Apple iSlate coming Jan 26th? (or 27th?)

I haven't read the post todays but I just wanted to voice my disappointment in this release. It's a big ipod with a stupid name FAIL.

 

Gonna wait for a version with GPS but the iPad is pretty much exactly the type of device I have been wanting. It's a convenient way to get online and will connect to the internet in a variety of ways. Surf the internet, check email, compose short documents via Google services. Is it the ideal do everything device? Not really but it looks like it will do plenty of the things I need it to good enough.

Kindle screen is easy on the eyes but it has no back light which makes it pretty much useless but a well lit room or outside. In general it's just a lot more difficult to use than it should be.

There are data charges (or something of the sort) with Kindle. I use it quite a bit for reading work related stuff (mostly Word document and PDFs) and there are charges to send stuff to the Kindle.

In my mind the Kindle is a useful device but will probably end up as a dead end as it's capabilities are so limited.

 

"large price" not exactly hugely expensive but close.

 

Here is the press covering today's Ipad conference. See any PC's anywhere? Hmmmm.

Coincidence? I think not.
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I know this is hard for you, but MSFT stock has been dead money for ten years. Steve Jobs clearly has the ability to discern what millions of customers will be ready to pay for, unlike Steve Ballmer who has none of his friend and predecessor's tech sense and zero public persona. He couldn't sell water to a thirsty man.

A mediocre product in the hands of a brilliant marketer will always outsell a brilliant product in the hands of a mediocre marketer.

 

http://gizmodo.com/5458382/8-things-that-suck-about-the-ipad

 

I see a IBM in the front row, and what looks like a Vaio/Compaq/Toshiba in the second.

 

+1 I was hoping for a full OS

 

I think a lot of peoples' reactions to the iPad have to do with what they expected it to be.

Those who envisioned a 'better than Kindl' e-book reader are happy: color screen + more functionality

Those who expected the 'next generation of computing' -- somewhere between a netbook and a real laptop (i.e. full OS, multitasking, etc) have been nothing but disappointed.

 

I would agree with that. Those who have a computer at home but are not power users probably feel that this device will allow them to do what they need. They don't really need computers, just an information appliance that allows them to surf the web, read books, listen to music, check email, do light document editing and spreadsheets, manage pictures and watch movies. They don't care that it doesn't multi-task, or has other limitations, or is a clever way for apple to extract a lot more money from them down the line via iTunes or possibly a subscription. With future apps, it could still be reasonably capable/powerful.

So, maybe, it will be game-changing in that it's moving the public away from needing to be computer and software savvy to "kiosk users" for applications. They will still have to deal with that horrible on-screen keyboard, though, unless some software solutions show up to make that a better experience.

Those looking to stream music, ftp, capture and edit pictures and video, etc., as well as do a hundred other things, many of them simultaneously, and were hoping for a device with a slick interface that would largely eliminate the keyboard, will be disappointed. This is not it. A Modbook, in a sleeker package, with more multi-touch and better battery, would probably have been closer. For those of us who are computer savvy, it fees dumbed down, limited, potentially expensive in several ways, and yet another way to get trapped into spending more and more at the iTunes store.

 

So, you do agree you are a dumbass. Glad to hear it.

Game changer for the computer literate, definitely not.

Game changer in that it makes the internet accessible to the non-computer literate (majority of the world)? Yes, but at the steep price of $500, and you could argue that the UMPC does it for $200 or $100. Of course, you have to be conversant in linux and the PC-world way of doing 100 things in a 100 different ways in order to be productive on it. Steep learning curve and all that. And that is a limited device, as are all netbooks on the market today.

Game changer in that it expands Apple's reach into the world's pockets - yes, and for Apple, the amount of money it will bring in will be huge. The people who buy Apple products generally are a wealthier subgroup, and tend to spend more on infotainment products. With the iPad, Apple forces them to buy from iTunes only (until it gets jailbroken, that is). The convenience and utility it will provide for them will be worth it--who the hell wants to deal with torrent clients, ftp, newsgroup servers, file format converters, codec downloads, browser updates, and all the other arcane stuff you need to access your infotainment when $1 or $10 will get it to you effortlessly (and legally).

At some point, I would not be surprised to see Apple sell these at a loss, simply because it knows it will make up the money via iTunes sales.

 

Mobile devices company, huh? More marketing nonsense from Apple, and I do think they missed the mark when it came to marketing the iPad.

The name is terrible. How could anyone not know that it would be associated with tampons?

It's not a mobile device, really. Portable, sure. Mobile? That's a telephone, and indeed, in the rest of the world, cell phones are called mobiles. Apple makes mobile devices, computing devices, and with the iPad, something else--they need a new and better name for this class of device. Infopad or Infotablet (not tablet PC or tablet computer) would be my choice, I think.

It's an infotainment appliance. They need to convey that. Games, books, video, pictures, useful apps (hopefully), all easy to use, easy to buy.

There are a few hardware and software design elements about the iPad which totally suck, as well. Apple should know what translates across form factors, and what doesn't. The soap bar shape of a phone is comfortable. No point in making that shape for a much larger object that will not sit in anyone's palm. The bezel is huge. The missing camera, even though Apple patented a technology that would allow them to hide it behind the screen. The multi-touch interface with no advancements or enhancements. The lack of multi-tasking. Etc., etc.

 

At least I didn't call you a fanboy.

You haven't admitted to being wrong on at least three occasions, now.

 

After being underwhelmed by the iPad, I thought last night that if I could find a Netbook with a touchscreen, that would be about perfect. This morning, I get my daily e-mail from Buy.com and see this: http://bit.ly/bkxNN9

A real multitasking OS, aspect ratio that works better for 16:9 video, multi-touch screen, webcam and mic so I can skype, and I can run any video from Hulu or YouTube. If I want to type something, I can use the real keyboard. I can run real Office apps if I want. 32 GB SSD + 500 GB of online storage. I can plug my camera or cellular modem into either of the two USB ports, without an adapter. It's a half-pound heavier than the iPad but that includes the keyboard. I can run the Kindle app and the hyped NY Times reader. If it's not big enough, I'll wait for the 10.1" version coming 2Q 2010 that also has a capacitive touch screen (instead of resistive) and GPS.

Eat it, Apple.

 

As a jailbroken device, I wonder if it would be appealing. Maybe to those looking for a bigger gaming platform that is still portable? I wonder how many accessories could be used with it...would wireless gaming accessories for the iPad exist?

To me, probably not, as it would be too limited. No multi-tasking is a huge deal-breaker for me. And even then, it would be capable of doing less than my RIM tablet PC, which I do use in all the ways Apple envisions people using this device.

 

Sweet! Although that 32 gb of storage looks a little low if you intend to carry pictures and movies. You won't always have a web connection, and even when you do, I don't think you can stream in HD movies over the web. If changing the storage amount is not an option, you might want to consider a 500gb USB external drive.

 

I'm sure there's a segment that is like what you describe; but I really don't know how big that is. In my view, Apple has seen increased revenues because it has been successful in selling multiple times to the same household (multiple iPods & iPhones) and that is not well described by the above statement.

I have 4-5 computers, 2 servers, 2 laptops, 1 netbook, 1 Kindle 2, 1 iPhone and 1 iPod. I have no macs at this time. I mostly use a 3-screen desktop, a widescreen laptop computer and the iPhone. In any case, I don't need the iPad to do all those things you describe, because I would use a laptop or netbook if I needed heavy multi-tasking or multiple apps and portability. Would I like to do all those things on a lighter tablet? Maybe, but I rarely use the netbook, the closest platform to that, as it is. What I find I actually miss is that the Kindle 2 screen is too small for the kinds of books I read (finance, science, journals, etc) and the graphics are often difficult to read due to size and lack of color, though its fine for novels. So the iPad fills in that specific gap that Apple described. I don't want it to do too much, I want it to do a few things well. If it doesn't do that, I'll move on to other platforms or keep on waiting as I'm no Apple fanatic by any means (I think of Apple more as a successful marketing company and don't consider that they've introduced a "game changer" since the 1984 Mac).

As I describe why I might consider it, it's questionable that I represent the typical user that will result in high sales for Apple. But going back to my first paragraph, if the iPad does enough that it creates another sale into an existing customer household, then it probably does what it needs to do for now.

 

You get 1 warning. I suggest you apologize.

 

So, it will be able to download applications and books from other sources, not just the iTunes store? Really? If so, fantastic!

Do you know if you will be able to exchange books/media with your friends as well, like the Barnes and Noble Nook allows you to "lend" your books to your friends for a couple of weeks at a time?

 

I still don't understand the point to this product.

If you have an iphone, why in the world would anyone want this since it does the exact same things? And the lack of a keyboard is a huge problem in my opinion, and why a netbook/airbook is a much better alternative. Typing anything in length on a screen is tiresome, especially since you have to do the 1-2 finger typing. So typing out any sort of lengthy email/document would be excruciatingly, painfully lenghty.

I just don't get it. And like everything Apple, I'll never really grasp the mesmorizing aspects.

 

Has nothing to do with having Flash run on the platform. It was reaching out so you export your Flash content to a packaged iPhone/iPad application. A feature coming in Flash CS5 / FlashBuilder 4.