff it breaks" syndrome when distributors had points?
When "stuff" could be repaired not replace the module.

[p38arover]

When I bought my first new car back in '71, it was always a hard starter. Two Chrysler dealers couldn't find the reason. We couldn't get a consistent point gap. I eventually fitted a CDI which fixed it the hard starting as gap wasn't so important

Some years later I made a dwell meter and during testing I looked at the distributor. Again I couldn't get constant dwell. I pulled the dizzie apart and found it had a bent shaft from new. I straightened it and the hard starting problem was gone.

Re the hairy sig pic, that's a caricature of my late son, Lee, aka Bucko (made from this pic):

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/11/1137.jpg