IPad Hands-On Review

Charles Johnson

TechnologyJanuary 2010 • Views: 5,476

TidBITS has an interesting overview of the features of Apple’s new iPad device: Hands-on Impressions of the iPad.

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94 comments

keloyd Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:41:50pm

Best. Kindle. Ever.

Digital Display Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:46:24pm

Still looking for something to displace the Laptop..This is an oversized iPhone..

SixDegrees Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:54:36pm

re: #2 HoosierHoops

Still looking for something to displace the Laptop..This is an oversized iPhone..

Someone said it looked like an iPhone for the elderly.

Aceofwhat? Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:56:10pm

Seems like i already own things that do most of what it does, and the rest can be had at a much better price.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:56:59pm

I'm sorry, but women everywhere squirm at its being called the Ipad.//
Just saying.

Killgore Trout Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:57:11pm

Westboro Baptist Church Protests, Gets Protested Outside Twitter (Pics)

My fave

Digital Display Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:57:52pm

re: #3 SixDegrees

Someone said it looked like an iPhone for the elderly.

I still like the hybrid idea of half Tablet or it opens up into a laptop..The best of both worlds...

rwmofo Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:59:12pm

re: #5 tradewind

I'm sorry, but women everywhere squirm at its being called the Ipad.//
Just saying.

So you came up with that clever name?

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:59:12pm

re: #6 Killgore Trout
The Baptist church should sue them for using the name.

srjh Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:59:24pm

It's missing way too many features for me to consider buying it (no keyboard, no usb, no multitasking, no flash, no simple file management, no open applications, no hdmi out, no removable battery, no camera, and outside the US - no iBooks).

So it's a big iPod touch -- maybe some people are looking for that, but I don't have much use for a PDA or portable music player that is too big to fit in my pocket, and I have a laptop for when I want something more than a PDA (which the iPad doesn't appear to be).

I know a few of these features will be available as either expensive accessories or included in version 2 (for obvious business reasons), but as it stands, it's pretty worthless.

dr. luba Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:59:40pm

re: #5 tradewind

I'm sorry, but women everywhere squirm at its being called the Ipad.//
Just saying.

I don't. Not really an issue IMHO. Just takes a bit of getting used to/growing up. I don't squirm at "note pad" either.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 12:59:44pm

re: #8 rwmofo
I'm a woman, so hardly.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:00:46pm

re: #11 dr. luba
It's the sticking of the ubiquitous I in front of it.
Maybe the eevil media planted the suggestion in my mind, damn them.
I'll probably want one, anyway. Everything (almost) that they make is gorgeous, whether you need it or not.

SixDegrees Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:01:17pm

re: #5 tradewind

I'm sorry, but women everywhere squirm at its being called the Ipad.//
Just saying.

That reaction has been instant and universal.

Apparently, Apple doesn't allow any women in the marketing department.

prairiefire Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:01:20pm

re: #10 srjh

Thanks for the critique. I'm going to favorite that for future reference to remind myself to save some money.

rwmofo Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:01:20pm

re: #12 tradewind

I'm a woman, so hardly.

Oh. Sorry (and I mean it). Just joking around. Fail on my part.

Obdicut Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:01:36pm

re: #6 Killgore Trout

I love my city so much. Way to go, guys. Responding to hate with humor is great.

keloyd Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:01:46pm

PC's, anything in your pocket, iphones, etc. all do more things with each generation. Now the strategy is to do fewer things, but better? I don't know if it's risky or brilliant to choose no cam, no phone, no usb ports, no meaningful video gaming, and no access to -ahem- gentlemen's literature requiring Flash.

Killgore Trout Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:01:55pm

re: #9 tradewind

The Baptist church should sue them for using the name.

Is there a formalized Baptist leadership? It's not like there's a Baptist Pope, I don't think there's even a central office.

SixDegrees Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:02:31pm

re: #10 srjh

I know a few of these features will be available as either expensive accessories or included in version 2...

The MaXiPad?

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:02:46pm

re: #6 Killgore Trout
(WTF does that have to do with the ipad anyway?
Why not wait a few more posts for the thread to wear out, is all....)

RadicalModerate Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:03:01pm

All I ask of Apple is for us US users, is to not tie us to an AT&T wireless account for 3G/4G access - there's just too many carriers out there now, including a *lot* of data-only plans. It's the only thing that kept me away from the iPhone, and everything else I've seen on this makes it really attractive.

Killgore Trout Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:03:26pm

re: #17 Obdicut

I love my city so much. Way to go, guys. Responding to hate with humor is great.

Good point, We've seen plenty of pics of angry lefties in San Fran in the past. They did a good job this time.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:03:34pm

re: #16 rwmofo
Oh hell's bells, I forgot the smiley face after my post. Fugeddabouddit.
:)

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:04:17pm

re: #22 RadicalModerate
It's not going to have 3g at first, I read.... wonder why?

SpaceJesus Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:04:40pm

oh sweet, something for me to check my twitter with whilst riding my segway

SixDegrees Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:04:43pm

re: #19 Killgore Trout

Is there a formalized Baptist leadership? It's not like there's a Baptist Pope, I don't think there's even a central office.

The National Baptist Convention.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:04:56pm

re: #20 SixDegrees
See..?
It was inevitable.
:)

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:06:08pm

re: #27 SixDegrees
There's a Baptist convention, and a Southern Baptist convention, I think.
Whichever..... this one ought'a have its charter yanked.
The press should totally ignore them.

Silvergirl Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:06:19pm

re: #1 keloyd

Best. Kindle. Ever.

Now that's what I'm wondering about. Reading would seem to be the thing I'd use it for most if I had one (unless I used it as a tray for serving drinks as in the Pee Wee Herman video), and I understand the Kindle has minimal glare. Otherwise, why not use the smaller and more convenient iPod for the other uses?

dr. luba Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:06:55pm

re: #13 tradewind

iPod was even stranger. Think about it. Before the iPod, what would pod connote to most of us? Pod-people? Peapods? Podiatrists?

The silliness will blow over and people will get used to it, and not give it a second thought.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:07:08pm

re: #14 SixDegrees
Seriously?
Bad apple.//

McSpiff Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:07:17pm

re: #22 RadicalModerate

All I ask of Apple is for us US users, is to not tie us to an AT&T wireless account for 3G/4G access - there's just too many carriers out there now, including a *lot* of data-only plans. It's the only thing that kept me away from the iPhone, and everything else I've seen on this makes it really attractive.

Which is bizarre, because the iPhone isn't tied to single carriers in most countries. I know 5 companies are offering it in Canada now.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:08:40pm

re: #31 dr. luba
For some reason... guess I was deep into kid-raising... the introduction of the Ipod made no impression on me. I guess I bought one a couple of years after it came out, but I can't remember the intro.

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:09:05pm

re: #22 RadicalModerate

All I ask of Apple is for us US users, is to not tie us to an AT&T wireless account for 3G/4G access - there's just too many carriers out there now, including a *lot* of data-only plans. It's the only thing that kept me away from the iPhone, and everything else I've seen on this makes it really attractive.

There's no contract required, and it will work on any true 3G network. The delay for the 3G versions appears to be a hardware/manufacturing thing, not a contract thing.

That means it can be used on AT&T, or Sprint, or T-Mobile, but not Verizon. Verizon is technically not 3G under the standard definition, but more like 2G + an improved data layer. I may be wrong in that list, but I know it's not locked to AT&T -- Apple and AT&T have had a bit of a falling out over the past couple years due to their crappy service and failure to meet network scalability milestones.

SixDegrees Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:09:17pm

re: #29 tradewind

There's a Baptist convention, and a Southern Baptist convention, I think.
Whichever... this one ought'a have its charter yanked.
The press should totally ignore them.

The Baptists aren't organized in a hierarchical fashion, like the Catholic church is. At least not as I understand it. The Convention sets overall doctrinal policy, but any pastor is allowed wide latitude of interpretation, and individual congregations vary widely in terms of what is practiced and preached. They have a great deal more independence than other churches.

Not to make anything of it, but it's an organizational structure shared with Islam in many ways.

dr. luba Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:09:30pm

re: #3 SixDegrees

actually this would be a great thing for my parents. Easy to use, you can do e-mail and surf the web, look at photos, etc. And it's a closed system, so no software to deal with, no viruses to worry about. Pretty foolproof.

rwmofo Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:09:57pm

re: #25 tradewind

It's not going to have 3g at first, I read... wonder why?

If you mean Wireless 3G, that's been fairly widely deployed since ~2004. 4G devices/networks will be available next year.

Jeff In Ohio Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:10:44pm

re: #5 tradewind

I'm sorry, but women everywhere squirm at its being called the Ipad.//
Just saying.

Man, this is so true. My wife, who works in marketing research for a Fortune 50 company known for it's branding (ie, she knows something about branding), giggles and shakes her head every time she hears 'iPad'.

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:11:50pm

Keep in mind, the name "Wii" originally prompted even more jokes than "iPad," and it has certainly not hurt its sales.

SixDegrees Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:11:54pm

re: #37 dr. luba

actually this would be a great thing for my parents. Easy to use, you can do e-mail and surf the web, look at photos, etc. And it's a closed system, so no software to deal with, no viruses to worry about. Pretty foolproof.

I suspect viruses are still a concern. All those apps that it runs are downloaded code, and pretty much anyone can contribute apps.

I'm sure there are substantial security layers in place. But that's true of other platforms, as well.

dr. luba Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:12:12pm

re: #34 tradewind

Not many non-techies noticed initially. It was originally an Apple only product, and it wasn't until it became Windows compatible that the general public took note.

And not many people thought they needed an mp3 player back in the day.

SanFranciscoZionist Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:13:08pm

re: #6 Killgore Trout

Westboro Baptist Church Protests, Gets Protested Outside Twitter (Pics)

My fave

Westboro Baptist's goal is to be crazy and disgusting enough that no other group in the United States will defend them. If they have not achieved this goal, they are coming up on it fast.

dr. luba Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:13:14pm

re: #41 SixDegrees

I suspect viruses are still a concern. All those apps that it runs are downloaded code, and pretty much anyone can contribute apps.

I'm sure there are substantial security layers in place. But that's true of other platforms, as well.

Have there been any iPhone or iTouch viruses? I don't recall hearing of any.

Silvergirl Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:13:22pm

re: #39 Jeff In Ohio

Man, this is so true. My wife, who works in marketing research for a Fortune 50 company known for it's branding (ie, she knows something about branding), giggles and shakes her head every time she hears 'iPad'.

Yeah, more laughing than squirming. No squirming at all for me. I had a lot of fun with that Mad tv clip.

McSpiff Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:13:22pm

re: #41 SixDegrees

I suspect viruses are still a concern. All those apps that it runs are downloaded code, and pretty much anyone can contribute apps.

I'm sure there are substantial security layers in place. But that's true of other platforms, as well.

A major one is requiring Apple's approval. Awfully hard to release a virus when Apple has your address.

keloyd Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:13:33pm

Still, this is Apple we're talking about. Was the iPad name very stupid (a roomful of nerds and not one female when the decision was made) or so brilliant that we don't realize yet it has blown our minds? All the kidding around, even on NPR, is free publicity. No one has spoken the words "what is that new Apple thing called again?"

Digital Display Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:13:39pm

I want a Computer pad that will open up as a laptop.. I can use any feature of both and I want Video out, USB ports.. NIC, Wireless...Everything...Period..
If I play games on the Outer touch screen..or use any Apple app.. or flip it open with a full size into a laptop that can boot up with Windows 7 or OSX.
I want the Killer App on my laptop that controls my BlackBerry or iPnone remotely...If I need to email an Excel file from my work computer through my phone and messages being directed by rules I setup.. A voice mail to my work phone gets queued into my Blackberry

dr. luba Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:14:41pm

re: #48 HoosierHoops

I want a Computer pad that will open up as a laptop.. I can use any feature of both and I want Video out, USB ports.. NIC, Wireless...Everything...Period..
If I play games on the Outer touch screen..or use any Apple app.. or flip it open with a full size into a laptop that can boot up with Windows 7 or OSX.
I want the Killer App on my laptop that controls my BlackBerry or iPnone remotely...If I need to email an Excel file from my work computer through my phone and messages being directed by rules I setup.. A voice mail to my work phone gets queued into my Blackberry

.........and a pony?

SanFranciscoZionist Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:14:53pm

re: #19 Killgore Trout

Is there a formalized Baptist leadership? It's not like there's a Baptist Pope, I don't think there's even a central office.

There are several separate organized churches under the Baptist name. I think they could legally stop them from calling themselves, say, Southern Baptists, but I don't think any group has control of the generic descriptor.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:14:59pm

re: #35 Jaerik
I just read that the 3G will be tied to AT&T, at least initially.... it will use their 3G network. The wireless, not tied.

SixDegrees Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:15:28pm

re: #44 dr. luba

Have there been any iPhone or iTouch viruses? I don't recall hearing of any.

Not sure. It's not something I pay much attention to.

I think there may have been a problem with some iPhone apps, but I'm not certain.

Neutral President Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:16:03pm

re: #33 McSpiff

Which is bizarre, because the iPhone isn't tied to single carriers in most countries. I know 5 companies are offering it in Canada now.

The iPhone was made for GSM networks. In the US AFAIK only AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. Everyone else is CDMA and it's various versions. The rest of the world is, again AKAIK, all GSM. Use on other carriers in the US would require different hardware. AT&T and Apple have a exclusivity contract, and Verizon put out several advertisements attacking not AT&T but Apple and the iPhone directly so don't hold your breath waiting for that contract to go away.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:16:07pm

re: #44 dr. luba
Maybe I' m careless, but I've never had any viral concerns with my mac or iphone.
A few spam text messages, but even those have been very few and far between.

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:16:30pm

re: #46 McSpiff

A major one is requiring Apple's approval. Awfully hard to release a virus when Apple has your address.

The app submission + review process is also pretty brutal. Friends at other gaming companies have been through it a few tmes. They test the living hell out of your app in a security harness to make absolutely sure it's not doing anything questionable, and then that binary is what goes to the store. There's no opportunity for you to sneak anything in.

McSpiff Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:17:37pm

re: #48 HoosierHoops

I want a Computer pad that will open up as a laptop.. I can use any feature of both and I want Video out, USB ports.. NIC, Wireless...Everything...Period..
If I play games on the Outer touch screen..or use any Apple app.. or flip it open with a full size into a laptop that can boot up with Windows 7 or OSX.
I want the Killer App on my laptop that controls my BlackBerry or iPnone remotely...If I need to email an Excel file from my work computer through my phone and messages being directed by rules I setup.. A voice mail to my work phone gets queued into my Blackberry

You want a Lenovo Tablet, a phone with Microsoft exchange support, drop box(or a similar service) and the Google Voice App from the sounds of it.

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:17:38pm

re: #51 tradewind

I just read that the 3G will be tied to AT&T, at least initially... it will use their 3G network. The wireless, not tied.

Really? During the actual presentation I thought Jobs specifically said not tied to only AT&T, and there was cheering. They're just the first wireless carrier that will support it on release day, but there's no exclusivity agreement.

Verizon is out because they use a different transmitter type and the iPad doesn't have the hardware for it.

ryannon Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:17:46pm

re: #48 HoosierHoops

I want a Computer pad that will open up as a laptop.. I can use any feature of both and I want Video out, USB ports.. NIC, Wireless...Everything...Period..

SNIP

The Chinese are already manufacturing one: saw it last night on tv.

Cineaste Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:18:59pm

re: #14 SixDegrees

Apparently, Apple doesn't allow any women in the marketing department.

So true, it's why women hate Macs, iPods & iPhones... ///

Digital Display Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:19:11pm

re: #58 ryannon

SNIP

The Chinese are already manufacturing one: saw it last night on tv.

Great idea..Best of both worlds...You flip open the Tablet into a Laptop? Genius

Cineaste Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:19:45pm

re: #25 tradewind

It's not going to have 3g at first, I read... wonder why?

3G version arrives 30 days after the wifi-only. Supply-chain issues.

McSpiff Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:20:31pm

re: #53 ArchangelMichael

The iPhone was made for GSM networks. In the US AFAIK only AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. Everyone else is CDMA and it's various versions. The rest of the world is, again AKAIK, all GSM. Use on other carriers in the US would require different hardware. AT&T and Apple have a exclusivity contract, and Verizon put out several advertisements attacking not AT&T but Apple and the iPhone directly so don't hold your breath waiting for that contract to go away.

Yeah the situation in Canada was similar for years here too. Rogers and their subsidiary Fido were GSM, everyone else was CDMA. Exclusive iPhone contracts, whole thing. But this fall Bell and Telus setup a HSPA+ network (Basically the 3g only component of most GSM networks. I.E my iPhone can't fall back to a voice only network) , and since most smaller operators simply resell Bell, its essentially leveled the playing field. Its great to see.

Cineaste Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:20:57pm

re: #35 Jaerik

There's no contract required, and it will work on any true 3G network. The delay for the 3G versions appears to be a hardware/manufacturing thing, not a contract thing.

That means it can be used on AT&T, or Sprint, or T-Mobile, but not Verizon. Verizon is technically not 3G under the standard definition, but more like 2G + an improved data layer. I may be wrong in that list, but I know it's not locked to AT&T -- Apple and AT&T have had a bit of a falling out over the past couple years due to their crappy service and failure to meet network scalability milestones.

Actually the data plan offered is only on AT&T. $15 for 250MB/mo & $30 unlimited.

windsagio Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:22:09pm

re: #41 SixDegrees

Apple won't have to seriously worry about viruses until their market-share increases... Altho' the Ipod/phone has hurt (or helped I guess) with that >

SanFranciscoZionist Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:22:25pm

"Why should prisons be on the moon?" I asked.

"It's better than Mexico," she said. Pause. "Sometimes you just got to hold a sign!"

San Francisco can be a very fun town sometimes.

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:22:40pm

I'm still not sure if I'll get one (I may take a wait-and-see-for-second-gen approach), but the arguments against the thing are prompting serious deja vu for me.

iPhone: "I already have a Blackberry and an iPod, why would I want a phone with less functionality than the two combined?"

iPod: "What a lame name, and there are other mp3 players that have more features for less cost, with no need to be tied to iTunes."

Etc, etc.

Apple's strategy just... doesnt' seem to be marketing to people who use the above arguments. It's like they live in a parallel dimension. They seem to just smile, nod, move on to the next person, and assume you'll quietly reverse course and snap one up a year from now once everyone you know has one.

Cineaste Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:23:32pm

re: #52 SixDegrees

Not sure. It's not something I pay much attention to.

I think there may have been a problem with some iPhone apps, but I'm not certain.

no - there've been no viruses except for users who cracked their phones and allowed pirate applications to install as root. But that's true of any system.

windsagio Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:23:41pm

re: #66 Jaerik

well thats not quite fair :p

Its all marketing and packaging, and they do a damn good job at that.

ryannon Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:26:01pm

re: #60 HoosierHoops

Great idea..Best of both worlds...You flip open the Tablet into a Laptop? Genius

You walk off with the screen and leave the keyboard and chassis. Screen serves as full-featured iPad. It will retail for half the price of the Apple product.

Cineaste Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:26:02pm

More thoughts on the iPad as an evolution in human interaction with machines:

[Link: 401stblow.wordpress.com...]

Neutral President Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:26:28pm

re: #62 McSpiff

It would be nice if something like that happened here. I was hoping that they would go all 3G/4G with all networks and treat everything as data, basically making all mobile phones VoIP phones. But that probably wont happen here because they wont be able to charge handgun and ski-mask prices for SMS anymore if they treat it the same as equivalent data.

Cineaste Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:26:52pm

re: #69 ryannon

You walk off with the screen and leave the keyboard and chassis. Screen serves as full-featured iPad. It will retail for half the price of the Apple product.

At the end of the day, it becomes about the software. If it's just windows/linux then it doesn't really push forward the possibilities of a tablet and the human interaction.

windsagio Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:27:41pm

re: #72 Cineaste

Crazy hyperbole or funny joke?

I can't decide!

McSpiff Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:27:43pm

re: #71 ArchangelMichael

It would be nice if something like that happened here. I was hoping that they would go all 3G/4G with all networks and treat everything as data, basically making all mobile phones VoIP phones. But that probably wont happen here because they wont be able to charge handgun and ski-mask prices for SMS anymore if they treat it the same as equivalent data.

They can. As far as I know the Bell/Telus network being 3g only means the entire thing is IP based. But I'm still stuck paying $0.15/text without my plan.

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:28:41pm

re: #71 ArchangelMichael

...because they wont be able to charge handgun and ski-mask prices for SMS anymore...

Best description ever.

simoom Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:29:29pm

re: #5 tradewind

I'm sorry, but women everywhere squirm at its being called the Ipad.//
Just saying.

MadTV skit from a couple of years ago ("The new iPad from Apple"):

Youtube Video

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:30:18pm

re: #68 windsagio

well thats not quite fair :p

Its all marketing and packaging, and they do a damn good job at that.

That's a little overly dismissive, isn't it? If it were all marketing and packaging, you would expect a good chunk of users to have serious buyer's remorse. That doesn't seem to happen much with Apple products, so there has to be something else there.

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:31:15pm

re: #76 simoom
/Groan/
See?//

rwmofo Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:31:59pm

re: #35 Jaerik

There's no contract required, and it will work on any true 3G network. The delay for the 3G versions appears to be a hardware/manufacturing thing, not a contract thing.

That means it can be used on AT&T, or Sprint, or T-Mobile, but not Verizon. Verizon is technically not 3G under the standard definition, but more like 2G + an improved data layer. I may be wrong in that list, but I know it's not locked to AT&T -- Apple and AT&T have had a bit of a falling out over the past couple years due to their crappy service and failure to meet network scalability milestones.

Verizon launched 3G 4Q-2003. Actually there are a lot of smaller carriers that are 3G-capable as well. The two major 3G technologies here are CDMA and GSM. AT&T & T-Mobile are GSM while Sprint & Verizon are CDMA. Apple probably has an exclusive agreement with AT&T, but I haven't read the details.

More data here.

Digital Display Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:32:35pm

re: #64 windsagio

Apple won't have to seriously worry about viruses until their market-share increases... Altho' the Ipod/phone has hurt (or helped I guess) with that >

It's not that really...Apple Controls the OS very tightly..For instance...You can't make a call into ring one security at machine level with the Pure C Unix foundation.. Windows 7 finally took that approach.. You just can't get from here to there for viruses...It's not because Apple is so cool nobody wants to fuck them up...It's like when you buy a video game for your playstation.. You never worry about it giving you a virus...The game just can't make calls into the OS..Apple is tight..Do you know anybody with an Apple that ever went to a web site and a virus from there wrote to the file system?

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:32:52pm

re: #64 windsagio
We've been hearing that for years now. How much more does it have to increase?
Look how many macbooks were sold this past year......

windsagio Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:33:39pm

re: #77 Jaerik

My description of 'packaging' is a bit broad. The UI is snazzy and easy to use, and everythings integrated, which people like, but I included that in the 'packaging'

tradewind Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:34:45pm

re: #80 HoosierHoops
All I know is that I love them because once I switched that was the end of the blue screen of death, the end of ' wiping viruses', the end of ' please update your antivirus software', and the end of plain old hanging in cyberspace. It was teh miracle.

Jaerik Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:35:45pm

re: #79 rwmofo

Verizon launched 3G 4Q-2003. Actually there are a lot of smaller carriers that are 3G-capable as well. The two major 3G technologies here are CDMA and GSM. AT&T & T-Mobile are GSM while Sprint & Verizon are CDMA. Apple probably has an exclusive agreement with AT&T, but I haven't read the details.

More data here.

Interesting, didn't know that. Thanks for the link.

Vicious Babushka Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:38:42pm

re: #43 SanFranciscoZionist

Westboro Baptist's goal is to be crazy and disgusting enough that no other group in the United States will defend them. If they have not achieved this goal, they are coming up on it fast.

Westboro Baptists make Code Pink look like the DAR

windsagio Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:40:08pm

re: #80 HoosierHoops

re: #81 tradewind

Easier to answer them together, and its an interesting subject.

First of all their share (in the US) is larger than I thought, being at 27% of small businesses as of 2007, and probably higher now. I'd say you'll see a definite shift when the majority of major businesses are using Macs.

Secondly, 'harder' isn't 'impossible'. No OS is flawless, and if there was money to be made hacking the MAC OS (or cheap Macs in Eastern Europe and Asia, where most of the hackers come from) you'd see more Mac Viruses.

You do have a point to the degree that its a more secure product, I just hate the hyperbole :P

prairiefire Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:45:22pm

re: #80 HoosierHoops

Not me, in 6 years.

simoom Sun, Jan 31, 2010 1:48:55pm

Here are the notes and photo's from Arstechnica's brief iPad hands on:
[Link: arstechnica.com...]

I didn't know about this, but it's good news:

You can use any bluetooth keyboard you want, instead of Apple's keyboard dock. You could use the case/stand with your existing bluetooth keyboard.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sun, Jan 31, 2010 2:10:17pm

re: #1 keloyd

Best. Kindle. Ever.

Why do you think this? Can you imagine reading an entire novel on a LCD screen?

The kindle is great because it doesn't have a traditional screen, it has electronic paper, uses reflected light. Like real paper, it doesn't cause eye strain from looking dorectly into a light source for hours on end.

The iPad will be good for news, sure, as an internet/media tablet. But I'd never ever read a novel on one.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sun, Jan 31, 2010 2:13:41pm

re: #66 Jaerik

I'm still not sure if I'll get one (I may take a wait-and-see-for-second-gen approach), but the arguments against the thing are prompting serious deja vu for me.

iPhone: "I already have a Blackberry and an iPod, why would I want a phone with less functionality than the two combined?"

iPod: "What a lame name, and there are other mp3 players that have more features for less cost, with no need to be tied to iTunes."

Etc, etc.

Apple's strategy just... doesnt' seem to be marketing to people who use the above arguments. It's like they live in a parallel dimension. They seem to just smile, nod, move on to the next person, and assume you'll quietly reverse course and snap one up a year from now once everyone you know has one.

It's kinda true, I've had several Mp3 players over the years, my latest one is indeed an iPod. Because it has MORE functionality than other MP3 players. Unlike apple's computers, which have less. (not much of a game library, can't run my art tools, etc)

Though for bang for the buck, the bets deal on an Mp3 player out there is a 30GB Zune. Picked up one for $70. Then it got stolen. :(

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Sun, Jan 31, 2010 2:15:21pm

re: #48 HoosierHoops

I want a Computer pad that will open up as a laptop.. I can use any feature of both and I want Video out, USB ports.. NIC, Wireless...Everything...Period..
If I play games on the Outer touch screen..or use any Apple app.. or flip it open with a full size into a laptop that can boot up with Windows 7 or OSX.
I want the Killer App on my laptop that controls my BlackBerry or iPnone remotely...If I need to email an Excel file from my work computer through my phone and messages being directed by rules I setup.. A voice mail to my work phone gets queued into my Blackberry

They already have these. They're called convertible Tablet PCs. Some of them have stylus functionality, some have touch functionality.

Don't know about the phone stuff, though.

Mad Al-Jaffee Sun, Jan 31, 2010 2:27:46pm

Frantic Steve Jobs Stays Up All Night Designing Apple Tablet

William of Orange Sun, Jan 31, 2010 2:46:14pm

One tiny drawback of the iPad...

[Link: www.huffingtonpost.com...]

amrafel Sun, Jan 31, 2010 4:05:15pm

This is way off topic, but I thought that you might want to be one of the first to translate this article about a powerful antisemitic Swedish politician:
[Link: www.skanskan.se...]

Spy Mode Auto

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