who's gonna buy an iPad? « Singletrack Forum

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who's gonna buy an iPad?

110 posts & 54 voices | Started 2 years ago by jimmy | Latest reply from aracer

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flamejob - Member

I think a case in point is Mrs Flamejob.

Me - Bit of a Mac geek; work on Macs have iPhone, TimeCapsule + 3 Airport express house, admin an OS X server etc

Her - Works on a windows network, has a posh Dell laptop for work and a Macbook which she only uses for email, browsing and photos etc. She has no interest in computers, but just wants to be able to sit on the sofa/stand in the kitchen pick something up and use it instantly.

This morning she said 'I think I'm going to give my parents my MacBook and buy one of those iPad things', with no prompting from me at all.

That is the target market, not a group of tech obsessed middle aged geeks who ride bikes that make life more difficult for themselves.

The iPad is, unfortunately, the inevitable future of general computing.

Posted 2 years ago #
aracer - Member

Flash support? Many sites are moving away from flash because it is bloated, particularly on OSX.

Will advertisers also stop using it to make irritating ads which use all your processor time? You might have come across one or two sites where that's a big problem, Tom.

Posted 2 years ago #
Dorset_Knob - Member

but then you need a laptop to sync

Or a cloud?

Posted 2 years ago #
Jamie - Member

http://www.stephenfry.com/2010/01/28/ipad-about.....

......He touched it you know.

...and by the way he gushes about it you would think he was fellated by it also.

Posted 2 years ago #
Dorset_Knob - Member

Who says there's no iBook reader? I think you'll find there's an iBook app built in, and iBooks equivalent of iTunes for buying and browsing stuff from.

Posted 2 years ago #
Dorset_Knob - Member

Or a cloud?

Ah, that wouldn't help in your case, would it? You need to plug in projectors and the like…

Posted 2 years ago #
Waderider - Member

I think it's their biggest fail to date. Most of the 'negative' comments above I agree with.

It'll be interesting to see if the blinkered fanbois still make it a success - that'll reinforce all my unhealthy cynicism about fashion in the marketplace.

Posted 2 years ago #
DrJ - Member

It'll be interesting to see if the blinkered fanbois still make it a success - that'll reinforce all my unhealthy cynicism about fashion in the marketplace.

Hahaha - bitterest post so far!! Consider yourself King of the Haterz!!

Posted 2 years ago #
IA - Member

"Who says there's no iBook reader?"

Apple do. Only announced for the US release so far. Currently other country's pages have it conspicuously missing.

Posted 2 years ago #
iDave - Member

i like apple. i don't have an iPhone, but I have a macbook. think the iPad fails from an ergonomic point of view. my mac book in my lap has the screen pointing at my eyes and i can alter the angle easily - same if it's flat on a table - resting nicely with the keyboard/trackpad easy to use. an iPad on my lap will be at the wrong angle to view/use unless one hand is holding it. same if it's on a table. i still think they should have gone for a slim netbook with a decent hard drive running snow leopard. also how happy would you be chucking it in your man-bag without it being in a case - scratchy screen anyone?

Posted 2 years ago #
mboy - Member

It's the second most popular resolution on stw with 17% of the pie.

Blimey! That is a surprise...

Don't think I've had a computer with that low a resolution screen in 7 years probably! 1920x1080 here right now, 1440x900 on my laptop, even computers 2 generations old of mine were still 1280x1024! I'm still tempted by one of the little Samsung Netbooks, but to me that's more about being a portable workstation than a computer.

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

..think the iPad fails from an ergonomic point of view.. an iPad on my lap will be at the wrong angle to view/use unless one hand is holding it.. would you be chucking it in your man-bag without it being in a case - scratchy screen anyone?

I don't actually thing the tablet ergonomics is a big deal. By the same argument it's a bugger to use a netbook/laptop when you're lying down or sitting where you don't have a table to put it on (laptops actually used "lap top" are a killer on the back).

But would you be happier if it had a stand available?

http://gizmodo.com/5459192/oh-yes-the-first-ipad-kickstand

Or perhaps a nice case to protect the screen in your manbag?

http://gizmodo.com/5458496/griffin-announces-its-first-ipad-accessories-cases-sleeves-screen-protectors

Or a case that turns into a kickstand?

http://i.gizmodo.com/5458344/ipad-kickstand-accessory-doubles-as-a-nice-leather-case-too

Posted 2 years ago #
iDave - Member

so it works ergonomically if you buy extras....

Posted 2 years ago #
aracer - Member

By the same argument it's a bugger to use a netbook/laptop when you're lying down or sitting where you don't have a table to put it on (laptops actually used "lap top" are a killer on the back).

I disagree - use mine like that all the time, whilst sitting in much the same position as I normally do in a chair (is how I'm typing right now). The iPad will lead to much more of a hunch. Of course if you want to use a computer whilst lying down, an iPad is probably better, but it's still not exactly great.

But would you be happier if it had a stand available?

If it put the keyboard bit flat and the screen bit upright whilst sitting on a table or my lap, then you're right it would solve all the ergonomic problems. From the look of either of those offerings they wouldn't even hold the screen upright whilst sitting on your lap.

http://gizmodo.com/5455844/tablet-sutra-how-are-we-supposed-to-hold-this-thing

I feel the need to point out that I'm not particularly a hater (which is how I might be coming across) - if I was in the market for an expensive smartphone I'd certainly be very tempted by an iPhone, which is something they did a superb job with. Just very unconvinced by this.

Posted 2 years ago #
eth3er - Member

I'm still enjoying watching people work themselves into a lather defending this thing. You'd think they were shareholders with a vested interest in it's success.

Posted 2 years ago #
aracer - Member

"It's the second most popular resolution on stw with 17% of the pie.
Blimey!" That is a surprise...

Indeed - I'd have guessed the top two would be 1280x800 and 1280x1024, but maybe that's just because they're what I use!

Posted 2 years ago #
Dougal - Member

Fraser Spiers has a good go at attempting to explain why everyone's up in arms about the iPad:

The Real Work is not formatting the margins, installing the printer driver, uploading the document, finishing the PowerPoint slides, running the software update or reinstalling the OS […] The Real Work is teaching the child, healing the patient, selling the house, logging the road defects, fixing the car at the roadside, capturing the table’s order, designing the house and organising the party.

http://speirs.org/blog/2010/1/29/future-shock.html

Spot on I reckon.

Posted 2 years ago #
aracer - Member

Spot on I reckon.

Completely missing the point I reckon. The thing is that a closed architecture doesn't mean you avoid having to format the margins, finish the powerpoint slides or upload the document. If your work involves writing documents or doing presentations, then he can rant all he likes about them being unnecessary jobs (compared to the important things which obviously don't involve any documentation), but a closed architecture doesn't get rid of them. Maybe the iPad will have software which makes some of these things easier, but I'm less than convinced and see no evidence as yet, in any case that will be a s/w rather than a platform thing.

Meanwhile I don't generally have to install a printer driver or re-install an OS on a Windows platform - if I did have to install the printer driver, I'd surely have to also do so on an iPad, which has the disadvantage of the smaller customer base meaning drivers less likely to be updated. The fact I can re-install the OS is an advantage not a disadvantage.

Of course that is all totally irrelevant anyway, since the iPad isn't a laptop. If it was, people might be levelling those criticisms, but they're not - the criticisms are all about the ergonomics.

In reality he's just as deluded as he seems to think the critics are. Quite clearly a fanboi, given the suggestion that this is the future because Steve Jobs says so. I also found myself confused by the comments about "Pages" and "Finder" and some peculiar behaviour you don't get on a normal computer, until I realised these must be Apple specific problems.

Posted 2 years ago #
lorax - Member

I probably won't buy one, at least not until version 2 or 3, but I love the idea of a bigger iPhone - something that is as simple and reliable but with a bigger screen and bigger keyboard.

I've wasted weeks of my life faffing around with computers, and I'm more than willing to trade a spurious sense of control for something like this. I travel huge amounts for work, and need something small and light on which to edit documents, deal with emails, and tweak the odd presentation while I do.

Just as I used to fix my own car but now have little idea (and less interest) what goes on under the bonnet, i've moved on from the machine code programming I used to do on a 6502 processor 30 years ago to just wanting the blasted thing to work. I have a samsung nc10 but found using windows unbearable and running it as a hackintosh a pain, so gave up using it. These things are all compromises, but I reckon an iPad is probably a pretty good set of compromises for what I want.

Posted 2 years ago #
IA - Member

aracer, i think you missed the point a bit there. His article was that the ipad's an attempt to get to where things should be with computers. To take some of what you said:

"doesn't mean you avoid having to format the margins, finish the powerpoint slides or upload the document. If your work involves writing documents or doing presentations"

My work involves writing documents, and i would LOVE never to have to worry about formatting. And I shouldn't have to, the machine can do it for me.

"The fact I can re-install the OS is an advantage"

Why? Seriously. Why? I don't want to faff about with that if I don't have to. And the only reason I have to is cos something was wrong with the software in the first place. And if it needs updating, why can't it do it itself, silently on my behalf?

Now I don't claim (or even think) the ipad is going to bring all this in, but it's a step in the right direction.

Posted 2 years ago #
aracer - Member

"doesn't mean you avoid having to format the margins, finish the powerpoint slides or upload the document. If your work involves writing documents or doing presentations"

My work involves writing documents, and i would LOVE never to have to worry about formatting. And I shouldn't have to, the machine can do it for me.

Me too. But as I said, that's a function of the s/w, not the platform, and I see no evidence to suggest the s/w on the iPad is any better in that respect (if it is, similar features will doubtless quickly roll out to other platforms).

"The fact I can re-install the OS is an advantage"

Why? Seriously. Why? I don't want to faff about with that if I don't have to.

Because as I also already said, it's not something you have to do. However if you do want to (for various reasons), it's nice that you can. Of course by the time you get to the point a typical Windows user might feel the need for a re-install, the (non-replaceable) battery on an iPad will have worn out. Not that that matters given there will be something newer and shinier that the target market will have replaced it with by then.

Posted 2 years ago #
porterclough - Member

Hmm.... a number of points occur to me

1) Some of the complaints seem to be from people disappointed that Apple didn't announce cold fusion or perpetual motion or something

2) If you can't see why you'd want one, maybe you're not the target market

3) I've upgraded the OS on my iPod Touch with no probs (other than the cheek of Apple wanting money for it) so it will be precisely the same on the iPad, OS upgrades will be via the App Store, and will just work

4) I've spent the last 2 hours trying to get my son's Windows 7 laptop to connect to the internet, it won't, it comes up with some stupid 'DNS not responding' error all the time - it worked at xmas, it worked at his mum's, but not now. Web search suggests M$ recommend upgrading Windows - not easy with no internet access (my MacBook is working fine luckily, and my Vista machine had the same issue but fixed itself, which WIn7 will not).

5) I have a computing degree and I can't be bothered with all this computer fiddling crap. If the iPad just works (which it will, 'cos iPhone OS does just work) then it will be fine for loads of people who either are not very computer literate, or like me can't be arsed with it all any more

6) Basically, who cares anyway? In a year it will either be the thing everything is buying for xmas, or it won't. Unless you have shares in Apple, what's the beef?

Posted 2 years ago #
bassspine - Member

out of the incredible 120,000 'apps' how many are actually different?
ie I have a Palm and there's several hundred painting programs available, several hundred word processors, several hundred diaries (many duplicating programs that are built into the palm os) etc etc

not mocking, just interested

Posted 2 years ago #
woffle - Member

out of the incredible 120,000 'apps' how many are actually different?

Off the top of my head there are apps that do things like - stream tv, enable you to calculate your fertility, plan your finances, find your way on the roads via decent GPS, play cards, sort out your to-do-list, dial into your work pc from the train and check the networks, take and enhance photographs of your kids, read barcodes - the question is a bit like asking 'how long is a piece of string...

Posted 2 years ago #
ChrisS - Member

http://speirs.org/blog/2010/1/29/future-shock.html

Posted 2 years ago #
aracer - Member

http://speirs.org/blog/2010/1/29/future-shock.html

Completely missing the point I reckon. The thing is that a closed architecture doesn't mean you avoid having to format the margins, finish the powerpoint slides or upload the document. If your work involves writing documents or doing presentations, then he can rant all he likes about them being unnecessary jobs (compared to the important things which obviously don't involve any documentation), but a closed architecture doesn't get rid of them. Maybe the iPad will have software which makes some of these things easier, but I'm less than convinced and see no evidence as yet, in any case that will be a s/w rather than a platform thing.

Edit: Oh, I see somebody's already made those comments. Why didn't I read the rest of the thread, or at least a few posts earlier before posting?

Posted 2 years ago #
0range5 - Member

...not going to buy one, have an almost infinite number of things I would buy first, if I buy anything...

Nothing against Apple etc, just don't need one. Bike stuff is much better, even boring stuff like spares!

Posted 2 years ago #
Jamie - Member

Nothing against Apple etc, just don't need one. Bike stuff is much better, even boring stuff like spares!

Well, you have pretty much described yourself as not being in their target *ahem* demographic. So its not surprising you are not going to get one.

Posted 2 years ago #
MrNutt - Member

it is cock. thread closed.

Posted 2 years ago #
Waderider - Member

Thread reopened.

It's really crap.

Thread re-closed.

Posted 2 years ago #
GrahamS - Member

Glad to see no one is prepared to dismiss it outright without actually seeing or playing on one.
Always good to keep an open mind eh?

Posted 2 years ago #
Jamie - Member

Glad to see no one is prepared to dismiss it outright without actually seeing or playing on one.
Always good to keep an open mind eh?

The second this thread was started it was always going to be split down the middle between the lovers and the haters.....plus the odd few souls who were just offering genuine opinions, but we will ignore them.

Posted 2 years ago #
benji_allen - Member

Peterclough

5) I have a computing degree and I can't be bothered with all this computer fiddling crap. If the iPad just works (which it will, 'cos iPhone OS does just work) then it will be fine for loads of people who either are not very computer literate, or like me can't be arsed with it all any more

Someone may have already said this, but that's hit the nail on the head for me. I got a macbook because I was fed up of the jargon and computer language bollocks thrown at me by a PC that kept packing up all the time. If this is like other Apple stuff it'll be realiable, and dead easy and fun to use, rather than a ball ache only suitable for nerds and fiddlers.

Posted 2 years ago #
IA - Member

"only suitable for nerds and fiddlers."

I'm an epic nerd and a fiddler, and I still want one of these. Cos when I need to work, or relax, I want stuff to just work. And i'll be able to fiddle too - if I want I can turn my hand to coding apps for it.

Posted 2 years ago #
DrJ - Member

I'm still enjoying watching people work themselves into a lather defending this thing
.

Almost as much fun as watching the usual bile from the AnythingButApple crowd.

Posted 2 years ago #