To iPad or not to iPad?

[hereyago]

Ok, dumb question but I am not technologically smart.

With an Ipad 1 or 2, could you do power point? the reason I ask is:

For Christmas, exdh wants to go halves on one to buy for our DD13.
She sometimes has to do power point projects for school and I was wondering if they were capable of that. If not then it's a laptop.
TIA

 

[Stan's MaggieMouse]

My I Pad is the best gift my husband has ever given me in our 22 years together. I don't know what I did without it!

 

[billwendy]

We are getting my Mom an ipad2 for CHristmas. Should I wait till Black Friday to find a good deal, or just get it from apple? I'd love to get it at target this week, but Im still waiting for some of their contributions.

Can you skype on the ipad?
Set up Verizon email?
Do any word processing stuff? can you make it print in any way?
Manage photo's?
Will it update podcasts on its own?
What apps might a 64 year old grandma like?

Thanks!!

 

[MrsPete]

I have a first-generation ipad, and I like it . . . but don't love it.

It doesn't take the place of the computer in any way, but it's convenient that my email is INSTANTLY available. And it's convenient to be able to lie on the sofa watching TV and surfing the 'net.

It's not so good for responding to emails -- the touchscreen keyboard is cumbersome and it's easy to make mistakes. I have an app for word processing, but I've never used it.

I'd thought it'd replace my Kindle. Nope. I still prefer the Kindle for reading because it's so much lighter and because the Kindle battery lasts weeks rather than hours.

Also, I'd expected it'd be useful for recipes: Prop it up in the kitchen like a cookbook. Nope. It "times out" and goes to a black screen, which means you have to touch the screen with your dirty cooking hands.

My kids use it more than I do. They have a couple games, they like it for intenet access, and the oldest uses it for Skype. I bet I don't touch it more than once a week.

 

[puffkin]

We are getting my Mom an ipad2 for CHristmas. Should I wait till Black Friday to find a good deal, or just get it from apple? I'd love to get it at target this week, but Im still waiting for some of their contributions.

We asked my parents to get us an Ipad2 this year as a family gift. DS really doesn't need a boatload of toys like he normally gets from them and we thought this would be a better idea since they insist on spoiling all of us

I have been watching the prices awhile and the Target deal this week with the $40 gift card is the best I have seen. My mom decided she didn't want to hold out for a black friday deal and deal with the crowds and people and all that. Now I can't wait until Christmas to actually get it!

(PS we ADORE our iphones).

 

[QVCshopper]

We asked my parents to get us an Ipad2 this year as a family gift. DS really doesn't need a boatload of toys like he normally gets from them and we thought this would be a better idea since they insist on spoiling all of us

I have been watching the prices awhile and the Target deal this week with the $40 gift card is the best I have seen. My mom decided she didn't want to hold out for a black friday deal and deal with the crowds and people and all that. Now I can't wait until Christmas to actually get it!

(PS we ADORE our iphones).

I think the Target deal is really good. We returned the one we bought before and bought it again yesterday. It came out to $437 for the 16gb wifi white. We did the 5% red card, $40 gift card back, and no tax in DE. I doubt it will go lower, and now I don't have to worry about fighting crowds, shortage, etc.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Also, I'd expected it'd be useful for recipes: Prop it up in the kitchen like a cookbook. Nope. It "times out" and goes to a black screen, which means you have to touch the screen with your dirty cooking hands.

I use my iPad2 for cooking as well. I put it in a ziploc bag for protection (touchscreen still works). No problem with dirty hands.

You do know that you can change the settings on your iPad so the screen doesn't go blank, don't you?

Go to Settings--->General--->Auto-Lock. Change to a different time, or select Never.

We are getting my Mom an ipad2 for CHristmas. Should I wait till Black Friday to find a good deal, or just get it from apple? I'd love to get it at target this week, but Im still waiting for some of their contributions.

Can you skype on the ipad?
Set up Verizon email?
Do any word processing stuff? can you make it print in any way?
Manage photo's?
Will it update podcasts on its own?
What apps might a 64 year old grandma like?

Thanks!!

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes. There is an iPad word processing program called Pages. You can print from your iPad if you have a printer which supports AirPrint. See a list here:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/airprint.html

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4356

My new Canon MG5320 supports airprint and works beautifully. You can also print photos, email notes, etc. from your iPad.

4. Photos - yes.
5. I believe that you have to update podcasts through iTunes, but I'm not certain.
6. I don't know. What does your grandmother like to do? Hobbies? Interests?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

[snip]
3. Yes. There is an iPad word processing program called Pages. [snip]

There is also the Notes app that is native to the iPad which may be plenty depending on the need. I used it while on vacation to prepare an outline and notes for a college paper. When we returned I did copy to a computer to finalize. My DH tracks home repairs, video collection and many other things in Notes. -- Suzanne

 

[billwendy]

So, if I go to Target tonight and purchase it tonight rather than wait and purchase it from Apple online, is there any disadvantages?

Do they carry the cases for the IPAD at target? I could purchase the case with the gift card, right?

Now, if there is a better deal on BF, can I return the IPAD? or, is there a limited amount of time to return it?

Oooh, I love that printer idea - how much was it?

My mom loves her grandkids, the beach and pictures of the grandkids. She does alot of typing and stuff for her husband who is a missionary and travels around the world and she types up his sermons and stuff....also can we use powerpoint on it?

Im really talking myself into this - anyone speak now if I shouldnt!!!!!!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

Purchasing from Target should be fine. They have cases and accessories for the iPad as well.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Oooh, I love that printer idea - how much was it?

The Canon printer I bought on Amazon which I previously mentioned was $99.00 total; no tax or shipping.

As to your Powerpoint question, you might look into the iPad app called Keynote. Also do a Google search for powerpoint for iPad 2 for a lot more information.

If you do a lot of typing on an iPad 2, you can also buy a separate keyboard.

 

[MomToOne]

OK - not to say the iPad isn't a cool device - but if all you want to do is video chat, why not just get a couple of webcams for your existing PCs and install Skype? (I'm assuming your parents-in-law have a regular PC) I picked up a couple of decent-enough webcams last year as a Christmas special for less than $10 each, and Skype is free...

 

[MomToOne]

.

 

[billwendy]

Well, we picked one up tonight!! They were out of the case, so I'll have to pick that up later. My mom is going to be super happy!! She travels alot, and hates to lug the laptop along. Now to wait and see if a better deal comes out!! Thanks everyone!!!

 

[raven69david]

I'm responding from my iPad and I can tell you that I use it instead of my laptop for 95% of my online browsing. This thing is the best. I'm glad you got one for them.

 

[aleshad01]

We bought the iPad2 back in August and love it. My 8 year, 5 year, DH, and I use it every day. I'm actually thinking of buying another one.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

iPad ftw!

Typing this from iPad 2.