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Why I want an iPad...

Major Eazy

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Hi everyone.

I am not yet an iPad owner, I hope to get one just before or after Xmas. I registered on this iPad.net as I could do with some help and to get to learn about iPad. I’ll explain.

I am a deaf single parent living in the United Kingdom. I am a father of two hearing boys, one is 9 and the other is 8, but the older one is autism, which in short is a learning disability. It is hard and stressful for me to live my life while looking after my kids.

When the iPad came out, I only read a little about it, just curiosity and nothing more, but having seen it on television and trying out a demo model in a local Apple approved shop, I started to wonder so I read more and more about the iPad. After a few months of reading more and more reviews about it, I started to realise how it would benefit me in my life and how it can be a useful tool to help me out.

I use a desktop computer and would still prefer to use a desktop, too long to explain why but let’s just say that I like to try to write as a hobby and like to try to do graphic design, so a desktop is more suited to me than laptop. I have a 12 years old computer still running on Windows 98, with slow dial-up Internet. It is in the corner with my back to the rest of the room. So if my kids popped out to the kitchen, I can’t hear them up to no good, therefore if I turn my head around to check on them and noticed they’re not in the room, I have to leave my PC to go and keep an eye on them. Always have to stop using Internet to go and check on them.

I figure that with the iPad, I could surf the Internet while walking around the house, keeping an eye on my autism son, to be ready to help him out. That is one of the many reasons why I want an iPad.

Other reasons are that I could use it as a PDA, to keep my life organized, to make sure I don’t miss any important appointments, keep track of school terms and holidays as both boys go to different schools. The autism one go to a specialist school. Not only that, but there are many other apps that interest me including iBooks as I am a bookworm and so many other helpful apps that I hope will take away as much of the stress in my life as possible, helping me to cope with looking after my kids, specially the autism one and be able to enjoy a bit more of my life.

I hope to get to find any interesting information around here on iPad.net, and if I need to ask questions, I hope to look forwards to many of you being helpful.

I hope it is okay with everyone here that I do not have an iPad at the moment but it would help me a lot to learn about it for when the time comes that I get one for Xmas.

Actually I should point out that I have been a single parent for 6 years and never had much break in my life, apart from when my best friend arranged for my 40th birthday to get a chance to feed a tiger which was the most wonderful thing in my life, so the iPad is my treat for myself for doing my best for my kids and for struggling to cope with my life.

I look forwards to getting my own iPad, to using it, and to learning more about it so I can get maximum use out of it.

Thank you kindly for reading.
 

Mossi

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Good luck to you! I hope you get it soon. The iPad could possibly interest your autistic son.
 

NumbLock

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That is very cose to why I love my iPad. If your sitting at a computer, or hidden behind a laptop for that matter, you lose contact to the family. With an iPad, it is basically a magazine size, so you don't feel like an isolationist if you dont want to see that rerun of the simpsons with the rest.
 
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Major Eazy

Major Eazy

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Thank you to both of you for posting your replies. You both are partly right in what you said but those are not really the reasons I want an iPad, they can still be seen as possible reasons.

Mossi, you're right that the iPad, specially if I find useful apps, could be of help for my autism son, but once he gets interested with "my" iPad, there's no stopping him. He don't understand the different between right and wrong, and can't understand other people's point of view, so he tend to break any of my personal belongings becuase he thinks he can just pick them up and have a look or play with it. If he try to use my iPad, there's chances he'll mess up settings. So it is really mainly for myself, but you still have a point there. I did have a similar idea as you do, still I got to think of how to keep the iPad safe. Worth a try.

NumbLock. While sitting at my desktop, it would seems I am out of contact with my children as you suggest, but think about it, while they kids are busy playing with console games (PlayStation, Wii, you name it, they got it) they too are out of contact with me. But you're just almost right, it is partly the reason why I want an iPad and prefer it over a laptop, so I can do some light Internet surfing or using organizer, To-Do apps, while still being able to watch what the kids are up to, and if my autism son go into the kitchen, I could follow him, keep eye on him, while still doing work on iPad, like they do in Star Trek: The Next Generation onwards. Impossible to do this with a laptop, ever a notebook is still bit too big to hold and do while walking around. So yes, you are partly right, I want the iPad to organise my life with calendar while keeping eye on kids, than to use similar organizers on the desktop.

The desktop will be mainly for heavy duty work while the kids are at school or fast asleep in bed.

Both of you have good points there. Many thanks.
 

mwhartman

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I have two sons (both in their 30's) so I admire your courage and can do approach.

I notice that you have dial up access so I'm guessing you do not have a router and ,therefore, would need a 3G version.

Good luck with the iPad and your children!
 
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Major Eazy

Major Eazy

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I have two sons (both in their 30's) so I admire your courage and can do approach.

I notice that you have dial up access so I'm guessing you do not have a router and ,therefore, would need a 3G version.

Good luck with the iPad and your children!

Thank you. You're right, I don't have Wi-Fi yet. First I want an iPad ASAP, then I'll try to save up to upgrade my desktop, after that, I'll do something about my internet, including going for broadband and Wi-Fi. Until then, I can always use Internet Cafe or anything like that with Wi-Fi hotspots.

The iPad I'm planning on buying is the 3G version, mainly becuase I'll want to be able to use it where there are no Wi-Fi hotspots, such as when out travelling, to use Google maps to double check if I took a wrong turn somewhere and yes, partly becuase at home I don't have Wi-Fi.

I'll still be using my desktop computer for the majority of Internet surfing when kids are busy on console games or at school or in bed, and the iPad for quick lighter surfing, mostly for relaxing and catching up on Facebook or here on iPad Forum.

But it would be worth it to get the top end range iPad if it will be of a great help for me.

By the way, nice avatar you got. :)
 

mwhartman

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Sounds like you have a solid plan.

Glad you like the avatar. I retired from PSU at the end of 09 so it has been almost a year.

Let us know when you get your iPad. I imagine the boys will enjoy it as well.

Mike
 

hookbill

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I think an iPad would be perfect for you, however I have to admit I'm a little shocked by Windows 98 and dial up. However not everybody can have everything and I know there are still a lot of people that use dial up.

You will be shocked to see how much faster the iPad, even with just Data if you choose is over your computer's internet.

I don't know your financial situation and you're probably already aware of this but you might be able to catch a good deal on a more modern computer on ebay. Cost will be less then what you paid, even a used computer with Windows XP or Vista would be a huge improvement to what you currently have. I do say that with caution, as buying a used computer may be like purchasing a used car. You could be buying someone else's headache.

Anyway it sounds like you have a lot going on in your life for a man so young. I wish you nothing but the best this holiday season.
 

NumbLock

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I was just trying to give a comparable example. Obviously I don't have exactly the same issues as you do. Still, having a computing device that allows me to be physically near to the family regardless of what we're doing was my (badly made) point.

In any case, you're going to love it! It really is that good! :D
 
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Major Eazy

Major Eazy

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I think an iPad would be perfect for you, however I have to admit I'm a little shocked by Windows 98 and dial up. However not everybody can have everything and I know there are still a lot of people that use dial up.

You will be shocked to see how much faster the iPad, even with just Data if you choose is over your computer's internet.

I don't know your financial situation and you're probably already aware of this but you might be able to catch a good deal on a more modern computer on ebay. Cost will be less then what you paid, even a used computer with Windows XP or Vista would be a huge improvement to what you currently have. I do say that with caution, as buying a used computer may be like purchasing a used car. You could be buying someone else's headache.

Anyway it sounds like you have a lot going on in your life for a man so young. I wish you nothing but the best this holiday season.

Lack of enough funds is part of the reason why I haven't got myself a brand new computer but the biggest part of the reason for why I didn't upgrade is, that for me, my 12 years old computer still running on Windows 98 is still in good working order and I can get a lot done with it.

What different do it make if you write a letter with a very old pen and an inkwell against that of a modern ball-point pen. One is slower and hard work the other is faster and easier. But surely they both can get the job done? I can get a lot of work, including some graphic design work, done on my Win98. A computer is nothing more than a tool, it is how you use the tool that is important.

I prefer to hold on for as long as I can then upgrade (it is my plan to upgrade to a newer more modern computer next year or so) than to keep replacing a preferly good working computer every two years or so.

I won't be shocked by how fast the iPad is as my mother have broadband and I've seen how fast it is, so do my friends too, and I went into an Apple approved shop to try out the demo iPads, and saw how fast they are. That is why it is time for me to upgrade, first an iPad then a new computer.

Thank you for suggesting about eBay but I would rather buy brand new, after all, there's a chance that when I get a new one with Windows 7, I aim to see if I can get it to last as long as 15 years before thinking about upgrading and catching up with the future.

It is not always a case of can't afford it, it is often a case of managing to get the money only that I may need it for something else, new bed for the kids, new television set, and so on, so it takes a while to save up for a major item.

I'm looking forwards to getting my iPad. :)
 
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Major Eazy

Major Eazy

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I finally got one now. Top end iPad, Wi-Fi and 3G with 64GB memory.

So technically I'm now an iPad owner.
 

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