Skipping the obvious answer of connecting via WiFi to a networked printer while running third-party software, see if you can guess what the answer is before clicking the More to see it.
For every flaw in Apple’s iPad, there’s a fix just waiting to be found.
Now, I’m not talking about problems like those Wi-Fi woes that plagued people during the iPad’s early days; Apple itself offered up a solution there. I’m talking about the iPad’s most central limitations — the common functions that, for whatever reason, Apple decided not to address.
[…]
One of the most common complaints: The iPad doesn’t connect to much, and that makes printing a serious challenge.But fear not, Apple fanatics: The answer has arrived.
You then, of course, potentially run into this problem.
why do people want thing it is over priced and does almost nothing except surf the web and read books ?
this is a serious question not a slam I just don’t get it, for 499.00 you can buy a pretty good notebook that does a hell of allot more than this
Well that is thinking outside the box 🙂
I’ve used the iPad about 7-8 times thus far in the ~20 days that I have had it.
First day i was extremely excited, downloaded a hoard of apps. That excitement wore off the first day as it was as fun as downloading apps for your iPhone or Touch; it is a b**ch finding good apps, because Apple doesn’t let you sort by customer reviews (fix it Apple). It was also annoying that my iPhone apps, suddenly appeared on my iPad without asking.
Then I setup my mail accounts and checked a few mails – wrote a few emails as well. It was OK, but the auto correction tool was annoying. They should have made it more like the one on the Mac OS X where it just underlines the word in red and you can choose to correct it or not. I hate being forced to correct a word by default. I spend more time re-writing words after auto-correction have changed something – that was correct – rather than the time spent writing the message (w/out auto-correction).
I don’t like how Apple removed some default apps that came with the iPhone – like the clock etc.. I use that a lot on my iPhone. I also spent a fair share on the iPad, the least they could do is give the basic free: keynote, pages and notes.
I have yet to watch a full movie on it, still use my MBP for that. Although i used my iPad a lot while flying, playing a few games.
I however found it incredibly useful in business meetings. If I am to have a meeting with one or two individuals over a coffee the iPad is about the best thing that has ever happened to me – i do not need a laptop for that as it is a hassle. So that is what my iPad have become: my portable presentation tool. The iPad is a lot lighter than my MBP and easier to carry under the arm (a bloody expensive one at that, but it gives the “wow’s”…for now). I can also see its usefulness for individuals working in sales, running after people with an iPad rather than a sales catalogue. It also serves as a news reader in bed before i turn off the lights and sleep.
But as JCD wrote in his PC Mag column, I think it will serve specific niche purposes and do very well as such a device. I have yet to miss the printing ability, but can see how some people do.
#1:
There’s no difference between the iPad and a netbook, save for a full-sized tactile feedback keyboard (which can be had via an attachment), traditional mechanical hard drives (which would seriously lower the price), and a bevy of USB interfaces (which can be added with a special connector and third-party hub). Multi-tasking will come in June with the new iPhone.
Not enough apps? Apple only allowed a choice few early access, so it’ll be awhile before there’s a wide selection.
#4 and of course a netbook is actually useful for something.
Can you fax something to yourself in lieu of printing it directly? That used to be a “hotel room” trick when taking a laptop to an out-of-town meeting was new.
(I never did that, but I do remember more than one hotel telling me I could.)
If you need reading glasses and 1.) travel or 2.) visit a health club regularly. The iPad would be a very useful device. Beyond those caveats it becomes a bit less useful especially if its compared to a (much smaller) iPhone or iPod touch.
The most interesting thing about the iPad is the data plans available for the 3G version. If the iPod touch had 3G and those data plan options, the iPhone would have a real competitor.
This is obviously a product that is looking for a practical reason to spend $500 on something that does not do as much as well as a $500 laptop or a $400 netbook. Just to say you have a pretty touchpad. I am waiting for the sequal.
GasBag, that cracked me up.
#1 You guys need to quit you bitchen and just move along. You don’t have to buy it so go buy you’re netbook/notebook.
Some people like it. I have 2 3Gs on order now. One’s for my Aunt, which I convinced her to get this instead of an netbook. See has a laptop but wanted a netbook to take along for websurfing, E-Mail, etc. She also reads books. Even though it cost more she wanted it after we went to the Apple store. One it weights a 1lb less then the netbooks she was looking at.
Apple products are for people that enjoy spending more for less, the perception of being in the cool kids club, and having their choices made for them.
Think different, spend more!
I want to see the results of the scan.
The “this problem” link deserves its own blog entry.
I’m pretty happy with it. It hasn’t changed my life or anything but it’s my goto device for quickly checking email or browsing a web page.
Remember that every time someone asks you for a drivers license, social security card or credit card, then runs over to the copy machine, you have just completely lost all hope that your data is secure.
If you actually wanted to print something, you should have bought a real computer.
– Steve Jobs
sent from my iPhone
Apple missed this because they all print using the traditional marketing method – put it on a wooden table, take a photograph and paste it into powerpoint.
Setting aside the iPad thing for a second, how much do people actually print these days?
Outside of school forms (2 months left, grin) I rarely print anything anymore.
Re: post #1…
Why get a netbook over an iPad? What’s the big deal about netbooks? I just carry my desktop and UPC with me. (the monitor is affixed to the side panel)
I just don’t get it, for 499.00 you can buy a pretty good desktop PC, monitor and UPC.
The iPad is not a computer… It’s a media entertainment device and does a fantastic job of that. It’s great for surfing, games, music, email, videos, movies and reading books, newspapers and magazines. It boots instantly and is handy to hold and carry around. I’m no Mac fanboy but this device is slick as hell. My wife wants her own iPad. My battery lasts at least 10 hours… Which puts the Touch and iPhone to shame.
I just put an O’Reilly eBook on my iPad…
A new version of a textbook I Have in print.
A ‘SQL Pocket Guide’.
I’m looking at the paperback edition in one hand and comparing it with the iPad in the other…
I think iPad might be actually usefull…
Quote – ‘Multi-tasking will come in June with the new iPhone.’
Actually it won’t. The update happens for iPad users in Q3-Q4 2010.
Sarah Palin bought an iPad but was disappointed becuase it wasn’t absorbent enough.
Just email the document to yourself then open it up with something that isn’t a eunuch and print. Even a cheap net book should get the job done and it costs less.
I bought my wife an ipod touch 8 GB in November and she loves it. To lessen the heartbreak of when it finally breaks down or the battery doesn’t charge, we are a free-app-only family. It’s great for reading books (you just set the font size to a hefty 20 words per screen), skype, and much more. It’s sweet for what it is, small, and no monthly fee. The price of this item locally has never been as low as it was in November, even on sale. I’m sure its popularity is the reason for Apple to commit to the larger brother iPad. But it’s not a win-win-win translation. IMHO, it’s more win-lose-lose.
Topic? Can’t you print via Internet, even on your home printer? VNC? VPN? HP print anywhere? Something like that. Maybe Apple figgers that printing from an entertainment device will most likely be a copyright violation anyway ….
The “this problem” link most definitely deserves its own post. Just when you want to puke on main stream media, they actually find a real problem and report on it.
#26:
You can print. The app is called “PrintCentral” from Eurosmartz.com, and requires you install a helper application onto your desktop or laptop. Put the app on a USB stick and then plug that into some computer connected to a printer. Then send whatever document to the computer to print.