iPad 2

[vidarh]

analysts?  like the ones that told everyone Apple was dead at $12 per share?  Or the ones that didn't see the GFC coming?

Apple's iPad is mimicing the iPod phenomenon: plenty of better quality mp3 players with more features and Apple still got 85% of the market.

The big difference is that the iPod is an accessory to iTunes, the iPod itself isn't really the product. People buy an iPod if they want the simplicity of the whole iTunes experience, not for the features of the device itself. It also has price options that are low enough for impulse buys even for people with relatively low income.

iPhone vs. Android has shown that that's very different in a situation where the price is higher and the functionality of the device itself is a bigger deal, even with the iPhone getting that significant head start.

The iPad is far more likely to play out like the iPhone than the iPod, with a massive surge early on but gradually being overtaken simply because the massive number of competitors filling a vast number of niches that matter, whereas in the music player market this is largely uninteresting.

[djrikki]

If I put aside for the moment, the fact I've been a happy Apple user for the last 5 years I find it fairly hard to find fault with what Apple is doing purely based on the fact the Windows PC still commands more than 90% of market share.  Its okay for Apple to protect the 'Apple way' really it is.  Any serious business that wants to be successful in any market creates a friendly image and sets standards.

Having said that I still don't see the point of an iPad for the average consumer.  A laptop does the same thing and much more and hey you use a mouse as standard.  Perhaps I am old fashioned, but I really don't see much of a need for touch-screen technology.  I laugh at phone adverts, "you can go on facebook", 'you can log on to youtube', 'you can tweet!' and 'check out google maps'.  Yeah brilliant I really need google maps in every day life to find my way around my own town, my tagline on hearing these adverts is: 'hey you can even call people and talk to them!'

I buy things that I 'need', not what I 'want' I suppose this goes against what a lot of people practice in this day and age.

[persia]

You really have to use a tablet to understand, it has a place that's quite different to a notebook.  I still have and use a MacBook in addition to my iPad.  Frankly for 90% of iPad usage a mouse would be worthless.

[persia]

I can copy files to and from my iPad quite easily, I can write code in a free IDE and run it on my iOS device.  I don't need anyones permission to do this.  

erm, you dont have to root it for any mundane task I mentioned. I can copy over mp3's or whatever as I want.

Only reason I rooted is to use some overclocking software and WiFi tethering. Which is understandable as it may breach the data plan.

Other than that, you can still do lots of stuff not available to iOS even un rooted. I can compile my OWN code on my computer, with a totally free provided IDE and RUN it on my device without asking permissions from anyone. Can you beat that ? :lol:

[dentunes]

There are going to people who get tablets, and people who don't. Just like people who get scooters and people who didn't. Utes, Vans, SUVs and so on.

If you don't see the benefit of it that doesn't mean there isn't any benefit. Thankfully, the world is made up of many different people with different needs. If not there would only be one brand and one model of computer on the market.

Could you imagine if the only computer on the market was an IBM PCjr? Nothing else to choose from. It was never updated as no one saw the need to update it as it was the only computer everyone used and needed?

Also, I like the argument that you can do everything on the Xoom, unlike the iPad. Seriously, what a crock. It is still an Android tablet using a touch interface. There are things both do and things one does the other doesn't. I am sure they are both great tablets. Buy the one you want or buy neither.

It is everyone's choice. Trying to convince other people of one's opinions to be their own is a blatant waste of time.

If you listen to some people there would be 5 computers in the world that had no more than 640k RAM and no bigger than a 14" screen! (IBM, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs)

[Digiman]

You really have to use a tablet to understand, it has a place that's quite different to a notebook.  I still have and use a MacBook in addition to my iPad.  Frankly for 90% of iPad usage a mouse would be worthless.

True, but a 2006 Centrino tablet PC from Fujitsu is still the superior product. iPad is for clueless losers and fanboys (same thing)

[gertsy]

I think the iPad is for people who have everything.
It is easy to see why they don't have SD or USB.  If you want more storage you buy the bigger one.  (o:  It might be a simple thing but it typifies the reality that is Apple.

Flash is still missing from the browsing experience.

But I agree with Bloodline on one thing.  Tailoring the OS/Software to the hardware is the way to go.  
Maybe they could collaborate with some partners out there though, so they get some corporate IT friends otherwise things are going to get very lonely.

[lsmart]

.  Its okay for Apple to protect the 'Apple way' really it is.

Unless the new Apple way solely consists of protecting the Apple way. Kind of like governments.

I can copy files to and from my iPad quite easily, I can write code in a free IDE and run it on my iOS device.  I don't need anyones permission to do this.

In other words you did a jailbreak. Which means you practically lost some of the fabled benefits of apples walled garden.

Don´t get me wrong. I am a Mac user and have been since they bought NeXT. And I think my iPhone is a landmark in mobile history, but I none the less honestly believe that all Apple DRM sucks big time, is a major turnoff and completely antidemocratic.

[ElPolloDiabl]

Maybe the companies could have an unlocked Extreme Edition of their product for the tinkerers. But I think they like consumers to remain like zombies.

[the_leander]

In other words you did a jailbreak. Which means you practically lost some of the fabled benefits of apples walled garden.

Cracking phones so as to allow tethering is hardly new  or exclusive to Apple. It should also be noted that it is the phone networks who demand this, so that they can then charge for a higher tier of service from customers to allow it. I imagine that Apple would probably otherwise have left the facility in place.

[CodePoet]

*ahem*

LOL IPAD

//EOF

[vidarh]

Maybe they could collaborate with some partners out there though, so they get some corporate IT friends otherwise things are going to get very lonely.

Their stated policy is pretty much the opposite: They want to own the whole stack, hence their CPUs for the iPad etc.. Expect them to try to get rid of their partners one by one everywhere else too, as soon as they think it's viable.

[bloodline]

If I may draw the discussion for a moment.

If we put ourselves in Apple's position, how do we survive as a business?

A few years ago computers became commodity devices, you didn't need to think about the system you were getting and what tasks you wanted to do... You just bought a computer... When it broke, you bought a new one... The computer was reduced to a device that was little more than a washing machine.

The market is flooded with computer devices, the hardware is now basically an irrelevance. Content is all that matters now. What Apple had to do to survive is change from being a computer company to being a content provider, and that is how we need to look at them.

The iPad, iPod, iPhone, iTunes are all content delivery platforms. As such they seem alien to us oldschool computer users. At least 60% of computer users today are not oldschool computer users, they only really want to consume content.

Now when I want to create content, I use a Mac... Which is a computer in the old sense, but when I sell that content I'm selling it to people who consume content.

[Franko]

The iPad, iPod, iPhone, iTunes are all content delivery platforms. As such they seem alien to us oldschool computer users. At least 60% of computer users today are not oldschool computer users, they only really want to consume content.

I think that's why I have such a dislike for PCs & Macs, to me only ever having used the Amiga made me realise that home computing was something a wee bit special and never saw the Amiga as something I used just for consuming it's content...

It was all about learning how to program/expand/tinker & be creative with it, I guess your right about most computer users today seeing them as nothing more than just another gadget that they use for nothing more than playing games or browsing the net, downloading music etc...

Shame really, as there is a hell of a lot more you can do with a computer than just browsing, downloading or game playing...

[bloodline]

@Franko

I agree, from our perspective it is bizarre that someone doesn't want to get under the hood and have a tinker... But that is the reality we are in and Apple do provide an outlet for people like us, on your MacOSX install DVD there is a directory called "Development", install it and then have a play with your Mac development environment. There are some fun technologies hidden in there!

-Edit- almost forgot, if you develop something cool you can easily sell it to other Mac users via the Mac App Store... Earn a bit of cash

[Franko]

@Franko

I agree, from our perspective it is bizarre that someone doesn't want to get under the hood and have a tinker... But that is the reality we are in and Apple do provide an outlet for people like us, on your MacOSX install DVD there is a directory called "Development", install it and then have a play with your Mac development environment. There are some fun technologies hidden in there!

-Edit- almost forgot, if you develop something cool you can easily sell it to other Mac users via the Mac App Store... Earn a bit of cash

I had noticed that directory when I re-installed one of my Macs but to be honest I though it was just something to do with bug-reporting to Apple and never actually even looked in it and just deleted it instead...

Gonna  re-install it and have a look, sounds interesting...