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What is the Ultimate Role of the Apple Tablet?

I've been a member of this "community" for some time now and I've supported it in a number of ways including my wallet. This may be the first time I get banned and honestly, if it happens it will be worth it.

Apple has released an incredible device yet I see post after post of whining about what the iPad should have been.

If I have to listen to one more f**ktard write about how they won't be able to watch Blu-Ray rips while background running a virtual OS while remote-desktop'd into their home server while on a skype videocall with their (alleged) girlfriend while watching videos on YouTube...all at the same time and in a hardware package 1/8th of an inch thick and weighing half a gram <long breath>, therefore declaring the iPad an "epic fail," I think I'm gonna *puke*.For goodness sakes, join the *real* world. The *vast* majority of people, and Apple for that matter, could give a fat rat's arse about your list of iPad shortcomings.

...and don't even get me started on multitasking. You see, despite what you may think, multitasking refers to doing several things at the same time. So, aside from listening to background music or something of that nature (which can be done on iPhone OS), I *defy* you to give me several instances of when you "multitask" on your desktop, which all desktops are quite capable of doing. Don't wrack your brain too hard because you won't be able to. Think you can work on a spreadsheet and document at the same time? If you do, you are not only a f**cktard, you are a liar. :eek: You may have both applications *open* at the same time and you may switch back and forth between the two but until you grow another set of hands, you are not *working* in them at the same time. Capesh? Hell, I can be in Safari on my iPhone then switch on over to Mail to check things out then switch back to Safari in a couple seconds and you know what? Safari will look just as it did when I left it. Same goes for every other iPhone OS application I use. Not too different from my desktop experience.

What's my point? No point really other than to hopefully offend a few of you who have rained on my iPad parade.

Have a nice damn day!
 
skinnylegs said:
Think you can work on a spreadsheet and document at the same time? If you do, you are not only a f**cktard, you are a liar. :eek: You may have both applications *open* at the same time and you may switch back and forth between the two but until you grow another set of hands, you are not *working* in them at the same time.
Click to expand...

But, I thought that the Iphone OS forces one app to close when you open the second. You can't switch back and forth (which is something I do quite often - for example the word document may have info that I copy-and-paste into the spreadsheet).
 
AidenShaw said:
But, I thought that the Iphone OS forces one app to close when you open the second. You can't switch back and forth (which is something I do quite often - for example the word document may have info that I copy-and-paste into the spreadsheet).
Click to expand...
Most apps. do require being closed in order to open another app. but you simply reopen them by touching an icon and almost instantly you're right back where you started with said app. For instance, let's say I'm writing an email and someone sends me a text message. I hit the Home key, which effectively shuts down Mail and depress the text messaging icon to check it out. Then I hit the Home key and depress the Mail icon and my half-written email is right there in front of me. My point is that this is really not *that* much different than minimizing an app. to the dock or rearranging your forefront window on your desktop. Granted, if you have a big enough monitor you may be able to run a couple apps. side-by-side but are you *really* saving that much time?
 
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Skinnykegs, calm down, order your iPad and enjoy the f**k out of it when it arrives. :) Forget about the bitching, just use it to the best of its ability to do what YOU want it to do.

The iPad will undoubtedly rock some peoples world so it isn't all bad. We all have our reasons why we use the platform we choose to so rather than worrying about the others, let everyone know why your choice is best for you.
 
skinnylegs said:
Most apps. do require being closed in order to open another app. but you simply reopen them by touching an icon and almost instantly you're right back where you started with said app. For instance, let's say I'm writing an email and someone sends me a text message. I hit the Home key, which effectively shuts down Mail and depress the text messaging icon to check it out. Then I hit the Home key and depress the Mail icon and my half-written email is right there in front of me. My point is that this is really not *that* much different than minimizing an app. to the dock or rearranging your forefront window on your desktop. Granted, if you have a big enough monitor you may be able to run a couple apps. side-by-side but are you *really* saving that much time?
Click to expand...

This is why I believe "multitasking" on a portable device like the iPhone or iPad is over hyped.
 
AidenShaw said:
But, I thought that the Iphone OS forces one app to close when you open the second. You can't switch back and forth (which is something I do quite often - for example the word document may have info that I copy-and-paste into the spreadsheet).
Click to expand...

Err...Aiden, I'm quite surprised to read that. So basically you never seem to have used an iPhone.

Forgive me, I'm not as tech-educated as you are, but basically, as I understood it, the iPhone OS saves your application in the state you quit it without even prompting for permission (like, say Firefox does when quitting). So actually the App will be perfectly in the state you left it, though it quitted.

At least that's what iPhone OS Apps are supposed to do, because, guess what, they are force quitted by the OS as soon as you receive a call.

So I guess the whole 'multitasking'-discussion is a non-issue, as basically all the people bitching about multitasking fail to prove, why that should be possible in the first place.

Don't take it personal please, as I really enjoy your input most of the times.

------edit-------

Just after reading through my post again I felt the need to ask something (as I'm not that much into this stuff): Does anybody know, how WinMobile or Android devices behave, when an incoming call hits?

And after leaving that blunt statement: Does iPhone OS really force quit the App or is receiving a call an instance of multitasking, that Apple allowed?
 
Peace said:
This is why I believe "multitasking" on a portable device like the iPhone or iPad is over hyped.
Click to expand...

As a minor improvement, iPad allows one app to open another app in a popup to "preview" a document. Doubtless this will be used by developers (like me) to allow at least some amount of pseudo-multitasking.
 
skinnylegs said:
Most apps. do require being closed in order to open another app. but you simply reopen them by touching an icon and almost instantly you're right back where you started with said app. For instance, let's say I'm writing an email and someone sends me a text message. I hit the Home key, which effectively shuts down Mail and depress the text messaging icon to check it out. Then I hit the Home key and depress the Mail icon and my half-written email is right there in front of me. My point is that this is really not *that* much different than minimizing an app. to the dock or rearranging your forefront window on your desktop. Granted, if you have a big enough monitor you may be able to run a couple apps. side-by-side but are you *really* saving that much time?
Click to expand...

I agree with this, but it breaks with an IM program and a streaming program. A better compromise would be to allow 3 apps at once, one main, one IM (they could make it ichat), and one streaming media (add functionality to ipod app maybe)
 
skinnylegs said:
The *vast* majority of people, and Apple for that matter, could give a fat rat's arse about your list of iPad shortcomings.
Click to expand...

There will always be a list of shortcomings for the first version of a product like this, that's completely expected. But given the media response I think this reaction goes beyond that. The real criticism is with the device's basic purpose. Steve Jobs explicitly positioned the iPad between laptops and smartphones. The problem that many people have with the iPad, myself included, is that it doesn't replace either of those devices but also doesn't do enough other things well enough to justify adding yet another gizmo to one's arsenal.

I've already written somewhere that we may all carry something like the iPad someday, just not this iPad. I would go gaga over an Apple version of this:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/lenovo-ideapad-u1-hybrid-hands-on-and-impressions/

Just imagine an Arrandale-based MBP with a detachable iPad screen, tied together with Apple's usual standard of integration. Now if Apple had announced that product yesterday, I think there would be an entirely different reaction today.
 
Eric S. said:
I've already written somewhere that we may all carry something like the iPad someday, just not this iPad. I would go gaga over an Apple version of this:
Click to expand...

Wow, Lenovo iPhone! Seriously, are there no original industrial designers these days? And I wouldn't place my bet on the mystery Linux touch OS this thing will use.

Eric S. said:
Just imagine an Arrandale-based MBP with a detachable iPad screen, tied together with Apple's usual standard of integration. Now if Apple had announced that product yesterday, I think there would be an entirely different reaction today.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that would have cost $2,000 and everyone would be screaming about the price. :rolleyes:

I'm sure Apple has learned to ignore the peanut gallery over the years - which based on their earnings and sales appears to have been the correct approach.
 
LagunaSol said:
Yeah, that would have cost $2,000 and everyone would be screaming about the price. :rolleyes:

I'm sure Apple has learned to ignore the peanut gallery over the years - which based on their earnings and sales appears to have been the correct approach.
Click to expand...

I would say instead that Apple has learned over the years to ignore those who scream about their inflated prices. :rolleyes:

Apple doesn't hit a home run with every product, and given the media response the jury on this one is still out.
 
skinnylegs said:
Exactly!
Click to expand...

Not to mention, speed is potentially faster within this environment, as closing background apps avoids memory fragmentation and the need for memory swapping, which would ultimately degrade robustness and responsiveness.

Although we're likely to see multi-tasking among selected 3rd party apps in OS 4, i.e. Pandora, MLB, Skype, etc., the current speed of opening and closing apps, overall, seems, for the most part, to render the lack of multi-tasking a non-issue, from the perspective of performance.
 
skinnylegs said:
I've been a member of this "community" for some time now and I've supported it in a number of ways including my wallet. This may be the first time I get banned and honestly, if it happens it will be worth it.

Apple has released an incredible device yet I see post after post of whining about what the iPad should have been.

If I have to listen to one more f**ktard write about how they won't be able to watch Blu-Ray rips while background running a virtual OS while remote-desktop'd into their home server while on a skype videocall with their (alleged) girlfriend while watching videos on YouTube...all at the same time and in a hardware package 1/8th of an inch thick and weighing half a gram <long breath>, therefore declaring the iPad an "epic fail," I think I'm gonna *puke*.For goodness sakes, join the *real* world. The *vast* majority of people, and Apple for that matter, could give a fat rat's arse about your list of iPad shortcomings.

...and don't even get me started on multitasking. You see, despite what you may think, multitasking refers to doing several things at the same time. So, aside from listening to background music or something of that nature (which can be done on iPhone OS), I *defy* you to give me several instances of when you "multitask" on your desktop, which all desktops are quite capable of doing. Don't wrack your brain too hard because you won't be able to. Think you can work on a spreadsheet and document at the same time? If you do, you are not only a f**cktard, you are a liar. :eek: You may have both applications *open* at the same time and you may switch back and forth between the two but until you grow another set of hands, you are not *working* in them at the same time. Capesh? Hell, I can be in Safari on my iPhone then switch on over to Mail to check things out then switch back to Safari in a couple seconds and you know what? Safari will look just as it did when I left it. Same goes for every other iPhone OS application I use. Not too different from my desktop experience.

What's my point? No point really other than to hopefully offend a few of you who have rained on my iPad parade.

Have a nice damn day!
Click to expand...

I see a lot of emotions but not much sense. Your premise is absolutely false. We are talking about multitasking for computer/device and not necessarily the user. Take for example an application like Instant Messenger. iPad's screen is rather big. So many people (not you, I understand) would like to be able to keep a small IM window in the corner of the screen so that they could see immediately when they get a message. As I understand, you prefer to close your current application every 3 minutes or so, open IM and check your messages, then go back. Well, as they say: "To each his own."
 
lilo777 said:
Take for example an application like Instant Messenger. iPad's screen is rather big. So many people (not you, I understand) would like to be able to keep a small IM window in the corner of the screen so that they could see immediately when they get a message.
Click to expand...

Yes.. or how many times did you want to pause a game, background it while you check something on the web and return to it right where you left off. Most games don't preserve state on close. There are countless other examples, be it VoIP apps that can benefit running in background to receive incoming calls.. audio streaming apps.. file transfer apps, etc etc.

This is the stuff that all modern mobile OS's have been doing, EXCEPT for iPhone OS.. Android and WebOS have no problems with concurrently running multiple apps, letting users easily switch between active apps, while dynamically managing memory/CPU resources so that there's no user experience degradation.

How far up Steve Jobs a$$ do you have to have your head stuck to not see the basic benefits of something like this???
 
I have to admit that I like the iPad however, at home I have a wireless network and use my iMac or my MBP so I would not need an iPad. Unless I'm somewhere where there is free wireless I would not get any use out of it and I don't hang out at bookstores, Starbucks (if they still have it), motels and Panera Bread, etc. To get the most out of the iPad I would want the WiFi/3G version. And now my point, I refuse to pay AT&T another cent for an additional 3G device. Now if they offered a free connection for iPhone owners then I would consider it. I'll hold my breath:D Actually, I need a new camcorder before another computing device. Oh well....
 
While I do understand the benefits of multitasking, I don't think it is best executed on a tablet or mobile device. Apple's solution for multitasking has been push notifications, as we all know. If a developer would implement them properly, there would be a lot less complaints.

On a mobile device, staying connected to an IM session is kind of stupid. Keep your IM application open on your computer and check it when you're available to do so. If it is an emergency, people know how to contact you.

Now, for the iPad multitasking problems specifically. I don't need it, but it would be a nice feature to keep Pandora or something similar in the background. I don't need to be interrupted by emails because I have an iPhone and computer. My iPad won't be leaving my house for the most part, so I will always have access to a computer when I need to use it. I can't really think of a reason to multitask in a real-world situation at this moment (at least for me).

I will be getting an iPad, probably the 16GB 3G or 32GB 3G version.
 
EthanNixon said:
While I do understand the benefits of multitasking, I don't think it is best executed on a tablet or mobile device. Apple's solution for multitasking has been push notifications, as we all know. If a developer would implement them properly, there would be a lot less complaints.

On a mobile device, staying connected to an IM session is kind of stupid. Keep your IM application open on your computer and check it when you're available to do so. If it is an emergency, people know how to contact you.

Now, for the iPad multitasking problems specifically. I don't need it, but it would be a nice feature to keep Pandora or something similar in the background. I don't need to be interrupted by emails because I have an iPhone and computer. My iPad won't be leaving my house for the most part, so I will always have access to a computer when I need to use it. I can't really think of a reason to multitask in a real-world situation at this moment (at least for me).

I will be getting an iPad, probably the 16GB 3G or 32GB 3G version.
Click to expand...

So, tell me again why you want one?:) I'm not trying to be smart but I've racked my brain to come up with a need ever since it was rumored. If I don't take it anywhere then between my iPod, iPhone, iMac and MBP I certainly do not need it at home. Oh, my bad, its not about need. Its about having the latest gadget. Yeah, that's me, Mr. Gadget. All you have to do is ask my wife. Actually, it would be good for her and she could use it in her woman cave. It's so easy to use a cave woman can do it:D. She really does have a woman cave with her own recliner, HDTV, satellite HDDVR and DVD player. She hates computers but with the touch screen it would be easy for her to shop the web:eek:. Uh, maybe I won't tell her about the iPad.
 
skinnylegs said:
I've been a member of this "community" for some time now and I've supported it in a number of ways including my wallet. This may be the first time I get banned and honestly, if it happens it will be worth it.

Apple has released an incredible device yet I see post after post of whining about what the iPad should have been.

If I have to listen to one more f**ktard write about how they won't be able to watch Blu-Ray rips while background running a virtual OS while remote-desktop'd into their home server while on a skype videocall with their (alleged) girlfriend while watching videos on YouTube...all at the same time and in a hardware package 1/8th of an inch thick and weighing half a gram <long breath>, therefore declaring the iPad an "epic fail," I think I'm gonna *puke*.For goodness sakes, join the *real* world. The *vast* majority of people, and Apple for that matter, could give a fat rat's arse about your list of iPad shortcomings.

...and don't even get me started on multitasking. You see, despite what you may think, multitasking refers to doing several things at the same time. So, aside from listening to background music or something of that nature (which can be done on iPhone OS), I *defy* you to give me several instances of when you "multitask" on your desktop, which all desktops are quite capable of doing. Don't wrack your brain too hard because you won't be able to. Think you can work on a spreadsheet and document at the same time? If you do, you are not only a f**cktard, you are a liar. :eek: You may have both applications *open* at the same time and you may switch back and forth between the two but until you grow another set of hands, you are not *working* in them at the same time. Capesh? Hell, I can be in Safari on my iPhone then switch on over to Mail to check things out then switch back to Safari in a couple seconds and you know what? Safari will look just as it did when I left it. Same goes for every other iPhone OS application I use. Not too different from my desktop experience.

What's my point? No point really other than to hopefully offend a few of you who have rained on my iPad parade.

Have a nice damn day!
Click to expand...

I don't think you really know what it means to have more than one app running at once.

Here is a good example of why I had to jailbreak my iPhone.

When I open the skype application, I instantly shows me as "online" and I can get calls from my friends on skype (I'm not talking about paying to get the calls forwarded to my phone either)

When my friends call me, it rings and I can hear it, but the app has to be open. But since the iphone can't multitask, it means when I close the app, it shows me as offline, and people cannot call me. But when I have "backgrounder" keeping skype open in the background, I can be in Safari, or any other app, and still get and hear the skype calls that I get.
 
charliehustle said:
[snip]

When my friends call me, it rings and I can hear it, but the app has to be open. But since the iphone can't multitask, it means when I close the app, it shows me as offline, and people cannot call me. But when I have "backgrounder" keeping skype open in the background, I can be in Safari, or any other app, and still get and hear the skype calls that I get.
Click to expand...

[/snip]



Is there a reason that person couldn't simply call you using a phone?
 
EthanNixon said:
On a mobile device, staying connected to an IM session is kind of stupid. Keep your IM application open on your computer and check it when you're available to do so. If it is an emergency, people know how to contact you.
Click to expand...
Something isn't stupid just because you don't use it.
I multitask all the time with my iphone. I use IM+, safari, and listen to music at the same time, and also get notified when new mail comes in. With 3G and IM+ it takes a while to connect and disconnect, when you launch it, so I use backgrounder to put it in the background, which solves that issue, EXCEPT then I don't get any notifications from the push service so I have to keep checking it. That's the BIGGEST limitation of the iphone OS for me, and besides that I don't need any multitasking.
 
zotes24 said:
For all the people that are speaking terribly of the iPad, back in 2001 when the iPod 1st came out receive some of the same negative comments and worse, and we know how that turned out.
Click to expand...

I bet some people probably criticized the telephone when it came out too. And later people put down the Edsel.

The mere fact that two different things are criticized says nothing about the validity of the criticisms.
 
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