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

[TigerWoodsIV]

I have to say that this is one of the worst threads I have ever had the pleasure of skimming through in my entire life. There are a lot of people here who know absolutely nothing about anything, but actually think that they do. Simply amazing. A few thoughts:

1) The iPad is not a new tablet device, it is a paradigm shift. Look that up, and understand it. We are now moving from a computer industry that is dominated by Ghz and GBs into an information industry that is dominated by content. Get used to it, and forget about the specs.

This is what the personal computers were created for. The revolution in content delivery is coming, and you all get a front row seat. And all you who think that the iPad needs 2x or 4x as much RAM are going to be dragged kicking and screaming into the future whether you like it or not. Newsflash for you: It is not going to include a whole bunch of numbered specifications and technical garbage that nobody really gives a damn about, except you.

2) Now sit down and listen for a second. In 5 years, nobody is going to care what the specification of any device is. There are a few enlightened people in this thread that already know what I'm talking about. People will care instead about what a device can do for them. It will do everything that they need quickly, and efficiently. And it won't do a whole ton of useless garbage that nobody wants it to do, like PCs now. Nobody will give a damn about RAM or CPU speed or cores or any of that garbage. I just want to read my Twitter stream and see what my friends are doing on Facebook. Then I want to check out the menus from a few restaurants around town so I can decide where I want to eat. Then I want a map so I can get there. When I get home maybe I want to watch an episode of Lost that I missed last week because I have a life. And I want all this in 2 minutes flat, without having to Google all over the whole damn internet.

I'm 21 years old, and I know that 95% of my friends don't care at all about what the specs on any computing device are. They just want the thing to work, and be fast at what they want it to do. They don't want the battery to die in 2 hours. They don't want to have to hack the thing, and they don't want to spend a week trying to get it to work the way they want.

3) To all of you complaining about the RAM: You are not the target market for this device. Period, full stop. The (numerous) 14 year olds among you, even less so. You are less than 5% of the whole technology consuming public. You're a bitchy and whiny minority, and you don't really matter to Apple at all. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but they do not care about you. Buy a 5 pound HP touchsmart piece of crap with 4GB of RAM that runs Windows 7 for half an hour without the backlight on. Betcha I can get any information that I need on an iPad in half the time it takes you.

In short, you just don't get it. Come back in 5 years when you finally figure it out. Thanks for reading, and stay in school.

--mAc

Yeah good points. Even now I'm tired of hearing about numbers, let alone 5 years from now. I was expecting a good product when I bought the iPad, but I wasn't expecting it to load things as fast as my MBP with 4 GB RAM and 2.6 GHz Core 2.

It just seems to be that software can be made to run on certain hardware, but everything is constrained by battery life vs. how big and heavy a machine has to be. If the iPad was faster but had a lower battery life or faster and bigger, it wouldn't have the same effect. If it had a gig of RAM it's not like I'd go around telling everyone. Not many people care, especially people our age (I'm almost 20), and I for one only care that it runs well and does what I want it to do.

 

[gack]

Okay, forget the RAM thing for a moment. As a person curious about the iPad, I just wanted to know if it could handle 3 things - movies, music and games.

So far, it looks like movies and music are no problem. Games, based on the specs, don't look so good.

Yeah, yeah, battery life is great; it's elegant, fine. But none of the launch titles suggest it can play anything more than an iPhone, other than the screen is bigger.

I'm not interested in 10 or even 20 hours of Scrabble or retro gaming. That's a paradigm shift in the wrong direction.

 

[mixel]

This came as slightly worrying news until I remembered what I can do with my 16MB (multitasking) Amiga.

256MB should be enough for anyone..

I can see the disappointment though. I'm a little surprised Apple would go *this* against the grain of whats popularly considered normal specs, I imagine it'll confuse competitors a bit too.

I wonder how the ipad will evolve.

 

[SandynJosh]

Okay, forget the RAM thing for a moment. As a person curious about the iPad, I just wanted to know if it could handle 3 things - movies, music and games.

So far, it looks like movies and music are no problem. Games, based on the specs, don't look so good.

Yeah, yeah, battery life is great; it's elegant, fine. But none of the launch titles suggest it can play anything more than an iPhone, other than the screen is bigger.

I'm not interested in 10 or even 20 hours of Scrabble or retro gaming. That's a paradigm shift in the wrong direction.

For starters, the iPad is twice the speed of the latest iPhone so it can handle games a lot easier. The larger screen allows a lot more game immersion. Finally, the iPad's design architecture allows a lot more action without all the usual PC CPU and RAM specs, so a comparison has no merit.

 

[175170]

The vast majority of the people I know have never created anything more than a photo slideshow on their computers. A very small minority have created home movies, and an even smaller minority have authored DVDs or played with any number of the content-creation apps that come bundled with Macs.

The point is that, overall, most people consume information with computers. The content that they do create can easily be created with an iPad.

Tools like the Mac that exist for creating real content will still be around. And so will the people who actually create real content. But for 95% of the computing public, an iPad would serve them just fine. And without all the headaches that come with a PC too.

--mAc

Funnily, a lot of people I know frequently create documents on their computers. The iPad can, but isn't exactly good at it. A computer is typically better, wit a real keyboard. Of course, that is subjective, but based on the studies I've conducted, most people prefer a hardware keyboard that can easily be carried around with a computer, than a tablet with a keyboard that doesn't always export things properly.

Yes, specs, in a sense, don't mean much. That only happens when the computer in question can run things fast enough, then there is no need for specs. However, I have no doubt in my mind, that if 4.0 bought along multitasking, the iPad would not handle it that well. Similar to me saying my Windows 98 laptop's specs don't matter. Because it can run Windows 98. Try running Windows 7 on it, doesn't work well.

Yes, the iPad is good enough for now. For the future? I think not.

The future for computing may depend on the product working, but just because a product can get by now does not mean it will in a few years, especially with Apple's agressive yearly update schedule.

 

[175170]

I have never said it is magic.

Funny thing is, I haven't seen anyone else name a single company or group of companies working together to compete in this space that has anything on the horizon that is going to be competitive.

Nothing. Nada. Zilch, Zip.


All the potential competitors are pissing themselves right now figuring out how they could potentially come up with anything that would be legitimately comparable at that price.

So feel free to attack what I say based on something I never said nor supported. It simply legitimizes my point.

The JooJoo is a competitor. Looks about the same, has decent software. Also has a gigabyte of RAM.

 

[masteroflondon]

Funnily, a lot of people I know frequently create documents on their computers. The iPad can, but isn't exactly good at it. A computer is typically better, wit a real keyboard. Of course, that is subjective, but based on the studies I've conducted, most people prefer a hardware keyboard that can easily be carried around with a computer, than a tablet with a keyboard that doesn't always export things properly.

Yes, specs, in a sense, don't mean much. That only happens when the computer in question can run things fast enough, then there is no need for specs. However, I have no doubt in my mind, that if 4.0 bought along multitasking, the iPad would not handle it that well. Similar to me saying my Windows 98 laptop's specs don't matter. Because it can run Windows 98. Try running Windows 7 on it, doesn't work well.

Yes, the iPad is good enough for now. For the future? I think not.

The future for computing may depend on the product working, but just because a product can get by now does not mean it will in a few years, especially with Apple's agressive yearly update schedule.

You know this isn't meant to replace your desktop, right? Or even your laptop, necessarily? I'll sure keep both. But when travelling in the car, curled up on the sofa or reading in bed and so on, or pretty much any time I'm consuming rather than creating, the iPad will be my preferred option. There are many times when all the power in world would not make a laptop better than an iPad. There are times when the iPad just won't do. Come to that, there are times when a laptop is just not good enough. You notice Apple make 27" iMacs as well as 13" laptops? I think you need the right tool for the job. And for the job it's intended, the iPad is a superbly well designed tool. And like others have said, the specs are irrelevant. All that matters is how well it does the job it was designed to do.

And as for being good enough 'in a few years', well, I guess it's like all the other computers then.

 

[175170]

You know this isn't meant to replace your desktop, right? Or even your laptop, necessarily? I'll sure keep both. But when travelling in the car, curled up on the sofa or reading in bed and so on, or pretty much any time I'm consuming rather than creating, the iPad will be my preferred option. There are many times when all the power in world would not make a laptop better than an iPad. There are times when the iPad just won't do. Come to that, there are times when a laptop is just not good enough. You notice Apple make 27" iMacs as well as 13" laptops? I think you need the right tool for the job. And for the job it's intended, the iPad is a superbly well designed tool. And like others have said, the specs are irrelevant. All that matters is how well it does the job it was designed to do.

And as for being good enough 'in a few years', well, I guess it's like all the other computers then.

Of course, I was just countering the quoted's post, saying that the computing industry is heading towards a place where hardware (keyboard, RAM) doesn't matter, and all that does, is consuming content. Saying that is absolutely ridiculous.

Hardware does matter, and the iPad is by no means ready to become the ultimate computer/ replacing a computer because of it.

 

[jebbe]

People complaining about Safari reloading tabs must have never used Safari on an iPhone, it does the same thing.

 

[matticus008]

So far, it looks like movies and music are no problem. Games, based on the specs, don't look so good.

The PS3 only has 256MB of RAM, too (though with much more powerful hardware and dedicated video memory compared to an iPad). The PSP has 32MB. It's not a tremendous limitation. It all comes down to the developer.

I'm not interested in 10 or even 20 hours of Scrabble or retro gaming. That's a paradigm shift in the wrong direction.

The real games are going to take a while to develop, and people are going to have to cough up more than $5-10 if they want envelope-pushing titles.

Funnily, a lot of people I know frequently create documents on their computers. The iPad can, but isn't exactly good at it. A computer is typically better, wit a real keyboard. Of course, that is subjective, but based on the studies I've conducted, most people prefer a hardware keyboard that can easily be carried around with a computer,

So use a Bluetooth keyboard if that's their concern.

However, I have no doubt in my mind, that if 4.0 bought along multitasking, the iPad would not handle it that well. Similar to me saying my Windows 98

Your Windows 98 computer multitasked just fine, and it almost certainly had less power than an iPad. The typical PC in 2000 had a 5-600MHz P3 and 128MB--more than double the power of the typical Pentium MMX 1998 system from the launch. Both of those are less powerful than an iPad.

The JooJoo is a competitor. Looks about the same, has decent software. Also has a gigabyte of RAM.

And despite that, a less than smooth user experience based on the early reviews.

 

[MRU]

Isn't 256mb kind of small for todays computers?

I don't see how these graphic intensive games can even run on that.

Well a PS3 has only 512mb split between GPU 256mb & CPU 256mb.

Since the iPad is not pushing trillions of polygons or running blu-ray movies I'm assuming 256mb is more than capable for its 'intended' usage.

 

[baryon]

You call $500-$829 cheap?

Yes it's cheap compared to what's inside, and also compared to the fact that it's really fast. I think that the price is completely justified, I mean a huge good quality LCD touchscreen, all aluminum and glass, super thin... It's expensive compared to a netbook, but it's cheap compared to itself. I think the only way Apple could reach the 500$ is by having the given amount of RAM etc...

Okay let's just say it's an expensive device, but it's a cheap Apple device. Apple doesn't like to make anything under 1000$ in this size.

 

[baryon]

The iPhone OS does not allow virtual memory to extend beyond physical memory, so iPhone apps cannot overflow to Flash or HDD as on computers, I believe they pretty much just crash.

Oh well... I guess there won't be performance issues in the first year at least! No one complained about the iPhone's performance when it launched... And it's still pretty good! I don't think we should worry.

 

[matticus008]

I think the only way Apple could reach the 500$ is by having the given amount of RAM etc...

It wouldn't have broken the bank to use 512MB.

More likely, it didn't fit in the available SOC space, thermal envelope, or power consumption targets.

 

[mrochester]

People complaining about Safari reloading tabs must have never used Safari on an iPhone, it does the same thing.

Wow, does it? I'm really surprised. Safari tabs reloading really bugged the crap out of me on the iPhone 3G (128mb ram) but is fixed completely on the 3GS (256mb ram). If the iPad reloads with 256mb ram, it sounds like it actually needs 512mb to work properly.

 

[flottenheimer]

This might seem underwhelming. But it's not.

Let me offer you a little perspective on the RAM alone:

The Nintendo Gamecube has 24 MB + 3 MB video memory.
The Sony PS2 has 32 MB of internal memory.
The Microsoft XBOX has 64 MB.
The Sony PSP has 64 MB of internal memory - of which 8 MB is reserved for the kernel.
The Nintendo Wii has 88 MB in total.

Even looking at the current cutting edge home console systems the PS3 has 256 MB of internal memory + 256 MB video memory while the Xbox 360 has 512 MB + 10 MB video memory. But those are, as I said, the current cutting edge home console systems - and they are hardly portable.

256 MB is a lot of memory.

 

[mrochester]

This might seem underwhelming. But it's not.

Let me offer you a little perspective on the RAM alone:

The Nintendo Gamecube has 24 MB + 3 MB video memory.
The Sony PS2 has 32 MB of internal memory.
The Microsoft XBOX has 64 MB.
The Sony PSP has 64 MB of internal memory - of which 8 MB is reserved for the kernel.
The Nintendo Wii has 88 MB in total.

Even looking at the current cutting edge home console systems the PS3 has 256 MB of internal memory + 256 MB video memory while the Xbox 360 has 512 MB. But those are, as I said, the current cutting edge home console systems - and they are hardly portable.

256 MB is a lot of memory.

This is really all meaningless since they don't run the same OSes. What should be considered is whether the hardware is sufficient for running the OS. I'd say if Safari has to reload tabs because it's run out of ram, then 256mb is not sufficient.

 

[MythicFrost]

This is really all meaningless since they don't run the same OSes. What should be considered is whether the hardware is sufficient for running the OS. I'd say if Safari has to reload tabs because it's run out of ram, then 256mb is not sufficient.

Albeit a very small issue, I tend to agree.

Are we absolutely sure that the tabs in Safari reloading are because of lack of RAM? Doesn't it write the data to a page file on the device when it runs out?

 

[mrochester]

Albeit a very small issue, I tend to agree.

Are we absolutely sure that the tabs in Safari reloading are because of lack of RAM? Doesn't it write the data to a page file on the device when it runs out?

I'd like someone to confirm that the tabs do reload first! It was definitely a RAM issue on the iPhone since doubling the RAM in the 3GS fixed the issue completely.

 

[MythicFrost]

I'd like someone to confirm that the tabs do reload first! It was definitely a RAM issue on the iPhone since doubling the RAM in the 3GS fixed the issue completely.

Interesting,
Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't a web page on the iPad use the same amount of RAM as on the iPhone 3GS?
On the iPhone 3GS, you see a full webpage in portrait just really small, on the iPad you see a full webpage just much larger, does that require more RAM or not?

 

[deedas]

iFixit has a link to "decoding" the stamp "K4X2G643GE". However, the part number decoder provided doesn't track exactly to the stamp on the chip. The number "64" on the stamp is not listed on the decoder page under "organization" at all. Therefore, I don't think they have the right part number decoder.

I'm with him, I think iFixit is rushing info out out the door. Everyone chill and wait a bit.

 

[tdream]

...and how many would be enough open tabs? Ten? A hundred? Unlimited?

You'd probably want the boogger-cam operating at the same time too.

How about 9, the Apple designated amount. 4-5 would be great even.

 

[thelookingglass]

iTunes is bloatware. So many useless features, and its written in carbon on a mac. So it runs poorly on a great Windows machine, and okayish on a Mac. the Atom cpu doesn't really help though.

Strange. I'm typing this on a netbook with the exact same specs. Itunes is running in the background playing mp3s and downloading app updates. Oh, and I also have two Word documents open and two browsers with a total of 5 tabs open. Just saying. lol

 

[ts1973]

The future for computing may depend on the product working, but just because a product can get by now does not mean it will in a few years, especially with Apple's agressive yearly update schedule.

You got to be kidding me...

"Apple's agressive yearly update schedule"

LOL

 

[tdream]

It wouldn't have broken the bank to use 512MB.

More likely, it didn't fit in the available SOC space, thermal envelope, or power consumption targets.

It certainly wouldn't, $5.95 to be exact. SOC space shouldn't of been a concern because they could of used higher density chips. Thermal envelope, the thing doesn't get hot period. Power consumption, we're talking miliWatts extra for Multitasking capability, definitely worth it.