Topic: iPad! (Read 71212 times)

jmrz · « **Reply #100 on:** 05 Feb 2010, 07:04 »

Yeah, as a student, it would be amazing. Although for me, it's not textbooks, it's art supplies. So the less of my notebooks I have to carry around, the better. For people who do need lots of textbooks and if they start developing more of them for digital format, it would be a huge benefit to students who need to carry them around on a daily basis.

messeduplilkid · « **Reply #101 on:** 05 Feb 2010, 18:25 »

I actually didn't think about the art supply factor... Are you hoping that they might add a stylus to emulate say.. a wacom tablet? Or are you planning on just going finger painting? I know nothing about the dexterity of art, and I definitely don't know how it would translate to use your fingers instead of a utensil.

est · « **Reply #102 on:** 05 Feb 2010, 18:45 »

There's already some capacitive styluses around:

I'm sure that a greater variety will come out for this type of purpose.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #103 on:** 05 Feb 2010, 19:49 »

Patents!

Ikrik · « **Reply #104 on:** 05 Feb 2010, 20:35 »

I think there's been some people suggesting that they could be used kind of like tablets but that was shot down very quickly. I think it was shot down the same time they said it would not be able to recognize handwriting. Giant iPod touch is giant iPod touch. I'd search to see if any of this is true, but I won't because I'm completely lazy. Is it true though, or can you use it as a tablet.

est · « **Reply #105 on:** 05 Feb 2010, 21:08 »

est · « **Reply #106 on:** 05 Feb 2010, 21:08 »

a-ho ho ho!

but guys seriously, the last panel in that set kills me.

jhocking · « **Reply #107 on:** 06 Feb 2010, 06:08 »

Quote from: Ikrik on 05 Feb 2010, 20:35

they said it would not be able to recognize handwriting.

Aren't there handwriting apps for iPhone? I could have sworn I've seen some, and if there aren't then someone should totally write one because they'd make a fortune. A quick google turns up several open-source handwriting recognition projects, and I'll bet at least one of those could be ported to iPhone easily enough.

Also, who is "they"? People are always talking about "they" and never specify, like we're supposed to be swayed by the word of some anonymous and possibly fictional "they".

ADDITION: Y'know, whether or not any exist yet maybe I should try porting some handwriting recognition software to iphone, that'd be a popular app...

Chesire Cat · « **Reply #108 on:** 07 Feb 2010, 17:08 »

Quote from: Chesire Cat on 04 Feb 2010, 19:39

I will admit there are some things I would like, just as I LOVE the idea of OnLIVE and Apple has essentially created a portable media content display rather than a true computer. Combine the two ideas and add oh say a USB hub for a controller and boom, you can now play any game anywhere you get net (yes yes yes I know I am ignoring some realities, but I can dream) or at least generally perform emulated processes that are computed externally. Almost like a moble mainframe computer setup. And technically that would only qualify as '1' program, even if you were emulating a desktop or something somewhere else.

ViolentDove · « **Reply #109 on:** 08 Feb 2010, 22:58 »

Quote from: Jeans on 04 Feb 2010, 03:23

It tries to fill a niche that only a very select few people will have any kind of need to fill (based on the massive collective internet response: "what the fuck do I need a big iPod for?) - when walking around, I would much sooner have an iPod in my pocket than carry around an iPad in my bag, and if I was going somewhere for a while, I'd take my macbook - it takes literally two seconds to boot up when I pop up the lid, and the weight increase compared to the iPad is marginal. The tradeoff for the iPad would be sacrificing power, a proper keyboard, and the ability to multitask in order to lose a pound of weight and a couple of inches of bag space. Ain't worth it if you ask me.

I think it's filling the niche for all those people who aren't really comfortable with computers per se, who would be the least vocal people on the internet. I figure my mum and dad would get a lot more out of an iPad than they would a regular computer/laptop for example. It's easy to buy, install and use programs just by jabbing your fnger at stuff. It does away with having to find your files, with worrying about why some program won't work, and all that kinda stuff that some people like because it gives them "more control" over what they're doing, but other people just find difficult or annoying.

I figure most nerds on internet forums would probably get more out of a computer/laptop than an iPad, hence we aren't the "target market".

David_Dovey · « **Reply #110 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 03:10 »

Quote from: ViolentDove on 08 Feb 2010, 22:58

all that kinda stuff that some people like because it gives them "more control" over what they're doing, but other people just find difficult or annoying.

This is why I am down with Mac in general! I don't like to look under the hood of my computer, I just like it when it does the things that I want it to do without endless reconfigurations and tweaking, and Mac machines generally do exactly that.

Johnny C · « **Reply #111 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 03:26 »

the "doesn't know how to use a computer" is a rare species at this point, and a fairly elderly one - not really apple's audience. i've had this conversation with my dad, who doesn't really "get" the ipad and is extremely comfortable using windows. nearly every adult in the western world is at least familiar with the basic operations of a computer at this point, and unless apple's internal research knows something we don't (entirely possible) i'm frankly not sure that someone who knows what they're doing enough to get by is going to sink half a g into apple's new shiny mystery slab.

besides that, most of those adults who aren't familiar with how computers work don't really have the money to drop on an ipad.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #112 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 03:45 »

There's a difference between "doesn't know how to use a computer" and "doesn't care how a computer works as long as it does", though. I'd argue that the latter is more the demo that Apple is shooting for here. People who only need to really scratch the surface of a P.C's potential capabilities, really. I'd say there's actually quite a lot of people in that group.

Spluff · « **Reply #113 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 04:10 »

There's no real reason to handicap yourself with this kind of device though, even if you don't care how it works.

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #114 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 04:24 »

Besides, speaking as someone who by and large does fall into the "I have no idea how my magic box of lights does things nor do I want to" category the ipad comes across as confusing, as well as being a tiny little thing I'd get a headache squinting at.

Chesire Cat · « **Reply #115 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 04:42 »

What the fuck are you going to do with an iPad without a computer? Lets be real here, this isnt a computer replacement, even for idiots that still channel surf instead of using the 'guide' on the cable box.

If they dont get computers, they arent getting an iPad. And frankly do you expect to download all the media you use on the iPad through a 3G connection? Wouldnt typing in a password for wi-fi qualify as that nerdy bullshit they are trying to avoid?

Anyway, Im with Johnny on this, you guys missed the mark

David_Dovey · « **Reply #116 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 05:46 »

Actually I completely forgot to toss in my intended last sentence for that post which was "but either way it doesn't multitask which is unforgivable no matter what" which obviously throws a bit of light on my actually feelings i.e; I can totally understand what they're going for with the device but it's not like I think they did a good job at it.

pilsner · « **Reply #117 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 07:56 »

Quote from: Chesire Cat on 09 Feb 2010, 04:42

What the fuck are you going to do with an iPad without a computer?

I think you're ignoring the significant minority of early adopters for whom the iPad will fill the same purpose that Roxxxy will for extremely wealthy agoraphobic sociopaths. Yes, I am saying that their use of their iPads will involve jism.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #118 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 08:47 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 09 Feb 2010, 03:10

I just like it when it does the things that I want it to do without endless reconfigurations and tweaking, and Mac machines generally do exactly that.

So do Windows machines.

Ain't no one has ever had to endlessly reconfigure a Windows machine unless they wanted to. The key here being that if they wanted to, they could.

est · « **Reply #119 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 12:37 »

For example, I've been running Windows 7 for uh, about 6 months now I think with no changes other than the wallpaper and I'm a tech dude. I'm not really overly fussed about configuring and tweaking anymore at the moment, but if at some point in the future I do become interested again I know that I'll be able to relatively easily. It's nice to have the option, even if I don't choose to use it. Incidentally, this is one of the arguments I'm kicking around for getting a new McBook Pro when they refresh soon - ie: I'll be able to dual-boot OSX and Windows 7, allowing me to use OSX if I choose to. More choices, woo. Just depends how The new MacBook Pros stack up against a comparable form-factor Asus Green series laptop, which I already know will be running some level of i5 processor and an nVidia 310. & getting ~12 hrs battery life.

Also, looks like a lot of people are having the same kind of doubts about the iPad as some of us here: http://www.tgdaily.com/mobility-features/48340-consumers-snub-apple-ipad-in-new-poll

Alex C · « **Reply #120 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 12:48 »

I haven't even changed the wallpaper.

Ptommydski · « **Reply #121 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 14:16 »

Quote from: pilsner on 09 Feb 2010, 07:56

Yes, I am saying that their use of their iPads will involve jism.

Finally a convincing explanation for that luxuriously big, easy to wipe-down surface.

jhocking · « **Reply #122 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 14:20 »

Quote from: est on 09 Feb 2010, 12:37

Just depends how The new MacBook Pros stack up against a comparable form-factor Asus Green series laptop

do eeeeet

A lot of people say that the primary appeal of Macs is the aesthetics, but it's hard to see the problem with that when you walk into an Apple store and set eyes on a unibody Macbook Pro and immediately feel like you have jumped into the future.

Chesire Cat · « **Reply #123 on:** 09 Feb 2010, 15:45 »

Quote from: est on 09 Feb 2010, 12:37

Also, looks like a lot of people are having the same kind of doubts about the iPad as some of us here: http://www.tgdaily.com/mobility-features/48340-consumers-snub-apple-ipad-in-new-poll

Yes but that entirely skews that results. The I know and want went from 3% to 9% and the interested but I'll wait and see went from 19% to 21%. Basically the buyer options went from 22% to 30% of the total. The article kind of avapided that entirely

Sox · « **Reply #124 on:** 11 Feb 2010, 07:24 »

I finally got an iPod touch, and while it's nice, it'd be nicer if I didn't have to zoom in so much.
+1 for iPad.

Sox · « **Reply #125 on:** 11 Feb 2010, 16:17 »

I'm not keeping a score, I intended that as "+1 potential buyer".
I really want an iPad.

jmrz · « **Reply #126 on:** 11 Feb 2010, 18:50 »

I agree with Dovey. There are people out there, no matter what age they are, who have absolutely no idea what they are doing with computers, and yes, in the Western World. I've come across people my age who have absolutely no idea what they're doing with a computer. Sure, they can pick up the mouse and point and click at things, but basic tasks such as sending an email and all of that, they couldn't grasp.

I think the iPad, as it is, without multitasking, could be thrown at say... my parent's generation. I've watched my mum struggle with tech for years. She's watched me work on something and do things for her on the computer and I'm doing five or six things at once and flicking through them, she doesn't cope with it. She prefers to do one thing at a time, and I know a lot of other people in her generation (40-60years old) who need to think about things one thing at a time, not multitask. I can see it sitting really well with that age group (in it's current state). I'm not saying everyone in that age group has absolutely no idea whatsoever, I'm just saying that for a fair few people I know, who would only ever buy a computer so they can get setup with email and basic internetting, that it'd be an option for them.

Also, I think it's just about the perfect size. I mean, for me personally I couldn't ever ever use it as a primary computing or internet device by any means, but I would use it and most likely love it. I think I'll have to go and check it out in a store when it comes out.

ViolentDove · « **Reply #127 on:** 11 Feb 2010, 18:58 »

I read a good analogy that compared it to an automatic transmisson vs. manual. As in, it removes the actual mechanics of doing stuff.

Also this is just the first iteration, so it's kinda early days yet. I'm sure version 2.0 will multitask and make toasted sandwiches.

Also comparing survey is silly unless you do statistics and stuff.

ViolentDove · « **Reply #128 on:** 17 Feb 2010, 15:38 »

Wired Magazine demos its iPad app.

It's pretty good!

Chesire Cat · « **Reply #129 on:** 17 Feb 2010, 15:58 »

Quote from: ViolentDove on 17 Feb 2010, 15:38

Wired Magazine demos its iPad app.

It's pretty good!

I so totally called that first!

pilsner · « **Reply #130 on:** 17 Feb 2010, 16:08 »

No lie, that's pretty cool. The interactive advertisements blur the difference between an advertisement and a computer game (advertisement).

est · « **Reply #131 on:** 18 Feb 2010, 03:57 »

The app itself looks great, but the magazine looks like the same old shit the fucking bullshit print version of Wired is, and listening to those fuckbags wank on about "building relationships" between their readers and their advertisers because the readers come to the magazine looking for products to consume I realise that the problem I have with Wired is built right in there at the basic building blocks of the magazine.

JD · « **Reply #132 on:** 21 Feb 2010, 08:34 »

Jobs says flash will make the battery life 1.5 hours long

bulllllll

pilsner · « **Reply #133 on:** 21 Feb 2010, 09:20 »

I heard that if you shoot a flash equipped iPad with a lasgun, it explodes like a fusion bomb. So you see, the God Emperor's decision to not support flash is in our best interest.

KvP · « **Reply #134 on:** 21 Feb 2010, 13:07 »

Quote from: Zombiedude on 21 Feb 2010, 08:34

Jobs says flash will make the battery life 1.5 hours long

bulllllll

Given the number of Mac users (or PC users, for that matter) I know who have no idea how their hardware works, I figure a lot of people are going to buy this.

I don't trust the tech blogosphere to call bullshit on anything.

Chesire Cat · « **Reply #135 on:** 21 Feb 2010, 13:11 »

KvP care to elabourate? I mean, that is a giant leap even for non sequitur. How does knowledge of hardware or lack thereof translate into much higher sales? Usually you can articulate better.

smack that isaiah · « **Reply #136 on:** 21 Feb 2010, 13:18 »

I think he meant "buy this" as in "believe the claim that flash would reduce the iPad's battery life". Not that many people would purchase iPads because they said flash would hurt battery life.

KvP · « **Reply #137 on:** 21 Feb 2010, 13:26 »

Yes. Colloquial language.

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #138 on:** 24 Feb 2010, 23:48 »

There's an additional complication with Flash, but it's rather technical. I'll see if I can explain it:

Memory in a computer can be in some combination of three states:
* writable: values in this chunk of memory can be changed
* readable: values in this chunk of memory can be accessed
* executable: values in this chunk of memory can be run as part of the program

Up until recently, any of these could be combined. On modern desktop computers, however, any given chunk of memory can be writeable OR it can be executable, but not both. This prevents malicious code from modifying a program as it's running.

The iPhone (and iPad) are much stricter than this. If a page of memory is *ever* marked as writeable, it can never be marked executable again. This helps prevent some nasty types of security vulnerability, but also hurts some legitimate programs. This is where Flash comes in.

Flash uses what's called a Just-In-Time Compiler which turns the Flash code into machine code while it's running. This involves marking a page writeable, compiling the code to it, and then marking it executable... which is exactly what doesn't work on the iPhone. The workaround for this is to either a) not compile the code at all, and run in interpreted mode (which is slow), or b) compile before running like a traditional program does (which is iPhone specific, and is not done by any of the Flash on the web).

TLDR version: iPhone security requirements would force Flash to be even slower/more cpu intensive than one would expect.

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #139 on:** 01 Mar 2010, 13:57 »

Heh. Guess I killed the thread.

Chesire Cat · « **Reply #140 on:** 01 Mar 2010, 15:52 »

I just rely on other people to bring more reasons why I am right in, and refute everyone who disagrees. Since I was 100% OK with what Catfish said, I didnt feel the need to comment

JD · « **Reply #141 on:** 01 Mar 2010, 16:44 »

Quote from: Catfish_Man on 01 Mar 2010, 13:57

Heh. Guess I killed the thread.

Huh what I wasn't paying attention. Sorry teacher

jhocking · « **Reply #142 on:** 11 Apr 2010, 11:41 »

I never thought of it this way, but he has a point: iPads are the new CD-ROMS.

http://www.oblomovka.com/wp/2010/04/01/cd-roms-and-ipads/

ADDITION: For reference to anyone who's too lazy to read the article before responding to it, a) he means when CD-ROMs emerged in the early 90s, and b) he doesn't mean that in a good way.

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #143 on:** 11 Apr 2010, 20:39 »

I hear it's really good for downloading comics.

That's all I got

20 jazz funk greats · « **Reply #144 on:** 11 Apr 2010, 21:23 »

Quote from: Ozymandias on 03 Feb 2010, 18:44

Even described as a bigger media device, that sounds completely and utterly idiotic.

Why would I want to carry something the size of a small monitor around to just listen to music and watch videos? That just sounds obnoxious as fuck.

People keep saying "well you're not the target audience" well who the fuck is the target audience except for morons with money and a steaming desire to look like it?

this.

i have a 2 year old hp laptop with nicer specs than a fucking ipad.
its only problem is the fact that i'm still running vista. ew.

Catfish_Man · « **Reply #145 on:** 12 Apr 2010, 14:31 »

Having used a couple of them now, I can say they're rather nice. Still deciding whether I want to get one to replace my laptop during work+commute. It'd mean not coding on the bus, but who am I kidding; I barely ever actually get any work done on the bus

David_Dovey · « **Reply #146 on:** 13 Apr 2010, 08:55 »

An article on the iPad made a brief mention, among other coming-soon competitors to the big stupid Apple thing, this Lenovo contraption, which is a notebook with a removable tablet/touchscreen.

That is fucking sweet, I would fucking buy that.

That being said it was also announced recently that iPhone/iPad OS4 will have multitasking. Still not great, still not worth buying an iPad over, but at least slighlty less fucking retarded.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #147 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 04:04 »

Better alternative

Jace · « **Reply #148 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 16:01 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 16 Apr 2010, 04:04

Better alternative

FTFY

JD · « **Reply #149 on:** 23 Apr 2010, 19:24 »

So it turns out the ipad is great for reeeeeaaaaaallllllly old people

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Author Topic: iPad! (Read 71212 times)

Ptommydski