This review is from: iPad 3 32GB (3rd Generation) Wifi Black (Personal Computers)
Ok, just to kick off, I’m no computer geek. I like what I know and I’m used to and different can be a quantum leap because I only have my own resources and knowledge to fall back on. If something new doesn’t work, I wouldn’t know how to get it up and running. Basically, I’m your average user. Familiar with Windows and associated programmes. I’m new to Apple, tablets and an OS other than anything offered by Microsoft. So I thought long before investing in this little beauty. It’s the best gadget I’ve ever bought. Set up at home in minutes, so fast, easy to use and simply great fun. This has all the functionality I could wiish for. Email is there in an instant, There’s an apps store with something for absolutely anyone or any occasion. There are quality apps to inform or enjoy at the drop of a hat. And the apps are cheap, they’re there in a flash and it is just such an easy device to use.
Out of the box, it was 90 % charged, connected immediately to my home wifi and I was happily trying out the embedded apps within a few minutes. Then I was checking out the store and trying out a selection of instructional (books, museum and gallery guides, recipes, maps, photo software) and entertainment ( music, games, films etc ). As a Sky subscriber, there’s an app which gives me instant access to hundreds of films and Sky anytime + at no cost. The quality of the graphics is to die for. Crisp, clean and clear. Good sound quality and an equaliser which lets you choose from a vast range of audio settings. Decent bass boost too! The apps I’ve chosen so far have all been free or a few pence and they all seem to be incredible value. They download in seconds so I can be up and running with something new in minutes. I went for the 32 gb because I wasn’t sure if the 16gb version would fill quickly. I have som sizeable apps. Sky go, google earth, other maps and some photo heavy guides. I’ve only used just over 1 gb and still have over 27 gb free, so there”s tons of room.
On top of that it’s a design icon. The build quality is superb. It looks so good and is an absolute joy to hold and work with. I can see that this will become my day to day key piece of kit. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long, but I’m a convert. I won’t be going back to the long slow days of Microsoft booting up and crashing. I just love this device and as an older user, would have no hesitation in telling anyone who’s not a great techie to go for this.
Edit to add 26/7/12 I reviewed the iPad just after I bought it. A month or so later just to say it’s exceeded my wildest expectations. Camera, video, notes, games, photos, fast browsing…I could go on. It’s got the lot and I haven’t opened my laptop sinceI got this. Love it and still got more than 25 gb free despite loads of hefty apps. The noveltyhasn’t worn off! Go for it!
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This review is from: iPad 3 32GB (3rd Generation) Wifi Black (Personal Computers)
I had used a friend’s iPad 2 before and that helped me make the decision that I did actually want a tablet computer to use around the home. I had thought long and hard about an Android tablet before taking the plunge and buying the new iPad. Where I think the iPad scores is in its sheer quality of build and simplicity, and also the existence of many “newstand publishers” that publish iPad versions of their publications but not Android versions. Also, I notice in the workplace iPads seem far more prevalent than Android tablets.
In my view you can get up and running with the iPad out of the box without reading anything as it is so intuitive, and, mine was 85% charged. I was concerned about the absence of Adobe Flash but already Apple has things going their way (towards HTML 5 rather than Flash) and lots of websites that didn’t function properly before now work well. For example, the Audi website used to transfer you to its’ mobile website on an iPad – this is no longer the case and you get full functionality – you can configure your new Audi R6 on your iPad! There is also a BBC iPlayer for iPad that’s great as well as an ITV version. In summary, these are my thoughts;
Pros – The design and construction are of a very high standard – the iPad is an iconic item. – The operating system seems robust and offers a bit of an adventure if you’re only weaned on Windows like me. – Performance is fast and graphics are excellent – although I am not a hardened gamer, some of the driving games in particular, are highly responsive and have very lifelike high resolution graphics that seem to be rendered effortlessly by the iPad. – The Retina Display is breathtaking and the rear camera is very good too – there is anti-shake and genuine low light capability but no flash. – I love the way the (optional) cover switches the unit on and off – if you have an Apple cover from your iPad 2 that will definitely work with the new model. – There are fewer limitations whilst browsing as a result of not running Adobe Flash than I thought. – Battery life seems very good – circa 9 hours. – I could see the iPad becoming the defacto standard in tablets – many vendors don’t seem to do Android versions of magazines etc. – Lots of accessories are available, and, unlike an Android tablet, there is no need for internet security products. It is worth noting many iPad 2 accessories do actually fit the new model. – Wide range of apps available and more come out everyday, many of which are optiimised for the Retina Diaplay.
Cons
– Not too sure what you can do with MS Office documents on an iPad as yet. – Some websites still depend on Adobe Flash although this is diminishing. – No HDMI port or SD card slot – (the iPad is certainly not alone in this) – you can buy various adaptors to connect your memory card/camera/TV. Also, you can’t browse pictures on an SD card, even with a card adaptor you have to actually load them onto the iPad or iCloud first. – You need to learn the Apple OS if you’re used to Windows but it’s easy (at least the basics). – If you buy the 4G version, in the UK, you only get 3G performance. – Release 3 of the iPad is really “more of the same” – some tweaks but nothing conceptually radical.
I bought the WiFi only version of the iPad and when on the move use my mobile phone as a hotspot – it works well. Finally, I have three other friends who have bought the new iPad and they are all delighted with theirs too. Yes, there may be the odd thing that irritates you, and, I know the iPad isn’t without its critics, but, overall, I have to say it’s a very, very well designed and executed consumer product and most people seem to love it! The iPad is undoubtedly a beautiful and iconic object of our times.
Recommended as a first time tablet purchase, or, if you need to replace your existing iPad. However, I’m a bit more reserved about an upgrade from Version 2 for the sake of it despite being a gadget fiend!
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This review is from: iPad 3 32GB (3rd Generation) Wifi Black (Personal Computers)
I brought a iPad1 soon after release and could not justify a purchase of a 2 with such a short period between the release dates. Fast forward a year and a half and the 3 (or new ipad as Apple want to call it) arrives. I had been thinking of getting a video camera and the iPad 3 came out at the right time to save on this. The front face camera is OK in quality but the rear one is super quality and playback on the retina screen shows vivid colours that have to be seen to be belived. The only negative is no zoom (you can download a free zoom app) and in bright sunlight the screen is hard to see, also low lit indoor areas are grainy, these are not design faults so no points deducted. The iMovie app is great with easy video editing, thou it should be free as with Apples policy on its other hardware. IOS 5.5 is functional and the keyboard has a voice typing ability and a bind key funtion that is brilliant. IE you can bind your email address to a combination of leters, mine begins with ‘M’ so if i type ‘mm’ it will give me the option to select my full email address. The hardware is quality but the Apps make it the only choice for a tablet for me. With super fast processing power and long battery life i cant see what Apple wil do next.
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A brilliant bit of kit,
Ok, just to kick off, I’m no computer geek. I like what I know and I’m used to and different can be a quantum leap because I only have my own resources and knowledge to fall back on. If something new doesn’t work, I wouldn’t know how to get it up and running. Basically, I’m your average user. Familiar with Windows and associated programmes. I’m new to Apple, tablets and an OS other than anything offered by Microsoft. So I thought long before investing in this little beauty. It’s the best gadget I’ve ever bought. Set up at home in minutes, so fast, easy to use and simply great fun. This has all the functionality I could wiish for. Email is there in an instant, There’s an apps store with something for absolutely anyone or any occasion. There are quality apps to inform or enjoy at the drop of a hat. And the apps are cheap, they’re there in a flash and it is just such an easy device to use.
Out of the box, it was 90 % charged, connected immediately to my home wifi and I was happily trying out the embedded apps within a few minutes. Then I was checking out the store and trying out a selection of instructional (books, museum and gallery guides, recipes, maps, photo software) and entertainment ( music, games, films etc ). As a Sky subscriber, there’s an app which gives me instant access to hundreds of films and Sky anytime + at no cost. The quality of the graphics is to die for. Crisp, clean and clear. Good sound quality and an equaliser which lets you choose from a vast range of audio settings. Decent bass boost too! The apps I’ve chosen so far have all been free or a few pence and they all seem to be incredible value. They download in seconds so I can be up and running with something new in minutes. I went for the 32 gb because I wasn’t sure if the 16gb version would fill quickly. I have som sizeable apps. Sky go, google earth, other maps and some photo heavy guides. I’ve only used just over 1 gb and still have over 27 gb free, so there”s tons of room.
On top of that it’s a design icon. The build quality is superb. It looks so good and is an absolute joy to hold and work with. I can see that this will become my day to day key piece of kit. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long, but I’m a convert. I won’t be going back to the long slow days of Microsoft booting up and crashing. I just love this device and as an older user, would have no hesitation in telling anyone who’s not a great techie to go for this.
Edit to add 26/7/12 I reviewed the iPad just after I bought it. A month or so later just to say it’s exceeded my wildest expectations. Camera, video, notes, games, photos, fast browsing…I could go on. It’s got the lot and I haven’t opened my laptop sinceI got this. Love it and still got more than 25 gb free despite loads of hefty apps. The noveltyhasn’t worn off! Go for it!
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|Smooth as silk!,
I had used a friend’s iPad 2 before and that helped me make the decision that I did actually want a tablet computer to use around the home. I had thought long and hard about an Android tablet before taking the plunge and buying the new iPad. Where I think the iPad scores is in its sheer quality of build and simplicity, and also the existence of many “newstand publishers” that publish iPad versions of their publications but not Android versions. Also, I notice in the workplace iPads seem far more prevalent than Android tablets.
In my view you can get up and running with the iPad out of the box without reading anything as it is so intuitive, and, mine was 85% charged. I was concerned about the absence of Adobe Flash but already Apple has things going their way (towards HTML 5 rather than Flash) and lots of websites that didn’t function properly before now work well. For example, the Audi website used to transfer you to its’ mobile website on an iPad – this is no longer the case and you get full functionality – you can configure your new Audi R6 on your iPad! There is also a BBC iPlayer for iPad that’s great as well as an ITV version. In summary, these are my thoughts;
Pros
– The design and construction are of a very high standard – the iPad is an iconic item.
– The operating system seems robust and offers a bit of an adventure if you’re only weaned on Windows like me.
– Performance is fast and graphics are excellent – although I am not a hardened gamer, some of the driving games in particular, are highly responsive and have very lifelike high resolution graphics that seem to be rendered effortlessly by the iPad.
– The Retina Display is breathtaking and the rear camera is very good too – there is anti-shake and genuine low light capability but no flash.
– I love the way the (optional) cover switches the unit on and off – if you have an Apple cover from your iPad 2 that will definitely work with the new model.
– There are fewer limitations whilst browsing as a result of not running Adobe Flash than I thought.
– Battery life seems very good – circa 9 hours.
– I could see the iPad becoming the defacto standard in tablets – many vendors don’t seem to do Android versions of magazines etc.
– Lots of accessories are available, and, unlike an Android tablet, there is no need for internet security products. It is worth noting many iPad 2 accessories do actually fit the new model.
– Wide range of apps available and more come out everyday, many of which are optiimised for the Retina Diaplay.
Cons
– Not too sure what you can do with MS Office documents on an iPad as yet.
– Some websites still depend on Adobe Flash although this is diminishing.
– No HDMI port or SD card slot – (the iPad is certainly not alone in this) – you can buy various adaptors to connect your memory card/camera/TV. Also, you can’t browse pictures on an SD card, even with a card adaptor you have to actually load them onto the iPad or iCloud first.
– You need to learn the Apple OS if you’re used to Windows but it’s easy (at least the basics).
– If you buy the 4G version, in the UK, you only get 3G performance.
– Release 3 of the iPad is really “more of the same” – some tweaks but nothing conceptually radical.
I bought the WiFi only version of the iPad and when on the move use my mobile phone as a hotspot – it works well. Finally, I have three other friends who have bought the new iPad and they are all delighted with theirs too. Yes, there may be the odd thing that irritates you, and, I know the iPad isn’t without its critics, but, overall, I have to say it’s a very, very well designed and executed consumer product and most people seem to love it! The iPad is undoubtedly a beautiful and iconic object of our times.
Recommended as a first time tablet purchase, or, if you need to replace your existing iPad. However, I’m a bit more reserved about an upgrade from Version 2 for the sake of it despite being a gadget fiend!
Was this review helpful to you?
|Outstanding.,
I brought a iPad1 soon after release and could not justify a purchase of a 2 with such a short period between the release dates. Fast forward a year and a half and the 3 (or new ipad as Apple want to call it) arrives. I had been thinking of getting a video camera and the iPad 3 came out at the right time to save on this. The front face camera is OK in quality but the rear one is super quality and playback on the retina screen shows vivid colours that have to be seen to be belived. The only negative is no zoom (you can download a free zoom app) and in bright sunlight the screen is hard to see, also low lit indoor areas are grainy, these are not design faults so no points deducted. The iMovie app is great with easy video editing, thou it should be free as with Apples policy on its other hardware. IOS 5.5 is functional and the keyboard has a voice typing ability and a bind key funtion that is brilliant. IE you can bind your email address to a combination of leters, mine begins with ‘M’ so if i type ‘mm’ it will give me the option to select my full email address. The hardware is quality but the Apps make it the only choice for a tablet for me. With super fast processing power and long battery life i cant see what Apple wil do next.
Was this review helpful to you?
|