iPad2

[TordelBack]

Passed a queue of at least 200 people outside the Apple retailer on Dublin's Grafton Street/College Green, and this at 4.30pm. Recession me arse.

[Pete Wells]

Aye, I never got mine, sold out everywhere in the Northeast and we're supposed to be poor up here!

[Dandontdare]

Don't fret, I'm sure they'll make more

[IndigoPrime]

Bear in mind Currys, PC World, Argos and various carriers (Three, etc.) are stocking the device as well as Apple.

[Steve Green]

Does anyone have any thoughts on 3G providers?

Currently I'm on O2 for my iphone, and the signal is pretty ropey - the tariffs don't seem that great either.

I was recommended 3 by the local Apple dealer, but I've noticed that they only offer the 15GB usage for the Ipad2, at £25/Month compared to 10GB at £15/Month for the ipad. (Although the ipad2 is subsidised)

I can't imagine I'd be pushing a huge amount of data, it would be mainly browsing over 3G, not streaming.

I'm not really bothered about whether it's subsidised or not, it's more the monthly cost/reliability of signal.

Thanks,

Steve

[pauljholden]

I have 3 on my iphone and it has hotspots - which, afaik, are free to use on 3. I wouldn't buy an ipad with 3g - just use the iphone with hotspot.

(I don't see any benifit of the 3g iPad, given thinks like mefi / iPhone hotspots - that allow you to link to more than one device - plus some apps are fooled into working as wifi versions over hotspots rather than a more limited 3g, ie facetime won't work over 3g but will over wifi connected to 3g)
-pj

[Steve Green]

went in to the local Apple store and yeah, they've sold out - couldn't be arsed to shop around so I just put an order in.

Unfortunately I'm on O2 for another 6 months for my phone, but the hotspot thing sounds cool.

Turns out that 3 have a sim only rolling plan which is 10gig for £15 still, so I'm going to go with that.

Cheers

Steve

[Kerrin]

I'm going to hold out for the 3 or more likely 4. Once the screen resolution and sensitivity has been upped to allow the pads use as a drawing device and the 4G network is constructed it will be almost irresistible.

[spireite68]

I have one! We all chipped in and bought my younger brother one as he is disabled and it is great for accessibility for him. So I que for 3 and a half hours at meadow hall and got one for him. I told him that I would have to take it home that evening to set it it up (he he). Took it to him the next day and he loves it, I was very reluctant to hand it over. Then my mother said to me would you like one!!! At first I struggled answering that one. But temptation was to great. The old girl has a nice little stash and she has these sudden urges of giving and I always say no to her but this time I didn't. I do feel a bit guilty but that soon goes as I am getting apps etc! So I rang a shop in Derby that very moment and they had two left so I went and got it Saturday afternoon! HAPPY DAYS.

[SuperSurfer]

Nice story Spireite68. Hope you and your brother enjoy your iPads. Can't justify it myself as I am sat at the computer most of the day and I got an iPhone a couple of months ago so am happy enough with that.

[Pete Wells]

Nice story Spireite! I'm an Special Needs teacher myself and I really do see the iPad as the future of assistive technology - they're certainly giving some of the big communication aid companies a scare at the minute (£6000 upwards for a Dynavox, £399 for an iPad plus £100 for Proloquo2Go!)

I know what I'll be buying for my students!

[Steve Green]

Well, I picked mine up a little before Kapow...

It still irritates that there isn't a little more in the way of slots built in, it's all very well having a sleek device, but a bundle of cables hanging out the back of it (as Richard Keys might say) isn't a great look.

that said...

It's great for browsing, and I was blown away with Garageband, even though I'm not particularly musical.

The HDMI out adapter works well, and it's great to be able to show photos/videos instantly to people.

The front facing camera is a bit shoddy though, and has issues with fluorescents, where it's not in sync with the UK supply.

The magnetic cover thing works brilliantly, even though it pains me to pay a 100 quid for it, and I thought it would protect the back as well as the front at the same time.

Still trawling through useful apps at the moment, it's great to have the extra screen space, but there are some strange ommissions - the offical facebook app doesn't have an ipad native version, you need to get a third-party one...

But overall, thumbs up.

I still won't describe it as magical though, Apple...

[Something Fishy]

i thought about getting one for my 40th but then I realised it's just tech, it'll be out of date in no time, it already is in storage terms.

so i got a guitar instead.

[Adrian Bamforth]

I'll be keen if it had pressure sensitivity and you could use it like a Wacom screen tablet. Then the built in camera would be extremely handy, though I hear it's not yet the case.