So, who else grabbed an iPad this weekend?

[SailDesign]

Let's see -
1. I have a phone that "does" the interwebz - but it costs a lotta $$ to do so.
2. I have a Palm thingie that does likewise, but is pretty much free as long as I can find an unsecured network...
3. I have a netbook that does everything the Palm does, but can actually be typed on, too, without a magnifying glass, and
4. I have a fixed 'puter at home that does everything better than all of the above.

I'm not mocking, Scott - I have just never been able to understand the need for Interwebz access everywhere, especially coupled with no keyboard on a machine where the screen is basically unprotected.
But I'll bet that if someone gave me one and paid for service, I'd have fun with it.

[Kal-El]

Apple sold 300,000 iPads on the first day. That's particularly impressive since most people are waiting for the data plan supported unit.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36175932...gadgets//deck/

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Apple sold 300,000 iPads on the first day. That's particularly impressive since most people are waiting for the data plan supported unit.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36175932...gadgets//deck/

Except for people like me, who are running pdanet on their jailbroken iphones to avoid the $40/month data plan for the iPad.

[tomato]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Except for people like me, who are running pdanet on their jailbroken iphones to avoid the $40/month data plan for the iPad.

OK, now I'm really curious. I have Pda.net but I can't find good evidence that it works well for Android phone / iPad. Did you buy any chance run into some info about that when you were doing your research?

I can see ANDROID / PDANET / laptop, no problem, but iPad, a completely different platform ??? Any pointers greatly appreciated.

And by the way, Scott, did you use any specific applications to process your photos when you took your iPad on vacation, or just sync with the camera kit they provide and upload from there? Thanks.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by tomato

OK, now I'm really curious. I have Pda.net but I can't find good evidence that it works well for Android phone / iPad. Did you buy any chance run into some info about that when you were doing your research?

I can see ANDROID / PDANET / laptop, no problem, but iPad, a completely different platform ??? Any pointers greatly appreciated.

And by the way, Scott, did you use any specific applications to process your photos when you took your iPad on vacation, or just sync with the camera kit they provide and upload from there? Thanks.

Actually the pdnet SW I have to run for the ipad to tether to my iphone is MiWi. The ipad doesn't support peer to peer networking, which is required for the real pdanet, so MiWi makes your iphone look like an access point.

[eTiMaGo]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

I'm not mocking, Scott - I have just never been able to understand the need for Interwebz access everywhere, especially coupled with no keyboard on a machine where the screen is basically unprotected.
But I'll bet that if someone gave me one and paid for service, I'd have fun with it.

Yegads, Steve, think of the possibilities! Think of the time wasted everyday as you sit in the toilet, you could now boost your productivity thanks to the iPad!

I kid, I kid, I find this device quite intriguing, definitely the way mobile computing is going to go in the future.... I'll wait a couple more hardware generations though, spent far too much time and money on the bleeding edge of consumer electronics :D

[BailOut]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

I have just never been able to understand the need for Interwebz access everywhere

When my company first handed me an iPhone I felt the same way, but having near-constant access to the Net at your fingertips is sort of like getting your first microwave. You never knew how useful it could be until you got one.

From the work side I can get onto any of our networks and troubleshoot any issues even when I'm sneaking in a few snowboard runs before work, or when a server melts down while I'm mountain biking in a canyon somewhere. This level of freedom is hard to describe unless you've ever had to cut an outing or event short because you needed to get to a Net access point, or had to lug a laptop everywhere you went.

From the personal side you basically have the largest collection of human knowledge in history at your fingertips nearly 24x7. Looking up a recipe at the grocery store, real time price comparisons, user reviews, movie show times, reference materials, email, etc. are all great examples of this power. There are lighter aspects as well, like checking forums or social networking sites when you have time to kill.

Combine all of that with a bucket of local-only applications on a computer in your pocket and it becomes a part of your daily life.

With all that said I still can't think of a use for the iPad. I much prefer my Linux netbook (another company asset, which I usually keep downstairs) for tooling around the Net or typing anything, and my Linux desktop upstairs is by far the most usable of all 3 devices. I just can't imagine having something as limited as the iPhone in a larger size that's too big for a pocket and too unprotected for anything but a laptop bag, and at a price point that starts above full featured netbooks.