Why So Many Geeks Do Not Get the iPad

[Yumunum]

I've seen a lot of posts mentioning Android, asking what it can do that the iPad can't, ect...

Well I've owned many Android and iOS devices, so I could give you some unbiased geek-insight here. I'm about to list things Android can do that an iOS device can't, but keep in mind, I could go on a list of things iOS devices do that Android can't, too... This is only for the sake of giving facts.

1. options - Android gives you so many more options. I swear, when Google makes an app, they just sit there and think "What if a user wants [blank]?" for hours. I'm not just talking about customizing the look of your software, I'm talking about options that could really help anyone. For example, I can turn ALL animations off. As soon as I click an app, BAM, there it is, no waiting for slow animations like I do on iOS. You may think this is a minimal benefit, but trust me, it's a big benefit after you've gone through 5-10 different menus that would've taken an eternity on an iOS device. The point of this point (haha) isn't about fast menu switching though, it's about choice. Here's another nice option... high-quality YouTube videos on 3G. Videos look like crap on iOS if you aren't on Wifi, but that's not the case on Android (unless you disable it, of course) Basically, I could go on and on about great options Android gives you.

2. Flash - Yes yes, Flash is battery killing, blah blah, we know that. BUT sometimes you just need it, and and on an iOS device you're stuck helpless. On Android I can set Flash to "on-demand" so that Flash content won't load unless I click it. Now I don't have my battery killed, I don't get ads when I don't want them, and I have access to Flash when I need it. That also proves how "choice" is a good thing here

3. proper file system - You probably think you're doing just dandy without a file system, but there can be moments where you'd REALLY wish you had one. For example, you're with a friend, and there's a great song you played for him. He asks if you could send it to him, but oh no.... You can't on your iOS device. On Android you could've emailed him ANY file on your phone, just like you could on your computer.

4. real multitasking - real multitasking can be great. For example, if I want to upload a photo to Facebook, I can start the upload, and continue doing anything else I want with the phone, even put it back to sleep. There's a status bar in the notification area, and it tells me when the upload finished. This saves me time, and the annoyingness (new word! ;O) of waiting for my photo to upload in the Facebook app.

I could give better examples, and list way more things if I had the time...

But keep in mind that I'm not an Android fanboy, and that I'm only pointing these things out for the sake of the discussion I was seeing. I could tell you tons of bad things about Android too.

Cheers

 

[jaseone]

However, real productive work cannot be done. Word files with 'track changes' cannot be used. Excel spreadsheets with VBA macros cannot be used. Code compiling cannot be done. Visio or CAD files cannot be viewed or created.

You do realize that Autodesk has a free app in the app store to view and edit DWG files, right? There are also apps like TouchDraw that fully support Visio importing and exporting.

No tablet except the Windows slate devices can properly handle Office documents and the blame for that rests with Microsoft not any of the other tablet makers.

What tablets allow you to compile code for enterprise level use? None of the tablets have the horsepower to compile anything serious, they simply aren't designed for that kind of usage.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

...Hardly anyone goes into a dealership and decides based upon ignition timing specs compared to the competition. No, people go to the dealership and decide based on features, and how the car performs, and how it looks, the reputation of the manufacturer, and the price, and based on what they are used to.


...


Geeks will continue to rant and rail about how the iPad doesn't perform well when they browse, doesn't have the feature THEY want, that Apple is Teh Evil, and is grossly and greedily overpriced.

Looks to me like you answered your own question. If a geek stops asking about CPU and RAM specs (which are anemic, but that's besides the point) they ask "Does this [product] do what I want it to do? Does it have feature [X] that I want?" This can be applied to cars, where no one cares about timings, or tablets, where no one cares about CPU speed.

So let me, as a geek, ask you. Does the iPad allow me to create content easily? Or plug my camera into it to download photos? Can I use my iPad to watch video on any Flash based website?

The answer is "No" to all of those questions. And since there are tablets on the market that are not only better spec wise but also have the features that "geeks" who no longer care about specs want, they get them. And they aren't the iPad.

Specs aside, the only thing (besides marketing) that the iPad does that any other tablet cannot do is ease-of-use. And geeks don't care about that so much. So anything else appears better than an iPad.

At least, that's why I don't have an iPad.

P.S. If you drink the Apple kool-aid, you know the iPad is magic, revolutionary, and unrivaled. If you don't drink the kool-aid, you know that there's a ton of tablets that are able to beat the iPad in all sorts of areas. Want a web-browser only? Grab a Nook Color for $250. It has flash. Want something that can take the place of a PC (plug your camera into, etc)? Toshiba has one for $500. Geeks know about this, maybe that's why they don't have an iPad.

 

[jaseone]

To yumunum...

1. Options can be good but at the end of the day really don't help your productivity just satisfies your desire to be in control
2. Lack of Flash doesn't really affect productivity at all, just prevents you from seeing an ever decreasing small amount of videos and playing some Flash only games
3. Your argument for a file system is that it allows younto illegally share files with your friends? Really?
4. You do realize most iOS apps worth their salt have background file transfer enabled?

 

[jaseone]

So let me, as a geek, ask you. Does the iPad allow me to create content easily? Or plug my camera into it to download photos?

The answer is "No" to all of those questions.

Wrong!!! You may need to spring a little extra for the camera connection kit but I've been doing my post processing solely on my iPad for weeks now by directly loading pics from my D90 and my S95.

 

[Yumunum]

To yumunum...

1. Options can be good but at the end of the day really don't help your productivity just satisfies your desire to be in control
2. Lack of Flash doesn't really affect productivity at all, just prevents you from seeing an ever decreasing small amount of videos and playing some Flash only games
3. Your argument for a file system is that it allows younto illegally share files with your friends? Really?
4. You do realize most iOS apps worth their salt have background file transfer enabled?

1. I only mentioned two options, and the first definitely helps productivity. Especially when quickly needing to start taking notes on something someone is saying.. (I have that situation a lot!)

2. Yes it can. It definitely can. What if you need to get on a specific site, for work, or for school, ect. I've had that happen to me before

3. You're taking things out of context. It could've been any file for goodness sake. And by the way, I don't illegally share music. I had that situation happen to me, but it was with a non-purchasable, free song.

4. Can you really not think of any other situation multitasking would be handy? Really?

Maybe NONE of these features will help you, but they undeniably help others.

 

[palpatine]

To yumunum...

1. Options can be good but at the end of the day really don't help your productivity just satisfies your desire to be in control

i like to be in control of my work. i especially like having options that enable me to get things done. i work around the many issues i have with the ipad, but it has certainly made me android curious.

2. Lack of Flash doesn't really affect productivity at all, just prevents you from seeing an ever decreasing small amount of videos and playing some Flash only games

wrong. in my case, it directly impacts my work, because there are many sites with content that i need to view, but it is only supplied in flash format. fortunately, there is iswifter, but it is a poor substitute.

3. Your argument for a file system is that it allows younto illegally share files with your friends? Really?

a file system would help me get my work done more easily. itunes is dreadful, and if you transfer large amounts of data, particularly between computers that are on various platforms, it gets annoying. i work around it, but i consider it a drawback.


again, i see the benefits of the ipad. i think it has a place in the market. however, if android and manufacturers can get together and produce the right tablet, i will switch in a heartbeat. the ipad will still have a place in my life, but i am not invested in the apple philosophy. i just want to get things done and enjoy myself while i am at it.

 

[jaseone]

wrong. in my case, it directly impacts my work, because there are many sites with content that i need to view, but it is only supplied in flash format. fortunately, there is iswifter, but it is a poor substitute.

What sites have content in Flash format that are required for a job? That just seems insane to me, am not denying it but am really curious.

 

[NebulaClash]

I'm not usually one to revive old threads, but I felt it would do some good . And you seem to understand fairly well, I usually just get blank stares whenever I try to explain why an iPhone is inferior to my Android lol. The one point I'd disagree on is that we are unaware of the public opinion, or that we are "missing the revolution", it would be illogical for us to not know the opinions of all parties involved. We are simply part of an entirely different revolution.

Point accepted that geeks are aware of what is happening in the larger world. When I say they are not aware, I guess I'm saying that they see what is happening, but it is illogical to them and thus they think it is wrong.

As I pointed out with my car analogy, some people are real grease monkeys and they know cars inside and out. They shake their heads at the ignorant who buy cars without knowing the first thing about maintaining them. Yet the population of car buyers in the latter category far, far outnumber the mechanics. It didn't use to be that way when cars first came out. But it's that way now.

The computer market is going in that direction. Those of us who can take our machines apart and put them back together are a minority even now. Those who can code are a minority. It used to be we were the only ones using computers, but now we are outnumbered by those who know little about the things.

The iPad is ushering in a new era that will greatly expand the number of consumers who use "a computer." Most of them won't know the first thing about a file system, and they won't care or miss it.

Me? I'm a coder, a sorta geek, someone who has taken machines apart, someone who has coded assembler back in the day. I like knowing how my machines work inside and out. I can use OS X, Windows and Linux. Before that I used DOS. So I'm of the generation that will always feel at home in a file system and with a keyboard. It's so ingrained in me that I doubt it will ever leave me.

But I can see what is happening, and I can extrapolate ten years from now. All the complaints about the 2010 or 2011 iPad are so off the mark as to be laughable. Just wait until the 2020 iPad.

 

[Couter]

What sites have content in Flash format that are required for a job? That just seems insane to me, am not denying it but am really curious.

I could imagine as a journalist it would be incredibly frustrating, considering the amount of news stories and videos that are hot-linked to articles using Flash.

 

[jaseone]

I could imagine as a journalist it would be incredibly frustrating, considering the amount of news stories and videos that are hot-linked to articles using Flash.

I think you mean bloggers, real journalists generally don't use other news reports as their sources.

 

[Onimusha370]

completely agree with you.
i was actually trying to persuade a friend of mine the very same thing earlier today, although he disagreed and kept saying 'but my laptops so much more powerful!' sadly he isn't a geek, he isn't interested in tech that much, he's just arrogant even though i told him it wasn't about the number of cores or the speed of the processor, he just laughed and thought i was an idiot. he really doesn't understand what makes an iPad great. the ease of use, the portability, and the fact it can fulfil 95% of people's computing needs perfectly.

 

[palpatine]

What sites have content in Flash format that are required for a job? That just seems insane to me, am not denying it but am really curious.

These are some sites I wanted to view today on my iPad, but couldn't. It is very frustrating. My trial period for iSwifter just ended as well.

nhk
http://www.nhk.or.jp/

ustream
http://www.ustream.tv/

上賀茂神社
http://www.new-kyoto.com/video207/2007haru_kemari.htm

 

[mortenandersen]

Geeky?!

That sounds pretty geeky to me

It sounds pretty normal to me: A normal user with normal needs, but with a device that does not meet the needs for the most basic features, but can be used rather for consuming information (much in a good way, apart from some possible and seemingly unnecessary limitations or "obstructions" or difficulties regarding downloading, at least without using the everpresently needed iTunes and a PC/Mac.

 

[jaseone]

These are some sites I wanted to view today on my iPad, but couldn't. It is very frustrating. My trial period for iSwifter just ended as well.

nhk
http://www.nhk.or.jp/

ustream
http://www.ustream.tv/

 

[vitzr]

Then why isn't there much talk about Apple's A5 chip, which has the fastest graphics on the market now?

A5 is old news.

Apple is deep into the A6 project and that's the one they plan to use for more than just one product cycle. Not many want a one trick pony, therefore the main focus is on the A6. Especially since there are credible rumors it will run the new hybrid iOS that replaces OS X, and will be inside the A6 powered Laptops. This is the future of Apples post PC Vision. Seems rather radical & interesting. It might even live up to Apples usual hype. That would prove very interesting.

 

[FloatingBones]

These are some sites I wanted to view today on my iPad, but couldn't. It is very frustrating. My trial period for iSwifter just ended as well.

nhk
http://www.nhk.or.jp/

ustream
http://www.ustream.tv/

上賀茂神社
http://www.new-kyoto.com/video207/2007haru_kemari.htm

Ustream has a free iPad app.
nhk-world has a free iPad app.
I don't see anything for new-kyoto.

 

[palpatine]

Ustream has a free iPad app.
nhk-world has a free iPad app.
I don't see anything for new-kyoto.

Thanks for looking those up
I need to see the NHK news in Japanese, so the NHK world app will not help.

However, the Ustream app was a great help. Thanks!

The new-kyoto one is to a shrine's website. A lot of these smaller sites have flash, and it can be really frustrating.

 

[irnchriz]

We are a tiny fraction of the consumers who buy iPads. We in no way represent the typical iPad and iPhone consumer.

The real consumers are the ones who watch tv and see the ads. The ones who watch tv and see apple iPhones and iPads in use on virtually every tv show. The ones who go to the cinema and again see the iPad and iPhone on the big screen.

It's everywhere and there is nothing like it, that's why the iPad sells and geeks are still fighting 'the man' although they have no idea who that is these days.

 

[Goratrix]

What sites have content in Flash format that are required for a job? That just seems insane to me, am not denying it but am really curious.

For example, any job that has to do with hotel/restaurant/travel marketing, especially international. 90% of those websites are almost exclusively flash-based.

 

[Jodles]

In some ways, this reminds me of stereo equipment back in the 70s and 80s.

The Stereo Geeks were the same. Always comparing specs. Always comparing systems. Things like A or A-B amplifiers were important. Even the volume control (how it was done) was a big issue.

Today, most individual just use a system and enjoy it, be it their car, home and portable player.

Huh? Today I see most people buying ****** stereos with supposedly "lots of bass" because they don't have that geek around to tell them that 1000 watt rms power awesomeness doesn't mean **** squat. In the Hi-Fi world you *need* geeks to make sure that audio quality doesn't deteriorate completely; now that the majority listens to cheap iBuds out of a horrible DAC in their iPhones, and can't hear the difference between 128kbps MP3 and lossless. That is sad. I think we need some "geeks" (or just people who know their stuff!) in every market, to keep the standards up. It's just like the "2.1 speakers" in the new LED displays. .1, really? I'd like to hear that;-)

Regarding class A, class D, etc. amplifiers, that *was* a big deal back then. Now the improvements to most classes are so vast that you can't hear much difference anymore; but if nobody had cared about the specs in the first place, where would we be today?

 

[radiogoober]

Huh? Today I see most people buying ****** stereos with supposedly "lots of bass" because they don't have that geek around to tell them that 1000 watt rms power awesomeness doesn't mean **** squat. In the Hi-Fi world you *need* geeks to make sure that audio quality doesn't deteriorate completely; now that the majority listens to cheap iBuds out of a horrible DAC in their iPhones, and can't hear the difference between 128kbps MP3 and lossless. That is sad. I think we need some "geeks" (or just people who know their stuff!) in every market, to keep the standards up. It's just like the "2.1 speakers" in the new LED displays. .1, really? I'd like to hear that;-)

Regarding class A, class D, etc. amplifiers, that *was* a big deal back then. Now the improvements to most classes are so vast that you can't hear much difference anymore; but if nobody had cared about the specs in the first place, where would we be today?

Do we really need another five pages of pointless arguing over stereo specs?

 

[mystik610]

I'm a certifiable geek, but after owning several Android devices since the G1(including a geeked out HTC HD2 hacked to dual boot Android and WP7), prefer iOS. I've owned several devices running different OS's, and I'd honestly say that Android is my least favorite...behind iOS, Windows Phone 7, and WebOS. After the honeymoon phase wears off and you stop caring to constantly tinker with your device, having an *open* OS tends to matter a lot less, and stability and battery life tend to matter more.

Aside from having an accessible file system (not a deal breaker for me, but I can see how it is for some), iOS is plenty capable IMO. iOS handles flash perfectly fine through iSwifter, so the argument that Android can run flash is a moot point for me.

 

[mystik610]

Huh? Today I see most people buying ****** stereos with supposedly "lots of bass" because they don't have that geek around to tell them that 1000 watt rms power awesomeness doesn't mean **** squat. In the Hi-Fi world you *need* geeks to make sure that audio quality doesn't deteriorate completely; now that the majority listens to cheap iBuds out of a horrible DAC in their iPhones, and can't hear the difference between 128kbps MP3 and lossless. That is sad. I think we need some "geeks" (or just people who know their stuff!) in every market, to keep the standards up. It's just like the "2.1 speakers" in the new LED displays. .1, really? I'd like to hear that;-)

Regarding class A, class D, etc. amplifiers, that *was* a big deal back then. Now the improvements to most classes are so vast that you can't hear much difference anymore; but if nobody had cared about the specs in the first place, where would we be today?

Audio is the one area where choosing something purely based upon the specs is a flawed mentality. The specs on a lot of audio equipment these days are vastly exaggerated that its pointless to base anything on specs, and beyond that, better specs do not mean better audio quality. Specs are useful for knowing whether or not you're going to fry a tweeter or amp by underpowering a speaker, but beyond that, specs cannot convey quality of the tone, soundstage, and all the intangibles that make audio great.

One principle from the audiophile community that I think is analogous the mobile devices is "crap in, crap out"....as in, no matter how good your hardware is, if your source material is crap, it will sound like crap. A lot of the Android devices are running wonderful hardware that SHOULD be able to handle a lot without issue, but is running a *crappy* (IMO) software/source material. Android is so unstable that it causes issues on all sorts of highly spec'd devices.

 

[DaLurker]

After the honeymoon phase wears off and you stop caring to constantly tinker with your device, having an *open* OS tends to matter a lot less, and stability and battery life tend to matter more.

Quoting for the truth. When I was younger I loved to tinker. I dabbled in overclocking, customizing my OS, etc.

Nowadays, I just want something that works. That's why iOS is great, everything works. I don't need it to be customizable, I just need it to do what I want it to do. Sometimes geeks (including myself) forget that technology is just a means to an ends for most people.

This is why iOS is extremely successful, not saying that Android is not.