IPad opinions?

[cove]

I used one in the Apple shop at the north end of South Coast Plaza.
At 60 my eyesight says I want one as my I phone is too hard for fat fingers.
At $499US it is selling very well in California.
Probably a baby boomer product so count me as a buyer.

 

[samh004]

If planning to visit Israel, don't bring your iPad!

Why has Israel banned the iPad? - Haaretz - Israel News

I saw that, makes no sense, but nothing Israel ever does makes any sense.

There’s not enough information about the reason thus far as surely the iPad is certified for European use, and while the regs in Israel are similar, but not the same as European regs, it all seems a little BS.

 

[simongr]

I used one in the Apple shop at the north end of South Coast Plaza.
At 60 my eyesight says I want one as my I phone is too hard for fat fingers.
At $499US it is selling very well in California.
Probably a baby boomer product so count me as a buyer.

If it had a forward facing camera it would be even more perfect for the grey nomads - video conferencing back home, booking campsites for the winnebego etc

I would buy one for my parents in a flash if it had a camera. I am really looking forward to getting my hands on one at midnight on 4 June Straight from the airport, to the apple store (maybe even before checking in :|)

 

[burrco]

I picked one up on release day (tragic I know - but was coming back to MEL soon after) in San Francisco. Best gadget/toy I've brought in a while.

For some reason my laptop wasn't being powered by the inflight seat power on the flight back, so it was a lifesaver to have this to play with during the flight.

 

[djfuzz]

Okay, I have to be honest - though I had no problems with WiFi at the far end of the SYD QP, I did not have the same luck at the furthest end of the SYD domestic J lounge, where I barely held a signal on my laptop and couldn't sustain one on my iPad. Didn't even bother with the iPhone for comparison.

I'd like to think that's more a reflection on how horribly weak the Telstra WiFi is rather than massive underperformance by the iPad. But there is that minor inconvenience where, in a straight one-to-one comparison, the laptop does win out.

 

[samh004]

I'd like to think that's more a reflection on how horribly weak the Telstra WiFi is rather than massive underperformance by the iPad. But there is that minor inconvenience where, in a straight one-to-one comparison, the laptop does win out.

I’d be interested to see what different a bit of plastic on the 3G models does, as I’ve never been a fan of completely alu macs, one of the reasons I bought a MB not a MBP back in 2007.

 

[jamesatfish]

No issues with the WiFi here on either of my 16Gb devices. Coverage around the house and office is just as good as my MacBook Air or iPhones - indeed when I'm driving home with the iPad in the car I often hear the new mail sound from about 100m down the road as it picks up the edges of my home WiFi signal and retrieves new messages.

Will give the Telstra WiFi in the CBR J lounge a try tomorrow.

 

[albatross710]

I used one in the Apple shop at the north end of South Coast Plaza.
At 60 my eyesight says I want one as my I phone is too hard for fat fingers.
At $499US it is selling very well in California.
Probably a baby boomer product so count me as a buyer.

SCP is where I picked up my iPad. If you are on the road make sure you ask them to activate it for you in case you don't have access to sync through iTunes. The corner bakery in SCP has free wi-fi if needed.

Have heard about the widely reported WiFi issues - I haven't had any at all. WiFi on my iPhone does get flakier than on my laptop at times, but haven't had that issue with the iPad.

There is something flaky about the wi-i implementation. I have experienced issues when my iPhone is too close to the iPad ie within about 30cms. Also, in the Star Alliance lounge at LAX myself and two other iPad users were unable to connect to lounge network.

 

[uzza]

I'm hoping to luck out and for there to be stock (ideally 16gb but if there were 32's I'd shell out the extra!) at some stage during my US trip starting on Wednesday.

I'd love to get one in LA which is at the beginning so I can try it out on the flights that will be gogo equipped (VX and maybe some AA flights) during the trip.

 

[jamesatfish]

Sitting in the CBR J lounge now - no problems with WiFi whatsoever.

 

[tuppaware]

I’d be interested to see what different a bit of plastic on the 3G models does, as I’ve never been a fan of completely alu macs, one of the reasons I bought a MB not a MBP back in 2007.

I would a assume that the plastic is to help signal. You only had to look at the placement of the wifi and bluetooth ant on the new MBP's to see how the metal body stops signals (they moved it to be just above the dvd slot)

 

[samh004]

I would a assume that the plastic is to help signal. You only had to look at the placement of the wifi and bluetooth ant on the new MBP's to see how the metal body stops signals (they moved it to be just above the dvd slot)

I read MR religiously, so yeah I read about that new positioning, and of course that’s why I said I’d like to see what difference the plastic makes, it should be positive, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be.

Slightly OT, I see rumours of the iPhone 4 have it using a glass/zirconia back, which might be useful for signal strength, but how tough will it be?

 

[straitman]

Slightly OT, I see rumours of the iPhone 4 have it using a glass/zirconia back, which might be useful for signal strength, but how tough will it be?

Interesting.

There are many covers around that would provide the required protection without restricting the signal strength.

What is the backing material on the present iPhones :?:

 

[dragonman]

Sitting in the CBR J lounge now - no problems with WiFi whatsoever.

Bought mine at boca raton in Florida. No wifi issues at all. Great gadget.

 

[simongr]

What is the backing material on the present iPhones :?:

Plastic backing.

 

[jamesatfish]

Sitting in the CBR J lounge now - no problems with WiFi whatsoever.

...though I did notice reduced WiFi signal levels (1 or 2 bars rather than the full 3) in the SYD Domestic J lounge yesterday afternoon - sitting near the tarmac windows at the QC end of the lounge. Had no problems connecting or surfing the internet - just noticed the reduced signal on the display.

 

[simongr]

Bought mine at boca raton in Florida. No wifi issues at all. Great gadget.

I am really starting to dislike all you existing iPad owners

 

[samh004]

Interesting.

There are many covers around that would provide the required protection without restricting the signal strength.

What is the backing material on the present iPhones :?:

Plastic backing.

As it relates somewhat and I already did the OT dance, for anyone that hasn’t seen the leaked next-gen iPhone, this is it:

Apparent Next-Generation iPhone Gets a Thorough Hands-On - Mac Rumors

 

[dragonman]

I am really starting to dislike all you existing iPad owners

Well make me an offer, :mrgreen:

 

[simongr]

Midnight June 4, 5Th Avenue - it isn't that long to wait... really...