Netflix streaming is awesome. It even works okay over 3G, which shocked me (and my data usage).
I really wish there was a VLC client that could stream all video/audio I have on my LAN.
Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
11–20 of 90 posts
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#12I use my iPad every day for email and browsing. My wife and I pass it back and forth to play Small World and "still-iphone-only" Carcassone. My daughter swipes through photos and mashes on the piano app Virtuoso.
It's a purchase that I feel no regrets for making, even though it's a first version and the next iteration will be better.
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#13Game changer for me. Somehow, the format lends itself to reading "properly" in a way a desktop computer does not. So I've actually started reading e-books instead of print and have gone through a ton of academic papers. I also no longer take my MBP out with me. I can present and do most things I want on the road with the iPad. It's also great for getting the "silly" browsing of the news, Reddit, etc, out of the way i…
Right on. Munching through volumes of text on the laptop now feels unnatural. I find myself shelving things off to Instapaper frequently, then later sitting down and actually reading as opposed to skimming ADHD style with the interweaved alt-tabs to Twitter, email, chat etc.
It also helps me be productive on my laptop because I can mentally associate work with the laptop and leisure with the iPad.
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#14I love mine. For the first time I've been able to leave the laptop at home entirely when traveling - need restaurant lookups? Map where you are? The iPad does all of that, for much lighter, and is about a million and half times more usable than your standard netbook.
It's a "laptop lite" so to speak - for most basic uses it's brilliant. When I'm on vacation and I don't want to write code (or pen long, important emails), the iPad is pretty sweet. It's also gotten me reading again, which is a nice plus.
I have the 3G version, so it's also a really nice way to just chill out somewhere and check Facebook or something without having to worry about WiFi (or carrying a dongle).
Also: as an enthusiast photographer, I find it incredibly useful to show people photos. It's an incredible screen - better than most desktops and laptops have - and it's just perfect. I've had multiple pros express the same sentiments.
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#15Like others have said, I too use it in the morning and evenings, either in bed or at the couch. It's not a device for the office, but it excels at casual web & email (which is probably what 90% of the Internet population uses their computer for anyway).
Non-techie adults seem to be proficient after I don't think the current iPad is itself a revolution, but I do think it's the first step.
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#16Bought it for reading papers in pdf, does that reasonably well, though there is no good annotation software yet (with smooth ink). Not bad for movies. Cool feel of "100% interface." Completely lacks a viable input method (keyboard too small for touchtyping, too big for thumbs, and the pen apps just aren't there yet); input on the iPhone is far more comfortable.
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#17Game changer for me. Somehow, the format lends itself to reading "properly" in a way a desktop computer does not. So I've actually started reading e-books instead of print and have gone through a ton of academic papers. I also no longer take my MBP out with me. I can present and do most things I want on the road with the iPad. It's also great for getting the "silly" browsing of the news, Reddit, etc, out of the way i…
I like to keep the dinner table sacred... But it occurred to me the other day that's where speech recognition would be really useful. Prop the iPad up and tell it what websites to visit, dictate emails etc. Could be a viable mass market opening for voice recog tech (cause otherwise I tend to agree with that recent Spolsky blog - who really wants speech recognition interfaces?)
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#18Netflix streaming is awesome. It even works okay over 3G, which shocked me (and my data usage). I really wish there was a VLC client that could stream all video/audio I have on my LAN.
You tried Air Video? It's good but you need to have Air Video Server running on your PC (free and painless enough).
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#19My mother (almost computer-phobic) has been using it for months and now loves it. She uses it for e-mail, loading up pictures from her camera, and some music. Since she has poor satellite internet bandwidth, the iPad isn't very useful for video at her location.
I've been using my iPad extensively. My main apps are:
- Evernote with auto-sync to my MacBook Pro. It's great for simple note taking. Still wish it had a stylus and sufficient touch resolution.
- iAnnotatePDF and Goodreader for PDF reading. I use the former if I need to markup the text.
- Netflix. The streaming video is awesome if you have good Wifi.
- Dropbox. I loved my Dropbox account before, but with the iPad it's now irreplaceable. My 50GB dropbox account serves as my extended iPad disk system. Any paper, ebook, etc., can be opened in my iPad app of choice.
- E-mail and Safari, of course.
- Flixster, IMDB.
I have the cheaper 250MB 3G account and only use it when I'm away from decent WiFi.
Re: Ask HN: Four months since launch: how are you finding the iPad?
#20Mine has become the place I prefer to do my evening reading. Twitter, RSS, Instapaper, eBooks; my iPad is my coffee-table/bedside computer.
That's where I'm at too. It doesn't cook your nuts like a laptop.