Apple iPad Due Spring 2010


Technology

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Shadow Lodge

The Reg is a funny place, they are pretty critical of just about everyone so I respect them. I like a lot of Apple's stuff and own their stock but I haven't quite figured out the iPad. It's billed as a portable device but it's too big to easily carry. I think it would be good for dealing with photos (it's a hobby of mine) but the lack of USB or SD cripples it for that purpose (dongle and all).

So really what I see it being is a casual user device, for soccer moms to update their Facebook while they are waiting for the kids... which comes back to why no SD/USB!! Also great for entertaining kids in the back seat of the car (an expensive but likely common way to keep them quiet).

Overall it's a new things and I think a lot of folks are expecting it to be something familiar and finding it's not well suited for that. It's not really a notebook so don't expect it to effectively replace a notebook, it's not a phone...

Hopefully it finds it's niche, seems pretty popular so far.


0gre wrote:

Overall it's a new things and I think a lot of folks are expecting it to be something familiar and finding it's not well suited for that. It's not really a notebook so don't expect it to effectively replace a notebook, it's not a phone...

Hopefully it finds it's niche, seems pretty popular so far.

I think you've nailed it there. A lot of the most negative reviewers seem upset that they can't get the device to do what they want - while it was clearly designed to do what Apple thinks "the masses" should want to do. To generalise a bit, many of these reviewers don't seem to be the target users the iPad was designed for; they are usually IT/software developers/tech bloggers. Continuing your analogy, it's like asking a Formula One driver to give a review to the soccer mom on driving a minivan and hearing complaints about tire slippage at 160mph. Despite their highly specialised knowledge, I read an article like the one just posted and think how he can he not understand how useful that very limited file transfer capability is going to be to 90% people out there who are still having trouble figuring out how to program their VCR (despite the fact that their kids upgraded them to a DVD player last Christmas).

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0gre wrote:

The Reg is a funny place, they are pretty critical of just about everyone so I respect them. I like a lot of Apple's stuff and own their stock but I haven't quite figured out the iPad. It's billed as a portable device but it's too big to easily carry. I think it would be good for dealing with photos (it's a hobby of mine) but the lack of USB or SD cripples it for that purpose (dongle and all).

So really what I see it being is a casual user device, for soccer moms to update their Facebook while they are waiting for the kids... which comes back to why no SD/USB!! Also great for entertaining kids in the back seat of the car (an expensive but likely common way to keep them quiet).

It's funny how these two comments tie together, actually. There is a big boom right now in purses that are sized to accomodate the iPad because it is so popular among soccer moms.

I think that the iPhone/iPad are to software what Starbucks was to coffee. Starbucks became successful in large part by taking a relatively boring commodity and pitching it to hipsters and women. Apple is packaging and pitching software to the same audience - people who are not necessarily the most technically sophisticated, but who have been largely outside the target demographic for the product to date. To a large extent, Apple is bringing new consumers to the market, who want the walled-in garden experience. They aren't out to convert people using a different device - they're out to create new customers who might not ever have considered such a device in the past.

I'm pretty bullish on the iPad in large part because I think it is hitting these consumers, particularly women.

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Sebastian wrote:


It's funny how these two comments tie together, actually. There is a big boom right now in purses that are sized to accomodate the iPad because it is so popular among soccer moms.

I think that the iPhone/iPad are to software what Starbucks was to coffee. Starbucks became successful in large part by taking a relatively boring commodity and pitching it to hipsters and women. Apple is packaging and pitching software to the same audience - people who are not necessarily the most technically sophisticated, but who have been largely outside the target demographic for the product to date. To a large extent, Apple is bringing new consumers to the market, who want the walled-in garden experience. They aren't out to convert people using a different device - they're out to create new customers who might not ever have considered such a device in the past.

I'm pretty bullish on the iPad in large part because I think it is hitting these consumers, particularly women.

That reminds me of the wii, hardcore gamers where like at first "why would someone buy such a weak game system, it sucks compared to the xbox and ps3". the wii ended up outselling both because they aimed it at non gamers, as a family system for everyone to enjoy. For myself being a gamer I can't understand the draw to the wii, I tried it but it gave me a crappy gaming experience compared to my xbox and ps3, but then again I am not wii's audience.

Shadow Lodge

Sebastian wrote:

It's funny how these two comments tie together, actually. There is a big boom right now in purses that are sized to accomodate the iPad because it is so popular among soccer moms.

I think that the iPhone/iPad are to software what Starbucks was to coffee. Starbucks became successful in large part by taking a relatively boring commodity and pitching it to hipsters and women. Apple is packaging and pitching software to the same audience - people who are not necessarily the most technically sophisticated, but who have been largely outside the target demographic for the product to date. To a large extent, Apple is bringing new consumers to the market, who want the walled-in garden experience. They aren't out to convert people using a different device - they're out to create new customers who might not ever have considered such a device in the past.

I've heard some weird anecdotal evidence that this is exactly what is going on. Senior magazines have been raving about how the iPad is a great friendly way for older folks to get on the net and keep in touch with family. The sales numbers seem to support that something is going on beyond the typical geek buying frenzy. This is also very similar to the iPhone's success. Prior to it's release Smart Phones were either tech toys for geeks (Windows Mobile) or business tools (Blackberry). The iPhone made Smart Phones accessible to a lot more people. It didn't cannibalize the current smart phone market so much as blow it wide open. The iPad seems to be doing the same for Notebooks and tablets.

Quote:
I'm pretty bullish on the iPad in large part because I think it is hitting these consumers, particularly women.

I bet you are bullish on 'hitting' women.

Shadow Lodge

Dragnmoon wrote:
That reminds me of the wii, hardcore gamers where like at first "why would someone buy such a weak game system, it sucks compared to the xbox and ps3". the wii ended up outselling both because they aimed it at non gamers, as a family system for everyone to enjoy. For myself being a gamer I can't understand the draw to the wii, I tried it but it gave me a crappy gaming experience compared to my xbox and ps3, but then again I am not wii's audience.

I am cautiously optimistic that this is a similar deal to the Wii. That would make me very happy.


AT&T security screw up reveals email addresses of over 100,000 iPad users.


The iPad has broken another Blackberry addict in my department. He's nuts over the iPad, and decided that he may as well get the new iPhone when it comes out too. That will finally officially put us over the 50% mark for converting to the iOS within the department. IT is having conniptions.

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Well, I got tired of waiting for the 3G iPad. I walked into the local computer store and buy my 32 G wifi unit tonight.

Grand Lodge

Chris Mortika wrote:

Well, I got tired of waiting for the 3G iPad. I walked into the local computer store and buy my 32 G wifi unit tonight.

Welcome to the club!

Grand Lodge

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Daeglin wrote:
The iPad has broken another Blackberry addict in my department. He's nuts over the iPad, and decided that he may as well get the new iPhone when it comes out too. That will finally officially put us over the 50% mark for converting to the iOS within the department. IT is having conniptions.

IT always has conniptions when you make changes to their applecart. Any unknown device represents in their minds at the least more work and at the most a threat to network security. And I gather that they probably have not succeeded in getting corporate to simply ban the devices from the network. That said, once they learn about the device their fits should settle down.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Sebastian wrote:


I think that the iPhone/iPad are to software what Starbucks was to coffee. Starbucks became successful in large part by taking a relatively boring commodity and pitching it to hipsters and women. Apple is packaging and pitching software to the same audience - people who are not necessarily the most technically sophisticated, but who have been largely outside the target demographic for the product to date. To a large extent, Apple is bringing new consumers to the market, who want the walled-in garden experience. They aren't out to convert people using a different device - they're out to create new customers who might not ever have considered such a device in the past.

I'm pretty bullish on the iPad in large part because I think it is hitting these consumers, particularly women.

I had a recent exchange with Dave Haynie about the iPad. (Of course, being a former Amiga developer, for Haynie the world essentially ended with the final collapse of Be) And it pretty much boils down to this. Died in the wool gearheads who gnaw thier teeth regularly on Slackware will not find any shortage of reasons to hate the device, or Apple in particular. It shows how extreme can get when Mozilla recently issued a condemnation of Apple's new Safari 5, going as far as to praise MICROSOFT of all people in Internet Explorer's new respect for open standards.

And I think the Mozilla people have something of a point there. Apple has taken quite a few cards from Microsoft, and Google among otheers and definitely seem to be using a strategy to hook users into a Digital Lifestyle that's defined by Cupertino. IT's a lifestyle that puts nice ordered fences around your user experience and definitely is catered to creating a safe say a suburbanization of what used to be the wild Internet frontier. Kind of the way Disney created towns like Celebration in Florida (worth googling btw)

My personal reaction is complex. On the one hand I definitely see where people like Haynie and Mozilla are coming from and their points are extremely valid.

On the other hand.... oh that iPad, she is a seductive temptress who's wrapped in that slinkly glass and aluminum outfit and she smiles seductively and beckons me. One of the ways that Apple blunts this concern to a degree that what they set out to do.... they actually accomplish to an amazing degree.


10 "Essential" iPad accessories. But be warned, it Brit.

EDIT:: NSFW: An iPad app that is worthwhile to get.


Patrick Norton makes an iPad stand out of a coathanger, while Tekzilla discusses other cheap iPad stands.


It's unlikely there'd be a hardware change in the iPad line for Christmas, right? I'm wondering about ordering a gift before Sept in case demand gets even higher for the holidays.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

Anyone had experience with a stylus on the iPad? The wife and I are looking at getting a Pogo Sketch stylus, and could use some reviews.

Liberty's Edge

TriOmegaZero wrote:
Anyone had experience with a stylus on the iPad? The wife and I are looking at getting a Pogo Sketch stylus, and could use some reviews.

Unless the stylus is tethered to the iPad via the dock connector port, or has a mechanism to transfer heat, I don't know how it could reliably work. That said, I'd be interested in one as well.

EDIT:
Reading some reviews, it seems reactions are mixed. I gather it's very useful for digital signatures and simple taps (like checking email, etc.). Many have complained that the sponge-like tip disintegrates very quickly, and it's a little too big for detailed work (like painting in the Brushes app, or cursive writing if your style is cramped).

Telling to me is that it's not for sale in the Apple store, which begs the question of how it affects the User Experience--if it's pretty bad, it's not likely to be sold (read: sanctioned) by Apple.

I'd still like to try one out.


Andrew Turner wrote:
Telling to me is that it's not for sale in the Apple store, which begs the question of how it affects the User Experience--if it's pretty bad, it's not likely to be sold (read: sanctioned) by Apple.

Well, I wouldn't read too much into that. It was Jobs that said: "If you see a stylus, they blew it".

It may work very well, I just don't think Apple wants anyone associating a stylus with their "touch" devices.

Greg


GregH wrote:
Andrew Turner wrote:
Telling to me is that it's not for sale in the Apple store, which begs the question of how it affects the User Experience--if it's pretty bad, it's not likely to be sold (read: sanctioned) by Apple.

Well, I wouldn't read too much into that. It was Jobs that said: "If you see a stylus, they blew it".

It may work very well, I just don't think Apple wants anyone associating a stylus with their "touch" devices.

Greg

We should stat up a new monster for the Bestiary 3; "Newton's Spectre".

Liberty's Edge

Wow. Just stumbled across this ancient thread...iPad is still around. Who would have thought...

As an aside, my middle one (who was around two years old when I wrote the original post) is now a sixth grader. She spent a nice portion of the Winter Break making TikTok videos and reading Arkham Horror fiction on her new iPad Pro.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

Yep, still using my iPad for games and HeroLab sheets.

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