Tech experts and consumers dampen Apple iPad hype

[dequadin]

how much is it for a kindle? because IMO the iPad pwns the kindle. I don't have a problem reading off an LCD.

AS far as I know its:
Kindle DX = $489
iPad (entry level) = $499

The only thing the Kindle has is e-ink, iPad wins on everything else...

PS: can you page through PDF's, or is that some other type of ebook file only available at the apple book store?

Yip it supports standard pdf files...

 

[MrGray]

Yawn... So predictable. Everyone goes mad about the impending release of a new Apple product, and then slams it... and then queues to buy one when they come out. Seriously though, the lack of multi-tasking on the iPhone is a drag and if the iPad is the same then that's a major showstopper for me.

 

[Keeper]

no bwana, i mean, does it have that same "paging effects" on normal pdf's?

@ dequadin: imo, color > e-ink.

 

[bwana]

Yawn... So predictable. Everyone goes mad about the impending release of a new Apple product, and then slams it... and then queues to buy one when they come out. Seriously though, the lack of multi-tasking on the iPhone is a drag and if the iPad is the same then that's a major showstopper for me.

Enabling multitasking on the iPhone is a fairly routine task as I understand it.

 

[cerebus]

I've had multitasking on my itouch for ages...it's a cydia app. But tbh I don't really use it because I like to keep the ram clean and I never really use more than one application at a time.

 

[dequadin]

@ dequadin: imo, color > e-ink.

I agree...

 

[ToxicBunny]

Wait until you've tried to read a book on the LCD for a few hours


e-ink > LCD for extended reading purposes.

 

[Ou grote]

I'll give you therapy. I'm qualified. You're not.

...

You really suck at it, don't you? You should've studied more.

Sorry mate Steve isn't here to please only you.

 

[PeterCH]

You really suck at it, don't you? You should've studied more.

Sorry mate Steve isn't here to please only you.

Oh, I haven't given you any yet.

Sorry chum, but there is nothing in the world that Steve could do to please me short of turning into Jessica Alba and giving me some special treatment. Now I know that for many Steve is a sex-bomb, but let's be honest, for straight guys like me and even for many gay okes, Steve is just not the stud many fans think he is. Present company excluded.

 

[PeterCH]

Yawn... So predictable. Everyone goes mad about the impending release of a new Apple product, and then slams it... and then queues to buy one when they come out. Seriously though, the lack of multi-tasking on the iPhone is a drag and if the iPad is the same then that's a major showstopper for me.

No one is saying that it will be a bomb. It will probably sell well to many chumps and then filter in via the Wallmarts and Incredible Connections of this world to the users. However, to answer Steve Jobs presentation -it's not a better ebook reader than an e-ink device, it's not a better computer than an netbook because it's crippled and although not mentioned, it won't beat a Nintendo DS or PSP for mobile gaming. With a teeny device like the iPhone, multi-tasking is not so important, but with a huge screen like that of an iPad with so much space, and a good CPU and ample storage - it just asks to be able to run a number of things at the same time.

 

[PeterCH]

AS far as I know its:
Kindle DX = $489
iPad (entry level) = $499

The only thing the Kindle has is e-ink, iPad wins on everything else...



Yip it supports standard pdf files...

The problem with the Kindle is common to all Apple consumer devices - iPhone, iPod, iPad. That is that Apple is a content provider and the hardware maker. They have an interest in locking out the competition and so you will find a more locked down, crippled device. The Kindle prefers Amazon's book format in the same way the iPad/iPod prefer (and can't play anything else really) low bitrate low profile H.264 files in MOV containers. Sony also has this problem and MS with its Zune. The hardware makers who don't sell content offer more free solutions.

 

[PeterCH]

Is that really your problem with it? You think the app store and the Cydia jailbreaking community doesn't already have enough content out there to provide a solid alternative to what Apple offers? That is another benefit of running it off IPhone OS btw. It is already very well supplied - better than Android. Those who don't care are happy to stay within Apple's robust closed ecosystem - but iPhone OS is relatively very open for those who want more choice.
http://gizmodo.com/5461485/ipad-snivelers-put-up-or-shut-up?skyline=true&s=i

Jailbreaking is a no-no. If you truly love your god, Steve Jobs, you should not jailbreak.

 

[cerebus]

You think I love Steve Jobs? Lol.... I can't stand OSX and I never owned an iPod before the iTouch, which I mostly got because it was better than the PDAs I used to have for reading ebooks. I was exclusively a Creative mp3 player user...but the iTouch is fantastic and the iPad really seems like it'll fill a need that I've been looking for.

 

[PeterCH]

You think I love Steve Jobs? Lol.... I can't stand OSX and I never owned an iPod before the iTouch, which I mostly got because it was better than the PDAs I used to have for reading ebooks. I was exclusively a Creative mp3 player user...but the iTouch is fantastic and the iPad really seems like it'll fill a need that I've been looking for.

Ok, I'll put it to you like this. You will need to jailbreak (void warranty, risk bricking if Apple pulls the plug, pay extra or tinker for no good reason) to get extra or ideal use yet Apple could have included this from day 1. Now, don't get me wrong here - many people here have an itch for ad hominem when someone disagrees but Apple could have made this a much better device if they only thought more of the consumers than their customers (the media houses/publishers/news papers). Saying this, don't let my objections spoil your experience.

It seems that the iPad won't be able to stream music wirelessly via sync.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-10444796-27.html

 

[cerebus]

Ok assuming that multitasking was really such a dealbreaker (i can see some instances where I'd like to have that capability so fair enough), if Apple decides to release multitasking on the next iteration of the iPad OS, which is fairly likely if customer demand was sufficiently high, would it tip the iPad into desirable status?

 

[w1z4rd]

I wonder if you can replace the default OS with Chrome.

 

[PeterCH]

Ok assuming that multitasking was really such a dealbreaker (i can see some instances where I'd like to have that capability so fair enough), if Apple decides to release multitasking on the next iteration of the iPad OS, which is fairly likely if customer demand was sufficiently high, would it tip the iPad into desirable status?

If I can play any content I want without converting it first, possibly, I would say it is acceptable. I would still hope for a Wide 720p native resolution screen since this is primarily an entertainment device with MOVIEZ being punted as a selling point and we live in 2010 and not 1998 - era of 720 by 576 (standard def) DVD.

Why wide? Because most movies are shot 16:9 aspect.
Why 720p? Because iTunes and other sources now provide 720p video - which can also be streamed. YouTube HD does.

Sadly seeing how the low res screen has remained in the iPhone and iPod Touch, I doubt we'll see this soon. Not until these screens become dirt cheap.

So yeah - with Multitasking, 720p 16:9 screen and hopefully more storage say 128GB SSD inside - it would be a nice toy/entertainment device for long flights/dentist waiting room visits.

 

[bwana]

Knock it off with the personal attacks please.

 

[cerebus]

If I can play any content I want without converting it first, possibly, I would say it is acceptable. I would still hope for a Wide 720p native resolution screen since this is primarily an entertainment device with MOVIEZ being punted as a selling point and we live in 2010 and not 1998 - era of 720 by 576 (standard def) DVD.

Why wide? Because most movies are shot 16:9 aspect.
Why 720p? Because iTunes and other sources now provide 720p video - which can also be streamed. YouTube HD does.

Sadly seeing how the low res screen has remained in the iPhone and iPod Touch, I doubt we'll see this soon. Not until these screens become dirt cheap.

So yeah - with Multitasking, 720p 16:9 screen and hopefully more storage say 128GB SSD inside - it would be a nice toy/entertainment device for long flights/dentist waiting room visits.

What you're describing is a portable movie player primarily, NOT a reader or internet device - 16:9 are you serious? How would you expect to do your OSX'ing on something like that? And even then you've relegated it to the ranks of a nice toy.

 

[Synaesthesia]

The reason why it's not 16:9 is to make it more flexible - it's more useful as 4:3 in portrait mode.