iPad, or Laptop?

[Cardinals.Ken]

So I'm shopping for my wife's Birthday/Valentine's Day combo gift.
She'd wanted a new laptop for sometime now, but I think she'd be tickled pink by an iPad.

Here's my quandry...

The iPad seems like a novelty more than anything...essentially an overglorified iPhone...and I can get a laptop, for the same price, that would simply blow away anything you can do in an iPad.

But, the iPad is cute, has a cool touchscreen, is "hip", and can easily handle what my wife wants to do (which is check email, read online books, post on Facebook, etc.)

If I could find a pink laptop anywhere worth a *****, it'd be a no brainer...but I'm leaning toward the iPad, because I know my wife would like it...but my techno-geek-power-computing-megalomania makes it feel like would be buying a VW Beetle for the price of a Corvette.

Thoughts? Recommendations? Personal anecdotes?

 

[Linderbee]

I have no idea; but does the ipad have a cd drive? Would your wife have any need for one?

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

I have no idea; but does the ipad have a cd drive? Would your wife have any need for one?

No, but she should be able to stream media (music, video, etc.) from my desktop media server via the wireless network in the house like I do our PS3.

 

[LVG]

I've seen i-Pads popping up more and more in my classes. To be honest, the next time I have to get a laptop I'll probably get an i-pad instead if it's for classes, a laptop if it's for work. The great thing about the i-pad is the size, IMO.

 

[Shane]

Wait 3-4 months and get her the ipad 2..rumors having it being even smaller at 7" which would be AWESOME. It will also have a front and rear camera as well as memory slot IE USB. Also will have higher resolution screen and faster processor.

Give her a rain check in her VDay card that says when its released it is hers.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

We went to the Apple Store, to get some hands-on with the iPad. She was surprisingly underwhelmed. I liked it more than she did.

I went with the laptop, which she wanted all along apparently.

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[Shane]

Wait 3-4 months and get her the ipad 2..rumors having it being even smaller at 7" which would be AWESOME. It will also have a front and rear camera as well as memory slot IE USB. Also will have higher resolution screen and faster processor.

Give her a rain check in her VDay card that says when its released it is hers.

We went to the Apple Store, to get some hands-on with the iPad. She was surprisingly underwhelmed. I liked it more than she did.

I went with the laptop, which she wanted all along apparently.

You must be registered for see images attach

See if I ever give you any damn advice again!

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

See if I ever give you any damn advice again!

My wife's happiness (in this case, with her laptop) trumps your disappointment.

 

[Russ Smith]

I don't like the onscreen keyboard on the iPad it's too small. Girlfriends sister has one when I type on it I'm constantly backing up over mistakes. they do have an add on keyboard but I've see it, still not big enough for me.

I'd actually get a netbook if I wanted something smaller than a laptop but the iPad is "cool."

 

[Shane]

I don't like the onscreen keyboard on the iPad it's too small. Girlfriends sister has one when I type on it I'm constantly backing up over mistakes. they do have an add on keyboard but I've see it, still not big enough for me.

I'd actually get a netbook if I wanted something smaller than a laptop but the iPad is "cool."

You must have some REALLY fat fingers

 

[Shane]

My wife's happiness (in this case, with her laptop) trumps your disappointment.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

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[Duckjake]

I don't like the onscreen keyboard on the iPad it's too small. Girlfriends sister has one when I type on it I'm constantly backing up over mistakes. they do have an add on keyboard but I've see it, still not big enough for me.

I'd actually get a netbook if I wanted something smaller than a laptop but the iPad is "cool."

LOL. I really wish I could get a Readers Digest Large Print cell phone. You would think AARP would have developed one to sell to their membership.

These midget devices are tough for us old guys.

 

[O]

LOL. These midget devices are tough for us old guys.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

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[DeAnna]

I would only get an iPad if they came with a digital pen for signatures (since I love their large, hi-res display). I've looked at tablet pcs that use digital pen (for signing contracts on the go) but they are super-expensive.