Apple ipad or better?

[Surf Monkey]

My Wife wanted a Kindle... until she saw the iPad.

The iPad may be a "Kindle Killer" and Amazon is not happy about this one. You shouldn't think of the iPad as a Netbook, if that's what you are comparing it to, you dont understand the market.

I dont need an iPad, but if I were to want an eBook reader, the iPad would be my choice!

DING DING DING!

That's the target market (or at least one of the primary target markets.) This thing is intended for women, casual computer users and people (like me) who don't like dragging out a MacBook Pro when all they want to do is check email and browse the Web, maybe play a game or schedule something on a calendar from the couch or in bed. iPhone is just too small to give a good, casual email/internet experience. iPad is exactly what some of us want.

 

[tribalmasters]

You have to check out the e-ink screen it really is as amazing for reading as the hype says! There is the downside of slow refresh times, no colour so multimedia is out of the question but it has a bright future that will sort out these flaws!! On the up side to display a page requires no power, you can literally(LITERALLY) remove the battery and the display will continue to display the last viewed text, power is only needed to turn the virtual page!! Not only that but it really does look like the printed page, sadly it doesn't feel like one, its smooth and covered in a plastic film hehe!

If Apple is waiting for e-ink to be able to display colour and multimedia before putting it into the iPad we will be very happy indeed!!

The people who want the iPad want an overgrown iPod touch right now hehe!

 

[Surf Monkey]

I really don't like e-ink. It's too low resolution and basically useless without color. Besides, the whole "e-ink is easier on your eyes" think is highly questionable. For some people it's better, for others not so much.

The people who want the iPad want an overgrown iPod touch right now hehe!

Right now, yes. But as we've seen time and time again, the first iteration of an Apple product is never where that product is going. We won't really know what the iPad is intended to be until the second generation comes along.

 

[smc]

Many of the arguments have been voice before when the first iPhone/iPod touch came out. If you recall the first iPhone did not allow third party applications. In the mobile/lifestyle device market Apple has followed the pattern of releasing the hardware early and then building on the platform. This is a wise decision. It allows the device to fail with minimum investment loss. Apple TV is a good example of this. They have not, to my understanding, really done much with this product on the software end.

In any case I certainly want one, but for reasons deeper then the average user. This would be an ideal platform for writing OSC/Midi controllers for linking with Max/MSP, Supercolider and Csound (Low level music synthesis software). The iPod touch is ok for this, but too small. The screen size on this device is about perfect for live performance (alongside other gear and controllers). The idea of live sound 'molding' with multitouch is orgasmic.

I forgot to add.. just think of how long you can vape on the battery

 

[tribalmasters]

Many of the arguments have been voice before when the first iPhone/iPod touch came out. If you recall the first iPhone did not allow third party applications. In the mobile/lifestyle device market Apple has followed the pattern of releasing the hardware early and then building on the platform. This is a wise decision. It allows the device to fail with minimum investment loss. Apple TV is a good example of this. They have not, to my understanding, really done much with this product on the software end.

In any case I certainly want one, but for reasons deeper then the average user. This would be an ideal platform for writing OSC/Midi controllers for linking with Max/MSP, Supercolider and Csound (Low level music synthesis software). The iPod touch is ok for this, but too small. The screen size on this device is about perfect for live performance (alongside other gear and controllers). The idea of live sound 'molding' with multitouch is orgasmic.

I forgot to add.. just think of how long you can vape on the battery

You can attach the Yamaha(or whatever) USB to midi adapter directly to the HP slate and use whatever midi software you wish on it You could even get an Atari ST emulator to do MIDI!!!

 

[smc]

You can attach the Yamaha(or whatever) USB to midi adapter directly to the HP slate and use whatever midi software you wish on it You could even get an Atari ST emulator to do MIDI!!!

Generally I don't use off the shelf midi software. I write my own custom interface per idea (this is required to control the custom synth parameters), or I just live code or do an audio render. Writing my own Atari ST emulator is quite easy in supercolider.

SuperCollider About

Essentially all I need is the screen and a network connection. The only purpose of the device is to act as a client multitouch controller.

I'll have to check out the HP. I only saw Balmer introducing it at CES. I look for some videos of it's use.

 

[tribalmasters]

There isn't much of the HP slate in action yet though it does look like an iPad in some ways and it features Windows 7. I guess you could say its just a netbook but with the nice form factor of the tablet and multi touch so it can do all the x86 can do (well apart from gaming hehe)!

 

[lintz69]

Well, arguments like these have been around since the beginning of computers. I remember the 8088 pc vs apple argument. People said apple won't last due to their hardware being proprietary. Well they are still here. Truth is, apple makes GREAT hardware. Just sometimes lacks in software. Imac is one of the best pc's I have seen. Mac OSX I couldn't get used to. Imac+Windows = good combo.

Anyways, back to topic on hand. I have a kindle. (small on) and personally love it. I read alot so it makes sense for me. One complaint is I have a lot of PDF's on computer manuals withe pics (how to design a website). Useless on small kindle. Kindle is great battery life, but need to have a light on (wife trying to sleep means me in a different room). So I have been debating lately on getting full sized kindle to read all of my "technical" manuals. With the Ipad I can now read all of them. With pictures. And in the dark. And the only thing I am wondering is if they will still allow "Kindle for iphone/touch" It's been nice to take my books with me on my little ipod touch but real small and again, not great to read a whole book on a small screen. So IF I can still read my purchased kindle books, and read pdf's on the iPad I am sold.

The Ipod touch has SOOO many cool games/;apps and so many for free. I love yatzee or Monopoly, or life, need for speed. The list goes on. And to think I can take this to my neices and lay on the floor play a full game of monopoly without worrying (are they pressing to hard on the screen) is just wonderful. Or playing Need for speed full screen in front of my face. Or my FAVORITE is labryinth. To play that full size will just be a treat.


So you see guys, not all of us need "a full OS" A full OS can have more problems. Windows = crashes, viruses, etc. Even mac need to ocasionally format and restart. With the ipod touch, you can restore it in minutes. The programs were MEANT for that device. No compatibility issues like "will Need for speed work with slate video card".

I have the office type programs on my touch. I mean, maybe it's just me, but I would take an iPad over ANY tablet pc ANY DAY. If you NEED to do say photoshop, or autocad, or special programs, well you probably don't want any tablet or you want a normal OS. But for those of us who want to just play some awesome games, browse the web, and read books, I think iPad is wonderful. I for one am buyint the $700 one when it comes out. Not sure if there will be a line for them on release date, But I will drive the 1.5 hours away and stand in line.


Just need to come up with $700... Any volunteers?

 

[tribalmasters]

You can restore your beautiful HP slate in minutes using Acronis! Of course you have to create your perfect backup first such as removing trialware and installing essential fun apps hehehe!! Windows 7 is rock solid but of course requires anti virus programs. Its the perfect device for me but maybe it will be too much fuss for my family who will receive an iPad!

Well said on the ebook screen, the Kindle screen is a little too small, I have had a play with the Sony e-reader which still suffers from the same problems with pictures! There is a backlight attachment for it but its basically a frontlight so it isn't great and makes the screen purple is something like that available for Kindle?

To me Windows 7 is making the PC get its soul back whilst Apple's is drifting away! It will never have the soul of the Amiga or Acorn machines though hehe!

Tho I can emulate those machines!

 

[Surf Monkey]

I find it practically incomprehensible that anyone would choose Windows over MacOS. It's a little bit more understandable when considering Windows 7, but even then Windows is still Windows. Yuck. And yes, I use both professionally, so don't come in flaming me as "not knowing Windows well enough to criticize it."

lintz69 has it right. iPad isn't targeted at people who want a full desktop OS. It's a different sort of a device than a Netbook. It's a different sort of a device than an e-reader too. The problem people are having with it right now is the same one people had with iPhone when it first came out. "It's just a lame version of a Blackberry or a Palm device" they said back then. But practically no one would say that today. It's clear why iPhone was revolutionary in the smart phone space. But it took the iPhone 3G and the opening up of the SDK to bring iPhone to its full potential. It'll be the same deal with iPad. The second generation hardware and whatever software "killer app" Apple has up its sleeve need to emerge before people truly "get" iPad. But don't fool yourself. This thing is going to be a major shift in the way people do casual computing. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that it's just a big iPod Touch. It isn't. iPad is much more, just as iPod was revolutionary compared to the Archos Jukebox and the iPhone was revolutionary compared to the Palm. People just weren't able to see it until the device had been out for a while.

 

[tribalmasters]

Why people want Windows? For the programs of course!!

 

[DaMulta]

I heard they are going to release a osx version of it now for about 1100 with will have flash support. I wonder if they will also put a usb port on it.....

 

[tribalmasters]

Really!?!? I would definately be interested in that!!

 

[Surf Monkey]

I heard they are going to release a osx version of it now for about 1100 with will have flash support. I wonder if they will also put a usb port on it.....

Where did you hear that? I seriously doubt that's true.

 

[chadwick]

I am come to the conclusion to just get both lol I wish haha


I am happy that att finally dropped the rates for unlimited min that just means they will stay competitive on rates for the 3g version i hope. Any know if say you had a ipad 3g and the hp slate if they do 3g could you use one plan like a sim card?

 

[tribalmasters]

The iPad is said to come unlocked but you'll need one of these new 'micro SIM' cards! I wonder if the provider will allow existing contract SIMs to be transferred onto a new micro SIM.

As for the HP slate, we will have to wait and see 3G wireless modems do exist so there is hope even for the 3Gless iPad!

 

[DaMulta]

Where did you hear that? I seriously doubt that's true.

I think I heard it on NPR(80% sure that is where)