ipad ignorant

[cuzzzzzz]

hi. just got a new 16GB 3G iPad as a birthday present. NO instructions come with it. Have 2 questions:

1) How long should I charge it before using it uncorded? It's been charging about 14 hours now.

2) Can I attach a Trendnet USB adaptor to it to access the internet via my regular computer's router? I've networked two other computers to my main computer usung a Trendnet 424 model adaptor with great success.

All help appeciated.. never had an ipad, and don't want to screw this one up.

Thank you,
cuzzzzz

[glc]

Doesn't it have wifi too?

[David M]

iPad user guide...

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/ipad_user_guide.pdf

iPads do indeed have wifi as well.
wifi trouble shooting...
http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/wifi/

[cuzzzzzz]

Thank you both for the replies. I don't think it has WiFi. I know I don't have WiFi on my desktop computers (5 year old XP machines... have Verizon DSL).

Will read the support links.

[pam123]

All iPads have wifi and, if you got 3G, good for you but there's a 20 mb limit for downloads over 3G (This will help save you from the carrier download limits).
Take the iPad to Starbucks, McCafe, Panera, Barnes & Noble, your local library,or any free public access location near you and log on using wifi.
4 hours will charge an iPad from automatic shutdown to 100%; 14 hours won't fry it but you're over the top. Just quit when the battery , upper right corner, reads 100%.
No you can't use usb so it's time to go shopping for a wireless router, any standard one will do the job, I use a DLink 615 at home.

[glc]

If you already HAVE a wireless router, you can connect to it. I'm assuming you do, because the Trendnet 424 is wireless.

[cuzzzzzz]

Thank you, thank you, all of you. I do have a wireless router as glc noticed.. the Trendnet 424 works great for my two desktopcomputers.. I'll try it onw on my iPad.

Thanks again

[cuzzzzzz]

Unfortunately, this iPad doesn't work. Turns on to picture of USB jack and an iTunes logo, then goes off. Have tried dozens of time to have it work.

Also, will need an adaptor for the Trendnet adapter , if the iPad ever stays on.

Any other ideas? Need them.
Thanks,
cuzzzzz

[Nuclear Krusader]

Did you get this unit brand new?

[glc]

No, you do NOT need the Trendnet adapter - the iPad has internal wifi.........

[cuzzzzzz]

Hi.. the iPad was a birthday (yesterday) present for me. She bought it at an official Apple store at a mall in NJ. Knowing her (who knows me well), she would not have gotten anything refurbished. She knows my feelings about that.

I've actually walked up and down a few blocks seeing if any signal picked up, but I don't even get the screen shown on the tiny little pamphlet that came with this thing... just an itunes and USB logo.

Thanks again,
cuzzzzz

[pam123]

Open iTunes and connect the iPad to your computer by usb, and follow the activation instructions.
Do not try connecting the iPad using the trendnet adapter.
Did you read the manuals David gave you the links for?

[cuzzzzzz]

Pam.. the frst link David lisyed doesn't work.. maybe a space or something wrong. We contacted the store where it was bought and they told us of the need for itunes (why isn't it just pre-loaded?). No instructions came with my ipad.. maybe something left out.

Why should I have had to download 80MB of iTune garbage to my PC, then have it take well over an hour to install on the iPad, THEN follow the suggested update to the latest iPad software version, which took almost an hour. Still couldn't get on line, so called a friend who owns one and they told me about Safari (which was not mentioned anywhere) browser. Plus, the virtual keyboard's a pain. Can receive emails, but still not able to send one (not able to get to a text box)

Thanks for all your help.. I'm returning it (after I figure out how to re-format it to get all my personal passwords off of it).

I'll stick to PCs... have loved them since 1985. have 4 now, 3 assembled by me, and have no problems or frustration.

Thanks again,
cuzzzzz

[David M]

I suggest taking it to the Apple Store and have someone tutor you on its use. I have used a work associates iPad quite a number of times now and they are very easy to use.

[glc]

The first link works fine - it's a big PDF which takes time to download, it's not just a webpage.

[cuzzzzzz]

Have re-formatted the iPad (How to Reformat an iPad) and am returning it... have no use for it. I hope the friend who bought it for me uses the >$600 refund for something less poorly documented.

I do think iTunes should come pre-loaded. No instructions came with the iPad telling me that iTunes was needed. Now I have to uninstall the 80MB of iTunes files from my main PC that I needed to set up the iPad. Have heard iTunes can cause the same problems that the crappy "real player" used to cause.

Also, an instruction manual should come with it for us who have NO Mac experience. Once I spent the hours getting everything downloaded and up and runnning (I also stupidly followed their suggestion to immediately upgrade the OS... another hour-plus wasted), how was I to know that I had to click on "Safari" to get to a browser. Why isn't there at least a short manual in the box? Other things I clicked on always wanted one to join something, for a fee.

I tried dozens of times to get to the part of MyVerizon that lets me edit my webpage. Nothing brought me there. Twice I saw a familiar link, but it disapppeared almost immediately into an ad for an Apple product.

I went to my financial page to check on one part of my finances.. got there fine. When I exited, there was a tab with all my financial data linked to my personal webpage... it appeared like it was there for all the world to see

I also don't like the virtual keyboard.

I'll stick to my PCs (have 3 with XP), which I've been using, building, repairing (for others), and tutoring since 1985.

Glc, Pam, David, Thanks for all your help.. seriously. Glc has helped me dozens of times with solutions to less-obvious PC problems.

cuzzzzz

[mattaggie]

As a side note, I read that the new Amazon Kindle Fire will ship out already linked to your Amazon account. So no activation needed. Itunes seems to be the portal for Apple devices. I think iphones are activated through the person's itunes account.

[SARGE]

That does it for the possibility of Mom getting one. No way, Jose.

[glc]

Time to get that aircard, eh?

[SARGE]

Dad called last Friday, was on his way to the AT&T store in Rockwall. I explained to him to ask about the aircard, etc., although I've never seen one myself. Haven't heard back and since I've never used that or an Ipad, can claim ignorance on both and let them figure it out whichever they get.

[SARGE]

Update on last. Mom called this pm about something else and said Dad got her a "thing" she can plug into the beast I built her, or her laptop - aircard I guess. Her voice was so happy and was loving the speed. Hey, if I make it to age 82 and can work at Walmart 40 hours a week for 11 years, that would make me happy. Suddenly my Dad is a geek to her. Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!

[David M]

Hah!...that's excellent.

I have a mother who is 72 and although she needs a little tutoring once in a while, is pretty sharp on a computer.

[cuzzzzzz]

I'm 75 and tutor all my family and friends on PCs (plus build and repair them.)

Now i just have to find out why I just got an email that said I just got dropped as a premium member, when I have an email from this past July that says I have a one year membership just added to my account. This is the second time this has happened. Don't know what they're doing with my payments.

cuzzzzz

[David M]

You probably want to address glc with a private message.

[glc]

Hang tight, I'm getting Drisley's attention on that - I do not get involved with the premium side of the house.

[iJasonTATE]

I'm an iOS "Expert" (I'm a developer), and Apple devices running iOS will NOT overcharge

[glc]

If you are an expert, can you explain why iOS 5 devices are experiencing poor battery life?

[Nuclear Krusader]

Ooo, a developer! What apps have you developed? I remember you mentioning in some other thread you were a programmer, it'd be interesting to see some of your work.

[mattaggie]

I like how the Apple developer has 2 PC's and no Macs.

Just realized he's a 14 year old kid, maybe we should ease up.