Ipad size

RaiderHammer

Hi I notice the Ipad comes in different storage sizes of 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. But are these stoarage spaces very small? I suspect you could not buy a laptop now without 180 GB storage?

Why is the Ipad different?

Thanks.

NeilF3485

RaiderHammer wrote: »

Hi I notice the Ipad comes in different storage sizes of 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. But are these stoarage spaces very small? I suspect you could not buy a laptop now without 180 GB storage?

Why is the Ipad different?

Thanks.

Storage space on the iPad is not that small based on the functionality and uses of the device. I own a 1st Gen 32GB model, I have a good number of apps, but predominantly use it to download latest TV using a US iTunes account.

Video is sizeable though, e.g. a single episode of Dexter or House in HD is over 1GB. All this means is that I only keep the most recent video on my iPad, the rest is transferred to my laptop (which as you state has significantly more storage space).

I don't know the technical reasons on this, but I imagine it is almost solely down to size and weight. A standard HDD is pretty big, is often fan cooled, and fairly heavy (relative to an iPad). I assume the iPad uses a much more compact medium where the cost is higher to have larger storage space. I also doubt there is much demand for a 200GB+ model as nobody really uses it as a replacement for a standard computer.

NeilF3485

Also imagine the power it takes to run something would play a part, the iPad has a very good battery life, but if it used more power to run storage drives, that would be impacted.
Comes down to Moore's law I expect (also see Kryder's Law)

Mark_Hewitt

RaiderHammer wrote: »

Hi I notice the Ipad comes in different storage sizes of 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. But are these stoarage spaces very small? I suspect you could not buy a laptop now without 180 GB storage?

Why is the Ipad different?

Thanks.

As for the why. Then most laptops use hard drives, which are the usual spinning disk inside a metal box type arrangement, although you'll find them in the old style iPods they are for the most part too bulky and too power hungry to be used for the likes of the iPad.

Instead it has flash memory which most people are familiar with as it's the same as the memory cards that go into cameras or USB memory sticks. However the cost of this is quite a bit more than a hard drive, hence you'll usually get less of it.

BM-AK

It all comes down to what you use it for too. Personally for me, my iPad could not replace by Laptop, there is limitations as to what it can do. What I like about the iPad is the fact that its mobile, light and a lot more easier to carry around than a Laptop.

I personally only use the iPad for internet browsing, storing a few photos and docs and have a few apps and downloading music from iTunes. For my use, 16GB has been more than plenty and I've never maxed that out to date.