Post: #1

A lady friend of mine bought me an iPad. Sweet. Problem: what does one actually do with an iPad?

I've been using the iPad to read newspapers online, but I'm giving up news porn for the new year. The iPad is too clumsy to be suitable for any serious writing. And there's only so much Angry Birds one can play.

By chance, I found an app that alone redeems the iPad from just being another toy, making it into something genuinely useful: Paper by FiftyThree for iPad. I wont post a detailed review of the app here - plenty of youtube videos to check out - but in a nutshell the app allows one to add and write on virtual notebooks, adding as many notebooks and pages as one requires. Writing on such virtual notepads becomes effortless when one buys a touchscreen pen.

So what? Well, if you're like me, you might have lots of paper on your desk, little 'to do' notes here, some ideas there, some miscellaneous notes, and so on. The desk soon becomes cluttered. Notes become lost or ignored. You might also have some physical notepads but they soon become filled, and again add to the clutter.

This app neatly solves that problem in one go. It actually makes a difference to my life.

Of course, if you're ideologically set against iPads you won't find this a reason to buy one, since other tablet computers can probably deliver such functionality. But the point remains: if you have an iPad, or want one, this app can really enhance its usefulness.

Post: #2

i can take notes on my "notebook", too. The one thing apple can do well is marketing and selling a design. Having an "ipad" in your living room looks cooler/more stylish than a real notebook with a keyboard, thats the only real argument.

Post: #3

IPads are great, I've found, for recreational travel. It's less bother than a laptop and allows for pretty effortless web surfing, email, etc. It's lightweight, instant-on, has a long battery life, doesn't elicit the frustration of a touchpad, and one can use it for serious business purposes in a pinch if necessary, with all the office suite apps available.

Post: #4

I use Sticky Notes which is mad helpful when you have a quick idea. It's available on both android and itunes.

Post: #5

Evernote is a much better app and I believe you can handwrite notes, plus it syncs with all your devices.

Post: #6

It still looks corny when people take pictures or listen to music with a Ipad. I can't get over how awkward it looks.

Post: #7

I have dozens of uses for my pad in fact I think I'm gonna buy a new one to replace this first generation model. The music apps alone coming out lately are incredible.

Post: #8

The iPad is a great device for people who like to surf the web in bed or sprawled out on the couch. For me it's overkill to use a laptop to read stuff on websites (like this forum) or to watch youtube.

Typing 2-3 sentence emails is smooth and easy. And the dictation feature is mostly good. Great to have an ipad on road trips for the maps. Hell, tell a girl she has to come back to your place to see your photo collection (on your ipad). Kind of lame to show off photos on your phone.

Samsung has been working feverishly to succeed in the tablet market. Not surprising. A well-made tablet is a good arrow to have in your quiver.

Post: #9

(01-02-2013 07:50 AM)Rex Wrote:  By chance, I found an app that alone redeems the iPad from just being another toy, making it into something genuinely useful: Paper by FiftyThree for iPad. I wont post a detailed review of the app here - plenty of youtube videos to check out - but in a nutshell the app allows one to add and write on virtual notebooks, adding as many notebooks and pages as one requires. Writing on such virtual notepads becomes effortless when one buys a touchscreen pen.

So basically an Ipad is just a pad of paper.

Post: #10

(01-02-2013 01:45 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  So basically an Ipad is just a just a 300-dollar pad of paper.

Fixed it for you.

Post: #11

I think I'm the only young person that likes writing shit down on paper, reading physical books and doesn't like mp3 players.

Post: #12

(01-02-2013 01:45 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 07:50 AM)Rex Wrote:  By chance, I found an app that alone redeems the iPad from just being another toy, making it into something genuinely useful: Paper by FiftyThree for iPad. I wont post a detailed review of the app here - plenty of youtube videos to check out - but in a nutshell the app allows one to add and write on virtual notebooks, adding as many notebooks and pages as one requires. Writing on such virtual notepads becomes effortless when one buys a touchscreen pen.

So basically an Ipad is just a pad of paper.

Not the way I use it. I'd love to see a pad of paper replicate a mobile DAW workstation.

Post: #13

This piece of technology is very affordable and effective:

Post: #14

(01-02-2013 02:08 PM)houston Wrote:  I think I'm the only young person that likes writing shit down on paper, reading physical books and doesn't like mp3 players.

Same here. To my right side I have a dozen or so notebooks stacked up, filled with shit ranging from travel plans to guitar tabs, business plans, and phone numbers.

The bookshelf behind me has five shelves and is crammed with hardbacks and paperbacks ranging in subject from Greek mythology to Goosebumps.

I also have a binder filled with hundreds of CD's. And a portable CD player, not an iPod.

Post: #15

(01-02-2013 02:37 PM)Giovonny Wrote:  This piece of technology is very affordable and effective:

For some, one notepad isn't enough.

Post: #16

I suppose for some it's difficult/a pain to organise their notes and not lose them... Would be good for that.

Post: #17

(01-02-2013 07:50 AM)Rex Wrote:  By chance, I found an app that alone redeems the iPad from just being another toy, making it into something genuinely useful: Paper by FiftyThree for iPad. I wont post a detailed review of the app here - plenty of youtube videos to check out - but in a nutshell the app allows one to add and write on virtual notebooks, adding as many notebooks and pages as one requires. Writing on such virtual notepads becomes effortless when one buys a touchscreen pen.

So what? Well, if you're like me, you might have lots of paper on your desk, little 'to do' notes here, some ideas there, some miscellaneous notes, and so on. The desk soon becomes cluttered. Notes become lost or ignored. You might also have some physical notepads but they soon become filled, and again add to the clutter.

This app neatly solves that problem in one go. It actually makes a difference to my life.

I couldn't find it, but does the app have OCR or hand writing recognition?
Once that is achieved, then it means that the notes are suddenly searchable.
I think that is what it will take for an app like this (and ipads) to become a killer app.

Until then, as mentioned by most of the other cats in this thread, it offers no major advantage over paper, aside from possibly less clutter.

Post: #18

I got an iPad for Christmas a year ago, never wanted it since I already had an iPhone, but kept. After a year I don't know what I would do without it, I love it!

I use it to read ebooks just like a Kindle. Read more books with it than other years.

I also got Flipbook, which is a great news app for catching up on news, which I never used to do.

I love Video Stream, an app that lets you stream videos from your computer to your iPad. As long as my iPad is connected to wifi, I can stream videos and movies from my computer anywhere in the world.

Post: #19

(01-02-2013 02:37 PM)Giovonny Wrote:  This piece of technology is very affordable and effective:

Kind of like sleeping on the floor. I'd say we're better off, don't you?

/thread-19212-...#pid339301

Post: #20

(01-02-2013 12:41 PM)kosko Wrote:  It still looks corny when people take pictures or listen to music with a Ipad. I can't get over how awkward it looks.

You mean like this? I wonder how many people have been attacked and robbed for their Ipads

Post: #21

(01-02-2013 08:53 PM)houston Wrote:  

Now that's what I call peacocking!

Post: #22

(01-02-2013 07:54 PM)bonkers Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 07:50 AM)Rex Wrote:  By chance, I found an app that alone redeems the iPad from just being another toy, making it into something genuinely useful: Paper by FiftyThree for iPad. I wont post a detailed review of the app here - plenty of youtube videos to check out - but in a nutshell the app allows one to add and write on virtual notebooks, adding as many notebooks and pages as one requires. Writing on such virtual notepads becomes effortless when one buys a touchscreen pen.

So what? Well, if you're like me, you might have lots of paper on your desk, little 'to do' notes here, some ideas there, some miscellaneous notes, and so on. The desk soon becomes cluttered. Notes become lost or ignored. You might also have some physical notepads but they soon become filled, and again add to the clutter.

This app neatly solves that problem in one go. It actually makes a difference to my life.

I couldn't find it, but does the app have OCR or hand writing recognition?
Once that is achieved, then it means that the notes are suddenly searchable.
I think that is what it will take for an app like this (and ipads) to become a killer app.

Until then, as mentioned by most of the other cats in this thread, it offers no major advantage over paper, aside from possibly less clutter.

Unfortunately the app doesn't have hand writing recognition.

I guess if people here don't write many notes, or have many ideas to sketch and play around with, this app will hardly seem like a game changer. But it converted my iPad from a toy to a tool, so I'm pleased.

Post: #23

Ive always tought of the Ipad as a toy.

I always carry a small 6x4 notebook in my back pocket, and a double tipped sharpie. I should write a post on the usefulness of a sharpie as a players tool. Besides condoms and my cell phone, its part of my "never go out without it" tool kit.

I tried Moleskin notebooks, but they are too hipstery and expensive. No bang for the buck. I then bought a bunch of $1 notebook journals and that what I have been using since. I keep them until full, then switch to a new one.

The mind is to create ideas, not to keep them. Its better to rely on the faintest of inks than the sharpest of memories.

Besides, I have found out that if I dont act upon an idea right away (and writing it down is a form of action) it starts decaying immediately. I have had truly eye-opening mind-blowing revelations while in the shower, only to have them gone by the time im done shaving. Perhaps I should keep a sharpie in the shower...

Post: #24

Still no buying it.

I hate apple products because they pretty much lock you into other apple products.

I've been using android/samsung devices since they come out.

But bottom line. If I want notes, ill write them on a real pad or save them in my phone.

No need for more overly expensive tools

Post: #25

Now I'm not going to hate on the iPad. But from personal experience, notebooks are cooler.

From a dreamer's/writer's point of view, I've used it for creative journaling. It's therapeutic and can help expand your thoughts. Right now I could spend hours just spacing out and just write on this notebook while this music is blasting.

Not to mention you can put smiley face stickers, have Pokemon write words of encouragement and phone numbers and have awesome poems written on a notebook.

Get a bunch of notebooks, play music in your ears and go wild with ideas. For just 5 dollars.