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Ordered an Ipad for parents, will I become a convert?

W

WalledMacGarden

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 18, 2010
150
0
I have no Apple products and can't stand the walled garden aspect of Apple products. I'm mostly an open source kinda guy, I want to have FULL control from changing parts to using what I want...not what Steve thinks is best for me.:D

Now with that said, the sheer ease of use and ability to zoom for poor vision of this Ipad is perfect for my parents. The banking apps to the comcast app, it's simply all they will need and keep them from going to the wrong sites. The Ipad is much more an appliance than a PC, I know I will be getting less calls for support.:)

I'm thinking this product could just be the thing to push someone closer to entering into Steve's walled garden. I will be using an Apple product for the first time, albeit for a short time to teach my parents, the only other time was using a friends Mac to test a site I built. I hope I'm not going to be indoctrinated into the cult of Steve Jobs!:eek:
 
If you're very principled and want to stick to the open-source philosophy, you won't become a convert. That being said almost everyone can find something they like about the iPad, it's just a matter of whether or not you want to spend the money to buy and use one.
 
WalledMacGarden said:
I have no Apple products and can't stand the walled garden aspect of Apple products. I'm mostly an open source kinda guy, I want to have FULL control from changing parts to using what I want...not what Steve thinks is best for me.:D

Now with that said, the sheer ease of use and ability to zoom for poor vision of this Ipad is perfect for my parents. The banking apps to the comcast app, it's simply all they will need and keep them from going to the wrong sites. The Ipad is much more an appliance than a PC, I know I will be getting less calls for support.:)

I'm thinking this product could just be the thing to push someone closer to entering into Steve's walled garden. I will be using an Apple product for the first time, albeit for a short time to teach my parents, the only other time was using a friends Mac to test a site I built. I hope I'm not going to be indoctrinated into the cult of Steve Jobs!:eek:
Click to expand...


Those of us who have been "indoctrinated into the cult of Steve Jobs" (a term which is none to flattering) have not fallen blindly in line behind some despot. We see, like you do, a company that makes quality products with high re-sale value, with a greater user interface, virtually free of malware or viruses. As the saying goes, "they just work". Also, it may be a walled garden, but it a pretty big, beautiful walled garden. And you know, that is more than enough for some people (your parents apparently included). If it's not enough for you, you will no doubt stay where you are . . . at least some of the time.

- It is an awfully nice place to visit.
 
You will buy your Photo of Steve Jobs:

You will buy your months supply of cinnamon incense.

You will buy your iPad.

You will buy your traveling alter for use in hotels that do not have one.

You will buy your Apple liturgy App for iPad so you may worship with all other converts.

You will worship at the alter every morning and every evening.

You will be happy and fulfilled.

You will be happy and fulfilled.

You will be happy and fulfilled.

:) :) :)
 
Doesn't sound like you will succumb to the temptation. Sounds like your mind has firmly established that Steve is the "debil" and that macs are pure hype ("all hat and no cattle" as they say).
Besides, you can just wait until someone in the Windows/PC world borrows heavily from the design and function of the iPad or other Mac concept and creates a reasonable copy.
Since your parents don't need a "real" computer they should be happy with this "appliance".
 
62tele said:
Doesn't sound like you will succumb to the temptation. Sounds like your mind has firmly established that Steve is the "debil" and that macs are pure hype ("all hat and no cattle" as they say).
Besides, you can just wait until someone in the Windows/PC world borrows heavily from the design and function of the iPad or other Mac concept and creates a reasonable copy.
Since your parents don't need a "real" computer they should be happy with this "appliance".
Click to expand...


Never said it wasn't a real computer, and the term appliance is a complement, it works and does what it is sold to do, but that' basically it. Honestly most people don't want to tinker, they want it to perform the task it should, simply, easily & fast, they don't want to upgrade parts.

I think we are sadly moving away from the term computer...do we call a car a computer, or your phone, but they pretty much are. In very short time computers will integrated with homes, and even us, the day of the desktop will sadly disappear. I still want my hulking metal case, I want to be able to open it up and fix it myself or upgrade, I still keep my 8088.

I'm just more of a computer enthusiast, heck I hate the new cars, I long for the days you could easily work on an engine, now they are so packed tight you can hardly get at anything, but you can't say the new cars are not safe or user friendly, they are in many ways better.
 
I always told myself I was never going to get more than an iPod. Little did I know, I would end up buying an iPad among other things. I absolutely love Apple products and plan on getting a MacBook in the near future.
 
WalledMacGarden said:
....The Ipad is much more an appliance than a PC, I know I will be getting less calls for support.:)

I'm thinking this product could just be the thing to push someone closer to entering into Steve's walled garden. I will be using an Apple product for the first time, albeit for a short time to teach my parents, the only other time was using a friends Mac to test a site I built. I hope I'm not going to be indoctrinated into the cult of Steve Jobs!:eek:
Click to expand...
You are right, it is an 'appliance' more than a general purpose computer, and it leaves behind most of the difficulties.

I just don't get a lot of the 'walled garden' concerns, it is no more or less a walled garden than an Xbox, PS3 or Wii - and a much more useful walled garden than your Cable box ;)
 
WalledMacGarden said:
I have no Apple products and can't stand the walled garden aspect of Apple products. I'm mostly an open source kinda guy, I want to have FULL control from changing parts to using what I want...not what Steve thinks is best for me.:D

Now with that said, the sheer ease of use and ability to zoom for poor vision of this Ipad is perfect for my parents. The banking apps to the comcast app, it's simply all they will need and keep them from going to the wrong sites. The Ipad is much more an appliance than a PC, I know I will be getting less calls for support.:)

I'm thinking this product could just be the thing to push someone closer to entering into Steve's walled garden. I will be using an Apple product for the first time, albeit for a short time to teach my parents, the only other time was using a friends Mac to test a site I built. I hope I'm not going to be indoctrinated into the cult of Steve Jobs!
Click to expand...

Hey, even if you're not the market for the iPad (or Apple products in general) you at least acknowledge that there is a valid market out there for the "walled garden" of Steve Jobs. That puts you way ahead of the majority of your open source / Windows peers. You appear to recognize what the iPad is..... and what it isn't. That's the first step in getting help. :D
 
jasg49 said:
You are right, it is an 'appliance' more than a general purpose computer, and it leaves behind most of the difficulties.

I just don't get a lot of the 'walled garden' concerns, it is no more or less a walled garden than an Xbox, PS3 or Wii - and a much more useful walled garden than your Cable box ;)
Click to expand...

I think Steve has certainly lowered the wall over the years, allowing outsiders to make apps (of course approved apps) was big. I'm actually surprised he allows access to the internet and not just through those approved apps, must be hard for him though.:D The walled garden is a concern to many like myself, and even average Apple users would like more options, oh and I don't like my cable box at all, way to walled much more so than Apple.

Actually the walled garden that is Apple is a positive in many ways, and one reason I know it's better for my parents. I'm just more of a don't tell me what I want kinda person and willing to take the good and the bad of the freedom. I don't want someone else tell me how low or high brightness should be set at, or how many programs I can run, why I shouldn't need a USB port, want handwriting recognition, or who's third party accessories I can use, the list goes on.

BUT, I can deal with the issues, and know what programs are running in the background and how much resources they use, unlike my parents or the majority of people. So you allow too much, people will have issues and blame you, that's why Apple is becoming so successful, they make finished easy to use products for the masses. I have built all my computers, if I could fab a processor I probably would:D I like the issues, I like finding out why something didn't work, or making things work the way I want...I don't even like Windows 7 since certain things I can't change and it bugs me.
 
I use to think like you do. I built all my computers and loved to tinker. Then I realized I was tired of dealing with PC's and Windows. The same problems over and over again.

I found Apple products to be a breath of fresh air. The products are solid (for the most part) and well designed, yet, there is still room to tinker.

Let me put it this way. If you like to tinker, Apple products are just a new road you haven't taken. You might actually enjoy it. :)
 
Much like "it's a big iPod touch", I've never gotten why "walled garden" is supposed to deter me. I'd love a nice walled garden in my backyard. I think this is a bit of propaganda fail.
 
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