According to a good friend, and fellow technology aficionado, I caused hell to freeze over a few weeks ago when I bought a 64 GB 3G iPad after publicly stating that I was going to sit this one out, (https://realtytechbytes.com/why-i-am-not-buying-a-ipad/).
There were a couple of really good reasons for doing this, not the least of which was that I was asked to teach a class on the iPhone and the iPad! I have owned iPhones for the past 2 plus years and and know that platform inside and out. But, my knowledge of the iPad was limited to what I had read on blogs, the mainstream press and from lurking on a real estate apple products user forum. In order to deliver a good presentation I figured that I really needed to get my hands on one.
I looked into renting one for two weeks and was quoted a price of $500.00! Seriously? I don’t think so. Then I remembered that Apple has a 14 day return policy, subject to a 10% restocking fee.
So, I found myself at the Apple store at the Stoneridge Mall one day, and before I knew it, I was out the door with one! I have to tell you that it is one sexy and seductive piece of technology! I can see why people rave about it. What I can’t see is why people put up with it’s considerable shortcomings.
The device is designed to “fit” into the space between laptop and smart phone. And for some people there is a genuine need for such a device. But, after using it for two weeks, I can honestly say that my iPhone 4 got more use and was able to handle more business situations than the iPad!
The iPad does have the gorgeous display going for it. The size is nearly perfect for reading, viewing pictures and watching videos. And, if you get the Flipboard App (If you have an iPad you REAL, REALLY want this app) you’ll spend hours staying up with your social graph using the astonishing magazine style interface. The app is free in the App Store, just search for it by name. (Or click here to go to http://www.flipboard.com/)
But, here is the main gripe I have with it. I wanted to use it to do presentations in a class environment. I use an iMac or a MacBook Pro to create my classroom materials by running Keynote, Apples PowerPoint killer. I bought the Keynote App for $9.99 from the App Store and figured that I could easily transfer my existing Keynote presentations to the iPad. Not so fast! You can transfer files via iTunes when the iPad is connected, or you can email them to yourself and then open with Mobile Keynote. But, for some reason known only to Apple (Steve Jobs’ reality distortion field strikes again) the mobile version of Keynote and the Desktop version are not completely compatible! Fonts, themes and more just don’t come across very well, unless your presentation uses the basic ones that are common to both platforms.
Another gripe is that Apple has locked down the platform so that I cannot take video out of the iPad (Even using the iPad video to VGA adaptor) and display it via a projector. That was a real killer for me. It turns out that the video to VGA adapter just shows videos or pictures, not the screen of the iPad.
Other small annoyances like no camera (my iPhone 4 has two), no ability to actually access the file system via USB, ties to AT&T and the fact it is too big to easily carry around (it won’t clip on my belt like my phone) just finalized the decision to return it.
My final conclusion, echoed by others, is that this game changing device is perfect for personal consumption of information, and not so good for content creation, unless you are willing and able to live within the narrow box that Apple has defined.
So, on Wednesday it went back to Stoneridge. The blue shirted Apple minion at the door was astonished! “What, you dare to break the reality distortion field?” “Ummm, yes, I do. Gimme my money back.” And so it went.
You’ll be happy to know that all is well in Hell these days, the freeze is over.
But that Flipboard app keeps singing it’s siren song to me…and I hope that the wizards at Apple are listening to all the complaints and are building the v2 model as we speak.
Greetings Jerry,
I agree the iPad is somewhat limited, but I have decided to try work-arounds when able just to be able to use what I consider a pretty awesome little machine. I have taken it with me on several out of town trips instead of my MacBookPro. I was able to do MLS and internet research as needed for clients and I really enjoy reading books on it. Now there are few days when I leave the house without the iPad in hand. I have never been much of a gamer, but I have spoken with several folks who swear by it. I really like how quickly it is ready to go when I want to look at a photo, document, or website.
I have been more disappointed with the iPhone4. I think the reception is pretty bad as compared to my 3GS. I frequently check signal strength against my wife’s 3GS, and her indicator always shows significantly more bars than the 4. I haven’t had dropped calls for several years, but now I do (with the iPhone 4), and, yes, I do have the bumper installed.
I decided to go all-in with Apple about a year ago and have not regretted it. I wouldn’t say I am a devotee, but a fan. I had migrated to the PC platform from the early Macs because of the need to use proprietary software only available for PCs. Now that is much less an issue and I am a happy camper.
Cheers!
Steve
Jerry, can you use mobile me with a custom domain and email address?, like ro@roaldmarth.com ?
Dam Jerry your good I've gotton close to freezing hell lol. Now you know that they are lisening.
I think you gave it a very fair trial and rightfully came to the conclusion that the iPad wasn’t the right tool for the job for you.
Me? I just love love love my iPad! In fact, that’s one of the reasons we still have iPhone 1.0 – the iPad does so many things that the iPhone 4 would do. I’m not planning on updating my iPhone until my current one dies, AT&T starts supporting phone calls on it, or Verizon gets it.
Your criticisms of using it as a presentation tool for groups is correct – when I gave my talk at CAR and CRS I was amazed that though the iPad displayed perfectly on the external monitor, I couldn’t tell what was being projected by looking at the iPad.
But for personal presentations to buyers or sellers, or showing homes (and using MiFi to link to Maps or even Zillow) it is superb … the RIGHT tool for the job!
Glad that Hades now has exothermic rather than endothermic reactions again.
The iPad is a VERY serious business tool!
The distinction between consuming and producing is a good one – when I want to create something, I use the Mac Book pro, then transfer it to the iPad.
Interested in learning more about Apple & Real Estate – join my Apple Product User Group.
The consensus amongst iPad and Apple Laptop users is that the iPad now accounts for 20-50% of their use.
interesting commentary. I was shocked at how many they sold of these little devils. I think it is a great product but I think it will be worth buying by version 2 or 3. Come on no USB port!!!
I meant to ask your opinion of the iPad when I saw you, looks like I'll be waiting for the next version as well…I think Mr. Jobs needs to hire you!
Personally, I owned the top end unit, could not find a use for it at the beginning, so returned that, then went with the lowest end unit, and started to use it….DROP BOX App made it work for me…Awesome, but because I used it a ton, I returned that too, now I am back to the highest end unit, and LOVE IT….using it more and more everyday to replace my Macbook…that said, I agree the VIDEO OUT should duplicate the screen, so I could present with it….
Roald, check out Flipboard, you'll flip over it! 🙂 It's the only thing that gave me second thoughts about the return. I am waiting for the second version and hoping that they get it more in the direction of buisness as opposed to consumer,where it is now.
Yes, I have Flipboard…it is OK, but nothing like the real productivity gain of dropbox….drop box auto syncs all my files across my 3 macs and my ipad and iphone….and across my 2 assistants computers…best product of the year for me, and FREE up to 2GB I think….it makes the iPad work for me anyway….
I like Dropbox, but since I have benn using MobileMe to sync my contacts and calendars between my iPhone, 2 Macs, 2 virtual PCs and 3 hardware PCs, I stay with it to sync files too. It worked great with the iPad, too. New iPad or iPhone users can get the first year at a $20.00 discount (Check with the Apple store for details) It comes with 20 GB of combined email and file storage and 200 GB of monthly transfer for the price.
gotcha…makes sense….I sync with Google Apps…FREE and gives me more future flexibility in case this Android platform becomes truly better than Mac ecosystem…..which is possible, but not guaranteed
Jerry, can you use mobile me with a custom domain and email address?, like ro@roaldmarth.com ?
Ro, I don't know about the custom email domian, as I don't use the email feature. And if the Android thing does overtake theMac ecosystem, I'll have some serious catching up to do! 🙂
Ira, I agree that there is a difference in consuming and producing. But, after watching a number of people on your group struggling (including you) to get the content from the computer to the iPad, in a usable form, I question whether the average, non tech savvy real estate agent could get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Hell, I even struggled with it, having to forgo builds, favorite fonts and themes.
I think it is fair to say that if you invest the time (along with a very considerable amount of money) in learning to work around all of the limitations, that you CAN use the iPad in a real estate agent’s business as a one on one presentation tool.
But, as I stated in my post, there is no way that I can use it in my business…at least not for $829.00 plus tax and accessories…
And another thing, when you consider the huge amount of empty space inside the thing (http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad-Wi-Fi-Teardown/2183/2) it is unconscionable that Apple didn’t include a CDMA chip along with the GSM chip set so that you could have an agnostic 3G experience, as well as a USB port or HDMI port.
Clearly, it is a game changer. Early reports from other manufacturers show that there will soon be a wide variety of choices available in this form factor. My hope is that Apple is listening to me and others like me that want to use the device as a true computer replacement, not just a pretty email reader, website surfing device, and picture viewer. I understand that Apple doesn’t want to kill it’s laptop business, but this machine could be so much more than it is and I hope that the next version of it lives up to that promise.
writing can be very dull, but it is worth every second of time in which you spend on it.
Great post. Thanks 😉
LOL, wait, they asked you for $500 to rent an iPad for two weeks? Did it come with a limo and cooking strippers?
Back to topic, I have been debating whether to jump on the iPad bandwagon but decided to wait it out until further generations can make it more user-friendly and bug-free. Subscribing to your blog.
Yep. I Googled “rent an iPad”, found a local outfit, who shall remain nameless as I DON’T want to plug them in any way, and that’s the price they quoted. I think I got a good deal at $82.90 for the two weeks! BTW, I’ll be in Maui for the first two weeks of October, staying in Kaanapali. What side of the Island are you on?