IPad or netbook

[remydiva]

Not sure I understand. Even with my iPhone or iPad, I can write an email offline and go online just to send and download new mail. It takes about 2-3 minutes max. Plus, you can write notes or keep a journal to send later with free or inexpensive apps. I can do the same thing on a netbook.

 

Obviously Pam in CA is better using the touch pad than I! :)

 

I just like the ease of a keyboard and mouse with right click or CTRL+C over iPad to send my emails. :rolleyes:

[Pam in CA]

Obviously Pam in CA is better using the touch pad than I! :)

 

I just like the ease of a keyboard and mouse with right click or CTRL+C over iPad to send my emails. :rolleyes:

Then that's a good reason to use it. :) Not all email programs allow you to download email, sign off, respond at your leisure, and re-sign on and send. Whatever works for you is the best option.

[Lorabelle]

The simple answer is, "No." I brought it on my Celebrity cruise a couple of weeks ago but there was no WiFi on the ship other than a few hot spots on Lido deck, so I didn't buy a package. Actually, I did go to the Internet Cafe and sign up but when I discovered there was no WiFi, I had them reverse the charge. So far, I'm liking the Galaxy for a couple of reasons. It's smaller than the iPad and can open websites, such as Princess.com, that use Flash.

 

Thanks for the info! I am liking the Galaxy for the same reasons...flash and size. I think the size is the biggest draw for me as it can easily fit even into my purse.

[GBeret]

I don't own an iPad; however, I have used the 2nd Generation iPod on a couple of cruises and had no problems with connectivity using it.

 

I now have a Mac Book Air with an 11" screen that I'll be testing on the next cruise. I also have an iPhone 4 as a backup. I considered the iPad, but decided to go with the MBA instead. ;)

[Vexorg]

I took my iPad (V1) on the last cruise in lieu of a notebook/netbook, but didn't bother with the ship's wifi (I just stayed offline except on my phone in St. Thomas, probably did some good,) so I can't comment on how well that works. As far as the suitability of an iPad for shipboard use, if you're looking for something that's basically intended for reading, web browsing and maybe playing games (which is probably all most vacationers are going to be doing on the ship,) then the iPad is the way to go. If you're looking to do anything beyond that, the iPad is not going to be a good solution. Then again, I've never been a fan of netbooks either, they're just too limited in functionality and speed to be of much use for the stuff I'm using. In my case, I'm thinking I'll probably be getting a decent subnotebook (basically a step up from the netbooks in processing power, screen size and price, but still below the average 15" notebook) and using that for my next cruise.

[warringtonian]

Just back from the Crown cruise to Iceland etc. We were in a VS at the blunt end and had no problems with reception in the cabin using an iPad 1st generation. Although we had free wi-fi it was a bit of a pain having to log on each time and "purchase" more internet time at a price of zero dollars.

 

Once connected I had no real problems except when I downloaded a copy of the Times online each day which took about twenty minutes and timed out after about ten minutes so I had to re-connect.

 

Otherwise it was fine for email and internet, although apparently you can't connect to porn sites, or so I was told.

[R+G]

We take a netbook to stay in touch with our kids. Cruise before last we were able to skype with no problems, however they blocked it last cruise due to the strain on the bandwidth. (understandably)

 

Can anyone tell me whether this is the case or all cruises or can you still get skype depending on the cruise??

[cruiser92804]

One of the problems with ipad can be if it is 3g + wifi ipad and the 3g isn't turned off it can cause connection probelms for the wifi.

[kadinlov]

I took my ipad2 on our recent Med cruise on Ruby and found it to work quite well using the ships wifi. I uploaded pictures to fb, sent emails and even talked to family here in the states using both FaceTime and Skype! A couple of times on sea days I got a message saying too many users were on the network, but I just tried a bit later and had no problems. I will never again lug my laptop on vacation!

[Coral]

First I must state that I love using my IPad and it is used at home without problems about 8 hrs per day. However last October I brought both the IPad and a Toshiba netbook for 20 days on the Coral. The IPad was hardly usable as it either dropped connections or indicated it was connected but could not surf. The Toshiba netbook was flawless in the same locations on the ship. Often I would test with the IPad, have problems and then turn it off and use the netbook immediately at the same physical location. I am a technical person (computer engineer with 30+ years experience) and I can attest that there are definitely compatibility problems with the IPad. Incidentally I previously used an ITouch which worked very well without connection problems on several cruises.

 

I am a tech person also (with almost 25 years experience). Your experiences were in October. I wonder if the problems people had were last year verses in the past couple of months. I read all the tech journals and when they were first released, there were a ton of posts about this but there haven't been any posts recently. That is why I am wondering if on (one or both) ipads and network equipment there were software/firmware updates that addressed this issue. For example, the first problems that popped up were reported by universities which were telling people not to connect to them until they figured out the issue - these warnings at these universities have been removed.

 

I see your experience was 8 months ago, thus my question about recent experience.

 

I have friends on the Coral Princess to Alaska and while not a techie, she said she used her first generation ipad through out her Alaska cruise with out any problems.

[Woobstr112G]

Princess has changed their search area. Works fine on the IPad now.

 

Wow! You're right! That's new. I was just able to search for a cruise and go to My Princess on my iPhone. Cool!

 

Holy cow, This is way cool. I just tried it out on my I-Pad and it works fine. Kudos to princess for changing this.....:):):)

 

Bob

[PescadoAmarillo]

Excellent news about the Princess website and Flash. However, after relying solely on our iPhones for two years of cruising, we're finally crying 'uncle' and toting along a netbook this winter also. We had such horrible WiFi issues on the Emerald last winter that we're suspecting it was the iPhone/iPad connectivity thing. We'll see...

 

Also interesting to read about the Galaxy. Thanks for that info.

[jeeper2]

Wow! You're right! That's new. I was just able to search for a cruise and go to My Princess on my iPhone. Cool!

 

I've been able to access the Princess website (Cool!) since I got the IPad 2 last month, but the Deck Plans will not show. Any other users with this problem?

[remydiva]

We take a netbook to stay in touch with our kids. Cruise before last we were able to skype with no problems, however they blocked it last cruise due to the strain on the bandwidth. (understandably)

 

Can anyone tell me whether this is the case or all cruises or can you still get skype depending on the cruise??

 

On the Emerald this May on our TA/Northern Europe, Skype was blocked due to bandwidth issues...sign posted in the internet cafe. (Even at that, I got messages popping up saying too many Princess passengers were online and to try back later. 2 mins later it was fine)

 

On the Island this June, internet cafe is teeny tiny and I didn't notice a sign about Skype..,mind you I use my netbook in my room so didn't pay all that much attention but there it was never busy in the internet 'cafe'.

[Steviewonder1]

Ok here's the deal on Wi-Fi anywhere. The Wi-FI radio in your devices are different and have more or less range when compared. The iPhone has a very small radio, the iPad has a larger more powerful radio, my MacBook Pro has the largest of the radio's available in it. Your laptop will have the biggest radio and antenna system in it and your smart phone will have the smallest. It is all a space, battery and antenna issue on the various devices that affects range and connectivity. Sometimes you can see the system but not get into it. This means that the system you are trying to use cannot hear you and you will have to get closer to where the Wireless Router is located. These are the boxes that your Wi-Fi talks to. Generally in the Library of the ship is where one or more is located. They are black or blue boxes with two antennas on them, usually mounted at ceiling height. There are additional units around the ship in other areas like the Concierge for the Suites. Walk around the ship and test various locations to see how reception is. On our last cruise we were right above the library and had 5 bars of signal and no connection issue. Take and use the largest device you can. It is fun to do a Video Call from the ship to friends.

[Pam in CA]

[quote name='Steviewonder1']It is fun to do a Video Call from the ship to friends.[/QUOTE]Thank you for the explanation. The problem with using or encouraging others to make video calls is bandwidth. Skype and similar are hogs and slow down the Internet for everyone else meaning others will have trouble connecting and it'll take them a lot longer to do email or go to a website, costing them money. Personally, I think all video calling should be blocked for this reason.

[DGSFlorida]

[quote name='Coral']I am a tech person also (with almost 25 years experience). Your experiences were in October. I wonder if the problems people had were last year verses in the past couple of months. I read all the tech journals and when they were first released, there were a ton of posts about this but there haven't been any posts recently. That is why I am wondering if on (one or both) ipads and network equipment there were software/firmware updates that addressed this issue. For example, the first problems that popped up were reported by universities which were telling people not to connect to them until they figured out the issue - these warnings at these universities have been removed.

I see your experience was 8 months ago, thus my question about recent experience.

I have friends on the Coral Princess to Alaska and while not a techie, she said she used her first generation ipad through out her Alaska cruise with out any problems.[/QUOTE]

I would not be surprised if the recent software updates to the IPad didn't solve most of the connectivity problems. I was using the latest updates for Oct 2010, but there have been several since then. Working the other day with a customer with an IPad purchased as a Christmas gift in Dec 2010, various connect and secure browsing problems they had were fixed as soon as I updated their IPad. I'm still gonna bring both devices and use the Netbook to back up my camera memory and try to enjoy the fun with the IPad.