dave lackey
Veteran
Gee... I have now started a thread on the Ipad...what is this world coming to?
Okay, so here goes. We have been looking at Nooks for my wife who has trouble reading books with small fonts, etc. and eyeglasses have not been a lot of help for various reasons.
So, we checked out the new Nook Easy Touch with the backlit screen and thought it was great for reading but if it cost $150 incl. tax, well, maybe we should look at their color tablet, but it is over $200 incl. tax. Grrr.
Money doesn't grow on trees around here so I will have to squirrel a few bucks a month out of something to buy a tablet and I HATE spending money on electronics.
So, the Ipad (refurbished) looks to be a decent alternative. Not only can she use it to read, but we can do email, and all the other things that we might want to do while out of town and needing access to getting online.:angel:
Ugh....except, how can one use the Ipad while driving down the road? Can a mobile modem be purchased and used just like a wifi at Starbucks?
Sorry to ask such basic questions, but outside of a desktop computer and CAD work, I know very little about mobile technology. I gave up on laptops because I prefer the desktop and not spending yet more money.
The Ipad will fit in my Hadley Pro. It fits everywhere I might need it except in my meager budget.
So, can I hook up the Ipad and let the grandkids play games on it while on a trip? Does it need to be online to access said games or what? I told ya I was a non-geek....
Okay, so here goes. We have been looking at Nooks for my wife who has trouble reading books with small fonts, etc. and eyeglasses have not been a lot of help for various reasons.
So, we checked out the new Nook Easy Touch with the backlit screen and thought it was great for reading but if it cost $150 incl. tax, well, maybe we should look at their color tablet, but it is over $200 incl. tax. Grrr.
Money doesn't grow on trees around here so I will have to squirrel a few bucks a month out of something to buy a tablet and I HATE spending money on electronics.
So, the Ipad (refurbished) looks to be a decent alternative. Not only can she use it to read, but we can do email, and all the other things that we might want to do while out of town and needing access to getting online.:angel:
Ugh....except, how can one use the Ipad while driving down the road? Can a mobile modem be purchased and used just like a wifi at Starbucks?
Sorry to ask such basic questions, but outside of a desktop computer and CAD work, I know very little about mobile technology. I gave up on laptops because I prefer the desktop and not spending yet more money.
The Ipad will fit in my Hadley Pro. It fits everywhere I might need it except in my meager budget.
So, can I hook up the Ipad and let the grandkids play games on it while on a trip? Does it need to be online to access said games or what? I told ya I was a non-geek....
doolittle
Well-known
If you have an iPhone 4s (I think 4 as well), you can enable a personal hotspot, to share the internet connection with an iPad. If you have a mobile modem which can be connected to via wifi, that should probably work too.
dave lackey
Veteran
Hey, thanks....now that is sounding expensive or is it? First of all, getting an iPhone 4s, then, isn't there a charge for being on that connection (minutes?)?
Alternatively, what does a mobile modem cost?
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
You can just spring for a cellular-equipped iPad, but then you'd have another phone bill each month.
I also highly recommend you have her look at the current iPad's display before you commit to a refurb. My wife did the same before we bought hers and we both felt the new model was well worth the extra dosh.
I also highly recommend you have her look at the current iPad's display before you commit to a refurb. My wife did the same before we bought hers and we both felt the new model was well worth the extra dosh.
willie_901
Veteran
Dave,
The Kindle App (free) for the iPad gives you access to everything on Amazon as well as any other eBook that uses the ePub standard. there are other reading Apps as well. I use Stanza, Kindle and of course Apple's iBook App.
The iBook App works well with PDFs. You can read any PDF. The PDFs can be entered directly into iBooks from the iPad's web browser or, by adding them to iTunes using your computer. I keep all my camera and photo gear manuals on my iPhone and iPad.
I use the iPad 2. Reading Kindle, PDFs or iBooks is practical and flexible with the iPad2 screen. The New iPad screen is better, but it is not necessary for a quality reading experience.
Non-G3 iPads will require some sort of tethering to work in your car. If mobile use is required, the G3 version would be best. Unfortunately this means you would also need a contract with AT&T or Verizon for Internet (G3) access. The iPhone solution is only useful if you already own one. You do not need an iPhone to use a G3 iPad in your car. If you get a G3 version iPad, the data plans that provide a certain amount of data transfer per month. If you go over you pay more for that month. Of course when you are on wifi there is no data usage cost.
If the kids' games are viable as stand-alone Apps, then they will work in the car without an Internet connection. Some games require Internet access, but many do not. Some games support on-line play with others in real time which requies internet access. If reading material is loaded onto the iPad before your trip, you really don't need Internet access. This may be necessary for the Kindle App, but not for iBooks which always reside on the iPad. But if you want to use the iPad as a GPS device, email or general web browsing in the car, then you should get the wifi version. Car chargers are inexpensive.
I suggest you plan a weekday trip to the nearest Apple store. Just tell them you have limited funds, you are beginner, and why you are thinking about the iPad. Apple can be criticized for a lot of things, but unless you are unlucky, somebody in that store will give you all the help and advice you need. If you on't understand something, just tell them. They are experienced at helping people in your situation. You can trust their advice. Apple Store employees do not work on commission. Surely someone will post about how they had a terrible experience at an Apple Store. But my friends and relatives have been well served by Apple Store employees.
The Kindle App (free) for the iPad gives you access to everything on Amazon as well as any other eBook that uses the ePub standard. there are other reading Apps as well. I use Stanza, Kindle and of course Apple's iBook App.
The iBook App works well with PDFs. You can read any PDF. The PDFs can be entered directly into iBooks from the iPad's web browser or, by adding them to iTunes using your computer. I keep all my camera and photo gear manuals on my iPhone and iPad.
I use the iPad 2. Reading Kindle, PDFs or iBooks is practical and flexible with the iPad2 screen. The New iPad screen is better, but it is not necessary for a quality reading experience.
Non-G3 iPads will require some sort of tethering to work in your car. If mobile use is required, the G3 version would be best. Unfortunately this means you would also need a contract with AT&T or Verizon for Internet (G3) access. The iPhone solution is only useful if you already own one. You do not need an iPhone to use a G3 iPad in your car. If you get a G3 version iPad, the data plans that provide a certain amount of data transfer per month. If you go over you pay more for that month. Of course when you are on wifi there is no data usage cost.
If the kids' games are viable as stand-alone Apps, then they will work in the car without an Internet connection. Some games require Internet access, but many do not. Some games support on-line play with others in real time which requies internet access. If reading material is loaded onto the iPad before your trip, you really don't need Internet access. This may be necessary for the Kindle App, but not for iBooks which always reside on the iPad. But if you want to use the iPad as a GPS device, email or general web browsing in the car, then you should get the wifi version. Car chargers are inexpensive.
I suggest you plan a weekday trip to the nearest Apple store. Just tell them you have limited funds, you are beginner, and why you are thinking about the iPad. Apple can be criticized for a lot of things, but unless you are unlucky, somebody in that store will give you all the help and advice you need. If you on't understand something, just tell them. They are experienced at helping people in your situation. You can trust their advice. Apple Store employees do not work on commission. Surely someone will post about how they had a terrible experience at an Apple Store. But my friends and relatives have been well served by Apple Store employees.
dave lackey
Veteran
Willie, thank you! That is so much information that I need to re-read this a few times to absorb it all!
It is definitely time to visit the Apple store!