Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

IPads or Tablets

(15 Posts)
GillieB Wed 23-Jan-13 16:26:38

I have a laptop which I enjoy using, but am seriously thinking about buying an IPad (or tablet) - I think I need to keep up with my DGS (23 months) who can use his dad's IPad! Joking aside, can anyone tell me what, if any, the advantages are over my laptop?

Many thanks.

Kali Wed 23-Jan-13 16:39:15

Advantages: lighter, more versatile,more portable, quick and easily to write and receive emails, can download and read books, good for GN forums
Same: can store music, photos, google things, shopping, banking.
Disadvantages: addictive, no really great spread sheet programmes or word-type documents, not GN friendly for photos etc.

Very basic list others will add more I'm sure.

storynanny Wed 23-Jan-13 16:56:41

FaceTime on iPad and or iPhone is really good, better than Skype. Very portable, you can put it in your handbag to go out and use free wifi.
We have actually replaced our broken laptop with an iPad on a contract from three, £100 down and two years at £25 month loads of data, didnt work out any dearer than paying outright and then buying data. You only need data allowance tho if you have no wifi in your house which we haven't.
Only con for us is you can't print from it, but our society is getting towards being paperless so we are moving with the times. On the odd occasion when we needed something printed out, we went to the library and used their free wifi to email the boarding passes, then used library computer to print the, out. (Waste of time as it turned out, you can print them yourselves when you get to Heathrow)
Ps you have to watch the iPads auto correct, sometimes it is hilariously wrong!!!!!!
I love the iPad, I can be looking at my baby grandson the other side of the world in seconds wherever I am and it's easy to use lying in bed. I'm a convert!

Ariadne Wed 23-Jan-13 17:12:36

iPad - you can just pick it up and go onto GN whenever you feel like it....advantage? Some times disadvantage...

I love my IPad!

Stansgran Wed 23-Jan-13 17:21:22

I am a convert. Travel friendly. Really helpful looking at flight delays and cancellation s on ar difficult journey recently . It has its own mind at times my local library is called Clayport but it wrote claptrap- the library is in the council offices. I wonder how it knew about our council

Smoluski Wed 23-Jan-13 17:47:53

I am an addict,I agree with all the above.xx

storynanny Wed 23-Jan-13 17:57:07

Go and buy one tomorrowxxxx if you go to the three shop they will set it all up for you.

glammanana Wed 23-Jan-13 18:13:57

Tablet wins hands down when it comes to e-books music and photo's also fits neatly in my bag and can be put on my bedside table whereas my laptop is too big.Also saves getting up out of bed if wanting to check on GN.

GillieB Wed 23-Jan-13 18:31:43

Thanks all. I think I will borrow my SiL's IPad and have a go with that. As I have Word and Excel on the laptop, and it is wifi attached to the printer I can use it for that kind of thing. I love the idea of being close to the GC with it, although I do see them both frequently.

I do have an android phone I tend to use that only for texts and phone calls and do not use the internet on it, so I can see all sorts of advantages.

annodomini Wed 23-Jan-13 18:47:58

Does anyone have a good word to say for a tablet other than i-Pad? I hear good things about Nexus 7.

glammanana Wed 23-Jan-13 18:51:48

anno mine is a Acer Iconia and it does everything except make a cup of tea. grin Not that I am an experienced user I might add.

grannyactivist Wed 23-Jan-13 18:58:48

I have an iPad mini which is the ideal size for popping into my bag. I sat in the hospital waiting room watching something I'd downloaded from iPlayer, then read the news, played sudoku.....I could have read a book (compatible with Kindle so have all my books on both devices).
The only thing I would say is that my mum and son both have the normal sized iPads and they're not quite so portable or discreet.

annodomini Wed 23-Jan-13 19:03:10

Thanks, glamma. My DS is very anti-Apple (don't ask why - I don't know) and has had some kind of Android tablet ever since they became available. He bought cheap(ish) ones for the children at Christmas and they are most enthusiastic.

hummingbird Thu 24-Jan-13 01:10:14

I'm an iPad addict, too. Like you, GillyB, I wasn't sure, and wondered what all the fuss was about, but it seriously beats a laptop hands down for immediacy, accessibility and portability. Still need the laptop for Word, printing, etc, but I honestly would hate to be without my new best friend now. smile

GillieB Thu 24-Jan-13 11:18:09

Right, have now decided to borrow my SiL's - I'll let you know how I get on.