Bill Gates on iPad: "It's a Nice Reader, But..."

[ericinboston]

This is getting old.

What is? The fact that someone else (not me..I just replied) started down the Windows vs. Mac path or that some people here can't grasp the fact that the Windows OS has killed the Mac OS in marketshare for 16+ years?

 

[ddTaylor]

Bill Gates doesn't like it?
Who would have thought that? 😀

Why say that? He realizes Apple and MS are not true competitors anymore and he praised the iPhone from heaven on down. Why would he not do that for the iPad if he truly felt it was 'revolutionary'? I tend to think he would praise it if he felt it warranted it - but after the introduction of the iPad I went from wanting one to passing on the entire idea until there is more RAM, more storage and a camera of some type. I use the camera for all sorts of things and the omission of any camera-type device is reprehensible...in my opinion.

Yes - I know I don't have to buy one and I will not. Yes - I realize many others will so my boycott of the device on technical grounds is irrelevant so please keep those posts to your self if you are included to flame me for not wanting one.

D

 

[Friscohoya]

Well Windows is a nice....hmmmmm. Definitly Windows Mobile is a nice....no. Ah, Internet Explorer is a great...just exactly what do they do that's nice? Oh, I do like Office. MS Office is quite...useful.

 

[Povilas]

You can't be serious. Brace for when? 2020?

1)Apple Mac/OS has been below 10% marketshare for decades.

2)Even though Apple's Macs have been selling like hotcakes for 2-5 years, the Mac and it's OS are STILL below 10% marketshare. I'm not laughing...I'm stating a fact.

3)In order for Apple to start getting some serious marketshare (20-25%), Apple will need to sell hundreds of millions of Macs...if not billions over the coming years to compete with all the Windows vendors (Dell, HP, Toshiba, Asus, Gateway, Acer, etc.). Apple is not going to sell 100 million Macs in a single year anytime soon. Apple seems to have sold about 12 million Macs in 2009...about 10 million in 2008. So even if Apple started selling Macs at 25 million a year, it would be numerous years before Apple approached the upper 25% marketshare point...and that's if Microsoft and the Windows-based personal computer industry did nothing.

4)Building on #3, my personal opinion is that unless Apple starts selling cheaper Macs, there will be far fewer people out there (marketshare) who are going to spend X on Apple when they can spend 1/3X for a Windows machine...or even 1/2X. I like the style of the iMac's...but I'm just not going to plunk down $1200+ for a computer when, for my needs (and most likely a large % of the consumers out there), I can do the same thing with a $600-$700 pc.


There's no doom and gloom in the future for Apple or its Macs...but since Macs seem to be somewhat low on the priority list for Apple (iPods, iPhones have far outsold the Mac in units for years and now Apple is trying to get this iPad to sell bazillions) I don't feel I need to "brace" for anything in the impending future. 🙂

http://theappleblog.com/2009/10/19/apple-q4-2009-3m-macs-record-profits/

-Eric

HyperBoy clone?

 

[Eidorian]

You've hit the nail on the head. Handwriting recognition software sucks. The only way it works is if you're writing in Japanese (which I study and teach), because it has to be written in a specific stroke order. English doesn't.

Our society promotes individuality and therefore you can write anyway you want to. I do this myself as I am left-handed and have my own unique way of writing. Japanese society promotes conformity, which has led to a stylized way of writing that works within the parameters of handwriting recognition software. Same thing for audio actually. I'll explain it if you're interested. If not carry on.🙂

Why can't Johnny write?

 

[appleseed76]

The main problem with the iPad in my view is that it is solely a content consumption device and doesn't have the capability for content creation. However, I really think that the future of computers is to make them more like the iPad and less like the traditional overcomplicated OSes that us geeks grew up with.

Are you forgetting about iWork for the iPad. That is creation software. Have you been on the App Store lately? Third-party companies are all over creation software from Photoshop knock-offs, to music makers, to anything you can think of. They still need to make an app that let's you make apps. Crap I sound like my elementary school students now, but...

 

[kironin]

"So, it's not like I sit there and feel the same way I did with iPhone where I say, 'Oh my God, Microsoft didn't aim high enough.' It's a nice reader, but there's nothing on the iPad I look at and say, 'Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.'"

"There's nothing that the iPod does that I say, 'Oh, wow, I don't think we can do that.'" - Bill Gates, September 02, 2004

funny!

in couple of yeas or so with Rev 3 or 4 , I have a feeling it's going to be ipod deja vu.


😀

 

[lincolntran]

It's ok, no reason to.

The answer is pretty simple. It's cheap, widely available, and a lot of people are going to want to use at home the same thing they use at work.

All made possible by Universal Licensing. Something Apple refused to do at the time.

-- You answered your question yourself. You proved to yourself that it's NOT "that windows is great", but it's because it's widely available, cheap (with hardware), etc....

That's 1 reason, out of many, why Windows is still the most used. And how are you defining "Universal Licensing"?

I'm not jumping up and down saying Windows is the best thing on the planet...I'm saying it has the most marketshare and has had it for decades. Even with great licensing deals, if Windows stunk, people would move on...and vendors like Dell and HP would have to make decisions if people stopped buying Windows-based computers.

Apple's OS/Mac has gained some marketshare in the past 2+ years (part of that reason is the opportunity for people who didn't want Vista to try Apple...but I'm not going to claim that was 100% of the reason like others will here) but it's still below 10% marketshare. Just stating facts. Not saying Apple's OS is bad. I, personally, would LOVE to see the Mac/OS achieve 15% or 20% marketshare...but I doubt that's going to happen by 2012 (if at all unless Apple is willing to make some game-changing decisions).
-Eric

-- What does marketshare have to do with "quality" of the OS? Most people I know use windows because they don't have any other choice. They aren't happy with windows, but they can't afford a Mac and aren't geek enough to use *nix or *nux. It's just that Apple chose not to compete in the low end pc. Not that it's matter, but have you check the market share for high end pc lately?

Windows 7 was built for tablets, every version. It's optimized for it. I cannot even begin to explain how beneficial it is to have the same OS on a Table that's on your PC.

-- optimized for tablets? Really? Like the HP all-in-one keep freezing when people tried to zoom in and out of a photo? Like I have to use my finger to touch that "tiny" little X button to close a window and every little small buttons in Word, and other text fields? What happen if I have big fingers?
Windows 7? LOL! It's still not as good as OS X. Have you tried to run 4 virtual OS in Windos 7 (or any version) at the same time? Have you tried to run 4 virtual OS in Mac OS X at the same time? I tried. Guess which one is more stable, fast, and quiet?
What's your reason before windows 7? Windows vista?

Sound more like you don't know much about MS Windows. I for one make money off how bad that OS runs, so stop trolling and giving real reliable data of how MS Windows 7 is a stable and better OS. I use it for gaming and for the most part it runs as it should as long as you are careful.

But even today I had to do a repair call after a client installed some hardware themselves and it cause Windows 7 to crash. I was not had to bring it back, but things like this are just not tolerated on Mac ecosystem. I for one expect my Mac's to come up every time I do anything with them, and if I install software or hardware I expect it to not crash and have to spend time figuring out that some DLL has been changed or some registry information has been altered and now Windows gives errors or crashes. Noob.

For me the 64gig iPad has to be like the iPhone and Snow Leopard, no down time I am not saying it will never have something go wrong, but I expect like my heart to keep beating no matter how hard I push it.

--- Agree. My heart rate is usually higher than normal when I'm on a windows system.....I want windows to have bugs and be crappy. I'm an IT guy......Oh, I just remembered, I need to go put my mac to sleep. it's been running 8 days straight now....😱

 

[katewes]

The iPad is everything I did not want.

You guys out there might not use your computers for creation - watching DVD's and Facebook - but I mostly use my computers for creation. So the iPad is junk to me. I wanted an Apple netbook. I agree with Bill Gates. And even Apple fans are allowed to do that, occasionally.

I'm glad I did not get rid of my Powerbook 12".

I need to create documents. I need a highly portable computer (don't call the iPhone a computer if it can't be used regularly for creation) for creating content. I don't want to type on glass. I need something really portable when on the go. The MBP 13" is ok, but I yearn for something smaller.

I predict the iPad will plonk in sales.

Can't Apple sometimes stop being so creative and leading edge, and just give us something that meets out basic daily needs, e.g. an Apple netbook.

If Apple can't make a netbook for the price their competitors are, then don't. Give us an overpriced Apple netbook - at a price that fulfills Apple's greed - what would be new?

 

[rolfsf]

worth a read

From one of the founders of Panic software, this blog post makes the case for why the iPad is a gamechanger, or as he calls them, New World Devices:

http://stevenf.tumblr.com/post/359224392/i-need-to-talk-to-you-about-computers-ive-been

 

[Swift]

Bill Gates doesn't like it?
Who would have thought that? 😀

I wonder if he allows his family to buy iPods yet?

 

[bommai]

There's so much potential with this device, yet Apple limited its functionality.

For example, why not give it a stylus so that students could write/draw notes while in class or for artists to create a drawing?

Is the touch screen and the software drivers not compatible with third party stylus?

 

[MacFanJeff]

Actually, Gates is fully correct on this one. True, a lot of people jumped out too quickly when the iPhone/Touch came out with criticism not knowing where they were headed with the App store and such but the iPad is NOT the same. There is NOTHING that is new here and it is indeed just a large Touch device that is also going to compete with the Amazon Kindle.

It's shortcoming have already been mentioned about a million times and there is certainly room for MS to make a real tablet device with the features Apple left out. They may be for two different users and market segments, but it will all come down to what people really want. Judging from the backlash with the iPad, it's not going to happen for it.

 

[Otaviano]

1)Apple Mac/OS has been below 10% marketshare for decades.

2)Even though Apple's Macs have been selling like hotcakes for 2-5 years, the Mac and it's OS are STILL below 10% marketshare. I'm not laughing...I'm stating a fact.

I've always hated this logic. People immediately compare Mac sales with Windows sales.

Why not compare Apple with HP, Dell, and the market share that belongs to other computer manufactures?

In reality Apple is not competing with Windows. Apple does not sell OS-X to everyone. If they did, then they would be competing with Windows and the 10% marketshare comparison would be fair. Apple competes with Dell and co. because they sell you a computer. The fact that they're computer has a different OS has in the past decade been the advantage they've had over every other PC manufacturer.

BMW, Mercedes, and countless other car manufactures don't have more than 10% marketshare either.

 

[Colman]

If Apple can't make a netbook for the price their competitors are, then don't. Give us an overpriced Apple netbook - at a price that fulfills Apple's greed - what would be new?

Macbook Air, remember? I love my Rev A - full keyboard, big enough display, packs more easily than most netbooks I've seen.

 

[Otaviano]

Actually, Gates is fully correct on this one. True, a lot of people jumped out too quickly when the iPhone/Touch came out with criticism not knowing where they were headed with the App store and such but the iPad is NOT the same. There is NOTHING that is new here and it is indeed just a large Touch device that is also going to compete with the Amazon Kindle.

You just don't get it, it's in the software. Wait until you see what apps are developed for it before you call it a large iPod Touch.

 

[elhungarian]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/5.0.16831/2502; U; en) Presto/2.2.0)

Yeah..that's why they are working on zune phone.. Because iphone isn't a big deal. Hah.

 

[Converse]

You've hit the nail on the head. Handwriting recognition software sucks. The only way it works is if you're writing in Japanese (which I study and teach), because it has to be written in a specific stroke order. English doesn't.

Our society promotes individuality and therefore you can write anyway you want to. I do this myself as I am left-handed and have my own unique way of writing. Japanese society promotes conformity, which has led to a stylized way of writing that works within the parameters of handwriting recognition software. Same thing for audio actually. I'll explain it if you're interested. If not carry on.🙂

You're pretty much right about that! I can see hand recognition also added for Chinese since it also has specific stroke order and currently the input method is through Pinyin, which is great for some of us, but I know several Chinese people who don't know it. 😛

 

[inlovewithi]

--

--- Agree. My heart rate is usually higher than normal when I'm on a windows system.....I want windows to have bugs and be crappy. I'm an IT guy......Oh, I just remembered, I need to go put my mac to sleep. it's been running 8 days straight now....😱

Lol, the Windows computers where I worked from 2002 to 2008 had been running straight for months and years. You remind me of the comment of another Mac user in another forum who was bragging about how when he closes the lid on his macbook, the computer goes into sleep mode. I was like, "WOW." Talk about innovation.

 

[ericinboston]

-- -- What does marketshare have to do with "quality" of the OS? Most people I know use windows because they don't have any other choice. They aren't happy with windows, but they can't afford a Mac and aren't geek enough to use *nix or *nux. It's just that Apple chose not to compete in the low end pc. Not that it's matter, but have you check the market share for high end pc lately?

I never said anything about a quality OS. You did.

Since 1979 home users have had a choice in personal computers...back in the 80's it was quite a shootout between someoneone owning an Apple //e, a PC, or a Commodore. Around 1994 the personal computer market was really down to PCs and Macs. Guess what...people had a choice in 1994 and they still do in 2010. More people have purchased (and are continuing to outnumber) Windows machines for numerous reasons. My gut tells me that one of the reasons people do not buy a Mac is because they feel for 1/2 or 1/3 the price they can do the same thing on a PC. Again, I'm not talking at all about quality of the OS.

 

[appleseed76]

Why can't Johnny write?

しらね〜よ。バカかな？じょ〜だん。(I have no idea. Is he stupid. Just kidding.😛)

 

[Swift]

I use my old Pocket PC stylus on my Nintendo DS, and it's a lot better than the one it came with. A lot. It's smoother.

Why are you using an old stylus with a Nintendo? Oh, yes, one reason styluses suck is because you lose them. Unless you're in an accident, you don't lose a finger.

 

[Carniphage]

The iPad is everything I did not want.

You guys out there might not use your computers for creation - watching DVD's and Facebook - but I mostly use my computers for creation. So the iPad is junk to me. I wanted an Apple netbook.

Good for you. I also use computer to create content.

And to make life easier for us. Apple makes a whole line of computers (called Macs) to do exactly that!

But there is a big chunk of the market, who don't want that stuff. They just want to do Facebook and Twitter, and watch videos and generally they want to be unproductive more than they want to be productive.

So Apple made a cheap computer for them.

I know that nobody has thought of doing that before, but is there anything intrinsically wrong in creating a computer for that market?

C.

 

[Eidorian]

しらね〜よ。バカかな？じょ〜だん。(I have no idea. Is he stupid. Just kidding.😛)

I'm sure my instant-on iToaster with Wikipedia is the solution.

 

[LagunaSol]

You remind me of the comment of another Mac user in another forum who was bragging about how when he closes the lid on his macbook, the computer goes into sleep mode. I was like, "WOW." Talk about innovation.

Apparently Microsoft thinks that Windows waking from sleep quickly when opening the lid (you know, like Macs have been doing for years) is something special. I was like, "WOW." Talk about innovation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJxfraw8ZdM