Apple Tablet: iPad

[haven]

The CEO of Best Buy says that the iPad has taken a big bite out of laptop sales.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/17/ipad-has-halved-laptop-sales-claims-best-buy-ceo/

Other analysts agree, saying that people are buying fewer laptops today than they did a year ago. The iPad is part of the reason why. The increasing capability of smart phones like the iPhone and some Android models is another reason why people don't see the need to carry a laptop any more.

http://gizmodo.com/5640716/is-the-notebook-dying

There are rumors that the iPad will be sold through major retailers like Target and Costco this Fall. Apple has caught up with the initial demand for the iPad, so they can now add more retailers without causing delay in delivery. Apple needs to move to wider distribution to combat the wave of Android-based tablets coming this Holiday season.

 

[off-roader]

I am going to spring for the Proclip mount for the jeep - I now want to see if it can rock as the main computer for my expedition!

I want to mount mine in my rig as well but am wondering what is the simplest yet most functional (not necessarily most features) gps topo software solution there is? I want to avoid a "held together with duct tape"/"rigged" software setup too... I.e.4 software products required for one simple solution. KISS right? What topo programs r u considering?

 

[Cackalak Han]

The CEO of Best Buy says that the iPad has taken a big bite out of laptop sales.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/17/ipad-has-halved-laptop-sales-claims-best-buy-ceo/

Other analysts agree, saying that people are buying fewer laptops today than they did a year ago. The iPad is part of the reason why. The increasing capability of smart phones like the iPhone and some Android models is another reason why people don't see the need to carry a laptop any more.

http://gizmodo.com/5640716/is-the-notebook-dying

There are rumors that the iPad will be sold through major retailers like Target and Costco this Fall. Apple has caught up with the initial demand for the iPad, so they can now add more retailers without causing delay in delivery. Apple needs to move to wider distribution to combat the wave of Android-based tablets coming this Holiday season.

That does not surprise me at all. After 3 weeks of ownership, I can see with totally doing away with the laptop. Still need the desktop at home, but for what I use it for, iPad is perfect. If MS Office app with Word and Excel come out, laptop is on ebay. Current word processing apps aren't that impressive to me.

 

[Dave Bennett]

I have an iphone 3GS with data plan, do I need a seperate data plan for ipad 3G connectivity???

How visible is the screen in bright light/cab of truck environment???

 

[Cackalak Han]

I have an iphone 3GS with data plan, do I need a seperate data plan for ipad 3G connectivity???

How visible is the screen in bright light/cab of truck environment???

Yes, if you get the 3G version, and you want a separate data access for the iPad, you need to sign up for the data plan. However, like i said in the previous posts, you can very easily jailbreak the iPhone (go to jailbreakme.com and slide tab--easy as that), then buy the app "mywi" to tether your iPhone to iPad. (plus, the wifi only ipads are cheaper). This has worked flawlessly for me and actually, I'm currently typing this on my iPad tethered to my iPhone. There is a 64GB wifi-only iPad for sale in the classifieds here (no affiliation with the seller).

Regular screen has glare, due to the smooth surface. However, you can get the anti-glare screen protector for it that's gotten good reviews. People are using it with these mounts, so must not be that bad:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/413957-ram-mount-apple-ipad-ipod-mounts.html

And of course, just FYI, jail breaking is completely legal:

http://www.intomobile.com/2010/07/2...in-us-feds-exempt-smartphone-hacks-from-dmca/

 

[adventureduo]

How visible is the screen in bright light/cab of truck environment???

We found it pretty terrible in direct sunlight. All you see is a thousand finger prints. As a matter of fact in the car, Yosh had to wait till it was dark or while we drove in cloudy conditions along the coast to play her games

 

[nwoods]

We found it pretty terrible in direct sunlight. All you see is a thousand finger prints. As a matter of fact in the car, Yosh had to wait till it was dark or while we drove in cloudy conditions along the coast to play her games

LOL, did you see the new Kindle ad about that?
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/09/14/amazon_mocks_ipads_glossy_screen_in_new_kindle_ad.html

 

[AFSOC]

LOL, did you see the new Kindle ad about that?
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/09/14/amazon_mocks_ipads_glossy_screen_in_new_kindle_ad.html

That's good, I like it. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Fwiw, finger prints were horrendous with no screen protector. I applied bestskinsever protector and don't notice the prints anymore--at least not as much.

 

[nwoods]

Apple now selling refurbished iPads starting at $449

Apple now selling refurbished iPads starting at $449

 

[Jeepthreat]

I havent picked any software yet as im still fighting with my driveshaft. Butni am getting a video editing program to edit video fromnthe sd card to upload

I think i am gonna get some offline maps. I have gps, but no 3 g card and i probably wont get service anyway where i plan to go. So offline maps downloaded via wifi before i go offroad and off the grid... With the ipad

Ipad update comes in november with multitasking which will be big, but rumor has it ipad 2 might drop for xmas

 

[haven]

Small steps continue in the direction of improving the iPad for productivity (you know, like, work!). We've already mentioned Apple's iOS 4.2 upgrade coming in November will include folders, multitasking and wireless printing.

Now Google has announced that full access to the Google Docs suite of applications will come to the iPad and to Android devices in a few weeks. Until now, iPad users could view Google Docs files, but could not make changes.

(For iPad users, I'm guessing the full access to Google Docs will require the iOS 4.2 upgrade. For Android users, it may be part of Android 3.0, which is also expected to arrive in November.)

Google Docs apps include word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and forms. The files you create are saved on Google servers online. You can access the files from a web browser running on a Windows, Mac or *nix computer any time you have Internet access.

The full access to Google Docs using an iPad means you'll be able to create, view and edit documents you created, and to collaborate with other workers by sharing your Google Docs files. Most Microsoft Office documents can be uploaded and translated into Google Docs formats.

A Google Docs account is free. Google Docs provides each participant with 1 GB of storage without charge. You can purchase more storage at reasonable rates. An extra 20 GB costs $5 a year, for example.

The Google Docs main web page is http://docs.google.com
A demo page is here http://docs.google.com/demo/

Note that the new Google Docs access is _not_ for iPhone, just iPad.

 

[off-roader]

I havent picked any software yet as im still fighting with my driveshaft... I think i am gonna get some offline maps. I have gps, but no 3 g card and i probably wont get service anyway where i plan to go. So offline maps downloaded via wifi before i go offroad and off the grid... With the ipad

I'd personally love it if the Overland Navigator's topo navigation product was available for the ipad. It's UI seems very simple & clean.

If it were available, I would jailbreak my wifi only ipad, use a decent bluetooth gps, RAM ipad dash mount and the Overland Navigator software for my off road navigation duties instead of my netbook... it would be a simple & clean setup with a decent UI.
:drool:

 

[spressomon]

I'd personally love it if the Overland Navigator's topo navigation product was available for the ipad. It's UI seems very simple & clean.

If it were available, I would jailbreak my wifi only ipad, use a decent bluetooth gps, RAM ipad dash mount and the Overland Navigator software for my off road navigation duties instead of my netbook... it would be a simple & clean setup with a decent UI.
:drool:

Another vote for iPad compatible Overland Navigator. FWIW Benchmark Maps is working on their iPad map app/program...no ETA though.

 

[cactusjk]

Has Craig weighed in on this?

Another vote for iPad compatible Overland Navigator. FWIW Benchmark Maps is working on their iPad map app/program...no ETA though.