Apple iPad
I daren't question whether this will be a big seller as I'm sure it will be simply because it's Apple... but seriously.... iPad... what's the point? Everything it does can be done better elsewhere. Steve Jobs said there should be a device to sit between your phone and your laptop, but I can't see how it's necessary.
Maps: you either plan in advance at home, or use your phone to quickly search when you're on the move. iPad isn't useful as you can't print from it, and it's too bulky to carry everywhere like a phone.
Mail: you either check your mail at home on the computer, or get them sent to you 'on the move' to your phone to catch up with the important messages. Whilst carrying around a bigger screen is a nice idea, it's not practical.
Movies: at home, you watch on the big screen in HD, or you watch on the laptop in bed. On the move you watch on your iPhone or iPod as it's pocket sized. The iPad has no support so you'd have to hold it in front of you on your sofa which is not comfortable, and it's a bit bulky to carry around everywhere as something to use on the tube.
Newspapers and books: seriously? Digital reading has had so many opportunities to take off but simply hasn't. If people were desperately keen to read digital books on the underground, you'd see people using laptops and netbooks by now. Truth is, they don't - there's no room, and your laptop would probably get nicked. Are people going to sit on the tube reading the newspaper on their £500 iPad? I very much doubt it.
Jobs said the device will sit 'between the iPod and the Macbook'. They've certainly created a device which does exactly that, but it's completely redundant.
Surely they'll let the iPad connect to printers via Bluetooth or even Wifi?
Plus who knows whether in the box they'll include a stand for it so if you do want to watch movies etc in bed then you can do using the little gadget stand?
Maps would be good for people such as paramedics as they can have the NHS system installed on the iPad as well as using maps to find where they're going getting away from the Sat Nav and phone calls/pager messages/land-to-cab systems they currently use.
I'm sure they'll be a market for this thing, but I'm really not a fan from what I've seen.
They market it as an internet tablet, yet there's no flash support which, like it or not is a big part of the web. Presumably that's to stop people using free flash apps and games on the thing and shifting them to the App Store.
Another key point they used in the marketing was putting photos on it, yet there's no SD card slot/ removable storage.
Reading on a portable device like this would make your eyes tired, hence the Kindle went for a more natural, non-backlit reading experience.
And as for iWork, surely typing would be uncomfortable on a flat screen?
Don't get me wrong, I do like Apple products, the iPhone looks good and I'd quite like a macbook, but this product just seems odd.
They market it as an internet tablet, yet there's no flash support which, like it or not is a big part of the web. Presumably that's to stop people using free flash apps and games on the thing and shifting them to the App Store. Another key point they used in the marketing was putting photos on it, yet there's no SD card slot/ removable storage. Reading on a portable device like this would make your eyes tired, hence the Kindle went for a more natural, non-backlit reading experience. And as for iWork, surely typing would be uncomfortable on a flat screen? Don't get me wrong, I do like Apple products, the iPhone looks good and I'd quite like a macbook, but this product just seems odd.
I just really can't fathom this one.
It's not exactly going to be easy to carry around (it certainly wont fit in a pocket). In terms of a prolonged activity, like watching a film, short of a support staand, it's going to be reasonably uneasy to hold, I mean, do you prop it against something? Hold it appropriately with both hands at an angle such that the sun/lights don't glare off the screen? A laptop seems the better option in terms of being naturally being able to "put it down" and watch it comfortably. To browse the net, fine, you can rest it on your lap, but something tells me that it's going to be a bit awkward, I know myself that one hand would be subconciously holding it for fear of it slipping or being yanked off me.
I know it'll do well (by default) but I just struggle to see the appeal.
It's not exactly going to be easy to carry around (it certainly wont fit in a pocket). In terms of a prolonged activity, like watching a film, short of a support staand, it's going to be reasonably uneasy to hold, I mean, do you prop it against something? Hold it appropriately with both hands at an angle such that the sun/lights don't glare off the screen? A laptop seems the better option in terms of being naturally being able to "put it down" and watch it comfortably. To browse the net, fine, you can rest it on your lap, but something tells me that it's going to be a bit awkward, I know myself that one hand would be subconciously holding it for fear of it slipping or being yanked off me.
I know it'll do well (by default) but I just struggle to see the appeal.
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DVB Cornwall
- Posts: 519
- Joined: Fri 24 Jun, 2005 21.42
One thing has been noticable with this launch, usually products at such a launch are viewable in all Apple net stores simultaneously. It's NOT on the UK store tonight.
I agree with most comments here, the device does seem to be a work in progress, so the second gen will almost certainly be a significant improvement.
I'd expect some sort of stand to be introduced, to improve the viewing position.
The lack of flash support is critical, and the Video specs need improvement too
TV and Video
Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Not withstanding the identified issues, demand on the Apple US website has apparantly been huge this evening UK time so potential customers are there in numbers, whether it materialses into sales we'll see.
I agree with most comments here, the device does seem to be a work in progress, so the second gen will almost certainly be a significant improvement.
I'd expect some sort of stand to be introduced, to improve the viewing position.
The lack of flash support is critical, and the Video specs need improvement too
TV and Video
Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Not withstanding the identified issues, demand on the Apple US website has apparantly been huge this evening UK time so potential customers are there in numbers, whether it materialses into sales we'll see.
Still can't really fathom the idea of people investing hundreds in computers (and by extension I include the iPhone in this) which lack the ability for anyone to run software on it arbitrarily, but, whatever.
For me, this is not the 'better' solution for that middleground platform that Jobs claims the netbook fails at (which is a reasonable argument). No, I don't particularly enjoy the web experience on my smartphone as yes it involves more layouting comprimises, missed taps etc. but for poking about to get the news or FB updates on the train it's pretty much sufficient. One thing I know I would never use my phone for is taking notes in a lecture or meeting, but whereas a netbook seems like a very practical solution for that gap (my laptop is a bit of a brute with a hideous battery life), the iPad would barely offer a superior experience to tapping aimlessly on my phone - for a start, I can't imagine what awkward angle I'd need to have it propped at to actually type on at length. So clearly productivity isn't the aim (despite the time spent on demoing iWork) but if you exclude that when you're talking about what is getting dangerously close to being a pooter (whereas at least you can pretty much explain away iPhone being closed off and proprietary as it's more a device/appliance than a real computer) it, in my eyes, just becomes redundant. It isn't solving any new problems, it only solves what the iPhone did minus the phone, but plus another thing to lug around with you. I just don't - get - it.
For me, this is not the 'better' solution for that middleground platform that Jobs claims the netbook fails at (which is a reasonable argument). No, I don't particularly enjoy the web experience on my smartphone as yes it involves more layouting comprimises, missed taps etc. but for poking about to get the news or FB updates on the train it's pretty much sufficient. One thing I know I would never use my phone for is taking notes in a lecture or meeting, but whereas a netbook seems like a very practical solution for that gap (my laptop is a bit of a brute with a hideous battery life), the iPad would barely offer a superior experience to tapping aimlessly on my phone - for a start, I can't imagine what awkward angle I'd need to have it propped at to actually type on at length. So clearly productivity isn't the aim (despite the time spent on demoing iWork) but if you exclude that when you're talking about what is getting dangerously close to being a pooter (whereas at least you can pretty much explain away iPhone being closed off and proprietary as it's more a device/appliance than a real computer) it, in my eyes, just becomes redundant. It isn't solving any new problems, it only solves what the iPhone did minus the phone, but plus another thing to lug around with you. I just don't - get - it.
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Inspector Sands
- Posts: 368
- Joined: Wed 25 Aug, 2004 00.37
- Location: London
I get the appeal of this even less than I do Apple's other stuff.
No multi-tasking, no USB or SD slots, no camera, no drag and drop, no flash, a tab-less web browser... is it 1994 again?
I really don't see what gap in the market this fills - it's like they've taken the big thing of the moment - netbooks - and taken out all the useful stuff. Also to spend that much on a computer that's so locked down to what the manufacturer allows you to do is just madness. The reaction to the iPad i've seen on the net has been muted at best... is this the start of the Apple backlash?
No multi-tasking, no USB or SD slots, no camera, no drag and drop, no flash, a tab-less web browser... is it 1994 again?
I really don't see what gap in the market this fills - it's like they've taken the big thing of the moment - netbooks - and taken out all the useful stuff. Also to spend that much on a computer that's so locked down to what the manufacturer allows you to do is just madness. The reaction to the iPad i've seen on the net has been muted at best... is this the start of the Apple backlash?