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Apple's new iPad is a big iPod Touch, starts at $499

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Posts

  • sterling3763sterling3763 Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Likewise, some people use Subways and buses.

    edited to add: But not for more than 3 hours. But train rides and trips to the beach or something would qualify.

    The point being: I think all the complaints about multitasking are valid. It's also perfectly understandable for someone to want an e-reader, browser, movie watcher, that weighs very little and doesn't have a keyboard poking you.

    Especially if you don't already have a smartphone, this is a pretty good investment.

    sterling3763 on
  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    The best part is, it's almost like a litmus test for future achievement. If your only experience is dealing with an Iphone by age 12, then your prospects are easily limited to POS OS. The Iphone could easily be used to train generations of burnout dive bar waitresses.

    25 years ago using a computer required knowledge of a text-based UI. Today how many 12 year olds are comfortable using a shell? Far fewer than are comfortable with a GUI like Windows or the MacOS. But that doesn't impact their ability to use a computer. So why is it impossible to imagine another shift to an even simpler type of UI? You have to remember that most people don't care about how a computer works, they just want it to work.

    Which is why POS OSes are so simple; they just work for people who need them to just work. It's the people that make them work behind the scenes that get paid the big bucks. Are you seriously saying that the simpler the better even if it comes at the expensive of the prospects of their child?

    And I'd argue that not knowing shell does impact your ability to effectively and efficiently use a computer, especially for me where my lack of shell knowledge a year ago made analyzation of logs and Exchange 2k7 cumbersome. Shell is god.

    I'm saying it won't impact the prospects of a child at all. That will become the new norm, just like GUIs now are.

    Think of a computer as a tool to accomplish various tasks. For most people those tasks are limited to things like web browsing, email, text editing, storing and viewing photos and videos, playing games, etc. Knowledge of a shell is unnecessary for any of those tasks.

    Except to accomplish these tasks there is are complex systems that handle everything out of sight and out of mind. You're essentially saying that everything will reach a level of simple entropy analagous to the iphone and I'm pretty certain that it won't.

    How does a CRM work on an Iphone or Ipad?

    mrt144 on
  • PikaPuffPikaPuff Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    wow. no tachyon, you're not crazy.

    PikaPuff on
    jCyyTSo.png
  • tachyontachyon Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I guess this solves the 'Stupid rounded back, can't type with the pad on a flat surface wobble"

    accessories_20100127.jpg

    Although still sucks that you have to buy the accessory. The keynote isn't online yet, but is the case an accessory, or does it come in the box?

    Ignore stupid keyboard attachment, look at lower right hand.

    *Edit*

    Nevermind, apple.com lists it as an accessory.

    tachyon on
  • projectmayhemprojectmayhem Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    My only apple product is an iPhone. I love this phone. I will only get rid of it for the 3Gs or the 'next' iphone. I am with a lot of you guys, the iPad has its flaws, just as the first iPhone had. However I am very excited for the iPad and any future models.

    I will buy this and I will love it despite its flaws, just as I have loved many pieces of tech I own despite flaws. I must say...if the book store puts comics up, this will go from a will buy to a standing in line day one and buying it.

    projectmayhem on
  • DaedalusDaedalus Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    The best part is, it's almost like a litmus test for future achievement. If your only experience is dealing with an Iphone by age 12, then your prospects are easily limited to POS OS. The Iphone could easily be used to train generations of burnout dive bar waitresses.

    25 years ago using a computer required knowledge of a text-based UI. Today how many 12 year olds are comfortable using a shell? Far fewer than are comfortable with a GUI like Windows or the MacOS. But that doesn't impact their ability to use a computer. So why is it impossible to imagine another shift to an even simpler type of UI? You have to remember that most people don't care about how a computer works, they just want it to work.

    Which is why POS OSes are so simple; they just work for people who need them to just work. It's the people that make them work behind the scenes that get paid the big bucks. Are you seriously saying that the simpler the better even if it comes at the expensive of the prospects of their child?

    And I'd argue that not knowing shell does impact your ability to effectively and efficiently use a computer, especially for me where my lack of shell knowledge a year ago made analyzation of logs and Exchange 2k7 cumbersome. Shell is god.

    Show me a programmer that isn't proficient with a shell and I'll show you a shitty programmer.

    Daedalus on
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I don't mind the lack of multitasking.

    It's not a damned workstation computer. There is no Finder, you aren't managing files, or anything.

    There are ways to write apps that preserve state, and so on, that make it as if you never left, and now you can share files between apps, which is huge.

    The tools are there with the new SDK to get some new, and cool stuff, apps wise, to make it feel much more like a Netbook.

    No matter how you slice it, it's still better than Chrome OS.

    Jasconius on
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    My only apple product is an iPhone. I love this phone. I will only get rid of it for the 3Gs or the 'next' iphone. I am with a lot of you guys, the iPad has its flaws, just as the first iPhone had. However I am very excited for the iPad and any future models.

    I will buy this and I will love it despite its flaws, just as I have loved many pieces of tech I own despite flaws. I must say...if the book store puts comics up, this will go from a will buy to a standing in line day one and buying it.

    If they made a comic store that was accessible, sorted well, and informative? I'd wait till someone made a dedicated one, or apple made a slightly cheaper one, and get one then. Because that'd be badass.

    But what else would you use it for? I just don't understand, you've already got an iPhone, which can do more stuff than this can! Just shiny gadget porn to have around?

    SniperGuy on
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  • webguy20webguy20 I spend too much time on the Internet Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Really what it boils down to is this thing offers features some people want, and some people dont. If enough people want these features at this price point then it will be a success, if not it will be a failure. Apple certainly thinks it will be a success. If it is then yay apple? If not boo?

    I never got the whole "FAIL" comments and such. people seem to get pissy about these things, like someone is going to make them use the device.

    Show the companies what you want with your wallets folks.

    Edit:To sniperguy above me here, just having the bigger screen almost sells me. For more than just a few minutes surfing I dislike using my iPhone, screen is too small and I don't see much of anything without zooming. This thing was made for easily sitting on the couch surfing the net.

    Edit:If I already had a netbook or a small laptop I wouldn't buy one though, but since I have none of those things, I will buy this and it will also work with all the crap Ive gotten off of itunes.

    webguy20 on
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  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    It's just become cool to be cynical about Apple products.

    You don't have to be a hipster to thing an initial Apple launch product is a good idea.

    For people who don't have an iPhone and have no desire to spend 1.2k+ per year on a phone contract, the iPad isn't terrible.

    Except for the name, iSlate would have been seriously better.

    Jasconius on
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I just can't think of any time where I've been surfing on my iPhone and thought that, because if that happened I went to my real computer. The iPhone is small because it's meant to be portable. This is semi portable, like a laptop. But designed for use like a portable.

    SniperGuy on
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  • SpelunkerSpelunker Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Except to accomplish these tasks there is are complex systems that handle everything out of sight and out of mind. You're essentially saying that everything will reach a level of simple entropy analagous to the iphone and I'm pretty certain that it won't.

    Really? It used to be necessary to have a great deal of knowledge and skill to own and operate a car. Now all that complexity is essentially invisible to us. Sure some people still like to drive manual transmissions, and some people change their own oil, but for the most part that's not true.

    Writing a web page used to require a working knowledge of HTML, now applications can take care of all that coding for you. It used to be a huge pain in the butt to program a VCR to record something on TV, but DVRs made it trivial to do.

    Can you think of any consumer technology that has not gotten simpler and simpler over time? Why would a PC be any different?

    Spelunker on
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    It's just become cool to be cynical about Apple products.

    You don't have to be a hipster to thing an initial Apple launch product is a good idea.

    For people who don't have an iPhone and have no desire to spend 1.2k+ per year on a phone contract, the iPad isn't terrible.

    Except for the name, iSlate would have been seriously better.

    So we're presenting it as an upgraded iPod touch?

    SniperGuy on
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  • projectmayhemprojectmayhem Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    My only apple product is an iPhone. I love this phone. I will only get rid of it for the 3Gs or the 'next' iphone. I am with a lot of you guys, the iPad has its flaws, just as the first iPhone had. However I am very excited for the iPad and any future models.

    I will buy this and I will love it despite its flaws, just as I have loved many pieces of tech I own despite flaws. I must say...if the book store puts comics up, this will go from a will buy to a standing in line day one and buying it.

    If they made a comic store that was accessible, sorted well, and informative? I'd wait till someone made a dedicated one, or apple made a slightly cheaper one, and get one then. Because that'd be badass.

    But what else would you use it for? I just don't understand, you've already got an iPhone, which can do more stuff than this can! Just shiny gadget porn to have around?

    I love my iPhone out and about. In the car needing to bust out maps. Driving to the theater and getting show times. Things of that nature. But when it comes to a good sit down browsing/gaming session, something more than 'in between destinations/15min breaks at work' I rather have something you know, bigger. The iPad fits this perfectly. Laying in bed/at a bookstore/coffee shop/friends house/friends over at my house/ect.

    I guess a big thing for me is that I dont own a laptop, nor am I in the market for one. And the fact this thing can use allllllllll these apps/games I've already bought, huge plus.

    projectmayhem on
  • WillethWilleth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I think my problem with this is that it's too small. If this was three times as big, I can see the point. And no, I'm not joking.

    When I went to PAX in 2008, I was amazed (as was everyone else who passed through the Sheraton lobby) by the Microsoft Surface. It was a concept then that I really enjoyed, having something permanent and unobtrusive in my lounge that would allow me to browse the web for a few minutes or whatever. It was basically a big iPhone.

    If Apple released a 27" iPad I'd be all over it, because they would have essentially completely surpassed Microsoft and the Surface, with a UI that I'm already familiar and comfortable with and the promise of the App Store giving it the opportunity to have some quite brilliant games. I'd build or buy a frame and a screen protector for it and it would be my coffee table.

    Willeth on
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  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    Jasconius wrote: »
    It's just become cool to be cynical about Apple products.

    You don't have to be a hipster to thing an initial Apple launch product is a good idea.

    For people who don't have an iPhone and have no desire to spend 1.2k+ per year on a phone contract, the iPad isn't terrible.

    Except for the name, iSlate would have been seriously better.

    So we're presenting it as an upgraded iPod touch?

    As an owner of an iPod touch, if it had a bigger screen and 3G access I would be using all damn day.

    The comparison doesn't bother me at all. It's not just an upgraded iPod touch. Software wise it's really an entire OS version ahead at least.

    Jasconius on
  • webguy20webguy20 I spend too much time on the Internet Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    Jasconius wrote: »
    It's just become cool to be cynical about Apple products.

    You don't have to be a hipster to thing an initial Apple launch product is a good idea.

    For people who don't have an iPhone and have no desire to spend 1.2k+ per year on a phone contract, the iPad isn't terrible.

    Except for the name, iSlate would have been seriously better.

    So we're presenting it as an upgraded iPod touch?

    That's all it really is, and honestly that's all I really wanted. At the pricepoint for me thats ok. If it had been 800-1100 I would have expected a scaled down OSX, not a scaled up iPhone OS.

    webguy20 on
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  • Mr_RoseMr_Rose 83 Blue Ridge Protects the Holy Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Daedalus wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    The best part is, it's almost like a litmus test for future achievement. If your only experience is dealing with an Iphone by age 12, then your prospects are easily limited to POS OS. The Iphone could easily be used to train generations of burnout dive bar waitresses.

    25 years ago using a computer required knowledge of a text-based UI. Today how many 12 year olds are comfortable using a shell? Far fewer than are comfortable with a GUI like Windows or the MacOS. But that doesn't impact their ability to use a computer. So why is it impossible to imagine another shift to an even simpler type of UI? You have to remember that most people don't care about how a computer works, they just want it to work.

    Which is why POS OSes are so simple; they just work for people who need them to just work. It's the people that make them work behind the scenes that get paid the big bucks. Are you seriously saying that the simpler the better even if it comes at the expensive of the prospects of their child?

    And I'd argue that not knowing shell does impact your ability to effectively and efficiently use a computer, especially for me where my lack of shell knowledge a year ago made analyzation of logs and Exchange 2k7 cumbersome. Shell is god.

    Show me a programmer that isn't proficient with a shell and I'll show you a shitty programmer.

    And how many people are programmers? Or even close? Not many.
    How many more people need to "use a computer" for their every day job doing whatever it is normal people do to get money? Almost everyone in the developed world.

    Seriously; the computer revolution already happened. The only people that still use paper seriously as a means of acquiring, storing, and disseminating information are governments. And most of those are wising up anyway.

    Here's a question for you: Computers as used today, including the iPad, do exactly one thing and no more. What is that thing?

    Mr_Rose on
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  • SpelunkerSpelunker Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Mr_Rose wrote: »
    Here's a question for you: Computers as used today, including the iPad, do exactly one thing and no more. What is that thing?

    Math. In the end it's all math.

    Spelunker on
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Mr_Rose wrote: »
    Daedalus wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    The best part is, it's almost like a litmus test for future achievement. If your only experience is dealing with an Iphone by age 12, then your prospects are easily limited to POS OS. The Iphone could easily be used to train generations of burnout dive bar waitresses.

    25 years ago using a computer required knowledge of a text-based UI. Today how many 12 year olds are comfortable using a shell? Far fewer than are comfortable with a GUI like Windows or the MacOS. But that doesn't impact their ability to use a computer. So why is it impossible to imagine another shift to an even simpler type of UI? You have to remember that most people don't care about how a computer works, they just want it to work.

    Which is why POS OSes are so simple; they just work for people who need them to just work. It's the people that make them work behind the scenes that get paid the big bucks. Are you seriously saying that the simpler the better even if it comes at the expensive of the prospects of their child?

    And I'd argue that not knowing shell does impact your ability to effectively and efficiently use a computer, especially for me where my lack of shell knowledge a year ago made analyzation of logs and Exchange 2k7 cumbersome. Shell is god.

    Show me a programmer that isn't proficient with a shell and I'll show you a shitty programmer.

    And how many people are programmers? Or even close? Not many.
    How many more people need to "use a computer" for their every day job doing whatever it is normal people do to get money? Almost everyone in the developed world.

    Seriously; the computer revolution already happened. The only people that still use paper seriously as a means of acquiring, storing, and disseminating information are governments and libraries, and universities, and schools and probably a lot more. And most of those are wising up anyway.

    Here's a question for you: Computers as used today, including the iPad, do exactly one thing and no more. What is that thing?

    I mean, seriously? C'mon. Paper is still everywhere! Bookstores! Newspapers, it's still all over. Newspapers are resilient. MAgazines, trashy novels. The list goes on. Menus at restaurants.

    SniperGuy on
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  • webguy20webguy20 I spend too much time on the Internet Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    Mr_Rose wrote: »
    Daedalus wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    The best part is, it's almost like a litmus test for future achievement. If your only experience is dealing with an Iphone by age 12, then your prospects are easily limited to POS OS. The Iphone could easily be used to train generations of burnout dive bar waitresses.

    25 years ago using a computer required knowledge of a text-based UI. Today how many 12 year olds are comfortable using a shell? Far fewer than are comfortable with a GUI like Windows or the MacOS. But that doesn't impact their ability to use a computer. So why is it impossible to imagine another shift to an even simpler type of UI? You have to remember that most people don't care about how a computer works, they just want it to work.

    Which is why POS OSes are so simple; they just work for people who need them to just work. It's the people that make them work behind the scenes that get paid the big bucks. Are you seriously saying that the simpler the better even if it comes at the expensive of the prospects of their child?

    And I'd argue that not knowing shell does impact your ability to effectively and efficiently use a computer, especially for me where my lack of shell knowledge a year ago made analyzation of logs and Exchange 2k7 cumbersome. Shell is god.

    Show me a programmer that isn't proficient with a shell and I'll show you a shitty programmer.

    And how many people are programmers? Or even close? Not many.
    How many more people need to "use a computer" for their every day job doing whatever it is normal people do to get money? Almost everyone in the developed world.

    Seriously; the computer revolution already happened. The only people that still use paper seriously as a means of acquiring, storing, and disseminating information are governments and libraries, and universities, and schools and probably a lot more. And most of those are wising up anyway.

    Here's a question for you: Computers as used today, including the iPad, do exactly one thing and no more. What is that thing?

    I mean, seriously? C'mon. Paper is still everywhere! Bookstores! Newspapers, it's still all over. Newspapers are resilient. MAgazines, trashy novels. The list goes on. Menus at restaurants.

    Yea look at almost everything shipped anywhere. Sheet of paper for the packing list. Businesses still use tons of paper too.

    webguy20 on
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  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    Mr_Rose wrote: »
    Daedalus wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    The best part is, it's almost like a litmus test for future achievement. If your only experience is dealing with an Iphone by age 12, then your prospects are easily limited to POS OS. The Iphone could easily be used to train generations of burnout dive bar waitresses.

    25 years ago using a computer required knowledge of a text-based UI. Today how many 12 year olds are comfortable using a shell? Far fewer than are comfortable with a GUI like Windows or the MacOS. But that doesn't impact their ability to use a computer. So why is it impossible to imagine another shift to an even simpler type of UI? You have to remember that most people don't care about how a computer works, they just want it to work.

    Which is why POS OSes are so simple; they just work for people who need them to just work. It's the people that make them work behind the scenes that get paid the big bucks. Are you seriously saying that the simpler the better even if it comes at the expensive of the prospects of their child?

    And I'd argue that not knowing shell does impact your ability to effectively and efficiently use a computer, especially for me where my lack of shell knowledge a year ago made analyzation of logs and Exchange 2k7 cumbersome. Shell is god.

    Show me a programmer that isn't proficient with a shell and I'll show you a shitty programmer.

    And how many people are programmers? Or even close? Not many.
    How many more people need to "use a computer" for their every day job doing whatever it is normal people do to get money? Almost everyone in the developed world.

    Seriously; the computer revolution already happened. The only people that still use paper seriously as a means of acquiring, storing, and disseminating information are governments and libraries, and universities, and schools and probably a lot more. And most of those are wising up anyway.

    Here's a question for you: Computers as used today, including the iPad, do exactly one thing and no more. What is that thing?

    Newspapers are resilient.

    What the hell? Do you watch anything on TV other than American Idol? Newspapers are in the toilet, big time. The entire industry is tanking and even major newspaper companies are shutting down or merging.

    Completely false analysis on your part, ditto for magazines, most of which have already sold their souls to the internet.

    Jasconius on
  • StormwatcherStormwatcher Blegh BlughRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'm really disappointed in it. I expected an iphone-netbook hybrid, and it's just a big iphone, with the same limitations, but without the same advantage (pocketable).

    iBook was another let down. Too expensive, and e-ink is just better than LCD for long reading sessions.

    I guess that's all fine for people who wanted a big iPhone.

    Stormwatcher on
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    camo_sig2.png
  • tachyontachyon Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Willeth wrote: »
    I think my problem with this is that it's too small. If this was three times as big, I can see the point. And no, I'm not joking.

    When I went to PAX in 2008, I was amazed (as was everyone else who passed through the Sheraton lobby) by the Microsoft Surface. It was a concept then that I really enjoyed, having something permanent and unobtrusive in my lounge that would allow me to browse the web for a few minutes or whatever. It was basically a big iPhone.

    If Apple released a 27" iPad I'd be all over it, because they would have essentially completely surpassed Microsoft and the Surface, with a UI that I'm already familiar and comfortable with and the promise of the App Store giving it the opportunity to have some quite brilliant games. I'd build or buy a frame and a screen protector for it and it would be my coffee table.

    Only problem is you would not be able to keep the form factor. The reason why MS surface and other multitouch tables are big is because either they are using projectors, and/or the amount of GPU power scales up with the size of the surface.

    That would be awesome though, and with fanless/onboard GPU's getting stronger, along with lower watt/heat CPUs getting better, I would love to build out a coffee table 'surface'. The forums here: http://nuigroup.com/ provide good reading.

    tachyon on
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Just for the record, can you actually fit the high end Kindle in your pocket?

    Jasconius on
  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Except to accomplish these tasks there is are complex systems that handle everything out of sight and out of mind. You're essentially saying that everything will reach a level of simple entropy analagous to the iphone and I'm pretty certain that it won't.

    Really? It used to be necessary to have a great deal of knowledge and skill to own and operate a car. Now all that complexity is essentially invisible to us. Sure some people still like to drive manual transmissions, and some people change their own oil, but for the most part that's not true.

    Writing a web page used to require a working knowledge of HTML, now applications can take care of all that coding for you. It used to be a huge pain in the butt to program a VCR to record something on TV, but DVRs made it trivial to do.

    Can you think of any consumer technology that has not gotten simpler and simpler over time? Why would a PC be any different?

    Because a simpler front end requires a more complex back end. People are employed to understand that backend.

    mrt144 on
  • StormwatcherStormwatcher Blegh BlughRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    Just for the record, can you actually fit the high end Kindle in your pocket?

    But the kindle has the "easy-on-the-eyes" thing. And it's more portable than a normal book. Which is what it's supposed to replace. The iPad is a bigger iphone with no real advantages over a regular iphone.

    Stormwatcher on
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    camo_sig2.png
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    Mr_Rose wrote: »
    Daedalus wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    The best part is, it's almost like a litmus test for future achievement. If your only experience is dealing with an Iphone by age 12, then your prospects are easily limited to POS OS. The Iphone could easily be used to train generations of burnout dive bar waitresses.

    25 years ago using a computer required knowledge of a text-based UI. Today how many 12 year olds are comfortable using a shell? Far fewer than are comfortable with a GUI like Windows or the MacOS. But that doesn't impact their ability to use a computer. So why is it impossible to imagine another shift to an even simpler type of UI? You have to remember that most people don't care about how a computer works, they just want it to work.

    Which is why POS OSes are so simple; they just work for people who need them to just work. It's the people that make them work behind the scenes that get paid the big bucks. Are you seriously saying that the simpler the better even if it comes at the expensive of the prospects of their child?

    And I'd argue that not knowing shell does impact your ability to effectively and efficiently use a computer, especially for me where my lack of shell knowledge a year ago made analyzation of logs and Exchange 2k7 cumbersome. Shell is god.

    Show me a programmer that isn't proficient with a shell and I'll show you a shitty programmer.

    And how many people are programmers? Or even close? Not many.
    How many more people need to "use a computer" for their every day job doing whatever it is normal people do to get money? Almost everyone in the developed world.

    Seriously; the computer revolution already happened. The only people that still use paper seriously as a means of acquiring, storing, and disseminating information are governments and libraries, and universities, and schools and probably a lot more. And most of those are wising up anyway.

    Here's a question for you: Computers as used today, including the iPad, do exactly one thing and no more. What is that thing?

    Newspapers are resilient.

    What the hell? Do you watch anything on TV other than American Idol? Newspapers are in the toilet, big time. The entire industry is tanking and even major newspaper companies are shutting down or merging.

    Completely false analysis on your part, ditto for magazines, most of which have already sold their souls to the internet.

    I know how they're failing and all, but they're going to hang around for a while. People like what they have, and the tiny ass cheap ones especially will take forever to die. What else do people read in line at the grocery store?

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  • SpelunkerSpelunker Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Except to accomplish these tasks there is are complex systems that handle everything out of sight and out of mind. You're essentially saying that everything will reach a level of simple entropy analagous to the iphone and I'm pretty certain that it won't.

    Really? It used to be necessary to have a great deal of knowledge and skill to own and operate a car. Now all that complexity is essentially invisible to us. Sure some people still like to drive manual transmissions, and some people change their own oil, but for the most part that's not true.

    Writing a web page used to require a working knowledge of HTML, now applications can take care of all that coding for you. It used to be a huge pain in the butt to program a VCR to record something on TV, but DVRs made it trivial to do.

    Can you think of any consumer technology that has not gotten simpler and simpler over time? Why would a PC be any different?

    Because a simpler front end requires a more complex back end. People are employed to understand that backend.

    You mean like the people who design DVR software, or like the mechanics who work on cars? Why is it different when it's a computer?

    Spelunker on
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    Just for the record, can you actually fit the high end Kindle in your pocket?

    But the kindle has the "easy-on-the-eyes" thing. And it's more portable than a normal book. Which is what it's supposed to replace. The iPad is a bigger iphone with no real advantages over a regular iphone.

    Uhh except it does books

    and the screen is bigger

    and it supports literally more apps

    and its faster


    i mean









    there are those things




    unless those are fake








    get back to me on that

    Jasconius on
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    And twice to thrice as expensive. Oh, and reading a whole novel on the iPad for a few hours will burn your eye sockets out.

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  • StormwatcherStormwatcher Blegh BlughRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Spelunker wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Except to accomplish these tasks there is are complex systems that handle everything out of sight and out of mind. You're essentially saying that everything will reach a level of simple entropy analagous to the iphone and I'm pretty certain that it won't.

    Really? It used to be necessary to have a great deal of knowledge and skill to own and operate a car. Now all that complexity is essentially invisible to us. Sure some people still like to drive manual transmissions, and some people change their own oil, but for the most part that's not true.

    Writing a web page used to require a working knowledge of HTML, now applications can take care of all that coding for you. It used to be a huge pain in the butt to program a VCR to record something on TV, but DVRs made it trivial to do.

    Can you think of any consumer technology that has not gotten simpler and simpler over time? Why would a PC be any different?

    Because a simpler front end requires a more complex back end. People are employed to understand that backend.

    You mean like the people who design DVR software, or like the mechanics who work on cars? Why is it different when it's a computer?

    Dude, I don't want all computers to become lobotomized, controlled-by-the-maker devices for dummies like the iPhone. I love my iPod Touch, sure, but I also love my kick ass pc. There are lots of people like me, and lots of people somewhere inbetween. I don't believe the "Appstorization" of all personal computers is something desired by most people at all.

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  • SarksusSarksus ATTACK AND DETHRONE GODRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    It's ridiculous to compare this thing to a Kindle. The iPad is not going to beat the Kindle or the Nook at eReading. It's an ancillary function that people will use it for in addition to its main functionality. I find it very hard to believe that an LCD based device can beat an ePaper device in eReading.

    Sarksus on
  • EgoEgo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    But what else would you use it for? I just don't understand, you've already got an iPhone, which can do more stuff than this can! Just shiny gadget porn to have around?

    Why do you have an iphone? Didn't you already own a cell phone and a computer? Because then there's no use for an iphone at all, is there? The computer can do all the computing things better and there's no question that dedicated cell phones make better phones than iphones do. That does seem to be your major complaint, is it not?

    Laptops do everything worse than desktops except move around. They trade off a little of everything else to do one thing to a varying degree.

    The ipad does that too, it trades off the portability of fitting in your pocket to become much closer to a fully fledged computer, while still retaining a very intuitive interface and a level of portability that makes it MUCH less inconvenient than any sort of laptop for use while walking around or when a table isn't available.

    I'm going to buy one, and literally set it the same place I set my acer a1 netbook and 6933. I guarantee more people will choose to use the ipad while over than either of the laptops, despite one being very portable and one being powerful, for the same reason people with iphones also opt to browse using their phones than either of my 'spares'.

    Ego on
    Erik
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I've heard remarkably positive interviews about the Kindle app on the iPhone in terms of readability.

    So I don't know where all this "not good for reading" shit is coming from, except for peoples asses.

    Seeing as how they haven't even seen a screen in person yet.

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  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Ego wrote: »
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    But what else would you use it for? I just don't understand, you've already got an iPhone, which can do more stuff than this can! Just shiny gadget porn to have around?

    Why do you have an iphone? Didn't you already own a cell phone and a computer? Because then there's no use for an iphone at all, is there?

    An iPhone is a replacement for an existing gadget. A fucking fantastic one. It's helped be a massive leap for technology and cell phone functionality. It's all around awesome. That's why I got one, because it replaced my shit cell phone.

    It's the best phone I could ever have right now for what I do. I hardly play games on it. I use it mainly for the excellent phone, and the web browsing.

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  • SpelunkerSpelunker Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Dude, I don't want all computers to become lobotomized, controlled-by-the-maker devices for dummies like the iPhone. I love my iPod Touch, sure, but I also love my kick ass pc. There are lots of people like me, and lots of people somewhere inbetween. I don't believe the "Appstorization" of all personal computers is something desired by most people at all.

    I wouldn't worry about that. Just as some people still tune their cars and hack their DVRs, some people will always want a full fledged computer (I count myself among that group). But a majority of people don't want or need one, and for them an iPod-like computer is fine.

    In this case don't think about what you want in a computer, think about what your mom would want.

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  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    I've heard remarkably positive interviews about the Kindle app on the iPhone in terms of readability.

    So I don't know where all this "not good for reading" shit is coming from, except for peoples asses.

    Seeing as how they haven't even seen a screen in person yet.

    Because e-ink isn't backlit. And backlights are worse for eyes. Reading for long periods with a backlight causes eyestrain.

    E-ink does not have a backlight.

    ta da.

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  • WillethWilleth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Ego wrote: »
    SniperGuy wrote: »
    But what else would you use it for? I just don't understand, you've already got an iPhone, which can do more stuff than this can! Just shiny gadget porn to have around?

    Why do you have an iphone? Didn't you already own a cell phone and a computer? Because then there's no use for an iphone at all, is there? The computer can do all the computing things better and there's no question that dedicated cell phones make better phones than iphones do.

    I can't speak for anyone else, but the main reason I bought my iPhone was because I needed a new mp3 player and my phone was starting to age. I also don't know any phone on the market that is a dedicated phone that is anywhere near as usable as the iPhone, and I don't know where you're getting the insinuation that it's a worse phone than other devices.

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  • SarksusSarksus ATTACK AND DETHRONE GODRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Jasconius wrote: »
    I've heard remarkably positive interviews about the Kindle app on the iPhone in terms of readability.

    So I don't know where all this "not good for reading" shit is coming from, except for peoples asses.

    Seeing as how they haven't even seen a screen in person yet.

    It's an LCD screen, most people have generally seen one. Even if you bought a $1000 LCD monitor it's still going to be bad for reading because the reasons are inherent in the concept of an LCD. Reading with the iPad will be more comfortable than sitting in front of a computer but it's not going to beat ePaper which has no backlight.

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