The iPad Thread

Blackmore · « **on:** 3 Apr 2010, 07:33 pm »

Stood in line with my sister-in-law this morning. Probably 30 people in the prepaid line and 50 in the "purchase it today" line. 45 minutes later, she is in business, checking email, getting directions, skimming Yahoo startpage. I'm sure I'll get one just to be able to control my iTunes from the sofa, surf while watching TV, checking A/C, sending a few emails, etc. Much easier on the eyes than my iPhone screen.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #1 on:** 3 Apr 2010, 08:04 pm »

Quote from: lowtech on 3 Apr 2010, 06:23 pm

This is a pretty good list: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/12/seven-alternatives-to-the-apple-ipad/ followed-up with this one: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/04/02/seven-more-ipad-alternatives/.

The iPad has so many fundimental shortcomings. Dispite that, I suspect any Apple zealot intent on buying one will not be swayed by any non-Apple alternative.

The reason almost no one will buy a non Apple alternative is the lack of support and apps for those products. The whole secret to the Apple experience is the iTunes Store and the App Store. What good is a third party box if you can't run anything on it?

This thing is a portable media player, not a laptop. If you need a laptop, you probably don't want an iPad, it's not the right tool for the job.

Now that I've got one in my hands, it is pretty awesome and it does exactly what I wanted it to do. The Kindle app is very nice and I've been able to re download all of my Kindle purchases.

A Kindle DX is 479 for 16 shades of BW. for 20 bucks more I have an iPad that reads all my Kindle books, surfs the web and I can use as photo viewer, portable movie screen, big remote control and portable music player. Which is exactly what I wanted it for.

Couldn't be happier with the purchase and may sell my laptop. I only need a laptop to surf the web and answer email. If the wireless keyboard from my iMac will work with the iPad, I no longer need a laptop. It's going to be different for everyone. The iPad will not make sense for some people....

Crimson · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 12:55 am »

Back on topic, please. Thankyou.

ted_b · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 12:58 am »

I am hearing that one of our favorite iPhone apps, Apple's Remote App, is not yet iPad-ized. I'm very much looking forward to an app that takes advantage of the larger real estate with possible things like split screens, album art matrixes (ala iTunes), maybe even liner notes and/or reviews, etc. Let's not just make Remote a large version of the iPhone app (which it isn't even yet).

K Shep · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:03 am »

Quote from: ted_b on 4 Apr 2010, 12:58 am

I am hearing that one of our favorite iPhone apps, Apple's Remote App, is not yet iPad-ized. I'm very much looking forward to an app that takes advantage of the larger real estate with possible things like split screens, album art matrixes (ala iTunes), maybe even liner notes and/or reviews, etc. Let's not just make Remote a large version of the iPhone app.

Ouch! That is not a good thing.

Maybe vintagebob will confirm this?

vintagebob · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:10 am »

The iPhone version of Remote works on the iPad (I'm using it now) but I'm with ted_b in hoping something better will come along.

mcullinan · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:17 am »

Well besides the interface being Apples success point which I mentioned previous, they have also built a good part of the multimedia arena and the way we use it. It really still has to do with the interface.. The Apple Store, Itunes store, Iphone OS, and the way everything is intuitive and makes sense. The user experience. Thats what it boils down to...

Pez · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:37 am »

Quote from: vintagebob on 4 Apr 2010, 12:01 am

Surfing AC on my iPad while I watch the game. So far I REALLY like it.

I am Jack's raging jealousy

JohnR · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:41 am »

It's been a long time since I've been jealous of a 1024x768 screen... but I am too

mathgeek97 · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:44 am »

Well, I'm pretty happy with my iPad so far. Heck, I'm on AC with it right now. I can also confirm that there is no Remote HD, yet. (adding the "HD" moniker seems to be the way to distinguish the iPhone/iPod versions of apps from the redesigned iPad versions.)
I think it's quite a bit nicer than any experience I've had with netbooks. Speed-wise, it's a big step in the right direction.
My wife's Kindle seems silly now. This thing reads her Kindle books. Oh, and I can watch Netflix. And, again, it was more pleasant than watching on netbooks or slower laptops. And the battery life is significantly better than I've ever had on either a netbook or laptop.

K Shep · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:53 am »

Quote from: Pez on 4 Apr 2010, 01:37 am

Ok, like the good iWhore that I am I went to the Apple store today just to scope out the new iPad. After owning an iPhone and of course my mac computers I knew it was going to be a great piece of kit, but when it was my turn to handle it I got way more than I expected. All the silliness about it being "Magical" and "Revolutionary" I tend to take with a grain of salt. I have always been a very jaded techie especially with audio equipment, but also with new gadgets. What I found was, oddly enough, all the BS was true. It is quite honestly THE COOLEST computing experience I have had ever. Including the iPhone, including my laptops, including my soon to arrive iMac simply put, nothing else compares. Yes my computer is more powerful, yes my iPhone is way more portable, but the iPad does things better than either of these products can do and ironically it made me think "Maybe if I get rid of my MacBook Pro and my iPhone and just got a cheapy phone and the iPad 3G..." Who knows

vintagebob · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 01:55 am »

Instant on. Fast. Fantastic display. I like the handful of HD Apps so far. My old iPhone Apps still work on it.

I've run my music system with it, surfed AC, watched a TV show on Netflix, started reading a book and sent email to my Dad.

The main purpose was to control the music system while allowing me to surf the web and read books and I can see that it will be great for that. I can't wait to see what kind of apps they come up with.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 02:20 am »

Quote from: lowtech on 3 Apr 2010, 03:36 pm

Yeah, the iPad expensive, has lots of limitations and difficult to justify purchasing given much less expensive options are available that don't lock you into using software that Apple blesses.

I have both an iPhone and an Android-based G1...and I have a *much* greater sense of confidence that apps I load onto my iPhone will be stable and of relatively good quality compared to my experience on the G1. From that perspective, I am happy about apps requiring "Apple's blessing". I do agree that if I was developing an app for the iPhone that I would not like Apple's level of strictness as a gatekeeper for iPhone apps, but from a consumer's perspective, it is a very welcome to have that threshold/standard of quality...

PhilNYC · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 02:22 am »

Btw - for you guys that now have an iPad, I'd be curious to know if you got the 3G version or not...and over time, if you are happy with the decision you made regarding 3G vs. not for this product...

ted_b · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 02:23 am »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 4 Apr 2010, 02:22 am

Btw - for you guys that now have an iPad, I'd be curious to know if you got the 3G version or not...and over time, if you are happy with the decision you made regarding 3G vs. not for this product...

3G users won't get theirs till later this month.

Pez · « **Reply #15 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 02:25 am »

The Apple store by my house had zero 3Gs available and said they wouldn't be until the end of the month.

As far as the "expense" of the iPad your kidding yourself. It's cheap. Very cheap. I paid $600 for the 1st iPhone that is 8 gig. For that cash you can get either a 16 gig 3G or a 32 gig wifi only. It is vastly superior to ANY iPhone in every way. And like Stephan Colbert said "If you have an iPhone you will be familiar with the iPad, just like the iPhone the iPad can't make phone calls"

Edit: Also compare the price to the crap you'll end up having a mediocre experience with. Netbooks and notebooks that have very few redeeming qualities.

rydenfan · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 02:57 am »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 4 Apr 2010, 02:22 am

Btw - for you guys that now have an iPad, I'd be curious to know if you got the 3G version or not...and over time, if you are happy with the decision you made regarding 3G vs. not for this product...

As Ted says the 3G won't be out until the end of this month. Initially I was convinced I wanted the 3G but as I considered how I intend to use it and also the fact that have my iPhone, wifi made more sense. I picked mine up this morning and it is AMAZING!! As good as I expected to be, it has surpassed my expectations. The keyboard is incredibly responsive and far more advanced than my iPhone. The speed of it is unbelievable and the clarity of the screen is stunning. I understand why Steve calls it magical, once you get ones in your hand you get it.

Sent from my iPad

lowtech · « **Reply #17 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 03:36 am »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 4 Apr 2010, 02:20 am

I have both an iPhone and an Android-based G1...and I have a *much* greater sense of confidence that apps I load onto my iPhone will be stable and of relatively good quality compared to my experience on the G1. From that perspective, I am happy about apps requiring "Apple's blessing". I do agree that if I was developing an app for the iPhone that I would not like Apple's level of strictness as a gatekeeper for iPhone apps, but from a consumer's perspective, it is a very welcome to have that threshold/standard of quality...

I've had maybe one or two Android apps crash over the lifetime I've had my G1. And let me tell you, Apple does not perform comprehensive testing of apps submitted to them; they mearly assure they meet a set of guidelines.

Quote from: Pez on 4 Apr 2010, 02:25 am

Also compare the price to the crap you'll end up having a mediocre experience with. Netbooks and notebooks that have very few redeeming qualities.

I have to agree with you about the mediocre experience using a laptop. I generally use mine to do real work and can't say that it's ever much fun. Hrm... maybe if I bought an iPad I'd have an excuse to never do anything that's productive.

Pez · « **Reply #18 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 03:46 am »

You'd have the perfect excuse!!!! As far as productivity (not that I'm convinced that is what people are going to do with a giant iPod Touch) There is iWork, keynotes and numbers. I would highly recommend getting the keyboard attachment.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #19 on:** 4 Apr 2010, 04:08 am »

They were "pumped up" in NY.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWjqk-DOOds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5MSgmpG9ss

I'd agree with a post in this thread....Apple knows how to market a product...wish it carried over to audio....