Make no mistake, I won't buy an iPad anytime soon neither because I need a device that can do more than that. But I understand its potential.
This whole discussion reminds me of the launch of the Wii when a lot of people complained that the Wii is underpowered, doesn't do HD, doesn't do online gaming and what not. *That's simply not what it's about.*
And about the "fat iPod touch"... There are quite a number of things where a bigger screen is far more preferable to me: browsing, watching movies, composing e-mail.
I can't understand how people can get so excited about a fat iPod touch. Have Apple increased the potency of their Kool-Aid?
The Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field of course.
But it's quite usual: the iPad is to some extent a fashion item. Why do some people buy Levi jeans rather than everyone buying the cheapest supermarket ?5.99 jeans, even though the cheap ones are functionally equivalent? Because they prefer the cut of the Levi's, and the brand is worth something to them. Why do people buy Harley-Davidson motorcycles instead of Japanese sports bikes, even though the Jap bike is more reliable, more technologically advanced, faster, handles better etc? Because they like the look and sound of the Harley Davidson. Why do people buy Audis instead of Volkswagens? Because...oh well you get the point.
The point is that things that are aesthetically nice to people aren't usually bought because they have more features, more power, more (whatever), but because they look and feel nice. I bet the iPad looks and feels nice. It's designed as an appliance, not a general purpose computer, so people who want an appliance that's nice to hold, nice to look at and nice to use are going to buy it over the more featureful, but plasticy Windows tablet which has an OS not specifically designed for handheld use (and therefore always a little bit awkward) and all the extra management problems Windows brings that just aren't present on the iPhone OS.
It can be criticised on features but people who want the iPad aren't buying it for being "feature packed", they are buying it because it looks and feels nice and because the features it *does* have are designed for a tablet style device and just work. The market it's being sold into is not the general purpose computing market, but the *appliance* market.
...And about the "fat iPod touch"... There are quite a number of things where a bigger screen is far more preferable to me: browsing, watching movies, composing e-mail.
As long as you don't want to view sites that use Flash or Java. Or watch DivX / Xvid movies, or movies streamed using Flash.
...It can be criticised on features but people who want the iPad aren't buying it for being "feature packed", they are buying it because it looks and feels nice and because the features it *does* have are designed for a tablet style device and just work. The market it's being sold into is not the general purpose computing market, but the *appliance* market.
But aren't they going to be a bit pissed off when they unpack it and discover that they can't even play Farmville on it?
As long as you don't want to view sites that use Flash or Java. Or watch DivX / Xvid movies, or movies streamed using Flash.
Admitted Java is lacking which is a pity. But apart from online banking I don't miss it in daily use.
Flash was nice ten year ago when animation in websites was not possible via other means. Nowadays Flash is a burden - it's unstable, hungry for cpu power and resources - and can be replaced by better technologies that are true open standards: xhtml, html5, css, javascript, mpeg. Apparently the whole Linux community manages well without Flash too. And there's no problem to watch YouTube videos on an iPhone/iPad though.
With respect to divx and xvid it's to early to say something about it. That will be dependent on third parties.
...With respect to divx and xvid it's to early to say something about it. That will be dependent on third parties.
No, it'll be dependent on whether Steve lets any third party movie player onto the App store. And, of course, that will never happen because he expects you to buy your movies via iTunes. :roll:
It can be criticised on features but people who want the iPad aren't buying it for being "feature packed", they are buying it because it looks and feels nice and because the features it *does* have are designed for a tablet style device and just work.
I like the look of it and I'm sure I could find a use for it, so I want one...and luckily I can afford it....
...but I'm not buying it - because of it's lack of features. Not the first revision anyway...and we all know there will be updates every year, so it's just a matter of waiting until it has the features you want.
I'm pretty sure this is an Apple strategy, and it could be interresting to see what happens to Apple's stock if people realised this and just didn't buy first revisions. ;)
But aren't they going to be a bit pissed off when they unpack it and discover that they can't even play Farmville on it?
I doubt it, any more than Speccy users where pissed off when they couldn't play $C64GAME_HERE on the Spectrum, or that Mac users are pissed off that they can't play Modern Warfare 2. There are plenty of *other* games designed for the iPhone/iPad that they can play already.
I doubt it, any more than Speccy users where pissed off when they couldn't play $C64GAME_HERE on the Spectrum, or that Mac users are pissed off that they can't play Modern Warfare 2. There are plenty of *other* games designed for the iPhone/iPad that they can play already.
Er, that's not quite what I was getting at. I was referring to users buying the iPad on Apple's claim that it'll put the entire web into the palm of their hand - except to find that it doesn't at all, because it has no Flash or Java support.
No, it'll be dependent on whether Steve lets any third party movie player onto the App store. And, of course, that will never happen because he expects you to buy your movies via iTunes. :roll:
Don't confuse *format* with *drm* here. Just because divx/xvid is not supported doesn't mean you're tied to the iTunes movie store automatically. I have a nice collection of mpeg movies (rips from my own DVDs) that play just fine on my phone.
Out of curiousity: is there an alternative movie store where you can legally buy movies in xvid or divx format?
Don't confuse *format* with *drm* here. Just because divx/xvid is not supported doesn't mean you're tied to the iTunes movie store automatically. I have a nice collection of mpeg movies (rips from my own DVDs) that play just fine on my phone.
Out of curiousity: is there an alternative movie store where you can legally buy movies in xvid or divx format?
Why would you want to legally buy movies? I thought you were Dutch? :razz:
Comments
This whole discussion reminds me of the launch of the Wii when a lot of people complained that the Wii is underpowered, doesn't do HD, doesn't do online gaming and what not. *That's simply not what it's about.*
And about the "fat iPod touch"... There are quite a number of things where a bigger screen is far more preferable to me: browsing, watching movies, composing e-mail.
The Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field of course.
But it's quite usual: the iPad is to some extent a fashion item. Why do some people buy Levi jeans rather than everyone buying the cheapest supermarket ?5.99 jeans, even though the cheap ones are functionally equivalent? Because they prefer the cut of the Levi's, and the brand is worth something to them. Why do people buy Harley-Davidson motorcycles instead of Japanese sports bikes, even though the Jap bike is more reliable, more technologically advanced, faster, handles better etc? Because they like the look and sound of the Harley Davidson. Why do people buy Audis instead of Volkswagens? Because...oh well you get the point.
The point is that things that are aesthetically nice to people aren't usually bought because they have more features, more power, more (whatever), but because they look and feel nice. I bet the iPad looks and feels nice. It's designed as an appliance, not a general purpose computer, so people who want an appliance that's nice to hold, nice to look at and nice to use are going to buy it over the more featureful, but plasticy Windows tablet which has an OS not specifically designed for handheld use (and therefore always a little bit awkward) and all the extra management problems Windows brings that just aren't present on the iPhone OS.
It can be criticised on features but people who want the iPad aren't buying it for being "feature packed", they are buying it because it looks and feels nice and because the features it *does* have are designed for a tablet style device and just work. The market it's being sold into is not the general purpose computing market, but the *appliance* market.
As long as you don't want to view sites that use Flash or Java. Or watch DivX / Xvid movies, or movies streamed using Flash.
But aren't they going to be a bit pissed off when they unpack it and discover that they can't even play Farmville on it?
Flash was nice ten year ago when animation in websites was not possible via other means. Nowadays Flash is a burden - it's unstable, hungry for cpu power and resources - and can be replaced by better technologies that are true open standards: xhtml, html5, css, javascript, mpeg. Apparently the whole Linux community manages well without Flash too. And there's no problem to watch YouTube videos on an iPhone/iPad though.
With respect to divx and xvid it's to early to say something about it. That will be dependent on third parties.
No, it'll be dependent on whether Steve lets any third party movie player onto the App store. And, of course, that will never happen because he expects you to buy your movies via iTunes. :roll:
I imagine they have left it out deliberately so they can sell a new one in 9 months time with a webcam in it.
I think in many years to come we may look back on our Apple obsession and laugh, a lot like we looked back at 1970's clothes in the 1980's.
I like the look of it and I'm sure I could find a use for it, so I want one...and luckily I can afford it....
...but I'm not buying it - because of it's lack of features. Not the first revision anyway...and we all know there will be updates every year, so it's just a matter of waiting until it has the features you want.
I'm pretty sure this is an Apple strategy, and it could be interresting to see what happens to Apple's stock if people realised this and just didn't buy first revisions. ;)
My games for the Spectrum: Dingo, The Speccies, The Speccies 2, Vallation, SQIJ.
Twitter: Sokurah
I doubt it, any more than Speccy users where pissed off when they couldn't play $C64GAME_HERE on the Spectrum, or that Mac users are pissed off that they can't play Modern Warfare 2. There are plenty of *other* games designed for the iPhone/iPad that they can play already.
Er, that's not quite what I was getting at. I was referring to users buying the iPad on Apple's claim that it'll put the entire web into the palm of their hand - except to find that it doesn't at all, because it has no Flash or Java support.
You might be right. Google will be where Microsoft is now and Microsoft will suffer the same fate as IBM.
There is an opt-out, if you want it:
:lol:
Out of curiousity: is there an alternative movie store where you can legally buy movies in xvid or divx format?
Why would you want to legally buy movies? I thought you were Dutch? :razz:
Well done, now do your best with a walkperson.........