The Apple iPad

almillar

asininity - it's not included, it can be hacked on.
Marty, neither of us have held the iPad yet, so we'll have to reserve judgement, but I would say that the Mininote is equally portable to the iPad. OK slightly less. We won't be stuffing either of them in our pockets. It's running Windows 7. Not quickly, but again, the point would be that even with the slow processor, it's capable of doing more than the iPad, because it hasn't been restricted *on purpose*.

Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

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.

I think not buying something because it's made by Apple is just as silly as buying something because it is.

What is Boxee?

Boxee is a media centre application, based on the open source XBMC media centre. You can stream Netflix, Hulu, and other online streaming sites with it, as well as a whole bunch of other stuff.

You can get it for Windows and Ubuntu should you wish to try it out.

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. "

Well I'm very glad to hear it.

Marty_J

almillar wrote: »

Marty, neither of us have held the iPad yet, so we'll have to reserve judgement, but I would say that the Mininote is equally portable to the iPad. OK slightly less.

It's not so much the portability factor, as it is the weight. Some people thought the iPad was quite a hefty device for something that's designed to be used while being held, but the iTablet is definitely pushing it.

We won't be stuffing either of them in our pockets

Surely Apple will be releasing an armband for the iPad?

It's running Windows 7. Not quickly, but again, the point would be that even with the slow processor, it's capable of doing more than the iPad, because it hasn't been restricted *on purpose*.

That's the thing though. I'd rather have a device that was wonderful at most of what I do, than one that was mediocre at everything. A mobile device doesn't have to be able to do every single thing a desktop computer can, because it's supposed to be supplemental to one, not a replacement.

Even if the iPad had all the inputs and outputs my Mac has, and I could run all my OS X software on it, I'm still going to do all the heavy lifting on my Mac. The iPad would just end up being a hopeless compromise between mobile devices and computers, just like most of the other tablets that came before it (none of which have ever had a modicum of success).

The iPad is definitely in the mobile camp however, and that means instead of being a poorly performing jack of all trades, it is optimised for what it does. A Tablet (or any device for that matter) that can do everything, but only do it poorly, doesn't sound like such a great thing to me.

If anyone feels a tablet needs to be running a full desktop OS, what's stopping you? You've been able to buy them for years. They've always been awful, and deeply, deeply unpopular, but if that's what you want, there's no need to complain the iPad doesn't have it. Go and buy one.

I'd be interested to know, how many people here own a Tablet PC?

And if you don't have one, why not?

asininity

Marty_J wrote: »

I think not buying something because it's made by Apple is just as silly as buying something because it is.

Its not because its made by apple its the restrictions placed on it by apple.

Boxee is a media centre application, based on the open source XBMC media centre. You can stream Netflix, Hulu, and other online streaming sites with it, as well as a whole bunch of other stuff.

You can get it for Windows and Ubuntu should you wish to try it out.

I'll keep it in mind when next I have ubuntu installed, currently trying to figure out gentoo... slowly.

I think a similar device with linux on it will be much better cos unlike windows it'll run on ARM/mobile prosessors and unlike the ipad it'll have full OS capability.

Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

Its not because its made by apple its the restrictions placed on it by apple.

The same restrictions that have created the most vibrant market for mobile applications in the world?

I think a similar device with linux on it will be much better cos unlike windows it'll run on ARM/mobile prosessors and unlike the ipad it'll have full OS capability.

But why on Earth would you want "full OS capability"?

Isn't that what desktops and laptops are for?

asininity

Marty_J wrote: »

The same restrictions that have created the most vibrant market for mobile applications in the world?

True enough but its personal preference.

But why on Earth would you want "full OS capability"?

Isn't that what desktops and laptops are for?

I want it cos I've been think this is the way things were gonna go. Again personal preference but for what I use my laptop for something like the ipad with a full os would be ideal.

Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

I want it cos I've been think this is the way things were gonna go. Again personal preference but for what I use my laptop for something like the ipad with a full os would be ideal.

But you can already buy a tablet running a full operating system, and have been able to for years.

asininity

Marty_J wrote: »

But you can already buy a tablet running a full operating system, and have been able to for years.

But as you say they are rubbish. Laptops do a better job. Basically I want the ipad without the stupid name and with a full os. The hardware in the ipad is key, I would buy one tomorrow if I could get a decent os on it.

Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

But as you say they are rubbish. Laptops do a better job. Basically I want the ipad without the stupid name and with a full os. The hardware in the ipad is key, I would buy one tomorrow if I could get a decent os on it.

Wouldn't it run a lot slower than it would running iPhone OS 3.2 though?

Someone posted earlier (I forget who - apologies) about someone installing Mac OS X or Linux or something on their phone. The boot time was 2 hours. I'm sure that no matter how fully featured the "full OS" was, it wasn't very pleasant to use. A bit extreme perhaps, but I think it illustrates my point.

Just look at Chrome OS; it's basically just a web browser, and it's fabulous. As stripped down as you can get, and very fast. It doesn't do everything, but what it does, it does exceptionally well.

almillar

Good points Marty. One question - should the iPad not have had an SD slot?
Clealy Apple see this device as being good for photos, there's an App, and they'll sell those stupid accessories. It will be argued that the device is slicker without the slot, but it'll be argued back that it's slicker WITH the slot and WITHOUT having to carry that little dongle around. It's asking to break off in use.
Don't get me started on the micro SIM. They can fit a SIM into an iPhone!