Netbook vs. ipad
Round 1 : Netbook
Posted by: Babyfacemagee
I think the author, Charlie, sounds like an Apple fanboy. The iPad is really designed for one purpose and one purpose only; To sell Apps through iTunes thereby making money for Apple. That is why Apple did not and will not put flash on the iPad. They can pull out every tired, lame excuse in the book (unstable, outdated, will be replaced soon in new HTML5) but it’s all BS and they know it. Fact is that 75% of video and games on the web are flash based. If they allowed flash on the iPad, customers could avoid buying films and games on iTunes and just use the limitless content on the web that uses flash. It’s all about making money to them. Any other argument is just silly and naive. Why anyone would want to be on a closed system like that is beyond me. Apple is making the same mistake they did with the Macintosh. Eventually, an open system ALWAYS wins out because no one company can stay ahead technologically for very long…it’s just too easy to emulate and improve upon today. Look at the google phone. Soon there will be more ‘apps’ available for google’s android platform than there are apps for the iPhone. How do I know this? Because the same thing happened in the Mac vs. PC wars. Was the Mac first in the windows GUI on a mass market computer? Sure they were. But then intel/microsoft ate their lunch for the next two decades and took 90% of market share. How? By having an open system that is always infinitely flexible compared to the closed, inflexible system Apple uses.
So why do some people line up to buy Apple’s devices? Simple really. They’re not technically sophisticated shoppers. Apple sells devices that are easy to use for the non-tech adept. They work in the medium range of performance and do so with little flexibility and hassle. But if you’re someone that loves technology and likes to customize and push your gear to the limits, the PC platform will always be superior. There’s a market for both of course. But as far as the iPad goes. I feel it’s a mediocre product that doesn’t exploit some of the obvious benefits of a tablet device…such as no handwriting recognition and no video chat capability. Those two are a bare minimum on my list to even consider getting on. Without handwriting recognition or the ability to take notes and draw with a stylus then u really need a keyboard (a real one) to do any kind of lengthy input. But I suppose that brings us back to what I said at first. This device isn’t about user created content. It’s about Apple selling apps, video and music through iTunes. This is an iTunes facilitator. The iPad is the Razor and iTunes content are the blades.
Posted by: Mael
For those bagging on MS. Try and do your job on an Apple product. Think you could do it? Because the list of things that Apple computers can NOT do is long and contains things that are used daily in your office. All that security that keeps your companies information safe, Apple doesn’t do. The ability to use any software tool available so you can do your job better, Apple doesn’t do. Email servers, secure remote access, even simple hardware upgrades like adding RAM or a bigger hard drive, Apple does do. Plus they’re much more expensive.
What Apple DOES do and does well, is make simple technology for the masses. It’s not concerned with the capabilities of it’s devices. It’s concerned with whether it looks cool, is easy to use, and can accomplish the bare minimum with zero thought required from the user, and zero configuration ability aside from the most basic settings.
But what they do best, is marketing. They are able to convince people that they NEED the products Apple sells.
I’ll admit that iTunes and the iPhone app store as “killer apps,” and the best bet for the iPad is to get school book stores online with eBooks so students can buy all their text books for an iPad and save tons of money they would normally spend on paper books. But this is not the next generation mobile computer.
And it makes me laugh that they made the sim card a micro sim card so you can’t use the normal sized sim card (the big one out of your smaller iPhone) in this new device.
Posted by: wbrown
If your argument is that everyone should switch to mac because they dont have spyware/viruses/ ect. then you really need to take an econ class. Supply and demand. Viruses are about infecting the 1% of people dumb enough to run then. Since 90% of THE WORLD uses windows based machines it makes sense to build viruses for windows, not macs with their 8% share. BUT if we go with your plan and switch to macs then viruses will be built for macs. Simple.
Regardless I sadly say the iPad will sell. Just look at its popularity. Everyone in America knows it name. Its a apple product and the Appletown followers will gladly jump for it. And then again in a year with v.2 featuring a camera and then again with v. 3 with faster processor. And the cycle continues.
Posted by: iversam
i dont see what the big deal is….i like multitasking…neither this nor the iphone can do that…whats the point…why even build the thing if it cant do what most users want/need…plus it doesnt support flash…so there goes 70% of media content on the web…this thing is useless and shall fail like the Apple Lisa….you dont know what that is…and there is a reason
Posted by: bugmenot
The Apple iPad - $220 worth of parts with a $600 price tag. Like the iPhone except with a bigger screen, no camera, and it can’t make calls.
This device seriously looks like a solution that is waiting for a problem. Who is going to buy this and what are they going to use it for? What can the iPad do that the Touch cannot?
Posted by: bluecrayon
Hi. I keep hearing the iPad being hyped as an eReader. But, forgive me if I’m wrong, isn’t the whole selling point of eReaders a function of their e-ink screens? I hate reading off of computer screens–and I was a wary adopter of the Kindle–but now I’m very happy with the readability of the display technology. So–I’m confused. How is low power laptop without a keyboard going to be anything other than a disappointing ereading experience? And if this thing isn’t meant to be an ereader, what does it do that I can’t already do easier and more cheaply with the things I already have? Look cool? Since I don’t have an automatic love of all things Apple to help me to “get it” maybe there’s someone out here who can help me. It’s clearly not the author of this article, whose primary argument seems to be that I should buy it because it’s “an entirely new device.” Wow, you’re right. A new device! I *love* new devices! Where can I send my money?
Posted by: captnemo
The iPAD still seems like an over-priced ‘etch-a-sketch’ do-hickey. Let me know when it actually performs some useful tasks for the $500 invested. I’ll just be over here observing, and getting some work done with my $200 ASUS Netbook…
Posted by: bilbawbaggins
I expect Charlie (a macboy author) to change his mind when he finds out that the charger only works with British style plugs…
Round 2 : ipad - have a happy period
Posted by: heavydevelopment
Have any of these people touting a netbook actually used one? They are nearly impossible to web browse on with the low res monitor. The keyboard is cramped. Slow. And all around suckage. I had to use one for a couple hours and it unsold me. It was even the fact that it was Windows. I plan on getting an iPad for my mom. She doesn’t use the internet but could benefit a ton if she did. It’s because of her experience on the PCs/Windows she has had in the past (ie connecting through dial up). I also plan on getting one when I don’t want to tote my MBP around. One other cool feature is that if you leave your computer at home on you’ll be able to remote desktop in whether it’s PC or Mac because this functionality already exists on the iphone. And, yes, for the record I’m one of those Apple toting, elitist, fascists, snobs that uses Apple products, so sue me (although the 50lbs MacPro and 30″ cinema display are a b*&%h to carry around).
Posted by: vjmurphy
Microsoft’s brilliance in user interface design is why Windows Mobile is so popular and getting more popular!
Wait, sorry, I was on a parallel Earth. Microsoft giving advice on user interface design to Apple is like a caveman giving advice on rocket design.
Posted by: Warsh
Agree completely. Yes, Apple does have the whole status/”look at this expensive thing I can afford” going for it, but the UI is where their true power lies. Hand an ipod or iphone to a 4 year old with no instruction and they’ll be using it for its intended purpose inside of four minutes. I spend 40 hours a week at the office fighting with and cursing at Microsoft products, it’s not going to happen in my down time. (Just had to reinstall my print drivers not 30 minutes ago). It’s great that the tech geeks have all these demands, but there are more people who just want something that just does what it’s supposed to. That’s where the future of the ipad lies, with the average non-tech-obsessed user.
Posted by: DadaFz
@job4zinger - i swear your type of comment makes me laugh. here is the thing. i use Apple because I can get work done on it. PCs constantly require attention, spyware removal etc. Yes I know, you are a PC demi god and u can handle all that. Well guess what? My dumb friends, parents, and everyone else who still doesnt understand what files and folders are get viruses and trojans like crazy. And guess who gets to waste time cleaning them off/reinstalling their computers? Oh you say they just don’t have good enuff anti virus software. Yup, well u are wrong. And the problem there still is to FORCE people to run Virus, Spyware, and Trojan scans EVERY time before they go online to make sure they have the latest definition files. Solution to my problem? GET THEM ON APPLE. Problem SOLVED “It just works”.
Another case in point. I have NEVER had a PC last more than 3 yrs without something dying on it or needing a major upgrade. I have Apple machines that are > 10 yrs old running Leopard and doing just fine. Find me ANY 10 yr old Windows machine that can run any recent software. NONE. FAIL.
Personally I think u are either jealous that u can’t afford a Mac (In which case how about cutting out like 10 hrs a week out of your WoW or TV watching and MAKE SOME MONEY), or u are just a hipster of your own making that likes to use PC’s just to prove how “not trendy” you are.
Get over it. I hate corporations and greedy people same as you. The difference is I dont care about brand loyalty or hating on anyone. I just like when I buy things that they work. Microsoft is great and keyboards and mice. I use their peripherals all the time and will buy them again. OS or computer systems? NOT.
Posted by: carolynmordecai
I have used Apple Mac products since the first 128K computer. I always found them to have a more creative, easy and beautiful approach for getting any creative project accomplished. I am sure I will LOVE the ipad, even though I believe that it will always need improvements like anything else. I LOVE APPLE.
Posted by: shutupgates
Yeah, like I really want someone like Bill Gates telling us what we need. For us Apple fans, that’s like having Obama telling republicans that we need to raise taxes. There’s a good reason I left the Microsoft and joined the Mac cult. Jobs will be laughing all the way to the bank on this one. I can’t wait to get my hands on one. And yes, I will be more productive because of it. I take a little sadistic joy in listening to the Microsoft whiners complain about the success of it’s rivals.
Posted by: themrwhite
Thank you Bill Gates for taking us back to the 1990’s. A stylus? Really?!? People still wonder why MS can’t grasp the consumer market, here’s your answer. MS is and has always been a decade behind Apple.
The last time an MS employee spoke negetively about an Apple product, that product (Apple’s entry into said market mind you) is now one of the markets leading devices and they did it in less than two years. If you have no clue what I’m talking about, it’s when Ballmer laughed at the iPhone when it came out. We all the the end result.
So tell me, who is the illiterate now?
Well, apple fanboys' reasoning is total failure, to me.
It does prove apple's marketing strategy is working, but it's not fool proof.
