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Froggy
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 06:47 pm: | 
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quote:"Can anyone think of a practical business use?"
Depends on your business. Rck00 uses it for his photography, it allows him to easily show off every photo he has ever taken.
I can't think of many other business purposes, as a regular laptop would be better suited. The lack of a physical keyboard, printing ability, VGA output for projectors, Flash, and a bunch of other things make it not suitable for many.
It is an interesting device, but it doesn't fit my wants or needs.
quote:It'd still clobber the netflix side... right now you have to be in front of a TV and a WII that you registered... so you basically have to be home. With an IPhone, you could watch a movie anywhere there is a hotspot. I suspect their bandwidth needs will increase by about 10x when the IPhone app is out... at least that's what I would be telling my network operations guys to prepare for if I was working there.
As someone with Netflix and using it on Wifi hot spots, I can tell you it usually doesn't work well. The problem isn't with Netflix, it usually is the hotspot not having enough bandwidth. Even loading Youtube videos can be a chore at some hotels I've stayed at. |
Brijasher
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 - 07:04 pm: |
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quote:but I don't see why you would, the iTouch fits better.
Was thinking Google maps on a nice, big, no-squint screen. Was already looking at waterproof enclosures and mounts for my iPhone. Biggest problem I see with either is the lack of maps once you lose signal. So still debating on how to setup mapping.
Just found out that USGS has their 100k and 250k series downloadable for free - so all of a sudden a Kindle in a waterproof enclosure could work well and last for very long runs with no recharge. But the iPad would probably be a better viewing platform if it supports pdf's. |
Bking
| | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:19 am: |
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Works for me.
The lack of a big bulky keyboard doesn't bother me. I can view just about any kind of document. I can create, modify and export doc, xls and ppt documents. I can print to a wireless network. I have a dongle that hooks up to my VGA port on the projector. I have a adaptor for USB. Battery life is five times that of my laptop. It manages my contacts, calendar, e-mail, photos, TV shows, movies, books and videos. Great for a news reader and web browsing.
Flash - can't do, but that seems to be changing with the growth of html5. It's not there yet to take the place of my laptop, but give it time.
It fit nicely in my Uly's panniers, thank you very much, on my recent 3 day ride in and around Yellowstone.
I'm surfing with it right now. |
Froggy
| | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:44 am: |
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quote:The lack of a big bulky keyboard doesn't bother me. I can view just about any kind of document. I can create, modify and export doc, xls and ppt documents.
Problem is that the onscreen keyboard is impractical for doing real work, not just modifying or viewing documents. You would have to spring $69 for the optional regular keyboard. I haven't used Office on the iPad yet, so I don't even know if its as full featured as the regular versions.
quote:I can print to a wireless network.
Here at my job, all our laptops (Panasonic Toughbooks), we have portable compact bluetooth HP printers. From what I gathered online, they aren't compatible with the iPad, but I haven't tried to pair them up and see if it can really be done or not for us.
quote:that hooks up to my VGA port on the projector
You might want to try using it, only a few applications can support it. It isn't like you can display the entire screen on the VGA like a normal laptop.
quote:I have a adaptor for USB.
Again Apple for some reason limits the capability of this.
quote:Battery life is five times that of my laptop.
Given the cell phone based processor and lack of a hard drive this is a given, but our Toughbooks are rated about 5 or 6 hours per change depending on the model. Best part is, if the battery dies it takes only seconds to swap it.
quote:It's not there yet to take the place of my laptop, but give it time
Agreed. It is still way to limited, especially for those that want to use it for something other than recreational or other personal usage. Apple is slowly changing their ways, so time will tell.
quote:It fit nicely in my Uly's panniers
So does my desktop PC  |
Froggy
| | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:50 am: |
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Brijasher, have you used a GPS before? The 4" screens work good, but I do agree the bigger the better.
quote: Biggest problem I see with either is the lack of maps once you lose signal.
Yep, I use google maps along with my Garmin GPS on my handle bars, and everything is great till you get into the sticks, then the maps don't load because reception becomes hit and miss. It is not a suitable GPS replacement unless you get something with preloaded maps to make it function like a Garmin. I still recommend a normal standalone GPS as your primary unit, then fall back on the phone GPS in the event the GPS malfunctions or some other issue. |
Rkc00
| | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 12:55 am: |
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Just loaded another 1000 photos from last weekend on mine. Ready to be used all weekend showing off photos.
Over 250000 photos on mine now |
Brijasher
| | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2010 - 01:59 am: |
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quote:I still recommend a normal standalone GPS as your primary unit, then fall back on the phone GPS in the event the GPS malfunctions or some other issue.
Bingo.
Next farkle after I do the HID upgrade will be ordering a waterproof enclosure for my Nuvi. It's the backup unit that still needs some thought. The iPhone would probably be perfectly fine for that.
But I still like having a plain ol' map to look at, and portable GPS screens just don't work very well for that use. iPad/Kindle/ToughBook/etc would get rid of the paper and give a far larger view. Add my old Etrex and a compass and I am set.
Heck, a compass and a Kindle with 2 week battery life is an orienteering expedition just waiting to happen. *drool*  |
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