Is the iPad a mistake?

[bjmach]

Thank you for posting this. I guess I expected to see tons of positive posts and that's not what's happening...which means, that's what the haters see and base their comments on.

Netbook fans are always pointing out these called iPad flaws to me, like, 'why have an iPad AND a keyboard when you can carry an all in one device like a netbook?' or 'there are issues with the WiFi...a netbook doesn't have that problem' or '95% of the Internet is Flash so the iPad is a flop...plus no one can play World of Warcraft' or 'the iPad isn't even a computer, it is just an overpriced media device'.

And yes, these are actual comments I have been told by people.

Those people are all correct....you should listen to them and take it back....then jump off the nearest bridge when they tell you the world is ending!!

iPad freakin rox....I took it to work and let three people hold it, two of which are apple haters and all three of them are going to buy one. Amazing device!!

 

[splashnader]

I do not think the Ipad was a mistake. I do think that the ipad has small, annoying problems, that can make the experience of using the device very aggravating for some people. I have a wifi only 32 GB ipad and almost since the day it arrived I have experienced off and on problems with my wifi connection. For a while changing from WEP to WPA on my router, fixed the problems. Then inexplicably, the problems returned several days later. I have been told by Apple that it is my router that is to blame, though the router works fine with my imac and macbook pro.

Apple's solution to my problem, having spoken to a very nice lady with Applecare, is to turn off my router security and password requirement to access the network. This is simply not an option for me. So for the meanwhile my experience with the ipad has been both good and bad, enjoyable and frustrating. I really hope that Apple finds a fix for this problem. Since their other products that I own work fine on my router, I am sure they can fix the problem. The only question is when. Still though even with the problems that I am experiencing I would not call the ipad a mistake.

 

[eelpout]

Yes, the WePad 32gb/3g version sounds very appealing ... though the devil is in the details. It says it's based on linux but can run Android apps, what does that mean? What's the pricing model for 3g service? What is battery life? Does Amazon have plans to release an Android app? If not, this device will not be a viable contender as a reader (though I'm sure you can load generic formats). But 1gb of RAM (vs 256MB) and some of the other features such as 1080p out via HDMI sound appealing if they get the UI right. The price sounds fair.

Battery life for the WePad is quoted at 6 hours (found in their iPad comparison chart here).

They're certainly running a number of Android apps in their demo in what I assume is a custom environment they created. I've seen claims elsewhere of devs, i.e. Canonical, getting an Android shell to run on Ubuntu. Not sure that ever went anywhere, but coincidentally the WePad apparently runs on Ubuntu. Hmmmm...

Neofonie plans on having their own open magazine format called WeMagazine and will include a reader.

They certainly have their work cut out for them, going up against Apple, but I like the ying of features as compared to Apple's yang.

 

[wombat888]

6 hours would be a drawback - battery life is a big issue to me. Also, the chart says "up to 6 hours" - the iPad says "up to 10 hours", which is the wifi-only rating, so that might indicate the 3g WePad would get less than 6 hours. Also, the screen is two inches bigger, meaning the device is probably noticeably larger and probably heavier. If I could change two things about the iPad, it would be to make it lighter and have better battery ilfe, so those aspects of the WePad don't sound appealing to me. However, I'm hoping this device reaches the market and is a success, not only because I might consider it myself, but also because competition is good. I think the advantages it does offer, such as USB ports, higher resolution and 1080p out, will appeal to a lot of people.

I think Google and HTC could make a very compelling iPad competitor if they decided to try.

 

[Davidkoh]

Battery life for the WePad is quoted at 6 hours (found in their iPad comparison chart here).

They're certainly running a number of Android apps in their demo in what I assume is a custom environment they created. I've seen claims elsewhere of devs, i.e. Canonical, getting an Android shell to run on Ubuntu. Not sure that ever went anywhere, but coincidentally the WePad apparently runs on Ubuntu. Hmmmm...

Neofonie plans on having their own open magazine format called WeMagazine and will include a reader.

They certainly have their work cut out for them, going up against Apple, but I like the ying of features as compared to Apple's yang.

Does it run native Linux programs? Then it would run Matlab!

 

[Maven1975]

Just give me Safari desktop (Without Flash), the option to print and the ability to open a pages document on my idisk and edit it with pages on the Pad and I could throw away the laptop.

All of my work is done via websites, and two out of three don't work correctly because of the lack of full Java.

I wonder if Apple is going to integrate ichat and screen sharing as their answer for heavy lifting.

 

[Zazoh]

When I take pictures off of my digicam or dslr, I pop the sd card in my MacBook and copy the files to a terabyte FireWire drive. Once they are there, I copy them to a network drive. Back up early back up often. Some of them get uploaded to either flickr, mobile me, picasa or r0k.org. If they get uploaded or emailed, I always downsize them so they are easier to upload and they don't overrun my online storage. For instance, I went taking photos a few weekends ago and racked up 760 Meg of photos in one afternoon so I've developed these habits for handling photos out of necessity. I used sync to get iPhoto events on my iPod touch but I don't bother with it on my iPad. It's kind of a shame because I have faces set up in iPhoto and if I would sync photos I could get some of them onto my iPad. The problem is that I have 75+ gig of photos and a 16 gig iPad. So I don't think I'll be using sync any time soon.

I have about a terabyte of digital images. But love the speed and display of images on the iPad. Manage your images and create a portfolio best of the best. Don't worry about downsizing iTunes does that for you and then optimizes them in a db before copying them over, just sync the portfolio. There is zeronlag time between images. I suspect you were viewing the whole full sized image.

 

[GamecockMac]

Sliced bread - what is so good about awful food, packed in nasty plastic for the convenience of some common people?

Bread is best from a good bakery, freshly baked and stored either in linen or in paper. I don't expect people to bake their own, but sliced bread - that's just nasty.

Yeah, and milk is best when it's left on your doorstep each morning by the milkman, fresh from the local dairy...oh wait, it's 2010, not 1910.

Nevermind.

 

[diabolic]

you sound like nobody has purchased a netbook or that everyone hates theirs here are some reviews on a netbook

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220504

almost all of them are 5/5 eggs and 3% are unhappy (probably due to DOA shipments)

I'm sure plenty of people are happy with their netbooks. My point is that most people who decide to buy an iPad aren't realistically sacrificing any critical functionality that they need. As I posted above, everyone I know that has bought an iPad is unbelievably impressed with it and most have completely switched from using their laptops to using the iPad. Obviously none of them seem to be missing any critical capabilities.

So far, it's been my experience that your point about how much netbook you can buy for less money gets trumped by the ease of use and simple fun of the iPad, at least for everyone I know that bought one.

When I take pictures off of my digicam or dslr, I pop the sd card in my MacBook and copy the files to a terabyte FireWire drive. Once they are there, I copy them to a network drive. Back up early back up often. Some of them get uploaded to either flickr, mobile me, picasa or r0k.org. If they get uploaded or emailed, I always downsize them so they are easier to upload and they don't overrun my online storage. For instance, I went taking photos a few weekends ago and racked up 760 Meg of photos in one afternoon so I've developed these habits for handling photos out of necessity. I used sync to get iPhoto events on my iPod touch but I don't bother with it on my iPad. It's kind of a shame because I have faces set up in iPhoto and if I would sync photos I could get some of them onto my iPad. The problem is that I have 75+ gig of photos and a 16 gig iPad. So I don't think I'll be using sync any time soon.

I was curious because my wife runs a photography business and we are going to use iPads as client portfolios. I wondered if the delay swiping through photos still happened with images that were optimized in iTunes for syncing.

 

[wombat888]

iPads and netbooks probably compete in a lot of conceptual ways, but they're not meant to be exactly the same thing. Netbooks are the laptop paradigm, just smaller. The iPad is basically the iPod touch paradigm, just larger. I'm oversimplifying, but not much.

You will prefer a netbook if you want something more like a "real computer" with USB ports, access to the same software you could use on a laptop etc. You will prefer an iPad if you like the touch UI and the large screen.

Neither choice is wrong or right .. but it's very simplistic to think one is worthless and only purchased by suckers.

fwiw, I think the iPad is well-designed by the standards of 2010, but I think its bulk is something Apple needs to work on trimming in subsequent versions - without sacrificing battery life. That's a big technical challenge, but if they could make it 30% lighter while retaining or extending battery life, I think it'll be significantly more appealing. Those things to me are a lot more important for this device than USB ports etc.

 

[4DThinker]

... if they could make it 30% lighter while retaining or extending battery life, I think it'll be significantly more appealing.

I like it: A carbon fiber iPad body! Should help with Wifi connecting.

 

[yankintx]

Yes, you're probably right. When I hear so many netbook fans say how happy they are with their purchase, plus the ridicule I get for getting an iPad without USB ports, only to come on here and read so many complaints...I was wondering if the iPad Was a mistake.

If you have to ash this question, then it may have been a mistake for you.

When I got the iPad and used it for a day or so, I wondered why I purchased it because I have a desktop and a notebook, and really didn't need it. Now a month later I realize just how valuable it is to me. Do I need it ....nope. Does it make casual computer usage much more convenient, absolutely.
Keep it a bit and I'm positive it will grow on you.

 

[eoblaed]

I'm seeing so many disappointed people on here, I'm wondering if the iPad should have never been released. Maybe the netbook people are right and Apple should have just made the iPad a netbook with a lite version of Snow Leopard. As a person still relatively new to Apple products, I'm beginning to think the release of iPad was a big mistake.

LadyHoneyBabe's troll score has increased 3 levels!

 

[kernkraft]

Yeah, and milk is best when it's left on your doorstep each morning by the milkman, fresh from the local dairy...oh wait, it's 2010, not 1910.

Nevermind.

We still get Dairy Crest bringing the milk every day with the Financial Times, The Independent and The Times. They could deliver yogurt too, but we buy most grocery from M&S, apart from the meat and vegetable, which are purchased from the buthcher in Alresford.

Sliced bread is still awful, it's a disgrace to the whole concept of 'bread'.

 

[wombat888]

I like it: A carbon fiber iPad body! Should help with Wifi connecting.

I'm not talking about doing wacky things in May 2010 to meet the goal ... I'm talking about iterating over years. The main way to make it lighter without losing battery life is:

- make it more energy-efficient
- make batteries more efficient (store more energy per unit of weight)

Both are very feasible.

You might also be able to reduce weight of some other components, but I think that would be a 10% or so improvement at best.

 

[4DThinker]

I'm not talking about doing wacky things in May 2010 to meet the goal ... I'm talking about iterating over years.

I wasn't either. Guess what is lighter and stronger than aluminum, and also less of a barrier to radio waves? Of course it might take several iterations to get it right, but it sure would help to lower the iPad's weight. Expect to wait another 5 years before battery tech gets good enough to maintain 10 hours of use in a significantly smaller package and at an affordable price.

 

[wombat888]

If you can make the battery 10% smaller and you can make the iPad 10% more energy-efficient, that's (theoretically) a 20% weight reduction.

This year - no way. Next year and the year after - good chance.

 

[kas23]

Besides the 'it's bad' posts being here because you always get more negative posts from people that have problems than from the millions (whatever) that aren't having problems, the iPad is a new sort of device.

And, new sort of devices (I hate the word paradigm, but it is a new one, or it's the first usable one, which may be the same thing...) need to have people USE them.

Sorry for singling your post out, but it's simply not true. Tablet-type computers have been out for years. And no, Apple did not invent the cellphone, neither did they make the first touch-screen phone. Apple simply makes things a lot easier and fun to use, makes them all shiny, then sells them for 150% of the regular price.

 

[diabolic]

Sorry for singling your post out, but it's simply not true. Tablet-type computers have been out for years. And no, Apple did not invent the cellphone, neither did they make the first touch-screen phone. Apple simply makes things a lot easier and fun to use, makes them all shiny, then sells them for 150% of the regular price.

Still, the fact is that nobody got the tablet close to right until now. I've owned several of them over the years. The iPad will be the first that gains widespread mainstream acceptance.

 

[hazmatzak]

my netbook currently comes out of standby in exactly 1 second and goes to sleep when i close the lid (takes about 2-3 with SSD), the ipad also comes out of standby in the same time. the ipad still requires ~30 seconds to boot from power off

iPad has 30 days standby, from which it is "instant-on" the entire time. Netbooks tend to hibernate after a few hours of sleep to preserve battery; then it takes several seconds to wake.

For iPad users, boot time is a non-issue, since it happens so rarely. There's also no lid to close. I would guess most people just put it down and don't think about it, because it doesn't matter if it stays on for a few minutes before it sleeps.

As long as they charge every night or three, many iPad users can spend zero mental energy on the on/off state of their device. It just works.

And going back to the OP, this lack of mental friction makes people less annoyed, even if they don't realize it. And that is not a mistake.

I think the iPad is well-designed by the standards of 2010, but I think its bulk is something Apple needs to work on trimming in subsequent versions - without sacrificing battery life. That's a big technical challenge, but if they could make it 30% lighter while retaining or extending battery life, I think it'll be significantly more appealing.

I dunno about "significantly" -- as in I doubt (let's say) 25% of perspective customers considered buying it, but it's too heavy -- but it would be nice. The weight break down:

• 28% glass
• 22% LCD screen
• 21% battery
• 20% back panel
• 9% other components

So even cutting the battery weight in half (if you could) would shave only 10% off the total. Something that size/volume, packed solid with non-plastic tech just weighs so much. A 7" model would weigh a good deal less, but you're sacrificing usability.

 

[wombat888]

Thanks for the breakdown, good info. So I'd say the three areas to target are battery, glass and aluminum back panel. I imagine they could be squeezed without shrinking the diagonal screen size. Maybe the carbon fiber idea isn't so bad, or a good high-quality plastic.

As for "significantly" - I'll stand by that. I don't think it would be a big factor for first-time buyers testing it in the store, but I think it would make a big difference in longterm useability and thus loyalty and word of mouth. There is no direct competition today, but there most certainly will be.

 

[Err0xx]

Seems your new to forums in general...

Is this meant to be taken seriously? Sure there are a few people with small issues with the device, but those are just an extremely small percentage of the owners, most of which seem to be in love with the device.

You must be new to forums in general, not just Apple. It's almost always true that the vast majority of those that share their opinions about ANY product online are dissatisfied with it. I LOVE my iPad- typing on it now, yet I have made maybe one post praising it for how amazing it is, yet there are hundreds of posts about problems with it. Go pick up one yourself and see if its a mistake. I wager you'll agree with the unvoiced majority and agree it's anything but a mistake. It's a marvelous device that has completely changed computing in my life. Those that read forums as truth are very gullible in general- realize that forums are peoples opinions. Go try one for yourself and make your own decision instead of relying on what other people think.

Err0xx

 

[LadyHoneyBabe]

iPad freakin rox....I took it to work and let three people hold it, two of which are apple haters and all three of them are going to buy one. Amazing device!!

Clearly your experience with the haters is completely different. I show people the iPad, let them play games and they want to throw it out a window. I'm talking about HARDCORE Windows fans, not your everyday haters. People who say that everyone who owns an Apple device, with the exception of the iPod, has drank the Koolaid and buys products from a Dictator. And this is only the mild stuff they say.

So to hear all the negativity about the iPad then come on here and see negative posts about the iPad sort of supported what they were saying. I'm really glad I made this thread because I got a lot of answers to questions I had and I'm grateful to everyone who added their point of view (minus the posts that attacked me).

MacRumorsUser: Your post is still awesome, it was exactly what I needed. The whole disconnect viewpoint was excellent. It was like you could see exactly what I was saying.

 

[thejakill]

Clearly your experience with the haters is completely different. I show people the iPad, let them play games and they want to throw it out a window. I'm talking about HARDCORE Windows fans, not your everyday haters. People who say that everyone who owns an Apple device, with the exception of the iPod, has drank the Koolaid and buys products from a Dictator. And this is only the mild stuff they say.

You need to find better friends.

 

[flyingturtle]

To the OP: Yeah, if you feel that way, then it's cool. I think a lot of people do. A lot of my friends do too.

I was skeptical and bought it for work-related reasons (I'm a developer) and I'm actually surprised how much I like it. But if someone told me about or even showed me the iPad, I don't think I would have bought it thinking of as a luxury item, but I think eventually I would have bought it as the device evolves more, I think it's going be a game changer.

In it's current form it's a pretty cool device, the biggest thing is that people now having an easy to read ebook device in color and for Apple there's many reasons to enter this market, as the digital publishing mobile device arena is going to be huge with the Kindle still a niche (although well-received) device. So it's not a mistake by Apple, from a business viewpoint.

Plus now they have a video gaming console which is an important sector to be in, just like Microsoft realized several years ago by launching the XBOX.

The comparisons to the netbook is valid and yes I find that surfing on the netbook or laptop is better as browsing in Safari with the iPad, with it's constant loading of previous tabs can be annoying but definitely usable. I can do programming on the iPad (via iSSH and SSHing to a server and using VIM) but it's easier to do development on my netbook or laptop for sure.

But for what it does, iPad is very nice. In fact I find it indispensable now, replacing my need for my netbook or laptop for most of my daily activities, especially when I'm traveling or meeting with clients. It's a well-designed device.

The other thing to consider is what Apple actually plans to do with the device, it's overall roadmap. Laser projected keyboards are being actively developed by many companies including apple, replacing the need for physical keyboards. Apple has many patents on new UI, LCD and sensor technologies that will really will amaze people if they actually come out.

So the version of the iPad that we see now, may drastically change and evolve a several years from now.

Think back on the original iPod with it's small monochromatic screen, tiny memory and it's ability to only play mp3s, and see what it's become now. The market wasn't ready for the iPod at first but after awhile, as the market for mp3 devices grew and the public perception changed, it became a big hit. Who knows what the iPad will be like 3 or 5 years from now.