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SecretMethod70 · 03-03-2011, 11:15 PM

I'm a big Android fan, but the iPad is still the best tablet option on the market. I don't think that will be the case in a year or so, but if I were to get a tablet now it would be the iPad.

I'd also get the iPad 2 rather than the first iPad, in large part because the form factor is significantly better (which includes weighing much less, making one-handed use much more reasonable).

As for my overall opinion, I'm halfway between Martian and the others here. I wouldn't get an iPad as an e-book reader because the Kindle (and others like it) are so ridiculously superior it's not even funny. They're easier on the eyes, more compact, and battery life is so good it's a non-issue. I wouldn't replace my laptop with an iPad either, because for most things my laptop is better and has superior input options.

That doesn't mean I don't see the value in tablets, though. Tablets are superior to smartphones and laptops for casual consumption and, in some cases, personal information management. If I want to browse the web while sitting on the couch, or quickly show a youtube video to some friends, I'd prefer a tablet over the other options. If I want to manage my calendar or to do list, I imagine I'd find a tablet to be the easiest and most intuitive method. Each gadget has its place and excels at some things while doing poorly at others.

Ultimately, my argument against tablets right now is that the convenience they offer isn't worth the price yet. It's the same reason I don't have a Kindle. As great as e-ink e-book readers can be, they're not so great that I can't wait for them to reach the sub-$100 price range (preferably sub-$50). Likewise, tablets aren't so much more convenient than netbooks to justify the missing features and extra $200. Eventually the price will come down, and there will eventually be a worthwhile tablet offering Android or WebOS (both of which are superior to iOS in my opinion), and that's when I'll start to actually consider getting one.

But, if you're someone who wants to get a tablet now and you don't feel like you can wait for the technology to mature more, then get the iPad 2 because it's the best option on the market right now.

03-03-2011, 11:15 PM	#16 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	I'm a big Android fan, but the iPad is still the best tablet option on the market. I don't think that will be the case in a year or so, but if I were to get a tablet now it would be the iPad. I'd also get the iPad 2 rather than the first iPad, in large part because the form factor is significantly better (which includes weighing much less, making one-handed use much more reasonable). As for my overall opinion, I'm halfway between Martian and the others here. I wouldn't get an iPad as an e-book reader because the Kindle (and others like it) are so ridiculously superior it's not even funny. They're easier on the eyes, more compact, and battery life is so good it's a non-issue. I wouldn't replace my laptop with an iPad either, because for most things my laptop is better and has superior input options. That doesn't mean I don't see the value in tablets, though. Tablets are superior to smartphones and laptops for casual consumption and, in some cases, personal information management. If I want to browse the web while sitting on the couch, or quickly show a youtube video to some friends, I'd prefer a tablet over the other options. If I want to manage my calendar or to do list, I imagine I'd find a tablet to be the easiest and most intuitive method. Each gadget has its place and excels at some things while doing poorly at others. Ultimately, my argument against tablets right now is that the convenience they offer isn't worth the price yet. It's the same reason I don't have a Kindle. As great as e-ink e-book readers can be, they're not so great that I can't wait for them to reach the sub-$100 price range (preferably sub-$50). Likewise, tablets aren't so much more convenient than netbooks to justify the missing features and extra $200. Eventually the price will come down, and there will eventually be a worthwhile tablet offering Android or WebOS (both of which are superior to iOS in my opinion), and that's when I'll start to actually consider getting one. But, if you're someone who wants to get a tablet now and you don't feel like you can wait for the technology to mature more, then get the iPad 2 because it's the best option on the market right now. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling