New Apple Tablet

[dirk digler]

Cool stuff. On Engadget live right now

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/l...est&refresh=30

[The Rick]

One thing that seems pretty consistent in everything I've read is that you really can't appreciate the iPad until you've held it and used it. I've seen MANY people who were at the event say this. It does kind of make sense. It's easy to point out what we perceive are flaws (I really wanted a webcam), but until I get a chance to actually see it, I'm going to reserve judgement a little.

I got a Kindle for Christmas and returned it in anticipation of the iPad. So I pretty much had $300 (when you count the leather case for the Kindle) set aside for this.

In the short time I used the Kindle, I liked it overall. A pretty good experience for purchasing and reading books, although my opinion is that the e-ink screen is overrated. The Kindle sucks though at newspapers and magazines.

The way I look at it, the iPad should be able to at least match the Kindle on reading books. Again, this is because I think the Kindle's screen is vastly overrated. However, the iPad should be leaps and bounds ahead of the Kindle and everyone else when it comes to newspapers and magazines. Throw in the fact that you can browse the web and all of the other features, it seems worth the extra $200 when I think about it.

[kaplin42]

I didn't read this whole thread, so if this is reposted info, sorry.

But Pretty much this thing will be a nice piece of overpriced FAIL!!!

http://gizmodo.com/5458382/8-things-...+gizmodo/full+

A lot of people at Gizmodo are psyched about the iPad. Not me! My god, am I underwhelmed by it. It has some absolutely backbreaking failures that will make buying one the last thing I would want to do. Updated

Big, Ugly Bezel
Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It's huge! I know you don't want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.

No Multitasking
This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can't listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can't have my Twitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can't have AIM open at the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guarantees that I will not buy this product.

No Cameras
No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either? Why the hell not? I can't imagine what the downside was for including at least one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?

Touch Keyboard
So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs; this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we've seen on other tablets, and unless you're lying on the couch with your knees propping it up, it'll be awkward to use.

No HDMI Out
Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on your TV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you'd just buy an AppleTV already.

The Name iPad
Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of 'em!

No Flash
No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch. On something that's supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? It will leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don't care about streaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait, nevermind, they all do.

Adapters, Adapters, Adapters
So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god's sake.

Update: Why stop at 8? Here are more things we are discovering that suck about the iPad.

It's Not Widescreen
Widescreen movies look lousy on this thing thanks to its 4:3 screen, according to Blam, who checked out some of Star Trek on one. It's like owning a 4:3 TV all over again!

Doesn't Support T-Mobile 3G
Sure, it's "unlocked." But it won't work on T-Mobile, and it uses microSIMs that literally no one else uses.

A Closed App Ecosystem
The iPad only runs apps from the App Store. The same App Store that is notorious for banning apps for no real reason, such as Google Voice. Sure, netbooks might not have touchscreens, but you can install whatever software you'd like on them. Want to run a different browser on your iPad? Too bad!

No Multitasking = Biggest fail ever. That alone will kill this PoS.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Have you seen this amazing technology for allowing to take books with you? It's easy to carry, light, and you can read pretty much whenever you feel like! It's called a paperback.

[JD10367]

On the subject of e-books... Browsing the App Store last night on my Touch, found a now-free app called "Classics", which puts 23 classic books in your iPod Touch or iPhone:

Call Of The Wild
The Art of War
The Iliad
The Odyssey
The Wizard of Oz
Frankenstein
The Count of Monte Cristo
Treasure Island
Dracula
Pride and Prejudice
Flatland
Gulliver's Travels
A Christmas Carol
The Metamorphosis
Hound Of The Baskervilles
The Time Machine
Huck Finn
The Jungle Book
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
Paradise Lost
Robinson Crusoe
Alice in Wonderland
Through the Looking Glass

You tap the book on the shelf, then flip the pages with your finger. If you close the book, it puts a bookmark in place.

[Bane]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

Have you seen this amazing technology for allowing to take books with you? It's easy to carry, light, and you can read pretty much whenever you feel like! It's called a paperback.

[SLAG]

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

I didn't read this whole thread, so if this is reposted info, sorry.

But Pretty much this thing will be a nice piece of overpriced FAIL!!!

http://gizmodo.com/5458382/8-things-...+gizmodo/full+



No Multitasking = Biggest fail ever. That alone will kill this PoS.

*Sigh*

It has multitasking. Just only Apple-approved multitasking, which, I think 4.0 software will change. Or one can hope.

Originally Posted by The Rick

One thing that seems pretty consistent in everything I've read is that you really can't appreciate the iPad until you've held it and used it. I've seen MANY people who were at the event say this. It does kind of make sense. It's easy to point out what we perceive are flaws (I really wanted a webcam), but until I get a chance to actually see it, I'm going to reserve judgement a little.

That and the speed. Apparently it's blazing fast. Apple's own A4 chip. That's probably the bigger news. Especially if they shrink down that chip...

I got a Kindle for Christmas and returned it in anticipation of the iPad. So I pretty much had $300 (when you count the leather case for the Kindle) set aside for this.

That's where I'm at. And that's why I'm still kind of hmmmm, which one....

In the short time I used the Kindle, I liked it overall. A pretty good experience for purchasing and reading books, although my opinion is that the e-ink screen is overrated. The Kindle sucks though at newspapers and magazines.

Yeah, I think my main thing with news and magazines would be Instapaper which, combined with Kindle (and it works with nook too) is, from what I hear, glorious.

The way I look at it, the iPad should be able to at least match the Kindle on reading books. Again, this is because I think the Kindle's screen is vastly overrated. However, the iPad should be leaps and bounds ahead of the Kindle and everyone else when it comes to newspapers and magazines. Throw in the fact that you can browse the web and all of the other features, it seems worth the extra $200 when I think about it.

I think you'll sing a different tune on e-ink vs led when you spend a good chunk reading on it. And do that over and over. Long term reading is going to be a pain. If it wasn't, wouldn't more people be reading ebooks on laptops...

Originally Posted by Laz

Kindle 2 or Nook is the way i'm leaning

both have the improved Ink contrast and have had firmware improvements to tweak the bugs.

if you want the additional size i imagine the kindle Dx will drop in price in awhile.

Are you still leaning that way with Asus' ereader. It looks awesome but I'm not sure I wanna shell out another 150 for it.

What are your thoughts re Kindle 2 vs Nook?

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

*Sigh*

It has multitasking. Just only Apple-approved multitasking, which, I think 4.0 software will change. Or one can hope.

*sigh* What in the holy hell is apple approved multitasking? You can only use itunes and safari at once?


I'm sorry man, but BS. Pay out the ass for limited options. No Thanks.

[irishjayhawk]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

*sigh* What in the holy hell is apple approved multitasking? You can only use itunes and safari at once?


I'm sorry man, but BS. Pay out the ass for limited options. No Thanks.

Apple approved means that their apps can multitask. All of their touch devices CAN multitask. It's just a question of which apps. Their email, music, safari, calendar, clock, etc etc, can multitask. Pandora and other third party apps cannot. It's misleading to say it cannot multitask.



Pay out the ass? Seriously?

Apple shocked everyone by releasing it at $499.

Apple hatas gonna hate, I guess.

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

Apple approved means that their apps can multitask. All of their touch devices CAN multitask. It's just a question of which apps. Their email, music, safari, calendar, clock, etc etc, can multitask. Pandora and other third party apps cannot. It's misleading to say it cannot multitask.



Pay out the ass? Seriously?

Apple shocked everyone by releasing it at $499.

Apple hatas gonna hate, I guess.

So you're saying that its ok to only let apple apps multi task. Cool.

and you're syaing that this thing will cost less than an iphone. Cool

Apple, fanboi's will be fanbois i guess.

[|Zach|]

Apple doesn’t want to sell devices that can do everything; they want to find the best form factor to consume some types of digital content, and then focus on them. If you look at it, you can do pretty much everything on your personal computer; by that philosophy, you don’t need anything else besides a laptop. And yet, you’ve now got smartphones and e-readers selling very well. Could it be that one powerful device is not as good as several less powerful, but more focused ones?

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

No Multitasking = Biggest fail ever. That alone will kill this PoS.

Betcha anything you are wrong.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by irishjayhawk

Are you still leaning that way with Asus' ereader. It looks awesome but I'm not sure I wanna shell out another 150 for it.

What are your thoughts re Kindle 2 vs Nook?

depends on how long it takes for these new Asus models to be released.

if that 9" asus was out right now and i could get some concrete info i would definitely look at it.

I mean the asus is gonna have Wifi/3G and a upgrade memory slot and a full touch screen for $400?

cheaper than the DX and with more features gets my attention.

[Mr. Laz]

[kaplin42]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Betcha anything you are wrong.

I didn't make this up, these are the guys at gizmado saying this. Which I linked the article.

If what IJH is saying is true, it's better than no multitasking, but honestly...

"Thow shalt only use Mac software."

Is a pretty big hit to the device. Then again, Mac people might think this is great since Mac software is the greatest in the universe ever.

They could have knocked it out of the park with this device and completely taken over the tablet market instead, its a larger version of an iTouch. BFD.