Some people seem determined to turn the iPad into a desktop computer, come hell or high water.
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Something to ask yourself about the iPad and it's feature set.......
- Thread starter BruiserBear
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Some people seem determined to turn the iPad into a desktop computer, come hell or high water.
You took the words right out of my mouth. It is not a desktop replacement, it is a companion computing device that works in concert with your desktop or even your laptop that you leave at home because it is too large and cumbersome to carry every day.
I intend to use a 64GB + 3G model as my primary computer on Day 1. It will not be a companion device. It will be my "computer." I'll retain my existing household iMac to serve as a central media hub to store and sync (and update the OS until Apple allows that on the iPad itself...) and completely retire my MBP (and Kindle2 and Hackintosh Dell Mini9).
If such a set up does not meet your needs, that's fine. But why the beef with those for whom such a set up is entirely suitable?
The avg person does not care about stuff like that. The will be happy with less if you want to keep it real. The ipad is not a replacment for your laptop/desktop.
I think you may have missed a few posts. The beef is not with you, it's with people who compare the iPad to desktops/laptops and find it lacking.
Keyboard Dock - $69
VGA connectors - $29
No built in stand - Included in the keyboard dock
iWork suite - $29.97
Your total is $127.97.
$827.97 buys you a damn good 64GB iPad that is productive. Plus, many people will already have bluetooth keyboard that are fully compatible with the iPad and therefore save the $69 and just grab a $29 dock.
Fine. The original post I replied to stated: "iPad will debut with a very capable and feature rich productivity suite (iWork)." The only problem with that is the difference between $499 and your $827. Looks like a $328+tax+shipping difference to me.
$499 is the price of the 16GB model. aaquib used the 64GB model as the base for his calculations. I think the 16GB model will be fine for most productivity needs, so I dare say $627 gets you a pretty functional mobile productivity device.
I started the thread and I never compared the iPad to a desktop or laptop. I only suggested they could/should have expanded just a bit on the iPhone OS to truly differentiate the iPad, rather than just saying "look at the big beautiful screen. Isn't it a revolutionary product"?
But don't keep me from letting you repeat that same argument everyone has been using to defend the iPad's obvious deficiencies, even when the argument doesn't fit.
Somebody somewhere in this thread did make a statement more strongly suggesting that the iPad was deficient compared to a desktop. Threads have a way of going places not intended in the OP, so not everything said in a thread is a direct response to the OP.
That said, it's true that I don't see the need for iPad to differentiate from the iPhone OS. I think the iPhone OS is pretty powerful as it is, and having that on a bigger screen alone would make the experience that much more enjoyable.
The iPad has the iWork suite, making it closer to a Mac than ever before. The iPhone/ iPod touch does not have it yet. It's optimized for a perfect book reading experience with its screen size. While the iPhone/ iPt can read books, the screen is a tad too small versus the iPad.
However, I personally wish that Apple had given it multitasking.
i love how all the trolls are saying apple was lazy and didn't do anything but make ipad a bigger version of ipod touch blah blah blah and how it's not revolutionary.
it's revolutionary in it's design and function. just having more isn't revolutionary. it's what you do with what you have that makes the difference, and how it's able to be used.
it's revolutionary in it's design and function. just having more isn't revolutionary. it's what you do with what you have that makes the difference, and how it's able to be used.
you lost me at "trolls". Just because people have a differing opinion doesn't make them trolls. The sooner everyone stops name calling and using hyperbole, the sooner people can be taken seriously
my .02
If Apple created yet another OS, customized for the iPad, the developers would have most likely been screwed and the entire app store content would not work on now a 3rd OS. The iPhone OS is the "hybrid" OSX Apple is using on it's mobile devices. It may evolve over the next few years but Apple has clearly chosen it's two OS's. They wouldn't have bothered making iWorks touch if they had any plans for yet another OS. It's not going to happen so talking about it is pointless.
The Windows 7/Android tablets will be available soon. Pretty easy choice, if you don't' want the iPad/iPhone OS, go buy them. Simple choice. Wishing Apple changes their plans because a few people can't seem to grasp how they design their products simply isn't going to happen.
If you look back at Apple's history when SJ has been in charge, the moves he makes are never just like all the rest. Apple is growing because they are not just another sheep copying other companies. Apple and MS are the only two companies with the hardware, software and cash to do whatever they want. Apple does, MS has Balmer... the rest follow.
The Windows 7/Android tablets will be available soon. Pretty easy choice, if you don't' want the iPad/iPhone OS, go buy them. Simple choice. Wishing Apple changes their plans because a few people can't seem to grasp how they design their products simply isn't going to happen.
If you look back at Apple's history when SJ has been in charge, the moves he makes are never just like all the rest. Apple is growing because they are not just another sheep copying other companies. Apple and MS are the only two companies with the hardware, software and cash to do whatever they want. Apple does, MS has Balmer... the rest follow.
I look at it as planned obsoletion. I also look at it this way (hardware wise). Sure they can cram 15 megapixels into a camera, but make sure you can do 8 megapixels right, before you move on.
I think a lot of people see a new product and think it has to have what everything else has right off the bat.
Sure, the internet is the way we compare/complain/suggest, but for me, I'm just happy they are looking at new products. The Model T didn't have GPS...
I think a lot of people see a new product and think it has to have what everything else has right off the bat.
Sure, the internet is the way we compare/complain/suggest, but for me, I'm just happy they are looking at new products. The Model T didn't have GPS...
I'm not sure there isn't a single feature that's missing really that bugs me.
I don't want a different OS. From the developer side, this is going to be a snap to get up and running.
I don't use flash, even on my laptops and desktops, so won't miss it on the iPad.
I can't even see a practical use for a camera on the thing.
I don't want a different OS. From the developer side, this is going to be a snap to get up and running.
I don't use flash, even on my laptops and desktops, so won't miss it on the iPad.
I can't even see a practical use for a camera on the thing.
Well, if you were Apple, you want to have an idea how well the product may sell. Plus, I think Apple look at performance per battery life. Apple wants to optimize the product and cost and profit. iPad, its launch form, will give idea how well the iPhone os work in a tablet in the real world. This research allow them to get real feedback on quality respect to network(AT&T & home) and product itself before they beef up the unit. If you can wait next year for iPad 4g, then you will be left out in the fun. So, rest of us can party or get busy on our new shiny toy, tool!!!
I think the OP has a good point.
Apple had it right when they started with the iPhone OS for use on their tablet. They problem is that's exactly where they stopped. It's the same OS that debuted with the iPhone in 2007, third-party apps not withstanding (the OS still functions the same). If you look at the history of operating systems, new versions with significant changes are released about every 3 years. Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 were all released within the last decade. On the Mac OS X side, there are major differences between Cheetah, Panther, Tiger, and Leopard.
Three years after the iPhone, not only is the OS due for a substantial update, Apple is launching an entirely new device! Nevertheless, the iPad has the same features, limitations, UI, and embarrassing grid of icons as the original iPhone.
The iPad is supposed to do the basic computing that the average user spends most of their time doing. The problem is that the basic tasks users perform on a computer go beyond browsing the web, checking email, and using an app. There are some very common and basic tasks that users do everyday with their computers:
1.) Print. Users print documents from a variety of programs on their computers.
2.) Manage files. Users save and manage their own documents on the computer everyday. It's not about browsing every directory and system file on the hard drive. It's about accessing their own files which they copy, organize, rename, email, and delete.
3.) Connect USB devices. Users connect all types of USB devices to their computers, especially thumb drives for easy file transfers. The beauty of USB is that you just connect the device and it just works because all the necessary drivers are loaded automatically.
4.) Download codecs and driver updates. When users come across media, etc. that the computer doesn't support, usually the necessary components will be downloaded automatically, transparent to the user. This allows the device to stay current and not limit the user to a predefined set of supported formats.
5.) Multi-task. Users are used to opening multiple programs at once, but more importantly, they are used to switching back and forth between them very quickly.
All these things are simple tasks that users perform everyday. Support for certain things through apps is not enough. The worst part about the lack of support for anything like this on the iPad is the fact that it could be added without adding any complexity. In fact, ignoring multi-tasking, the entire UI could remain unchanged and the iPad could still support everything on the list!
As users browse the web or maps, they are going to want to print them. They are going to want to download files and save them. Safari on the iPad doesn't even use tabs!
As users check email, they are going to want to save and work with attachments (not just pictures). They are going to want to receive mp3 files and play them. Hell, you can't even add attachments from within the iPad email client!
As users create documents in iWork, they are going to want to print them and save them to a thumb drive. They don't want to have to email themselves or sync them through iTunes.
They are going to want to do stuff in the foreground while they get a message to their IM client in background. They don't want every message to pop up on their entire screen as a Push notification.
It is such a shame that Apple didn't build upon the iPhone OS when they launched a new device with a tablet form-factor. As it stands now, the iPad can't be considered a tablet computer. Although it does some basic computing tasks that the average user spends most of their time doing, it doesn't have support for features that come along with those tasks.
Apple had it right when they started with the iPhone OS for use on their tablet. They problem is that's exactly where they stopped. It's the same OS that debuted with the iPhone in 2007, third-party apps not withstanding (the OS still functions the same). If you look at the history of operating systems, new versions with significant changes are released about every 3 years. Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 were all released within the last decade. On the Mac OS X side, there are major differences between Cheetah, Panther, Tiger, and Leopard.
Three years after the iPhone, not only is the OS due for a substantial update, Apple is launching an entirely new device! Nevertheless, the iPad has the same features, limitations, UI, and embarrassing grid of icons as the original iPhone.
The iPad is supposed to do the basic computing that the average user spends most of their time doing. The problem is that the basic tasks users perform on a computer go beyond browsing the web, checking email, and using an app. There are some very common and basic tasks that users do everyday with their computers:
1.) Print. Users print documents from a variety of programs on their computers.
2.) Manage files. Users save and manage their own documents on the computer everyday. It's not about browsing every directory and system file on the hard drive. It's about accessing their own files which they copy, organize, rename, email, and delete.
3.) Connect USB devices. Users connect all types of USB devices to their computers, especially thumb drives for easy file transfers. The beauty of USB is that you just connect the device and it just works because all the necessary drivers are loaded automatically.
4.) Download codecs and driver updates. When users come across media, etc. that the computer doesn't support, usually the necessary components will be downloaded automatically, transparent to the user. This allows the device to stay current and not limit the user to a predefined set of supported formats.
5.) Multi-task. Users are used to opening multiple programs at once, but more importantly, they are used to switching back and forth between them very quickly.
All these things are simple tasks that users perform everyday. Support for certain things through apps is not enough. The worst part about the lack of support for anything like this on the iPad is the fact that it could be added without adding any complexity. In fact, ignoring multi-tasking, the entire UI could remain unchanged and the iPad could still support everything on the list!
As users browse the web or maps, they are going to want to print them. They are going to want to download files and save them. Safari on the iPad doesn't even use tabs!
As users check email, they are going to want to save and work with attachments (not just pictures). They are going to want to receive mp3 files and play them. Hell, you can't even add attachments from within the iPad email client!
As users create documents in iWork, they are going to want to print them and save them to a thumb drive. They don't want to have to email themselves or sync them through iTunes.
They are going to want to do stuff in the foreground while they get a message to their IM client in background. They don't want every message to pop up on their entire screen as a Push notification.
It is such a shame that Apple didn't build upon the iPhone OS when they launched a new device with a tablet form-factor. As it stands now, the iPad can't be considered a tablet computer. Although it does some basic computing tasks that the average user spends most of their time doing, it doesn't have support for features that come along with those tasks.
And that's all it is, a shame, if even that. Why should Apple have waited to update the OS before they announced the iPad? They can update the OS any time they are ready; it's not like their only window to do so was on the announcement date. Besides, updating the OS shouldn't be device-specific - it's cross-platform (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad); a 'hybrid' OS just for the iPad because the OP wanted 'a little differentiation' is nonsense (why would arbitrary differentiation be important to anybody?).
I hear this all the time; usually it relies on an arbitrary definition of 'tablet computer' concocted to serve the speaker's argument. What difference does it make if you can consider it a 'tablet computer' or not? Most of the people buying and using it won't care:
"Hey, I see you have an iPad. That's not a 'real' tablet computer."
"Oh."
*Shrugs, goes back to doing whatever he or she was doing before such a revelation"
***
I can't wait for the day I never have to waste time managing files again. I don't look for devices that let me manage files.
That's funny, the thing that you say is more important is what the iPad will let you do. Most people don't even know keyboard shortcuts for switching between apps. If an app saves its state on close, there is literally no difference between how most people use multitasking and app-switching (cue objections about radio streaming and IM, truly the Achilles' heel of the success of any device).
There are a bunch of app solutions to file management on the app store already. The fact is, using files is a fundamental part of computing, the iPad won't change that.
Users don't have to download drivers or codecs, it happens automatically when the user wants to access a file that requires them. With the feature, the user can access the content seamlessly. Without, the user can't open the content at all. Which do you think is better?
What is the alternative? Files are a fundamental part of operating systems. You can't just say that you don't want to manage files. Anything a user creates is stored as a file.
You think that browsing files cover-flow on a per app basis is a better solution? You want to flip through every word processing document you've created in Pages one by one till you find the one you want? No grouping by work files, personal files, school files by subject, or date created... just one big train of documents.
You want each app to manage only the files of that particular type? That's ridiculous. You would to have to launch Pages to attach a word processing document to an email, launch numbers to attach a spreadsheet, launch photos to attach a picture, and launch a PDF app to attach a PDF. You would have to launch a particular app just to do basic things like renaming or deleting a file.
It's entirely backwards from how desktop OS's evolved. File association emerged that allowed users to open a file and it would automatically launch the appropriate program. Now you want it so you must launch a particular app to manipulate the appropriate file - not even to edit it but just to delete or rename it?
On a computer you can switch between applications with a mouse click. At a glance of the task/icon bar they can see any program is currently open. You really think saving states is comparable?