Apple iPad FAQ

Everything you need to know about Apple’s iPad but were afraid to ask…

How is the iPad different from a computer or laptop? It’s much smaller, easy to hold, and very portable. It also has a touch-screen interface, making a mouse & keyboard unnecessary.

How is the iPad different from an iPod Touch? Hardware-wise, not much beside the bigger screen. But the experience of holding and using an iPad is hard to explain. Some activities just feel more natural on this device. The screen size makes a big difference when you’re watching a movie, reading a book, playing a game, or editing a document.

Should I buy an iPad instead of a laptop? It really depends on what you want to use it for. The iPad is best used as a media consumption device — to watch TV shows and videos, read books, browse the web, read emails, play games, and catch up on your social media websites.

If you need to do a lot of writing, editing videos/photos, or other projects that require multi-tasking, a laptop/computer is probably a better choice since you can have multiple applications open.

I have an iPhone – should I also get an iPad? Is there a big difference besides the screen size? If you have an iPhone, you may want an iPad because you know what it’s capable of. Plus, new apps are coming out for the iPad which make better use of the higher screen resolution.

How do I connect to the Internet? Do I need a special plan? There are two types of iPads – wifi only and wifi / 3g connection.

WiFi version – if you’re at a wifi hotspot, go to Settings -> Wi-Fi -> On -> Select your network

3g/WiFi – You would need to purchase a plan from AT&T (similar to a cellphone). This will allow you to connect from anywhere. It’s $14.99 for up to 250MB of data and $29.99 for unlimited data. There is no contract, so you can cancel/activate on a month-to-month basis.

Can I email from the iPad? Yes! You can connect various accounts – Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, MobilMe, MS Exchange, etc.

Can I load my photos onto the iPad? Can I edit them or just view? Yes, you can load them by syncing them through iTunes. These photos need to be taken on a different device though, as the iPad does not have a camera. 

You can also edit the photos on the iPad using various Photography apps. It’s best to only do minor edits though.

What are apps? Do I have to pay for every app? ‘Apps’ is short for ‘applications’ which are small programs on your device. Each app does a special task such as displaying a book, game, video, etc.
Yes, you need to purchase every app in the iTunes store. You need to create an iTunes account and add your credit card or gift certificate to it. Although you are ‘purchasing apps’, most are available for free.

How do you use it to read books/newspapers/comic books/magazines? What is the cost?
You would need to download various apps for each and most are free. Some examples are:

Books

• Apple’s main bookstore. You can purchase books or download free samples first (~2 chapters)
• Kindle – Amazon’s bookstore. If you owned a Kindle, you can sync your Amazon purchases

Newspapers

• USA Today – free app, free access
• WSJ – free app, free limited access, subscribe for full news
• NYT Editor’s Choice, free app, free access, ads

Comic Books – there are many, so here are a few

• Marvel – free app, some free comics, others cost $1.99 each
• Comic Zeal Comic Reader 4 – $7.99 app, have not tried
• Panelfly – free app, iPad version coming soon
• IDW – free app, some free books, others cost 99 cents each

Magazines – there are many, most are pay per issue

• Zinio Magazine Newsstand – free app, magazines cost
•Time Magazine – $4.99 app

PDF’s – how to read eBooks in PDF format?

• GoodReader – 99 cent app, upload your PDFs into the app.

Can I do word processing on the iPad? Is there a keyboard accessory? Yes. There is an app called “Pages” just like on Mac OS (also similar to “Microsoft Word” for PC users). The app is available in the iTunes App store for $9.99. Yes there is a keyboard. These will be available for purchase later on Apple.com or your local Apple store.

About Daynah

Daynah is Senior Editor for Beatweek Magazine. Her editorial contributions include reviews of iPhone and iPad apps, iPad accessories, and social media event coverages. Twitter · Facebook · Google+ · Daynah.net · Daynah.com