Comments on: What the iPad Is and Is Not http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:01:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-208826 John Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:07:00 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-208826 It has a lot of great qualities, e.g., pretty, responsive, tons of apps, great display, excellent battery life. But it is expensive. It has a lot of great qualities, e.g., pretty, responsive, tons of apps, great display, excellent battery life.
But it is expensive.

]]> By: GJ in NJ http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-203149 GJ in NJ Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:05:13 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-203149 As far as the limited software market is concerned, most people won't have a problem with there "only being" 140,000 apps available for the iPad. What Apple's successes seem to have in common is they concentrate on trying to do a few things very well, as opposed to trying to be everything for everybody. If you're upset that you won't be able to do intensive video editing or run professional accounting software on the iPad, you're missing the point. As far as the limited software market is concerned, most people won’t have a problem with there “only being” 140,000 apps available for the iPad.

What Apple’s successes seem to have in common is they concentrate on trying to do a few things very well, as opposed to trying to be everything for everybody. If you’re upset that you won’t be able to do intensive video editing or run professional accounting software on the iPad, you’re missing the point.

]]> By: SimplyForties http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-203134 SimplyForties Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:35:26 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-203134 I think it looks pretty neat. If not this generation then one or two down the line and I'll probably be trying to get one. I recently bought a Kindle and then this came out and I wondered if I'd jumped too soon. I read on my iPhone with the ereader app and, size of the screen notwithstanding, have no trouble with it. I wish the Kindle had a backlit display. I see lots of potential for the iPad and I'm pretty excited about it! I think it looks pretty neat. If not this generation then one or two down the line and I’ll probably be trying to get one. I recently bought a Kindle and then this came out and I wondered if I’d jumped too soon. I read on my iPhone with the ereader app and, size of the screen notwithstanding, have no trouble with it. I wish the Kindle had a backlit display. I see lots of potential for the iPad and I’m pretty excited about it!

]]> By: rb2001 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-203094 rb2001 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:28:31 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-203094 Nothing is ever as it seems. The "tablet" aspect of the iPad isn't going to be as important as the "App Store" aspect - the app store allows millions of people who don't really "get" software installation to participate in purchasing and installing software. The fact it's a tablet is still important - it's a differentiator. That buys Apple some time to convince people that the iPad is different from and thus better than other computers, even though it's main difference is that it's less feature-full, less expandable, and will have a more limited software market. Nothing is ever as it seems. The “tablet” aspect of the iPad isn’t going to be as important as the “App Store” aspect – the app store allows millions of people who don’t really “get” software installation to participate in purchasing and installing software.

The fact it’s a tablet is still important – it’s a differentiator. That buys Apple some time to convince people that the iPad is different from and thus better than other computers, even though it’s main difference is that it’s less feature-full, less expandable, and will have a more limited software market.

]]> By: csdx http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-203075 csdx Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:57:44 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-203075 the problem I have with it is the price range of the "higher end" models (read more storage space), bump into the cost of the lower end tablet pc's. And for my money, I'd rather have the tablet pc. Though, having to go through the app store for things is what's really killing it for me. Well, I guess I'll just have to wait for someone to hack it and figure out how to drop linux on the thing. the problem I have with it is the price range of the “higher end” models (read more storage space), bump into the cost of the lower end tablet pc’s. And for my money, I’d rather have the tablet pc.

Though, having to go through the app store for things is what’s really killing it for me. Well, I guess I’ll just have to wait for someone to hack it and figure out how to drop linux on the thing.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-203073 Andrew Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:49:09 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-203073 I see the IPAD for Mom and others who don't spend x hours a day on a computer and want a simple ecosystem that gets them connected to the interweb and enjoy media. This does that in a nutshell. I bought my mom a macbook after her PC took a dive. I wanted something simple and knew that the macbook would be overkill but it was the only option (I was not going to offer her up to the Vista gremlins (this was 1.5 years ago). Now I am going to buy her the IPAD and call it a day... and get the macbook back... I also the this as IPAD 1.0 - clearly there will be a demand for a more robust IPAD with other features for a more discerning demographic. Andrew I see the IPAD for Mom and others who don’t spend x hours a day on a computer and want a simple ecosystem that gets them connected to the interweb and enjoy media. This does that in a nutshell. I bought my mom a macbook after her PC took a dive. I wanted something simple and knew that the macbook would be overkill but it was the only option (I was not going to offer her up to the Vista gremlins (this was 1.5 years ago). Now I am going to buy her the IPAD and call it a day… and get the macbook back…

I also the this as IPAD 1.0 – clearly there will be a demand for a more robust IPAD with other features for a more discerning demographic.

Andrew

]]> By: mewithoutdebt http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-203071 mewithoutdebt Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:21:15 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-203071 Agreed. Here are my 3 simple reasons why ipad will fail at http://www.mewithoutdebt.com/2010/02/3-simple-reasons-why-ipad-will-fail.html Agreed. Here are my 3 simple reasons why ipad will fail at
http://www.mewithoutdebt.com/2010/02/3-simple-reasons-why-ipad-will-fail.html

]]> By: Matt http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202947 Matt Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:50:32 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202947 Smithee, You are killing me. I don't even know where to begin, instead, I will just say that I am done reading your drivel. Out. Smithee,
You are killing me. I don’t even know where to begin, instead, I will just say that I am done reading your drivel. Out.

]]> By: Mrs. Money http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202928 Mrs. Money Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:49:59 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202928 There's so much hype about the iPad! I think that they could have chosen a better name. :) There’s so much hype about the iPad! I think that they could have chosen a better name. :)

]]> By: Andrew @ Earn Give Save http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202927 Andrew @ Earn Give Save Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:13:05 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202927 There seems to be so much hate whenever Apple announces a new product, but the reality is that Steve Jobs has made very few missteps since he returned to Apple in 1997 (G4 Cube, Apple TV, namely). More often than not, Apple's product launches, particularly in new categories, redefine the categories themselves. By the time iPad 2.0 rolls out next January, it will be on its way to being Apple's next big hit. People are going to want one on their coffee table, end of story! There seems to be so much hate whenever Apple announces a new product, but the reality is that Steve Jobs has made very few missteps since he returned to Apple in 1997 (G4 Cube, Apple TV, namely). More often than not, Apple’s product launches, particularly in new categories, redefine the categories themselves. By the time iPad 2.0 rolls out next January, it will be on its way to being Apple’s next big hit. People are going to want one on their coffee table, end of story!

]]> By: Ryan @ SpillingBuckets http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202924 Ryan @ SpillingBuckets Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:13:26 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202924 The touch interaction and the fact that it is potentially an always on and always connected internet and media portal is still pretty cool for me. I agree with some of your drawbacks but I think this is a decent step towards significant information accessibility. I posted some fun calculations and found that the price is easily 5x what is advertised if you count in the wireless subscription and all the extra stuff you are likely to buy over its lifetime. It's just my way of trying to justify not buying it. : ) The touch interaction and the fact that it is potentially an always on and always connected internet and media portal is still pretty cool for me. I agree with some of your drawbacks but I think this is a decent step towards significant information accessibility.

I posted some fun calculations and found that the price is easily 5x what is advertised if you count in the wireless subscription and all the extra stuff you are likely to buy over its lifetime. It’s just my way of trying to justify not buying it. : )

]]> By: Jim http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202894 Jim Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:01:52 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202894 It looks neat. But it did strike me as just giant iPod touch. Bottom line the iPad is 40% more than a netbook and I don't see anything the iPad can do that a netbook can't. It looks neat. But it did strike me as just giant iPod touch. Bottom line the iPad is 40% more than a netbook and I don’t see anything the iPad can do that a netbook can’t.

]]> By: mga http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202893 mga Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:19:44 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202893 Quote: "I started imagining special iPad-sized apps for, say, Nurses, or engineers on oil drilling platforms, or cruise directors, or stage managers at fashion shows" Yes, if Apple gives these apps the stamp of their approval to be made available in the iPad store. That’s a huge downside of the iPad. Imagine your cruise company wants to use the iPad for their customer verification boarding check. The existing iPad apps aren't tailored to your needs. Your company then develops their own application or works with a software consultant to create one. Do you need to submit your app for approval to be sold on the iPad store? With traditional laptops (running Mac or Windows), you could just load up your app on all your laptops/desktops. Quote: “I started imagining special iPad-sized apps for, say, Nurses, or engineers on oil drilling platforms, or cruise directors, or stage managers at fashion shows”

Yes, if Apple gives these apps the stamp of their approval to be made available in the iPad store. That’s a huge downside of the iPad. Imagine your cruise company wants to use the iPad for their customer verification boarding check. The existing iPad apps aren’t tailored to your needs. Your company then develops their own application or works with a software consultant to create one. Do you need to submit your app for approval to be sold on the iPad store? With traditional laptops (running Mac or Windows), you could just load up your app on all your laptops/desktops.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202892 Kyle Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:18:39 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202892 As a developer, I hate developing for OSX. Microsoft makes things so much easier with .NET. I would use Java, but Apple has intentionally crippled the Mac version of the JVM. I find their tight controls very annoying and draconian. As a developer, I hate developing for OSX. Microsoft makes things so much easier with .NET. I would use Java, but Apple has intentionally crippled the Mac version of the JVM. I find their tight controls very annoying and draconian.

]]> By: Smithee http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202887 Smithee Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:48:46 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202887 The Mac Mini will have paid for itself in about a year, since it's allowed us to cancel the cable subscription. I didn't say that nobody should make over $150,000 a year. I said that there were very few jobs that actually <em>earn or deserve</em> that high of a salary. The Mac Mini will have paid for itself in about a year, since it’s allowed us to cancel the cable subscription.

I didn’t say that nobody should make over $150,000 a year. I said that there were very few jobs that actually earn or deserve that high of a salary.

]]> By: Erica Douglass http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/what-the-ipad-is-and-is-not/comment-page-1/#comment-202886 Erica Douglass Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:44:15 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=8362#comment-202886 "I’m happily using a Mac Mini as our entertainment hub at home (Boxee, Front Row and Hulu Desktop? Yes, thanks), I use a MacBook Pro for work, and both my wife and I have an iPhone." And you wonder why you have massive debt issues. Also, many people at Apple make over $150,000/year. Since you've said previously that no one should make over $150,000/year, shouldn't you be boycotting them? -Erica “I’m happily using a Mac Mini as our entertainment hub at home (Boxee, Front Row and Hulu Desktop? Yes, thanks), I use a MacBook Pro for work, and both my wife and I have an iPhone.”

And you wonder why you have massive debt issues.

Also, many people at Apple make over $150,000/year. Since you’ve said previously that no one should make over $150,000/year, shouldn’t you be boycotting them?

-Erica

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