512 Designs

Would you consider an iPad or similar tablet pc to need to use the mobile version of a website? I know iPads are 10", but what about the smaller ones like the Galaxy Tab (I believe they are 7" screens)?

Where do you draw the line to display a mobile website instead of the regular website?

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keliix06

My opinion is if it's not a phone then it's not a mobile device. I have an iPad and every normal site looks just fine.

The only caveat I can think of is people who use them not on a landline based network will still have data transfer problems. I have a 4g mobile hotspot I take with me so the speed isn't bad.

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cottonking2000

iPad is mobile. Why?

1. Battery for 2+ hours
2. Light small - smaller than laptop
3. Runs iOS on it mobile operating system
4. POPULAR - iOS work on iPhone gets you iPad apps too (in General)
5. POPULAR - Oh I said that. It is more portable than a laptop.

iPad is a tweener device. Between phone and laptop. You have to consider them mobile. Soon they will have phones too.

To rull out iPad is too rule out more customers.

PatrickC

I know that there are ipads and tablets with a 3g or 4g antenna but I think (correct me if I'm wrong) majority of the people who us them are on wifi. Therefore, since their rendering time + viewing space would be presumably good, they shouldn't be directed to mobile sites. Just my 2 cents =)

512 Designs

Ok. I guess my thought of screen resolution determining if a device is "mobile website" worthy is wrong, then?

Mike

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WillR

It's really up to personal interpretation. I don't feel iPads need to be served up the mobile version but there is nothing wrong with serving them up the mobile version (so it loads nice and quickly) and then on that site you have a clearly displayed option so they can switch back to the main version of the website if they wish.

There's really no right or wrong answer when it comes to how you redirect people. Some people will use scripts that redirect based on the screen width of the device, others will use scripts that redirect based on the user agent or mobile browser the device is using. I prefer the screen width version simply because when you are working with a large number of clients it can be a real pain in the backside when you have to keep going back and updating each of their redirect script's as new user agents and mobile browsers are released - it's not a very hands-off approach.

With the screen width type redirection you can just add the script and be done with it. Neither of the methods are going to work in 100% of cases so you need to choose what works best with your situation.

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cottonking2000

I consider all sites that only drive html5 as mobile friendly. Therefore, html 5 sites for me are mobile and thus iPad friendly. This is important. Normal sites the use flash are not mobile friendly. That is how I break it up

Paul Myers

I certainly consider mine mobile. It has a 3G connection that's more dependable than my phone, apps for voice, chat and SMS messaging, and is something I can very conveniently take with me along with my standard-sized legal pads.

Oh yeah... You can already get an app that gives you pretty good phone call options for $10 a month.

Screen size shouldn't be the only measure. When I can sit on the side of a hill in rural PA and have clear connectivity, I consider that pretty mobile.


Paul

WillR

I think the original post was actually a little confusing in itself. The title of this thread "Is an iPad considered mobile?". Hell yeah. A tablet PC that you can pickup and take wherever you want is definitely considered mobile in my eyes.

However the actual question the OP was really asking in his first post was "Would you consider an iPad or similar tablet pc to need to use the mobile version of a website?". So although I do consider an iPad a mobile device it does NOT mean I think it necessarily needs to use the mobile versions of websites. I've used an iPad on many regular websites and have never had a problem viewing them.

They are two different questions really. Just because a device is considered mobile does not mean it should be served the mobile optimized websites. The screen size should really be the deciding factor.

imback

It's mobile

Like others have gone into detail....I will just say it's a handheld and a mobile optimized website helps or iPad optimized. haha


CHAD

MoneyMagnetMagnate

I am looking at a few tablets now - couldn't you use google talk or skype with wi-fi for a phone? I was trying to not use a contract on this one...
And it would be primarily for business and presentations.

Any advice?

MKBridge

Although the IPad is a mobile device, it does not need a mobile optimized website to be readable, like on a phone. Any regular website looks great - in my opinion anyhow.
It is a great tool and business owners love my Power point presentations on it. MK

Joe Motion

The problem here is that the term the mobile web is so new it isn't properly defined yet.

This is an interesting presentation by Adactio: There is no mobile web.
http://adactio.com/extras/slides/thereisnomobileweb.pdf (PDF file)

A choice quote from Stephen Hay..



I'd always push a standard website to an iPad - the iPad was designed for surfing the standard web.

jepoy1985

in my opinion, ipad is considered a mobile. cause it capable of moving with ease. like for example, car.. a car is considered as a mobile and its not a phone.

Paul Myers

Will, Depends. Most show the print too small for me on an iPad in portrait mode. Some even in landscape mode. And yes, I know the "tap to make the table bigger" trick.

Some are too small even then.

Navigation can be a problem with many layouts, too. Even with a stylus, some nav link displays are too small and close together to hit the right link with any degree of consistency. Maybe I should come out with a capacitive straight pin?


Paul

lame123

Of course iPad is a mobile version device as it has all the features which a mobile has these days.

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thetrafficguy

Ipad is mobile because you need to use mobile ad networks in order to run proper banner ads on the ipad

While most web pages look fine on there, there are certain optimizing that needs to be done if you're targeting ipad users.

known

I think this is a language thing.

Mobile versus Smartphone.

A laptop is mobile. And you can make calls via Skype. But it's not a Smartphone.

So I think in terms of overall screen size.

I enjoy looking at full sized websites on my iPad. Only drawback is the Flash thing. But it's not a Smartphone.

Size does matter in this case.

Cheryl

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qu4rk

MK, what does your presentation consist of?

Jay Moreno

I would consider an iPad a mobile device based on the fact you can use it pretty much anywhere you can take it unlike a desktop pc lol

However I wouldn't necessarily say I would serve the same mobile layout for a mobile phone as i would an iPad, although most desktop websites work well on an iPad many sites offer a terrible user experience - typically as a result of the navigation system. In the same instance a small mobile site can also look very strange stretched out to fit the iPads screen.

For me the choice should be down to the end user - give them the option to alternate between either layout

Hope that helps

Jay

JSanti7

I believe that everything that you can bring along when you're on the go is considered
as mobile. However, with regards to using mobile version of a website, I think these new
tablets are capable of displaying the original version of any website so why use mobile version?

Jay Moreno

Depends really how well the original site has been developed, if the experience is bad then you may be better of displaying the mobile version

if your the developer for the main site and dont intend displaying the mobile layout to the ipad users be sure to avoid things like drop down menus that don't stick, that just drives me nuts, same goes for super tiny menu buttons that are not suitable for chunky fat fingers like mine! Lol oh and of course avoid flash at all cost unless you know your way around conditional statements and user agent detection!

bsaorg

Can I have some opinion:
Does anyone send out Aweber/Getresponse mailing list email using Blackberry phone?
Or is it majority of us here prefer the iPhone rather than other brand such as Blackberry, LG, Samsung, SONY?
Thanks for your opinion