Apr 28, 2010 02:20 PM EDT by 
What makes the iPad special isn’t just its large multitouch display, or the fact that it can run for nearly 10 hours on a charge. It’s the vast array of apps (more than 4,000 and counting) available in a wide range of categories that transform this tablet into a gaming console, a note-taking companion, a magazine, a cook book, or a wireless hard drive. And that’s just some of the iPad’s possible multiple personalities. We checked out dozens of apps optimized for this device’s bigger screen and enhanced processing power to narrow our list to the very best. These are our top picks, divided by category.
25 iPad Apps You Need (By Category)
- Introduction
- Entertainment & Lifestyle
- News & Weather
- Games
- Productivity & Utilities
- Music & Photos
- Social Networking
- Education
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July 6th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
This list just emphasizes how useless the ipad is. Is there anything there that really makes you want to spend $$$$ to get one?
I mean take a student who wants one…. what about editing documents or being able to write notes over a pdf or powerpoint slides?
Movies/tv – do you really want to hold it for prolonged hours??
okay for ebooks and things but it is a lot of $$ for the privilege
Marvel comics at $1.99 – if i was really into comics i would rather have the real thing.
Games – my phone can do them and is easier to whip out for a quick 5 minutes
In summary – a lot of $$$ for not a whole lot. Okay a bit of fun for a while. Who buys ipads – people who want to seem cool and have more money than sense. Why not try to solve some of the worlds problems instead of buying this piece of junk.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I mean come on are we all pre-teens wanting to just play video games and read comics??? Has anyone grown up??
July 6th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
OKay there is quickoffice that allows some document editing and viewing for $10. But if this was a windows slate you could use openoffice for FREE. Ipad apps just remind me of those commercials for cell phone games and ringtones that are basically ripping you off. You just have to wonder who would buy them!
July 6th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
buy something like a viliv N5 instead or a “netvertible” or wait for a windows slate to come out. There is an app called firefox that allows you to do about 1000 Apple apps in one. Hmmm abc viewer, hulu covered, document editing covered, craigs list covered, you tube videos covered, thousands of games covered, facebook etc covered …and on and on.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
best of all it is free.
The Ipad should be advertised as $650 plus $100 for apps to make the most of it. That’s a lot of money for a bit of fun – which is basically all it is.
July 9th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Okay, chill j. You don’t have to be so negative. Sure iPad may seem lame and stupid to some people, but not everyone will feel that way because they have different opinions. You have to accept that fact and deal with life. Gosh. So negative. Why are you only hogging this site? You are a fag. What are you, in high school? You say “are we all pre teens?” well, you seem like one to me. Ughh.. What a bastard you are!
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:20 am
J – does the J stand for Jealous or Jackoff? The “pre teens” are not stupid, fool, they’ll hack their iPads and download apps for free.
October 2nd, 2010 at 12:14 am
Using iPad on a plane with all these movies, games, books and music is a major distraction, so it will help you to forget about the flight. For those with a more severe fear of flying, there is a special ‘Mental Workout’ Fear of Flying app available in iPad (in conjunction with Virgin Airlines). The app put many air travelers at ease and enable them to prepare to the flight.
October 19th, 2010 at 1:25 am
Where are the slates? A year late, that’s where. I’m not convinced about the slate… It seems like some hardware with some slapped on software with the purpose of catching up to the iPad. I’m perfectly fine with my iPad, especially as a side kick to my laptop. Have fun with your 7″ screen!
February 1st, 2011 at 3:47 pm
okay seriously, j, its obvious you know nothing about ipads. im a teen who uses my iPad for school. I was at Best Buy actually comparing prices and the iPad vs. laptop debate. There are a LOT of apps for free, plus tons of office, pdf, presentation, and document-editing apps. It’s pretty good compared to a laptop (which now most these days you have to buy your own word processing- for hundreds of dollars!) Sure, I use it for fun too, but it sure beats the heck out of a laptop in my opinion. Ranting over and over on a deserted website isn’t going to stop people from buying them. You’re just wasting your time.
March 3rd, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Why not solve the worlds problems instead of buying an iPad??? What does that even mean? How are those two even related? Are you solving the worlds problems? Cause it seems like your spending your free time writing pointless comments in a random site about a device you don’t even own.
I have an iPad, because I also have a job. You should try getting one to.
March 23rd, 2011 at 8:53 am
Ipads are always ON. no booting up necessary .. That means a lot. You can readily take notes at an instant, taking the use of paper out of your life… Saving the trees… saving the world. Hahaha. Anyway, ipads will not replace laptops …not yet…. But i thnk it will do later. Stop being negative just because you don’t and can’t have one. Cheer up…. at least ipads offers an akternative out there… A choice.
Pray to God that you will lose these anxiety and negative emotions about the things around you.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:44 pm
J, your just jealous that you dont have an ipad.
April 24th, 2012 at 10:38 am
Way to beat a dead horse. The previous comment was 13 months ago.
May 19th, 2012 at 8:09 am
Integrated in a wireless digital office systems, implementing a previously defined workflows, data/information inputing, retrieval, processing and storage, the iPad has the potential as a part of automated and paperless Office. That is what I am waiting for. Maybe someone gets this idea ang developing apps beginning with handwriting inputtaker fully integratable in such productivity environment ? Not only because I love Apple since Apple 2 was my first computer, but I like to buy iPad as a mobile, personal multipurpose digital assistant; for fun and to be productive simutanously. period.
September 7th, 2012 at 9:45 am
The iPad is not just for fun, I use it for school, taking good pictures while I’m away, listening to music, ready pdf modules which I absolutely need in school. And also, it’s not useless or stupid or something! You’re just saying that cause you don’t own one. Try to buy one and you’ll know what it can do.
October 13th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
I love my iPad and I need it for school for notes and projects. It’s needed also for work to do presentations for business. After school I will go on cool apps and I highly recommend Pinterest for sure. If youdo not own one, I suggest you get one because it is definitely worth the money. If you have the money, buy one.