Got a (useless) iPad for Xmas... what to do with it?

[warmcupcakes]

For the holidays, my brother got me an iPad. Now I don't know what the hell to do with this thing. Given the devices I own already and my needs, the addition of an iPad seems absolutely wasted. My brother wanted to splurge this year and get us all big gifts. I knew he was hinting at an iPad and sent him multiple links to laptops that were affordable and actually useful. He wanted to get me a "fun" gift and I don't want to be ungrateful. In my heart, I want to return it but he paid on his credit card and I think it would be rude of me to ask.

Let me explain why I don't need it. To be honest, I have decried the iPad as a stupid, redundant device devised to squeeze extra dollars out of un-tech-savvy people since it was announced. I have been using it for days and I still feel that's true. (Note: I have no desire to spend extra money making a $500+ device do things it should already do.) There's no USB or SD card slots so I can't transfer my movies, etc on it. And even if I could, how will I prop the screen up to watch it? I won't use it for serious work as I own a desktop with a huge widescreen. I don't read books as it is and I don't see myself starting. I can't play any *real* games (I don't think timewasters like Fruit Ninja counts -- flash games like that are a dime a dozen on the web). The operating system/reliance on specific apps seems seriously limiting anyway.

I already have a netbook, a Dell Mini 9, that more than meets my mobile computing needs. I paid only $200 for it, and mostly use it as my computer on trips, to watch movies/shows in bed, or to quickly Google/check email in the morning when I don't want to fire up my desktop. It is light, portable, I love it and am using it right now. I also have the juiced desktop with a 23" screen that I use most of the time -- when I game, download movies and music, record and edit songs, do work, everything.

So can anyone think of a way this stupid iPad and its stupid apps will be useful to me? As far as I can tell, every single app is something I could do on my desktop if I wanted to. It's cool when it's your phone, as an iPhone, but this is a giant tablet that I'm not going to walk around with in my pocket. I need to find a way to be grateful and find something to do with this. Otherwise, I will a) waste my brother's money or b) not waste his money but burst his bubble by asking to have it returned. Maybe c) lose money on eBay by selling it used.

I need help. Please offer your thoughts as to how I should address this situation. Thanks!!

1. 2nd accounts are not permitted.
2. Piracy is bad, m'kay?
-Admin DrPizza

 

[GhettoFob]

Sell it to someone who doesn't think it's stupid.

 

[warmcupcakes]

I certainly won't get back $500 for it, which seems like a waste. But that was an option on the table -- see c) in the very end of my post. I'm just also concerned my brother will find out regardless and then feel offended/misled.

Anyway, other people's thoughts?

 

[Ns1]

stop pretending it's a computer and look at it as a $500 toy?

seriously, leave it on the coffee table, load it up with basic apps (do you have netflix?)

pull it out when you need to look up scores/whore forums/check facebook while chilling on the sofa

bring netbook out when you need uhm... a dvd drive or usb ports

use desktop for everything else

keep smartphone in pocket

 

[warmcupcakes]

stop pretending it's a computer and look at it as a $500 toy?

What kind of toy exactly? Why do I want to play Fruit Ninja or other paid game apps that are basically addictinggames.com when I can play WoW or Civilization on my desktop? Or when I can watch movies and TV shows on my netbook? So far, this thing isn't much of a toy. Maybe I need to someone to point out what's so fun about it or recommend me some apps that will help me see the light.

You edited your post. The netbook does everything the iPad can do as far as easy checking/surfing, only it's easier and faster. I live in a small place. I don't need three devices and at least I can add more RAM and storage to my netbook if I need to. This iPad will be obsolete once Steve Jobs decides to add the things he purposefully left out this time -- USB ports, a camera, multitasking...

 

[capeconsultant]

Better interface and slicker than any Netbook, which usually runs XP, and slowly at that. A billion apps which may contain some that you could use.

Better screen than Netbook for movies. Can read about 10 billion e books on it, magazines too.

Pick up chicks at coffee shop??? My dad had his when we were at a restaurant and the waitress was drooling on it.

People love this thing. I am on the fence a bit myself but think that whether I "get it" or not, it is a HUGE game changer. After all, I do not "get" facebook. But Mark is still a billionaire, and I am not

 

[GhettoFob]

Have you tried using it? You might actually like it. Otherwise, tell your brother that you really appreciate the gift but it's too expensive and you don't really have any use for it.

 

[warmcupcakes]

Better interface and slicker than any Netbook, which usually runs XP, and slowly at that. A billion apps which may contain some that you could use.

Better screen than Netbook for movies. Can read about 10 billion e books on it, magazines too.

Pick up chicks at coffee shop??? My dad had his when we were at a restaurant and the waitress was drooling on it.

People love this thing. I am on the fence a bit myself but think that whether I "get it" or not, it is a HUGE game changer. After all, I do not "get" facebook. But Mark is still a billionaire, and I am not

Yes, the screen is nicer than my Dell Mini, but I can rest my Dell Mini flat and have the screen upright, so that kind of makes up for the iPad being just a slab of screen that I can't position. Apps are just things you can do on a normal computer mostly anyway. And I don't read books. So there we go.

Have you tried using it? You might actually like it. Otherwise, tell your brother that you really appreciate the gift but it's too expensive and you don't really have any use for it.

I've been using it for days. Mostly to play Fruit Ninja. I've tried other games, more in depth games, and they just aren't that fun. Surfing the net is cumbersome and weird -- typing on the same screen you're viewing is uncomfortable. I looked for apps I might find useful, but most the good ones cost money and/or are stuff I can do on my desktop anyway. My bro said I could buy a bunch of apps as part of the gift, and I did, but even the paid apps just aren't worth it. You may be right, I may just have to return it. I'd feel bad about it. I know he wanted to do something special this year.

Still interested in others' thoughts.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

get goodreader, and read all your pdfs and ppt files from it.

start reading books?

use it as a news reader?

watch all your video podcasts?

watch netflix or movies while running on a treadmill/elliptical/stationary bike?

watch movies/tv shows on it while in bed with a SO?

the problem is, you have a netbook already, so i could see why you don't think you need it. but you have one. so short of returning it, make reasons to use it. or instead of complaining about how redundant it is, why don't you sell your netbook? no netbook, no feelings treaded on, no problems. that is unless you just don't like the ipad on principle.

personally, i think the ipad is one of the most useful educational tools i have. saves me a ton of time and paper and helps me organize my shit. it's nice to have all my pdfs or ppts files at my fingertips, and it is great to be able to take notes onto them directly, in such a nice form factor.

 

[scootermaster]

Use it to replace thousands of dollars in custom touchscreen stuff (home automation, music studio stuff, medical stuff, etc etc).

Or pee on it.

 

[Spicedaddy]

I also think they're useless compared to a netbook. Touchscreens are good for small devices like phones, but if it's not going to fit in my pocket then give me a kb/mouse.

But I'd still keep it if someone gave me one, just to impress people.

 

[AnyMal]

You registered here just to post this blatant troll thread? Why not deride your brother for being such an "idiot" and giving you a "stupid" iPad. How dare he offending you with "stupid" gifts!

 

[Maximilian]

Do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAl28d6tbko&playnext=1&list=PLB87187BA80F43E5D&index=24

 

[Kaido]

I need help. Please offer your thoughts as to how I should address this situation. Thanks!!

Turn it into a digital picture frame.

 

[warmcupcakes]

I appreciate the suggestions. It's still hard to see any place for this thing in my life. I don't do Netflix -- I download everything via torrents. (I can't really afford to spend money on things like music and movies.) Beside, as I have said, the netbook is perfect for watching stuff in bed. The screen props right up where it's hard to position the iPad. I see people carry them around on the Metro and read them (one guy also got his stolen by some teenage punks, right in front of me -- he after them and got it back). But if I'm going to do that, I can use my netbook. I guess the problem is, I have had this netbook and my desktop and I have never once said "I wish I had a device that could do X."

Additionally, part of me really hates the concept of the iPad. Not tablets or those kinds of devices -- just specifically the iPad. I cannot fathom the audacity of Apple to make a device with no USB or SD card slots and forcing people to pay to add that feature -- and even then it only works on photos and certain things. I watched the keynote launch at the time and I find it pretty brazen for them to declare the netbooks pointless and then introduce a product (the iPad) designed to fill some imaginary gap that doesn't exist. Part of me hates giving Apple another sale on an inferior product that has sleek, sexy design but limited functionality.

Thank you for the responses. Except...

You registered here just to post this blatant troll thread? Why not deride your brother for being such an "idiot" and giving you a "stupid" iPad. How dare he offending you with "stupid" gifts!

I never once called my brother an idiot. I love him and appreciate that he wanted to get me a nice gift. And I actually have another username on this forum, but I use that username for every website and didn't want my brother to see the thread. In short, you can STFU.

 

[MotionMan]

And I actually have another username on this forum

Reported.

Ban.



MotionMan

 

[warmcupcakes]

Reported.

Ban.



MotionMan

I have not posted with that username in years. I was basically going to make this my new username. But okie dokie.

 

[Patranus]

I can't play any *real* games (I don't think timewasters like Fruit Ninja counts -- flash games like that are a dime a dozen on the web).

LOL. All games are "time wasters"

 

[MotionMan]

I have not posted with that username in years. I was basically going to make this my new username. But okie dokie.

I guess you missed the "".

MotionMan

 

[Qbah]

Turn it into a digital picture frame.

OP, this is the best idea if you don't want to use the iPad as a consumer device.

And you may not want to admit that you pirate music and movies. Just because you can't afford it, doesn't give you the right to download it from torrents (that's kinda obvious, but hey... maybe you didn't know).

 

[MotionMan]

And you may not want to admit that you pirate music and movies. Just because you can't afford it, doesn't give you the right to download it from torrents (that's kinda obvious, but hey... maybe you didn't know).

LOL. Yeah, OP may want to go back to his other username, because this one seems like a total douche.



j/k (I am having way too much fun with this thread)

MotionMan

 

[AnyMal]

I never once called my brother an idiot. I love him and appreciate that he wanted to get me a nice gift. And I actually have another username on this forum, but I use that username for every website and didn't want my brother to see the thread. In short, you can STFU.

Here's a suggestion for you. Sell the iPad and you'll have enough money to buy batteries for your sarcasm meter as well as some lube to help pull the stick out of your ass. Who knows, there may still me some money left over for a nice sense of humor.

That said, you only have three options for your "stupid" iPad, keep it, gift it, or sell it. Apparently you're too stu.... err, confused when it comes to simple choices.

 

[dpodblood]

Return it or sell it. Use the money to buy the movies and music you can't afford. Problem solved.