The Apple iPad

S0litaire

There's a *real* "iTablet" being released in a few weeks...

Offered with a 10.2-inch widescreen TFT or 12.1-inch widescreen XGA, 1024 x 768 resolution touchscreens (with multi-touch said to be "optional") X2 promises "stunning slimline bezels", "easy-to-use" on-screen keyboards and the ability to view content in a portrait or landscape format.

Specs include 1.6GHz Intel processors, up to 250GB hard drives, built-in stereo speakers, three USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and optional HDMI output, 1.3-megapixel webcam and 3G.

oh.. by the way..

It NOT by apple...

It's by a UK company...

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/02/05/x2_unveils_itablet/

Marty_J

RobTang wrote: »

I was only really talking about the paragraph heading, but his argument really does hinge on mobile users affecting desktop users.

Even if it does, name a really really really good mobile formatted website.
and isn't the public preferd format for mobiles is a thick client platform specific application rather than a html5 page ? (all thanks to the iphone).

Why should I bother supporting mobile users with free website when they seem perfectly happy paying for the same content or even just offering a more controlled experience.

You raise some good points, but I think we're going to be seeing more platform agnostic web applications in future. There are certainly many applications for accessing websites, but these tend to be there to address deficiencies in how those websites work on the device. There's a YouTube app for the iPhone for instance, because the device couldn't play Flash from their website, so had to be served h.264 video instead. This will become less necessary as time goes on; you'll be able to play YouTube videos on any device with a web browser.

As for why site owners would bother supporting mobile clients on their website, the answer is money. Say you have a website, and you make your living selling ad space on that website. Now, I come along and build a groovy iPhone app for accessing your website. On this app, I serve ads which I make money from. What's going to happen to your bottom line if the amount of people seeing your ads drops by several million? You're going to lose lots of money, so you'll want to serve those customers directly. The way to do that is by building a website that any customer can access. The more clicks you get, the more money you make.

Also, people want to use the same services on their mobile devices as they do on their desktop. Say there are two services that do something you want to do. One of them works on your computer and your mobile device; the other only works on your desktop as it uses Flash. Which one are you going to pick?

Marty_J

S0litaire wrote: »

There's a *real* "iTablet" being released in a few weeks...


oh.. by the way..

It NOT by apple...

It's by a UK company...

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/02/05/x2_unveils_itablet/

1.18kg? :eek:

poppy10_2

Marty_J wrote: »

1.18kg? :eek:

It's thicker than most laptops too - hardly portable

almillar

Don't confuse 1GHz with slow. This thing doesn't have a Pentium 3 inside it! GHz isn't really a good way to define the speed of a chip anymore. Even within the confines of desktop computers, we've been stuck under 4 GHz for years (and no-one's really pushing that), but chips have got far faster and more efficient, due to downsizing, more transistors and multi-core.
BTW my netbook (HP Mininote which cost £150) has a higher res display and 'faster' (1.2 GHz) processor. The third point, 'PC software', I see as an advantage!
And no Steve, the iPad is not 'magic'!

alanrowell

Marty_J wrote: »

Also, people want to use the same services on their mobile devices as they do on their desktop. Say there are two services that do something you want to do. One of them works on your computer and your mobile device; the other only works on your desktop as it uses Flash. Which one are you going to pick?

I'd get a different mobile device and whinge about having to do so to all my mates who then decide not to buy the original mobile device.

Marty_J

almillar wrote: »

BTW my netbook (HP Mininote which cost £150) has a higher res display and 'faster' (1.2 GHz) processor.

It's also twice the weight, twice as thick, has a shorter battery life, and according to reviewers, the HP Mininote is "appallingly slow" (and it was between £360 and £415 upon release).

The third point, 'PC software', I see as an advantage!

PC software generally isn't designed to be used on a touch-screen tablet device.

alanrowell wrote: »

I'd get a different mobile device and whinge about having to do so to all my mates who then decide not to buy the original mobile device.

Not every service works on every device. But the move to open standards instead of proprietary technologies should help change that.

asininity

Marty_J wrote: »

You just said it was an "iBlockofCrap", so naturally I assumed you'd used one.

No I said that iBlockofCrap was a better name than iPad not that it was a block of crap. I actually wouldn't mind having something like it but not apples one.

As I said, you can install Boxee on it.

What is Boxee?

Try watching the video.

I don't think he has a problem with people criticising Apple.

He's free to disagree with them though, isn't he?

As someone french said: "I do not agree with what you [or him] have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it. "

The only things I can see wrong with the iTablet is that it runs windows. Windows has ruined it because it only runs on certain processors. If they put a decent linux on it they could use ARM processors etc and make it lighter. I'll be looking for the first Andriod/Linux based tablet computer.

poppy10_2

asininity wrote: »

What is Boxee?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yavx9yxTrsw

asininity

OK never getting a mac, thats the most annoying software ever to be included in something!