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Clamcase Laptop-Like Shell for the iPad

Why you don't need this contraption

Ok. I saw a similar product on youtube and it was thick and ugly, not to mention pointless. I think this is what Jobs wants you to understand: The iPad is a convenient device for you to consume information. But, it's also there to create only if required. That's why at the release of the iPad, he said that this is a fit between a laptop and your smartphone.

It's was not designed to be THE replacement for you desktop or laptop. I can't imagine people using this clam thingy pointing and typing all day long and say that the user experience is equally the same as today's laptops.

So, if you have a laptop and an iPad, you won't need this. If you have an iPad and can't afford a laptop, then by all means get a BT keyboard or this clamshell.

Sidenote: It won't be long before notebooks become dinosaurs (within 5 years?) as more devices will adopt 'instant boot' OS like Android and iPad/iPhone...
 
Adokimus said:
I love how apple tells its consumers what they should want, and then other companies step in and try to make that product into what consumers asked for in the first place.. I would still love a 10" macbook with OS X, but this case is ridiculous
Click to expand...

Given that the iPad has already sold faster in it's first month than any other Apple product in history, I'd say perhaps they weren't that far off from what the consumer wants?

Maybe they didn't make what YOU want, but you are not representative of the public as a whole.
 
ThunderSkunk said:
I love how the non-creative crowd can't possibly imagine why this would be useful. "Get a laptop" Right, back to carrying around laptops, mice, cords, and always looking for a place to set them up. Not gonna happen.

I wonder how much that AC/DC song cost them...
Click to expand...

I've done fine with my laptop (well, it can sit on my lap if you ask where I'm going to put it. And I can use the trackpad worse comes to worse but my magic mouse seems to work fine even on leather armchair arms). And if I'm going to lug something ipad sized around, I'll just take my laptop which has a nifty carrying case and won't be that much more of a hassle.

The ipad would be slightly more convenient but not enough to make up for lack of keyboard *shrug* (and I'm sorry, but while Apple has made touch screen keyboards work really well, they really don't replace a physical keyboard when you want to do more than just typing a small reply/address/small note. Much easier to type without looking on a real keyboard rather than one that you have no idea by feel if you are even close to hitting the right spots). Now with that keyboard I could see it being an option, but I'd still want a full computer and I really like that my laptop is a full computer that is portable (I've already sworn I'm never having another desktop). Means I can have my computer go with me when I travel. And I'm enough of a geek that where my computer is feels enough like home to me :). I like having my computer with me where ever I go. And I really don't think the ipad could just fully replace my computer. So why spend money on both?

I'm sure it's useful for some. But for me, I have an iphone for something that goes with me almost everywhere, and a laptop for a more powerful computing option when I'm willing to lug something other than my purse with me.

I will admit, if the ipad was much cheaper, I'd consider it for an ebook reader cause the ebook reader on it is really nice. But not spending that much money for something I really only see one advantage for (and my iphone has ebook readers, stanza, Kindle, and if I wanted to reinstall, B&N's which was horrid and crashed a lot. And it goes everywhere with me).
 
Here's hoping Clamcase (or someone else) can do the same thing for the iPod touch--assuming the bluetooth keyboard support will be on all iPhone OS 4.0 devices...
 
boncellis said:
Here's hoping Clamcase (or someone else) can do the same thing for the iPod touch--assuming the bluetooth keyboard support will be on all iPhone OS 4.0 devices...
Click to expand...

That would be nice. I have an Ipaq that I used to use before I got the iphone. Bought a foldout keyboard for it and it's really nice to have.
 
Lol!

Its a Fake!

Look at how the iPad connects to the keyboard. It doesn't! Its drawn out as one solid piece with a hinge connecting it to the keyboard!

Theres nowhere on the solid-body iPad to connect that hinge shown in the video.

COMON PPL! FAKE!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
darkslayer13 said:
Lol!

Its a Fake!

Look at how the iPad connects to the keyboard. It doesn't! Its drawn out as one solid piece with a hinge connecting it to the keyboard!

Theres nowhere on the solid-body iPad to connect that hinge shown in the video.

COMON PPL! FAKE!
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
Click to expand...

Why would you think the ipad connects to the bottom? There's a 'pocket' that the iPad slided into...
 
case

I don't see the problem with this at all. If you're going to be going on a plane trip and you want to write a lot then snap it into this and you've got an easy way to type for a long time. I don't care how good you say you are at typing on the iPad, I've had it a month and I still suck unless it's for a short email. And don't tell me you're going to bring your bluetooth keyboard and a stand as well on the plane, or that contraption Apple is selling with the attached keyboard, that thing would be unstable on an airplane tray. Off the plane then pop it out and you've got your iPad the way God, er I mean Steve, intended it to be used.

Besides who said you had to want or need it? There are all sorts of things like that vacuum/haircutting device, doilies for your grandma's dinner table, and countless other things that are useless to you but other people can find a way to make them useful. Just the general negative reaction to anything being done to an Apple product that Steve didn't intend that we're used to seeing on macrumors. :rolleyes:
 
That case looks about half as ugly as the case/stand thing that Apple demoed, and about twice as useful. And whoever here said that the bottom should be weighted down with extra batteries is a genius. Imagine the iPad working for 30 hours instead of 10. Kinda beats the crap out of your normal laptop, huh?

Of course, you know what the best thing someone could do for the iPad for someone like me? Make a case that overlays a Wacom pressure sensitive screen and connects to a Painter/Photoshop lite drawing program and I'd be hooked. That's why that Modbook is still amazing to me. A DRAWING tablet in portable form. It just needs better battery life...
 
I'm reminded of the old Woody Allen joke about his uber-hip friend who had bought the rights to 'My Fair Lady' in order to turn it back into Pygmalion.
 
As usual for MR, it takes until about page 3 for "the voice of reason" to make itself known in any particular discussion...:rolleyes:

This device, by the looks, does NOT totally suck.

If iPad can go into the device and come out easily, I see a market for such a contraption.
 
Cool. I've been watching for this to happen.

I notice that the one above does not connect to the 30-pin connector. I would think it would need that.

To be truly uber-cool it needs help from Apple. We need the MacOSX (complete with Classic of course) running on the iPad and a touch pad on the keyboard. Then when being used as a laptop it is just like a laptop (mouse & keyboard) but with all the advantages of an iP (touch screen, etc) and when used as an iP it is.

We can already emulate the iP using the SDK on our Macs. Now we need the MacOS on the iPs.
 
Something like this will be very useful for longer typing sessions. Some other company plans to make something similar, only using the Apple wireless keyboard:

http://www.ipadlapdock.com/?q=node/7

What_is_the_LapDock2.jpg
 
The idea of using a physically attached keyboard completely defeats the point of the iPad. The idea of using a touch device and having to touch the screen and then type with a physical keyboard is not seamless integration. I haven't had any issues typing. This thing isn't designed to replace my MacBook. If I need to type a research paper I don't plan on using my iPad. All of that aside the case design is pretty nice. It looks like a black MacBook air.
 
So many short-sighted haters here...

For everyone jumping on the "get a laptop" bandwagon, can you point me to a laptop I can buy today that has a removable touch screen that also functions as a standalone tablet?

Also, it's just a dock people, your iPad is not permanently fused to it upon first use. The "OMG they're trying to turn an iPad into a laptop" arguments don't hold water as yes, the iPad is still removable and can function 100% as just an iPad whenever you want it to.
 
roadbloc said:
Lolwut? Just get a laptop. I cannot see this selling much.

If you want a touchscreen netbook, get an iPad.
If you want something more, get a laptop or computer.
Who in their right mind is going to think about buying the iPad and then this clamcase thing?
Click to expand...

Isn't anyone familiar with the phrase "best of both worlds". I know that there are times when I want the convenience of being able to stand the Ipad like a laptop. i.e. On a long trip and the kids want to watch a movie or the tv through the slingbox app and with this case the ipad can sit nicely between the two instead of lieing flat on someones lap or the armreast. When I want the convenience and lightness of a caseless Ipad just pop it out and your ready to go. The question I have is when your using the keyboard on the case does the virtual keyboard still appear on the Ipad screen? That would suck if it did that. I would buy it if it is $80 or less.
 
the future said:
Something like this will be very useful for longer typing sessions. Some other company plans to make something similar, only using the Apple wireless keyboard:

http://www.ipadlapdock.com/?q=node/7

http://www.ipadlapdock.com/sites/default/files/What_is_the_LapDock2.jpg
Click to expand...


This one doesnt look like it can turn and fold down so just the touchpad is exposed like the clam case appears to. Plus you would need to buy the wirleless key board. Should be interesting to see price comparison.
 
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