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Numismatic Content and the iPad
MrEureka
Posts: 24,791 ✭✭✭✭✭
I'm considering buying an iPad and wondering exactly how much numismatic use I can get out of it. Specifically, I'm considering coin images and (mostly KM) price guides. Based on the little I know, it looks like the iPad will do a good job managing coin images, although it may not be much of an improvement on using a laptop. I'm also guessing that it will be difficult to load price guides into the iPad, and that the digital KM catalogs are better suited to a laptop. Any guidance would be appreciated!
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
World Collection
British Collection
German States Collection
But I have heard that importing your own PDFs can be annoying. The built in ebook reader only works with their ePub formatted stuff, though you can convert nearly anything, including PDF to epub. PDF is supported in other areas on the iPad (they can be opened directly from email), and I'm sure someone will squeeze an app through that more easily handles them. But from what I can tell there is no native support for unconverted PDFs. This is essentially a proprietary lock on things since they want all your ebooks to be purchased through them. And since I haven't really played with these toys yet, I can't say how painful it would be to search through a 400MB+ PDF version of Krause on the thing. I know large PDFs can slow older computers like molasses, and if Apple doesn't natively support PDF there probably are performance issues, beside the greedy lockout.
I'm not sure about apps specifically made for coin collectors. The only thing I've found for the phone/touch is this which looks like little more than a couple bookmarks packaged as an "app". There are a couple other things that look like generic stabs at "collection organizers", none specifically coin related, and none that really stand out to my knowledge. IMO, Numismaster, Heritage and those guys would be wise to make a nice app for the full Apple lineup (and other smart phones too).
The iPad is supposed to have better MS Office-like work tools, so you can manage your own spreadsheets and such on it. And then there are neat little things like this (which turns the iPad into a cash register). So there is definitely room for a good coin collector app or three. But I ain't seeing them yet.
So far the iPad is wifi only, no 3G connection over cell lines, so you have to be near an open network to surf on it. Word is they are gonna come out with a 3G version with some sort of separate subscription plan for access through AT&T.
The iPad does not have a camera, though if you dole out another chunk of cash Apple will sell you a clunky thing that can plug into it and take pics. It also does not have any removable storage. Thumb drives won't plug into it, memory cards (like for cameras) won't either. But, again, there's a device for that.. sold separately.
All in all, never buy the first generation of any Apple product unless you just want bragging rights.
But it is a darn pretty little toy!
My wantlist & references
<< <i>Don't ask me, I don't even have a cell phone. >>
Yoo Hoo! I'm not the only one. I hate those !*/***! things.
Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors
Collector of:
Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
My Ebay
My wife doesn't have one also, that makes us three middle aged Americans without one.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Other than that, I don't see any use for it right now. It's so large you might as well carry a lightweight laptop, which also is capable of doing more. If you need something smaller and more portable, a smartphone is enough.