Apple iPad Unleashing Creative Destruction On PC Industry

[dkf]

The Apple iPad continues its assault on the mighty PC industry and the market’s voracious appetite for the product indicates that PC makers have yet to feel the full impact of this paradigm-shattering product.

In fact, the most striking revelations in Apple’s stellar quarterly earnings report last week were not that its revenue rose 82% to $28.6 billion, or that its net income surged 125% to $7.3 billion—although those results are certainly striking.

No, what really stood out on the call was the realization that when it comes to the iPad and its impact on enterprise customers and on the PC industry itself, we are not really yet even at the end of the beginning—we are at most in the middle of the beginning.

That is, we are only just starting to be able to gauge the massive and wide-ranging impact that the iPad is having and will continue to have on enterprise computing and on the venerable PC industry itself: the best (or worst, depending on where you sit) is yet to come.


http://blogs.forbes.com/sap/2011/07/26/apple-ipad-unleashing-creative-destruction-on-pc-industry/

[msongs]

1. too bad it doesnt have a handle lol Ive seen them dropped quite a few times nt

[dkf]

2. The back is really slippery.

I've ordered a case that should provide a better grip.

And yes I've dropped it twice. Not good.

[Angry Dragon]

3. The apple is the fruit of Satan and should be condemed

by all true Christians
only heathens would have one in their possession

[dkf]

4. I guess that's me then.

[Sherman A1]

8. Add me in

An Apple Desk Top, iPad & iPod Touch. No iPhone as I find my cell service to be a better deal through T-Moble.

[populistdriven]

20. android and cyanogenmod ftw

http://www.cyanogenmod.com/

[JCMach1]

21. Exactly, I will keep my Android phone and my Android Tablet thanks very much...

Apple can bit me and take their over-priced proprietary shite and shove it....

I can take my phone in the shower with me... I doubt if your iPhone can do that!

[trumad]

23. Hey Mach---how ya been?

I just bought a Samsung Infuse 4G.... gave up my IPhone for it...

Fucking amazing phone.... huge beautiful screen...fast as hell.... and of course Android.

I had my Iphone for a year... Android is so much better than Apple... mho

[Atman]

30. Developers are shying away from Android:

I don't have the link, but it was posted here on DU last week; many app developers are ignoring the platform in favor of iOS because of the numbers. Now that Verizon is selling iPhones, the iPad and iPhone are just too damn profitable to be bothered with writing for Android. It's always popular on DU to hate on Apple, but if you're a developer, the numbers don't lie...iOS is insanely popular. Android will always be the also-ran alternative for the hater crowd, and there isn't much money in it for them.

[CBGLuthier]

37. Well let them continue to shy away. Leaves more for the rest of us

Yeah apple got a big big head start but their bullshit developer fees and bullshit censorship and bullshit prices mean that eventually something else, probably android based, will pass them by.

I would bet within two years.

But I guess I am just part of the "hater crowd" because I don't worship at the altar.

[Atman]

39. "Worship at the alter?"

Isn't this the exact same bullshit meme that the freepers and 'wingers drive us crazy with when discussing Dems support for Obama? That we think he's the mesiah and that we worship him? I "worship" Apple no more than I worship Obama -- zero. And perhaps you misread my post; how do Android users get MORE from developers opting NOT to write for Android? That sure sounds like LESS to me. You might not like the fees Apple charges, but if the market is so huge that developers are able to still make gobs of money, well, they'll go where the money is.

I'm an atheist. I worship no one and nothing. But I'm also not a hater just because it's cool.

[MattBaggins]

46. Except your flat out wrong

How can an "also ran" have a larger market share than the "earth shattering paradigm shifting iconoclast"? The claims that Android developers are all leaving is a tad bit overblown. Why are all Apple fanbois so flat out convinced that it has such superior numbers when it is in fact in second place?

[Atman]

56. I only posted about the news story I saw.

It stated that developers were favoring the iOS platform since the introduction of iPad 2 and the Verizon iPhone, due to the large numbers being sold and the potential for growth. If I have the time I'll try to find the source.

The funny thing is, your rabid defense of the Android platform and your cliched Apple disdain are just different 'bois. A fanboi is a fanboi, fanboi.

:hi:

[Atman]

61. Okay...

Here's the deal, and my take on this stupid "fanboy" shit (not that you asked); My wife and I both use iPhones. I've been with AT&T since way back when it was the other AT&T and then Cingular and then...well, I digress...We've used LG phones, which I've generally liked. The flip-phone type, with the tiny screen. Still, it played some games when I was waiting at the DMV, it took some pictures when I'd forgotten my other camera, and it worked well for the 3 years I used it. My wife had one of those Motorola Razors. Pink, of course. Talk about "trendy." We've been Mac users since almost day 1. Maybe day 2. We had a color Mac II when it was Apple's top o' the line. I've run businesses with them, created music and film and you-name-it with them. I had an iPod touch for a while, greatest invention ever at the time, imho. We took it on a trip to Thailand (disabled all the Internationl Roaming stuff) and had wifi access for e-mail and texting, all over the islands. I used it for a year with the front glass broken after dropping it onto a stone floor. So when the iPhone came out, it was a natural transition for us.

That's what I don't like about the "fanboy" bullshit. I don't sit around at nerd parties and talk about my fucking phone, and I don't care what anybody else uses. Lately it seems more and more people I encounter have iPhones. We spent this past weekend with two other couples, and among the six of us, three iPhones, a Blackberry, and a couple of old flip phones. So people buy what they like and use what they're comfortable with. That doesn't make anyone a "fanboy," no matter how you spell it.

[MattBaggins]

63. I would use Apple products as well if their prices weren't asinine

Apple over all creates some nice technology but the prices that Apple wants to charge for it's products is ridiculous; just plain stupid.

My contention is with the misinformation that Apple is the market leader and crushing everyone else. Second place is not the market leader.

P.S. The fanboi tag is just a tongue in cheek jab. Don't take it seriously.

[Atman]

76. But my post never stated Apple was the market leader.

Although, I think they actually are in terms of notebooks, laptops, smartphones and tablets. But I could be wrong.

The only assertion I made in my post was that I had read an article on DU which said developers were eschewing the Android platform because Apple's sales and market share were making it more attractive for them. Interpret that any way you want.

.

[trumad]

52. I only call it as i see it

Android has the type of apps I like.

Plus....I'm not stuck using an IPhone .....

The new Samsung INFUSE blows IPhone out of the water in mho.

[MattBaggins]

64. You should have waited a few months for the SGSII

I am holding out instead of grabbing the Infuse to replace my Captivate.

[trumad]

68. I heard it will be an awesome phone...

Cloud capable...etc.

I like big screen phones.... I use my Infuse...then grab my wife's IPhone... the IPhone feels half the size.

I left it at a restaurant the other day and called to see if they had it... the guy said...yeah--- we've got your laptop....LOL

[JCMach1]

92. All the Apps I would ever need, plus the rest of the world is still catching up with the Android

explosion, especially over here in Asia.

Also, the Android 2.3 pads are just starting to make a splash.

Android is just fine, it's folks like RIM and Nokia (stuck on Symbian) that have to worry.

[JCMach1]

91. I got my pad first, but now bought a Motorola Defy about 6 weeks back... when it's dirty

I wash it!

Heavy duty AND with Android!

Have been pretty good, you...? :)

[trumad]

105. Still here...

scares me to think 10 years from now I'll still be kicking around this joint.

[BlueJazz]

29. Yep if some sucker buys a 64gig ipad the cost is $829.00. Apple's cost= $ 346.15

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10451132-1.html

[dkf]

32. Lol I would really be in bad shape if I felt I needed my phone in the shower.

[ejpoeta]

88. but it is nice to know that you don't have to worry if your kid spills their drink all over and it

gets wet. i happen to have that problem in my house. I bought a kodak playsport camera instead of the fancy flip camera that was all the rage because it is waterproof. and has an sd card too. i like the sd card. but i digress. waterproof is good for more than taking a shower.

[SkyDaddy7]

24. This heathen has one. nt.

[Jim Warren]

5. Funny

How these kinds of articles are written like the material is carved on stone........tablets, lol.

Without major investment in mobile broadband these devices are hitting a wall, the US ranks way down on the list of developed nations.

[dkf]

6. At first I thought 3G on an iPad was excessive.

But I got it knowing I could stop the contract at any time and now I can't imagine not having it.

It's a lot faster on wifi though.

[Jim Warren]

7. I meant to say

major investment in infrastructure by the telecoms, tower backhaul in many locations is already woefully inadequate.

[guruoo]

9. Love it, would already have one had they not been so ridiculously overpriced. nt

[Tunkamerica]

dupe post 1

[Tunkamerica]

10. I've only heard bad things from people who actually try to use them to do something productive

[dkf]

12. The auto correct is a pain.

If they are complaining about that I agree completely. Also it's sometimes hard to select things to copy and paste. I don't know what's up with that.

[lukasahero]

38. You can turn off auto-correct. eom

[tabbycat31]

57. but it is hilarious and has a mind of its own

www.damnyouautocorrect.com


Where else can I make fun of my friend like crazy?

[MilesColtrane]

13. Do tell.

Don't hold back now.

[Tunkamerica]

17. keyboard , flash, storage space, etc.

[lukasahero]

41. Blue tooth keyboards are available if you can't get the hang of the on-screen one

not sure how storage space is an issue re: productivity - I have 32 gig and have no issues using iWorks (heck, what's the byte count of a good-sized spreadsheet anyway - 100 mb?)

And anyone who says not having Flash is preventing them from "doing something productive", well, probably doesn't know what Flash is...

I use mine all the time to respond to emails from work, update a web site for an animal rescue group I volunteer for, heck, I even have log-me-in on mine so I can connect directly to my office laptop and write code if necessary. Didn't have to bring my laptop on a recent business trip. It was fabulous!

[Lorien]

72. It's not a computer, but it is quite useful if you have to travel a lot

the 3G helps a person to stay connected almost anywhere. There are apps that help with the lack of storage space, and I use a bluetooth keyboard. I teach graduate courses online, so staying connected is critical for me. I almost lost my job when I had to take care of my sick father in an area with no WiFi. I bought the iPad as a bit of job insurance, and so far it's worked great for that purpose.

[RandySF]

15. It's best for people who do not need to work while mobile.

I have a laptop because from time to time I need to work on a document or spreadsheet. On the other hand, my wife loves her iPad because she just wants to use the Internet.

[Lorien]

73. Actually, it's great for people who have to work while mobile. That's why I purchased it

I have to stay connected to my online students wherever I go, and the 3G helps me to do that. I use a word processing app that works just fine for rewriting course material. It all depends upon what your job is, I suppose.

[Xithras]

81. It's a consumer product, not a business product.

The iPad will never displace PC's in the enterprise market because the screen is too small and the platform is too closed. It's a neat device, but it's created for the average Joe, and not a 15000 unit multi-office desktop deployment.

The enterprise market is still the economic backbone of the computer industry, and is the destination for more than 70% of all computers shipped. Until tablet makers figure out how to deploy a tablet with the power, screen space, and flexibility of a PC in an enterprise environment, the PC isn't going anywhere.

Apples own sales numbers confirm this. While Apple is a big dog in the consumer market, their enterprise sales (excluding the iPhone) account for less than 3% of the overall enterprise desktop computing market. They are very small fish swimming with some very big sharks.

[Tunkamerica]

11. dupe post 2

[RandySF]

14. It's evolution

Remember IBM? Remember dummy terminals at your university lab? Soon people will be saying "remember Dell and Microsoft"?

[canetoad]

16. Can you please change the thread title to;

'I'm cool, I have an ipad and I want to talk about it. Instead of acting like an adult in an appropriate forum, it's instant gratification to invent a thread to prompt talk about.....MY Ipad'

[dionysus]

50. !!! ding ding ding!!!

:thumbsup:

[joshcryer]

18. Survey: (30% of) Consumers Want iPhone 5, Sight Unseen

http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/survey-consumers-want-iphone-5-sight-unseen-35119

Welcome to modern consumerism. :hi:

[FLPanhandle]

28. I admit, I'm waiting for it come out

Of course, I'm a bit of technology geek.

[hlthe2b]

55. I'll wait for Iphone 6.....

I just don't see this particular version being that much of an advance over the iphone4, with which I currently am quite happy. I like getting the normal lifespan off of cell phones--especially when I think of the very real costs to humans and environment of building and disposing of them....

[ejpoeta]

19. you know what helps? all the product placement. Even my local news. They have a fucking ipad

segment. No lie. I thought it was stupid from day 1 and i still think it's stupid. Just I assume so they can do it on the Ipad. They start by having anchorman A holding the Ipad and mentioning a story he is looking at ON the ipad. Then he turns the Ipad so you can see the story too. The camera then zooms into the ipad to see the story on the ipad. yech.

I have an ipod 3rd generation and had been salivating over the idea of the 4th generation one with a camera in it which would sort of be like having a smart phone without the $30/mo data that I am not going to pay for a smart phone. But then this bs with 3rd party apps like amazon started and now I am thinking of maybe looking into an archos. My husband has an archos 70 which is like an ipad but with an sd slot and a not so great camera on it. But it works pretty darned good and he uses it all the time. It also has an hdmi plug so he can plug it into the tv and watch movies he has on it. I don't think I'd want something that big, but they have something the size of my ipod.

[lukasahero]

43. Don't bother for the camera

I have a 4th gen iPod (my first) and the camera for photos is crappy. Takes great videos, though (HD).

I pay $20/month for data only plan and use it like a smart phone (I have a mifi I connect to) through Skype.

[Atman]

85. My iPhone 4 takes great photos. And I watch movies on my HD tv on it.

We bought a 22" 1080p Samsung TV/Monitor, and it has every port imaginable on it. I plug my iPhone into it with an HDMI cable and can watch movies downloaded from iTunes, or any videos or still photos on my phone, as well as listen to music through my stereo. There is even an HBO and a Cinemax app for subscribers, gives you all of their on-demand content for free (if your an HBO subscriber). It's great for traveling or using on remote tv's.

[FLPanhandle]

22. The iPad & iPhone have killed REM (Blackberry)

Blackberry used to own the corporate email market. Once executives owned and wanted to use iPads & iPhones for work, they pushed their company IT departments to support the devices.

Once that floodgate opened, Blackberry was doomed.

iPads are getting close to being able to work on, but not quite there yet.

[lukasahero]

45. There's no IT support required for email on an iPad/iPhone

If you have a Microsoft Exchange email server you can access your email on an iPhone. Maybe that's why Blackberry was doomed...?

(I have corporate email on my iPad/iPod AND I work in IT.)

[MattBaggins]

47. Android killed RIM

but as we all know Apple was responsible for putting a man on the moon and will cure cancer next year.

[tabbycat31]

58. I have a blackberrry

and it will be replaced with an Android next year when my contract is up. Web browsing on a blackberry sucks.

One of the main reasons I bought it in the first place is that it has a full keyboard (I won't do a touchscreen keyboard like the iphone) and did NOT have a touchscreen. I hate touchscreens.

[knitter4democracy]

79. Same here. I'm very disappointed in mine.

Apps aren't available for Blackberry, the screen's too small, forget trying to find anything on-line, certain websites don't even load at all, etc.

The Droid with the slider keyboard looks awfully nice.

[Codeine]

69. Blackberry killed Blackberry.

I loved my Blackberry Curve to a ridiculous degree and wanted to replace it with a new Blackberry last month. Imagine my surprise when I tried all the newer models only to find they sucked goat dick -- keyboard design gone all to hell, wonky touch screens, crappy ergonomics; just flat-out shitty phones from a company that just two years ago was making fabulous devices.

I ended up with an inexpensive iPhone 3 from AT&T. I'd still love to have that great Blackberry keyboard and OS, but their phone design took an enormous step backward.

[sudopod]

95. To be honest, I think RIM killed RIM

Former employees have been airing a lot of dirty laundry about how upper management was super-complacent and refused to keep up, believing that their dominance in business was absolute.

There is a little to that belief, considering that the awful Blackberry Tablet is still the only tablet on the government's approved list. :/

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

25. That is an interesting theory but...

Where I work the only application we use for which there even is an iPad version is FileMaker Pro and the version on the iPad is more or less just a viewer.

I also find the statement "after a year of playing footsie with enterprise customers, Apple’s getting serious" pretty funny since Apple is abandoning and alienating the enterprise market in every way possible as quickly as they can.

[FLPanhandle]

27. Apple abandoning and alienating the enterprise market?

They are doing great in the Enterprise market. Activations in Good show strong growth. Apple is expanding their enterprise sales & marketing group.

Why do you think they are abandoning and alienating? Every metric out there is showing the opposite.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

35. So selling iShit to businesses is the "enterprise market" ?

As opposed to say server hardware and server operating systems? A market which Apple has decisively abandoned in just the past year with the termination of the Xserve product line and evisceration of Mac OS X Server?

[FLPanhandle]

48. I was talking about the selling of "iShit" (since that was the topic of the thread)

My point was Apple has broken into the enterprise mail market with the iPhone and corporate users are snapping up iPads to do business with.

However, I do understand where you are coming from. The latest version of Final Cut Pro was crap and they seem to be abandoning the core professionals that sustained them for so long.

[Yavin4]

62. Enterprises Need Far More Robust Applications Than Email

The IPad is a great consumer electronic device, but it's a poor enterprise level device.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

65. I see lots of people playing with iPhones and iPads at work

I don't see anyone doing much productive with them. I have one and so far the only "work" I have done on it is submitting my timesheets with FileMaker Go.

And practically speaking the iPhone/iPad is a pretty poor messaging device given it is just a free rider on Microsoft Exchange and in any other context lacks the most basic management functionality available on the Blackberry a decade ago.

[Search and Destroy]

26. Am I the only one who thinks Apple stole the Ipad concept from Star Trek?

Everybody acts like it's this revolutionary concept. In Star Trek it's called a "Padd"

[hobbit709]

31. I'll stick with my Android tablet instead of an overpriced Apple iPOS.

does what I want, costs less than half as much.

[dkf]

33. Which kind of goes to the original point of tablets replacing PCs.

Android or IPad, how often are you on your PC? That sounds pretty disruptive to me.

[hobbit709]

36. I use my PC 90% of the time.

It does things you can't do on ANY tablet.
When a tablet can do A/D conversion, photo and video editing, and provide the large storage space a PC does then maybe it will change the industry.
Have you tried major word processing on a little touchscreen?
It takes about 10 seconds to figure out that a real keyboard and a large screen is several orders of magnitude easier and faster.

Tablets are useful for some things but cannot replace the computing power of a full-size computer. Even laptops are limited in comparison.

[trotsky]

44. Same here.

I actually own an iPad, and for certain tasks it is ideal. Like sitting on the couch and wanting to hop on the web quick to look something up. Instant on, right to the page. Watching Netflix while on the road. Playing games like Angry Birds. Holy frack I'm addicted to that game!

But anything requiring a fair amount of typing is absolutely painful on the iPad. As someone else noted, it is very difficult to select text. Sometimes it just refuses to place the cursor where I want it to be. Or will only select an entire section instead of letting me select a few words.

Multitasking is also something that a PC rocks at but the iPad simply does not do. Yes you can be "running" multiple apps but in reality each one just pauses when you put it in the background. Even multiple browser windows do this - which is especially frustrating as often on my PC I'll middle-click to open a link in a new tab and then let it load in the background while I finish reading the current page I'm on. No can do on the iPad. Open the link, and sit and wait.

[Buns_of_Fire]

53. LOL... "a full-size computer..." I love it.

I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh at my poor little pitiful PC now being considered a "full-size computer." I remember back in the paleogeek days when a "full-size computer" meant the IBM 360/30 my employer had (yes, back in the days when input was punched cards, although it was always hard to punch holes in those stone tablets). Flashing lights and toggle switches and behemoth chain printers and boxes of fanfold paper and cigarette ashes on the console keyboard.

So now here I am, typing away on what some had thought of as a "toy" at the time with no practical application. A "toy" that now has five times the memory, 1,000 times the disk storage of the first "real" computer I ever worked on (an NCR Century 50, FWIW), and connected by a bunch of tubes to other computers all over the world. And now my poor little underpowered (by current standards) PC that sits on a table with no raised flooring or cooling tower (but still occasional cigarette ashes on the keyboard, alas) is a "full-size" computer. I feel so retro it's thrilling.;-)

But now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go chase some kids off the yard.

[octothorpe]

67. LOL YOU'RE OLD...

:P

[Buns_of_Fire]

108. I prefer to think of it as "fully-ripened"...

Which, of course, is one short step from "beginning to rot," but I try not to think of that.:-)

[jberryhill]

70. Obviously, you haven't tried the USB powered e-cigarette

[Buns_of_Fire]

109. It's on my list, as soon as I get a few bucks (and a USB hub).

I rather like the idea of using my PC like an electronic hookah.:smoke:

[MattBaggins]

49. I can get three Nook Colors and slap CM7 on them for the

price of one iPad.

[DainBramaged]

34. Meh, toys for the easily entertained Masses....

[LanternWaste]

98. Unlike the one you're using to browse the internet...

Unlike the one you're using to browse the internet... :shrug:

[Cestode]

40. Can the Ipad run Battlefield Bad Company 2 ?

Or the upcoming Battlefield 3 ?

It can't, therefore I am not interested.
Yes, I am a gaming nerd.

[MattBaggins]

42. Jump to the future about two years

and we will be reading articles about how Android is crushing IOS

[Shagbark Hickory]

51. Nothing like a paid article to rally the stock.

Know where your news comes from people.

[alfredo]

75. They don't need an article to pump their stock. It's doing just

fine without the help of a Forbes writer.

[Shagbark Hickory]

77. Why do you suppose that is?

Because of a fandangled $600 tablet that doesn't even have a USB port is revolutionizing the computing world?

[alfredo]

90. Have you ever used one?

[joeglow3]

93. Yes, Apple is like Abercrombie

They have built a great brand loyalty that is "cool" to own. However, while it serves some needs (very well), it have NOWHERE the potential of a computer.

I am waiting for the day my employer trashes all their PC's and buys tablets for everyone.

[alfredo]

100. The tablet is still in its infancy, give it time to develop.

BTW, it was never promoted as a replacement for the computer.

[Shagbark Hickory]

97. A family member showed me theirs.

Does that count?

[alfredo]

101. Yes. Now go forth and sin no more.

[LanternWaste]

99. I imagine stocks in pet rocks, slinkys and magic eight balls did quite well

I imagine stocks in pet rocks, slinkys and magic eight ball stock did quite well in their time without USB ports also.

[alfredo]

102. The USB will be replaced just like the SCSI.

[hlthe2b]

54. LOL... I find the "dichotomists" here rather funny...

Seems most here "love" all things Apple and disdain Android or conversely "love" Android and detest all things Apple...

Well, I must be the exception to prove the rule. I still love my small 11 inch Sony laptop, which is fairly new and does everything I could want. I love having a keyboard that allows me to rapidly touch type. And my laptop is quite light weight. But that doesn't mean I have disdain for Apple. In fact my iphone4 is one of the best purchases I ever made. I'm well aware of the advances android phones have made, have used quite a few and am impressed, but I really do like my iphone and the very fast ability to jump online while talking to someone on the phone--all in one exceedingly lightweight package that goes anywhere easily.

I do lust a bit for an ipad, but for me, the deal-maker will be when they introduce the tactile emulating keyboard that lets you regain the similar feedback when typing as a regular laptop keyboard. That is coming down the road. Yet, if someone tossed a $grand my way and I had no other money priorities (yeah, right), I just might buy one. If I really needed one now I would comparison shop with the android tablets, but frankly I really don't NEED one that badly.

So, why the love/hate attitude? May the best products continue coming--no matter whether Apple or from that green "droid" guy. ;)

[MattBaggins]

66. You hit on why Apple is winning (atm) in the early pad department.

Now this going to offend people and I am sorry but I feel this is a correct analysis:

People looking at Android tablets are just like hlthe2b and asking if they really need the device and comparison shopping. Android users look at Pads and ask questions such as "should a pad be a mini computer, a souped up smart phone or something in between. Apple iPads are selling a lot like the upcoming iPhone 5 which has a supposed 30% share of people who admit that they have no idea what it is but want it anyway.

Now to take a shot at myself. I use a Samsung Captivate largely because it is the most hackable phone out there at the moment and is so robust that you can't brick it even if you try. I can make it do what I want even if I don't need to, so I might just be the opposite side of the same coin. I use Android because I am the type of person that would take a perfectly good blender and turn it into a toaster just to see if I could.

[Cannikin]

59. I want an iPad just so I can walk down the sidewalk with it to my ear

pretending to have bad reception.

[hlthe2b]

86. I took the issues with AT&T reception & iphone quite seriously for years...

(not to mention my self-imposed boycott of At&t during the Bush* years for what I considered an unconscionable participation in illegal wiretaps). I realize they all participated to one degree or another, but At&t really went that "extra mile." :eyes:

But then I finally really needed to replace my defunct smartphone, had the opportunity to get a decent At&T discount, and just decided to roll the dice. Having had my iphone 4 for nearly a year now, I wonder what the hell people were complaining about. I don't live in the best area for At&T, but frankly, I've had no problems at all-- a few drops in some areas of Atlanta on business travel and occasionally as I head into the mountains back in CO, but not really any more than I had with previous Sprint phones and Verizon work blackberries....

Maybe things have improved... or maybe the problems were exaggerated. I really can't say, but I am pleasantly surprised at how well my decision has turned out. :shrug:,

[RoadRage]

60. I have one. I love it. BUT DAMN IT - PUT FLASH ON THE THING!!!

Seriously.. I have my laptop that I use daily for "WORK"... when I need to do spreadsheets,powerpoints, photo-editing, etc. That can't be easily done on an iPad.. so I don't see the laptop going "away" any time soon..

However, after i'm done "working" for the day.. there is nothing better then grabbing the iPad and heading out to dinner and taking it in my purse.. or sitting on the couch to surf the web, reply to emails, play apps etc... all from my couch.

The iPad (or rather - Tablets in general) is going to re-invent the computer world. I bought one for my 64 year old mom for her Birthday in March (I got her an iPad 1 when the 2's came out on clearance for $300). She hasn't opened her laptop in 2 months. She uses the iPad for everything. If you don't have to "Work" on a computer.. you can do almost everything from a tablet. She emails, surfs the web, stalks my facebook page and stores pictures of her grand kids all on the iPad.. then takes it with her to Bingo to show her friends the new pictures. She is more addicted to hers then I am.. it's hillarious.

But, I will say the lack of "flash" is very annoying - and Apple needs to get over it, or many people are going to go with "Droid based" Tabs.

[liam_laddie]

84. Flash is a power hog

so says an Apple Systems Specialist friend. Would shorten battery time as well as use a lot of operating system resources. Can any Mac gurus confirm?

[hlthe2b]

87. Why would it draw power if you aren't using a flash app?

[Codeine]

71. Tablets and smartphones have made me look like a fool more than once

when I have found myself tapping futilely on the screen of my laptop trying to navigate. :o

[lukasahero]

74. HA! I did that just the other day!

Took me a full 10 seconds to realize tapping on my laptop's screen was not going to open the application. :blush:

[Logical]

78. I wish Apple would make them in the USA!

[Lisa0825]

80. I had a situation with an org I volunteer with needing to reset pw last night, and

we could not get it to work on iPad or iphone. We ende dup having to call someone who was at home so she could get on her lapptop to fix the aqccount for us. It was a big hassel. I think at least part of the problem wias javaScript not working.

That really put a dent in my perception of the products. If I do get a tablet, it most certainly will NOT be an iPad after that major annoyance.

BTW, it was kind of an emergency to reset because our accounts had been broken into, so not being able to get it done in a timely manner was a very serious issue to us.

[Rex]

82. Oh please.

People don't go to work and sit down at their ipad. How stupid and it is forbes so the reporting is always over the top and usually wrong.

[Wait Wut]

83. And, they used to laugh at Apple.

Most of the Apple technology is far beyond what I can use or understand, but I have my new(ish) iMac. I've owned 5 Macs in my life. I've only needed service on one...once.

So, there. :P

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

89. I think the market share of desktops and laptops will drop sharply, but to something that's not zero

There are things you need a real keyboard to do optimally. And there are things for which the screen has to be BIG.

So, I think it'll be something like... "TV is going to kill radio! Ooops, no, it didn't, but it did reduce radio's size."

[sudopod]

94. ALL HAIL CORPORATE OVERLORD A

Death and dishonor to Corporate Overlord B!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

103. +1

[LanternWaste]

96. Pepsi Free set to dethrone Coca-Cola.

Pepsi Free set to dethrone Coca-Cola.

Love the replays of the cola wars from the eighties updated to the neo-trendy alt+tab hispter set, and setting consumer demographics against consumer demographics. Madison Avenue has really got us by the id.

[marmar]

104. I'm a keyboard, mouse and 17-inch monitor kinda guy.

I do love my iPod, however.

[WinkyDink]

106. Blather. People like to read sites & watch programs without holding them in their hands.

[ladyfutura]

107. The Computer Market is Changing. The old game is not coming back.