[Mummybear68]

I've been a bit reckless and orders myself an iPad. It's an iPad3 16GB with wifi. I've already got a Kindle, an iPod Nano and a Samsung Galaxy Ace phone. We have a Desktop PC and an old laptop in the house. I'm now starting to wonder if I've done the right thing and if I really need an iPad. What do you use yours for? Do I really need it?

[Lushness]

No one needs an iPad, and that's coming from someone who has one.

I use mine for browsing, doing work, reading, watching videos (music or film). It's convenient if you don't want to carry a laptop around (well depending on what it is you want to do).

[Bagsbunny]

Originally Posted by Mummybear68

I've been a bit reckless and orders myself an iPad. It's an iPad3 16GB with wifi. I've already got a Kindle, an iPod Nano and a Samsung Galaxy Ace phone. We have a Desktop PC and an old laptop in the house. I'm now starting to wonder if I've done the right thing and if I really need an iPad. What do you use yours for? Do I really need it?

Horses for courses really. I love my ipad,use it every day. I have my Guardian and Sunday Times Apps subscribed,also a couple of free tech magazines and BBC History and Focus magazine subs. I use it for my email,Facebook,Twitter and web-browsing,and also for reading "cough" free comic-books.
BUT: to be honest, it doesn't do anything an ipod Touch won't-although,with magazines,it's much easier on the eye. So,no,you probably don't NEED it-it's up to you if you sufficiently WANT it.

[SnrDev]

I dithered from the day iPad 2 came out, then marched into a shop when the new ones came out and bought one, still not convinced that I needed one as opposed to wanted one.

Best toy ever tbh. I hardly ever switch the pc on, it's portability is superb and watching tv on it is great. And there are lots of apps. You don't need one; not many people need one. Once you have one you will get a lot of use out of it.

[GetFrodo]

Originally Posted by Lushness

No one needs an iPad, and that's coming from someone who has one.

Ignore this or you'll be living in a mud hut before you know it.* More likely, your desktop/laptop will see much reduced usage. Sit back and enjoy!


*"No-one needs a mud hut!"

[alanwarwic]

My cheap tablet went according to plan.
I find it very useful for maps, its sometimes handy to take with me and OK for occasional movies/Netflix.

I'd say that like a smartphone it can be handy yet my PC/laptop is far more practical.
It is stuck in-between so as such is totally non essential.

[Lushness]

Originally Posted by GetFrodo

Ignore this or you'll be living in a mud hut before you know it.* More likely, your desktop/laptop will see much reduced usage. Sit back and enjoy!


*"No-one needs a mud hut!"

Erm I wasn't saying that she shouldn't buy one as that would be slightly hypocritical, I was saying that no one needs it. I don't need it (it is considered a luxury device after all) but I chose to buy it and I don't regret my decision at all.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by GetFrodo

*"No-one needs a mud hut!"

That is very true - I downgraded mine to a little semi-detatched but i still miss it.

[Pretinama]

No-one *needs* an iPad; it's by its own definition a companion product. I have a kindle, MacBookPro and an iPad (I gave up the desktop years ago though I still have a working iMac G3!) and I don't regret buying my iPad at all.

I use it for the usual stuff, mainly consumption but I do write my blog etc. using it too.

[Mummybear68]

Originally Posted by Lushness

Erm I wasn't saying that she shouldn't buy one as that would be slightly hypocritical, I was saying that no one needs it. I don't need it (it is considered a luxury device after all) but I chose to buy it and I don't regret my decision at all.

Thank You. I suppose that was really what I was asking. I don't want to regret spending all that money on a luxury item only to find that I hardly use it. My 12 year old son can't wait to get is hands on it. Must find a good hiding place.

[GetFrodo]

Originally Posted by Lushness

Erm I wasn't saying that she shouldn't buy one as that would be slightly hypocritical, I was saying that no one needs it. I don't need it (it is considered a luxury device after all) but I chose to buy it and I don't regret my decision at all.

And I was just pointing out, slightly facetiously, that if you go down that route then you find out that pretty much all technology is not "needed". Yet one person's luxury item is another person's essential tool.

To the OP - our iPad 1 is probably one of the most-used computers in our house. And if you have a 12 year old then it will definitely get used (but, unless you have bottomless pockets, it is very important to keep your iTunes password to yourself). In any case, iPads hold their value fairly well so if it does turn out to be a big mistake, then it need not be too painful. But I'm sure it won't be.

Ours hangs around our coffee table and mostly gets used for: surfing, emails, calendar, videos for our toddler, games for Daddy (Plants vs Zombies is an essential purchase), and acting as a remote control for our Windows Media Center music. If we go down the Apple TV route it will get used for that too...

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by Mummybear68

Thank You. I suppose that was really what I was asking. I don't want to regret spending all that money on a luxury item only to find that I hardly use it. My 12 year old son can't wait to get is hands on it. Must find a good hiding place.

You'll find your kids use it more then you do. I've got a couple a couple of tablets and can't get hold of them as my kids use them so much.

At the end of the day if you have the money going spare, then it something that you and the kids will use once you have it, it won't be sitting on the shelf gathering dust.

[Lushness]

Originally Posted by GetFrodo

And I was just pointing out, slightly facetiously, that if you go down that route then you find out that pretty much all technology is not "needed". Yet one person's luxury item is another person's essential tool.

To the OP - our iPad 1 is probably one of the most-used computers in our house. And if you have a 12 year old then it will definitely get used (but, unless you have bottomless pockets, it is very important to keep your iTunes password to yourself). In any case, iPads hold their value fairly well so if it does turn out to be a big mistake, then it need not be too painful. But I'm sure it won't be.

Ours hangs around our coffee table and mostly gets used for: surfing, emails, calendar, videos for our toddler, games for Daddy (Plants vs Zombies is an essential purchase), and acting as a remote control for our Windows Media Center music. If we go down the Apple TV route it will get used for that too...

OP asked a question and I answered it....

Only the OP will know whether the item is something that she will actually benefit from. As you've stated though she has a 12 year old so they will more than likely benefit from it.

The important thing is when you're making these purchases is not regreting them.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by Mummybear68

I've been a bit reckless and orders myself an iPad. It's an iPad3 16GB with wifi. I've already got a Kindle, an iPod Nano and a Samsung Galaxy Ace phone. We have a Desktop PC and an old laptop in the house. I'm now starting to wonder if I've done the right thing and if I really need an iPad. What do you use yours for? Do I really need it?

If you have to ask then probably not.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by Lushness

No one needs an iPad, and that's coming from someone who has one.

I use mine for browsing, doing work, reading, watching videos (music or film). It's convenient if you don't want to carry a laptop around (well depending on what it is you want to do).

I know some people that have an iPad as their only computing device. They are mostly seniors and in their case they definitely do need it.

I also need mine because I do not use a smartphone and I need quick access to the internet from a device that is light, compact and with very long battery life for traveling.