Does W'dows need more padding to fend off Apple's iPad?

PhreePhly · Jan 29, 2010

valtonray said:
im not an apple fan boy by any means but i dont feel the ipad is a bad product, it's key focus is portability, and the UI. obviously their are flaws, no multi tasking, no usb ports, no handwriting recognition on a tablet are all big ones, but for someone that just wants a small lightweight machine to check email and do some browsing on the goal it's adequate. the new tablets coming out are obviously going to be better for portability than netbooks, and after looking at some of the other upcoming tablets apple's offering is a bit lackluster, although realistically falls into the median capability wise. the ipad obviously isn't made to do everything but the things it does it should be able to handle well.

See my bolding. For this the iPhone or Blackberry for that matter, are far more sensible. I do both on my Blackberry Curve and it is far more portable. I've seen the browsing on an iPhone and must say that this is even better. However, how do I put that iPad in my shirt pocket? Again, I really think that Apple hit the Fail ball with this one. There might be a few (million) that get one to look cool, but I really hope someone comes out with something more useful in that form factor.

PhreePhly

Frostmourne · Jan 29, 2010

Yet more apple junk. I'd much prefer my sony ultraportable in my sig. It squashes the I-waste-of-money in power and is less than 1.6kg with adaptor.

Lordbob75 · Jan 30, 2010

Right so lots of Apple bashing. And it is well deserved.

I would like to rip on them, etc, but most of it has already been said. Instead, I present a list of ideas that I (both as a Computer Technician and University Student) think would be AMAZING in a Tablet (and therefor making my buy one):

*About the rough size of a 10-13 inch laptop (with screen stretching mostly all of that)
*Thick enough to be comfortable to hold (and drop) without feeling like you will crack it (see iPod Touch...)
*Handwriting recognition (great for college) that will convert handwriting to type with a click
*Built in speaker and mic (voice recognition would make this handy, a mic port better)
*Headphone, mic, and USB port, as well as power
*Removable battery (LiPo = amazing, but explosive)
*OPTIONAL stylus (see handwriting)
*MULTI TOUCH AND TASK... Not worth buying AT ALL without
*Battery sufficient to play music through headphones and browse web, and use another office style app
*Possibly fold up, or reduce in size? Not required, but could be considered.

Lets get a list going, I am sure I could keep going.

~Lordbob

Oliver Treend · Jan 31, 2010

I don't think these devices will even support styluses. If they did, and they supported handwriting recognition, I can see how this device might be handy.

However, I'm guessing (I haven't done the research) that this device is heat sensitive (not touch/pressure sensitive), which means you'll have to use your finger to touch the screen. This is obviously the case with iPhones.

I really can't see this device being much of a hit.

Lordbob75 · Jan 31, 2010

Oliver Treend said:
I don't think these devices will even support styluses. If they did, and they supported handwriting recognition, I can see how this device might be handy.

However, I'm guessing (I haven't done the research) that this device is heat sensitive (not touch/pressure sensitive), which means you'll have to use your finger to touch the screen. This is obviously the case with iPhones.

I really can't see this device being much of a hit.

Indeed it would be. There may be a way to get a stylus to work with it, just not sure how. Maybe a Pen with a heated tip...

~Lordbob

FuturDreamz · Jan 31, 2010

I'm pretty sure that it is a capacitive screen (recognizes electromagnetic fields emitted by organic matter or something), so it can use a stylus that emits a field kinda like the stylus included with the axiotron modbook.

jimbo45 · Feb 1, 2010

Hi all
The only thing I would consider a Pad like device for would be the ability to take notes on it and possibly have something like a Scanner / Bar code reader attached to where a webcam would sit.

That type of device could be quite useful in Stocktaking or other areas where the current hand held devices are fairly limited.

A MUST is the ability to save / copy data to an external device such as a USB stick or HDD.

Without these capabilities I have a feeling this product is dead in the water already.

Of course it will sell a few - people will always buy something - but as a Moneymaker -- well it might on Apps and the Service costs of the applestore connections and internet access.

I mean these days who would use this type of device for Internet Access when you have to PAY a monthly fee - probably limited to mobile phone bandwidth.

When I travel now most WI-FI connections in hotels are FREE.

Cheers
jimbo

thefabe · Feb 1, 2010

I'm just going to wait and see where it actually thinks it fits in,in the marjet place before I make any real statements on it. Although I really don't think it is one of apples better ideas, it pales in comparison to the say iPhone. IMO. fabe

Agent Zach · Feb 1, 2010

Why should Windows "defend" against the iPad when you can run Windows 7 ON the iPad?

Windows 7 On an iPad? Yes You Can - PCWorld Business Center

Feel free to post this as a news article.

FuturDreamz · Feb 1, 2010

ProXic said:
Why should Windows "defend" against the iPad when you can run Windows 7 ON the iPad?

Windows 7 On an iPad? Yes You Can - PCWorld Business Center

Feel free to post this as a news article.

I stand corrected.
The iPad has access to a decent OS.
Nof if only it had AT LEAST a USB port and SD card slot that wasn't sold as a dongle.

mxosder16 · Feb 2, 2010

Agent Zach · Feb 2, 2010

That just made my day.

lol. Thank you.

noobvious · Feb 2, 2010

redsoxm16 said:
View attachment 51653

:roflmao:

johnwillyums · Feb 2, 2010

Seems to me that some mysterious pc thinktank somewhere must have noticed that the netbook phenomena had peaked in terms of market share and thought we need something new to hook the "boutique" businessmen and women.

This iPad number one doesn't look like something many people would find useful but it's no coincidence that everyone else is working on something similar with proper operating systems on.
I reckon that this kind of device will be this years netbook. They'll be really cool.

Thing is a couple of my friends with netbooks have now gone back to their laptops. They thought they could put up with the limitations of a netbook for work but missed their computers. They've also got powerful desktops at home and iPhones.

So yeah. iPads, Slates, whatever will be this years boutique gadget for rich folk imho and will avoid the lid in the face problem for business meetings.

Of course eventually we'll all have power rings that project a GUI in front of us

jimbo45 · Feb 4, 2010

johnwillyums said:
Seems to me that some mysterious pc thinktank somewhere must have noticed that the netbook phenomena had peaked in terms of market share and thought we need something new to hook the "boutique" businessmen and women.

Thing is a couple of my friends with netbooks have now gone back to their laptops. They thought they could put up with the limitations of a netbook for work but missed their computers. They've also got powerful desktops at home and iPhones.
.....................
Of course eventually we'll all have power rings that project a GUI in front of us

Hi there
Your colleagues bought their Netbooks for probably the wrong reason -- It's NOT meant to be a Laptop replacement - but a workable tool when travelling away from home --especially in situations where you don't want to carry much -- if any luggage.

The small screens aren't really THAT much of a limitation for LIMITED USE -- if you want to spend the whole day making HUGE spreadsheets or want to have long Photoshop sessions then a netbook isn't really suitable --although with a decent net connection you can always RDP to a remote computer for runnning powerful apps.

The netbooks are also good for those who find the limitation of smart phones for example with their really tiny screens and non existent keyboards really problematic.

Of course like any other gadget the market will mature -- this is trhe time when the doomsayers will come out with "The market is now dead".

You won't get the same growth in a mature market but Netbooks are definitely NOT dead if you use them for the purpose they are really intended for.

Cheers
jimbo

arkhi · Feb 7, 2010

redsoxm16 said:
View attachment 51653

You should've posted this instead =P

raydabruce · Feb 7, 2010

I agree with Jimbo45. Over 30 million netbooks were sold in 2009 and 2010 is shaping up to be even better for netbooks. People like the portability. I just bought one myself and I love it. It's an Acer Aspire One 532h with the new Atom N450. I upped the RAM to 2GB and put in a larger hard drive. It runs Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit just fine. I don't feel limited by the screen or resolution and it's not too slow for me at all. With Chrome installed, I can browse the web at a good speed and do everything else I need or want to do with a computer. Pretty good for $300 US.

The small size and light weight are huge selling points. I've owned over a dozen laptops and I was so tired of lugging around big 5 or 6 lb laptops. Who needs that? And why pay hundreds more for processing power that you don't use or need?

As for the iPad... what a joke! Who would buy one of those things? More overpriced, reduced-functionality crap from Apple. No thanks. It has so many limitations that I don't know where to begin. A netbook has 10 times the functionality at half the price.

Adamd · Feb 8, 2010

I think HP needs to start hyping up the Slate they are going to be releasing soon.

That thing is going to kick the ipad's ass at least spec wise. An example full flash, full OS etc.

arkhi · Feb 9, 2010

raydabruce said:
The small size and light weight are huge selling points. I've owned over a dozen laptops and I was so tired of lugging around big 5 or 6 lb laptops. Who needs that? And why pay hundreds more for processing power that you don't use or need?

I have a 9-pound laptop (yes, it's a laptop not a desktop replacement). It's 1.5 inch think. And yes it has lots, not loads, of processing power. It just depends on the person, really.

Example, I don't think you would do good with Digital Signage on netbooks.

Does W'dows need more padding to fend off Apple's iPad?

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