iPad The iPad can not Print ???

[fredo_lo]

Originally Posted by SCION

I think the OP wants to print on the fly.

to print on the fly... on the road, you can use "cortado workplace" and you can print from any wi-fi or bluetooth printer.

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by fredo_lo

Ipad can and is able to print. I loaded this software, "Cortado workplace" from the App Store. it’s a free software, thank God.
This app provided me with a 1G of storage space, were I can load my documents from a home/office computer or thru E-Mail. Then I can access those documents directly from my I-Pad and print them to any printer using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
That fixed my problem. Now I can access my documents on the go, road, airport, office, home and print whenever I need a hard copy.

Cortado Workplace has an upload limit of 3 MB; can't store/manage files bigger than that (which is a lot of PDFs).

I couldn't find anything on their Quick Guide page that clearly said what filetypes they support.

[scottjl]

i'd think the reason the ipad/iphone can't natively print is simply how do you manage printer drivers with the device? apple would have to come up with a whole API layer for printing, and then printer manufacturers would have to write drivers for the device with this API. hate to say it but the macintosh isn't well supported by the dozens of cheap cheap printers out there, and even the better (and more expensive) models tend to have lackluster support from hp, lexmark, canon, epson and the like.

the best way to go would be to support postscript printers, but even then postscript printers have dozens of available options, and .ppt files for configuration. apple would have to develop all of that as well. just so someone could print a one-off of a shopping list?

remember, you can always screenshot (power & home button) whatever is on your screen and print that fro your desktop.

for what it's worth, my windows mobile phone can't print from the phone either. so it's not just apple.

Wow! Apple should have named it the iKluge. To do much of anything computer like with this "cutting edge" gadget requires standing on your head and hoping that some kluge, make-shift procedure will allow you to get the job done in about 20 steps rather than the 1 step required from a computer.

Now you know why Apple is so controlling on their hardware and software. Unlike Microsoft, Apple apparently doesn't know how to write drivers to make their OSes work with non-Apple hardware.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Wow! Apple should have named it the iKluge. To do much of anything computer like with this "cutting edge" gadget requires standing on your head and hoping that some kluge, make-shift procedure will allow you to get the job done in about 20 steps rather than the 1 step required from a computer.

Now you know why Apple is so controlling on their hardware and software. Unlike Microsoft, Apple apparently doesn't know how to write drivers to make their OSes work with non-Apple hardware.

Can a kindle print stuff?
What about Archos media player?
Zune?

remember iPad is not a 'computer' tablet but a media tablet.

if it could do everything a computer could do and had USB and webcam and HDMI and larger storage it would be a 'computer' or a netbook with no keyboard.

Apple chose to go the other way and for some thats great but not for others.
Printing and video chat and the multitude of other things acomputer are for are not what an iPad is for. not for me anyway.

[dmaul1114]

I still see this as moot for me personally. The whole reason I want a tablet--aside from all the media consumption stuff (video, news, internet etc.)--is to replace printing out PDFs of research articles to read.

I don't have any issue sending a word doc, marked up PDFs back to my computer to print. I don't have wireless printers in my home or office anyway, so I'd end up doing that even if they iPad could print.

And stu hit the nail on the head again, as this is another problem that comes up from people expecting a Tablet PC, when the iPad is not meant to be that. It's a device to read, surf the net, watch videos etc. on. It's a media consumption device. Not a productivity device.

If one wants more full computing, the iPad isn't for them and they should keep an eye on the HP Slate and other tablet PCs coming out in the near future.

There's a trade off there of course, with getting around half the battery life, interface not as slick etc., but you get more computing functions than in something like the iPad which is just mean to display media for the most part.

Just a matter of finding the right type of tablet device for one's specific needs.

[scottjl]

@jswinden, you're yet another troll. really. go find a new hobby. you add nothing constructive to these conversations, and i've looked at several of your postings. they're all vitriol and apple hate. go crawl back under your bridge.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by scottjl

@jswinden, you're yet another troll. really. go find a new hobby. you add nothing constructive to these conversations, and i've looked at several of your postings. they're all vitriol and apple hate. go crawl back under your bridge.

Hmmm...jswinden points out what he feels to be deficiencies of the iPad, you point out that the iPad is actually great. How is his behaviour any different to yours (other than the fact that he doesn't share your opinion)? I've looked at several of your postings; they're all uncritical, unthinking Apple love.

Please feel free to brand me a troll as well by the way. In your world, anybody who disagrees with you is a troll, so by that definition I am one (and proud of it).

[dmaul1114]

Bilbo,

1. There's a difference between talking about cons of a device, and posting drivel like "they should have named it the iKluge." We're adults here, I think we can discuss the pros and cons devices more maturely than that.

2. This is a device specific area. The Apple area should be a place for owners of iPads, iPhones and iPods Touches to discuss their devices, and for people interested in learning about them to ask questions of owners.

i.e. just like the other device specific forums here. Rather than being dragged down by posts from people that just hate Apple and add nothing by just bashing devices (and Apple generally) they don't own or have interest in buying.

Having a thread about the lack of printing is fine--though it seems and unreasonable expectation for a media consumption slate running a smartphone OS. Silly bashing posts like the above don't add anything to this topic nor this subforum.

As someone very interested in tablet devices, I want to read what owners specifically like and dislike about the iPad. Not have every other thread get drug off topic by the same anti-Apple trolling that's been done to death.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Bilbo,

1. There's a difference between talking about cons of a device, and posting drivel like "they should have named it the iKluge." We're adults here, I think we can discuss the pros and cons devices more maturely than that.

2. This is a device specific area. The Apple area should be a place for owners of iPads, iPhones and iPods Touches to discuss their devices, and for people interested in learning about them to ask questions of owners.

i.e. just like the other device specific forums here. Rather than being dragged down by posts from people that just hate Apple and add nothing by just bashing devices (and Apple generally) they don't own or have interest in buying.

Having a thread about the lack of printing is fine--though it seems and unreasonable expectation for a media consumption slate running a smartphone OS. Silly bashing posts like the above don't add anything to this topic nor this subforum.

1. Yes, of course. We should all stick to mature discussion like scottjl's "go crawl back under your bridge" comment - real mature.

2. It is device specific, yes, but I do not believe that that implies no criticism allowed? Whilst jswinden's "iKluge" comment was possibly less than helpful, I don't think that scottjl's response was any better. Your discussion of whether or not an iPad needs a print facility given its intended usage was the kind of discussion I'd expect to see on this forum.

[dmaul1114]

Agreed, some of the response to the trolls goes to far.

And yes, criticism is allowed. But it should be more mature than that, and it really should be mainly from owners.

We all know Apple has controlled systems, that the iPad isn't a tablet PC but a media consumption device, that they approve and reject apps etc. etc. Trolling on the typical drawbacks to Apple devices doesn't add much as it's been done to death and people that hate them for it are just trolling vs. adding constructive criticism.

In short, yes there should be discussion of pros and cons. But it should be respectfully, and it shouldn't be Apple haters who have no interest in the products trolling. It should be from owners and people who at least have some interest in the product IMO.

All the general bashing of Apple and their policies compared to other companies should go in the General Discussion forum IMO. Leave the device forums to constructive discussion about the specific devices among owners and interested parties. Not trolls who will hate anything the company puts out.

In any case, if the mods don't better regulate this stuff, I can't see this sub forum being a decent place to discuss the iPad and I'll be leaving for a iPad or tablet device specific forum that does a better job of keeping discussion on topic and weeding out the haters.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Agreed, some of the response to the trolls goes to far.

And yes, criticism is allowed. But it should be more mature than that, and it really should be mainly from owners.

We all know Apple has controlled systems, that the iPad isn't a tablet PC but a media consumption device, that they approve and reject apps etc. etc. Trolling on the typical drawbacks to Apple devices doesn't add much as it's been done to death and people that hate them for it are just trolling vs. adding constructive criticism.

In short, yes there should be discussion of pros and cons. But it should be respectfully, and it shouldn't be Apple haters who have no interest in the products trolling. It should be from owners and people who at least have some interest in the product IMO.

All the general bashing of Apple and their policies compared to other companies should go in the General Discussion forum IMO. Leave the device forums to constructive discussion about the specific devices among owners and interested parties. Not trolls who will hate anything the company puts out.

In any case, if the mods don't better regulate this stuff, I can't see this sub forum being a decent place to discuss the iPad and I'll be leaving for a iPad or tablet device specific forum that does a better job of keeping discussion on topic and weeding out the haters.

Fair points - thanks

[scottjl]

@Bilbo1967 sorry, but when someone repeatedly comes in here and bashes with things like:

"Apple should have named it the iKluge."

"I think you iPadophiles need to stop wearing your feelings on your sleeves."

"The iPadaphiles will disagree, and be angry, and throw an Appletantrum, ..."

And that's just a few examples. Yeah. I think they have earned the title Troll.

You want to come in here and be constructive, and have a decent conversation, you're welcome. But this repeated behavior isn't needed nor should it be welcome.

[dmaul1114]

Exactly.

Constructive criticism is 100% welcomed here. Every device has its pros and cons which should both be discussed in a civil and constructive manner.

But I don't see why the mods allow such clear trolling when it's clear a person just hates a company and is running around bashing the company and insulting the people that use it's products with silly name calling etc.

[Drybonz]

Originally Posted by jswinden

this "cutting edge" gadget

...another thing that's not cutting edge... paper.

I haven't had the need to print anything for quite some time. If I did I would email it to my PC and print it... after I dug my printer out of my closet.