Jim Roseberry
While the iPAD is nice for running remote software, remote-recording, some soft-synths (albeit limited in capability),

Waldorf's Nave is well worth looking at and not exactly limited. Way cheaper than the plugin version as well. Same with some of the Korg and Arturia stuff, and iVCS3, perhaps the best emulator of the VCS runs on an iPad. Unfortunately they emulated the VCS's strangeness along with everything else, but I guess if it was easy to play a scale on it it wouldn't be a VCE emulator. Moog's modular 15 app is also pretty good even if actively user hostile.

Jim Roseberry
etc... having to use iTunes to simply move data is **royal bass-akwards**  

It kind of makes sense if you're maintaining shared iTunes libraries - within the multi-user license restrictions imposed by media providers and creators - and maybe other data across a home (or other) LAN/VPN. Then when you throw the Apple TV into the mix it means all the Apple stuff is sharing from the same, predictable media server.

I guess it also means Apple can have some certainty about what iOS and apps were going to be interacting with and it helps provide support if even the most deterninedly awkward and clue-free user will be sitting baffled in front of iTunes, not any number of possible applications.

And it means every computer with iTunes installed gets lots of opportunities to but from the iTunes shop of course. Though Windows seems intent on taking that business model to new and further places with Amazon running along behind as fast as they can.

In the end, it is what it is. iTune's a decent enough media player and only has to be beaten into submission with a sock full of lead shot the once.
 
Some data can be got off an iPad into Windows by drag and drop without iTunes, if I remember correctly you have to tell iTunes to tell the iPad/phone to act as data storage device in Windows, though my memory may be faulty, it's been a while.

tlw
Apple does not force upgrades. My wife has an iphone supplied by her employer (UK civil service) which has government level security. Which in turn requires a specially built version of iOS because attempting to install "normal"iOS from the App Store makes the security package on the phone go into "under attack - block it, scramble the data, open the secret hollow tooth and bite hard on the cyanide pill" mode

Automatic upload downloads are blocked by going to Settings/iTunes & App Store and switching the slide for automatic update downloads to "off". Updates aren't forced via iTunes either. You can block automatic updates of any app in the same way.

That only applies to automatic app upgrades. OS upgrades are indeed forced on you - if you try to tell it "not now" when the upgrade window pops up, it just incessantly inags you at every inopportune moment until you are forced to either do the upgrade or want the smash the thing. 

Always been an Apple hater.  IOS just irritates me - it is just too "dumbed down" for me.  The upside of IOS for music creation is that there are quite a few apps.
 
I have an Android tablet and love it.  Of course, my Surface Pro is now my "go to" device.

Each one has it's place. Depends on what hardware your using it with and what apps you wanna run since many only run on one or the other. Apple prods work best together. Android probably works better with Windows.

tlw

drewfx1
And if anyone can tell me how to install some old 32 bit Windows stuff, mostly games, on a modern 64 bit PC that can't run their 16 bit installers I'd genuinely be grateful.

See if gog.com has the games of interest. On sale most of them are less than $5. Also, DOSBOX works very well for lots of old games. Google "How to get xxx working on Win10" and you may find lots of help there, too.

Wife and kids all use iphone, imac and (much less frequently now) ipads. I am the outlier. Windows desktop and laptop, Android (Samsung) phone and tablet. As opposed to the rest of my family, I use my tablet A LOT. I really like the Android implementation on Samsung devices. Having a soft button on either side of the home button makes navigation within and among apps much easier than on the iphone in my opinion.  I find file management is much more "windows like" and flexible  on Android than on iOS devices which I see as a big advantage but not everyone would agree. Windows PC , tablet and phone is a totally integrated solution but , in all honesty, I am not sure I have ever even seen a Windows in the wild. All that said, I think the most important thing with a tablet is to match it to your phone. If you have an iphone, get an ipad. Have a Samsung phone, get a Samsung tablet. Not sure if this logic applies to other Android phones since it seems Samsung is the only Android device with a substantial presence in both phone and tablet markets. Google phone may change that but so far doesnt seem to have much market penetration.
 
Brian

Thanks for all the feedback guys.
 
In regards to the "apple tax", I've discovered that it really ain't so, at least with the tablets anyhow.
An iPad is $329. Something close (32 gigs) from Samsung is $349. There are some at 16gig but they sort of seemed like toys. 
 
Now, a Samsung can use an SD card but, as far as I understand, you can't really dictate what uses the SD card. Yes for photos, Mp3s and 'your' data. But everything else gets shoved on the main drive. Which I guess makes sense. But, my phone is 16 gigs and it's almost full with nothing really on it. 
 
I'm leaning towards the iPad now. Main reason that keeps me away from an iPad is maybe stupid but, the proprietary nature of the charging cable just bugs the **** out of me:) I do hate iTunes and have never authorized it on my MacBook. I guess, just get used to it?
 
Also, I don't get the, "if you have android phone get android tablet" and vica versa for Mac. I don't think I'd ever need a phone and tablet talking. The mothership is the Mac laptop and studio PCs. But more Google than anything. 
 
Anyway, just babbling..
Thanks

timidi
Also, I don't get the, "if you have android phone get android tablet" and vica versa for Mac. I don't think I'd ever need a phone and tablet talking. The mothership is the Mac laptop and studio PCs. But more Google than anything. 

For me there are two reasons, and I'm talking about iphone/ipad not Mac. First, it's the same UI, same settings, same almost everything. Second, many if not most apps can run on both platforms, so the tuner app and oscilloscope app and calculator app and lots of others I originally bought for the iphone I can run on the ipad without having to buy them again.

drewfx1
 
For me there are two reasons, and I'm talking about iphone/ipad not Mac. First, it's the same UI, same settings, same almost everything. Second, many if not most apps can run on both platforms, so the tuner app and oscilloscope app and calculator app and lots of others I originally bought for the iphone I can run on the ipad without having to buy them again.

Gotcha Drew. Thanks

iPad is basically an iPhone without the phone.
 
As far as the cord goes, you can get an off brand cord that has an adapter so it's good for both.