StarHalo
Flashaholic
I wonder if Cowboy Curtis has one too..
Apple's iPad
- Thread starter Tachikoma
- Start date
42
Enlightened
I've only had my WiFi-3G iPad for a week, but I'm just nuts about it! It really is an amazing device. First off, the vast majority of my iPhone apps work fine on the iPad. Naturally any of the apps that use the iPhone's camera don't work but that's to be expected. (Though there is an app that allows you to use the camera in the iPhone remotely either through wifi or Bluetooth.)
Some of the native iPad apps are really amazing. Zinio, a magazine reader, was passable on the iPhone, but really shines on the iPad. Reading a graphics rich magazine like Popular Science or National Geographic is much more peasant than than reading the old fashioned paper variety. One application that really shines is The Elements. It's an electronic reference book about, well, the elements. Basically an interactive periodic table. This book is a really great example of what can be done with this medium. There's informative text about each element along with beautiful graphics that can be rotated in 360° along with audio pronunciations of the names. Some of the graphics are even animated. For example the article on nitrogen has a video of liquid nitrogen boiling in a dewar flask on the first page.
Apps that use full screen video like the ABC app and assorted weather apps are much nicer on the larger screen of the iPad.
Skype works like a charm, but I'm really looking forward to the new version that's supposed to be released right about the same time as iPhone OS 4.0 in June. If this works as planned, it'll work in the background and over a 3G network.
Surfing the web just works really well with the touch based interface. While the lack of Flash has it's drawbacks, a lot of the news sites I frequent are moving away from it. Forums like CPF work without a single hitch other than the occasional blank spot where an ad might go. The 802.11n WiFi makes for better throughput than my iPhone can muster, though the 3G about as fast as can be expected.
I can't comment much on games since I'm not much of a gamer, but a pinball game I installed is a real blast!
The on screen keyboard works very well (I'm typing this on it), though no virtual keyboard can take the place of a real mechanical keyboard.
The battery life is very impressive. The 10 hour figure seems to be pretty accurate.
The iPad is heavier than I'd like at 1.6lb, but I guess that's unavoidable due to the large battery and large glass screen. I don't think I'd want to trade weight for a less scratch resistant screen and shorter battery life.
I thought the iPhone was like a Star Trek device come to life, I feel the same about the iPad. It's a great blend of technology and implementation and is bound to be copied. Personally I can't wait to see tablets using Android as the OS.
Mark
Some of the native iPad apps are really amazing. Zinio, a magazine reader, was passable on the iPhone, but really shines on the iPad. Reading a graphics rich magazine like Popular Science or National Geographic is much more peasant than than reading the old fashioned paper variety. One application that really shines is The Elements. It's an electronic reference book about, well, the elements. Basically an interactive periodic table. This book is a really great example of what can be done with this medium. There's informative text about each element along with beautiful graphics that can be rotated in 360° along with audio pronunciations of the names. Some of the graphics are even animated. For example the article on nitrogen has a video of liquid nitrogen boiling in a dewar flask on the first page.
Apps that use full screen video like the ABC app and assorted weather apps are much nicer on the larger screen of the iPad.
Skype works like a charm, but I'm really looking forward to the new version that's supposed to be released right about the same time as iPhone OS 4.0 in June. If this works as planned, it'll work in the background and over a 3G network.
Surfing the web just works really well with the touch based interface. While the lack of Flash has it's drawbacks, a lot of the news sites I frequent are moving away from it. Forums like CPF work without a single hitch other than the occasional blank spot where an ad might go. The 802.11n WiFi makes for better throughput than my iPhone can muster, though the 3G about as fast as can be expected.
I can't comment much on games since I'm not much of a gamer, but a pinball game I installed is a real blast!
The on screen keyboard works very well (I'm typing this on it), though no virtual keyboard can take the place of a real mechanical keyboard.
The battery life is very impressive. The 10 hour figure seems to be pretty accurate.
The iPad is heavier than I'd like at 1.6lb, but I guess that's unavoidable due to the large battery and large glass screen. I don't think I'd want to trade weight for a less scratch resistant screen and shorter battery life.
I thought the iPhone was like a Star Trek device come to life, I feel the same about the iPad. It's a great blend of technology and implementation and is bound to be copied. Personally I can't wait to see tablets using Android as the OS.
Mark
Last edited:
MSaxatilus
Flashlight Enthusiast
I had the opportunity to play with one of these things over the weekend. My brother bought one and I have to say I was quite impressed. But, I think the debate over the iPad harkens back to the days when I first decided to make the switch over to a Mac vs. a PC.
To make this short and to the point, I purchased my Mac about 2 years ago. I'm glad I've made the switch and I can honeslty say I'll never go back to a PC. The main reason for my decision was pretty much based upon a post that I placed here on CPF. When my PC crashed, I placed a post here in the Cafe soliciting opinions. The results were astonishing. Almost all of the PC guys said to do this, to do that, run this software, run that software, did I check this/that, I should change to this, upgrade to that... blah blah blah. All the Mac guys said was....."Buy a Mac. You'll never look back."
That pretty much settled it for me. It was quite clear that the PC guys loved to tinker with their machines and really enjoyed problem solving and getting into the nitty gritty detail of optimizing thier machines and tricking them out. They are equivalent to the Hot-Rodders out there that love to tinker with their cars. Totally nothing wrong with that, some people just love the challenge and see computers almost as a hobby.
I'm a bit different, I simply want to surf the internet, use a spreadsheet, type a letter, transfer a file and set up my iPod. And I want all this to work flawlessly. I'm not a hot-rodder and I don't want to tinker. I want the machine to work, boringly like a Honda (no offence to Honda owners. They make good reliable cars which is why I used the example.) My iMac has been just that. I took the computer out of the box, plugged it in and its been running flawlessly ever since I turned it on. No viruses, no crashes, no goofiness. It just works. I'm quite sure there are tons of folks out there that tinker with ther Macs too, but for me, I have not had to talk to my IT folks at work for over two years. Again, it just works.
So that brings me to the iPad. For me, I see the iPad as a simple extension of my existing computer. It would allow me to surf the internet, check my email, check on CPF, view video, look up phone numbers, check the weather while I'm not exactly at my iMac. Its a simple device, that allows me to do some of the more mundane and non-technical things without being tied to my desk. For those people even less computer savy than I.... for example my Mom... this may actually serve as a complete replacement for her computer.
For me, I think the heavier duty tasks will still be up to the iMac, but for what it is the iPad is a pretty cleaver device, that can fit the bill as an extension of your existing computer.
If you need Flash or want to do more "tinkering" then by all means this device is not for you. A PC laptop is probably cheaper and can do more. But for a slick running, and simple, intuitive device that frees you from your desktop, the iPad is worth a closer look.
I think Apple is really onto something here and I'm quite certain you will see more and more touch based devices iwith more and more capabilities in the very near future.
Call it a game changer may be a bit much, but I have to say... Another hats off to Apple. I think the iPad definitely has a place around the MSax compound.
YMMV.
MSax
To make this short and to the point, I purchased my Mac about 2 years ago. I'm glad I've made the switch and I can honeslty say I'll never go back to a PC. The main reason for my decision was pretty much based upon a post that I placed here on CPF. When my PC crashed, I placed a post here in the Cafe soliciting opinions. The results were astonishing. Almost all of the PC guys said to do this, to do that, run this software, run that software, did I check this/that, I should change to this, upgrade to that... blah blah blah. All the Mac guys said was....."Buy a Mac. You'll never look back."
That pretty much settled it for me. It was quite clear that the PC guys loved to tinker with their machines and really enjoyed problem solving and getting into the nitty gritty detail of optimizing thier machines and tricking them out. They are equivalent to the Hot-Rodders out there that love to tinker with their cars. Totally nothing wrong with that, some people just love the challenge and see computers almost as a hobby.
I'm a bit different, I simply want to surf the internet, use a spreadsheet, type a letter, transfer a file and set up my iPod. And I want all this to work flawlessly. I'm not a hot-rodder and I don't want to tinker. I want the machine to work, boringly like a Honda (no offence to Honda owners. They make good reliable cars which is why I used the example.) My iMac has been just that. I took the computer out of the box, plugged it in and its been running flawlessly ever since I turned it on. No viruses, no crashes, no goofiness. It just works. I'm quite sure there are tons of folks out there that tinker with ther Macs too, but for me, I have not had to talk to my IT folks at work for over two years. Again, it just works.
So that brings me to the iPad. For me, I see the iPad as a simple extension of my existing computer. It would allow me to surf the internet, check my email, check on CPF, view video, look up phone numbers, check the weather while I'm not exactly at my iMac. Its a simple device, that allows me to do some of the more mundane and non-technical things without being tied to my desk. For those people even less computer savy than I.... for example my Mom... this may actually serve as a complete replacement for her computer.
For me, I think the heavier duty tasks will still be up to the iMac, but for what it is the iPad is a pretty cleaver device, that can fit the bill as an extension of your existing computer.
If you need Flash or want to do more "tinkering" then by all means this device is not for you. A PC laptop is probably cheaper and can do more. But for a slick running, and simple, intuitive device that frees you from your desktop, the iPad is worth a closer look.
I think Apple is really onto something here and I'm quite certain you will see more and more touch based devices iwith more and more capabilities in the very near future.
Call it a game changer may be a bit much, but I have to say... Another hats off to Apple. I think the iPad definitely has a place around the MSax compound.
YMMV.
MSax
guyinsandiego
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2010
- Messages
- 1
The shop below has a pretty good shoulder holster. If your not wearing a jacket though your out of luck. Pesky geometry.
ipad shoulder holster
gorn
Enlightened
That shoulder holster is kind of a neat idea. But having worn shoulder holsters quite a bit over the last several decades, I can tell you they get old fast. Not real comfortable to wear for any amount of time.
donn_
Flashaholic
I'm still using my Newton MessagePad.
