iPad: Best Gadget Ever

[smoogatz]

I'm not much of an early adopter but my lovely spouse surprised me with an iPad for my birthday last week (the $500 mini, as opposed to the $800 maxi). Like all Apple products nowadays it's a little marvel of design--extremely tactilely rewarding--and none of the early criticism holds much water, IMO. I should do the full disclaimer thing here and admit that I'm a total Apple fanboy--just about the only Apple product we don't have in our house is an iPhone, and that's mostly because I hate AT&T with a white-hot, burning hatred. Back to the iPad: first, the screen is bigger than you expect it to be, and very high res. It's a superb device for intertube surfing and email. In landscape mode the pop-up keyboard is very usable: fine for email and note-taking, posting to web forums, etc. I paid $10 for the Pages app and it works beautifully--took a bit of getting used to not having save things, and there's a bit of awkward ness with having to shift to the .?123 keyboard for exotic punctuation like hyphens and quotation marks. I wouldn't want to try to write a whole novel on it, but very workable for roughing in scenes, say, or early drafts of poems, or letters, etc. Exports by email seamlessly. The calendar and address-book apps are first-rate. iBooks is incredible--in portrait mode the pages are big and very book-like. The backlit screen is gorgeous and doesn't cause any more eyestrain than reading a printed book, as far as I can tell (all the "butbutbut it doesn't use e-ink" panic is goofy. Who cares?)--plus you can read without an external light-source, which will make spouses of nocturnal readers very happy. The Marvel Comics app has to be seen to be believed: if you like comics, it will rock your world. Great device for sharing photos, watching video, listening to music, etc. Excellent little gamer--I'm old, so I've only tried Scrabble, but it's superb. Yes you can read an ebook or do whatever while listening to iTunes. Free apps for Weather Channel, NPR and BBC, Epicurious, Netflix, eBay, etc. The lack of a USB port seems awkward at first, until you realize you can easily export photos or Pages files through email. There's also an inexpensive app that allows you to export files through your docking port, if you really, really want to. The lack of a camera and a phone seems like an issue until you hold the iPad in your hands, and then you think "this thing's way too big to be a phone--I'd feel like a complete dork trying to talk into it." There's no obvious place to mount a camera because the entire back surface is curved--plus if you use any kind of case to protect it the camera lens would be covered up. A pinhole webcam in the bezel would be nice for Skypers; look for it in the iPad.02, I'm guessing. In short, mega thumbs-up: if you're a gadget-lover like I am, you'd probably really like this critter.

[no limit]

1. lol, best gadget ever? Hardly. Buy a netbook, it will save you $300 and has flash on it

not to mention word processor and so much more that the iPad can't do.

[smoogatz]

2. You go on.

Whatever makes you happy.

[TommyO]

4. I've borrowed a netbook for an upcoming trip to Florida

and I can assure you that the iPad is a far better gadget than a netbook.

Pages on the iPad is a word processor

[smoogatz]

8. Yep.

Pages is very nice. And those tiny little netbook screens suck balls. Otherwise, though, they're dandy if you like little plastic boxes.

[no limit]

12. They have the same screen size as your iPad

[smoogatz]

14. Some do--

I'm looking at the Dell Inspiron Mini right now. But the Dell also weighs almost twice as much and is at least twice as thick--and looks kind of plastic-y. But like I said--whatever floats your boat.

[no limit]

11. care to explain how? I've used both

[TommyO]

20. For me, browsing was far simpler, and

the 1024x768 display on the iPad blows away the 1024x600 display on the netbook in terms of quality and usable screen real estate. The touch interface is far more usable than the downsized keyboard/trackpad, and when keyboard input is needed, my fat fingers were more accurate on the iPads on-display keyboard than the netbook's lilliputian physical keys. The built-in apps on the iPad are also compelling compared to what comes standard on the Dell Mini that I'm using.

The sole reason that I went with the netbook is the ability to transfer RAW image files from a Compact Flash card to an external hard drive so I can be sure that I don't run out of picture-taking room.

[no limit]

26. Internet browsing is great on the iPad, as long as you don't go to any flash sites

And I dont see how you can type faster on the iPad than you can on a netbook which has an actual keyboard. One of your hands will always be used to hold the damn thing. With a netbook you can set it down and use both hands for typing.

Yes, 168 extra pixels is nice, but not that huge of a deal. If you want to pay around $400 you can get a resolution that's much bigger than the iPad at 1366x768 or even 1280 x 600.

And for you it's raw images, for others its something else that a iPad can't do but a regular PC can. And again, the netbooks are about hald the price.

[Touchdown]

82. iPad can do RAW images, so enough with the red herrings.

Apple's RAW plug-ins are also more user friendly and less prone to problems than Adobe's RAW plugs. And... nobody gave a shit about Flash until the iPad came out, now everybody is shitting a brick about it. It's a non-issue when half of teh flash sites have non-flash alternatives the iPhone/iPad are automatically accessed.

[no limit]

89. The author wasnt talking about RAW image support, he/she was talking about trasnfering it to sd

which the iPad doesn't support. You won't fit a lot of Raw images on the iPad.

And nobody ever cared about flash, are you kidding me? This has been a issue for a very long time, and it's not unique to apple devices; android has the same problem.

[Touchdown]

99. It's actually Adobe's problem. They've never made a good mobile version.

Apparetly the now in beta Flash 10.whatever supposedly fixes the stability problems flash always had with mobile devices. I wonder if they addressed the power drain issue though.

I have no idea where you get the idea that this poster or anybody else would want to or need to transfer from compact flash to SD. The USB dongle and the cable his camera came with is what he needs... eventually, some 3rd party will make a CF dongle for it.

Nikon 10mp NEF=about 15 megs. Compressed NEF=7 to 8 megs. 4 gigs worth= 800 or 1600 shots average. "You won't fit a lot...":rofl:

[WeekendWarrior]

74. Gotta disagree with this.

The iPad isn't widescreen. I think that's a major problem now when it comes to display.

[no limit]

13. Does pages work with spreadsheets? Does it work well with .doc files?

[smoogatz]

16. Why the aggression?

No, pages doesn't do spreadsheets. For $9.99, you can get an app called Numbers that appears to do them very well. Yes, pages works perfectly with .doc files; it can open them, edit them and export in the .doc format. It can also export as a Pages or PDF file, either through email or file sharing.

[no limit]

27. No aggression at all. I just think it's silly to claim this is the best gadget ever

is it a cool gadget? Sure. But in my opinion it's not worth the money if you aren't on an unlimited budget and need a computer that will actually do the daily tasks you need to do. And a netbook is much better for that and it's cheaper.

[smoogatz]

44. Of course it's silly.

Unless you believe that people are entitled to their opinions. And I think whether an iPad or a netbook is going to work best for you depends a lot on the daily tasks you need to do. As a travel device and a night-stand device, IMO the iPad is very tough to beat. As a serious work tool I prefer my 27" iMac, of course--mostly because it allows me to look at a 2-up spread in Pages, which is very handy for writing long-form prose. The iPad is a gadget, not a tool--as I said.

[PatGund]

61. It does work well with DOC files....

Pages is the Word Processor software. Numbers is the Spreadsheet (handles Excel files quite well) and Keynote is the Presentation Software (I use Keynote on the Mac to open corrupted PowerPoint slide shows that PP won't open.)

[brooklynite]

62. Pages, will seamlessly import, edit and export .DOC files...

...Numbers will seamlessly import, edit and export .XLS files

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. Pages on the IPAD cannot do end notes

and foot-notes... you know references.

For the record Pages on the Mac can.

[smoogatz]

53. No, it won't auto-format footnotes or works-cited.

It's pretty stripped down--but you wouldn't want to write a whole scholarly paper on an iPad anyway, probably. What you can do is make notes, do some rough drafting, and email it all back to your main computer--without having to carry a bulky laptop around. All stuff you can do with a netbook, of course, if you like netbooks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. Why I use the netbook

I am predicting though that it will drop in price. They will write the ability to do footnotes\endnotes into Pages (and the rest of the word processors for the platform) as well as do notes\highlights on IBOOK, since the competitors pretty much do.

That said, I can predict the fall in prices from Marketing 101... when they released that IPHONE 4rth gen into the wild, all protestation aside, that is marketing 101. Their shiny is not selling as well as expected... so they got a new shiny out there.

As always get what works for you. For me the Netbook (A glorified word processor) is a better choice, since I do a lot of typing and these days not just fiction. Academic research requires that ability to do endnotes (In Chicago no less)... so this new shiny will not do it, and cannot compete with MY needs.

Now if this works for you... two apps you may want to check.

Auteureist and Manuscript. THEY ARE MEANT FOR WRITING FICTION, and if enabled for the PAD, they will be worthy companions for you.

[Dappleganger]

40. dupe

dupe

[Dappleganger]

42. I have a netbook...

it is small w/great battery life, but nothing special.

The iPad is all about the Apps.

[no limit]

50. What apps does the iPad have which you can't do on a netbook?

[Touchdown]

85. Wrong question. The right question is "Can it do it faster than a netbook"

The answer is YES! ... to just about every task.

[no limit]

104. Whic task specifically? for starters you wont be multitasking

so if you need a second document open to work on the first (as is so often the case) you are shit out of luck.

Which specific examples do you have?

[Touchdown]

107. Photo editing, saving documents, playing a graphic heavy game...

Accessing music, movies, etc. In short, the processor is much faster than other ARM based processors curently available.

Another thing about photo editing, the iPad's screen is of much higher quality, with better color accuracy than the cheapo ones for netbooks... and yes, there are photo editing apps for it already. Photoshop may be loaded in a netbook, but unless you have something to prove or a POV to sell, then actually having the patience to use it on a netbook is futile... especially with those afformentioned 800+RAW images.

Multitasking is coming in OS4, so that talking point is dead.

[NoNothing]

109. You do know that netbooks

Don't use ARM processors, right? They use x86 processors.

[Touchdown]

110. Not the ones for $300-400

Unless an Intel Atom isn't an ARM and I'm mistaken, which happens often.

What I'm not mistaken about is that their screens are poor, and they are desperately slow... unless it's the $650 Sony Vaio.... which astill make you put up with Windows.

[TommyO]

113. The Intel Atom is a dirt slow x86 chip

It works, but not very quickly.

[nadinbrzezinski]

116. Fast enough for what I use it for

word processing, and a little web browsing... at the same time.

:-)

The secret to electronic heaven is... finding what you need your computer, gadget, et al for.

For some the IPAD will be enough... (and it lacks in some areas though multitasking is coming in the near future)... others need a 7,000 laptop.

Me... for going out there, I am happy with a netbook. I need footnotes.

The IPAD does not do footnotes.

[TommyO]

121. For word processing and browsing, you're right

beyond that it looses steam.

If I were interested in media consumption and apps, the iPad would be the ideal platform, though both it and netbooks are compromises compared to a real MacBook. I will say that the iPad is the slickest device to come out in a very long time, it's touch-centric, unlike any Windows device, and it's ease of use is un-paralled. I took my mother to the Apple store today and she was browsing faster than she would on her desktop machine. I get the strangest feeling that she might get one of these before I do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

122. My 2001 HP Tablet did all that

and did multi-tasking.

The price point was a tad high though. as in really high.

So just because you have not seen a windows device, does not mean they did not exist.

I used to be an early adopter of much electronics. My first 'puter was an early TANDY portable word processor... followed by a Tandy 286 laptop. They have both at San Diego State at the library... it is kind of amazing... I CARRIED THAT!

These days the MacBook stays home... and the netbook goes with me to the coffee shop. And it does exactly what I need it for. And for media... the IPOD touch is fine, and it does some light word processing too.

Now for my mom... that might be a good one to get her, oh never mind, she is too fixated on her machine and we use SKYPE.

That is the other thing the netbook works very well for... and I predict the next iteration of this thing will have a camera, assuming it is selling as well as advertised (that fourth gen IPHONE into the wild and marketing 101)

Hell I wasn't even early for the Netbook thingy. It came from traveling to see parents every so often into a place I really do not want to carry the steal me now Macbook.

[TommyO]

137. Just goes to show that there's pretty much something for everyone

Personally, I find a Windows-based netbook too much of a compromise, yes it's small and light, and it will serve my needs during my trip, but the experience has let me know that it's really a 13" MacBook Pro that's in my future. The iPad does almost everything I would want a portable device to do, the single sticking point is the limited storage for photos taken while traveling.

If you're talking about the Tandy TRS-80 Model 100, I had one of those, and used it extensively! It's hard to believe that I had that thing over twenty years ago and that it's price, adjusted for inflation, would more than cover the cost of the far more capable MacBook Pro today, and of course, the iPad.

[no limit]

117. You really think photo editing is easier on an iPad? You must not do a lot of photo editing

As long as you can plug in a mouse in to a netbook the features programs such as photoshop offer can not be matched by any app on the iPad. These are professional programs, anything on the iPad is child's play.

I dont have any problems accessing movies or music on a netbook? What specific advantages do you have? In fact you know what's nice about the netbook, I can create playlist folders in iTunes. Not so much on the iPad (atleast not yet).

[Touchdown]

119. Putting pro photo editing tools on a netbook is dumb, and crazy.

The processors are too slow. Sure, they'll run, but not very well. It's like dropping a V8 into a Yugo. I seriously doubt there will be any equivalent on the iPad either, but there are a few that do a very good job at small editing. The only fast and inexpensive mouse driven photo editor I've had experience with is iPhoto, and it ain't for Windows. Besides, there's that cheap, shitty netbook screen you are ignoring.

Working with finger swipes and multi-touch is quite liberating compared to mouse usage for this kind of creativity. You should try it.

And no, I don't do a lot of photo editing, but I plan on doing a lot of triage (knocking out the crap) on it. Photo Editing is time consuming, and I try not to get bogged down in it. Also, to toot my own horn, I'm a real photographer, which means I was trained with actual film. I took the time to learn my digital camera. I take the right shots in my camera so I don't need photoshop but for maybe 20% of my work. It's all about knowing your camera. If the app can adjust contrast, color balance and crop, that's half the battle. I'm not looking to do a Swamp Rat project.

To use your words, you know what's nice about an iPad (or any of the new tablet models coming soon)... for me, it's an easy way to show off my portfolio to prospective clients in an elegant way. The screen is viewable at all angles. It's so intuitive that they can hold it and flick through with no instruction. There's no keyboard to get in the way. They can sit back and use it rather than lean forward because it's on the table like a Macbook usually is.

" I can create playlist folders in iTunes. Not so much on the iPad (atleast not yet)."

Yes you can...

http://www.macworld.com/article/150560/2010/04/ipad_playlists.html

Accessing movies may be easy, but an iPad is faster at starting, ff, review, chapter search, killing and starting a different movie.

[no limit]

123. Show of you portfolio to perspective clients in an elegent way?

Ok you got me, finally a reasoning I can understand. Doesn't apply to 99.99999% of people out there but good for you that you can use it in such a way.

But loading photoshop on a netbook is not dumb. The latest versions might not run terribly quick but photoshop 6.0 or even 7.0 would run like a champ and would be extremely powerful for photo editing on the road. And as someone suggested above you can actually pay around $650 and have a real PC based tablet that would work with a stylus, a designers dream. I would love a touchscreen table with photoshop on it so I can sketch out ideas on the road.

The article you linked to doesn't say anything about playlist folders. That's nice they finally created a way to create playlists on the go but that's not what I was talking about. I have 100s of playlists, I like them organized in folders. iPad won't let you do that, iTunes will.

[Touchdown]

124. You're not getting it. You're "real PC based tablet" is WINDOWS!!!!!!!!!

I have a bit more than $800 invested in Photo software, all for Macs. I am not going to buy all that shit again for an OS I never liked, and won't spend $50 on!

[no limit]

125. That's the problem, you went with mac.

I kid, I kid.

But if you like the iPad, enjoy it. It's a cool gadget. Me personally? I'm hoping I'll be able to afford the HP Slate when it is released. Fully blown windows 7 with multi-touch capabilities. I personally think it will be an iPad killer if it really runs as smooth as advertised.

[Touchdown]

127. So now it's my turn. How do you expect to run Win7 on 1g of ram?

... with an even more RAM taxing touch gui on top of it?:evilgrin:

[no limit]

128. Win 7 will run perfectly fine on 1GB of ram

Currently I am using up 629Mb of ram on my Win 7 system and this thing hasn't been rebooted today.

[Touchdown]

132. Ok.

I don't really know much about Win7, but was just told that it's pretty much a boat anchor with less than 2gigs of RAM, that's all.:hi:

[TommyO]

138. I think I restarted my Mac last week when I installed some software...

Yes, I kid, I kid....

[no limit]

141. I dont reboot my work computer for weeks on end sometimes

and it works just fine. But just as your mac the longer you dont reboot the larger your memory foot print grows.

[no limit]

130. Just because I have nothing better to do I rebooted. Now i'm down to 500Mb RAM usage

and I think a large part of that is in the swap file, I'm too lazy to look that up right now.

[ShortnFiery]

59. +1 iPad = Netbook without a physical keypad and cover protection. eom

[Xithras]

60. Netbook? Nah. Get a tablet PC. For a little more money, you get a LOT more functionality.

You can get some very nice tablet PC's starting at around $650 nowadays. They have higher resolution screens than the iPad, more storage, far more software, aand can do anything an iPad can do. When you need to do real work, you can also flip out the keyboard and use it as a laptop.

What's the difference between an iPad and a Tablet PC? Marketing.

[no limit]

68. If you have $650 for a tablet sure. But a netbook you can get for $250

and its virtually the same thing without the fancy touch screen and a bit lower specs.

[Xithras]

69. I was comparing them to iPads, which run $499 to $829

For $699 you can get a 64Gb iPad, or a low end tablet PC that will do much more.

My sister recently picked up a Fujitsu Lifebook for about $1200. It makes the iPad look like a useless toy in every regard, but it's quite a bit more money. Still, if I really wanted a tablet, that's the route I would go.

There's also the new Lifebook Mini, which does everything a full blown laptop will do, everything an iPad will do. If you can deal with the smaller screen, it will fit in your pocket, and sells at about the same price as an iPad. Haven't seen one in person yet though.

[WeekendWarrior]

75. This is less expensive than the iPad

when you compare features:

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/200946.asp

[no limit]

88. Pretty cool. I dont suppose it will have a built in carrier for the network will it?

Would be kind of cool, but with a USB adapter I guess you can go with whichever provider you want.

[TommyO]

139. Can I get one today?

[dorkulon]

76. Even my crappy old Archos 605 can run flash vids.

And that was 300 bucks several years ago.

[Touchdown]

79. Ick! Netbook+Windows anything=NO SALE!

I don't do Windows.

And Ubuntu is more expensive from Dell... for some inconceivable reason.

[pinstikfartherin]

105. Had one, sold it for an iPad and am not looking back...

In fact, I am using my iPad to post on DU right now.

My net book worked great for a while, but the damn left click and right click eventually became a pain to get to work. The keyboard was tiny so even with small hands I had a hard time typing without mistakes sometimes. My games didn't look nearly as good as those I have on the iPad.

So far
iPad: 3
Netbook: 0

I have enjoyed it and have no problems with it. I'll get a wireless key board soon and be good to go.

[Stevenmarc]

3. Best gadget ever - the Enter Key

It helps make a large blob of text more readable.

[Brickbat]

5. LMAO.

[NoNothing]

6. Sorry, not Enter key on the iPad

Steve Jobs does not approve

[smoogatz]

10. Good one!

Zing! Have trouble reading paragraphs, do we?

[Codeine]

33. Paragraphs are great!

Try using them.

[Brickbat]

7. It's beautiful and engaging, but I had a real problem with the keyboard. It doesn't work for me for

the way I type.

[smoogatz]

9. It takes a bit of getting used to.

I'm a rotten typist, but it works fine for me. One thing my wife noticed is that it's a little bit funky if you have long nails and type with your nails instead of the pads of your fingertips.

[Brickbat]

15. As a touch typer, I need to feel the keys.

I wanted to like it, but I don't think I'd be happy with it.

[smoogatz]

17. Well, there you go.

If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't.

[blogslut]

18. I shall reserve my lust for one of these

Ultimately though, if I am ever able to afford a fresh piece of hardware, I'll probably just get a used Thinkpad offa teh Ebay. I am forever a ThinkPad fan-atic. I can't give up the nub.

[smoogatz]

22. Coolio.

We like what we like. Tell me about the gadget of your desires--it looks pretty groovy.

[blogslut]

30. Lenovo Skylight

1GHz ARM processor, 10" HD screen, 10 hours battery life, 8 Gig drive but comes with a 20 Gig flash drive that snaps into the keyboard, 2 USB ports, Mini SD port, Linux OS

lustful linkage: http://www.lenovoskylight.com/

oops. hope you're not here using your i Pad. that site won't work for an iPad. ;)

[Terry in Austin]

91. Nah - it's gotta be one of these!

Been waitin' for it since I was six!

:7

[anAustralianobserver]

115. lol that wheel is the best interface ever:)

[pokerfan]

131. I'm waiting for this

Currently out of stock, though. The next-generation Starling NetBook arrives June 2010.

[NoNothing]

19. Do not want

For a variety of reasons, but mostly because as a software developer, I am utterly disgusted with Apple's attempts to dictate to their third-party developers. It's crass and abusive.

[TommyO]

21. and lucrative for both Apple and developers who do iPhone/iPad apps.

[NoNothing]

23. Yeah...

Being a big bully is often lucrative for big businesses. All the more reason to take a stand against it.

[smoogatz]

25. I'm sorry but

This from the guy with the Windows logo as avatar is kind of ironic, no?

[NoNothing]

28. The avatar itself is ironic

Or at least, it used to be, back when I chose it.

Frankly, Microsoft is far, far more accommodating to independent developers than Apple is these days. It's not even a close. Apple wants to force me to write my software using only hardware that they control, using only developer tools that they control, using only libraries that they control, and distributed only through channels they control. Even Microsoft doesn't go this far.

EDIT: Forgot to add, using only an operating system that they control.

[smoogatz]

32. Well...

You forgot an important provisio: IF you want to write programs that can be used on Apple devices, then yes, you have to use their stuff. But nobody's forcing you to write iPhone apps, or whatever, right? In fact, I'm guessing Apple doesn't really give a shit what you do outside of their product orbit.

[NoNothing]

34. Of course

Nobody is forced to use Apple devices or write software for those devices. And they shouldn't, if they care about the things I mentioned.

[smoogatz]

39. I don't see the issue.

I really don't--if you don't like the way they do business, take your business elsewhere. They have a right to control what goes into their stores--which they support through advertising, etc.--and it's in their interests to insure that those apps, etc., work properly with their devices, otherwise consumer confidence in those devices/stores would erode very quickly. The thing about the app store is that everything in it is guaranteed to work with your device--more than that, you know for a fact that it won't damage or corrupt your device. It may suck--and a lot of apps do--but it won't fuck up your iTouch, or steal your data, or whatever. If you open it up then consumers are on their own, and it turns into this hostile, buyer beware atmosphere. Apple users don't want that, I'm pretty sure.

[NoNothing]

47. Interesting

You are missing the point here, I think.

First of all: you own the device. Not Apple. Personally, I think that means I should have the right to do anything I want to it, including run software Apple doesn't approve of. What "right" does Apple have to supersede *my* rights to do what I want with a piece of hardware I bought and paid for?

Second of all: the developer restrictions have nothing to do with quality control. NOTHING. They can control quality by evaluating and testing the apps that are submitted to them. In fact, they do that already. It is as ridiculous as me requesting you to write a speech, and then demanding that you use Microsoft Word to make sure it is a good speech, before I'll even read it. No, this is entirely about trying to hurt competitors like Adobe. It's about trying to prevent developers from using tools that allow them to write apps that will also run on platforms other than Apple's, *regardless of how good the app is.* That is straight-up bullying, I won't be a pawn in it, and I don't think others should either.

[smoogatz]

49. I have no doubt that I'm missing the point.

And learning something from your responses. Thanks for being so patient--I honestly know nothing about this stuff, though I've been hearing these criticisms of Apple from Windows-types for years, of course. What is it that prevents you from cracking your iPhone and loading whatever software you want on the damn thing?

I agree as a general principle that the kind of competition-driven control-freakyness you're talking about isn't optimal if what you're interested in is letting ideas run free to play and grow. But it's hard to argue with the results, both in terms of the quality of Apple products and Apple's stock price.

[NoNothing]

52. You're welcome

I'm always happy to soap-box on these issues.

First, what prevents you from jailbreaking an Apple device? Well, for one thing, more Apple bullying. Because of the way Apple locks down the device, technically, breaking the DRM on an Apple device is a violation of the DMCA. However, the DMCA does provide an exception for "interoperability." The Electronic Frontier Foundation has requested that the copyright office specifically recognize a DMCA exemption for jailbreaking Apple devices so as to allow interoperability with non-Apple-approved software. Guess who adamantly opposed recognizing the exemption? Yup, Apple. So not only do they go out of their way to make it technically difficult to jailbreak their devices, they go out of their way to make it a *federal crime.*

Second, as I mentioned, using quality as an excuse cannot justify the latest round of restrictions. See, e.g., http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/steve-jobs-weighs-on-iphone-os-dev-controversy.ars

I refuse to give Apple an ethical blank check simply because they've been successful.

[smoogatz]

24. I don't know anything about the economics

Of the app store, but it certainly seems like an opportunity for indie developers to make some money. As a working novelist, I lovelovelove the fact that iBooks is going to give Amazon a bit of competition in he ebook market; Amazon selling ebooks at a loss wasn't good for anyone.

[NoNothing]

29. Sure it is possible to make money

All they ask is that you give up all control to do it.

[smoogatz]

36. As I say, I don't know anything about the way developers

and hardware-makers typically interact, but Apple's whole history has been to see themselves as both developer and hardware-maker, working toward a highly integrated product that's as seamless for the user as possible. That's why people like Apple stuff so much--because it actually works, and you don't have to be a trained IT guy to get it to work.

[alfredo]

31. I don't see where their policies are worse than the PS3 Wii and

XboX.Those hardware makers exert control over content, why can't Apple?

I will be glad when I don't have to deal with the crashes and performance issues from Flash. I don't miss the floppy disc, and the SCSI. I won't miss Flash.

[NoNothing]

37. I don't like the PS3 either for that reason

Especially since they removed the other OS support. I don't know about the Wii at all.

At least with the Xbox, while they control the distribution channel and the software libraries, you are free to develop with any tools you want on any platform you want. If all Apple was trying to control was distribution, that would be one thing - not great but maybe justifiable - but they are trying to control much more than that.

EDIT: And even the PS3 does not require that you can only use Sony development tools.

[alfredo]

71. But aren't the development tools free? HTML5 is free, and

so it Xcode.

[NoNothing]

73. The Mac to run Xcode is not free

Nor is it free to submit an app.

Regardless, my point is less about the monetary cost than it is about the cost in choice and control. If I want to write my app using something other than Xcode, or in some language other than Obj-C, Apple says I can't do that - *even if* the compiled binaries are exactly the same. I find that offensive.

[alfredo]

77. That's the ground rules to play on their field. Either you

play by the rule or go elsewhere.

[NoNothing]

81. Their rules suck

I'm giving my reasons why I do go elsewhere, and others should too. Why does this bother you?

[alfredo]

83. It doesn't bother me. I was just pointing out that Apple isn't

unique in having rules for developing for their hardware.

[NoNothing]

86. But they are unique

For having such restrictive rules, with no technical justification.

[alfredo]

90. Do they have the right to do it?

[NoNothing]

94. Arguably yes

But so what? That they have a right to do it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

[alfredo]

111. Their market cap is fixing to pass Microsoft's. Right or wrong

they are doing something that works.

[Dappleganger]

43. This is never, ever going to change.

People have been complaining about this for YEARS. Get over it.

[NoNothing]

48. It has gotten much worse

More recently.

See, e.g., http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/steve-jobs-weighs-on-iphone-os-dev-controversy.ars

[ShamelessHussy]

136. High Standards

I think they are catering to their users with that.

Look at the bar to entry in other closed systems say, PS3, wii, etc.

besides, you can write a web app with 0 restrictions. (except flash :P

[Lucky Luciano]

35. Can you "write" on the ipad?

I take a twain anhour each way for work andmych of my work involves scribbling some math problems etc. I would live an ipad if it had a feature where with a pen like device, I could scribble on various "pages" while trying to work put solutions. It is not comfortable to write with a pen and paper on the train, but I could imagine that if I coulddo ir withan ipad (while saving my solutions!), then that would almostmotivate me to spring for it.

[smoogatz]

41. There's an app for that.

Not a pen, but your fingertip. I have no idea how well it works, but you could probably go to an Apple store and try it out.

[suffragette]

70. Looks like there are different apps being brought out so you can

Searched around and found:
Penultimate looks closest to what you are seeking for an app. Pogo gets cited most for a stylus, but it looks like there are more out there.

http://socialwayne.com/2010/04/20/new-ipad-app-penultimate-surges-to-1-in-apples-app-store-on-the-top-paid-apps-list/

http://tabletlegal.com/time-real-ipad-legal-pad-attorneys/

Video of it here:
http://blog.cocoabox.com/

Looks like there are many other apps that work in various ways, if you search for iPad notes or similar.

[DatManFromNawlins]

101. Not really

But HP's Slate device, which is pretty similar to the iPad and run Windows 7, will come with a pen for writing.

I'm a software developer/designer by trade, and this will save me TONS of time and paper on mockups.

[Lucky Luciano]

112. Indeed it would! Gotta be a pen too.

Writing with my finger as mentioned above is out of the question. Would love to see this come to the ipad get that pen!

[KansasVoter]

38. I have one. Too expensive!

[smoogatz]

45. True dat.

I expect the price will come down somewhat over the next few months--but apparently the touch-glass is very expensive to produce, so maybe not.

[stanwyck]

46. I am as green as Kermit with envy.

My co-worker has one and I can't keep my hands off of it. My household is totally APPLE, also. Love my laptop, my iPhone, and my iPod. My husband has to use the blackberry his company issues to employees. The apps are amazing.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

55. Please tell me "maxi" is your term not theirs. :-)

[smoogatz]

57. It is.

I kind of like it. Hey, love your image. Can I steal it?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

64. Sure feel free. I do have a question though. Is it more absorbent

and does it come with "wings"? :evilgrin:

[Throd]

56. No, that would be the beer can.

[smoogatz]

58. Can't argue with you there. n/t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

66. .

[retread]

63. No. Not even close.

[gmoney]

65. I'm happy for you. Glad you're enjoying it.

Of course, you broke the cardinal rule of DU. Never show enthusiasm for ANYTHING unless it's kitteh related. Any flickers of enthusiasm shall be roundly pissed upon until thoroughly dampened.

Seriously, I've played with the iPad and I think it's great for what it does. NO it does not do everything. It's not supposed to. And version 2 will probably do more cool stuff. But it does a helluva lot -- it's a tool for enjoyable viewing of content, not for creation of content. That's why we have desktops or laptops or whatnot. The screen is possibly the best I've ever seen for viewing photos.

Again, I'm happy for you and I hope you enjoy it for a long time to come, and that the cool updates can be firmware implemented for you, too. I may join you sooner or later.

[smoogatz]

67. Thank you.

I think it's one of those "either you get it or you don't" things. The idea that a netbook was somehow equivalent (or superior) actually made me cackle. Missing the point entirely, IMO.

[WeekendWarrior]

72. You're kidding, right?

A friend of mine bought one and I spent a couple hours with it this weekend, and I have to tell you, I was underwhelmed. It's like a giant iPod Touch or iPhone. The only thing I liked about it was the iBook reader. But $500-800 for an ereader? No thanks.

I can see how this thing might thrill fanboys and people who just want a simple (VERY SIMPLE) device for browsing the internet and watching movies, but, frankly, its lack of power, its lack of a USB port, its lack of an HDMI out, its lack of multitasking, its slowish processor, its lack of Flash support, and the decision to adopt the iPhone operating system rather than the full OSX (which I love), just makes it a novelty more than anything else. Millions will buy these things, then in a year, they'll be sitting on a table top somewhere, untouched for weeks.

That said, I'm very interested in the idea of a slate device. I think I'll check out HP's Slate when it comes out. It seems to have all the things the iPad is missing except for that Apple Logo.

And, by the way, I use an iPhone, a new Quad iMac and generally love Apple's products.

Not this time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. IN a year I might sink 100 on one of these

on ebay as a book reader.

:-)

that's about what I'd pay for it.

[Touchdown]

95. Congrats! You got all the talking points in there!

:applause:

Anything original?

[Warren DeMontague]

78. Burn! Burn! BURN the Materialist Consumer Techno-Heretic!!!!!!!!!!!

How many homeless people starved while you fiddled on the backs of the proletariat with your planet-destroying patriarchal gizmo? Eh? Eh? EH???????

[lukasahero]

80. Can I ask a question?

I've been salivating over the iPad since they hit stores a few weeks ago but one thing no review mentions is anything about a text editor. Is there such an app on the iPad or can one be downloaded? I do web work for a rescue group and, being old school, make my updates currently in Textpad. If that one little function exists, I'm off to the Apple store. If not, I will have to wait until Google or HP put theirs out...

Thanks!

Edited to add: I should mention, I would like the iPad so I can do the volunteer web work on my evening commute home on the train and not just waste that time.

[nadinbrzezinski]

84. Yes, several word processors actually

and since you are not doing academic work this MIGHT work for you.

Start with Pages, and go for the rest of them... quickoffice, and a few others.

[lukasahero]

92. I'm not sure I'd want an actual word processor

There's a difference in the "code" rendered by MS Word and Text/Notepad. (i.e. - lots of crap in word vs. nothing in Text/notepad.)

But thanks for the names - at least that gives me some apps to look into. They might work! :hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

97. The native notetaker that the damn thing

comes with...

You may want to look at icode... yep, coding on these things...

[lukasahero]

106. Oh sweet

I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

[Toasterlad]

93. Yawn. I'll Wait For the Inevitable Sony Equivalent, Which WIll Do Much More, Do It Better,

fix all the Apple design flaws, and, most importantly, work well with others.

Never buy a first (or second, or third) generation technological innovation of ANY product, but least of all anything from Apple.

No USB port? No camera? No phone? No thanks. I have a computer, a cell phone and a Kindle, all of which do everything the iPad SHOULD do, and which do it better. Someone else will soon successfully combine all three, and THAT will be a product worth buying. And it surely won't be an Apple.

[krabigirl]

96. I'm skeptical about it not hurting your eyes when reading iBooks.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

100. its twue, its twue.

zip.

Seriously, when I can pry it out of her hands, it reads great.

[smoogatz]

114. I read backlit screens all day

and I don't notice any eyestrain. Why would the iPad, which is higher res than most computer screens, be worse than a computer screen? Or worse than a book, for that matter? Actually, now that I'm over 50, the adjustable font size feature of iBooks is a mighty cool thing.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

98. got my sweetie one, too, as a surprise.

she loves it. The books are great (she has three readers, including Amazon, iBooks, and the one with Classics, but Backgammon, that car racing game, and the Elements are just kick ass.

Elements is incredible.

Also, spend the money on Audubon stuff. Birds even gives you recordings of the tweets. Animals, plants, trees, AMAZING. I only wish they made one with mushrooms.

for fun, try the Seismograph, the Stanley Level (I use it), Resisters (the codes for all things electronic) and pUniverse.

[onehandle]

102. It's a good device, but there is an Apple hating minority that is more vocal than most.

It's jealousy. Don't let them bother you.

Meanwhile, Apple has sold it's millionth iPad and are on track to tens of millions.

[BlooInBloo]

103. Nobody loves a corporate behemoth more than iPeople love their corporate behemoth.

[Touchdown]

108. Calling BS on that!

[deaniac21]

118. Funny

[mainer]

120. Might want to look at this article. IPad blamed for insomnia:

http://gizmodo.com/5524005/experts-kindle-helps-you-sleep-ipad-causes-insomnia

[TommyO]

140. So instead of using a backlit display, you turn the room lights on

Not too much of a difference there.

[ecstatic]

126. I'm going to get my SO a real notebook for his b-day

I'm glad you like your ipad, and your post did make me consider getting him one, but I don't think he would benefit from that as much as a fully functioning notebook with multiple ports and the most common OS (windows). It'll cost a lot less as well. :)

[walldude]

129. I have heard there are problems with the wireless on the first generation

I know many have been returned and the one person I know who actually bought one told me he's been having issues as well.

One other thing, charging extra for a "USB adapter" on a portable data device is like charging extra for the steering wheel in a car.

I like some of Apples stuff but they need to stop ripping off their customers.

[Touchdown]

133. Wireless problems are iPad connecting to 'G' routers.

There are no issues with iPads connecting to the newer 'N' networks. iPad is a new machine, so they built in connectivity with the latest network technology, that's all. If you still have a 'G' net, it may be time to upgrade. Your main system will run faster anyhow.

[rucky]

134. There's this thing called the laptop...

it's really cool, too.

[Touchdown]

135. I'm going to buy one Friday.

I'm getting a 3G model. I played with one for about 45 min Sunday and fell in lust! It''s pretty slick, and much faster than my iPhone. It's more than just a bigger iPod. I saw that in the first 5 minutes.