SpeedGeek
05-01-2010, 11:22 AM
Ok, I know some of you are panning it because it doesn't have a full general purpose desktop os, or because you don't get full access to the storage directly....
To the "not a full os camp", show me ONE example of a successful tablet device using a full os... There aren't any. Why? Because the full desktop os isn't designed for interaction through a stylus or touch, but rather for mouse and keyboard. Even if they put a nice shell on top, the second you load up any desktop application, you are right back in the problem of ui. Plus a full desktop os requires way more CPU and memory, which means more battery, more heat, more weight.
However, I have to say this thing is a joy to use! If you use it for what it was intended for, media consumption, it really is nice! I've loaded up a bunch of apps ,including a Few to get around a few of the limitations and it has been very snappy performance (way wAy faster than my iPhone 3G) and very easy to use. I haven't used the 3G yet though. Not sure I am going to. I'm considering picking up a sprint overdrive 4g unit to replace the 3G AT&T USB dongle that I use on the laptop. Sprint's signal is way better at my office and for what I am paying right now for the AT&T dongle +iPad data plan I could get the sprint 4g which is way faster. Well see.
Book reading is pretty nice on it, both through iBooks and PDFs throguh GoodReader. I have the kindle app but haven't tried it yet.
One big plus is that this will be way easier to use on business trips. Because I am in grAd school and don't like to do school stuff on my work machine, I have been forced to lug around 2 full laptops when traveling for work. This iPad will probably replace my personal MacBook for trips and cut both security line hassle and bag weight down as well.
As far as the lack of Flash -eh not a big deal for me. Very few sites that I frequent use it, and frankly I HATE how some sites way overuse it (there is NO reason an entire site should be in flash!) So far I really haven't had any issues with lacking it, but ymmv.
The netflix and ABC streaming video has been great. I am going to set up air video this weekend on my HTPC so I can stream from that machine's recordings as well and maybe try to get it where I can control the htpc remotely as well.
The virtual keyboard is much nicer than the iphone one. I'm composing this post using it in landscape mode...
iPhone apps- well games aren't bad in 2x mode, but anything text looks like ass and worse, when you go to type anything in, it posps up the iPhone keyboard, not the iPad one and the iPhone on just looks horribly wrong on this thing. Useable, but not ideal, so you'll want to get iPad versions of your apps. Most of the ones I use a lot on the phone already have been converted over.
Overall I am quite happy. I will be using the iPhone for phone and music and photo taking, and "in a pinch" browsing stuff, the pad for videos, books, web surfing and even school note taking stuff. The MacBook will be used for more heavy duty mobile activities (homework assignments, mobile content creation) and the Mac pro stays king of all, for hard core programming, gaming, video editing/converting, etc.
And as far a the "magical" experience- I hate to say it, but it kinda is! It just feels more organic interacting with the computer via touch, swiping and pointing/picking things than moving around a cursor with a mouse. Yeah it is just a big iPod touch, but that size increase is what facilitates the increased usefulness.
Anyhow, go ahead and start the bashing...
To the "not a full os camp", show me ONE example of a successful tablet device using a full os... There aren't any. Why? Because the full desktop os isn't designed for interaction through a stylus or touch, but rather for mouse and keyboard. Even if they put a nice shell on top, the second you load up any desktop application, you are right back in the problem of ui. Plus a full desktop os requires way more CPU and memory, which means more battery, more heat, more weight.
However, I have to say this thing is a joy to use! If you use it for what it was intended for, media consumption, it really is nice! I've loaded up a bunch of apps ,including a Few to get around a few of the limitations and it has been very snappy performance (way wAy faster than my iPhone 3G) and very easy to use. I haven't used the 3G yet though. Not sure I am going to. I'm considering picking up a sprint overdrive 4g unit to replace the 3G AT&T USB dongle that I use on the laptop. Sprint's signal is way better at my office and for what I am paying right now for the AT&T dongle +iPad data plan I could get the sprint 4g which is way faster. Well see.
Book reading is pretty nice on it, both through iBooks and PDFs throguh GoodReader. I have the kindle app but haven't tried it yet.
One big plus is that this will be way easier to use on business trips. Because I am in grAd school and don't like to do school stuff on my work machine, I have been forced to lug around 2 full laptops when traveling for work. This iPad will probably replace my personal MacBook for trips and cut both security line hassle and bag weight down as well.
As far as the lack of Flash -eh not a big deal for me. Very few sites that I frequent use it, and frankly I HATE how some sites way overuse it (there is NO reason an entire site should be in flash!) So far I really haven't had any issues with lacking it, but ymmv.
The netflix and ABC streaming video has been great. I am going to set up air video this weekend on my HTPC so I can stream from that machine's recordings as well and maybe try to get it where I can control the htpc remotely as well.
The virtual keyboard is much nicer than the iphone one. I'm composing this post using it in landscape mode...
iPhone apps- well games aren't bad in 2x mode, but anything text looks like ass and worse, when you go to type anything in, it posps up the iPhone keyboard, not the iPad one and the iPhone on just looks horribly wrong on this thing. Useable, but not ideal, so you'll want to get iPad versions of your apps. Most of the ones I use a lot on the phone already have been converted over.
Overall I am quite happy. I will be using the iPhone for phone and music and photo taking, and "in a pinch" browsing stuff, the pad for videos, books, web surfing and even school note taking stuff. The MacBook will be used for more heavy duty mobile activities (homework assignments, mobile content creation) and the Mac pro stays king of all, for hard core programming, gaming, video editing/converting, etc.
And as far a the "magical" experience- I hate to say it, but it kinda is! It just feels more organic interacting with the computer via touch, swiping and pointing/picking things than moving around a cursor with a mouse. Yeah it is just a big iPod touch, but that size increase is what facilitates the increased usefulness.
Anyhow, go ahead and start the bashing...