iPad looks like a terrible design.

[capsulecorpjx]

iPad looks like bad design.

It's just an oversized iPhone (the key to the genius of the iphone is it's small size despite it's limitations).

iPad doesn't have mult-tasking, that kills it right there.

[abhijit]

Here we go...

[honeybee]

iPad looks like bad design.

It's just an oversized iPhone (the key to the genius of the iphone is it's small size despite it's limitations).

iPad doesn't have mult-tasking, that kills it right there.

You hit it right!

I wonder how people can put up with even the iPhone which does not allow you to run two apps together. Even though a mobile phone may not be as good a multi-tasker as a PC, but surely, checking emails and playing solitaire alongside while playing your favourite song should not be much of a problem. With all the hype surrounding even the iPhone, all features it has are useless for just this one reason.

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[I_Love_My_Vans]

You hit it right!

I wonder how people can put up with even the iPhone which does not allow you to run two apps together. Even though a mobile phone may not be as good a multi-tasker as a PC, but surely, checking emails and playing solitaire alongside while playing your favourite song should not be much of a problem. With all the hype surrounding even the iPhone, all features it has are useless for just this one reason.

.

You make a good point, but to be fair there are actually few tasks I need to multi-task on, in fact there are very few tasks I have ever had to execute on any smart phone at the same time.

I was considering jail breaking my iPhone to enable me to run a GPS tracker app in the background, but I don't really want to do this. Probably easier to buy a cheapy WinMo off of eBay and use Mendhaks GPS Tracka thingy.

One of the reasons I like the iPhone over any other smart phone it its design, both the physical product and the interface, it works for me... and yes I'm a design freak. I just can't stand the mish-mash and inconsistency you get with a WinMo phone. Saying that the Android phones are plugging that gap quite well.

As for the iPad, it's alright I guess, I've heard arguments about whether people would / wouldn't use it and usually agree with everybody, mainly because that argument is so subjective. I guess the reason most people are bashing it is because they (like me) don't have the disposable income to afford such a gadget that actually doesn't offer as much as the iPhone did for the Smart phone market or the MacBook for the laptop market.

Anyway, I hope I have offered a sensible opinion.

ILMV

[NeedSomeAnswers]

I have never been a big Apple Fan, but i can see the appeal of the MacBook & particularly the IPod & IPhone. I will likely never buy one of either (actually i probably would buy an IPod or IPhone if i didn't have to use ITunes which in my limited experience is horrible, also that fact they force you to use the software pisses me off.)

The IPad on the other hand, well Why ? what does it do that i couldn't do on a laptop or Smart Phone already. I mean what is it's USP i don't even know what its for.

Also with Predicted UK prices of between £400 & £500 i could go out and buy myself both a new Laptop and a new phone for that money !

[I_Love_My_Vans]

Also with Predicted UK prices of between £400 & £500 i could go out and buy myself both a new Laptop and a new phone for that money !

Amen for the Apple exchanger rate, where a product costs $100 in America it costs £95 in the UK... BOOOO!!!

[techgnome]

WE aren't the target audience. The typical, I just want something to eaily browse the internet with a simple interface kind of person is the target. They are tartgeting the typical user out there who doesn't need the full capability of something like a laptop or desktop, and if they do have one, all they use it for is email and web browsing. My parents, and my inlaws for example.

-tg

[honeybee]

WE aren't the target audience. The typical, I just want something to eaily browse the internet with a simple interface kind of person is the target. They are tartgeting the typical user out there who doesn't need the full capability of something like a laptop or desktop, and if they do have one, all they use it for is email and web browsing. My parents, and my inlaws for example.

-tg

We have some netbooks retailing for as low as Rs. 20000. which is in the range of US$ 400, which will run either Windows or Linux and allow you most of the features of a laptop albeit with reduced power. So again, why would I spend that money on an iPad if I can get a standard netbook which can do multi-tasking? I am sure most people would be doing multitasking, editing documents, surfing the net, browsing photos and listening to music. If not all the time, at least a few times a week. And when they find out they can't do it even once, they may not like it.

Yep, difficult to find out what's the USP for the iPad.

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[NeedSomeAnswers]

WE aren't the target audience. The typical, I just want something to eaily browse the internet with a simple interface kind of person is the target.

Yeh but what target audience do you have when for the same money can go get a laptop and a phone !

People may be stupid but they are not that stupid !

When the IPhone came out i new loads of non-techie people who instantly wanted one & even quite a few techie people, but people know what a phone is for, I know hardly anyone that wants an IPad even Apple users.

And what is the IPad actually for, and don't say for browsing the web. You can buy a perfectly good laptop to browse the web wirelessly that easy to use and god forbid one day you actually want to do a couple of things at the same time or one of your favourite website is in Flash !

Its like they are promoting a product who's main selling point doesn't really exist !

Why buy an IPad when you can get a Net-book for less that enables you to do more ?

[honeybee]

Oh yeah, the flash! I missed it completely.

Coming to the topic of Apple and its products, I know the MacBooks are supposed to be better/tougher than the Windows laptops. What I am wondering about is: is this because of the inherent strength of the Apple operating systems, or is it because people are too busy targetting Windows at the moment?

Is Apple innovating?

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[GaryMazzone]

Less Macs (Apple) less people to target. If you write something you target the largest group possible, at least I would that would drive me to Window before Mac OS as the target

[techgnome]

@Needsome - I get it... trust me... I get it... but believe me, there are plenty ignorant people out there.... most of which are in my family... I field calls from them all the time.

@honeybee - it's control... Apple controls the hardware as well as the software that runs on it. You can't just buy components off the shelf, dink around with them and build a Mac.... but you can with a PC... so Apple only has to support a few controlled hardware platforms and configurations. Windows on the other hand supports a much more complicated and dynamic range of components. They are innovating in some respect... and lagging in others... the rest they simply control with an iron fist.

-tg

[NeedSomeAnswers]

@needsome - i get it... Trust me... I get it... But believe me, there are plenty ignorant people out there.... Most of which are in my family... I field calls from them all the time.

:d:d

[NeedSomeAnswers]

Hmm for some reason the smiley stopped working for me in that last post, i am gonna try again with a different one -

[honeybee]

Hmm for some reason the smiley stopped working for me in that last post, i am gonna try again with a different one -

I think you need to use a capital D instead of small d for the smiley.

@techgnome, so effectively Apple ain't big on innovation. Innovation inherently requires less control and more challenges.

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[NeedSomeAnswers]

I think you need to use a capital D instead of small d for the smiley.

I actually selected it from the smiley menu in the editor and it did come out with the Large D, like this - - but when i clicked post it came out like that. I even tried to edit it but it behaved the same !

[bflosabre91]

[kregg]

You can't just buy components off the shelf, dink around with them and build a Mac....

I'm sure you can. Ever heard of a Hackintosh?

[Spoo]

iPad looks like bad design.

It's just an oversized iPhone (the key to the genius of the iphone is it's small size despite it's limitations).

iPad doesn't have mult-tasking, that kills it right there.

Apparently the guy who wrote this story on Yahoo agrees.
He lists 13 reasons

Spoo

[techgnome]

Is it just me, or is it coincidence that for each of those shortcomings there's an accessory for it.

-tg

[Spoo]

I don't suppose the Apple store would carry the accessory for this issue:

It's slippery

.... And on the kitchen counter, it slides and twirls as you try to type or swipe the screen (required for navigating). It needs rubber feet, but of course then it won't be near as cool.

A hardware store, maybe?

Or this one?

Fingerprints are annoying

Once you've used the iPad for a few minutes, among the most glaring shortcomings (besides the screen glare) are the fingerprints on the screen. With a smartphone, you can wipe the screen on your shirt or pants. The iPad is too big for that. We're wondering what exactly to clean it with and where we'll keep the cleaning supplies.

At one of those little thingies when you enter a grocery store?

Spoo

[GaryMazzone]

We will add an attachement to the side that will hold a supply of lint free wipes to use on the screen every 5 minutes or so. The cost will not be too much.... say $300 for the holder and another $50 or 100 wipes (all cost in US dollars).

Long live Apple

[baja_yu]

Absence of multitasking is really a dealbreaker. You can maybe forgive them for it on the iPhone, but for a device like iPad it's really absurd. Why couldn't you surf the net and listen to music?
Also the limitation that you can only install applications approved by Apple (Jailbreaking seems like a hassle to me).

Personally, I think iPad is a pretty good piece of hardware (though, overpriced like all Apple products) and it would be pretty good, if it wasn't running the iPhone OS. If you had a Linux distro on it, it would be capable of so much more.

[techgnome]

There is a stand accessory you can get... props it up... so you can set it on the table or what ever to watch your movies...


OK, you got me on the fingerprints... but it won't be long before some one comes out with screen protectors to help with that.

-tg

[mbutler755]

iPad looks like bad design.

It's just an oversized iPhone (the key to the genius of the iphone is it's small size despite it's limitations).

iPad doesn't have mult-tasking, that kills it right there.

One of the largest problems is no USB support. If it had USB, I might consider loading Windows 7 on it.

[capsulecorpjx]

I'm waiting for the HP Slate. I like the tablet idea, and Apple is a great innovator. But as always, their ridiculous restrictions, overpricing and marketing hype turns me off.

I'm pretty sure HP Slate will be able to:
1) Read adobe documents
2) Play Flash
3) Play many video codecs (MKV, OGM, DivX)
4) Map to a network drive (so I can play videos from a larger storage point).
5) Multitask, so I can listen to music while browsing.
6) Use MS Office?

[mbutler755]

This picture was great!

[baja_yu]

There was a similar one for iPhone

[mendhak]

Tablets have been around for... a while.

[penagate]

Tablets have been around for... a while.

... and have never gained any significant traction. I am not convinced that the iPad will not follow the path of the Newton.

[penagate]

surely, checking emails and playing solitaire alongside while playing your favourite song should not be much of a problem.

I shouldn't pick on your example but you can actually do this with the iPhone.

[Nightwalker83]

And it's better because?

It reminds me of a non-shakable etchisketch (spelling).

[kleinma]

looks like the problems with the ipad might just be getting started...

http://www.bing.com/search?q=ipad+wi...ox&FORM=IE8SRC

[stlaural]

For those interested in a PC tablet with multi-task, usb ports etc... the ExoPC Slate should be available this summer. I still prefer my Acer Aspire One though, it does a very good job.

[kleinma]

I still want the courier...

http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-f...-secret-tablet

[JuggaloBrotha]

For those interested in a PC tablet with multi-task, usb ports etc... the ExoPC Slate should be available this summer. I still prefer my Acer Aspire One though, it does a very good job.

Is the Intel atom 1.6GHz in it x64? Is it Dual core?

[kleinma]

when they don't specifically say, its most likely its the older non X64, non dual core chip... although it does run Win7, so I guess you never know. Could just be poor marketing, as that would be something they would want to make known.

[JuggaloBrotha]

when they don't specifically say, its most likely its the older non X64, non dual core chip... although it does run Win7, so I guess you never know. Could just be poor marketing, as that would be something they would want to make known.

Or it could be they left those details out because most people will see the "Win7" part a few bullets down.

I only ask because I'm curious if this is just another device to keep Intel making an x86 CPU, the Atom is the only Intel CPU in which there's an x86 version being made. I believe they do have an Atom x64 as well as Dual Core Atoms (I'm really not sure about the dual core's one though)

[kleinma]

the Pineview line of atom CPUs are x86-64, and there is a single and dual core version available.

The older diamondville line does have a x86-64 dual core version as well.

[stlaural]

Is the Intel atom 1.6GHz in it x64? Is it Dual core?

The one they mention on the website is not 64bits but the specs are likely to change. They first wanted to release the product at the end of march if I remember but they decided to release it at summer to have more time to work on the specs. I know that they also wanted to have a better battery to offer more than 4 hours of autonomy. Anyway, we'll see, I hope they get a better battery and the most recent Atom processor, but I think it is still much better than the Ipad. Personnaly I'll keep my Acer Aspire One for a while before even thinking to get a tablet.