Gadgets & Technology
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Is the iPad 2 worth it? Accessories?
I am thinking of getting an iPad 2 with some birthday money I have. I have a laptop and a blackberry but both are for work, so I thought the iPad might me a fun toy for me. Is it worth the money? Can I just get the wi-fi or do I need the 3G? I don't want to pay a monthly fee which is why I don't have an iPhone because I don't want to pay for the data plan. Also if I get the iPad 2, I noticed there were a lot of accessories. Which ones are worth it? TIA ladies!!!
Re: Is the iPad 2 worth it? Accessories?
We have the original iPad, and it is a lot of fun. DH and I both use it way more than we thought we would. I have an iPad 2 on order as DH's birthday gift and I am looking forward to having two.
We didn't get 3G because we didn't think we would need it, and thus far we haven't. But the PP is correct; if you get the 3G, you don't have to pay for it every month. So if you were going on vacation and wanted 3G, you could get it just for that month.
We also didn't buy any accessories, just a case. The smart cover for the iPad 2 is nice because it serves as a stand and turns the iPad on and off; I ordered one of those as well.
Quincy and Dexter, new BFFs
I used to be kris216.
I had the WiFi-only version of the original iPad. There were a few times that I wished I had 3G, but they were mostly when I was on the bus or subway or while we were out shopping. If you're going to use it mostly at home, then I don't think the 3G is really worth it. (If you had an iPhone4, you could just set up so that the WiFi iPad can connect to the 3G connection on the phone.) Also, from the articles I've read, there are so many WiFi hotspots in the US now that the 3G isn't a big deal.
Here are a few articles that might be useful:
Which model to choose?
http://gizmodo.com/#!5781224/what-ipad-2-should-you-buy
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/how-to-choose-the-right-apple-ipad-for-you/
White or black?
http://gizmodo.com/#!5781336/the-ipad-2-burning-question-black-or-white
As for accessories:
SmartCover. Honestly, this is the coolest improvement from the original iPad. It's pretty clever (and very fun to show people). It's not very effective as a case, but it's a very cool accessory and stand. I highly recommend it. As for the leather vs the polyurethane... I bought the leather one because it feels really nice and looks very professional. I probably would have chosen the polyurethane for better grip if it had come in more professional colors. I've since considered the green one, but in the chaos of the Apple store 20 minutes after they went on sale, I had to make a snap decision: black leather. Aside from the grip, my issue with the leather is that it scratches easily. This seems to be less of a problem now that I keep the whole thing in a case:
Case. Since the SmartCover doesn't cover the entire device, if you're planning to take it anywhere (or even just for storage), you need a case for it. I'm currently just using a neoprene sleeve that I bought for the original iPad. It gives me enough space that I can put the iPad inside with the SmartCover still on, which is convenient (and protects the leather SmartCover as well). (I do tend to be clumsy, so I plan to keep my eye out and see if any cases come out that protect the corners, back, etc while the iPad is in use.)
Screen protector. A lot of people don't bother with a screen protector on the iPad and have never had a problem. As long as you keep the screen covered when you're not using it, you're probably fine. However, as I said, I'm clumsy, and I did manage to make a tiny scratch on my first one (only DH would ever have noticed it - I didn't even see it). There are glossy protectors that preserve the glossy sheen of the screen, which can be nice for viewing photos. I have an InvisibleShield (mostly because they had it available the day the device came out), and it's fantastic for protection (even comes with a lifetime guarantee, and I had it replaced when a drop of perfume caused a ripple to form in it), but it gives the iPad a bit of a sticky feel when you're dragging. There are anti-glare protectors that cut down on the reflection and give the device a matte feel, which I think I'd prefer more. I actually hope to change mine once more options become available. Regardless, if you get a screen protector, see if you can get someone to professionally install it, because it can be very difficult to avoid bubbles (one of the better things about InvisibleShield is that you can get their mall kiosk people to go through the hassle of putting it on).
Stylus. Probably not an issue in Georgia, but if you want to use your iPad outside when it's cold, a stylus is a very good thing to have. You can also go with fingerless or mitten-converting gloves, but it's probably easier, cheaper, and more outfit-coordinating to just buy a capacitive stylus.
That's what I would list for the potential must-have accessories. A few more I'd recommend:
Camera connector. This thing is awesome. It lets you import photos from your digital camera, either by hooking up the camera via USB or by using it to read SD cards. I mostly wanted it so that I can use the iPad as a backup while traveling (in case my camera is lost or stolen), but I've found that the iPad is perfect for sharing photos. It's a lot like passing around a stack of prints that people can browse at their leisure. Of course you can do this anyway (without the connector), but the connector makes it soooo easy.
Bluetooth keyboard. If you plan to use the iPad for blogging, extensive email, writing, etc. you might get tired of the on-screen keyboard. You can allegedly connect it to any Bluetooth keyboard (not just Apple's), but I haven't tried.
Adjustable display stand. I really wanted a viewing stand for the original iPad so that I could watch movies, read while eating, etc. so I spent ages shopping around for a solution. I wanted something lightweight and compact, so that I could carry it while traveling, but the best options still seemed to have mixed reviews and high price tags. I finally stumbled on some iPad and Kindle themed reviews on Amazon for basic plate/book display stands! It works perfectly, I can use it in both horizontal and vertical orientations, the angle is adjustable, and at 2 for $6 the price isn't even a factor!
I would say yes, it is worth it. For using it mostly at home I would skip the 3g. You pay more for the option to use 3g and then even more to actually use 3g. These days with Starbucks and so many other chains offering free wifi, I can't come up with very many reasons I should pay the extra for 3g.
I purchased the smart cover. As pp mentioned, the leather gets marked up really easy, and is more expensive so I went poly. I like the texture of the poly more too!
Other than that I will probably skip the rest of the accessories. I have considered a stand so it can be put on the mantle and used as a digital frame, but that is a LONG way to fall at my house so I am undecided if I will do that or not.
Yes, it is useful.
1.ipad 2 loaded with the latest ios 4.3 system to provide shared efficacy, but also and Apple facilities ipad, iphone4, Mac share graphics and video. 2. Ipad2 around with two cameras, 720p HD video capture, and ipad1 only one camera. 3.Ipad2 thickness reduced to .8. 8 mm, and ipad1 thickness of 13.4 mm, weight decrease of 0.2 pounds. If ipad hold in your hand like a book, then ipad2 like a magazine.ipad 2 A5 with a new processor, compared to ipad 1 has twice the processing speed, 9 times the graphics processing power, with a month of standby time.
accessories:
Buy a iPad 2 case has become a necessity to prevent it from dirt, scratches, bumps, scratches, etc., which may reduce its life. iPad case to the United States, iPad, and protect them. Like, if you plan to travel , it can help your small tools safely.
Apple ipad 2 keyboard case is your iPad's new best friend. Not only does the stylish leather case effectively protect your precious iPad, it also provides a much more efficient and convenient way to type on the iPad instead of using the touchscreen keypad. Also, the case allows your iPad to stand, resulting in a great viewing angle while you are using the keyboard.