iPad Tech Specs: Cortex A8, 256MB Ram, PowerVR SGX 535

[pmz]

Gotta love the know it alls in this thread. iPad is doomed because it has 256 mb of RAM...no matter that none of you know sh*t about the way the device was designed or, even why it has this much RAM, you all know that 256 is low because you've had more in your computers for a while, and in your iPhone since last year. Great, congrats. WTF does that have to do with the iPad? Besides nothing, I mean?

None of those other devices have an A4 chip. I don't care what you think it is, 1 core 1 Ghz, the fact is it was built to run this particular device, with this particular software..nothing.. Else..matters.

 

[LoganT]

I doubt Apple would of put 256MB of RAM in the iPad if it couldn't multitask with the iPhone OS 4.0. I know it's not official that the next iPhone OS (4.0) is going to have multitasking, but that's what most signs point to. In a way it's kind of exciting to me. Maybe Apple has come up with a way to multitask that is highly efficient and doesn't drain the battery. They took a couple years to introduce copy and paste, and it's fantastic. It's clearly the best out of any mobile phone. Maybe they will do the same for multitasking on a phone.

 

[Osnabrueck]

Comparing the RAM in a vertically-developed device like the iPad to the RAM in a netbook is retarded.

It's astonishing how may "of you" have the time/energy to argue about this stuff. Then again, with unemployment at record highs...

 

[jimmyjoemccrow]

Gotta love the know it alls in this thread. iPad is doomed because it has 256 mb of RAM...no matter that none of you know sh*t about the way the device was designed or, even why it has this much RAM, you all know that 256 is low because you've had more in your computers for a while, and in your iPhone since last year. Great, congrats. WTF does that have to do with the iPad? Besides nothing, I mean?

None of those other devices have an A4 chip. I don't care what you think it is, 1 core 1 Ghz, the fact is it was built to run this particular device, with this particular software..nothing.. Else..matters.

I think the point is they paired a faster processor with the same amount of RAM as the iPhone. A faster processor can only do so much. It can't make the Ipad work on bigger pictures. It can't make the iPad open more webpages at once.

 

[SandynJosh]

Usually its the user has done something they shouldn't.

Like hitting the PC "on" button.

 

[skinnylegs]

the level of ignorance on this forum is ridiculous. the people defending the 256MB ram are missing the point by a mile. Apple didn't limit the ram to 256 because the iPad doesn't need it, they did it to make it cheaper to make. More ram chips require additional traces, more complex circuit boards, etc... Apple is all about profit margin, even though an additional 256MB ram wouldn't be more than a few $ per unit, it adds up to a lot of money after a few million units. And you get the side bonus of getting people hooked on a crippled device and then selling them an upgrade in a year. Steve will say how they have "enhanced the experience" bla bla and most of you will drink the coolaid and believe it.

those who say the iPad doesn't need more need to actually buy one and open 4+ tabs in safari then watch the first one reload when you switch to it when the browser runs out of memory trying to keep all the tabs open. Not a big deal to some of you, but when a company claims that the iPad offers a superior browsing experience and can't even keep 5 tabs open at once someone has to call ********. Never mind multitasking, the thing doesn't even have enough memory to run it's own browser properly! I bought my iPad yesterday and I like it enough to get around the limitations (at worst I'll give it to my mom) but I'm not in denial of the truth just because I spent $500 and because it has an Apple logo on it like some of you. If they really are including some kind of multitasking in 4.0 it will be very ugly without virtual memory.

Yeah.....700,000 - 900,000 <EDIT: actually 700,000 or so> people are ignorant but *you* have all the answers. BTW.....if you're 'gonna try and make a point, at least spell correctly. Have you ever heard the expression, "Don't steal my thunder." Well, yours was effectively stolen when you hacked the word Kool-Aid. LMAO

Now....as far as your pissing and moaning goes? I currently have nine "tabs" open in Safari and when I switch from one page to another, it's very responsive. Don't know what your problem is. BTW...see those little X's at the top of each "tab"? Feel free to tap them and close one or two to reclaim your precious milliseconds.

In terms of RAM, I think I speak for the vast majority of people when I say that I don't give a fat rat's ass how much RAM it has. I can't even tell you what type of processor the iPad has and honestly, I'm OK with that. The bottom line is that the iPad is very fast, responsive and well thought out and that's enough for me.

The funniest thing of all is when someone drops 500 ducats on a device that doesn't meet their needs. Look in the mirror and you'll see the kind of person I'm talking about. But....you have all the answers, right?

Feel free to join the real world anytime you like.

 

[NiuFengLe]

Gotta love the know it alls in this thread. iPad is doomed because it has 256 mb of RAM...no matter that none of you know sh*t about the way the device was designed or, even why it has this much RAM, you all know that 256 is low because you've had more in your computers for a while, and in your iPhone since last year. Great, congrats. WTF does that have to do with the iPad? Besides nothing, I mean?

None of those other devices have an A4 chip. I don't care what you think it is, 1 core 1 Ghz, the fact is it was built to run this particular device, with this particular software..nothing.. Else..matters.

Yeah, it's called a Paradigm shift. Most people do not deal with them well. Everyone is stuck in gaming rig PC mindset. More, more, more...

 

[jimmyjoemccrow]

Yeah.....700,000 - 900,000 people are ignorant .

Whoa careful there. The estimate of 700, 000 was the guess of one analyst standing in a queue. Where are you getting your 900, 000 from now? Besides it's very easy for that number of people to be ignorant.

 

[whatever]

Thats because the 3rd generation touch has more up-to-date hardware. In fact you touch has the same CPU, GPU, and RAm as the iPhone 3GS. My 3GS runs fine with all my 200 apps loaded on it. The iPhone 3G was slower on 3.x than 2.x, and the Original iphone is slower on 2.x than 1.4.4, and EVEN slower on 3.x than 2.x

My first generation iPhone running the latest version of the OS is as fast as it was when I first bought it.

Want to see slow try using a Droid. God, that's just sad. My first generation iPhone is much snappier.

Also, poorly written programs will always need more memory. One of the things that really helps the iPhone/iPad is Apple's tight quality control over apps. People may mock Apple's Approval process, but how many bad apps do they kick back.

 

[skinnylegs]

Want to see slow try using a Droid.

That's what "multitasking" does for you....

 

[gack]

Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with the iPad @ 256 MB RAM for general use. The problem was that it was hyped as the next great gaming platform.

With the same amount of RAM as a phone, but 5 times the resolution, that sucks *big time*. NDS games will still be better, let alone compared to PC or console games.

So carry a third device? Or play Scrabble and Tetris? Most of the other games look early Y2K vintage with some lighting effects.

 

[LagunaSol]

No, I am not a customer for apple products.

Which explains perfectly why you're here posting on MacRumors.

The stench of astroturf is getting thick the past few days. Looks like the anti-iPad PR machine is in full frontal assault mode.

(Off to the Ignore list you go.)

 

[cmaier]

Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with the iPad @ 256 MB RAM for general use. The problem was that it was hyped as the next great gaming platform.

With the same amount of RAM as a phone, but 5 times the resolution, that sucks *big time*. NDS games will still be better, let alone compared to PC or console games.

So carry a third device? Or play Scrabble and Tetris? Most of the other games look early Y2K vintage with some lighting effects.

Keep in mind we don't know if there is SRAM on the A4 chip itself for use by the video chip.

 

[Eidorian]

Which explains perfectly why you're here posting on MacRumors.

The stench of astroturf is getting thick the past few days. Looks like the anti-iPad PR machine is in full frontal assault mode.

(Off to the Ignore list you go.)

Nice to see you too.

Have you ignored all of page 1 yet?

 

[LagunaSol]

You'd be a chick magnet (or guy magnet) at Starbucks - for sure.

Your material is getting awfully stale.

No, it won't be *obsolete* for a few weeks - when the Windows slates hit the market.

I'm sure they'll change the world. Just like Windows tablets did.

Me, I can't wait to see the line of incognito Microsoft employees queued up outside the Mission Viejo Microsoft Store, waiting for the latest gem from the mother ship.

It must stink to be you to cling so desperately (and vociferously) to mediocre products - and try to drag everyone down with you. You're probably still steamed over all that money you spent on an Origami device.

 

[OriginalMasta]

I skipped thru 22 pages just input my two cents.

More ram more CPU ghz more resolution more ambled more multitasking more lightweight more cameras more apps sheeees.

This is 100% American nonsense where bigger is better. This country is the biggest country to waste everything from food to environmental hazards to even a $500 iPad being beat down for shiits and giggles.

How many here code on iPhone platform? A pc is nothing more than superfluous waste of heat energy and precious time. You stuff in a 1000w psu just to overclock to a faster CPU becAuse u were too cheap to buy a tested higher clock CPU in the first place. Then u load your hdd up with huge chunks of bootleg bluray rips and porn. Then claim you have the best heater per watt hour to your Internet buddies. You also write these so called specs for people to see so they can say you have an amazing pc.

It doesn't matter what specs you have in the iPad. I only care about the user experience. I do not find myself opening up nine Internet safari pages then cycling thru each bandwidth intensive web site that I loaded just to see how much ram the iPad uses before the pages need to be recached.

You see, the entire point of apple is to make money. But at the same time they put a lot of effort into designing the iPad iPhone and apple products. If you think any other company in the world can do better go buy their mass produced hardware instead. All the specs analysis and ram being low is just stupid ass bickering.

I for one am enjoying this new iPad. I wrote this using my iPad. So instead of wasting time complaining about low ram return your iPad please. Also write more efficient code to make maximum use of the allotted ram. I see this as a trend in all Americans. Wasting precious resources just because more is better and so the lazy programming takes over.

This is an embedded device not a ****ing pc. You would still complain if the iPad had 1gb of ram because your ****ung pc can have 16gb for the price of one iPad 3G

 

[kernkraft]

The problem was that it was hyped as the next great gaming platform.

With the same amount of RAM as a phone, but 5 times the resolution, that sucks *big time*. NDS games will still be better, let alone compared to PC or console games.

So carry a third device? Or play Scrabble and Tetris? Most of the other games look early Y2K vintage with some lighting effects.

I wrote that that a couple of times that it's gaming, where the iPad might shine, but honestly, I did not expect the same RAM as the late-2009 iPod Touch in a million years. In fact, I still cannot believe that anybody at Apple thought that they could get away with this.

 

[LagunaSol]

Nice to see you too.

Have you ignored all of page 1 yet?

I assume you'll claim there was no noticeable troll invasion that started with the iPad launch, and even if there were, it would be paranoid to think there is some sort of organized effort behind it...

Funny how these people just happen to show up on cue en masse, hmmm?

 

[OriginalMasta]

I skipped thru 22 pages just input my two cents.

More ram more CPU ghz more resolution more amoled display more multitasking more lightweight more cameras more apps sheeeezs.

This is 100% American nonsense where bigger is better. This country is the biggest country to waste everything from food to environmental hazards to even a $500 iPad being beat down with a bat for shiits and giggles.

How many here code on iPhone platform? A pc is nothing more than superfluous waste of heat energy and precious time. You stuff in a 1000w psu a $500 video card and a an ipad size cpu heatsink or liquid cooling system just to overclock to a faster CPU becAuse u were too cheap to buy a tested higher clock CPU in the first place. Then u load your hdd up with huge chunks of bootleg bluray rips and porn. Then claim you have the best heater per watt hour to your Internet buddies. You also write these so called specs for people to see so they can say you have an amazing pc.

It doesn't matter what specs you have in the iPad. I only care about the user experience. I do not find myself opening up nine Internet safari pages then cycling thru each bandwidth intensive web site that I loaded just to see how much ram the iPad uses before the pages need to be recached.

You see, the entire point of apple is to make money. But at the same time they put a lot of effort into designing the iPad iPhone and apple products. If you think any other company in the world can do better go buy their mass produced hardware instead. All the specs analysis and ram being low is just stupid ass bickering.

I for one am enjoying this new iPad. I wrote this using my iPad. So instead of wasting time complaining about low ram return your iPad please. Also write more efficient code to make maximum use of the allotted ram. I see this as a trend in all Americans. Wasting precious resources just because more is better and so the lazy programming takes over.

This is an embedded device not a ****ing pc. You would still complain if the iPad had 1gb of ram because your ****ung pc can have 16gb for the price of one iPad 3G

 

[Eidorian]

How many here code on iPhone platform? A pc is nothing more than superfluous waste of heat energy and precious time. You stuff in a 1000w pus just to overclock to a faster CPU becAuse u were too cheap to buy a tested higher clock CPU in the first place. Then u load your hdd up with huge chunks of bootleg bluray rips and porn. Then claim you have the best heater per watt hour to your Internet buddies. You also write these so called specs for people to see so they can say you have an amazing pc.

What about those of is that want a quiet and energy efficient x86 based computer?

I assume you'll claim there was no noticeable troll invasion that started with the iPad launch, and even if there were, it would be paranoid to think there is some sort of organized effort behind it...

Funny how these people just happen to show up on cue en masse, hmmm?

I was concerned that MacRumors was dead until this thread showed up.

I don't subscribe to your paranoia though.

 

[OriginalMasta]

What about those of is that want a quiet and energy efficient x86 based computer?

I was concerned that MacRumors was dead until this thread showed up.

I don't subscribe to your paranoia though.

Right get a MacBook.

 

[LagunaSol]

I don't subscribe to your paranoia though.

Yep, just a big coincidence I'm sure.

 

[kernkraft]

Calling names again - it's always the conspiracy!

I assume you'll claim there was no noticeable troll invasion that started with the iPad launch, and even if there were, it would be paranoid to think there is some sort of organized effort behind it...

Funny how these people just happen to show up on cue en masse, hmmm?

"Troll invasion"?! What sort of an image have you got about the world? The iPad is out, so people do criticise it. Frankly, there is a lot of ground for criticism, check the early threads about dropping wifi, reloading Safari windows and the like.

Surely, soon you will have to start blaming everybody else for the iPad's problems but Apple Inc.

Your material is getting awfully stale.



I'm sure they'll change the world. Just like Windows tablets did.

Me, I can't wait to see the line of incognito Microsoft employees queued up outside the Mission Viejo Microsoft Store, waiting for the latest gem from the mother ship.

It must stink to be you to cling so desperately (and vociferously) to mediocre products - and try to drag everyone down with you. You're probably still steamed over all that money you spent on an Origami device.

Aren't you the one that used to end EVERY post with something like "ADOBE IS DEAD, MS IS DEAD?" I always thought that that was kind of stale, as you would say it.

 

[Eidorian]

Right get a MacBook.

I already own one. I need something with a little more power and flexibility. You can overclock without increasing your stock voltages as well or even undervolt. Though I prefer a quieter desktop.

Yep, just a big coincidence I'm sure.

Would you elaborate?

"Troll invasion"?! What sort of an image have you got about the world? The iPad is out, so people do criticise it. Frankly, there is a lot of ground for criticism, check the early threads about dropping wifi, reloading Safari windows and the like.

Surely, soon you will have to start blaming everybody else for the iPad's problems but Apple Inc.

I'm surprised to see how many owners and reviews mention how heavy it is. Maybe they can release and iPad Nano.

 

[AidenShaw]

I assume you'll claim there was no noticeable troll invasion that started with the iPad launch, and even if there were, it would be paranoid to think there is some sort of organized effort behind it...

Funny how these people just happen to show up on cue en masse, hmmm?

Yep, just a big coincidence I'm sure.

Yes, that's why I registered for MacRumours in Feb 2003 - I knew that the Ipad was coming.

Paranoia - wow!