Topic: The Tablet Computing Thread

[Alan_X]

You're largely missing the point. E-ink's USP is that it draws far, far less power than the alternatives, and is therefore guaranteed to be "worth a wank" to someone.

That's not really much of a USP unless you're somewhere up the Amazon. And e-ink is shit for graphics, colour etc so you'd need a video player of some sort if you want to do anything more than read black and white text.

I can see why Kindle and the like haven't really taken off.

[wacko]

That's not really much of a USP unless you're somewhere up the Amazon.

Or want to use a much smaller, lighter and cheaper battery...

And e-ink is shit for graphics, colour etc so you'd need a video player of some sort if you want to do anything more than read black and white text.

Which is what I said in the comment you're replying to. Did I miss something?

I can see why Kindle and the like haven't really taken off.

E-book readers haven't taken off, because very, very few people read enough books to make buying an e-book reader a good idea in terms of saving money or space. Especially considering the draconian DRM restrictions that make the product itself far inferior to real books in important ways. And scares off typical early-adopters.

[Brian Blessed]

KIndle hasn't done that bad. 1.5 million units sold in the U.S. It's hardly a catastrophe.

[Kashinoda]

Why get one "like the iPad" if the iPad does what I want? I haven't seen anything else that does the job (the courier looks like the sort of thing you'd get handed at a convention. It's a software designers idea of what a creative person would want and is way too limited). I'd also have to buy full featured applications as well as all the apps I already have on my iPhone.

HP Tablet
Lenovo IdeaPad U1 hybrid

[Alan_X]

HP Tablet
Lenovo IdeaPad U1 hybrid

Hmm...

So for the Lenovo I pay twice as much to get a laptop I don't want and a detachable second-rate iPad that won't run any of my apps.

As for the HP "Slate"...

The HP tablet is a basically a color e-reader running Amazon Kindle software, with few other details besides a sub-$500 price point and an estimated arrival on the market by mid-2010. So disappointing was the release that Microsoft and HP's shares fell yesterday according to BusinessWeek.

I'll pass thanks...

[iSmiff]

the best bit about the kindle is that amazon can remove your books whenever they want

[Kashinoda]

I'll pass thanks...

You picked that from an article written before the iPad graced us with it's non-multitasking glory, when everyone was living in the hype of the upcoming Apple marvel. And the quote you picked up doesn't meantion anything specific does it? Unless you buy your products based on the parent company's shares going slightly up or down

What advantages does it actually have over the HP Tablet (Slate)? 3G is all I can find and that's rumoured to be being added any way. (Full HP Slate specs aren't fully known at the moment.)

So in summary:
Slower CPU
Smaller screen, lower resolution
No Camera
No USB
Not being able to browse the net and listen to music at the same time!

Ah fuck it, I'm pissing into the wind

[Walshy nMe®]

Not being able to browse the net and listen to music at the same time!

Is that really true?  Even the iPod touch and the iPhone can do that, I would assume the iPad can at least play music in the background too.

[iSmiff]

i'd think it will have the limited background ability that the iphone has, email, itunes etc

[Kashinoda]

Is that really true?  Even the iPod touch and the iPhone can do that, I would assume the iPad can at least play music in the background too.

You couldn't however, use a downloaded app to play music whilst doing something else.

I was just overstaying the lack of multitasking in 2010.

[iSmiff]

but if you let people do their own thing they'll use it wrong, ffs

[Kashinoda]

but if you let people do their own thing they'll use it wrong, ffs

Fascist!!


Kinda ironic that in the early 90's what helped MS surpass Apple was the fact any one could develop anything they wanted for Windows based OS's... yet Apple are still pushing their ideals which failed them on a computing platform before..

With phones its not an issue, but this isn't a phone... heck even the Android based OS's are better.

[Alan_X]

Is that really true?  Even the iPod touch and the iPhone can do that, I would assume the iPad can at least play music in the background too.

Of course it isn't true. My iPhone plays music while I surf the net and it picks up emails in the background as well as running my time keeping software in the background. Because of the way the OS works true 'multi-tasking' is a red herring. If I'm working on a spread sheet on the iPhone and flick to email to check something - when I flick back the spreadsheet is open on the same page I left it. The speed with apps open up and the ease of switching means that like the whole USB thing it's a side issue. 

[Kashinoda]

Of course it isn't true. My iPhone plays music while I surf the net and it picks up emails in the background as well as running my time keeping software in the background. Because of the way the OS works true 'multi-tasking' is a red herring. If I'm working on a spread sheet on the iPhone and flick to email to check something - when I flick back the spreadsheet is open on the same page I left it. The speed with apps open up and the ease of switching means that like the whole USB thing it's a side issue. 

If my computer had a 10ghz CPU and a SSD hard drive and was super quick, I'd still be proper pissed if I had no USB and was a decade into new millennium

[Kashinoda]

Of course it isn't true. My iPhone plays music while I surf the net and it picks up emails in the background as well as running my time keeping software in the background. Because of the way the OS works true 'multi-tasking' is a red herring. If I'm working on a spread sheet on the iPhone and flick to email to check something - when I flick back the spreadsheet is open on the same page I left it. The speed with apps open up and the ease of switching means that like the whole USB thing it's a side issue. 

Do all 3rd party apps return to state when you open them from when you closed them? For example if I'm playing a game and want to check something... if I flick back is it where I left it? This is a sincere question

[myrlas]

What's the fuzz about lacking of USB?

you sync the device through your computer, and you can attach anything to that, no?

could someone explain to me exactly what they would use/need USB for if they had an iPad?

[Kashinoda]

What's the fuzz about lacking of USB?

you sync the device through your computer, and you can attach anything to that, no?

could someone explain to me exactly what they would use/need USB for if they had an iPad?

USB pen drive for one?

[iSmiff]

yeah but you can't save anything on your ipad except through itunes so...

[Kashinoda]

yeah but you can't save anything on your ipad except through itunes so...

Of course, I'm sorry

[boots]

Let me get this straight. As far as I can tell the ipad is just an 'Accessible Iphone'? Like those old phones with big buttons.

As for books i prefer paper. Its been fine for thousands of years. If it aint broke....

[Alan_X]

yeah but you can't save anything on your ipad except through itunes so...

Shit, I'll have to delete all the documents and drawings I just copied onto my iPhone wirelessly without using iTunes. Why would you want to use a cable when you can copy things wirelessly? No USB on the ipad = no floppy drive on the iMac. Not something missing just omitting superceded functionality. Same as The lack of a DVD player. 

[Kashinoda]

Hi Alan

Do all 3rd party apps return to state when you open them from when you closed them? For example if I'm playing a game and want to check something... if I flick back is it where I left it? This is a sincere question

[Kashinoda]

Shit, I'll have to delete all the documents and drawings I just copied onto my iPhone wirelessly without using iTunes. Why would you want to use a cable when you can copy things wirelessly? No USB on the ipad = no floppy drive on the iMac. Not something missing just omitting superceded functionality. Same as The lack of a DVD player. 

Why should you need to cater to the iPad so much for christ sake? Suppose your friend wanted to give you a document he had on a USB drive... you'd have to tell him to prepare to send it wirelessly which he might not be able to do. Or you'd have to take his pen drive home where you can transfer it from a proper PC/Mac.

It's too restricting!!!

[iSmiff]

kashinoda, you're not going to use it right so you can't have one

Steve Jobs says.

[Alan_X]

It could well be crap - until I've actually tried one I'll reserve judgement - all I'm trying to point out is that none of us have got one yet and a lot of the objections are predictable and seem to be based on the fact that it isn't a PC netbook. It's not meant to be.


One of the most useful bits of information I learnt in my business is that the latest release of software and the most powerful machine are way below proper training and good systems & practice when it comes to maximising efficiency and profitability. Obsessing over processor speed and the latest upgrades to the OS is for nerds. I prefer something that does what I want out of the box - if the iPad is useful to me I'll buy one - if it isn't and some other device does the job - I'll get one of those.


Simple really.

[myrlas]

And here we go:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1813626064?bctid=66775419001

[MichaelA]

And here we go:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1813626064?bctid=66775419001

I love Wired, I subscribe to the mag and the website is one of my homepages. They're right on the money with all of this, can't wait to see this kind of multimedia experience working for real. It's going to change the internet forever, again.

It's a shame that their iPhone reviews app was such a dog.

[timiano]

And here we go:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1813626064?bctid=66775419001

Just about to post the same thing

[timiano]

Just about to post the same thing

Oh and it looks shit doesn't it

C'mon haters, step right up

[myrlas]

Fuck me, you would think Wired, a distinguished tech magazine would stay away.

I mean come on. No USB?

[MichaelA]

Fuck me, you would think Wired, a distinguished tech magazine would stay away.

I mean come on. No USB?

It will look better on the Courier

[Jimmy Conway]

This reading books via a tablet is all bullshit. Remember when they said that Video Calls on 3g where the future?
I must have had about ten 3g phones now, and not made one video call. I don't even know anyone who has!

These corps can babble on all day about how there latest and greatest will change their lives. But do they ever?

Steve Jobs cant even change his wardrobe, never mind how I read shit on the move.

[timiano]

This reading books via a tablet is all bullshit. Remember when they said that Video Calls on 3g where the future?
I must have had about ten 3g phones now, and not made one video call. I don't even know anyone who has!

These corps can babble on all day about how there latest and greatest will change their lives. But do they ever?

Steve Jobs cant even change his wardrobe, never mind how I read shit on the move.

I've made several video calls over the years.  If I was able to use the camera over skype or Office Communicator, I would have used it much more.

I use video calls on a PC everyday, as well as web and audio conferencing. There's quite a few other organisations using similar also.

[Gnurglan]

I've made several video calls over the years.  If I was able to use the camera over skype or Office Communicator, I would have used it much more.

I use video calls on a PC everyday, as well as web and audio conferencing. There's quite a few other organisations using similar also.

Video calls over phones is overrated, but boy have I found them useful in conference calls! I've used Yahoo, Skype and a more sophisticated system and it's great. Helps so much. We've actually used it to train operators in specific moves down in China. Couldn't have done it with just a phone call.

[sull14]

It will be interesting to see if this will catch on. Im not convinced it will so far, but im not knocking its potential either. Its just frustrating the way apple monopolize their products (sound marketing strategy on their part, i know). without wanting to go of topic, Jailbreaking the iphone/ipod touch is a prime example. By jailbreaking, we see the enormous potential of the products, whether apple ever had/have any intention to unleash this potential remains to be seen. IMO, it seems the iPad is attempting to be good at many things without actually succeeding at all of them.

[Gnurglan]

IMO, it seems the iPad is attempting to be good at many things without actually succeeding at all of them.

True.

However, I remember something I saw in 1999. Was at a telecom company (think BT) and their R&D presented a concept device very similar to the iPad. It was their idea of the future back then. You could carry it around, no need for a keyboard, access to Internet and your wireless network etc. 

Maybe what people really want is a "surf board"? Only real problem I see with it is the typing, if I want to write something on here for instance. Apart from typing, all I really do on my computer is access the web and use media files.

["Nookie".]

Personally, I don't have a clue what this is gonna be like, but until I get the chance to play with one I'm not gonna say it's shit. Seems a bit pointless though. It might do everything fantastically, but I just don't see the point. The current Macbook's are 13", and not heavy at all. What was wrong with that as an ultra-mobile computer?

[timiano]

Personally, I don't have a clue what this is gonna be like, but until I get the chance to play with one I'm not gonna say it's shit. Seems a bit pointless though. It might do everything fantastically, but I just don't see the point. The current Macbook's are 13", and not heavy at all. What was wrong with that as an ultra-mobile computer?

13" Macbook = 4.7lbs
iPad = 1.5lbs

I'd say 3 x less weight, but 1/3 less computing power. Do most of us need that 2/3 ever single day - I'd argue not,.......................mostly.

[Gnurglan]

13" Macbook = 4.7lbs
iPad = 1.5lbs

I'd say 3 x less weight, but 1/3 less computing power. Do most of us need that 2/3 ever single day - I'd argue not,.......................mostly.

That's the thing. I reckon most computers have way more capacity than we need and the phones are leading the new direction.

What do we normally do on our computers? I'd say most users surf the web, write the odd document, use it to listen to music, download+edit photos, maybe pay bills and watch films. And you play games.

You pay bills once every now and then. Same with writing documents and editing pictures. No big need. What's left is not much, so you can have a fairly limited capacity. Play a lot of games? Buy an X-box or PS3. Capacity needs goes down even more.

This could be the device, but I'm not sure about the size, nor the way of typing. If either is just slightly annoying, I reckon it will fail as a product.

[Uhoh AureliOs]

That's the thing. I reckon most computers have way more capacity than we need and the phones are leading the new direction.

What do we normally do on our computers? I'd say most users surf the web, write the odd document, use it to listen to music, download+edit photos, maybe pay bills and watch films. And you play games.

You pay bills once every now and then. Same with writing documents and editing pictures. No big need. What's left is not much, so you can have a fairly limited capacity. Play a lot of games? Buy an X-box or PS3. Capacity needs goes down even more.

This could be the device, but I'm not sure about the size, nor the way of typing. If either is just slightly annoying, I reckon it will fail as a product.

Think you just described the purpose of netbooks. Still a major consideration for me is the input and onscreen keyboard - haptic feedback would be a start. I'd be interested in one of these if it could be jailbroken, and if it had handwriting recognition as an alternative to the on screen keyboard. Recently tried one of those tablet PCs with multitouch and stylus - the handwriting recognition was superb even with my usually illegible scrawl but the on screen keyboard was annoying (find the same with my iPhone) - if they made a cheaper tablet pc I'd probably get the pc version over the apple as the form factor looks appealing but I'm not really into the whole dependence on pay for apps when there are plenty of free PC programs floating about and once Apple invigorate the market place we'll see better designs appearing (tablet pcs).