...That's it? The iPad. - by Fafhrd
gunsmoke on 28/1/2010 at 20:46
I was listening to a tech spot on AM radio this morning. The guy who does it was at the unveiling event, and reported on it for 15+minutes.
I was extremely disappointed in what I heard. The interviewer seemed to share my discontent, as he was repeatedly asking, "Why do I want this instead of a good netbook and/or iPhone". It doesn't impress. I mean, it is even running the same OS as the iPhone? The initial release isn't even 3G? They are sticking with AT&T as their service provider? Really?
And the damn thing doesn't even fucking MULTITASK?! One app at a time. Why? they say it is because of battery life. Ok, it gets 10 hours. Great. We understand that running multiple apps/programs at once involves shortening battery life. What if we are willing to lose a few hours to productivity? Shouldn't that be our choice?
Whatever, it is simply a shitty reaction to the netbook. One thing they got right...the price! It is DIRT cheap. It'll have to be, though. Who wants the damn thing.
Stitch on 28/1/2010 at 20:49
Netbooks are cheaper, though.
Still, it isn't what you hear about this thing that will impress you.
Renzatic on 28/1/2010 at 21:02
(
http://lifehacker.com/5458690/the-problem-with-the-apple-ipad) Lifehacker has a good article detailing exactly the issues I have with the iPad. Mainly this:
Quote:
The iPad, much like the iPhone, is completely locked down. The user has no control over what she installs on the hardware, short of accepting exactly what Apple has approved for it. From past experience, we know what happens when a completely legitimate application—from a huge company that's actually partnered with Apple—doesn't gel with Apple's business plan. They reject it, and you can't use it. And what recourse does the power user have?
Jailbreaking! And certainly the iPad will see plenty of hacking, but only because Apple requires you to hack the device if you actually want control over it yourself. Apple's gotten into the habit of acting like you're renting hardware. They've become the all-powerful, over-restrictive, ambivalent IT person in the sky, restricting what users can and can't install on their hardware.
See, I could accept being locked down with the iPhone because, like I said earlier, it's a small device best used for talking, taking quick notes, playing music, and maybe the occasional game of PacMan or something. What you have is basically a somewhat limited ultraportable computer, and you can glance over its limitedness simply because it's too small to do anything else cept the abovementioned tasks. All these other apps that are slathered all over the app store? Barring a few exceptions, they're really just neat diversions at best. Something to play with to kill some time.
So now you have the iPad, which is big enough to handle complicated tasks comfortably, seemingly powerful enough to handle those complicated tasks, portable and sleek enough to prefer it over netbooks, and looks to be awesome as hell overall. Except for the fact that Apple gimped it by treating it like a glorified iPhone. By the time rev 2 comes out, I have a feeling people won't be using the iPad for more than what they're already using their iPhones for now.
In short. WHERES MY MACBOOK OSX TABLET PC, APPLE! I was almost willing to pay the Apple Tax for your overpriced, stylish hardware, and you ended up disappointing me. The iPad is like getting prepared for a hot date with some random hot chick well known for putting out at the drop of a hat, but all you get at the end of the day is your balls cradled for 5 minutes and a peck on the cheek. FOR SHAME! :mad:
heywood on 28/1/2010 at 21:53
Quote Posted by Renzatic
Look at the (
http://www.amazon.com/Seashell-1201N-PU17-BK-12-1-Inch-Black-Netbook/dp/B002ZLOR56) Asus 1201n. The best of the Nvidia Ion equipped netbooks from what I've read, and can handle HD movies at 1080p, all web content, and just about everything except the latest and greatest games with ease.
I'm still torn between getting a netbook or a MacBook. But if I get a netbook, it'll be this one, no question.
I considered the MacBook (Pro 13") as well, along with the Sony Z. But I decided that since I already have a desktop PC for gaming and other CPU intensive stuff, and a clunky business laptop for work related travel, I don't need another fully functional computer. I'm definitely in the market for a limited use device, but it has to be able to handle typical web content and the iPad doesn't.
I have been looking at the Asus 1201n and comparing it to the Acer 1810T and Toshiba T115d. The Acer has integrated graphics but it will still have hardware accelerated video with Flash 10.1. The CPU is faster and it has better battery life and runs cool. The one thing it won't do is games, but I'm OK with that. The Toshiba has Radeon HD3200 graphics, single core & dual core CPU options that are faster than Atom, and better battery life than the Asus, but I don't care for the faux carbon fiber look and the keyboard flexes more than I'd like. The Asus is the best looking of the bunch and has a better keyboard, but I wish the battery life was better. And to be honest, all of these machines are bigger than I'd like.
Quote Posted by Al_B
Agreed - but AFAIK (and it's not a site I use regularly) Hulu uses flash - which the iPad doesn't support.
Without a webcam it's a bit limited for that (but I'm sure you could bolt one on with duck tape) and most people I know on facebook like their flash applications.
YouTube has an iPhone app and I assume it works on the iPad too. Hulu has been promising an iPhone app for a while now, and I suspect they will support the iPad too with a dedicated app. I'm more concerned about all the other websites out there using Flash video. Apple would rather see Flash die and I agree in principle, but for now it's too widespread to leave unsupported. That and I'm skeptical this thing is powerful enough to render full screen video at 480p or better even if the software supported it.
For some reason, I assumed the "camera connection kit" accessory would support connecting a web cam. But it looks like it's just for loading pictures.
Renzatic on 28/1/2010 at 22:20
Quote Posted by heywood
...but I wish the battery life was better. And to be honest, all of these machines are bigger than I'd like.
Well, there's also my fallback netbook, the one I was considering before the 1201n. If you want small, cheap, and powerful enough, I'd suggest a (
http://gizmodo.com/5389166/how-to-hackintosh-a-dell-mini-10v-into-the-ultimate-snow-leopard-netbook) hackintoshed Dell Mini 10v. $280 for a fully functioning OSX 10 inch, solidly built, with an average 7 hour battery life. Not bad at all, though it supposedly does have trouble with high def flash video (standard def works fine).
edit: considering my main interests in getting a netbook would be to use it for light Photoshop work, check the web, and play Dosbox games, I might consider getting it over the 1201n. I could upgrade it to 2GB ram, maybe throw in a 60GB SSD, and it'd be a beautiful little machine.
Al_B on 28/1/2010 at 22:21
I'm not a huge fan of flash (to say the least) but it's a necessary evil at the moment and anything that doesn't support it is going to be at a disadvantage.
I bought a netbook just before Christmas. Main reason was to keep in touch with people in the UK while I was abroad and be able to do some work. Games were a bonus, but not essential by any means. My choice was a Samsung netbook - a bit larger than the iPad and it has a keyboard rather than a touch interface.
However, although it had an 11.6" screen I could still put it in my backpack, do work, chat, edit schematics, hook up a mouse to do photo editing and although I had to turn the backlight down the battery could still last for eight hours doing basic web work.
It may be down to the size of my fingers but I really struggle to see how any touch interface can have the precision that I need on a daily basis when editing code, photos, PCBs or similar. Scrolling through web pages is fine - but I need to be able to highlight text to the nearest character and change it without the user interface getting in the way.
jay pettitt on 28/1/2010 at 22:39
Quote:
What's up with text width?
- the forum software has a cold.
I reckon, rather than being personal devices, these things will end up in kitchens and living rooms. I'm minded to think that most people in the world don't really need , or even like, 'proper' computers most of the time - so maybe this newfangled iPad thing has some legs - though the locked down OS/iTunes thing would scare me off.
Batteries are an arse. We're starting to see some useful battery life but it comes from sticking big heavy batteries in small devices - at the cost of portability and convenience. Processing power isn't the issue (you can get around that with less clunky software and operating systems) - it's convenience and that's only going to come with efficiency, not ramping up the system specs. And battery lifespan is really poor - give it 12 months and you need a permanent connection to a coal fired power station again - again at the cost of portability and convenience. It's all well a good Mr Steve Jobs claiming 8hours or whatever that thing is supposed to do, but in a years time it'll be needing charging every 2 - 3 hours and whatever advantages come from the form factor will be lost. Netbooks and iPads will come of age when they only need batteries a fraction of the size and weight. A Palm style magnetic charging dock might solve some of the problem until battery technology is less awful.
Why it hasn't got a web cam I can't imagine.
Be wary of screens on those things for your photoshop work Renz. The little MacBook (the little macs don't have a grown up display like the macbook pros) at least has a digital video out - so you can link it up to a decent screen - I think if I had my laptop buying time again that's what I'd look to do differently.
AR Master on 28/1/2010 at 23:03
nerds talkin' bout nerd stuff :cool:
Renzatic on 28/1/2010 at 23:38
Quote Posted by jay pettitt
Be wary of screens on those things for your photoshop work Renz. The little MacBook (the little macs don't have a grown up display like the macbook pros) at least has a digital video out - so you can link it up to a decent screen - I think if I had my laptop buying time again that's what I'd look to do differently.
I'd be using PS on the netbook mainly for touching up photos and whatnot while I'm out taking pictures. Basically just something nice to have around so I can get a quick preview before heading all the way back to the house.
And if I were to get a Macbook, it'll probably be a Macbook Pro. I figure that if I have to spend an arm and a leg for even the entry level hardware, I might as well throw in another leg and be able to do some heavy work with it.
Al_B on 28/1/2010 at 23:42
Out of interest - how will you manage to edit your photos using a touch interface? With what I have to do I need far more precision than can be manged with a finger that obscures what it's editing half the time.
