iPad complaint thread.

[shmokes]

I have a Nintendo Wii.  The graphics are pretty limited compared to a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360.  It's pretty similarly powerful to a Gamecube.  I like the IR pointer, but the motion controls are pretty rudimentary and unreliable.  There are some really good games for it, but most of them are 1st party games.  The 3rd party games are generally not great quality, but strangely even the really good 3rd party games don't often sell very well on the platform.  Perhaps this is partially the reason that 3rd party publishers don't put in the time/expense to deliver really polished games for the platform.

[patrickl]

The iPad:
I want it for surfing the internet on the couch, reading e-mails etc.
I want if for reading and scrolling through PDF's when I'm working on a cab
I want it for showing my (family) pics to friends and family
I want it for small-party (2/3 people) instructions (presentations) that I give (where a beamer is just a joke)

A netbook is much more suitable to those needs and at half the price of an iPad. For the same money as an iPad you can buy one with a swiveling touchscreen that you can even turn into a tablet if you must.

[shmokes]

I don't know about that.  I played with a friend's iPad for a few minutes and it felt very speedy.  Also the PDF support was awesome.  He had a program that gave him like 8 different colored highlighters and you could highlight and annotate PDFs super quickly and intuitively -- great for school work, which is what I would want it for (if I wasn't about to graduate).  In terms of surfing the internet on the couch, I don't know.  A netbook would have Flash, which would make the experience better, but again, the iPad is very speedy, and the form factor is pretty great.  As far as showing family pics to family and friends, I can't really imagine a netbook is better than the iPad.  It's such a simple task, and one that is done extremely well on the iPad, that I think at best a netbook could match it.

If you were making arguments about legit productivity (Word, Excel) then I think your argument would be pretty opened and closed.  The iPad lacks a hardware keyboard.  The end.  But to suggest that the iPad does nothing better than a Netbook is just pointless Apple hating.

[patrickl]

I didn't suggest that.

[danny_galaga]

I'm thinking that things the Ipad doesn't have, Apple anticipate being obsolete fairly soon (in regards to what the Ipad is for- browsing etc). And that even if that weren't the case, the mere fact of the Ipad becoming a huge seller will make it so...

They've got their ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- together nowadays, whether you like their products or not...

[Ed_McCarron]

Maybe they don't care about browsing this web.  I hear next month they are releasing a new cybernetic implant to allow you to browse the AppleWeb where they control everything - you included.

[RayB]

I've used a Netbook and surfing its tiny screen with scrollbars and a trackpad or "nub" is just getting "archaic".  PEOPLE! you gotta look at more than just a generalized feature list! All cars have 4 wheels and 1 steering wheel but they don't all drive the same.

[patrickl]

I've used a Netbook and surfing its tiny screen with scrollbars and a trackpad or "nub" is just getting "archaic".  PEOPLE! you gotta look at more than just a generalized feature list! All cars have 4 wheels and 1 steering wheel but they don't all drive the same.

Netbooks come with touchscreens too and you can switch to fullscreen.

Netbooks have keyboards so you can properly type when you want to write something on a forum, e-mail or whatever and you can set them down and still read the screen.

I had the same idea, that browsing the web on a tablet would be the coolest ever, but I was done with that in a week and now never do it anymore. I guess if you really only read and don't mind holding the thing in your hands all the time then you'd be fine.

[Level42]

I've used a Netbook and surfing its tiny screen with scrollbars and a trackpad or "nub" is just getting "archaic".  PEOPLE! you gotta look at more than just a generalized feature list! All cars have 4 wheels and 1 steering wheel but they don't all drive the same.

Netbooks come with touchscreens too and you can switch to fullscreen.

Netbooks have keyboards so you can properly type when you want to write something on a forum, e-mail or whatever and you can set them down and still read the screen.

I had the same idea, that browsing the web on a tablet would be the coolest ever, but I was done with that in a week and now never do it anymore. I guess if you really only read and don't mind holding the thing in your hands all the time then you'd be fine.

You know the funny thing is that you have never ever touched the damn thing, and you are already so full of hate for it.

But even IF you will ever work with it, you will dish it just because you want to because it's an Apple product.
Somethings in life are just pointless. Like trying to convince an Apple hater of it's GOOD points.

The funny thing is, that in this country where Patrick and I live, Apple used to be a _very_ minor party. The number of Mac users was really only the guys in music and graphics/video.
Now, there are a shitload of Apple stores, you can buy their products on every street corner, yet they never aired ONE TV commercial over here.

I'd say there _must_ be something about their products that people seem to like.

And history repeats itself: The iPod had the same critiques. It lacked this and that, there were _so_ many alike devices already on the market, the price was too high, well I don't have to explain who's the market leader in the MP3 player market now.
When the iPhone came, the same story.

The iPad will have the same effect. I know you laugh now, but we'll talk a bit more in about a year or so.....

[syph007]

Oh I'm about the biggest apple hater around... everyone I know is as well.  I admit im not their target market, but the arrogance of steve jobs in those product launches really really drives the hatred.   The ipad... i wont tell you why you need it.. just that you need it.. its the best INTERNET experience ever for some reason.. blah blah magic blah blah...  He will somehow have you think he invented the tablet pc.. i was using one in 2004 and thinking it was stupid then.  I still believe its a hard sell to find a device niche between phone and laptop that ISNT a netbook.  I can see the reader reason, but thats what those eInk devices are for, this ipad crap is a regular LCD?

I find everything about them to be insulting to my intelligence.  I realize they market to the lowest common denominator so that they have a wider audience... but sheesh.   I'm old, i remember laughing at people who had macs back in the day.. they should have died off as a company back in the 80's/90's.  I've written apps for palm, windows mobile, blackberry, android and I felt by way of peer pressure to try writing for the ipad.  Horrid crap is all I can say.

[patrickl]

I've used a Netbook and surfing its tiny screen with scrollbars and a trackpad or "nub" is just getting "archaic".  PEOPLE! you gotta look at more than just a generalized feature list! All cars have 4 wheels and 1 steering wheel but they don't all drive the same.

Netbooks come with touchscreens too and you can switch to fullscreen.

Netbooks have keyboards so you can properly type when you want to write something on a forum, e-mail or whatever and you can set them down and still read the screen.

I had the same idea, that browsing the web on a tablet would be the coolest ever, but I was done with that in a week and now never do it anymore. I guess if you really only read and don't mind holding the thing in your hands all the time then you'd be fine.

You know the funny thing is that you have never ever touched the damn thing, and you are already so full of hate for it.

I don't hate the device. Just saying that I have a similar device (acually I have several tablet devices) and that like Protokatie, I was disappointed with each of them up to a point.

Since you claim I'm a hater, I'd like to propose that it is in fact YOU who has the clouded judgement. How many tablet devices do you own (or have you owned)? I'm guessing zero. Now Apple comes out with one and all of a sudden you *must* have one. You are basically the prototype fanatic. Everything Apple makes is "the best evar".

[Dartful Dodger]

I normally avoid these Hitler subtitle movies but...
Hitler's iPhone app is rejected by Apple:

What kind of name is Jobs anyway?

Probably Jewish.

[patrickl]

I've written apps for palm, windows mobile, blackberry, android and I felt by way of peer pressure to try writing for the ipad.  Horrid crap is all I can say.

Yeah I'm from the same era.

I get so tired of these "new" and amazing apps that keep coming out for the iPhone. Everytime it's the giddy "omgz it's so amazing. Look what it can do". When I just sigh and reply "Ehm yeah I could do that with my Palm Vx a decade ago".

Still I could see the iPad being a nice alternative to a regular ebook reader. It has the right size screen and it has color. It's a bit expensive for just that though. Also, again a tablet Netbook would do the same and much more for still less money.

[Level42]

I've used a Netbook and surfing its tiny screen with scrollbars and a trackpad or "nub" is just getting "archaic".  PEOPLE! you gotta look at more than just a generalized feature list! All cars have 4 wheels and 1 steering wheel but they don't all drive the same.

Netbooks come with touchscreens too and you can switch to fullscreen.

Netbooks have keyboards so you can properly type when you want to write something on a forum, e-mail or whatever and you can set them down and still read the screen.

I had the same idea, that browsing the web on a tablet would be the coolest ever, but I was done with that in a week and now never do it anymore. I guess if you really only read and don't mind holding the thing in your hands all the time then you'd be fine.

You know the funny thing is that you have never ever touched the damn thing, and you are already so full of hate for it.

I don't hate the device. Just saying that I have a similar device (acually I have several tablet devices) and that like Protokatie, I was disappointed with each of them up to a point.

Since you claim I'm a hater, I'd like to propose that it is in fact YOU who has the clouded judgement. How many tablet devices do you own (or have you owned)? I'm guessing zero. Now Apple comes out with one and all of a sudden you *must* have one. You are basically the prototype fanatic. Everything Apple makes is "the best evar".

I'd say that makes the score equal.

I haven't used any touch devices, but I've been a PC (windows) user for a long time (against my will mostly, I managed to keep using my Atari ST way into the 90's) and I even supported them (hell I'm a MCSE) and in fact THIS has turned me away from PC's and made me go look for an alternative. I'm happy with my Mac, I'm happy with my iPod, I've used the iPhone a good number of times, I am feeling very safe in saying that if there's one manufacturer capable of making a touch tablet device _WORK_ it is indeed Apple.


And god am I tired of those Hitler subtitle movies, it was funny with the first .....one or so but it has SO run it's course.

And I do think that remark about Steve Jobs is actually pretty discriminating and should not be on this forum.

My parents suffered as kids in the war. It was not a joke to have hunger, to have to leave family, walk for days to go live with unknown people because there was food there, having your hometown bombarded (Rotterdam) to oblivion. To have a brother who was shot by the Nazi's. Talk to my parents about the war and you may think again about these "funny" vids...

It also hurts a brilliant movie.

[patrickl]

That hardly makes the score equal. There is nothing superspecial that one can do for webbrowsing or book reading. Turning a page or clicking a link really isn't rocket science.

Besides, if all the technical problems that people are reporting (weak WiFi, overheating, charging problems) are anything to go by then I'd say you lost that bet already.

I'm sure it will sell well though. Apple users generally don't seem to care.

[shmokes]

Still I could see the iPad being a nice alternative to a regular ebook reader. It has the right size screen and it has color. It's a bit expensive for just that though.

If by expensive you mean $10 more than a Kindle.   

[danny_galaga]

It also hurts a brilliant movie.

Bloody brilliant movie. I urge anyone who hasn't seen it to do it now! And don't look at any more of those stupid 'hitler rage' clips...

[patrickl]

Still I could see the iPad being a nice alternative to a regular ebook reader. It has the right size screen and it has color. It's a bit expensive for just that though.

If by expensive you mean $10 more than a Kindle.   

Indeed that Kindle (the large model at least) seems too expensive too.

Still, since it doesn't have the e-ink and thus outdoor use is limited, it's more a competitor to reading e-books on a netbook. In that sense you can buy a netbook for half the price and you can use it for more than just e-book reading.

[solidteezme]

Never seen E-ink in action,

But that kindle thing can only display ebooks, for the price that seems fairly crappy unless you have thousands upon thousands of ebooks.

For $10 more i think i would take home the ipad,

[patrickl]

Never seen E-ink in action,

But that kindle thing can only display ebooks, for the price that seems fairly crappy unless you have thousands upon thousands of ebooks.

For $10 more i think i would take home the ipad,

Or you pay half that for the 6" model ...

[shmokes]

The iPad has that too.  It's called the iPhone.   

[solidteezme]

The iPad has that too.  It's called the iPhone.   

Well the ipod touch , correct me if im wrong but the ipad isnt a phone.

[patrickl]

The iPad has that too.  It's called the iPhone.   

That's more like a 3" model.

[CheffoJeffo]

The iPad has that too.  It's called the iPhone.   

That's more like a 3" model.

There is a joke in there somewhere ... I wonder if Mrs shmokes would laugh ...

[hypernova]

I realize they market to the lowest common denominator

They also prefer the ones with money apparently spilling out of their accounts.

I'm amazed.  It's the first time shmokes has been decent in his evaluation of the Wii.  So where's the outrage for the iPad's initial shortcomings, which we all know it has quite a few?  You're practically gushing over the thing.

[shmokes]

LOL . . . my Wii post was 100% just making fun of Malenko's post immediately above it.  I have to admit to being a little bit disappointed for getting no reaction.