Название: iPad All-in-One For Dummies
Автор: Nancy C. Muir
Издательство: John Wiley & Sons Limited
Жанр: Зарубежная образовательная литература
Серия: For Dummies
isbn: 9781118944424
isbn:
✔ A Mac or PC with a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port and one of the following operating systems:
• Mac OS X version 10.6.8 or later
• Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
✔ iTunes 11.0 or later, available at www.itunes.com/download
✔ An Apple ID and iTunes Store account
✔ Internet access
✔ An iCloud account
Apple has set up its iTunes software and the iCloud service to give you two ways to manage content for your iPad – including movies, music, or photos you’ve downloaded – and specify how to sync your calendar and contact information. Chapter 4 in this minibook covers those settings in more detail.
Getting Your Hands on an iPad
As of this writing, you can buy an iPad at the Apple Store and from several brick-and-mortar stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and Target, and at online sites such as MacMall. You can also buy 3G/4G models, which require an account with a phone service provider, from the data providers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, as well as from Apple.
If you get your iPad from Apple, either at one of its retail stores or through its online store, here’s the difference in the buying experience.
The brick-and-mortar Apple Store advantage is that the sales staff will help you unpack your iPad and make sure it’s working properly, register the device (which you have to do before you can use it), and help you learn the basics. There are also occasional workshops offered to help people learn about how to use iPads, and Apple employees are famous for being helpful to customers.
However, Apple Stores aren’t on every corner, so if visiting one isn’t an option (or you just prefer to go it alone), you can go to the Apple Store website (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad), as shown in Figure 1-2, and order one to be shipped to you (and even get it engraved, if you wish). Standard shipping typically is free, and if there’s a problem, Apple’s online-store customer service reps are very helpful – they will help you solve the problem or possibly replace your iPad.
Figure 1-2: iPad model options are spelled out on Apple’s site.
Considering iPad Accessories
Accessories for your iPad can make your computing life easier. You can get them from Apple or explore the broad and ever-growing world of third-party accessories.
Apple’s stable of accessories
At present, Apple offers a few accessories you might want to check out when you purchase your iPad (or you can purchase them down the road), including
✔ iPad Smart Case/Smart Cover: Your iPad isn’t cheap, and unlike a laptop computer, it has an exposed screen that can be damaged if you drop or scratch it. Investing in the iPad Smart Case or Smart Cover is a good idea if you intend to take your iPad out of your house – or if you have a cat or grandchildren. The iPad Smart Cover costs about $40 for polyurethane, and the Smart Case costs $70 for leather. Other cases vary in price depending on design and material.
The official Apple iPad Smart Case has an ingenious little slot on the back. You can flip the front cover back and tuck it into the slot to make the case rest on your desk or counter at a very handy angle for viewing and typing. You can also prop up the case in a kind of U-shaped configuration to give presentations to others.
✔ iPad Camera Connection Equipment: Because there’s no USB port on an iPad, you can’t use a USB connection to upload photos from your digital camera or media card to your iPad. If you want to add this functionality, you can buy a MicroUSB camera connector and a MicroSD reader, each of which will set you back about $30 for the privilege.
✔ Stands: The Apple Store offers several stands, including the Incase Origami Workstation at $29.95 and the Just Mobile Upstand for iPad at $49.95. The Twelve South HoverBar Stand for iPad costs $116.95, and attaches your iPad to your computer. Twelve South BookArc is another good option at just $29.99. For a truly special handcrafted tablet stand, visit http://www.mebskitchenwares.com/accessories.html to buy a one-of-a-kind tablet stand made of your choice of hard woods.
✔ Apple Earpods with Remote and Mic: This device offers in-ear listening and remote control of your audio for about $29.
✔ Apple Digital AV Adapter: To make use of the HDMI technology that allows you to connect devices to output high-definition media through HDMI ports in TVs, monitors, and projectors, you can buy this adapter (see Figure 1-3) for $49.
✔ AirPrint Printers: There are printers available from HP, Canon, Brother, Lexmark, and Epson that support Apple’s AirPrint feature. Prices range from $129 to $399. HandyPrint and Printopia are Macintosh apps that can make any printer shared on a network accessible to your iPad.
It’s a good idea to have a spare cable available to charge your iPad in case one gets mislaid.
Checking out what others have to offer
If you want to explore third-party accessories, there are many, and more appear all the time. Just perform a web search for iPad accessories. You’ll find that there are suede, leather, neoprene, aluminum, and canvas cases; a variety of stands; carrying bags; screen protectors; and external batteries to supplement iPad’s impressive ten-hour battery life.
Figure 1-3: Send media to other devices using this adapter.
Want to stand out from the crowd by carrying your iPad around in a case with character? The relatively inexpensive Vintage Book case from Zazzle is a good option if you like the look of a rare book wrapped around your technology. If you’re made of money, the Louis Vuitton model, a high-priced model at $795, will make you the envy of your friends. And eBags offers some nice canvas bags if your tastes, and budget, are more down to earth.
Macally’s Lightning Wired keyboard is a fully extended keyboard with a number pad, which you can use with your iPad device in portrait or landscape mode. Aduro Facio offers a combination of case, stand, and keyboard all in one for only $29.99.
There are even a few clothing companies coming up with duds that can hold an iPad. (SCOTTeVEST, whose website is shown in Figure 1-4, offers a line of iPad-holding clothes. iClothing and iPad Suit are following suit – excuse the pun.