Go read your post to me again, and tell me that it doesn't read that you're blaming me!
Whatever...
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Couldn't the MacBook Air be better than the iPad?
- Thread starter entatlrg
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Go read your post to me again, and tell me that it doesn't read that you're blaming me!
Whatever...
Certainly the ability to burn BDs is important to some of you who are Mac owners but I suspect that you comprise only a small percentage of the total ownership. Nevertheless, I understand your position. At one time, I burned the majority of my DVDs to M4V files but finally got away from it. The problems involved with burning BDs in a way that would preserve the full video and audio quality of the disc are far more than I am willing to undertake. Anyway, my point wasn't that those of you who want BD burners in your Macs don't have a fair point because, certainly, you do. My position is merely that Apple's decision not to include BD burners in Macs was made for understandable reasons and fell far short of being a "betrayal" of Mac buyers. (I know that you didn't call it a "betrayal" but some of those I mentioned in my last post did do so.)
If it read that way to you, then I apologize. I wasn't "blaming" anyone. The "you need to go to the gym" argument has been posted countless times for many different products whenever there is a debate about weight. I was just pointing out how silly that argument is and it was directed at no one in particular (not even the guy who wrote it).
I can hold my iPod touch 2" away from my face and hey, I've got an iPad!
Your point?
Come on... you can't deny that an iPad can be held more comfortably than a MBA. I've read your posts and I'm a bit disappointed that you refuse to acknowledge the main advantages of the iPad. It's true that YOU may not prefer it, but refusing to see the advantages and shooting down a device is not right. No hard feelings, because I agree with many of your points but you're being stubborn to such an extreme that it's discrediting your good points... At least for me.
I'm a big fan of the MBA and it's a good all around portable device, but the iPad undeniably fills in the gap between the MBA and the iPhone/iPod touch. Whether that gap needs filling is entirely up to us.
There is a phrase applied to devices such as the iPhone and iPad. This phrase is "walled garden". Essentially what it means is that with these devices, you are limited to the functionality and software the manufacturer expressly allows. Conversely, at any time the manufacturer decides to remove functionality or software, even things like purchased items, the owner of the device really has no say or legal recourse except to accept this control over their legally purchased hardware by a third party.
This also extends to advertising, Since exclusivity contracts between apple and any large corporation could lead to corporate competitor (and even small business) blacklisting. This in turn hampers freedom of choice, since [obviously] you can't make a reasonable comparison of companies if your device can only display the one that has paid millions to be in your face. [don't think it's coming? We'll see what "iAds" brings on Apr 7th, won't we?]
Now, many of you are going to say "it's not a laptop replacement", and to this I say: "yea, maybe to you" With most of the functionality of a note/netbook, how many of the unwashed computer illiterate buying ONLY for occasional web access and e-mail are going to use this in conjunction with a standard desktop/notebook? I know a LOT of people [mostly older] that absolutely HATE their computers, but grudgingly keep them around to keep in touch with their kids/grandkids.
So I have a device I can use only in the way the manufacturer tells me I can, ONLY with the software they allow me to access, and they can change at whim anything and everything I can access and do with my device. Or I can buy a fully functional machine that they can't "invade" unless I let them.
I know where MY dollars are going. /shrug
This also extends to advertising, Since exclusivity contracts between apple and any large corporation could lead to corporate competitor (and even small business) blacklisting. This in turn hampers freedom of choice, since [obviously] you can't make a reasonable comparison of companies if your device can only display the one that has paid millions to be in your face. [don't think it's coming? We'll see what "iAds" brings on Apr 7th, won't we?]
Now, many of you are going to say "it's not a laptop replacement", and to this I say: "yea, maybe to you" With most of the functionality of a note/netbook, how many of the unwashed computer illiterate buying ONLY for occasional web access and e-mail are going to use this in conjunction with a standard desktop/notebook? I know a LOT of people [mostly older] that absolutely HATE their computers, but grudgingly keep them around to keep in touch with their kids/grandkids.
So I have a device I can use only in the way the manufacturer tells me I can, ONLY with the software they allow me to access, and they can change at whim anything and everything I can access and do with my device. Or I can buy a fully functional machine that they can't "invade" unless I let them.
I know where MY dollars are going. /shrug
Come on... you can't deny that an iPad can be held more comfortably than a MBA. I've read your posts and I'm a bit disappointed that you refuse to acknowledge the main advantages of the iPad. It's true that YOU may not prefer it, but refusing to see the advantages and shooting down a device is not right. No hard feelings, because I agree with many of your points but you're being stubborn to such an extreme that it's discrediting your good points... At least for me.
I'm a big fan of the MBA and it's a good all around portable device, but the iPad undeniably fills in the gap between the MBA and the iPhone/iPod touch. Whether that gap needs filling is entirely up to us.
Sure, IPS display with much clearer resolution in the iPad. One thing I do agree with though, one day we will probably all watch tv, movies, and especially 3D video in a pair of eyeglasses of sorts. It is the obvious revolutionary device that is definitely the future. Personally, I don't get why computer companies and media product manufacturers haven't jumped on it yet. Think of the energy savings to not display 13" of LCD but instead more like 2" of display.
I really believe it will offer a better experience, yet it's for the individual. I suppose movie theaters will still exist just where something pops down from above and offers a super high quality experience via moving seats, incredible sound, and even weather and air like effects as if one were at the site of the movie (sorta like something we would expect to find at Disney World, yet better). All on two separate inch diagonal displays a half an inch from our eyes.
Anyways, going back to your analogy, why not buy a 9.6" flat panel iPad and always keep it a foot from your eyes rather than buy a 60" flat panel HD 3D television? I think the iPad's IPS display will be far more impressive to view at 12" from eyes than an iPod at 2" or a 60" LCD at 12'.
I agree with you. To many, this will be a MB replacement. In the future, the iPad will further explore the capabilities with both software and hardware fully capable of meeting the requirements of computing needs for most who use it. Right now, it's probably already powerful enough for most who use a computer as an entertainment device.
In the future, it will probably type out exactly what we're thinking without the need for a keyboard; okay, so maybe we will first move through true voice recognition technologies... which brings me to something I have been thinking for a few months - why doesn't Apple have voice recognition built into this iPad? I suppose it's so v 3,1 has an added feature that everyone has to have and will upgrade for.
Software is the true limitation of all computing devices right now. We don't need Nehalem (Arrandale) CPUs. What we need is advancement of software technologies to take advantage of the C2D CPUs we already have. If any bit of hardware needs upgrading, it's that every computer needs an SSD with faster throughput. The same thing applies to the iPad; the whole point of the App Store for the iPad is to drive demand for the iPad by allowing the app developers to create a demand for the iPad. We need the iPad to run the cool apps we see our friends use or on the commercials.
Finally, I told my parents that I had planned to buy them one for Christmas, and my Ma's reply was we wouldn't know how to use it. I said, it's the easiest device in the world to use. My Pop previously said he didn't want a Tivo because he wouldn't know how to use it. Within a few minutes of seeing how it worked, he realized the user interface was far easier than the VCR he had been using for the previous 15 years. He now pushes a button to get a season pass for his favorite shows and is no longer glued to the TV and watches the shows that interest him whenever he gets around to them; before, it was always a PITA to set the VCR so he just had to be in front of the TV ensuring he didn't miss the next moment - he even admitted to getting anxiety when trying to set the VCR to record the shows he wanted to see. Software is what drives the user demand, and I suppose Apple is the greatest innovator of technology because it gets the user interface just as Tivo gets it. Users want their interaction with computers to be simpler, and the iPad is even simpler than the Mac.
Good post... Hope your parents enjoys their iPad. I'm thinking about getting one for my mom as well.
I have a 46" Bravia in the living room and 42" Samsung in the bedroom. The most comfortable way of watching TV shows is on my 5.5G iPod on its tiny display.
IPS isn't the be-all end-all display though. I use them for my studio but they're not that great for watching TV shows/films on. That's when the rich deep colours of a large LCD or Plasma come in handy. I guess the point of an IPS in an iPad is for the wide angles required for a device that is likely to be viewed at all angles.
I fail to see any advantages, is all. I look at it and see Apple wanting $500 of my money so I can do things I can already do with devices I already own.
Also, I don't deny that the iPad can be held more comfortably that a MacBook Air; however, so can my iPod touch. If I want to surf while laying in bed, I can grab my touch; if I want to surf while on the couch, I can grab my laptop. Any sitting or standing position imaginable, I already have a device that covers it.
I'm a big fan of the MBA and it's a good all around portable device, but the iPad undeniably fills in the gap between the MBA and the iPhone/iPod touch. Whether that gap needs filling is entirely up to us.
If we assume there to indeed be a gap, the question is does the iPad fill it well? My answer is no; it's simply not the right tool for the job. I completely agree with Jobs that a device in the middle has to do certain things better than anything else; I also agree with the majority of his list. However, the way Apple implemented many of these "better" features is poorly thought out at best. Example: 4:3 screen for HD movies. Or the ubiquitous Flash argument. Also, there's no extra feature that really separates it from a MacBook or an iPhone and justifies the cost. You might argue eBooks, but if eBooks are what you want, you can either get the free Kindle app for your iPhone or PC/Mac, or you could buy a Kindle for $260 and save $240 over the iPad. I genuinely don't see the iPad as having *any* strengths.
I know I'm going to sound like a complete ass now, but sometimes I wish computers were still difficult to use. I imagine we wouldn't see viruses, worms, malware, adware, spam, scams, or anything else that people make just because it's easy to do. I wish the same for cars; if we required people to pass a 200-question test, have 500 hours of driving, defensive driver classes, a certain reaction time, get rid of automatics, make cars harder to operate, etc, we would see much fewer accidents involving teenage girls who ran their cars into trees because they were texting and didn't notice the truck in front of them until the last minute. But I digress.
I don't think it is intended for people like us who already have laptops or iPods. The iPad, as much as I (with my Macbook+iPod) would never, ever have a need for one is perfect for my grandparents. They bought a laptop but can't use it and since they only need the internet, have little need for large data storage and travel a lot - it's perfect for them!
But for me and probably most of the people on this forum we already have devices that fulfil the purpose of an iPad.
Dagless -- I agree completely. The iPad isn't really directed to people like the typical poster here, many of whom are IT professionals. I regard the iPad as a consumer device, which has a high "Gee whiz!" quotient, but is of little interest to those of us who are looking for computing tools.
Because the state of affairs is currently such, that if Apple would release a smelly turd with a touchscreen people would also be interested in it.
I agree that a lot of posters here appear to interested in the iPad. For that matter, so am I. But being interested falls far short of actually buying one when the time comes. I think much of the interest here is being generated by the iPad's Wow! factor. As slick as I think the iPad is, and as much time as I have spent talking about it, the chances of me ever actually buying one are about 10 to 1 against. If Apple significantly improves the Macbook Air, though, there is a very good chance that I will buy one of them.
Bingo.
This forum is full of die hard fans. You've only got to look around this thread that has people claiming an iPad is better than the MBA. I've read some outrageous claims such as adding Bluray drive to a Mac is a bad idea, Steam on Mac is a bad idea because only kids play computer games, Apple shouldn't have included Bootcamp to keep their systems pure, people who won't buy Xbox 360's because Apple and Microsoft are competitors and admit they're missing out on good games for it. They're all such precious people
.I agree with most of what you said in your post but must say I haven't seen any posts claiming that "adding Bluray drive to a Mac is a bad idea." I have posted to the effect that I believe Apple's refusal, so far, to add BD drives to their laptops has been understandable and claims that the failure do do so was "a betrayal," or "outrageous," or -- well you get it -- are overreactions. Nevertheless, as BD burners become more common in other makers' laptops, Apple will inevitably be hurt if they stick with their current policy of no BD burners, no how, no time, no way. Even Apple ignores what the market tells it at its peril.I've read some outrageous claims such as adding Bluray drive to a Mac is a bad idea
I suppose that I, too, am an Apple fanboy in some ways but I agree with what you and others have said that the iPad is not a satisfactory substitute for a real computer and an iPod.
Oh nonono, I didn't mean your post. During the numerous Bluray front page news posts some of the ultra fans claim Bluray as bad since it gives money to competitors against Apple, how it shortens battery life, how optical drives are going to quickly become redundant.
Well, the very idea that Blu-ray technology is bad simply because it is backed by Apple's competitors is silly, verging on nuts. I continue to believe that BDs are the wave of the future but still think that Apple's decision not to include BD burners makes sense -- so far.
Apple still needs to keep a careful watch on Blu-ray's continuing development. If I am right about that, then Apple is going to have to join the parade and put BD burners in its machines, as other manufacturers are already doing. Blu-ray continues to grow but still has a relatively low percentage of the disc market. Nevertheless, I think that is going to continue to change and change fast. For example, I saw recently that BD player sales have been increasing exponentially. That's not surprising considering that it's now possible to buy one for less than $100.
I'm not so sure. I see a lot of posters saying they have an iPad preordered, or their signature says so, or they've ordered multiple iPads, or they'll get the wifi model on April 3 and the 3G when it comes out, etc. To be honest, I think more people on this forum have already preordered iPads than are considering doing so. Unless the average age of a MacRumors poster is 80, I don't understand why.
I think that being "the first kid on your block" to get any new product is risky. There are inevitable bugs in any new hardware and they are often critical -- think the Rev A MBA. Nevertheless, I don't necessarily disagree with your conclusion that a lot of people here may have decided to ignore the risks and pre ordered an iPad. If so, I think it is the "Wow! factor that has enticed them to take, what to me at least, would be an unacceptable risk. Why not just stay on the sidelines for a little while and see what the pioneering early adapters think of the iPad first?
Ive read countless articles (and so have all of you probably) that say most people only use their computers to surf the web, check email, play games, watch movies, make the occasional birthday card, etc. So for most people all the horsepower of a laptop, even a MacBook Air, is wasted.
I fall into this category. Im an artist and not a digital artist most of my work is traditional portraitures. I found a few years ago that I didnt need a desktop so now my main computer is my MacBook.
The iPad wont completely replace my MacBook but it will become my go to device for travel. When Im out on a job taking photographs of a client I just need a vehicle to show off the shots so we can decide which one Ill use in my work. Often these jobs are out of town so Ill want to check my email, watch a movie, or read a book during down time. The iPad is perfect for me.
And it will be for a lot of people because most of us ARENT working in computer related jobs. We use computers but were mechanics, doctors, insurance salesmen, restaurant workers, retail managers, art dealers, etc.
I fall into this category. Im an artist and not a digital artist most of my work is traditional portraitures. I found a few years ago that I didnt need a desktop so now my main computer is my MacBook.
The iPad wont completely replace my MacBook but it will become my go to device for travel. When Im out on a job taking photographs of a client I just need a vehicle to show off the shots so we can decide which one Ill use in my work. Often these jobs are out of town so Ill want to check my email, watch a movie, or read a book during down time. The iPad is perfect for me.
And it will be for a lot of people because most of us ARENT working in computer related jobs. We use computers but were mechanics, doctors, insurance salesmen, restaurant workers, retail managers, art dealers, etc.
I buy 1st year production cars frequently. I have bought 2 in the past 5 years. Sure they have little bugs here and there, but like you said, it's the "wow factor". I'm addicted to it. Love to be the one of the first to hold, ride, drive (apply appropriate action for the devise/vehicle
). I refuse to ride my MBA.I think there are lots of people like me that don't really care whether something new is a flop or a lemon.
Like I said on the previous post somewhere in this thread, the iPad would be perfect for my office work(meaning bathroom).
Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal's review is titled:
Laptop Killer? Pretty Close
Some highlights:
"has the potential to change portable computing profoundly, and to challenge the primacy of the laptop. It could even help, eventually, to propel the finger-driven, multitouch user interface ahead of the mouse-driven interface that has prevailed for decades."
"Ive been using my test iPad heavily day and night, instead of my trusty laptops most of the time. As I got deeper into it, I found the iPad a pleasure to use, and had less and less interest in cracking open my heavier ThinkPad or MacBook."
"the iPad can indeed replace a laptop for most data communication, content consumption and even limited content creation"
"The iPad is thinner and lighter than any netbook or laptop Ive seen"
"I was impressed with the iPads battery life, which I found to be even longer than Apples ten-hour claim, and far longer than on my laptops"
-----
Better UI, portability, and battery life.
At this point, I doubt any laptop could be better than the iPad. I predict that in 5 years, tablets will outsell laptops/netbooks.
Laptop Killer? Pretty Close
Some highlights:
"has the potential to change portable computing profoundly, and to challenge the primacy of the laptop. It could even help, eventually, to propel the finger-driven, multitouch user interface ahead of the mouse-driven interface that has prevailed for decades."
"Ive been using my test iPad heavily day and night, instead of my trusty laptops most of the time. As I got deeper into it, I found the iPad a pleasure to use, and had less and less interest in cracking open my heavier ThinkPad or MacBook."
"the iPad can indeed replace a laptop for most data communication, content consumption and even limited content creation"
"The iPad is thinner and lighter than any netbook or laptop Ive seen"
"I was impressed with the iPads battery life, which I found to be even longer than Apples ten-hour claim, and far longer than on my laptops"
-----
Better UI, portability, and battery life.
At this point, I doubt any laptop could be better than the iPad. I predict that in 5 years, tablets will outsell laptops/netbooks.