Comments for Laptop Notebook Netbook

Comment on Apple iPad 2 MC985LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, White) NEWEST MODEL by C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation"

C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation" — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:46:33 +0000

268 of 276 people found the following review helpful:

Went from "why do I need it" to "Can't live without it", April 5, 2011

C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation" (Chicago, IL) -

This review is from: Apple iPad 2 MC769LL/A Tablet (16GB, WiFi, Black) (Personal Computers)

SUMMARY: White iPad 2 64GB Wifi-only
A really wonderful electronic device for media consumption with some moderate content creation potential. This will likely change as more apps focused on content generation are created. I find myself using it more and more simply because it is "always ready" and small enough that it is always near. If this device had a better file management system and a more robust way to share printers it would have gotten 5 out of 5 stars. As it is, the iPad 2 is a solid 4 star device.

DELIGHTERS (Current features that exceeded my expectations)
FORM FACTOR: Thin and comfortable to hold. Small enough to toss in a bag or carry around the house so you find yourself using rather than trying to "remember" to do "that thing" the next time you're at your computer. Still has some weight to it (1.3lb) so prolonged reading in certain positions will cause fatigue.
APP ENVIRONMENT: Really excellent variety and quality of applications for a broad range of uses and a broad range of prices. Also plays nice with content providers like amazon kindle, Google docs, and lots of news outlets.
SLEEP MODE: It is seemingly "always ready" as it wakes from sleep very quickly.
HDMI OUT: Granted there is a $40 accessory required it is nice to have the option of showing what's on your iPad 2 to a larger audience.
iOS: Overall the operating system is "cleanly" designed, features are easy to navigate and find.
PROCESSING SPEED: Remarkably quick to load apps, web pages, pdfs, etc.

SATISFIERS (Current features that met my expectation)
HOMESHARING: Being able to share my iTunes library (music, movies, podcast, etc) across my wifi network is wonderful and saves space on the iPad 2.
SCREEN: Bright, good touch sensitivity, "flips" between orientations well, handles pictures and text with aplomb.
PRICE: Reasonable considering the competition but nearly high enough to justify a "real" laptop
AUDIO: Speaker is quite good for a handheld device, placement in portrait mode ends up in your lap but you can invert the iPad so not a huge deal. Also speaker faces rear of device instead of forward meaning you need to crank it louder than maybe otherwise necessary if it were forward facing.
BATTERY LIFE: Battery holds up well even after a day of heavy usage, charges up easily over night. Can go 2-3 days without charging with moderate to light usage)
WIFI: This simply "works". turn it on, detect a signal, and go. No messing around with complicated network settings.
ONSCREEN KEYBOARD: Its responsive and surprisingly easy to use. However, scrolling to a separate numbers keyboard and lack of a "tab" button really disrupts workflow.

DISSATISFIERS (Current features that did not meet my expectations)
FILE MANAGEMENT: File management on the iPad is Byzantine. You use iTunes to "attach" files to apps or email them?
PRINTING: Unless you have an AirPrint capable printer (new hardware to buy) or one of a handful other printers you will need to use the atrocious "file management" system above to get the docs on you computer to print. Double whammy of pain!
CAMERAS: The two cameras are adequate for video chatting but taking stills is a joke. True I wouldn't want to shoot a lot of birthdays holding an iPad but I would like to use a program like "GeniusScan" to photograph documents for later reference. The 0.7Megapixel camera is capable of "barely legible" documents.
COST PER GB: Paying >$3 per GB ($100 more for 64GB than 32GB) is nearly twice what you'd pay per GB for the difference in a stand-alone USB thumbdrive.
TOUCH NAVIGATION: Ok so this is a general criticism of any touch device and there is no way to get around it really. Having "grown up" using keyboards and mice to interface with computers I am having to learn how to do tasks differently. Press-Hold, Swipe, Two vs Three fingers. All for tasks I was so used to doing with a Tab or Right-click.

WISHLIST (features I'd like to see in the next-gen iPad)
Touchscreen: The capacitive screen works fine for many things but writing notes with a "fat" stylus isn't one of them. Having a touch screen that doesn't require the "fat" stylus would greatly improve handwriting and note taking.
USB or SD Card ports (never gonna happen as Apple uses memory as a price differentiator but it doesn't hurt to dream)
Retina display
Infrared receiver/transmitter (Can anyone say universal remote!)
GPS
Cheaper 3G antenna: $130 bucks extra for a 3G receiver plus I gotta buy a plan? ugh.
Smartcover: Would like to see this included in the price of the device

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (3)

Comment on Apple iPad 2 MC985LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, White) NEWEST MODEL by Larry J. Crockett

Larry J. Crockett — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:12:16 +0000

1,422 of 1,467 people found the following review helpful:

iPad pros and cons, April 23, 2011

Larry J. Crockett (Twin Cities Minnesota) -

This review is from: Apple iPad 2 MC769LL/A Tablet (16GB, WiFi, Black) (Personal Computers)

People need to be aware that the reviews you see for the iPad often reflect the old Mac/PC platform wars with some people making comments who simply don't like iPads from a distance, without actually owning one, because they see it as part of the deplorable Apple mania they find so distasteful. They're entitled to their opinion, of course, but it is unfortunate they skew the evaluation of this product without the deep acquaintance one needs in order to give it an insightful evaluation.

I have taught computer science at the college level for 26 years and have had computers with all kinds of operating systems. I don't own Apple stock and have never known anyone who works at Apple. I therefore have no connection to Apple.

I have had my iPad for about a month and read a fair number of reviews before I purchased, spent some time using one at the store, and thought about what I might use one for, in contrast to my laptop with which I am well satisfied. People too often think of computers in terms of hardware, the specs and looks, instead of the software and the functionality. You should ask yourself, "What will I use this for that solves a problem I would like to have solved?" Software is always more important than hardware, even though it is the hardware that makes an impression.

The iPad is not a laptop and is not principally a production computer, that is, a computer on which you are going to develop web pages, do serious graphics editing, or write a book. You could use your new Taurus to tow a trailer, but that is not what it is designed to do well. These things can increasingly be done on an iPad, but I don't believe they will ever be what it is best at. It is a portable media machine with an inviting touch interface that requires a somewhat different set of skills, which take a modest amount of time to learn. Surfing the web, checking email, watching movies, playing games, looking at new cars, reading the Economist magazine, all work better on an iPad than a laptop. It does these things very well indeed. There are now 80,000 apps for a wide variety of activities--given its design intent. The apps are either free or reasonably priced, so you can get a bunch from the "app store" for little investment. As with Amazon, you can see what other people think of an app before getting one.

This would be a splendid acquisition for small children, for teens deep into social networking, for an adult wanting to drop into the love seat for a quick look at what is happening in the world, for a senior citizen who wants a simple, inviting system with few hassles, to stay in touch with grandchildren. The iPad is not a light laptop; it is instead a different way to use computing to do a wide variety of consumption and communication--not principally production.

In my experience, its wi-fi is adroit from one environment to another. It "knows" where it is geographically, scans its environment for wi-fi, and accesses wi-fi seamlessly. At this point in time, we should expect no less. I cannot address the 3G communications since I have a wi-fi only (I am not convinced of the value of the 3G and I can use my phone as a hotspot). I have never had it crash, though I have had to back myself out of apps that seemed to have no logical next step. This was the result either of my ignorance or the fact that there is less of a standard user interface from app to app than there is in classical GUIs such as OS X and Windows.

For the laptop lugging road-warrior, it should be noted, this is not going to be a full replacement. I now take my laptop and my iPad when I go into the college. But much of the time there, I use my iPad because it is so light, convenient and useable. I use it to teach my classes and often reference traditional texts from the iPad instead of lugging them along to class. I develop my own web pages on my 27" desktop which is the right environment for such development; I wouldn't expect to do that on an iPad. In education (and evidently in medicine), it is proving to be a real boon. The enterprise situations where portable information access and transmission are critical will find this a compelling solution. The heavy Photoshop user or music track editor will still need a conventional computer, either laptop or desktop.

I purchased the 64GB version, which may be more storage than I need. But since it will drive my 50" screen downstairs I figured I would begin to load lots of pictures and favored music, so it may prove a wise choice in the long run. It can swallow up entire evenings with the music-augmented slide shows it can do. In fact, you may begin to wonder if you need cable TV. Conventional content providers should be worried about the iPad since it provides yet another way for the user to determine viewing experience. But if you are still drawn to cable, it makes a fine remote control.

Before people evaluate... Read more

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (39)

Comment on Apple iPad 2 MC985LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, White) NEWEST MODEL by Craig Whisenhunt

Craig Whisenhunt — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:13:33 +0000

6,156 of 6,254 people found the following review helpful:

A Step Closer, March 15, 2011

Craig Whisenhunt -

This review is from: Apple iPad 2 MC755LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, Black) NEWEST MODEL (Personal Computers)

For anyone out there who is considering whether or not to make the leap and purchase the iPad 2, this review is for you. If you're still debating between the iPad 1 and the iPad 2 check out my review of the first generation iPad right here on Amazon to see a discussion of its strengths and weaknesses with a number of people commenting (both positively and negatively) over the past 11 months.

Let me begin by saying this upfront, I don't work for Apple, I don't own Apple Stock, and whether you buy an iPad, Xoom, a laptop or a pad of paper and pencil I don't get anything for writing this. I'm not an Apple "fanboy" although I can give credit where credit is due and lately Apple has deserved a lot of credit for some of their products.

Physical Characteristics
The iPad 2 is absurdly thin. More importantly than it's thinness is its tapered edge which feels more natural in your hand. One of the biggest complaints about the original iPad was it really wasn't tremendously comfortable to hold for long periods at a time. For a tablet device designed to be held, that's a pretty big deal. Apple really has done an amazing job of cramming everything into an even smaller space than before and the difference is really noticeable when you're holding the device. In addition to the tapered edge, Apple managed to reduce the overall weight of the iPad 2. That might not seem like a huge deal to most, especially when you consider the weight difference isn't tremendous when you're already under 2 pounds, but I spend a good part of my day holding the iPad in my hands and the weight difference is surprising by the end of the day. The first generation isn't heavy by any means, but the iPad 2 outshines it.

New and "Improved"
Apple doubled the RAM in the iPad 2 from 256MB to 512MB. What does that mean? For most casual users, probably not a whole lot. There is a performance bump that everyone will see the effects of in things like loading times for webpages that are open in the background, but 256MB was sufficient for most daily use and games. If you're planning to use your device for some of the more graphically intense games the iPad 2 does offer a better method of graphics processing that'll help deliver faster images with fewer jerky movements. If you're just playing Angry birds and reading e-mail you're not going to know the difference.

The screen is the same for all real purposes. It is technically a "new" part in that it isn't identical to the old, it's a bit thinner and more efficient, but it's the same resolution. The Glass is thinner though, and this amounts to a fair bit of the weight loss from one generation to the next. In playing with the device it seems surprising but despite feeling lighter it actually feels more sturdy in your hands. I still wouldn't suggest dropping it, but if it were to fall the iPad 2 certainly feels like it might stand a better chance to survive. Try not to drop it though.

The addition of 2 cameras was expected. Some were a bit surprised to see the first generation released without the cameras. Whether it was for a price point consideration, or a means to get people to upgrade, Apple held off until iPad 2. The cameras do a reasonable job, but they're not going to replace a dedicated digital camera, or really even the camera on your phone for most still images. The cameras do a substantially better job with video, and FaceTime is probably one of the best reasons to get the iPad 2 over the original iPad. For those who might not be familiar, FaceTime is Apple's face to face conferencing system, kind of like Skype, or if you'd rather, kind of like the Jetson's TV/Phone. With the push of a button you can be having a face to face chat with a loved one just about anywhere in the world (provided they're on a wireless network at the time). FaceTime doesn't work over 3G natively (it can be used over a wifi connection created by a 3G device however) so you're not going to be able to use it in your car anytime soon. This is probably a good thing though. It is incredibly easy to use and if you know other people with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or Mac it's a lot of fun.

Smart Covers aren't really "smart" but they're really very useful. Not only do they provide a stylistic enhancement of the device, but they serve a practical and functional purpose of doubling as a screen protector and stand in 2 configurations. You can find them in a variety of colors and from third market suppliers, and it's a safe bet that more will be out soon to capitalize on the magnetic sensors in the iPad 2. It's unfortunate that this same feature can't somehow be retrofitted to the iPad 1, I wouldn't have thought a case would be a compelling reason to consider a product over it's competitor, but these covers are really so useful it's hard to understand why they've not been there since the beginning.

Multitasking Support
One of... Read more

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (116)

Comment on Apple iPad 2 MC987LL/A Tablet (64GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, White) NEWEST MODEL by C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation"

C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation" — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:34:05 +0000

266 of 274 people found the following review helpful:

Went from "why do I need it" to "Can't live without it", April 5, 2011

C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation" (Chicago, IL) -

This review is from: Apple iPad 2 MC769LL/A Tablet (16GB, WiFi, Black) (Personal Computers)

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (3)

Comment on Apple iPad 2 MC987LL/A Tablet (64GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, White) NEWEST MODEL by Larry J. Crockett

Larry J. Crockett — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:53:57 +0000

1,421 of 1,466 people found the following review helpful:

iPad pros and cons, April 23, 2011

Larry J. Crockett (Twin Cities Minnesota) -

This review is from: Apple iPad 2 MC769LL/A Tablet (16GB, WiFi, Black) (Personal Computers)

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (39)

Comment on Apple iPad 2 MC987LL/A Tablet (64GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, White) NEWEST MODEL by Craig Whisenhunt

Craig Whisenhunt — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:35:38 +0000

6,152 of 6,250 people found the following review helpful:

A Step Closer, March 15, 2011

Craig Whisenhunt -

This review is from: Apple iPad 2 MC755LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, Black) NEWEST MODEL (Personal Computers)

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (116)

Comment on ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-SU17-RD 10.1-Inch Netbook (Red) by Justin

Justin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:25:45 +0000

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Good for what it is, June 25, 2011

Justin -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-SU17-BU 10.1-Inch Netbook - Blue (Personal Computers)

This particular model comes with Windows 7 Home Premium instead of Windows 7 starter, which I think is an appropriate step up. Battery life is excellent and the keys are nicely spaced for easy typing. I wish it came with an SSD though and replacing the hard drive on your own is a bit involved. Most of the casing has a matte finish, as does the screen, but the glossy bezel around the screen and keyboard attracts dust and fingerprints. Also Asus replaced the separate mic and headphone ports in favor of a single mic/headphone port, which seems kind of dumb to me. Otherwise this is a pretty solid machine and works well for basic productivity tasks and web browsing.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (2)

Comment on ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-SU17-RD 10.1-Inch Netbook (Red) by Josh M

Josh M — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:48:38 +0000

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Great for light computing use!, September 14, 2011

Josh M -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-SU17-BU 10.1-Inch Netbook - Blue (Personal Computers)

If you're looking for a very small/lightweight computer to use on the go then this would be a pretty good purchase. I currently use a Asus G73jh 17" laptop. So going from a 17" to a 10.1" laptop will really take awhile to get used to. This isn't a bad thing, it will just take awhile for you to adjust to a small screen. I do think it is priced a little high considering you can get mid size laptops for less than $100 more with better specs. The deal breaker was the portability of this netbook. It really can fit just about anywhere! I can even fit it on my glove compartment in my truck. Of course this netbook is not going to be faster than a full size laptop. It is MEANT for surfing the web and other light use. Not for playing games or editing videos. I was impressed though on how fast it actually is for the size.

What I like:
-Battery life seems pretty good.
-Portability for transportation.
-Surprisingly fast for being a netbook.
-The design is much nicer than any other netbook I have seen so far.

What I don't like:
-It comes LOADED with useless programs you probably will never use. It took a good hour to remove it all.
-No scrolling on the touchpad.
-Getting used to the keyboard will take some time!
-It can run a little hot after mild use.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comment (1)

Comment on ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-SU17-RD 10.1-Inch Netbook (Red) by Peter W. Broido

Peter W. Broido — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:12:08 +0000

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

Don't send a boy to do a man's job, September 12, 2011

Peter W. Broido (Chicago, IL USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: ASUS Eee PC 1015PX-SU17-BU 10.1-Inch Netbook - Blue (Personal Computers)

From the title it seems as though I don't care for this little guy. That is not the case. This is a very useful netbook. It is not a genuine high power laptop. If that is what you want do not buy this product; however, if you are looking for a small lightweight email retriever that has some computational functions this is your guy. If you think about an Ipad and then realize it isn't a computer and then think about what this can do, for me there was no question. I want a real keyboard, I want memory, a hard drive and I am not a game player.
Pluses:
It seems to boot quickly - seems faster to boot than a high powered desktop.
It is small, light weight, has a good screen with a matte rather than glossy surface, and an ok keyboard ( remember it is only 10 inches but it gets a pretty good sized keyboard in) Windows 7 Home Premium already installed; 2 gb memory already installed, but the superb wifi reception is what sold me. I travel and some hotels which say they have wifi, have very limited wifi range. The wifi range and ability to pull in a signal are amazing. I compared it to my older Acer and it has 2 more bars (4 bars where the Acer gets 2 bars).
Some reviewers have noted quality was lacking in the build of their computer. As far as I can tell, the computer is running perfectly without any issues. I rate the build quality high and like the matte cover and matte screen: the cover for not showing fingerprints and the screen for being more readable in bright light.

Minuses:

The right shift key is very small.
I hate the touch pad - but I also dislike all touch pads - you will want to buy a mouse
The battery is supposed to run for 11 hours - perhaps with no screen brightness and leaving it idle. In heavy use 4-6 hrs.
It runs warm to mildly hot - not uncomfortable but it would be great on a cold night.
No restore software.
I didn't like the disk partitions which it came with. Windows 7 has a partition tool and I fussed a bit to get it the way I wanted it.
It is advertised as having 2 speakers - has one little one which produces little sound.
There is a single jack for input and output ( mic or ear phones - with an on screen toggle switch )
Remember none of these small computers have an external hard drive - they cost $30-40 and you will probably want one.

Conclusions:
Would I buy again and should you buy. If you are going to use it for travel and principally as an email retriever - while doing a little computing - I would most certainly buy this. It is less than $400. If I needed a machine that did serious computing -no; however, unless you are willing to spend $1000 and up there are no computers this light. There are some nice 13 and 14 inch ones - in the 3.5 lb range for about $700-$800. I understand some lighter weight 13 and 14 inch computers will be available in the Spring 2012 for $600 or more.

Update: now having used it for about 7 days, I really do like this little guy. Everything about it works just the way it should

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comment

Comment on Apple iPad 2 MC763LL/A Tablet (32GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, black) NEWEST MODEL by C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation"

C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation" — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:29:42 +0000

264 of 272 people found the following review helpful:

Went from "why do I need it" to "Can't live without it", April 5, 2011

C. A. Sinclair "doctorcreation" (Chicago, IL) -

This review is from: Apple iPad 2 MC769LL/A Tablet (16GB, WiFi, Black) (Personal Computers)

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

Comments (3)