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With 128GB, iPad Hits Surface Pro, Ultrabook Territory

noh8rz10 writes "Holy moly! iPad gets a heavyweight sibling, clicking in at 128GB. This places it in range of storage for Surface Pro and ultrabooks. It's clearly targeted at the professional market, as the press release cites X-rays and CAD files as reasons. Should Microsoft be afraid? Methinks so. Best part, pricing is growing by log 2. Just as the 32GB version is $100 more than the 16, and the 64 is $100 more than the 32, this new version is $100 more than the 64!" Update: 01/29 16:00 GMT by T : Here's Apple's announcement itself.

32 of 501 comments (clear)

  1. Uh yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Because the amount of storage is the only things that's different between an ipad and an ultrabook...

    1. Re:Uh yeah by characterZer0 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Unless they have to type.

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    2. Re:Uh yeah by jtownatpunk.net · · Score: 5, Funny

      Clearly you've never read business emails. The keyboard, it does nothing!

    3. Re:Uh yeah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I own a ultrabook. It is my main workstation. I have nginx, php, ruby, java, sqlite, mysql, some IDEs and all the unix toolkit at my disposition.

      Do that with you iPad. Oh wait, you can't.

      So get over yourself.

    4. Re:Uh yeah by alen · · Score: 4, Funny

      only retarts cant type on an ipad

      its very easy

    5. Re:Uh yeah by sl4shd0rk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because the amount of storage is the only things that's different between an ipad and an ultrabook...

      Oh, actually there are quite a few differences:

      1) You don't need a special repository to install software on your Ultrabook.

      2) Most Ultrabooks will let you install another OS

      3) You have a better chance of upgrading/replacing the components in your Ultrabook.

      4) Ultrabooks have standard connectors for peripherals

      5) I've yet to hear sneering from an Ultrabook owner directed at someone who doesn't have one

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    6. Re:Uh yeah by dinfinity · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Woosh.

    7. Re:Uh yeah by NatasRevol · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Oh no, Apple will sell (10M-1).

      In other words, your edge case isn't relevant.

      So get over yourself.

      --
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    8. Re:Uh yeah by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How many people are taking an extra screen with them for when they use their laptop? How many people break out that bluetooth keyboard when they need to type on their tablet?

      Those things do exist but I would say that over 95% (I know percentages *sigh*) of people who use tablets do not have a separate keyboard. My own observation from where I work: 67 Ipads, 123 iphones, 35 android based phones, and 1 bluetooth keyboard. The bluetooth keyboard is used with an android phone.

    9. Re:Uh yeah by halltk1983 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I have a logitech keyboard case for my ipad. I use it in all my meetings to take notes, send emails, etc. Much easier than ending all my SSH sessions, closing out IRC and other comms systems, unhooking my extra monitors and dragging along the laptop. The tablet with the keyboard is like a 10" laptop, and it types fine, even with my large hands. It's a little cramped, but not much worse than the laptop keyboard.

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    10. Re:Uh yeah by halltk1983 · · Score: 3, Informative

      I've had my case/keyboard for about 6 months. I've charged it twice. I use it all the time. It lasts about 3 months per charge for me, and it lets me know about 3 days before the battery runs out I should charge it. And it uses micro-usb. And takes about an hour to charge using my cell phone's charger.

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      Watch for Penguins, they eat Apples and throw rocks at Windows.
    11. Re:Uh yeah by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Interesting

      He covered all your points. His case is a keyboard, and charging something once every few months does not really add overhead.

      As for "more functional" I would argue the iPad at this point is more functional for a small form-factor device, simply because all the software (and there is a LOT of software) is designed to work in that space. On a "real PC" as the Surface Pro is, you are going to be running a lot of PC software really built for larger displays. If all you are doing is browsing and running word I'm sure the Surface Pro is fine; some of us want more capability.

      The Surface Pro is a Macbook Air competitor, not really an iPad competitor... even if the Surface does have touch.

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  2. But I can do stuff with an Ultrabook by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Besides content consumption, that is...

    1. Re:But I can do stuff with an Ultrabook by slashmydots · · Score: 5, Informative

      I can do even more amazing tricks with my Toshiba Portege Ultrabook: run almost any software ever written, type on it with physical feedback (and backlit keys), attach USB flash drives to it, join a Windows domain, backup an entire disk image to external media on a USB 3.0 port, run MS Office, run Adobe CS6, upgrade or downgrade the OS, upgrade the RAM, upgrade the SSD, upgrade the webcam, and play legacy games. If anyone still thinks their ipad is an ultrabook, they're really not helping the "Apple fanboys are delusional" stereotype. I mean, yeah, they are and it's not a stereotype but still.

    2. Re:But I can do stuff with an Ultrabook by Old97 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't know why some idiot scored you as "informative". There is more to content creation than programming. Development may not be possible on a tablet, but you certainly can create a lot of other content. Diagrams, documents, artwork, video, music, etc. Want a physical keyboard? Well just like a Surface Pro you can select from a variety of keyboards. Mine is part of the cover, real keys, lasts 40 hours of use and recharges with microUSB. Personally, I'd prefer an ultrabook because I do development and I'm a geek, but for most people tablets like the iPad fit their needs very well.

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  3. redundant by Nossie · · Score: 3, Insightful

    why the hell is this on slashdot? Seriously - I love apple products but this is ridiculous.

    A:) It was inevitable that Apple would bring out a 128GB product
    B:) I fully believe Ipads are eating into ultrabooks, surfaces and general notebook sales - but capacity is not why! Convenience is why.

    Ultrabooks and notebooks still have their uses and are NOT comparable to Ipads. The only thing people have been questioning is if their usage really requires the limitations (size) of ultrabooks.

    The surface and Surface Pro will likely fail on their own merits, just like the XP tablets from before.

    Redundant article is redundant.

  4. Re:Are you sure? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Also, it's not in their news section.

    And the linked article doesn't cite any sources.

  5. ridiculous! by slashmydots · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With 128GB, iPad Hits Surface Pro, Ultrabook Territory

    You get 100% of the software from the Apple App store, it doesn't take MicroSD, and doesn't have a USB port. Keep fucking dreaming but that's not an ultrabook.

    1. Re:ridiculous! by Murdoch5 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      When I can run Matlab at full power on a tablet at the same time as transcoding a video and doing a folding computation then I'll give the tablet a computer rating.

  6. A computer device is getting a bigger HD! by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    the deuce you say, sir!

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  7. Re:Are you sure? by TimHunter · · Score: 4, Informative

    Available Feb 5, according to Apple's press release. http://www.cultofmac.com/212986/apple-will-start-selling-128gb-ipad-next-week/

  8. The pricing is still a bit ridiculous by Bagels · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Logarithmic pricing or not, if you're paying a $300 premium for this version of the iPad (vs. the 16GB version), that's a seriously lousy price on flash storage; typical SSD prices these days are on the order of $180 for a 250GB SSD (and I've seen sale prices as low as $140-150). Apple's doing this with a lot of other products these days, too: the RAM on their laptops isn't user-serviceable any more, so you have to buy it built-in at hugely inflated prices.

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    1. Re:The pricing is still a bit ridiculous by timeOday · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Yes - the 128GB version is $100 more than the 64 GB version - a difference of 64 GB - but a 64 GB SD card is less than $50.

      The lack of a MicroSD slot on the Apple products is a complete racket.

  9. Re:And not a single by SJHillman · · Score: 4, Informative

    In addition to their existing 128GB model that's referenced in the summary? Or do you mean a 128GB model that actually has 128GB, not 83GB plus a 45GB OS?

  10. Only stupid people think so by TheSkepticalOptimist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The whole point of Surface Pro is to actually develop apps on it, its a hybrid device that is a little tablet and a little laptop. Only stupid people think that iPad with 128gb of storage is intended to compete with Surface Pro, or Ultrabooks for that matter.

    Until Apple allows the iPad to support content creation (true content creation, not the limited "hold your hands" approach to content creation that it currently has), then I don't think anybody should confuse iPad in the same market as Ultrabooks, or the jack of all trades Surface Pro.

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  11. Re:And not a single by thoth · · Score: 4, Informative

    OP is talking about Windows Surface, where Win 8 or Win RT eats up a lot of storage.

  12. Re:More hyperbole please! by nomadic · · Score: 5, Funny

    When you spend your days in a Williamsburgh coffee shop, waiting for your family to send the rent check while you wait for some employer to recognize the value of your BFA in Film Studies, sometimes Apple love is all you have. Well, that and the muttonchops.

  13. Meh! Apple Bapple. by DarthVain · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So a 1000$ iPad with 128GB storage. So overpriced with limited storage for a Ultrabook...

    A more apt comparison might be that I just bought a Samsung Galaxy S 3 for 50$ (plus 3yr contract of course), and spent 60$ to put an additional 64GB microSD card in it. I got the cheap 16GB version so I *only* have 80GB of storage. However this has been available for about 7 months now, not currently not released.

    I would guess this trend will only continue to get bigger/better. I broke the chains to Apple a week ago, and that is one of the reasons why.

    Another reason why? Well an ultrabook usually runs a real processor, not a mobile one (well a mobile version of a real processor). By that I mean something made by Intel or AMD, not Motorola, VIA, designed by ARM, or called A#, or Snapdragon, etc...

    It is a stupid comparion. Its just a mobile device with more "apple" memory than they have allowed in the past. Considering two 64GB microSD chips cost a grand total of 120$ retail, one can see how Apple makes its money with such high margins.

  14. Re:And not a single by paiute · · Score: 4, Funny

    128GB should be enough for anyone.

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  15. Re:And not a single by SJHillman · · Score: 3

    I'm not sure why I was modded informative either. My first point was the AC I was replying to was too thick to read the summary and realize the 128GB iPad was in response to the 128GB Surface Pro, so Microsoft will not "have to come out with" a 128GB model. My second point was that in spite of already having a 128GB Surface Pro, it's limited to about 83GB after the OS and other stuff that comes on it, whereas the iPads typicially give you much closer to the amount of storage they're sold as having.

    In my opinion, the iPad is overpriced for what it does anyway, and the only real advantage of the Surface Pro is to run x86 programs - but even that is a niche because it's competing against less expensive laptops/netbooks with the same level of portability and some even have touchscreens. I'll happily stick to my Nook Color with Cyanogenmod for my tablet needs.

  16. Oh? by EnsilZah · · Score: 3, Insightful

    So the iPad can run x86 code now?
    No?
    Does it have a pressure sensitive stylus now?
    No?
    So all this story is about is extending capacity that I can achieve with a $40 USB dongle on the aforementioned devices?

  17. Why do you assume Apple's SSD is that slow? by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Informative

    but a 64 GB SD card is less than $50.

    The desire to not have ignorant users like yourself gimp the iPad with slow flash memory is why Apple does not have an SD port. Come to think of it, that is also why GOOGLE is building more devices now without an SD port now also. Performance is guaranteed.

    The iPad 3 had storage they can write to at up to 22MB/s, and read from at 78MB/s... the card you listed can do neither of those things as quickly despite the 50MB/s claim on the front.

    If you really want to attach an SD card to read movies or media from just buy a camera connection kit and attach it to the iPad that way.

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