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Comments (12)
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Save/ShareLast week I reached out to you to send me your questions about how well an iPad works as a travel tool. I headed down to New Orleans for the French Quarter Festival with husband and baby, toting my iPhone and an iPad. No laptop, no guidebooks—just a light and slim day bag big enough to fit the device. Here's how it scored.
Elmo took up a good 20 minutes of the 3-hour flight time. And then, once my daughter fell asleep, I happily read the day's New York Times—stunningly sharp pictures and all, in full layout—without crinkling paper and waking her up.
The street test (D): Top of mind to us all, including reader Jason, was whether the iPad works as an on-the-go travel device. "Does pulling it out on a street corner make you a target for crime like a big visitor's map or guidebook might?" Considering that we happened to walk right by the New Orleans shooting, minutes after it happened, I wasn't incredibly inclined to pull my shiny new toy on the street. But also, since I have the first generation iPad, only Wi-Fi enabled (the version with 3G comes out later this month), I would be at the mercy of a wireless signal and walking around like a fool holding it up searching for a strong signal.
Sorry Jason, I had to go with my gut on this one. I never felt comfortable enough. But more importantly, I didn't really see the need to. Instead, my handy iPhone was my go-to when we were trying to figure out whether we needed to sort out which direction to turn to get to Café du Monde.
The in-room surfing test (B+): The iPad has stunning surfing potential. But once again, you're really at the mercy of your signal. When it's good, it's great; I've begun to surf on it primarily at home, instead of using a laptop. It's just that fast. We were staying at the Omni Royal, and I was sure to sign up in advance for Omni's Select Guest loyalty program, which grants members complimentary Wi-Fi—skipping the $10 daily fee that nonmembers pay.
It was supereasy to connect the iPad with the Wi-Fi signal, and the first day, I happily read the day's news, emailed from both work and personal accounts far easier than on my iPhone, looked up a menu at a restaurant, plotted out turn-by-turn walking directions to sites, and figured out the day's weather. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi was down the next day, so I ended up turning to my iPhone.
The flight check-in test (F): I'm a big fan of checking in for a flight before heading to the airport, and I tried to do so from the iPad. No go. After a minute or two of waiting for a page to load, I found out why: JetBlue's site uses Adobe Flash, an unsupported technology on the iPad. If that doesn't say it all, I don't know what does.
The verdict: iPad is unparalleled as an in-room entertainment, reading, and research device for travelers. But when it comes to using a real on-the-go tool, I'll happily leave my big slim iPad friendly bag at home, and just slip my iPhone in my pocket.
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Nina,
Thanks for the review! While I understand that lack of support on the iPad prevented you from using JetBlue's site to check in for your flight, I would argue that the failure here is on JetBlue's part in requiring Flash and not offering an alternative method of checking in.
What if you had vision problems and were using a text-based browser (with accompanying text-to-speech device) to access the site? You also would not have been able to use it. This is a topic that Budget Travel should explore: how useful are travel industry web sites for people with disabilities? Or for people that refuse (or are unable/unwilling to) use the latest add-ins like Flash and Silverlight?
I avoid Flash whenever possible (and use browser add-ins to do so) because it is slow, buggy and an ongoing source of security vulnerabilities. So for me, lack of Flash support on the iPhone (and now iPad) is actually a feature, although one that is annoying at times.
Posted By Adam Wilkinson on April 19, 2010, 2:40 PM
you should have waited for 3G....it will take the cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am waiting patiently...wendy
Posted By wendy on April 19, 2010, 3:56 PM
I too agree that the iphone is all you need for traveling...less to take on a trip the better!
BTW -- My husband and I also attended the French Quarter Festival and stayed at the Omni! We had a blast, and the hotel was perfectly located and very comfortable (father-in-law stays here often). We too had walked right by the shooting location on Canal St., but about 30 minutes BEFORE! But we felt very safe in the French Quarter...New Orleans is a fabulous town and we will be back, with iphone in pocket!
Posted By Tina C on April 20, 2010, 5:40 PM
What about an iPod Touch instead of an iPhone as a travel tool? My cellphone works just fine for home but does not work internationally, so I figured on my upcoming trip to Ireland, I would rent one while I am there. I am going to want access to the internet though--maps, reviews, etc., as well as have addresses, documents, recorded books and tours handy so I thought the iPod Touch was the choice for me. Any thoughts/comments?
Thanks.
Posted By Susan on April 20, 2010, 6:46 PM
With regard to the flight check-in test, did you attempt to access mobile.jetblue.com? At least with the iPhone, mobile Safari defaults to that version of the site, and they do allow mobile check-in from that site. The iPad may be defaulted to show "standard" versions of sites, but that doesn't prevent you from going to the mobile version. I believe several other airlines offer similar capabilities (United being a known one, at least for me).
Posted By Josh on April 21, 2010, 11:55 PM
Thanks for the report, Nina. Friends of mine are insisting that the iPad will be all things to all people, but I really think the iPhone is just a better technology for traveling.
I've recently been searching for good walking tour applications on the iPhone, and have not been impressed with what I've found. Does anyone have a favorite? I and some friends put together a survey to get people's interest in this sort of thing; I want to take the results to some tour operators to see if they would like to start creating iPhone tours. Anyone interested in helping us out can take the survey here: http://bit.ly/c6i6AA.
Posted By Dave on April 28, 2010, 11:25 AM
I spent 4 weeks in France this summer. I never found 3G where free Wifi was not also available. I'm not sure why I bought the 3G. Really like the iPad for travel. It saves a lot of weight and space taken up by books in the past. I don't have an iPhone, just an old cell phone with T-Mobile. It works very well in Europe.
Posted By Joan on October 18, 2010, 2:03 PM
I recently toured Germany with my Ipad and Iphone. Before the trip, I purchased the minimum international ATT data package for the Ipad 3G, and it was a good thing I did. We did not find free Wi-fi anywhere in Germany, including McDonalds. Even our hotels did not offer Wi-fi or it was expensive. I used my Iphone text messaging to communicate back home (free to receive and .50 to send one back), and I used the Ipad data package to check e-mails and websurf travel info. Love the Iphone and Ipad for travel. One B&B did not have TV, so we watched a movie on the Ipad that I purchased before the trip.
Posted By Charlotte on October 19, 2010, 9:49 AM
Susan - My husband and I recently toured Morocco for 2 weeks with an iPod Touch each. It was the first time we had travelled without an actual computer. Almost all our hotels had free wifi and the iPod Touch worked like a charm - got our e-mail, read the New York Times and USA Today every day, got weather forecasts for our entire journey even checked in for our flights back on iPod Touches. Plus we had our books and music loaded up before we left home - didn't have to drag anything extra along....and even better, you don't have to take it out to go thru airport security like you do a computer.
Posted By Pat on November 3, 2010, 3:56 PM
i sell ipads...china made.
Posted By secret on March 27, 2011, 1:52 AM
Es war schön, diesen Artikel zu lesen. Im Moment bin ich wirklich versuchen, einen Blog begonnen für meine Website! Wünscht mir Glück!
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Posted By Mitroiu Marian on May 6, 2012, 6:43 AM