Anyone playing with the iPad and working with their fotos?

[mic291]

Hey all

Haven't been on the forum for ages but back on board with a new DSLR, lenses and getting stuck into it....

So, onto the iPad.....anyone using it on the run and doing any sort of foto editing? I have not seen much out there, but to me it looks like there is great opportunity for a lite version of Aperture or similar.

Hope to post some nice shots soon....cant let the Carl Zeiss lenses go to waste!!

Mike

[surenj]

.cant let the Carl Zeiss lenses go to waste!!

I'd happy to take the Carl Zeiss lenses off you for free.

[gstark]

Too early, really, for anyone in Oz to be doing much with their iPads; they've not even been available here for even 10 hours as yet.

I picked mine up this morning, but I've yet to have had a chance to play with it at all. I got to the office to find we had a dead switch, so that needed replacing, then I needed to do some ... work.

[mic291]

Fair enough I guess I could get away with playing with the iPad given we just bought a company that has iPad apps and are about to release some apps on the Appstore.....but thats an entirely different convo.

Playing with PhotoForge at the moment.

Surenj, nup, love the new lenses so I might keep them for a bit.

Now to change my sig............

Mike

[sirhc55]

iPad

Unfortunately, I do have a life that does not require any products from God - whoops! I mean Stevie boy

[aim54x]

iPad

Unfortunately, I do have a life that does not require any products from God - whoops! I mean Stevie boy

[gstark]

First impressions .... Been playing for about an hour.

I purchased the cheapest unit available - 16GB, WiFi only, and I have it set up to use my pocket router while out and about, and the home router when ... At home!

Easy to use, better and faster than the iPhone, and especially so when typing; I'm typing this from the iPad.

Gmail is set up, and the interface looks good, with a menu of messages on the left and the currently selected message in the main window.

Looking around at the app store, there seems to be some very interesting, and perhaps very usable, apps available. I've not yet found a multi-server IM client to use, but there's a version of Twitterific that I've installed and seems fine. I'll look at the maps app shortly; tat should be really good with the screen real estate available.

So far, I'm impressed, and I like it.

[sirhc55]

What’s it like for making phone calls

[mickey]

or how about viewing those photos from your memory card? or plugging in that usb stick? or running some full sized apps?

seriously, if you're thinking of photo editing, you have to remember Jobs will only let you upload pics via iTunes and I don't think it'll do RAW conversion

also, if you want some slow photo editing then you may as well have just gotten a small netbook for half the price which will run the full version software, maybe a bit slower.

The only thing the ipad will be useful for is for running slideshows, photos or videos for potential clients who will give you brownie points for using an itampon. This is what it can do, although as a cousin has spent $1500 on the ipad and accessories you can get a pretty powerful ULV notebook for that price which will do a whole lot more.

For the price you could get something like this http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10424800-269.html if you really want a slate.

edit: video of it in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5DYuVN6nuY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iki2ohoVyeI

[gstark]

or how about viewing those photos from your memory card? or plugging in that usb stick?

Not a problem at all. Just plug in one of the camera kit accessories. $39 for the pair, there's a USB port and a SD reader.

or running some full sized apps?

Please explain "full sized" app. I have no idea of what you might mean by that.

also, if you want some slow photo editing then you may as well have just gotten a small netbook for half the price which will run the full version software, maybe a bit slower.

This is actually significantly faster than my netbook, which runs an Atom 1.6. It's not intended as a replacement, but to complement it.

And to complement most of my other devices as well.

And it's also not intended - speaking solely about how I intend to use it - to be used as a fully fledged computing device. Anyone who has that sort of expectation is probably being misguided as to the purpose of the iPad.

I frequently find myself in various places but with a need to check my email or research something on the internet. I find the screens of all phones too small to use with a great deal of comfort (but the HTC Desire is probably the best, with the iPhone and the new HTC Legend very closely behind) and they are certainly not really good when it comes to typing. The iPad is already providing me with a far better experience in those specific realms, and I have also seen a couple of sheet music apps that appear to permit me to satisfy a long held dream of being able to carry a ton (almost literally) of music charts with me - and have them readily accessible - wherever I happen to be.

That is something I cannot easily do on any other device, and the entry cost of PP600 odd is, for me, well worth this capability.

The only thing the ipad will be useful for is for running slideshows, photos or videos for potential clients who will give you brownie points for using an itampon.

No. You are so wrong, seriously .... as I've just explained. And you don't need to spend that much either, again, as I've illustrated. For me, photographic purposes are way, way, way down the list of needs.

My primary motivation, btw, was in my profession as a software developer; I have one client for whom I develop handheld applications, including using the iPhone platform, and the iPad is a stated direction for us as well, so that's my need. The extra screen real estate will be very useful in the app that we sell, and will make the product even more saleable, and far more usable than it already is.

Secondarily, my cardiologist uses an iPhone, and has expressed to me its usefulness when he's out (on the golf course) and there's a medical emergency that he's being consulted on, and the hospital is able to transmit to him copies of the patient's ECGs and scans etc. Now, just think about the differences it will make to him, in his professional capacity, to be able to view those documents on the way larger screen that the iPad presents.

Thirdly, in the studio, broadcasting, I have a desire to use a device with the largest screen possible, but with the smallest, lightest physical footprint. I want that device to be able to play my music into the control panel, and to be available to me for web-surfing while broadcasting, so that I am able to monitor email and research other points of interest that might arise during the show. For the last twenty months, that purpose has been served by my netbook, and served very well, but the screen is a tad too small, and netbooks are inherently poorly balanced, plus I need to bring a mouse, an external USB sound card (because the internal one is not good enough) and an external power supply because the demands are such that there's not enough juice to drive the system hard for in excess of four hours. The iPad has a better screen, and there's no need for any of the external accessories, plus it's lighter and thinner and way easier to carry in the first instance anyway: for me, it seems to be an ideal potential broadcasting platform. Potential; I have yet to try it, though.

I accept that for many people, the iPad won't be needed. But as you can see, that by no means makes the device useless, or, as you have suggested, an iTampon. I see plenty of possibilities, and lots of places where such a device suits my needs perfectly. Please don't disrespect me or my needs just because you don't see the same possibilities. (I'm not suggesting that you have disrespected me, btw)

[MATT]

Thanks Gary for your post, although I am not a musician I can see the befit of such a device for just that.

I really want one for a tool for browsing the web while chilling out at home on the couch. Yes I have a netbook but I think the touch interface is ideal.

The iphone currently remotes to the mac to pipe music through my home and I like the idea of a larger interface for this.

I know it is not a PC but I would like the ability to do some basic word/excel stuff occasionally so I hope that comes at some stage.

An how excellent would it be to show clients images on?

Gary does it have a video out function?

Now just to convince the wife..

Regards
MATT

[gstark]

Matt, yes; I have about 20 or 30 Real Books digitised, but no way to really get good access to them. Printing them out would decimate a small forest, and then the resulting output would not fit into my car, and it would need a couple of big trolleys for me to carry them around when I'm mentoring someone. Having ready access to them on the iPad seems like a great idea to me.

And yes, for chilling on the couch: perfect. I wonder if the remote adapter for the iPhone will be compatible?

I know it is not a PC but I would like the ability to do some basic word/excel stuff occasionally so I hope that comes at some stage.

Have you considered Google Docs?

It's actually quite usable, and should be compatible with the iPad's Safari browser.

An how excellent would it be to show clients images on?

Absolutely, but I don't see that as a major function for mine. But certainly, for portfolio display on order to try to gain a sale ...

Gary does it have a video out function?

There's a video out adapter available. I expect I may get one myself, just because I can.

Now just to convince the wife..

There's this month's challenge for you.

[Mj]

As Gary has said... this is yet another device that rightfully has a useful place in many a kit. Not for me right now as I have enough computing with mobile phone and netbook to do what I need. The iPad would make a good alternative to my netbook if I didn't already have it... about the same pricepoint with no need for a mouse would be handy. I wouldn't see this as a particularly valuable photag tool but I'm sure some of us will find ways for it to add value to what we do.

[surenj]

As mentioned, this would be an awesome piece of kit to display sheet music! Perfect to put on a music stand.

It would be great If one could color calibrate one; then use it to live preview photo shoots with a WIFI transmitter. Possible?? The production manager/stylist etc could be holding it and walking around!

[Mj]

I'm actually i'm rather more interested in how the various e-ink devices are shaping up. Borders have just started to sell the Kobo here so eReaders might start getting interesting in Oz. Not devices that add much value to the photag but interesting all the same.

[ATJ]

...and I have it set up to use my pocket router while out and about...

Gary, please tell me more about the pocket router. This is something that greatly interests me if it does what I think it does (Mobile Broadband to WiFi).

On Friday we were meant to churn from Exetel to TPG (mainly to go from ADSL1 to ADSL2+). We were told that some time on Friday the connection would drop out, we were to change the modem user settings and then up to 4 hours later we'd be connected to TPG. Well, it didn't drop out until around 3:50pm and by 8pm it wasn't connected. After a number of phone calls to TPG they finally admitted there was a problem at their end but couldn't tell me what the problem was or how long it would take to get working. The end result was we finally go connected at around 3pm Saturday but up until that point it looked very likely we'd have no connectivity until sometime on Monday.

After having a permanent Internet connection for over 10 years (and having very cheap dial-up before that), it was very isolating not being able to access anything. Lying in bed on Saturday morning, I had all sorts of ideas of what I could do as a temporary solution, including:
* an iPad +3G
* Mobile Broadband USB stick

Now, the idea of a pocket router is very appealing. I also have an iPod Touch and am considering buying an iPad. If the pocket router does allow a WiFi only device connect to mobile broadband it would have helped when the wired Internet was down, but I could also use it with my iPod and even an iPad (if I get one).

So... tell me more

[Mr Darcy]

I'm actually i'm rather more interested in how the various e-ink devices are shaping up. Borders have just started to sell the Kobo here so eReaders might start getting interesting in Oz. Not devices that add much value to the photag but interesting all the same.

Dymocks have had several brands of reader including Kindle & beBook for some time.
I am holding out for a larger display as my main use is for an elderly relative who needs very large print to read. the 5" bebook seems to get the font largest of the ones I have seen, but the display is just too small. Not much point having a large font if you can only get 3 words per screen

the ipad may be an option here, but I need to see one in the flesh, & I would prefer an A4 e-ink device.

[gstark]

...and I have it set up to use my pocket router while out and about...

Gary, please tell me more about the pocket router. This is something that greatly interests me if it does what I think it does (Mobile Broadband to WiFi).

And that's exactly what it does, Andrew.

Huawei make them, and I've had this since December last year. Battery powered, rechargeable through your USB port (which an iPad isn't, btw); Virgin Mobile market them; should be able to pick one up at Tricky Dickie's/

Very small, and connects to the Virgin 3G network. Allows one hard connection via USB, or up to 3 wireless connections via WiFi. By using it wirelessly, you can have it in your pocket rather than sitting outside your laptop/netbook on a dongle, and of course, the iPad connects to it wirelessly as well.

APC's David Flynn wrote this article just last Friday, and the first item pictured is exactly what I have. I've not measured battery life as such, but it's good: suffice to say that I can manage maybe two weeks' worth of bus trips from the city to Bondi before it needs to be recharged; that's using it with my MacBook. I expect my usage to increase with the iPad.

The NetComm unit at the bottom of David's article isn't yet available, but it's a very sleek and stylish looking unit; I've seen it at a NetComm presentation earlier in the year .. and it's certainly the goods in terms of industrial design.

On Friday we were meant to churn from Exetel to TPG (mainly to go from ADSL1 to ADSL2+).

I hope that's the right decision for you; we use TPG at the radio station, and I'm very close to recommending a provider change because the service seems to suffer numerous and frequent dropouts and failures. Lines have been fully checked, router/modem swapped (with some improvement in graceful reconnect abilities) but the underlying problems remain.

While I like Exetel, I'll probably suggest the station moves to iiNet.

Now, the idea of a pocket router is very appealing. I also have an iPod Touch and am considering buying an iPad. If the pocket router does allow a WiFi only device connect to mobile broadband it would have helped when the wired Internet was down, but I could also use it with my iPod and even an iPad (if I get one).

So... tell me more

Consider yourself told.

I find the pocket router very usable, and very useful when out and about: on a bus or train, for instance, or ina pub or a coffee shop. Of course, phone browsing is getting to be a much better experience, but so far, I'm finding the iPad to be even better again.

As mentioned, this would be an awesome piece of kit to display sheet music! Perfect to put on a music stand.

Although using this in a stage environment is not really amongst my goals. Mentoring and teaching is; having a chart handy, and the ability to play a tune and look at the chart, with a student by my side, but without needing to have the bulk of the paper charts is close to a reality, I believe. I;ve been spending the morning working through some of my Real Books and bookmarking each individual piece. That's quite an effort too, i might add. But I need to bookmark, and then split the files into components, to make it as easy as possible, given some of the ideas that I have for future cataloging.

[gstark]

Dymocks have had several brands of reader including Kindle & beBook for some time.

But by and large, they're regarded as being a non-player in this market.

The Kindle is great, and especially the larger size.

I've yet to play with a Kobo, but its pricepoint is very attractive, basically at the point where you'd spend the money almost as a throwaway purchase if it didn't suit.

Almost.

the ipad may be an option here, but I need to see one in the flesh, & I would prefer an A4 e-ink device.

The e-ink displays are really very nice; there were several on show at CeBit last week, including one that looked like a badge engineered Kindle.

The iPad is a different device altogether, with greater versatility and flexibility, but of course also at a greater cost. There's a free Kindle app for the iPad, and a pretty good PDF reader in FastPDF, plus there's iBooks. Wnader in to your local Hardley Normal, JB HiFi, Myer or Apple store to look at the iPad, or a Borders to check the Kobo out.

[ATJ]

Thanks, Gary.

Huawei make them, and I've had this since December last year. Battery powered, rechargeable through your USB port (which an iPad isn't, btw); Virgin Mobile market them; should be able to pick one up at Tricky Dickie's/

I can't see it on the DSE site, but it is on the Virgin Mobile site

Very small, and connects to the Virgin 3G network. Allows one hard connection via USB, or up to 3 wireless connections via WiFi. By using it wirelessly, you can have it in your pocket rather than sitting outside your laptop/netbook on a dongle, and of course, the iPad connects to it wirelessly as well.

Looks great, but appears to be limited to Virgin Mobile. I did find an eBay seller that sells them unlocked for a bit less than Virgin Mobile, but you'd get no data with that.

The NetComm unit at the bottom of David's article isn't yet available, but it's a very sleek and stylish looking unit; I've seen it at a NetComm presentation earlier in the year .. and it's certainly the goods in terms of industrial design.

Actually, it looks like Apple started selling them on Friday. Twice the price of the Huawei, but would work with any provider.

I hope that's the right decision for you; we use TPG at the radio station, and I'm very close to recommending a provider change because the service seems to suffer numerous and frequent dropouts and failures. Lines have been fully checked, router/modem swapped (with some improvement in graceful reconnect abilities) but the underlying problems remain.

I hope so, too. My first impression is very poor considering the "up to 4 hours" outage was 23 hours. Their "technical" support was not great, but then whose is these days?

Time will tell. At the moment it is great to have 8 to 15 times faster downloads and 4 times faster uploads.

While I like Exetel, I'll probably suggest the station moves to iiNet.

I was more than happy with Exetel, but they couldn't give us ADSL2+ and we were also hitting the limit of our "Peak" quota.

To bring all this together, TPG have a Pay As You Go mobile broadband plan for $1 per month and $0.0275/MB (not sure if that's good value or not) which would work well with a pocket router like the Huawei or the NetComm.

[ATJ]

I was just down an Dick Smith's (to buy some iTunes cards at 20% off) and had a play with an iPad. It looked and worked pretty much as I expected and would certainly be a fun toy.

They had F1 2010 Timing App - Championship Pass installed on it and I nearly bought an iPad right there and then on the strength of that. I normally just run the free F1 app on my iPod for live timing and I know I could get Championship Pass for it, too, but it is made for the iPad. I watched a "replay" of last night's qualifying with the 3D track showing driver positions on the track. Way cool!

[gstark]

Thanks, Gary.

My pleasure

I can't see it on the DSE site,

Probably in store, at DSE or Virgin.

Yes, it's locked, but you only need to buy $80 worth of connections to have it unlocked. Virgin have 12 months/10GB prepaid IIRC, which is what I have. I think it cost $150.

The NetComm unit

Actually, it looks like Apple started selling them on Friday. Twice the price of the Huawei, but would work with any provider.

Indeed; good find. It also provides 10 connections, as against the Huawei's three. Mind you, the Huawei is configured for five connections in other markets; I'm sure that there will be a hack out there if you want to look. Also, it seems that the battery life in the NetComm may not be quite up to that of the Huawei.

I hope that's the right decision for you; .

I hope so, too. My first impression is very poor considering the "up to 4 hours" outage was 23 hours. Their "technical" support was not great, but then whose is these days?

My experience with TPG's tech support has generally been satisfactory, but that's mainly been on the web hosting side of the fence.

And I was pleasantly surprised when I needed to call iiNet's tech support on Friday. Very quick, helpful, and knowledgeable.

While I like Exetel, I'll probably suggest the station moves to iiNet.

I was more than happy with Exetel, but they couldn't give us ADSL2+ and we were also hitting the limit of our "Peak" quota.

Ouch!

To bring all this together, TPG have a Pay As You Go mobile broadband plan for $1 per month and $0.0275/MB (not sure if that's good value or not) which would work well with a pocket router like the Huawei or the NetComm.

That's way too much math for a Sunday!

[bigsarg7]

wow, what a thread, so much info on it i think my brain is having an overload!

Can't say I have a real need for an ipad, but in all honesty i want one just because they are so popular and it seems to be the new must have toy! I don't have an iphone, my husband does and he swears by it. I however have a n97 on a plan with optus, purchased at the same time my hubby got his iphone, and now i wished i had one simply due to its popularity! And i think the ipad is having the same effect on me......i am going green in envy on all you lucky folks who have seen or own one!

I wouldn't have a need other then to share my images with family and friends.....and to store all my sheet music on.....would certainly save me having to carry around folders of music all the time! as if my bass wasn't heavy enough!

Anyways, enough of me, just thought i'd share my view on the ipad....i hope they design some apps for photo editing on the run...my hubby thinks we should wait for their second version to be released....he hopes it will be better...... guess i will have to wait and see!

Enjoy your Ipads!!

[gstark]

Can't say I have a real need for an ipad, but in all honesty i want one just because they are so popular and it seems to be the new must have toy!

Which are totally the wrong reasons to get get one.

I wouldn't have a need other then to share my images with family and friends.....and to store all my sheet music on.....would certainly save me having to carry around folders of music all the time! as if my bass wasn't heavy enough!

My Fender is easy enough to carry around, and for most gigs, I rarely need charts; maybe a set list.

But my upright doesn't fit into my car, so it sits languishing at home, unloved ....

[bigsarg7]

ah, a fender.....very nice! a mate of mine loves his, they have such a nice tone to them!! Nice to know there is another bassist and photographer on here!! they are the two things i do for ....me time....time where the kids aren't around and i can let loose and relax!! But i do have a need for the ipad for sheet music...my first instrument was a trumpet and it was drummed into me that i always read the music and not memorise it, hence why even now i struggle to memorise music.....playing by ear is ok but i feel more confident with a bit of music in front of me!! lol so thats the excuse i am going to use to get me a ipad!! lol but doubt it will be anytime soon, we've got a wedding in hamilton island in july so most of my money has to pay for that....actually money...what money.....credit cards!! lol so maybe christmas present? lol

[Willy wombat]

Thanks for the info on the pocket router Gary. That is a very nifty little device.

[photomarcs]

ah, a fender.....very nice! a mate of mine loves his, they have such a nice tone to them!! Nice to know there is another bassist and photographer on here!! they are the two things i do for ....me time....time where the kids aren't around and i can let loose and relax!! But i do have a need for the ipad for sheet music...my first instrument was a trumpet and it was drummed into me that i always read the music and not memorise it, hence why even now i struggle to memorise music.....playing by ear is ok but i feel more confident with a bit of music in front of me!! lol so thats the excuse i am going to use to get me a ipad!! lol but doubt it will be anytime soon, we've got a wedding in hamilton island in july so most of my money has to pay for that....actually money...what money.....credit cards!! lol so maybe christmas present? lol

Stratocaster user here! =D

[Mj]

...the ipad may be an option here, but I need to see one in the flesh, & I would prefer an A4 e-ink device.

They are totally different beasts... there is a Kindle that has a 9" screen rather than the 6" that the standard Kindle and the Kobo has... the nice part of the Kobo is that they have stripped out some non-core features to provide a lower cost unit. E.g. no wi-fi/3g so you have to download to computer and synch from there... but I do not see that as major issue for the benefit of a 1000 books in one simple device. There are a few sofware features curently missing that a formware upgrade will hopefully set to rights, and it's early days for the volume of available books to reach critical mass... but it's a good start. The nicepart of a 6" screen is the portability... the downside is limited text at large font per page... it's a trade-off as always.

The ipad is fine for a whole bunch of uses but I wouldn't want to be reading novels from an lcd screen.

[ATJ]

I have absolutely no problems reading novels on an LCD screen and have been doing it for years. I used to read on my Palm device when I traveled a lot for work. I've read them on my mobile phone and now I'm reading on my iPod Touch. I actually prefer reading a novel on the iPod Touch than I do a real paperback.

I do most of my reading in bed and read for 30-60 minutes each night. The iPod is much easier to hold and the lighting is far better than a real paperback. With there being less text on the screen, it is much easier to find your place again after an interruption.

Now, with the iPad being larger, I don't think it would be as good as the iPod for reading in bed, but the iPad might be better for reading in a chair where you can sit it further away. If you had the eBook you were reading on both, you could choose the appropriate device for the right environment.

A big plus I see for eBook reading devices, including the iPad, is that you can control the font size. This means you'd easily have a "large print" book for people that need it.

[gstark]

If you had the eBook you were reading on both, you could choose the appropriate device for the right environment.

Which might be a case for installing the Kindle reader on both devices, as I believe that it syncs them for you.

[leek]

Great thread... thanks for all the info / thoughts...

A coupla questions though:
- what's the battery life like?
- is it maybe possible to use it for tethered shooting, or even wirelessly, to be able to display shots just after they are taken in a studio??

[ATJ]

If you had the eBook you were reading on both, you could choose the appropriate device for the right environment.

Which might be a case for installing the Kindle reader on both devices, as I believe that it syncs them for you.

iBook is meant to do that, too.

It is easy enough with eReader which lets you jump to a chapter. All you have to do is check what chapter you're up to on one device and jump to that chapter on the other. In fact, I did exactly that on Saturday morning while waiting for TPG to "open their doors". I read 4-5 chapters of my current book on the PC using eReader.

[Mr Darcy]

- is it maybe possible to use it for tethered shooting, or even wirelessly, to be able to display shots just after they are taken in a studio??

Looking at the architecture, this should be possible however it would require an app on the iPad end to convert the 'active' data from the camera. Right now the iPad is only capable of transferring recorded data which is a slightly different protocol.

As I understand it, the iPad uses PictBridge to transfer photos, so there are serious limitations on what you want to do. It would be great though.

- what's the battery life like?

According to Apple, 9 hours for 3G. 10 Hours for WiFi. This seems to be borne out in real life.
You may find this of interest: http://www.apple.com/batteries/ipad.html

[surenj]

Apple has run out of the 3G version! apparently Volvo (of all cars) are designing their new cars with the ipad in mind?

[mic291]

Well I have hit 10 hours life on mine so far so very happy with that. Run a couple of customer presentations using Keynote which converted my PowerPoints perfectly.....so even happier with that !!

Now that I dont use iTunes to manage audio, video and photos....I am happier again !!

Mike

[surenj]

Are you guys finding the lack of flash support to be problamatic when you surf?

[mic291]

Occasionally yes, but its not really an issue.

Biggest issue is a lot of the apps you want have not been ported from iPhone to iPad so they dont use the screen size very well.

That being said, some of the apps out there are fantastic. I def like it more than I thought, then again I am running a lot of apps outside of the Appstore

Mike

[muzz]

Being able to use it while driving will increase productivity tremendously: http://www.steering-wheel-ipad.com/index.html

[aim54x]

That really worries me....I hope they make that set up illegal!!

[aim54x]

That really worries me....I hope they make that set up illegal!!

[surenj]

The Chinese have come up with PC android clones for $129. Should make for an interesting race.... Apparently it's called the IPED!

Click for video
IPED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YgVFWNh078&feature=related

iROBOT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na-CzBH7oyI&feature=related

[ATJ]

I very nearly bought an iPad today, I only didn't because they didn't have the steering wheel mounts in stock.

Seriously, I have decided to get a 16GB 3G version. I'm pretty sure 16GB will be more than enough. I have a 32GB iPod Touch with all of our music on it (I had to exclude some of my wife's music but I don't mind) so I don't really need to put music on it. The music takes up more than 90% of the storage on the iPod so I don't think I would need to go any larger than 16GB.

I was going to go for the WiFi model and get one of the Virgin Mobile MiFi devices, but then a friend reminded me that the WiFi models don't have GPS. It would be nice to be able to use the iPad for SatNav so I'll spring for the extra $170 as I know I'll regret it if I don't.

Any reason I shouldn't go for the 16GB 3G?

And I would already have one now if Dick Smith had them in stock (like the web site said they did).

[Mj]

only problem I see Andrew is that they do not include any memory expansion... so just do the math and make sure the 16G will suffice.

[gstark]

And let me add that after a week with mine, it's really exceeding my expectations.

Apart from my musical needs, I was the Bald Faced Stag last evening for my weekly jam but I needed to ssh into my work computers in Sydney and Canada in order to make some minor changes to some code. I was easily able to complete my tasks using the iPad.

I also have a couple of pc utilities installed: WOL and RDC let me start, work on and shutdown my pcs remotely.

And the camera connection kit lets you use a USB keyboard too.

[mic291]

Yup, agreed, loving it a lot more than I thought.

Andrew, its not that much more, at least get a 32gb unit, you will use it once you add a few apps, music and movies onto that wonderful screen!!

Im using some of the similar apps Gary, they work very well.

Look out for Blackhat next month, cant say too much, but should be fun!!

[muzz]

That really worries me....I hope they make that set up illegal!!

Happily, on this occasion at least, it's a joke (follow the link to the patent at the bottom of the "About" page)

[gstark]

Look out for Blackhat next month, cant say too much, but should be fun!!

Will do; thanks.

FYI, normally, when I'm at the office, I will have two computers on my desk, those being a Windows box of some sort, and my MacBook.

But right now, I have my office PC and iPad configured so that I don't need to take the macbook into the office, and yesterday was the first day that I traveled "light" ... with just the iPad.

So far, I'm seeing minor deficiencies in the email app (but that's due to how I use email for anti-spam) and no multi=protocol IM app. I can workaround both of those issues at the office, and also at home.

And the more I use it, the more impressed with it that I become.

[ATJ]

I decided I would "settle" and even had approval to get a 64GB 3G (as stock of the others was in short supply), but alas I was too late and even 64GB 3G are unobtainable at the moment.

I guess I'll have to wait for the next shipments from Apple.

[ATJ]

And the camera connection kit lets you use a USB keyboard too.

And apparently, you can connect any USB HDD type of device as long as it is independently powered, or needs very little power and is formatted with FAT32. This includes some big hard disks.
You can use the camera kit to use external usb drives and sd cards without work around

[who]

Well I've ordered a 3G 32Gig from Apple today, as the Tassie retail chain appear very weak and not much supply.

And I want it..... and their customer disservice really shows too, was in their store last week and it sucked big time.

They expected the iPads to sell themself and had the attitude to match, no stock, and orders galore.

Might go and buy a $39 camera kit as they did have stock, which the apple website doesn't for many weeks.


I have also ordered an Apple BT keyboard, as I don't like the ipod touch screen keypad that much if I'm typing more than a URL.


Also will consider replacing the N95 with an iphone4 I reckon......