Ipad - Clubhouse - Runner's World

Slowfoot Going Goofy

05/12/2011 at 19:24

Off to the States in Jan, can anyone you tell me if I buy an Ipad over there are they the same spec same type as those sold in the UK.

I visited an Apple store for the store assistant tell me I should buy it here as they are different but he couldn't tell me why ?

As you can guess not techno minded so any advice would be welcome

Should add I'm buying it as a present

Edited: 05/12/2011 at 19:25

Trogs.

pirate

05/12/2011 at 19:31

Friend of mine bought his son an Ipad while on holiday in the States but it wouldn't work properly in NZ where they live. I think they got round it somehow but not sure how.

Lee the Pea pirate

pirate

05/12/2011 at 19:34

Not really sure either but you'll have to buy an adaptor as rhe plug won't work

Isn't their elec on a different frequency or something, so not sure if it would charge properly? Or that could be total and utter bollocks, i'm not really sure.....

Sorry, that was no help at all really, lol

Badly Drawn Bloke

05/12/2011 at 19:43

I can't see why it would be any different. If you were buying a 3G one, that may be tied to a certain carrier I suppose. It's a USB charger anyway, so just plug the USB into a normal UK USB plug. The only reason why they would tell you not to buy abroad is that they would lose the sale in the store.

EdnaModes

05/12/2011 at 19:48

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2764831?start=0&tstart=0

Seems the biggest issue is VAT, and whether or not the warranty would be valid in the UK as a secondary issue.

M.ister W

05/12/2011 at 19:48

Don't do it. I own an iPad (am using it now) and regret that I didn't get a Samsung tablet.

Little Ninja

05/12/2011 at 20:02

+1 to what Mr W said. Check out what's hot and new. You'll get a great deal over there. Buy two and come back on sell one and you'll make your money back.

LIVERBIRD

pirate

05/12/2011 at 21:26

If you're going to the USA get a Samsung Galaxy tab. Miles cheaper in Bestbuy and yes it DOES work because Mr LB got one and he's delighted with it.

*written on his old iPad that won't even let me quote on here, let alone use something as basic as flash*

LIVERBIRD

pirate

05/12/2011 at 21:27

Samsung warranty is worldwide.

Slowfoot Going Goofy

05/12/2011 at 21:55

Cheers will have a look at the Samsung

YoungPup

05/12/2011 at 22:36

In the interests of balance, and as an avid Apple fan, why would you buy an imitation / copy when you can buy the real deal?

Fit-Running-Cat

05/12/2011 at 22:37

Samsung is okay but nowhere near as many apps. Asus transformer nice too.

You'd be fine buying an iPad in the US. And no problems coming back to UK

Universal voltage thing, Just needs the UK charging bit which you can get off eBay cheap or apple shop for 10 quid. You can't just use usb , its too slow.

3g is fine, just needs to get the same network type as here.
Warranty is world wide too.

Likely an iPad 3 in march though.

Intermanaut

05/12/2011 at 22:43

The iPad charges as quickly over a decent USB connection as it does when plugged in to the mains.

If I were buying a tablet again I'd go for the Galaxy 10.1. Why? iTunes.

GOM.

pirate

06/12/2011 at 07:10

Currently writing this on an ipad2 that I brought in the Sates earlier this year. Haven't had any problems with it whatsoever, and have to say for the reasons we brought it, it's been brilliant.

There did use to be an issue with worldwide warranty, where if you brought a device in the US you would have to return it there for any claims. This has however now been corrected to certain degree as you now purchase along with your device from an Apple store a worldwide warranty agreement which allows you to buy a device from one country and have it repaired in another.

As for the power supplies. The power supply adaptor that comes with the iPad is design to have AC input of 110 - 240 volts 50 - 60 Hz allowing the iPad to be charged on any AC supply in the world. All you need is a suitable travel adaptor (or just go and buy a new adaptor).

As for which is better iPad or Samsung, comes down to personnel choice really.

M.ister W

06/12/2011 at 07:36

If you're the sort of person who doesn't want to customise your gadgets and would be happy with many websites not working properly then buy an iPad. If you like working websites and to be able to tweak your gadget to suit the way you use it then get a Samsung tablet.

And don't worry about the number of apps that are available. The Android market had 200,000 back in April so you should be able to find anything you need.

Intermanaut

06/12/2011 at 08:02

The short-comings of the iPad that really piss me off (I've had mine for over a year now) are that you have to use iTunes to run it (though it's better since iOs 5); it doesn't support Flash; there's no concept of a home screen, so you can't run things like weather apps, permanently display a calendar, etc.

Claiming that there are "nowhere near as many apps" for Android may well be true, but so what? How many apps do people really use? Once you're past email, web, Twitter and Angry Birds there's not much else you'd want. If you're going to offer software availability as a reason to choose iPad over Android, talk about quality. Android Market is full of crap, most of it written by Japanese teenagers who just build things containing photos of girls in bikinis. However, keep an eye on Android Police or Android Guys and you'll get a heads-up on the good stuff.

As soon as the Galaxy 10.1 is available, I'll jump ship. I love my Android phone, and whenever I see it alongside iPhone4 I'm further convinced that I'll never switch to iPhone.

Edited: 06/12/2011 at 08:04

Fit-Running-Cat

06/12/2011 at 11:59

Inter manaut. The iPad needs more power than normal usb gives so does charge faster off mains . Usb will work but slow, like 20 hours. Mac with higher power usb maybe does if you have one.

Agree with you about weather apps and calendar. I like to see these too.
A few ios 5 apps getting close plus the new status bar

I'm actually in both camps , android phone & iPad plus lots at work... Play book, zoom & Samsung. IPad is by far the simplest and most advanced.

Adobe has cancelled flash on mobile devices.

skotty

06/12/2011 at 12:51

GOM. wrote (see)

As for which is better iPad or Samsung, comes down to personnel choice really.

i'm planning to use it myself so i won't be giving the staff any say in the matter.

GOM.

pirate

06/12/2011 at 19:39

Yeah, yeah whatever.......

Anyway.

Mr W most sites are seaming to be moving away from flash. I really don't come across that many these days thar cause me any problems on the iPad. If they do I just go and look at them on my iMac

the reason iPads, and the iPhones don't have flash installed comes down to licensing issues, it is installed on iMac, which may mean one day it will be installed on all Apple devices, or it might not.

I do agree though if you just want to buy and use apps, then I feel Apple devices are the way to go, also from a point of ease of use.

skotty

06/12/2011 at 20:09

GOM. wrote (see)

the reason iPads, and the iPhones don't have flash installed comes down to licensing issues, .

there are many reasons but that isn't one of them.

GOM. wrote (see)

if you just want to buy and use apps, then I feel Apple devices are the way to go, also from a point of ease of use.

not sure about that. there are plenty of android "apps" out there.

GOM. wrote (see)

, it is installed on iMac, which may mean one day it will be installed on all Apple devices, or it might not.

i very much doubt it.

flash is definitely on the way out as far as other mobile devices are concerned.