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Whip out iPad at bus stop? Why Not? Whip out Netbook at bus stop? Probably not.
- Thread starter sfmountainbiker
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This whole thread makes me glad I don't take the Bus.Personal transportation FTW!
I wish i had personal transport, Got my driving licence, just cant afford to drive,
Stupid car price, stupid insurance, tax, MOT.... Gets expensive quick
I'm happy to be able to amuse you.
However, I really don't see getting mugged in the Marina or Financial District. Twin Peaks, where I live, is essentially a suburb, and admitedly my bus stop is down the street from the Police Academy (plus as I mentioned I'm a pretty big guy), so I really never worry about such things. But then I didn't worry about such things when I lived in the Height district either...
This thread makes me wonder if Apple has built in this level of paranoia into it's sales models. Sounds like most people here will be afraid to take this thing out of the house! Not much good as a mobile device then, I'd say...
Whatever man. I live in a mixed income community near downtown Chicago, so I think I know a thing or two about "urban safety".
I use my iPhone 3GS (which is worth more than an entry level iPad) everywhere I go - bus stops, subway, checkout lines, city parks. I see people everywhere around me using expensive phones and netbooks all the time. I keep close eye on crime reports in my area, and have yet to see a mugging specifically targeting some shiny consumer electronics gadget.
Do muggings happen? Of course they do, especially in major cities. But mobile electronics is not what typically attracts the kind of people who are likely to pull this sort of thing. They're typically junkies who target wallets/purses in hope of quick cash (or jewelry can that be easily turned into cash), so they can fund their next hit.
This whole debate is kind of pointless anyway. Obviously you can live your life however makes you comfortable. But personally I fail to see the point of owning expensive mobile electronics and not using them in "on-the-go" situations. It's as silly as buying a $120K Porsche GTS but never driving it out on a highway because of a fear of accidents.
That summed it up perfectly, right there.
I in no way shape or form will be weary of pulling out my iPad anywhere in public when I'm standing in one place, though I never take a bus, I live in an area where I think even the roughest part of the city wouldn't try something like that.
I'm happy to be able to amuse you.
However, I really don't see getting mugged in the Marina or Financial District. Twin Peaks, where I live, is essentially a suburb, and admitedly my bus stop is down the street from the Police Academy (plus as I mentioned I'm a pretty big guy), so I really never worry about such things. But then I didn't worry about such things when I lived in the Height district either...
This thread makes me wonder if Apple has built in this level of paranoia into it's sales models. Sounds like most people here will be afraid to take this thing out of the house! Not much good as a mobile device then, I'd say...
So basically you're asking us if YOU can use your iPad at a bus stop?
I guess I didn't properly understand the theme of the thread.
I hope your briefcase has a hard case. Otherwise, you probably would have a cracked screen already. Basically, you will need a case for the iPad. You can't throw it in a bag by itself.
The purpose of the thread, before it was hijacked by paranoia-fueled rants about muggings, was simply to point out that standing at the bus stop I could envision myself using an iPad whereas I could not envision using a netbook. That is all.
:doh:
What's with you guys? Really? It would probably be cracked already? What's with the pessimism? You guys must have had a lot of bad experiences to be so paranoid of cracked screens and muggings.
No, I don't have a James Bond metal briefcase, and no, I'm not worried the thing would crack instantly. I wouldn't go sitting on my briefcase either...just as I wouldn't go around a bad neighborhood flashing this thing around.
Common sense people...common sense.
I personally would never whip out my iPad in a busy public area.
However I can picture it being a pleasure to take out of my bag to use when in a cafe etc, waiting at the doctors and general waiting in less busy area's. Although there's always going to be people using it in public, I mean aren't Apple products just impressive? I know I feel a 'wow' factor when I see anyone with an iPhone or MacBook (usually in Starbucks).
- People will watch what you're doing
- Risk of thieft
- Risk of breakage because of weather, splashes, drops etc.
However I can picture it being a pleasure to take out of my bag to use when in a cafe etc, waiting at the doctors and general waiting in less busy area's.
Although there's always going to be people using it in public, I mean aren't Apple products just impressive? I know I feel a 'wow' factor when I see anyone with an iPhone or MacBook (usually in Starbucks).
Getting back to the OP's question in the topic. I believe he hit on the very thing Apple is aiming at. The iPad is not intended to be a laptop replacement.
Why don't you whip out your laptop/netbook on the bus, doctor's office, short plane ride, sitting on your sofa to look up something quickly? Too big, too long to boot-up, and too awkward to navigate in a confined space.
If you had a device that wasn't too big to whip out quickly no matter where you were, instantly booted up and was ready to use quickly, and was easy to navigate even in confined spaces:
- would you take it with more places than you do your laptop/netbook?
- though you have a smart phone, would a larger screen be a much more enjoyable experience?
- why would you then want to cripple such a device by adding back some of the very features that keep you from carrying similar devices now?
The iPad will not fit everyone's portability needs and for you there is the macbook, macbook air, and macbook pros. However, there is, I believe, a larger number of people with and without laptops who will fully enjoy what an iPad allows them to do.
Why don't you whip out your laptop/netbook on the bus, doctor's office, short plane ride, sitting on your sofa to look up something quickly? Too big, too long to boot-up, and too awkward to navigate in a confined space.
If you had a device that wasn't too big to whip out quickly no matter where you were, instantly booted up and was ready to use quickly, and was easy to navigate even in confined spaces:
- would you take it with more places than you do your laptop/netbook?
- though you have a smart phone, would a larger screen be a much more enjoyable experience?
- why would you then want to cripple such a device by adding back some of the very features that keep you from carrying similar devices now?
The iPad will not fit everyone's portability needs and for you there is the macbook, macbook air, and macbook pros. However, there is, I believe, a larger number of people with and without laptops who will fully enjoy what an iPad allows them to do.
Yeah? And how would you know that? How many cracked iphone screens have you seen, I know I' ve dropped mine upwards of 15 times and it's as solid as they come, albeit a bit worn out.
Whipping out an iPad at a bus stop is the same thing as saying "Steal my new Apple device please".
People wear black or green earbuds because of this very same thing. There are a LOT of people that would love to grab it and run away.
People wear black or green earbuds because of this very same thing. There are a LOT of people that would love to grab it and run away.
This is exactly what I thought of that changed my mind and got me considering the iPad after the initial
I had watching the keynote.Patrix.
This whole thread makes me glad I don't take the Bus.
Whip out any instant on/off device at a bus stop. A net book needs time to boot.
Common sense people...common sense.
Dude, hello? You're looking for common sense on the Macrumors forums??? Have you read some of the other threads on here? And no I'm not entirely joking here.
Getting back to your point though, I'm still a bit undecided on this. I would not take an iPad along with me unless I was going somewhere carrying an additional bag. Whereas many people bring their iPhone with them because it is small and fits in their pocket. Someone on here commented that they put their iPhone in their purse all the time, I don't think that will be nearly as common with the iPad (case or no case) because it's so much larger.
Given this, if I were waiting at a bus stop with a backpack, yeah maybe I'd take it out. But the thing is, I would not take it out unless I envisioned using it for a reasonable amount of time. I would not feel like pulling out the device to say check the temperature, or a few stock quotes, or if there was any email. I would if I saw myself spending 5-10 minutes reading an article. Putting it in that perspective, I begin to wonder how often an appropriate situation really comes up throughout my daily routine. Personally speaking, I think there are more circumstances in which one would bust out an iPhone/iPT versus an iPad, and then I start wondering are there so many times I would be using an iPad that would justify the cost?
Ruahrc
The cracks in the screen will come because of pressure, not dropping. I'm sure the coating on the iPad provides protection just like the iPhone which keeps it from easily scratching or cracking when dropped. I'm not sure if you have ever dealt with screens before, but the larger the screen, the easier it is to break due to pressure on it. This is why you will see lots of reports of cracked screens with any touch screen device with larger glass.
Of course the larger it is the easier to break, but you are still speculating on a product that no one knows how tough will be. And judging by apple's expertise and development times, it's going to be pretty breakage resistant. And trust me pressure on a glass screen is not serious compared to 1.5 metres drops on concrete....
Why not? Because you'd pull out your iPhone instead.
/thread
(or in case you don't understand... the iPhone is already the device meant for quick use while out and waiting at a bus stop, bank teller line, restaurant , etc.)