iCade for iPad released!

[CheffoJeffo]

Fair enough, although I again disagree.

It isn't an analogy, it is directly comparable.

The reason that most folks build MAME cabs is not just to have a big toy (there are lots of toys that we can buy), but rather to have a better experience than playing the same game on the keyboard of the notebook that you think we should all be happy with, because it does the same for less.

It is about the experience.

I have never seen anybody claim that an iPad can do more than a computer or could replace a computer. What the iPad offers is a better experience in a number of situations.

If all you are looking at is basic utility and cost, then I hope you don't drive a nice car. Or own a home. Or have a cellphone. Or anything that goes beyond basic requirements.

I presume that you use Notepad for your word processing needs ? Calculator for the numerics ?

I get that you think the iPad is overblown. I used to think that way. It is, now that I have one, a perfect addition to my life.

I don't, for a second, think that everybody else should own one ... and *I* think that EVERYBODY should own an Exidy Multi 440 cabinet ... but it is not just an expensive toy.

The problem is your attitude about those who have them ... and your lack of experience in talking about them.

[Cynicaster]

Fair enough, although I again disagree.

It isn't an analogy, it is directly comparable.

The reason that most folks build MAME cabs is not just to have a big toy (there are lots of toys that we can buy), but rather to have a better experience than playing the same game on the keyboard of the notebook that you think we should all be happy with, because it does the same for less.

It is about the experience.

I still don’t follow on your MAME cabinet comparison.  As you say, a cab provides a “better experience”, but that’s only a generalized way of saying that it provides a more “authentic” experience, right?  I see no such added desirability to web surfing by virtue of it being done on an iPad, it’s just different.  And, while we clearly disagree on the following key point, I personally find that every single way that the iPad differs from a laptop as a web browser or media viewer is either a compromise, a step backwards, or both.  And to think, all that simply for the sake of being thin, flat, stylish, and slightly more portable.  In fact, about the only time I can see myself preferring an iPad for web browsing or media viewing would be if I was in a situation where I just had to surf the internet while standing up.  And God help us if we as a society ever get to the point where we call such a thing a necessity.  But whatever, who cares.  Agree to disagree and all that.  

If all you are looking at is basic utility and cost, then I hope you don't drive a nice car. Or own a home. Or have a cellphone. Or anything that goes beyond basic requirements.

I presume that you use Notepad for your word processing needs ? Calculator for the numerics ?

Haha, it's kind of funny you say all this.  I drive a complete POS car because I do lots of driving for work and don't want to beat on a nice, new vehicle and watch it depreciate precipitously.  I do have a cellphone (Blackberry) but it is provided to me by work.  I do have MS Word, but it is provided to me by work.  I can't say I would have some of these things if I had to pay for them.  Maybe I'm just a neo-mennonite.  

The problem is your attitude about those who have them ... and your lack of experience in talking about them.

My attitude about people?  Wha?  I'd come at it the other way and suggest that maybe the problem here (if there is one) is you need to grow a thicker skin, if you're still holding a grudge for a single slightly off-side comment I made at the start of this conversation--I think it's been a pretty straight up discussion since then.  I'm sorry if anybody was insulted, I thought it should be reasonably obvious that I wasn't trying to imply that I literally think all you iPadders are stupid people or whatever; it was just an off-the-cuff quip.  Mea culpa.

As for experience, late last year the company I work for (an engineering consulting firm and technology company) was actually investigating the iPad as a business tool to be provided to all of us.  They assigned a group of 8 employees--yours truly included--as a test group to carry around the iPad for several weeks, use it in day to day tasks, and then prepare reports to management on its merits (or lack thereof).  Well, you can probably guess what my report sounded like.  I admit it would have been a cool toy to have provided to me for free, but I couldn't in good conscience recommend it as a viable business tool because I found it so low on value for the dollar.  We were asked not to "deliberate" on our findings so as to provide 8 untainted perspectives, so I don't know for sure what the others said, but it's worth noting that the idea was ultimately nixed.  So, take that for what it's worth in gauging my experience.  

    

[8BitMonk]

Cynic, wouldn't you agree that there is subjectivity to worth? Just because it isn't worth it to you doesn't mean that it isn't worth the price or that charging that price is robbery. Something is worth whatever you can charge for it, the market determines if it's too much or not. Obviously since 3 million people have bought iPads the price point isn't obscene. As you were trying to point out with your clever link, the numbers aren't the be-all-and-end-all of a debate but obviously at that volume some things become obvious:

A.) There's a market for it.
B.) The price isn't too high.
C.) All of the people buying it aren't stupid drones.
D.) It's useful.

As for the 'landfill' comment, one could argue that many casual users who would normally buy an environmentally unfriendly power hungry desktop pc with a large monitor chose an ipad instead. Time spent on those devices is transferred to a much smaller, less power hungry device that also has less plastic and crap that will wind up in a landfill. I think any terrible ecological impact you perceive the iPad as having is bunk.

All that aside had you simply thrown in your two-cents politely you likely wouldn't have 'ruffled feathers'. Your post was akin to walking into a bar, hearing people talk about their expensive beer, then telling them how effin' stupid they were for drinking it, pee'ing in it and then wondering why they were insulted. Ok, maybe not pee'ing in it, but definitely the first one. Here's to my expensive beer.  

[Cynicaster]

Cynic, wouldn't you agree that there is subjectivity to worth? Just because it isn't worth it to you doesn't mean that it isn't worth the price or that charging that price is robbery. Something is worth whatever you can charge for it, the market determines if it's too much or not. Obviously since 3 million people have bought iPads the price point isn't obscene. As you were trying to point out with your clever link, the numbers aren't the be-all-and-end-all of a debate but obviously at that volume some things become obvious:

A.) There's a market for it.
B.) The price isn't too high.
C.) All of the people buying it aren't stupid drones.
D.) It's useful.

We live in a society where people can be convinced to pay $1000 for a handbag (that costs $5 to make in a sweat shop) simply because of the logo embroidered on the front of it.  I'm not calling all iPadders stupid drones, but you might be slightly over-dismissive of the power of sly marketing.    

As for the 'landfill' comment, one could argue that many casual users who would normally buy an environmentally unfriendly power hungry desktop pc with a large monitor chose an ipad instead. Time spent on those devices is transferred to a much smaller, less power hungry device that also has less plastic and crap that will wind up in a landfill. I think any terrible ecological impact you perceive the iPad as having is bunk.

Don't be fooled by the small size of the iPad.  It's not just the landfills.  Do you have any idea how much water and fossil fuels go into producing a single precision electronic device?  You'd probably fall off your chair.  As for the big PC, true about the power consumption, but how about the fact that a good PC--through maintenance and upgrades--can be useful for 10 years or more to most people?  The iPad has to be the most brazenly blatant embodiment of planned obsolescence I've ever seen--it won't even let you change its battery.  

All that aside had you simply thrown in your two-cents politely you likely wouldn't have 'ruffled feathers'. Your post was akin to walking into a bar, hearing people talk about their expensive beer, then telling them how effin' stupid they were for drinking it, pee'ing in it and then wondering why they were insulted. Ok, maybe not pee'ing in it, but definitely the first one. Here's to my expensive beer.  

Elegantly stated.  

PS--I drink Busch from a can.  

[CheffoJeffo]

My attitude about people?  Wha?  I'd come at it the other way and suggest that maybe the problem here (if there is one) is you need to grow a thicker skin, if you're still holding a grudge for a single slightly off-side comment I made at the start of this conversation--I think it's been a pretty straight up discussion since then.  I'm sorry if anybody was insulted, I thought it should be reasonably obvious that I wasn't trying to imply that I literally think all you iPadders are stupid people or whatever; it was just an off-the-cuff quip.  Mea culpa.  

Fair enough ... it was, however, an obnoxious comment that is, I think by far, the single most insulting and belligerent commentary in this thread.

FWIW, If I ever do choose to hold a grudge against you, you'll know it ...  

 

[Cynicaster]

My attitude about people?  Wha?  I'd come at it the other way and suggest that maybe the problem here (if there is one) is you need to grow a thicker skin, if you're still holding a grudge for a single slightly off-side comment I made at the start of this conversation--I think it's been a pretty straight up discussion since then.  I'm sorry if anybody was insulted, I thought it should be reasonably obvious that I wasn't trying to imply that I literally think all you iPadders are stupid people or whatever; it was just an off-the-cuff quip.  Mea culpa.  

Fair enough ... it was, however, an obnoxious comment that is, I think by far, the single most insulting and belligerent commentary in this thread.

FWIW, If I ever do choose to hold a grudge against you, you'll know it ...  

 

Not the first time I've inadvertently pissed someone off with how I word an opinion.  I think I need to stop hanging around with the same group of buddies--we all break each others' balls incessantly and think nothing of it.  

Other than that, see the first 5 letters of my user name?  They have a backstory....

[Mikezilla]

BUSCH FROM A CAN!?!? Yes, I am in fact judging you. 

[versapak]

Yep, I agree with everything you say.  When faced between a decision to buy a laptop or an iPad, the former will win out.  I don't believe there are many people *needing a PC* making that decision though.  Either the person has an arsenal of computers already, and the iPad is just another device.  Or the person doesn't have any PC's (or just one), but sees it as an extension to his iPod or iPhone.  Bigger....yet runs the same apps.

If a college student has $800 to buy a laptop or an iPad, and chooses the iPad expecting it to be able write term papers for him, yes - he is an idiot.

I also forgot two more positives on the iPad side.  The apps are ridiculously cheap.  I've spent maybe $50 total and got everything I need or want, and it works on my iPhone and any future iOS device (like iPad) I buy in the future.  One major app in Windows cost more than that.  It's the low price-high sales  vs  high price-low sales formula.  You have economy of scale on your side (once you get past the initial price - yes, I agree its high).

The other benefit is the iPad works well for people who are technically challenged and have no desire or aptitude to learn a traditional computer interface, like Windows.  Take "format C:" away from them and they can do no harm.  

I have to say that I am going to college now, and I actually did use my iPad to type my term paper.


Now, I will say though...

The iPad version of Pages is barely more advanced than WordPad in Windows.

If you need all the bells and whistles of modern PC word processors, you definitely do not want to go with the iPad as a replacement. If you are capable of writing your paper without such things, then it is fine.

I actually did write everything on the iPad, and then sent to Word for my citations.




[EDIT]

Also...
What the hell?

I think we have this iPad debate going on in three different threads. I am having trouble keeping track of where I said what. lol

[robertsig]

More iCade goodness.  How about MAME? 

http://www.emucr.com/2011/07/imame4all-experimental-support-for_08.html

[Bender]

More iCade goodness.  How about MAME? 

http://www.emucr.com/2011/07/imame4all-experimental-support-for_08.html

Now were getting somewhere

[retrometro]

What started as an April Fool's joke is now a reality.  Any takers?

Looks like the latest version of MAME for iOS devices just got support for the iCade out of beta a week or so ago.  Here's an iCade running through some 0.37b5 romset games with iMAME4all

[retrometro]

It seems a good price for a pre-built, but why so many buttons? No vert game has that many buttons, and playing horizontal games like that would be terrible.

Can't have too many buttons.  :-)

[retrometro]

Whoa, WTF.  Finally read the rest of the thread and man, it went off outside of arcades, gaming, or the iCade altogether.  Lighten up ev1.