iPad

[petemc]

Originally Posted by LeperousDust

Hahaha he should have sold it like that!

So guys when you feel you need a bigger ipod touch well we've got something just for you! Otherwise probably use a netbook or laptop

Um he did. Had a slide showing the iPhone and Macbook with a gap in the middle As I've been saying its not a laptop replacement because thats what Steve has been saying all along.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by G|mp

I use my laptop downstairs, I use my PC upstairs, I use my mobile when I'm oot and aboot.

I would not like to take a 'slab' everywhere with me, which at the moment is exactly what that looks like to me :/

I do not like browsing the web in teh lounge on a laptop or notebook, theya re to big and awkered. Phones are far to small for long period use. greta if you want to check something quickly, but other than that useless at browsing.

IPad is what I need (if it wasn't made by apple). It is thin, small and portable. great for browsing the web ( although i would want flash), playing movies ( I would want avi support) and reading ebooks(assuming it does that well). That is what I want a device for maybe spotify or winamp in the background. Neither a phone, mp3 player or notebook/laptop full-fills that roll. I don't need the extra functionality of a netbook, if it was the same price as a netbook, I would get a tablet every time. As the usability far outweighs any extra functionality I am not going to use. If you need that functionality then you get a netbook, or perhaps you have need for both and buy both.

You might not want or need one, but since when did devices have to be useful for 100% of people. You lot our overlooking what makes tablet pcs so good.

[Stan_Lite]

The ipad has the same external height and width as my NC10 and is half as thick - not a huge difference in space taken up in real terms. It weighs half as much as my NC10 but the NC10 is still less than 3lb - not exactly a heavyweight. My point is that, my netbook is really just as portable in reality but much more functional. It has flash, it has an SD slot, it can multi-task and, most importantly, it has a proper keyboard. I can (and do) take my netbook anywhere and everywhere and have excellent functionality. It cost £200 less than the ipad.

I can't see any reason why netbook owners (of which there are millions) would want to buy one of these. The machine they already own is cheaper and better.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by Stan_Lite

and, most importantly, it has a proper keyboardr.

which for me is it's ultimate downfall, there is no need for a keyboard or hinge, it makes itt hard to handle and you have to rest it on something to use. It is useless for the tasks that an Ipad or Ipad like device. It makes it hard to handle. Ipad with touch screen, you use like a smart phone, hold in one hand navigate and type in the other. No need to rest it down somewhere whilst using it.

Think of an Ipad or Ipad like device as an electronic book or magazine.

Originally Posted by Stan_Lite

The machine they already own is cheaper and better.

I would disagree with better. It certainly is not better from my point of view and uses. No, the device will not be for everyone. But then neither is Ipod, iphone or a netbook.

People with netbooks might still buy it, as it does book and web better then a netbook. In terms of usability. Due to no hinge and no keyboard. Ignore apples downfalls ( flash, expanson slots, Sofware, but taht is true throughout appples entire range) which competitors wont have. It is perfect for browsing web in the lounge, train or other places.

[Stan_Lite]

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

there is no need for a keyboard or hinge, it makes itt hard to handle

This is where we disagree. I think the keyboard is the netbook's biggest asset. I don't like touch-screen keyboards. I have never found my netbook hard to handle at all. I am yet to find myself in a situation where I have thought it would be better if I could hold it in one hand and type with the other.

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

I would disagree with better. It certainly is not better from my point of view and uses.

This is the crux of the thing. You think the ipad will be better and I maintain that my netbook is better. We are both right and both wrong. For what I want to do, the netbook is ideal and the ipad would be a waste of money. For what you want to do, the ipad (or ipad like device) is better and a netbook would be a waste of money.

Horses for courses, as the saying goes.

[Dymetrie]

I certainly like the idea of the device, it's very 'star trek data pad' in its appearance and use, which is pretty funky.

Having a nice little pad to easily read books, browse the web, watch films is certainly something which appeals to me.

But, I can't see myself buying one because what I have already can do everything it can do, and a whole load more.

Books - iPhone (using the Stanza app) is more than good enough for my ebooks. A larger screen to read from would be nice but not essential.

Web - for a quick look at something then iPhone is more than adequate (and often gets used), for longer sessions sat in front of the TV then my netbook is brilliant. Having to hold up the pad for an hour or so would get very tedious, very quickly, and then trying to type out even a medium length post on a forum would be awful (hold with one hand, type with the other) especially when compared to how easy it is to just tap away on the keyboard of the netbook sat on my lap. For just general browsing and looking around then it'd be great, but anything where you need to type much would be annoying.

Messenger - Same problem as typing on the web.

Films/TV - It would seriously excel at this for sitting on trains watching a film or a TV programme.

Other stuff - This is where the pad would seriously fall down for me. Considering it runs iPhone OS then I wouldn't be able to use it at work for diagnostic/programming purposes (something which my netbook is perfect for) as safari doesn't support the scripting on the web pages which I use. It'd fail on file transfer and, I imagine, Telnet as well.

In summary I think it's a great little piece of kit which definitely has a purpose and a lot of people will make good use of it.

But it's not for me. A windows based variant with better connectivity would probably be pretty good (a stylus and handwriting input would be pretty cool for meetings!) but considering that I already have devices which do what I need, and do them very well, there's no way I could justify the outlay.

Off topic, I'm quite surprised by the amount of netbook hate there seems to be in this thread. People should learn to love netbooks

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by Stan_Lite

You think the ipad will be better and I maintain that my netbook is better.

This is the case. As I said the device will not be for everyone. But people saying there is no demand are being one sided. I can certainly see the use and need for a netbook. But it is not for everyone.

[petemc]

Originally Posted by Stan_Lite

I can't see any reason why netbook owners (of which there are millions) would want to buy one of these. The machine they already own is cheaper and better.

Better is subjective. The iPad is thinner so a netbook isn't better at that. A netbook can't run any app from the app store, not better there. No multitouch interface. No gps, no accelerometer. They are very much cheaper though.

I'm a netbook, Macbook Pro and iPhone owner. I am going to buy an iPad. Which device is best for meetings with clients? iPad. Its lighter to carry than my MBP. Better than taking a netbook. Has a lovely screen to show off video and photos. It has all the apps on it I would need to conduct a meeting. I can use it on shoots too. Load up on ideas and discuss them with the client. I could take my MBP but it requires getting it out and sitting somewhere to show the client images. This I can just hold in my hand. I could use the Iphone but since the iPad came out my iPhone does feel small. Much nicer to have that big screen for visuals.

I've got a few ebooks but I've never even opened the pdfs. Don't like the idea of reading them on a laptop. Don't see the point printing them. Kinda hoping the way you use an iPad will make me want to read them. *shrugs*

As soon as I saw the iPhone I thought "Make a 10'' model!!!" and they have.

[Stan_Lite]

Originally Posted by petemc

Better is subjective.

Exactly what I was trying to point out.

Originally Posted by petemc

iPad is thinner so a netbook isn't better at that.

The netbook may be thicker but, as I said before, it's not that big that it is inconvenient - I have no problems with it.

Originally Posted by petemc

A netbook can't run any app from the app store, not better there. No multitouch interface. No gps, no accelerometer. They are very much cheaper though.

I don't need/want to run any apps from the app store. I don't like/need a multitouch interface. I don't need/want gps or accelerometer.

Originally Posted by petemc

I'm a netbook, Macbook Pro and iPhone owner. I am going to buy an iPad. Which device is best for meetings with clients? iPad. Its lighter to carry than my MBP. Better than taking a netbook. Has a lovely screen to show off video and photos. It has all the apps on it I would need to conduct a meeting. I can use it on shoots too. Load up on ideas and discuss them with the client. I could take my MBP but it requires getting it out and sitting somewhere to show the client images. This I can just hold in my hand. I could use the Iphone but since the iPad came out my iPhone does feel small. Much nicer to have that big screen for visuals.

As before, it will be useful for some people and you have obviously identified scenarios where it would be useful for you. You are a photographer, I work on an oil rig - two entirely different jobs and two different lifestyles. You will find the ipad more useful, I will find the netbook more useful.

Most importantly, because I don't need/want one, I'll have £500 to spend on whisky

[petemc]

I'm just trying to point out that there are reasons why it can succeed I'm not saying you yourself should buy one. I'm saying it does these things better than those other devices so in these scenarios it works better. I was discussing iPad vs netbook not iPad vs Stan's needs

A lot of people seem to be saying "I have a netbook. Don't see the point." Well I have a netbook and I see the point. Trying to get the point across that I see... or something written in better England.

I don't need or want a £50k BMW but I'm not going to run around pointing that out to people "I just saved money by not buying something I didn't want!!"

http://speirs.org/blog/2010/1/29/future-shock.html