What was included in the box: 1. Apple iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G - 64GB (Verizon Wireless) - Black 2. Dock Connector to USB Cable 3. 10W USB Power Adapter 4. Documentation First impressions: The iPad 2 is very thin. The screen is high quality. It is light and easy to type on with one hand (while holding it with the other). It is very easy to set up after charging the device (all you need is the current version of iTunes installed on your computer and an iTunes account). It was very easy to sync my iTunes music library over to my iPad. Pros: The size of the iPad is perfect and makes it very easy to use and hold for extended periods of time. Due to its size, it makes it very easy to travel with and use while on a plane. The iPad has excellent battery life (depending on your usage it can last for several days before you need to recharge). It is very easy to buy and install apps on the iPad. There are several apps available for the iPad. The iPad has a great media experience (Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, SlingPlayer, etc). Signing up for a Verizon 3G Mobile Broadband Plan was easy and straightforward (all you need to do is fill in the information and have a credit card with you). You can activate data on a monthly basis (no contracts to sign and it is very easy to cancel data before your month is up). Cons: No over the air updates (you need to have iTunes installed on your PC, which isn't a big deal since I already have it installed due to my iPod). In direct sunlight, it is hard to read and see what is on the screen (no too much of a problem since I have yet to see a device that is fully readable in bright sunlight). No built-in USB port No built-in memory card reader No removable battery No flash support The built-in camera takes average and sometimes slightly pixilated photos (I use my phone when I want to take a quick photo or my Canon SLR when I want to take a high quality photo). Applications installed: Entertainment: Netflix (free) SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad (paid) DirecTV App for iPad (free) HBO Go (free - although to stream shows, you must subscribe to HBO through a preferred provider) HBO (free) Discovery Channel HD (free) News: CNN App for iPad (free) Pulse News for iPad (free) Flipboard for iPad (free) Engadget for iPad (free) Weather: The Weather Channel Max for iPad (free) RadarScope (paid) Storm Spotter (paid) WeatherBug for iPad (free) Travel: TripAdvisor (free) Yellow Pages (free) Yelp (free) US Yellow Pages Search (free) Google Earth (free) Music: GarageBand for iPad (paid) TuneIn Radio (free) Misc (Finance, Books, Social Networking, and Photography): CNBC Real-Time for iPad (free) iBooks (free) Tapatalk Forum App (paid) Friendly for Facebook (free - they have a paid version too, but I use the free one) Adobe Photoshop Express (free) Accessories that I purchased: 1. iPad Smart Cover - Leather (Black) 2. Apple Digital AV Adapter 3. iPad Camera Connection Kit 4. Targus Protective TPU Skin for iPad 2 5. Griffin Technology PowerBlock for iPad, iPhone and iPod, 2.1 amp (Black) 6. 2.1 Amp Vehicle Power Charger (9 ft coil cord) Closing comments: I am happy that I bought the iPad 2. While I initially missed certain Android related software features, I immediately was able to use this device without having too hard of a time getting used to things. You need to have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer, and a iTunes account in order to initially set up the iPad (and to buy apps). This was not a big deal, since I already have both due to having an iPod. I still wish this had a better camera in it (although that is what cell phones and cameras are for), but I do not plan on having this replace my cameras that I already have. I recently took this on vacation along with my laptop, and while laptops are good for traveling, I can see this replacing my laptop for normal everyday uses (although I still need my laptop for photo/web/video editing with my collection of Adobe programs).
Great review Gamer and I am glad that you are happy with yours. I agree with you on all your pros and cons and observations. I have the 16gb WiFi model in white with the blue poly cover. Here are my apps: IPad Apps Docs To Go - Paid CNN - Free Calculator Pro - Free FreeCell - Free Google Earth - Free Bengali Type (my native language) - Paid Crossword - Free Tapatalk - Paid IBooks - Free Friendly - Free PS Express- Free Bangla ebooks - Free Trip Advisor - Free The Weather Channel - Free ip Forums - Free Here is some of my own thoughts and observations: Going in I was aware that Apple has a "walled garden" and I was going to be restricted. At the same time I was assured that this is not WM or Android and so out of the box it was going to meet my expectations My experience was not exactly that smooth, started with the fact that it has no built in calculator, huh? Even the least expensive devices have one. Next, no way to include attachments in an email, certain apps allow it from within the app but of course that is one attachment per e-mail and of-course there is an "app for that" for $4.99. All my Smartphones to date have been able to do this but of course I never had an iOS device. I am also used to BT transfer files, pics, vid etc between devices. The only way to file transfer is by being connected to a PC and going through iTunes. There are many more that I keep finding, in most everything I have done so far, my Android does it better. (hmm, sounds like a James Bond theme song ) So, if anyone is wondering why I even got this, well the main reason is my work connectivity. It allows me email and intranet without having to lug my laptop around. My only other choice was the BB Playbook which does not connect to BB servers without a BB. So, am I glad I got this, yes absolutely, for all the reasons Erik has mentioned. I have been using it more and more every day and finding work arounds. It is almost to the point of replacing my work laptop and my MacBook for every day use. Just my observations after a week of continuously playing with it, oh and the battery life is truly phenomenal.
Cool, thanks for the reviews. I am still not a tablet fan, but I don't need to lug a laptop around more than a few times per year, so the appeal of something even smaller just isn't there for me. I did dig out my old macbook pro this week. I had pretty much stopped using it because of it's tiny hard drive (100GB) compared to my Dell laptop (250GB) since I have close to 150GB of music files alone.. I miss the Mac though. Might start using it as my primary travel computer and start leaving my Dell at home on trips. I'd love to buy a new one, but I don't think that will happen for years.
Great review from both and I agree with the comments. I have to say that I was surprised too for having no calc or even a clock app. I got over it as I was able to get those apps for free (they were on a free special for a day or two. I advise that every one download the AppShopper application (free) as it keeps track of applications that went on sale or even gone free for a certain period of time. I also recommend opera mini for the iPad as it will for sure use less data when on network. For flash support I bought skydive web app but it is still does not fully support a lot of sites but it is better than none. For me I have quick office for iPad, parallels, and every air and use those for my office work. parallels and every air is for remote access to the PC (use them for work demos) I also have the connectivity packages for hdmi connection to external projectors and displays and the whole combo works great. Enjoy your iPad and I am sure you will find more things to like about it and also hate about it.
Larger hard drives are available and if you can set up time machine and restore to the new drive. I got the MacBook pro back in Feb and have not regretted that at all. I got the 15 inch with 750 gb hard drive and just recently upped the ram to 8 GB. I love the under a minute startup and almost instant shutdown. I also like the integration of how the iPad and iPhone synch with the Mac as compared to how it synchs with a windows PC. It is much better organized with Mac.
I never thought I was a tablet fan until I got one. It is amazing how much can be done with them. Thanks hf1khal, very well said. I have downloaded the AppShopper Thanks for the great advice.
Linking to my answer in the iPad BlueTooth thread on how to send multiple files or photos, I forgot about this: Charlyee, besides using Docs to Go to send multiple files, and using the iPad photo 'share' option to email up to 5 photo via email, there is another way to increase the 5 photo limit. Works on my iphone, should be the same on iPad..same iOS. Currently if you select more than 5 photos, the 'email' link is dimmed, as I noted. However you can 'copy' those 5 photos instead, and then switch to the native apple email application, press and hold in the email body - and then paste the photos there. Now go back to 'Photo' and select another group of photos (never more than 5, otherwise the copy link will dim too). Return to your open email and paste another set. For me, only 4 show as real photos, the remainding 6 show as icons (jpg file icons). I sent 10 photo attachments that way in one Gmail with my iPhone. Total 18 Mbytes. I don't know if there is any limit, well Google limits attachments to a total of 25 Mbytes... Good luck! Now you can send even more fishing photos
Thanks, works as you described and better yet, it allowed me to pick all 6. I don't know what the limit is, I only have 6 pictures in it, two showed as pictures and the other 4 as icons. Very helpful, tthank you.
