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Is the iPad Overpriced and Underspecced? What should it have...
- Thread starter wikoogle
- Start date
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lol... seriously I wanted to spend $1899 for the iPad Pro, Apple is seriously slacking here.
I think you should simply carry around a 27" iMac and a wheelbarrow full of lead-acid batteries. A wheelbarrow, obviously, so you can recharge the batteries with a dynamo connected to the wheel.
Lack of USB really got me down, I wanted to connect a graphics tablet, keyboard, mouse and three external hard drives.
Lack of USB really got me down, I wanted to connect a graphics tablet, keyboard, mouse and three external hard drives.
Yup, that's the problem all right.
You assume that this would be possible for $1200 and that it wouldn't cannibalize the rest of Apple's product line. Anyway, don't assume that your response to the iPad is the majority response.
Ya...
If they'd just add a keyboard, USB port, HDMI port, a faster processor, multi-tasking, the ability to have multiple windows open...
And the way this thing is designed, the screen is going to easily get damaged. They could make it so the keyboard folds-over the top of the screen, and the whole thing opens like a "clamshell". Then, we'd have something worth talking about...
oh... wait a second...
If they'd just add a keyboard, USB port, HDMI port, a faster processor, multi-tasking, the ability to have multiple windows open...
And the way this thing is designed, the screen is going to easily get damaged. They could make it so the keyboard folds-over the top of the screen, and the whole thing opens like a "clamshell". Then, we'd have something worth talking about...
oh... wait a second...
The iPad looks like it will be a great, albeit limited device. Apple has done a decent job of addressing issues with the original iPhone, either through software (copy & paste) or hardware (3G, GPS) updates, and I'm sure the same will be done with the iPad. As someone who travels weekly for work, there are a few features I was hoping for that will keep me waiting until rev B:
1. USB/SDHC I would like to use an iPad to manage my iPhoto library and have the ability to upload/email photos while on the road. I currently do this with my work laptop (copy pic from camera, upload to Flickr, sync back to iPhoto when I get home), but would prefer to have an easier way. I know there is an adapter, so this isnt a deal-breaker, just a gripe. Another option would be if the iPad will work with Eye-fi cards.
2. T-Mobile Support I dont understand why they are selling the iPad unlocked, but didnt include support for T-Mobiles 3G network in the US. Again, not a deal-breaker, but without that I will be sticking with the wifi version.
3. Wireless Sync - The AppleTV has a perfect implementation of syncing of Wireless N (although it does have some bugs). In iTunes you can select individual files to copy, playlists, most recent files, etc. When the source iTunes library is on the network, you can stream all available content. When it's not you just see what has been synced. All Apple portable devices should function the same way. Again, not a critical issue, but it would go a long way.
4. Webcam My primary use for this type of device would be using Skype/iChat to video chat with my family while Im on the road. Again, I currently use my work laptop+external webcam for this, but would happily carry a smaller, faster device for this purpose.
If it had a webcam, Id buy the wifi device and camera connection kit on release. If rev B comes with webcam/usb/T-Mobile frequencies, Ill pick up the 3G version in an instant.
1. USB/SDHC I would like to use an iPad to manage my iPhoto library and have the ability to upload/email photos while on the road. I currently do this with my work laptop (copy pic from camera, upload to Flickr, sync back to iPhoto when I get home), but would prefer to have an easier way. I know there is an adapter, so this isnt a deal-breaker, just a gripe. Another option would be if the iPad will work with Eye-fi cards.
2. T-Mobile Support I dont understand why they are selling the iPad unlocked, but didnt include support for T-Mobiles 3G network in the US. Again, not a deal-breaker, but without that I will be sticking with the wifi version.
3. Wireless Sync - The AppleTV has a perfect implementation of syncing of Wireless N (although it does have some bugs). In iTunes you can select individual files to copy, playlists, most recent files, etc. When the source iTunes library is on the network, you can stream all available content. When it's not you just see what has been synced. All Apple portable devices should function the same way. Again, not a critical issue, but it would go a long way.
4. Webcam My primary use for this type of device would be using Skype/iChat to video chat with my family while Im on the road. Again, I currently use my work laptop+external webcam for this, but would happily carry a smaller, faster device for this purpose.
If it had a webcam, Id buy the wifi device and camera connection kit on release. If rev B comes with webcam/usb/T-Mobile frequencies, Ill pick up the 3G version in an instant.
Personally I'd hate a webcam on the iPad, unless Apple implemented it in an amazing way somehow I can't imagine. I'm hoping for an accessory that plugs into the 30-pin connector that can provide video chat over Skype or something.
You want a faster processor than 1GHz that isn't going to kill the battery in two hours in a device that's half an inch thick, and there is an accessory for the keyboard and USB port (importing camera photo's only), including compatibility with the Apple bluetooth keyboard. All of the apps are designed to run full screen, their will never be the ability to have multiple windows open, multi-tasking might come along, but never multiple windows (at least I don't think)
No iSight Camera (5 MP with LED Flash, 1080P Video Recording and a much bigger lens so that it actually takes decent photos even in very low light situations)
Valid.
No Videocalling/Conferencing/iChat (It would have been awesome to be able to keep in touch with family through video calling (even if enabled over wifi only) when away for college or serving overseas)
Valid.
No GPS (it has the limited cell tower based GPS found on the iPhone 2G, not the true GPS that can offer up turn by turn navigation found on the 3GS)
Invalid. the 3G version uses A-GPS. That involves the use of satellites with cell towers assisting the GPS thus, A(ssisted)-GPS
No Multitasking
Partially invalid. At this point there is limited multi-tasking for apple created software.
No Wireless Syncing or File Transfers
Invalid. There are pictures floating around that show there is file sharing available wirelessly, it's a setting that can be enabled and disabled by the user.
No File Management or Freedom to download files (even documents) from online, you can't even delete something off the iPad or move some videos over to an SD Card, USB Stick or an External HDD to make room for an App/iTunes Movie Rental. Seriously there is no good reason why the iPhone OS doesn't give us the funtionality to drag and drop video, music, pictures and documents into our iTunes library off of an SD Card or USB Key (or out of our iTunes library into an SD card) without having to sync it to a computer. DRM is ******** and besides many of us have tons of DRM free files in our iTunes libraries that we should be free to move back and forth. If aesthetics was the main reason for leaving out USB and SD ports (unlikely given how ugly the bezel is) they couldve had a slide out panel flush with the device that had these slots/ports.
Mixed bag of validity and invalidity. For starters, the SDK clearly shows that some amount of downloading is possible. We don't fully know the capabilities of the SD Card reader and what sort of access third parties will be given to it and the USB adaptor. Besides, none of this is a DRM issue, this is an issue of making sure documents are put in places that are easily accessible by programs that need access to them. While dragging and dropping to a traditional iPod isn't a problem (because most of the information going on to it is media, the iPhone OS looks for certain files in certain places. If things aren't put in the right folder, it doesn't know where to look for you media.
Screen can't display HD resolution, it shouldve had 1440 x 1080 so that it could play HD content without downscaling it to a lower resolution
Valid to an extent.
An extremely disappointing 512 MB of RAM when even many cellphones have 1 gig of RAM
From all indication regarding speed, the iPad doesn't need more RAM. It seems to be perfectly adequate.
No Additional Touch Gestures (Here's the kinds of gestures we were hoping for... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFnavI57gyQ)
If Apple uses gestures for specific, system wide commands, they will limit the types of gestures developers can use in their programs. I'm sure you'll see plenty of gestures that are App specific.
No Java or Flash support (no hulu.com)
And this is exactly what you should have expected based on Apple's recent history.
Only 16-64 gbs of HDD space when most tablets offer 250 gbs minimum
Minimum. Really? I'm fairly certain most SSD based netbooks offer somewhere around 150gigs maximum.
No USB (3.0) Port (you can't hook it up to a printer to print off an iWorks project, you cant connect a USB key that has some documents stored etc)
I don't remember the last time I printed to a USB attached printer on an Apple machine. Network printing. Your other point is... mostly valid.
No ability to connect to an external hdd, or even to directly pop in an SDCard to expand storage
So, you're ragging on the USB storage issue for the third time, I get it.
The enormous bezel is a massive eyesore. I thought Apple was all about design, so how they could make such a large and ugly bezel for a premier device escapes me
A bezel free or small bezel device would be difficult to hold without touching the actual screen, thus interfering with the whole multitouch application thing.
No Handwriting Recognition or Support for a Stylus. A huge selling point of any Tablet is to be able to take notes in classes and such.
Handwriting recognition is nowhere near where it needs to be for effective, error free note taking. It would be nice to have handwriting recognition, but not essential. As for stylus support, there are options on the market for those that desperately want styluses. Just look at Pogo's styluses.
No Ability to run custom Apps not preapproved by Apple (Google Voice, uTorrent etc)
Valid, but should have been expected.
No Ability to download files from online
You already said that.
No OLED Screen (forgivable) but the screen is incapable of displaying 1080p resolution, and is not even the 1.5:1 aspect ratio of the iPhone (much less 16:9), 4:3 is such a huge step backwards
OLED Screen's are highly overrated. They offer better color reproduction, and under a few usages they have better battery life. However, in sunlight, they tend to be difficult to see. Also, didn't you already complain about the whole 1080p thing?
A Very Low Resolution Display with 25% fewer PPPs than the iPhone or iPod Touch, the display should have a higher resolution
Sure, why not. Nevermind that it's superior to nearly every netbook screen on the market by virtue of being IPS LED backlit and multitouch capable at 9.3 inches.
No integrated TV Antenna, HD Radio Antenna or FM Transmitter (They even developed a HD DTV Tuner for use in cellphones to allow users to pick up OTA HDTV signals on the go! Just imagine being able to watch tv thanks to off the air hdtv signals, wherever you are. Why they didn't include this technology in this device I won't even understand. They could've even included a record video function on the tablet to give it PVR functionality)
The day you see a built in TV tuner on an Apple product it will be a cold day in hell. Apple doesn't want you recording your TV shows, they want you buying them from iTunes. It would be nice, but it wouldn't happen, and anyone who thought it might was only fooling themselves.
No TV/Video Out (HDMI out like many netbooks)
Yeah, I'll give that to you.
According to Apple's page on the product, the maximum resolution it is capable of playing MPEG4s at is 640x480 resolution at 30 fps (note I'm talking about MPEG4 Video here, the most popular format for Apple devices)
********. This is the biggest ******** statement in your whole post, except maybe the one that follows it. Yes, it can only handle 640x480 MPEG4, but leaving that as it's full video capability is a load of ********. It handles 720p h.264 just fine, and h.264 is where mobile vide is headed because of it's efficiency.
It features a 1 Ghz processor that significantly slower than just about every single notebook on the market today (as demonstrated by this processor's inability to render MPEG4 at any resolution higher than 640x480)
Comparing Ghz in unlike processors doesn't work. There's much more going into the power of a processor than it's Mhz.
No OTA Sync With Apple TV or Servers To Stream Video
Okay, now you're grasping for straws. Is this supposed to be your home computer that works with your AppleTV, or is this supposed to be a mobile device?
No Low Reflective Screen Mode for high contrast Ebook Reading that doesn't hurt your eyes
Valid.
No Gamepad attachment for Gaming With Physical Buttons/Tactile Feedback
And? Did you expect it to work out differently? There's really nothing stopping third parties from doing this. If I remember correctly, Apple opened up 3rd party access to the dock connector for accessories just like this.
No ability to connect to a bluetooth mouse/keyboard
Reading comprehension for the lose. Apple has officially said that the iPad will support BT keyboards. Besides, why do you need a mouse on a multitouch screen?
No RFID/IR to use it as a remote, or to tag it to yourself
Yup, guess that ruins it for everybody. Darn. I have all of my devices "tagged to myself" whatever that means.
No Replacable/Removable Batteries
It's too bad all Apple did was include a 1000 charge cycle battery that would have had to been sacrificed in the case of a removeable battery. Gosh, wouldn't it have been great if they had done something better. You know, like, include a battery that should last you four-five years under normal use.
Valid.
No Videocalling/Conferencing/iChat (It would have been awesome to be able to keep in touch with family through video calling (even if enabled over wifi only) when away for college or serving overseas)
Valid.
No GPS (it has the limited cell tower based GPS found on the iPhone 2G, not the true GPS that can offer up turn by turn navigation found on the 3GS)
Invalid. the 3G version uses A-GPS. That involves the use of satellites with cell towers assisting the GPS thus, A(ssisted)-GPS
No Multitasking
Partially invalid. At this point there is limited multi-tasking for apple created software.
No Wireless Syncing or File Transfers
Invalid. There are pictures floating around that show there is file sharing available wirelessly, it's a setting that can be enabled and disabled by the user.
No File Management or Freedom to download files (even documents) from online, you can't even delete something off the iPad or move some videos over to an SD Card, USB Stick or an External HDD to make room for an App/iTunes Movie Rental. Seriously there is no good reason why the iPhone OS doesn't give us the funtionality to drag and drop video, music, pictures and documents into our iTunes library off of an SD Card or USB Key (or out of our iTunes library into an SD card) without having to sync it to a computer. DRM is ******** and besides many of us have tons of DRM free files in our iTunes libraries that we should be free to move back and forth. If aesthetics was the main reason for leaving out USB and SD ports (unlikely given how ugly the bezel is) they couldve had a slide out panel flush with the device that had these slots/ports.
Mixed bag of validity and invalidity. For starters, the SDK clearly shows that some amount of downloading is possible. We don't fully know the capabilities of the SD Card reader and what sort of access third parties will be given to it and the USB adaptor. Besides, none of this is a DRM issue, this is an issue of making sure documents are put in places that are easily accessible by programs that need access to them. While dragging and dropping to a traditional iPod isn't a problem (because most of the information going on to it is media, the iPhone OS looks for certain files in certain places. If things aren't put in the right folder, it doesn't know where to look for you media.
Screen can't display HD resolution, it shouldve had 1440 x 1080 so that it could play HD content without downscaling it to a lower resolution
Valid to an extent.
An extremely disappointing 512 MB of RAM when even many cellphones have 1 gig of RAM
From all indication regarding speed, the iPad doesn't need more RAM. It seems to be perfectly adequate.
No Additional Touch Gestures (Here's the kinds of gestures we were hoping for... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFnavI57gyQ)
If Apple uses gestures for specific, system wide commands, they will limit the types of gestures developers can use in their programs. I'm sure you'll see plenty of gestures that are App specific.
No Java or Flash support (no hulu.com)
And this is exactly what you should have expected based on Apple's recent history.
Only 16-64 gbs of HDD space when most tablets offer 250 gbs minimum
Minimum. Really? I'm fairly certain most SSD based netbooks offer somewhere around 150gigs maximum.
No USB (3.0) Port (you can't hook it up to a printer to print off an iWorks project, you cant connect a USB key that has some documents stored etc)
I don't remember the last time I printed to a USB attached printer on an Apple machine. Network printing. Your other point is... mostly valid.
No ability to connect to an external hdd, or even to directly pop in an SDCard to expand storage
So, you're ragging on the USB storage issue for the third time, I get it.
The enormous bezel is a massive eyesore. I thought Apple was all about design, so how they could make such a large and ugly bezel for a premier device escapes me
A bezel free or small bezel device would be difficult to hold without touching the actual screen, thus interfering with the whole multitouch application thing.
No Handwriting Recognition or Support for a Stylus. A huge selling point of any Tablet is to be able to take notes in classes and such.
Handwriting recognition is nowhere near where it needs to be for effective, error free note taking. It would be nice to have handwriting recognition, but not essential. As for stylus support, there are options on the market for those that desperately want styluses. Just look at Pogo's styluses.
No Ability to run custom Apps not preapproved by Apple (Google Voice, uTorrent etc)
Valid, but should have been expected.
No Ability to download files from online
You already said that.
No OLED Screen (forgivable) but the screen is incapable of displaying 1080p resolution, and is not even the 1.5:1 aspect ratio of the iPhone (much less 16:9), 4:3 is such a huge step backwards
OLED Screen's are highly overrated. They offer better color reproduction, and under a few usages they have better battery life. However, in sunlight, they tend to be difficult to see. Also, didn't you already complain about the whole 1080p thing?
A Very Low Resolution Display with 25% fewer PPPs than the iPhone or iPod Touch, the display should have a higher resolution
Sure, why not. Nevermind that it's superior to nearly every netbook screen on the market by virtue of being IPS LED backlit and multitouch capable at 9.3 inches.
No integrated TV Antenna, HD Radio Antenna or FM Transmitter (They even developed a HD DTV Tuner for use in cellphones to allow users to pick up OTA HDTV signals on the go! Just imagine being able to watch tv thanks to off the air hdtv signals, wherever you are. Why they didn't include this technology in this device I won't even understand. They could've even included a record video function on the tablet to give it PVR functionality)
The day you see a built in TV tuner on an Apple product it will be a cold day in hell. Apple doesn't want you recording your TV shows, they want you buying them from iTunes. It would be nice, but it wouldn't happen, and anyone who thought it might was only fooling themselves.
No TV/Video Out (HDMI out like many netbooks)
Yeah, I'll give that to you.
According to Apple's page on the product, the maximum resolution it is capable of playing MPEG4s at is 640x480 resolution at 30 fps (note I'm talking about MPEG4 Video here, the most popular format for Apple devices)
********. This is the biggest ******** statement in your whole post, except maybe the one that follows it. Yes, it can only handle 640x480 MPEG4, but leaving that as it's full video capability is a load of ********. It handles 720p h.264 just fine, and h.264 is where mobile vide is headed because of it's efficiency.
It features a 1 Ghz processor that significantly slower than just about every single notebook on the market today (as demonstrated by this processor's inability to render MPEG4 at any resolution higher than 640x480)
Comparing Ghz in unlike processors doesn't work. There's much more going into the power of a processor than it's Mhz.
No OTA Sync With Apple TV or Servers To Stream Video
Okay, now you're grasping for straws. Is this supposed to be your home computer that works with your AppleTV, or is this supposed to be a mobile device?
No Low Reflective Screen Mode for high contrast Ebook Reading that doesn't hurt your eyes
Valid.
No Gamepad attachment for Gaming With Physical Buttons/Tactile Feedback
And? Did you expect it to work out differently? There's really nothing stopping third parties from doing this. If I remember correctly, Apple opened up 3rd party access to the dock connector for accessories just like this.
No ability to connect to a bluetooth mouse/keyboard
Reading comprehension for the lose. Apple has officially said that the iPad will support BT keyboards. Besides, why do you need a mouse on a multitouch screen?
No RFID/IR to use it as a remote, or to tag it to yourself
Yup, guess that ruins it for everybody. Darn. I have all of my devices "tagged to myself" whatever that means.
No Replacable/Removable Batteries
It's too bad all Apple did was include a 1000 charge cycle battery that would have had to been sacrificed in the case of a removeable battery. Gosh, wouldn't it have been great if they had done something better. You know, like, include a battery that should last you four-five years under normal use.
I don't get why you guys think it's so hard to use it with a thin bezel.
I frequently use my iPhone , and have my thumb resting on the touch screen and it works fine. I just lightly raise up the thumb whenever I'm scrolling and the software already handles it perfectly/ignores my thumb.
So what's the problem with an thin bezel exactly.
I frequently use my iPhone , and have my thumb resting on the touch screen and it works fine. I just lightly raise up the thumb whenever I'm scrolling and the software already handles it perfectly/ignores my thumb.
So what's the problem with an thin bezel exactly.
Yeah, you can do that with something that weighs 135g, but we're talking about something that weighs 680-720g, that's much heavier.
This way you'll be able to have a full grip on it without touching the screen whatsoever, you can use the left hand for doing stuff say while walking.
What he is saying is that the OS ignores his thumb that's touching part of the screen. A very valid observation and one that I agree with, as a Touch owner.
I'm pretty sure he's saying he lightly lifts his thumb when he goes to do something, and I don't think it'd be comfortable holding such a heavy device in comparison to the iPhone like that.
You'll want to be able to grip this thing, 680g, and you won't be holding it in it's centre of gravity, only with two hands will that not be a problem.
Try holding something with such a small bezel without having your thumb on the screen so that it doesn't interfere with your tasks, and your hand doesn't get sore after short periods of use.
Time will tell
When you are using the bezel on the iPhone (while holding it horizontally, there is more than enough room for your thumb on the bezel with room to spare. And yet Apple opted to make the bezel on the ipad much bigger than the bezel on the iPhone. Doesn't make sense. Since the bezel on the iPhone is plenty big enough for your thumbs, why make the iPad bezel so much bigger?
Besides apple can easily code the software so that it knows that thumbs placed at the edge are interpreted as holding the device. No one uses the very edge of the screen to do gestures. Besides you wouldn't be doing gestures, you would have a relatively stable placement of athumb at the very edge. That would be very easy to code for to ignore.
Besides apple can easily code the software so that it knows that thumbs placed at the edge are interpreted as holding the device. No one uses the very edge of the screen to do gestures. Besides you wouldn't be doing gestures, you would have a relatively stable placement of athumb at the very edge. That would be very easy to code for to ignore.
DARN YOU APPLE! I'm sure they just made an arbitrary decision on the bezel size that was in no way related to the ergonomics of using it. Or maybe we should wait until we can actually touch the thing ourselves before we make assumptions on whether the bezel size is appropriate, given that the iPad has completely different dimensions and weight than the iPhone.
Maybe you should apply for a software engineer position at Apple since you have already worked out a perfect solution to this.
Are you offering? I would take Apple up on that, but only if I get Ivan's position. Really though, they already coded this into the iphone somewhat. I have the edge of my thumb on the touch screen when using the iPhone sometimes and the software knows to ignore it. There's no reason they can't use the same method on the iPad, rather than making such an enormous bezel.
Seriously though, I think they purposefully made the iPad weak and inable to do most of what laptops can do in order to not have it cannabalize their Macbook Pro line which earns them higher margins.
Seriously though, I think they purposefully made the iPad weak and inable to do most of what laptops can do in order to not have it cannabalize their Macbook Pro line which earns them higher margins.
Or they made it unable to do most of what laptops can do because 80% of computer users don't do most of what laptops can do anyway. It's called the 80/20 rule: 80% of users only use 20% of the features. Apple just made a device that left out the 80% of stuff that only 20% of people use.
You're underestimating the audience for the iPad.
We will await the market's verdict and see if your prediction does indeed fail as you suggest.
I think what "people" really want is still up for grabs. The people I've talked to who've complained the most about the iPad not having enough "features" or not being powerful enough - it takes a while to figure it out but ultimately what they really want is a Macbook Air, or maybe more accurately a Macbook Air with a touchscreen. That may be something we see fairly soon, but you aren't going to get it for $500, that's for sure.
The goal of the iPad is not to replace a true laptop computer, it's to create a brand new user space which is more casual, more portable and more "intimate" than a traditional laptop (even one as light as the MBA) at a fairly reasonable price. I think this concept is what is causing a lot of the skepticism, and I don't think many people will get over it until they see the device in action in every day life.
thehellobob loved your thread.
Yea, I am not disappointed whatsoever at the iPad. Like someone else said, I'm just disappointed it's not on sale now.
The more I think about it, the more I think the choice of iPhone OS was perfect. You will now have massive innovation in apps for a multi-touch device especially since people can program multi-touch for the iPhone already.
Yea, I am not disappointed whatsoever at the iPad. Like someone else said, I'm just disappointed it's not on sale now.
The more I think about it, the more I think the choice of iPhone OS was perfect. You will now have massive innovation in apps for a multi-touch device especially since people can program multi-touch for the iPhone already.
The touch interface is fine. It's the severe limitations apple imposed on how we can use the device, the inability to download files, the inability to run programs not preapproved by apple, or hell to even browse the internet, are not okay.
That was barely acceptable on the iPhone, and that's because it was just a freaking cellphone.
This is supposed to replace netbooks. Putting the same limitations on it that a company puts on cellphones is NOT okay.
That was barely acceptable on the iPhone, and that's because it was just a freaking cellphone.
This is supposed to replace netbooks. Putting the same limitations on it that a company puts on cellphones is NOT okay.