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Why I'm not buying an iPad (and think you shouldn't either)

I'm buying an iPad tomorrow, and I can't wait. However, I'm all for hearing alternate points of view, as long as they make sense. This article is just boring and reeks of someone ranting for page hits. Come up with a more intelligent article and I'll read it. I may not agree, but still...Write a decent article please.
 
link

Some of Gizmodo's scrutiny on Cory's article. It reiterates many of the same points brought up here, and adds some new ones. Looking back, it does seem like he is being a bit hypocritical/cynical in his examples and leaps of logic.

But you know what won't change these things? Refusing to buy an iPad, the stage for some of the most exciting software of the last decade. Nor will using Linux on a Lenovo laptop. It definitely won't help to sneer at everyone who is excited about the iPad, warts and all, and explain to us that we're dupes. And it is a sneer. It's talking down to hundreds of thousands of people who probably already know your position by heart. You may not read it like that, Cory, but I'm telling you that's how it comes off.
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undrpsi said:
Talk about whining :rolleyes:

I'll agree with the poster who said he sounded "..more like the tech gadget guy worried about the inevitable mass marketization and dumbing down of the computer as a household appliance..."

How can that be bad?

Oh...I know...when you think YOU are a prophet to the unwashed masses. How dare they revolt and choose something easy to use? What infidels they are questioning how their High Priests go about their daily rites? Who shall they call when a virus invades them? Where will they go to offer their tithes and offerings? Have we not sacrificed for them? Shorn ourselves of dignity by providing council at the Holy Temple of Best Buy? Worn sack clothe suites with arcane markings such as Geek Squad displayed upon them? Who are this miscreants who question the mysteries of USB, CD-ROM, or the holy .dll files themselves? HERETICS! BLASPHEMERS! UNHOLY QUESTIONERS OF THE FAITH OF GATES...They shall be punished! Hacked open and have the mark of the Apple burned into their flesh. We will not allow this defilement! We will flame...we will proclaim...we will teach them that the holy writs are for the initiated only...The common man has no business here...it is the domain of the priesthood!:p

(Note: if you look into the reformation of the christian faith, one of the things the priests didn't want to happen was for the 'common man' to be able to read and understand the bible. It would allow them to make their own choices about their faith and what they thought the bible really meant...I thought it was funny that the article the OP wanted us to read could easily have iPad removed and anything inserted in it's place. I mean, they talked about how the CD-ROM changed things...I am still trying to follow how that led to the iPad being an instrument of change...and an instrument of the Devil :) )
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This is actually a good angle on some of the negativism. It is astounding to me that some 31 years after I got my first personal computer that personal comptuers are still so ridiculously over complex for the normal person.

For some people this has allowed them to develop an identity as the computer guy, and causes them to be desired and wanted by those around them who are less tech savvy. I know I have pretty much been that person with my friends and family, and I don't particular like it. I have begged for the day that computer devices would be easy enough that you would not have to spend the time and energy installing and training every family member and friend on everything.

So while some out there take this as an assault on their developed identity and place in the world, I am glad to be free of it. I would love it if my parents would pick up an iPad and just be able to use it without having to call for my help or assistance all the time. Same for other people I know.

The only thing that bothers me is it has taken this long, and that is why I praise Apple. Everyone, including Apple, has had a generation plus to do something with this and overcome the obnoxiousness and complication and computers.

Computers have only become marginally easier to use over time, people have just sucked it up and become more educated to overcome the gap. I say with devices like the iPad, this will be less and less of an issue. That is why when people talk about having multiple usb ports and other kinds of access for the iPad they are missing the mark. The goal is to make this stuff seamless and easy. Not just another docking station of over-complication.
 
Techhie said:
Hey now :p

I'm not trying to come across as another ignorant...
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You posted on a fan forum a useless article that makes no concrete criticisms only hyperbole and rant. You then keep pushing the 'but guys..he makes good sense" rationale. Dude, last time...this is a FAN BOARD.

Let's review some basic facts.

"Apple is Dead" Written and masturbated by every tech writer (except maybe Pogue, Mossberg, and a few others). It's dead because they have their own OS which will not run what 96% (at the time 1995-ish) of US run. We have Windows 95 and we ARE the peoples mandate.

"Apple's iMac is just plain fruity" The release of the 'AIO' had PC users snickering. Comments included "hahah...no floppy disk" "It only has USB ports and no external display". Apple will never sell any of them, they're making stuff 95% of us will never buy.

"iPod? Why should I get one? It doesn't play CD's" At first a lot of people didn't know what to do with it...what was a surprise is PC users gobbled them up for the main use of trading MP3's (illegal and still is). When Apple released iTunes the "Why should I pay for my music? I can get whatever I want of the net" PTP aside...people said the iTunes would never make a nickel because of the availability of 'free' music.

"Apple should sell the iPhone to a 3rd party and distance themselves before it ruins them" I don't know why you and several others want to care how apple 'locked' you HaCkErzzz out and started that 'limiting' Applications store in iTunes. Personally...Why this is still being brought up puzzles me. Why not get a Symbian or Android phone then?

"This iPad is a joke...it won't play flash, or make a call, and for God's sake..it doesn't have a camera!"

Really? This is your idea of a consumer-fueled mega-corporation out to 'dumb us down' and take over the world? Really?

What I, and probably a lot of the 'Apple Faithful', remember is the dark times...when we were the butt of jokes and s******s. Remarks about how we were only 5% and were not going to make it another year. We kept the 'faith' because we knew there was something different about the plucky underdog. Some kind of "What the hell? Let's see how this works...Hey...You guys think this is cool?" Not Elitists at all...more like people watching an artist at work. For many years 'we' were geeks before it was cool to be a geek. Today's 'technologists' ($10 word...same *******) are not cut from the same cloth. We look to 'simple' tools that we can adapt to do more. We aren't as concerned that we can change the boats engines as, say, can we get cocktail wieners on the Lido deck :)

Apples best slogan, IMHO, is "think different"....we did...we like what we got. People come into OUR house (a fanboy site) and try to tell us the errors of your way. You think we 'just don't get it'....We do. After years of us being looked down and poo-pooed about we get it going and it's done well...NOW you want to come in here, again, and tell us the 'error' of our ways and how it can't be good for one company to control a market? You're kidding..right? This is our home...our 'free' land.

Check my posting history...I have pointed out good and bad of other companies. The one that comes to mind is Microsoft, not for Windows, but for the XBOX. It's a 'closed hardware and software' ecosystem with 'rigid controls' and full 'editorial input' and yet....do you post on XBOX.com ? I wonder. Why not start there...I hear those losers are ripe for enlightenment. (Note: that was a joke there...I love playing my XBOX online...and like iTunes think the boys at Redmond hit one out of the park with the marketplace they have built....See? I give credit where credit is due.) You should do the same...

Jay
Viva La Revolution! :apple:
 
Techhie said:
Yes, however it is not healthy for any single party to have that much of a grip on software or hardware development, regardless of who it is. We all know that it is obviously Apple's platform to do what they want with, but legal action doesn't always equate to something that promotes innovation or is economically sound (for anyone but Apple)
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I don't know. The closed system apple provides for the iPhone and iPod Touch are probably the best things about both products, and what sets them apart from all the competition. So in light of that, I am not sure how you can say that is always somehow a bad thing, or a wrong thing.

It is currently working smashingly well and a lot of people seem to appreciate it, and enjoy it, because while it may have some downsides, it also has a lot of upsides.
 
Techhie said:
BoingBoing's Cory Doctorow gives a very insightful look at the iPad and its media from "outside the reality-distortion field."

Worth a 5 minute read, it was a breath of fresh air in sorting through all of the hype surrounding tomorrow's launch. Nice to see a sensible person on the other side of the fence who doesn't belong to the "It's just a Big iPhone" camp.

link
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I wouldn't exactly call it insightful.

So he's pissed this will stop learning because you can't take it apart. It's a new hot piece of technology that people want to get their hands on. And they give you the SDK FOR FREE to make all of the programs you want to run on the thing. That seems like a great tool to get people developing things on the software side. But you can't take it apart... so I guess it's bad. Seems petty to me.

Someone show this guy sparkfun.com or parallax.com if he thinks you need to take apart and actually assemble hardware to learn and develop things. He can solder all of the boards he wants there. They are full of resources.

Of course this is different than when the II+ was rolled out. Computers have come light years since that time. I'd bet more iPads have already sold than II+ ever sold. That doesn't make the iPad "good" or "better" but it shows how things have changed since the glory days this guy seems to love.

He just reminds me of an old man grumpy that times have changed. "I want my comic books and Apple II+ computer!" Knock yourself out. I'll take my iPad and Netflix streaming thank you.
 
vini-vidi-vici said:
This guy's argument makes about as much sense as people who want to buy car parts and assemble their own automobiles. Great - go do that. In the meantime, I'll go buy a Honda... and be stuck in the "Honda ecosystem" - oh no.

If other companies want to compete, they can go build their own thing - nobody is stopping them. Apple has just done it way better and first. And that has a lot of other people freaking out.
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Well said.

I just wanted to quote that to make sure people have another opportunity to read it.
 
My only beef with the iPad is that I was expecting a tool, and Apple offered me a toy. I have no personal vendetta against the iPad, and I'm sure those people whose needs will be met by it will enjoy it very much.

So, I'll be waiting to see what gen 2 (or 3) brings.
 
LucidPsychosis said:
My only beef with the iPad is that I was expecting a tool, and Apple offered me a toy. I have no personal vendetta against the iPad, and I'm sure those people whose needs will be met by it will enjoy it very much.

So, I'll be waiting to see what gen 2 (or 3) brings.
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That's the best argument against the thing IMO.
 
Doctrow represents the worst of the "elite" tech journalists that crawl around San Francisco - all those of the TechTV, CNET, and PCMag bloodlines (some of these guys are great, however). Yes, a comic book app is horrible - because sure, you can't give your old comics away, but who would really want to carry hundreds of comics with them or buy an old comic they meant to read right on their couch and be reading it within minutes.

Simplicity is a bad thing? Oh how I wish I still had to crank my car in the morning instead of pushing a button to start it.

I think Cory does a lot of good things, but this isn't one of them. The product is not software, not hardware - there is no need to "open it up."
 
LucidPsychosis said:
My only beef with the iPad is that I was expecting a tool, and Apple offered me a toy. I have no personal vendetta against the iPad, and I'm sure those people whose needs will be met by it will enjoy it very much.

So, I'll be waiting to see what gen 2 (or 3) brings.
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EddyP said:
That's the best argument against the thing IMO.
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Define "tool"

A 'labor saving' device maybe?

Define "Labor"

Net search..does that.
Email...does that.
Edit documents...does that.
Edit photos...does that.
Display photos...does that.
Watch multimedia...does that.
Listen to music...does that.
Listen to audiobooks...does that.
Read e-books...does that.
"FREE" SDK kit....does that.
Online e-university lectures...does that. (One of my favs!)

It may not do all these things in a way everyone else does (closed file system, limited printing capability, and lack of ports)...but it does it in it's own way.

What kind of 'tool' were you looking for? Make popcorn? Oh..there is a home control app that would probably allow you to run your microwave (but you would have to put the bag in first).

I mean, seriously, did you expect it to be powered by anti-matter? Cure cancer? Generate more hit's on your facebook page? (actually it might do that too)...

Viva La Revolution! :apple:
 
Same boring crap stated a million times already.

Most people don't buy/own/use their devices (tools, equipment) for the purpose of tearing them apart. They buy them, own them, use them for the purpose of using them. That's it. Most people want to use them.

The great thing about the iPad is that from from the very beginning, from the first minutes of SJ showing us on January 27th the "magical device," is that we knew it can do much of what we want a computer to do in a most enjoyable way. We aren't buying iPads to see its guts (although the FCC photos are fun to see (take note, there is no camera or place for one in those photos)), we are buying iPads to use them, and enjoy using them. That's it.

Ignore this crap, let the "techies" whine because Apple doesn't build the best equipment for them. Apple builds the best equipment for all of us to use. The rest of us are going to get on with our lives and enjoy the tools we know will serve us well.

Those of you getting your iPad tomorrow, enjoy! Those of us waiting until about April 24th, we envy you!
 
Tomorrow, should my iPad deliver on schedule, will be the first Apple product I've owned since the original iPod.

I'm one of those elitist pricks. Those tech guys that know way more than I should and its an obsession for me. While I'm @ work, I surf the techblogs endlessly, all day, etc.

My father introduced me to PCs with the Vic-20 and I've been building PCs for a better part of 25 years now. I currently have a Core i7-920 on water @ 4.2 Ghz, SLI 275s, 12 GB of ram, 1000W PSU, etc.

I'm the guy that normally comes from the perspective of that article.

Tomorrow, should the gods be on my side, i'll have an iPad.

Why?

Because, it's inevitibility. The truth is, the market for my breed is dying, and its dying @ a quicker rate than ever before. The mass market is truly the untapped market for computing(mobile specifically) and devices like the iPad are what will open the doors.

Additionally, I'm buying it for myself. I'm buying it because I want ease on the sofa, to surf, to check the web, to play a game, etc. I want a device that has true portability and the battery to match.

So, I guess my point is, even though I'm an elitist tech prick, I can certainly appreciate what's about to occur.

This will be the first commercially successful tablet and quite frankly, I want to be there day one, enjoy the device for what it is and isn't.

Some of these guys will come around someday. Those who don't will anyway as they won't have a choice.

So to all of you who are getting iPads tomorrow, I say, screw the naysayers, have fun, and when you are getting the evil eye from a techie out in the world, chances are, he wants to really ask you, "Hey, can I play with that too. :p"
 
His argument about comic books is pretty weak. He thinks it's better for back issues to be rare, buried in musty old comic book stores, available only to the few lucky people who happen to unearth them, than in pristine digital form for everyone in the world to access? Print is the ultimate "closed" medium, so I don't understand how a device like the iPad is worse from that perspective.
 
Techhie said:
Hey now :p

I'm not trying to come across as another ignorant "This device is pointless and restrictive" guy, just trying to consider all sides of the fence involving not only the iPad, but it's media. After all, the hoopla is as much about the content as it is about the device itself. It's almost as if the iPad isn't really pertinent to what Doctorow is saying, it is more of an argument based on an assumption of a future stripped of innovation by a company who once preached it. It's kind of reminiscent of a certain Orwell book =P
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And there's absolutely nothing wrong with considering both (all?) sides before making a purchase, but define, "restrictive" to me. I bet Doctorow can't, not in any meaningful sense. The first computer I played around with was a PDP-10. People weren't encouraged to poke in it because electrocution is not fun. It used it's own proprietary language ("remember 'jump' means don't"). The stars did not fall from the heavens. My first home computer was a TI99 4/A--you couldn't open it up and play with it. You were pretty much restricted to using pre-programmed ROM cartridges or programming in BASIC. The Apocalypse did not arrive. My Commodore 64? Same deal--don't look under the hood (or behind the curtain). Use Commodore-blessed software or don't do anything. The earth did not tremble. Modern cellular phones are not really designed to have people doink about the insides--the internet is rife with tales of woe when somebody bricked their telephone. The Earth continues to rotate. Mr. Doctorow doesn't like Apple's business model. I don't like Mr. Doctorow's choice of shirts. Both of our opinions mean nada.

Play with one. Or don't, it's a free country. Continue to read about it and see if it develops into something you can use. If not, no blood, no foul. Just don't allow one review by one journalist stating only his opinion of how the world should work make up your mind for you. That way, madness lies.
 
paulisme said:
His argument about comic books is pretty weak. He thinks it's better for back issues to be rare, buried in musty old comic book stores, available only to the few lucky people who happen to unearth them, than in pristine digital form for everyone in the world to access? Print is the ultimate "closed" medium, so I don't understand how a device like the iPad is worse from that perspective.
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That's a fair argument. Interesting to note that there were several posts on this very forum over in the iPhone section complaining when the device went mainstream. That those early adopters felt less special now that they saw iPhones everywhere. They weren't a member of an elite group. Sort of the same thing, no?

A similar thing is already happening here. People are clamoring to be first. First to pre-order, first to get theirs tomorrow, I'm sure first to post tomorrow when they do. And they will revel in it. Which is nice. And they will tell everyone that they have one - that they saw the future. That while others were waiting, they jumped in. And that's great. Then the (real) masses will adopt the product - and one has to wonder if the same feeling will overcome the early adopters as did with the iPhone. For a lack of better word, an underlying resentment of all the "newbies" enjoying their devices with excitement long after the others have been using their devices for awhile.

People like to feel superior. People have egos. People like to feel special. That's why people collect things that are rare. The author of the article, for better or worse, is looking with sadness at an era going away. Relevant to the iPad or not - if you've spent your whole life enjoying a hobby and that hobby became non-existant - you might be bitter. A little. No? Especially if that hobby was also an investment. And to some, not all - that's what it is. An investment - not just in money (although there could be big rewards) but also time and energy.
 
undrpsi said:
Define "tool"

A 'labor saving' device maybe?

Define "Labor"

Net search..does that.
Email...does that.
Edit documents...does that.
Edit photos...does that.
Display photos...does that.
Watch multimedia...does that.
Listen to music...does that.
Listen to audiobooks...does that.
Read e-books...does that.
"FREE" SDK kit....does that.
Online e-university lectures...does that. (One of my favs!)

It may not do all these things in a way everyone else does (closed file system, limited printing capability, and lack of ports)...but it does it in it's own way.

What kind of 'tool' were you looking for? Make popcorn? Oh..there is a home control app that would probably allow you to run your microwave (but you would have to put the bag in first).

I mean, seriously, did you expect it to be powered by anti-matter? Cure cancer? Generate more hit's on your facebook page? (actually it might do that too)...

Viva La Revolution! :apple:
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Color me a fanboy. I have a 64gb coming tomorrow. I will mug the UPS driver if he wastes time coming to my house. I am very excited about the thing. It has caused me to get my hands on the SDK and pick up an Objective C book in an effort to maybe make an app or two. I'm sold on the thing.

However...
I can see how people would want the thing to do more. Screw flash and facebook. I think some people were expecting something that ran OSX and was more like a traditional computer. The thing kicks tons of ass (or at least I think it will :)) but if you wanted something more like OSX OS, sure you are disappointed. And I think that's valid. The thing isn't for everybody.

I don't think Apple will miss the people who wanted something more powerful.
 
This thread is such a yawner. Why go out of your way to explain why you're not buying something? It's like reading someone explain why they're a conservative and how much they love budget cuts.
 
calderone said:
I, for one, thought it was a horrible article. Not insightful. And I found the air surrounding it rather... not fresh.
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It was a fairly mediocre opinion rant. Poorly executed article. However, what he says has sense if you don't have a particular use for an iPad. In reality, most people have good use for the iPad.

On my side of this crazy fence, I won't buy an iPad either... for about 6 or 8 months. Because the next version will have so much better stuff in it. This early iPad was made to satisfy a cost range. What will be done with the iPad within 2 years will be much more worthy of consumer interests.

Ultimately, a device with this resolution and function for $499 is just south of excellence. "Infantalizing" hardware is a stupid critique. Now, if all Apple's items were infantalizing hardware it would be a valid bitch. This thing is NOT to be confused with a high power computing platform, and why anyone in their right mind would get the two mixed up is moronic. It's like looking at an iPod and getting pissed because it isn't Hal 9000.
 
I think some people may have been confused at the title of this thread. I intended to merely restate the title of the article being commented on, not tell people what they should do with their money.

Ultimately it is your decision. I thought that much would have been obvious. :p
 
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