WalMart to Sell Ipads this Friday

Target started selling them this week, I haven't heard that WalMart has too.

It was in an article I just read on Yahoo Business News. If you have a Target Credit Card, THEY are offering a 5% discount on an IPad purchase.

Yeah, this is in most of the tech columns today. Here's one article from USA Today

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/...

GAH!!! I hate Walmart. It's the place to go where you'll see a family all bundled up in coats because it's freezing weather but they'll have a baby dressed in a diaper and tee shirt.

I saw one at Target just yesterday. I'm interested in them now since I'm 'old school" and I got my 295W. It's my first real use of a pure touch screen device with Wi-Fi. I'm hooked.

The wife needs Apple due to work-related software needs, but it's a shame that (the impression I'm getting) is that so far IPads look like 'light' PC's, only running cut-down 'apps'. Am I correct with that?

Can you use them with other 'out of the box' software that's 'full-strength'? Either Mac or PC versions?

My understanding is that you can't run the regular Windows software, however there seems to be some software out there that will let you use the ipad to virtually run an OS that is actually running on another computer.

Basically, you would use the ipad as an input device and monitor while the real work takes place on another computer.

http://jkontherun.com/2010/09/15/video-parallels-mobile-runn...

I am still thinking about the 295 myself.Reading some reviews about volume not load enough and mp3 have to use the earphones to hear music.Do you have that problem if yes did Turboccc's voice editor fix it?

While at Walmarts today in central FL talked to one of the employees and they are expecting IPads Friday.

Long and short of it, with the Ipad generally most apps are available ie; word docs, exel and pdf and more with light versions depending on the software you buy.

The biggest Pro on this device as far as I see is viewing and personal presentations. You can sit down and review or present documents to someone face to face and wing through pages with ease. If you viewing pictures or document you need to zoom in on you'll be really impressed. Reading e-mail or surfing the net is pretty nice but "but" I miss the new tab feature of most browsers.

As for Cons, well this is my sick in the mud is connectivity. Yes, if your really up town and use a sync program to your desktop or laptop your pretty much connected to your docs and then comes my "but". You have to have a wifi printer available to do much for printing and usb connectivity is pretty weak as far as I've found. You can use some oneline proxy servers to print to most printers that are networked and connected to the internet.

Now, for my real bleeding heart concerning a full size keyboard. If your a two finger texter your probably in fat city but if your speed is based on cruising a normal keyboard then pony up a pay for a blue tooth connected keyboard, no not a wireless keyboard! Connectivity is my biggest bone of contention and maybe that is more limited vision than truly an issue.

Thanks everyone for cluing me in on the IPad basics & info. Helps me put it in context with laptops, netbooks, etc & tells me to better envision what we might want to use it for.

I haven't tried modding it yet with anything, but yes the sound is anemic when using the itsy-bitsy speaker. It gets a little bit louder if there's a windshield reasonably close behind it, but the driver needs to 'listen-up' and forget a back seat passenger hearing it like my 765T! There IS the headphone jack though & my rear-antenna Odyssey never picked up my 765's rf signal anyway, so a rf transmitter is definitely in my future so I can feed the audio to the car speakers.

The one thing that really bothers me most about using it in the car, I hope is a bug that Garmin knows about & will fix is- it's HORRIBLY unresponsive to the touch screen while driving. Enough so that it would likely cause accidents, imo. You have to hold the selection for WAY too long or it won't respond.

I get the distinct feeling that it's meant for Pedestrians first, and drivers second. Not even 50/50. But, since the driver really shouldn't be putzing with it anyway while driving, the wife will just have to step up to the plate for now.

I'm still hooked on it because of the Wi-Fi. That could wear off too, I guess.

The wifi is what has most of my interest.Especially the email part.I always have my laptop with me when I travel.Would come in handy though for a quick email check when you stop.So many places have wifi now.Feature of routes(10) looks good.Like the one touch option to select and go.You can see I have been reading about it.Every review though talks about the sound.I would think Turboccc's voice editor may do some good.It would be nice to know if someone has tried that yet.Looks like the wifi would be nice feature with other units.Maybe this is a trail balloon.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/10/14/verizon-wireless-t...

I guess it's just me but I don't "see" the iPad. I have an Android phone (Droid 2)and a laptop. Where does the iPad fit in?

An iPad is an iPod touch with a really, really huge screen. It's a transformational device that's re-defining how people work with these tools. I'll probably get one somewhere along the line.

Aside... I'm getting into my local CERT group. Have had 'basic training' - now getting into some advanced training - looking at my niche working the EOC in situations with communications & an Assistant PIO. I can see uses for an iPad in this... using it for Twitter to get info out...

What about the price is it same as other store or difference?

Well, I for one already have a cell phone that I can't "see" (literally ), and it would be nice to "see" at least while I'm web browsing, emailing, etc in the kitchen, on the couch, in the car, on the scooter, chowing down at Micky D's while on a trip, etc.

Be nice if it was a huge gps, too (preferably not any x-G's .. ie standalone, but G's would be a nice backup option, imo).

Rather not drag around a keyboard or scratch at a pad, either.

From what I've read, it's the same price whether you buy it online, at an Apple Store, from Walmart or Target. The only difference is IF YOU have a Target Credit Card and purchase it from Target with their card, you get 5% off. That's all I've read.

Apple's trying to push the iPads out before the next gen is introduced, with camera, and other updated features.

That is exactly what I was thinking. Right before Christmas !