Just a big iPod touch? so is the Mac pro just a big Mac Mini?

[applemike]

People are saying things like "its just a big iPod touch"

Yes

But then again a 30 ACD is just a big 13 display

A Mac Pro is just a big Mac Mini.

This argument can be applied to many things.

The iPad is a media viewing device, that is what apple have created it for, the ipod touch is a media device. just the iPad is bigger, faster, better battery, and basically a diferent device.

So just think whan you say iPad is just a big iPod touch, because your iMac is just a big macbook that doesn't move.


Mike

 

[vannibombonato]

So just think whan you say iPad is just a big iPod touch, because your iMac is just a big macbook that doesn't move.


Mike

You're right, and that's why no one calls revolutionary the next bigger TV/computer/car/Sandwich/whatever.

 

[colmaclean]

Try encoding HD video on a Mac Mini and a Mac Pro. Big brother wins by an exponential amount.

The same couldn't really be said about the processor increment in the iPad over the iPod Touch.

That said, the additional screen real-estate of the iPad really could be a game changer. Obviously I'll have to get one in my hands before saying "is a game changer".

 

[applemike]

You're right, and that's why no one calls revolutionary the next bigger TV/computer/car/Sandwich/whatever.

get over devices, they are just modifications of things that already exist,

If you want to make a mark, make something new.
Even if it is almost impossible seeing as most things are already available.

mike

 

[maflynn]

People are saying things like "its just a big iPod touch"

Yes

But then again a 30 ACD is just a big 13 display

A Mac Pro is just a big Mac Mini.

This argument can be applied to many things.

Your logic is flawed. Take the mini/mac pro allusion. The Mac Pro, has the ability to change the video card, the mini does not. The mac pro has a much higher amount of ram. The Mac Pro has many more cores. In the end, both are computers and both are macs but that's where the similarities end. The Mac Pro is much more expandable, much more powerful and much more expensive. Two very different computers at two different price points for two very different markets.

As for the 30" display vs. 13" display. You're actually making the the point you don't want too. The only real difference between the two (all things being equal) is screen real estate.

The same with the iPad and the iPod touch. While the internals are quite different, it is just a big iPod touch, and its even being marketed as such. A device that's less computer but more then an iPhone/ipod touch.

 

[Sketh]

I'm fairly sure you just made a portion of his point for him, Maflynn.

The analogy between a mac mini and pro is a pretty good comparison. So you can switch out the video card in the Mac Pro. Even then what is it? A bigger more powerful version of the mac mini.

So you saying "both computers are macs, but that's where the similarities end" would be the same for the iPad and iPod touch.

 

[mrklaw]

As for the 30" display vs. 13" display. You're actually making the the point you don't want too. The only real difference between the two (all things being equal) is screen real estate.

The same with the iPad and the iPod touch. While the internals are quite different, it is just a big iPod touch, and its even being marketed as such. A device that's less computer but more then an iPhone/ipod touch.

but that simple difference in screen size can massively change how productive the computing environment is, and simply put lets you do more stuff.

You can't realistically run photoshop or final cut on a 13" macbook pro. CPU is fine, its real estate you're missing.

Same with ipod touch/ipad. So far, apps have been written purely for the small ipod screen. Look at some of the amazing stuff already available. We have no idea what cool things will be produced for the ipad - it has massive possibilities opened up by 'just' having a bigger screen.

IMO its more than the jump between a 13" screen and a 30" one. You're not only increasing physical real estate, but you have multitouch too - nobody has yet explored what you can do with a large multitouch device. Ipod has been limited to basic swipes, one handed gestures. Ipad can reasonably use two handed gestures, and more than one user interacting at the same time.

Its as brilliant as it is simple - just a big bit of multitouch glass as Ives described it. A completely blank canvas.

I'll buy one just to browse the internet in a nice way, with long battery life, freeing up my MBP for real tasks. But the potential from apps is very appealing too

 

[maflynn]

Its as brilliant as it is simple - just a big bit of multitouch glass as Ives described it. A completely blank canvas.

Brillant, not quite. Possibly a winner for apple? Perhaps. I'll be buying one, but I also understand that it is a just a big ipod touch and given all that I've read out in the media, that is the response of many people. Geeks and luddites alike. Doesn't matter if they're technically inclined, one of the first responses is that its a giant ipod touch.

If looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck - its a duck. This thing is quaking up a storm

 

[samcraig]

but that simple difference in screen size can massively change how productive the computing environment is, and simply put lets you do more stuff.

You can't realistically run photoshop or final cut on a 13" macbook pro. CPU is fine, its real estate you're missing.

Huh - what? You can definitely run and use both PS and FCP on a 13" macbook pro. Is it a preference? no - real estate is always nice to have. But to say you can't run it on a 13" monitor is trying to force your "square" comparison into a "round" hole.

Bad analogy.

 

[applemike]

Honestly, this is sparking the debate i was expecting it too, rather interesting points.

people are thinking inside the box about the iPad, think about the diference to the iPod not the similarities

Mike

 

[happyslayer]

I feel like I've been having this discussion with my clients a lot lately.

(I'm a computer consultant and a lot of my customers have asked me "What I think" about the iPad and "Would I buy one?")

I certainly will be getting one as soon as possible and here are my reasons why it is not just a "big iPod"

Really the only big difference is the screen, but it changes everything and makes it a different device... here are my reasons.

I am a Kindle2 owner and I also use the iPhone when I don't have my Kindle with me. I simply hate reading books on my iPhone (Kindle App) - its annoying to read one paragraph at a time then flipping screen/page. The new iBooks app looks excellent and you can see entire pages, not just a paragraph. (I wonder if the Kindle App will still work on the iPad.)

With the bigger screen we can actually do REAL work on the device. I use iWork a lot on my laptop and it will be nice to be able to open and do minor editing of my iWork & Office 08 docs on the device. It's almost impossible to do that on the iPhone.

Surfing the web will finally be a "good" experience on the iPad (I do not care about flash at all). Yes, I can and do surf on my iPhone, but it is also annoying to be constantly scrolling and zooming just to read a simple news article... or even these forums

I do not watch videos (much less a digitally downloaded movie) on the iPhone because I can barely see anything on the little screen. (This could be me as I am going to be 40 this year and will be "officially" old by my daughter's standards.) The iPad screen is bigger than most portable DVD players so it should be a much better portable movie player. I might actually download a movie or two now.

At least from the demo video, it looks like that larger screen will allow for a much better typing experience on the screen as well...

So just that larger screen makes the iPad a much better device (for certain things) as well as a different device and all around user experience than an iPod or Touch.

Also as someone else said earlier, that bigger screen is going to allow for some amazing apps that nobody has done or even thought of because they were so limited with the Touch or IPhone.

Just my opinion..

And I still can't wait to own one... where's that damn pre-order email?

 

[fobfob]

one of the first responses is that its a giant ipod touch.

Well if we want to get picky, the 3G version is *way* more than an iPod touch, although still a little short of the iPhone. 3G and GPS are killer features for me. There's no way I would buy the iPad if it didn't have these, and the iPod touch doesn't.

Calling the iPad a giant iPod touch is a neat and reasonably accurate single sentence that summarises what it is (although not what it does). The word "just" can be justified to compensate for all the Apple hype.

But in the end it's the Apps that count. The one thing that every single troll and naysayer that has come on here to complain about the iPad has ignored is the elephant in the room. That elephant is the App Store. Every time advocates point to the potential of the iPad and cite iWork for example, the critics change the subject (oh look: just an ipod touch, no flash, multitasking, camera...).

Although the iPhone was a sexy device with some fancy new tech, it didn't take off until the App Store delivered. The App Store (and by that, I mean the developers and the many apps they will create for iPad) is the major point of differentiation that other vendors are going to struggle to replicate.

Finally, for someone like me, the iPad could well be the perfect gaming platform. I consider the iPhone screen too cramped for any serious gaming experience, and I lose interest very quickly. But when I'm in front of my PC at home I have work to do and no time for games. Similarly, I never got into consoles because anytime I'm in front of the TV I've got way more interesting content to view (series, movies) than games.