Sorry, but any potable music with a dedicated reset button screams "I crash a lot". Why waste the hardware to put one in if you're confident about the OS you're running? If your iPod is crashing so often, I suggest you get Apple to replace it, because it's not normal. There is also a power button and it can turn the device completely off if you want to.
As for altering filenames. There is a preference in iTunes for that.
What about doctors and other professions? Perhaps we should be lowering how much they earn to keep out the financially motivated? How well do you think that would go? Plenty of good doctors would simply do something else if they felt they weren't being compensated enough for their work.
What makes you think that you are capable of having such thoughts in such a state? If they are actually able to answer questions, that may not mean they have a normal cognitive process. Many people who have been in comas often report a pleasant, dream-like state. This state could be anywhere in-between or completely different altogether.
I'm interested to know why so many people assume it must be horrible. For starters, you're in a different state of mind to most people and you might not even be able to comprehend the idea of being "shut-in" to begin with. It might just be like when you're half asleep and half awake, and not necessarily unpleasant at all.
If I was in a permanent vegetative state I would love it if someone disconnected me, especially if I was conscious. Being awake in what is essentially a dead body sounds like a small slice of hell to me.
For all you know it could be like a pleasant dream.
If you want to talk about restrictions, most of the world can't watch Hulu. As for the rest of the video sites, they'll eventually start offering HTML 5 support if they want to stay relevant. YouTube has already started.
What about the latest iPhone, then? It has screws (plain old Philips, not torax) at the bottom compared to the first generation, making it easier to open the device (for authorised battery replacement, of course). But they could have made it more difficult if they were really trying to keep people out.
What about their move away from DRM in the iTunes store? Or their use of open standards to store and export data?
Apple closes thing up enough to offer a more reliable and seamless experience, and to please whatever industries they need to be involved with. Otherwise, they don't gain much from such restrictions.
Are you saying that to test usability, you need to understand the code underneath or something? Because nothing is stopping you from testing the usability of Apple products simply because some aspects of them are more restricted. I'm talking about proper testing of course, since your average user (inducing programmers) isn't going to get reliable data just by playing around and using their own personal experience as a basis for a usability assessment.
Of course, when it comes to an individual deciding on which product is easier for them to use, most still know a good interface when they use it. Just look at someone who's never used an iPhone before and how quickly they get it. They don't even have to buy anything since Apple have plenty of demo units at their stores. So I'm not sure what you're on about.
How is this flamebait? Some people here have no idea how people use computers. Why is multitasking so important on a small, portable device? There are definitely a few cases where lack of multitasking is inconvenient or even a big problem, but most of the time, for most people, it's not an issue. Tell me why it's a problem rather than modding me down.
My iPhone was about the same price as my Treo 600 was. Or was that overpriced, too? What are you comparing it to?
The iPad will browse the web better than any netbook or previous tablet. Netbooks are awkward to hold, previous tablets are heavy and run desktop OS that are awkward to use. How about you list some of these netbooks that are a fraction of the price, so I can have a look at the specs? Do any of them have an IPS display, for instance?
but can it, say, play a YouTube video in the background while working on something in the foreground?
When are people here going to realise that such functionality is so far from critical that it just doesn't matter to most users. I certainly don't care about that sort of functionality for a small tablet device.
What's going on? This is Steve's baby. He's been working on a "new Newton" since, what, 2000? Well, his perfectionism payed off and now the ones who aren't laughing are the ones who don't give a shit. Hey guys! Let's make an iPhone, but bigger, and a gajillion times more expensive! They'll love it, especially in this economy!
The top of the line iPad is not even twice the price of an unsubsidised iPhone. It's pretty cheap for what you get.
Here's an idea - What Steve should have done was release a tablet version of the MacBook Air (with the exact same software compatibility, OS, etc.) and call it the MacBook Slate or MacBook Touch. I would have bought one of those, and I'm often the first to question the sexual orientation of male Mac users.
Perhaps you might have bought such a hack, since techies have a much greater tolerance for clunky computers than most people. To do that properly, OS X and most of the applications on it would need to be redesigned.
Multitasking on such a device is overrated. It hasn't stopped the iPhone from becoming popular. The iPad is not meant to be a desktop or laptop replacement, so why are so many people assuming it needs such capabilities?
Well, that all depends on what the consumers think. If the iPad becomes as popular as the iPhone and iPod, then a large number of developers will be developing for the iPad no matter what your average Slashdotter thinks of it.
I was merely commenting on price. They are selling something priced as much as a decked out laptop, yet has only 1/3 of the features of one.
Simply counting the number of features on a list isn't an effective way of comparing value. It doesn't matter how many more features something has if it doesn't do the important ones well.
People can spend their money however they want, obviously...I'm just suprised that so many people are convincing themselves to spend more money for less product.
That's relative. If you value usability and quality components then you're actually getting quite a lot more than most netbooks or laptops (OS tailored to the device, IPS display). You're also paying to get all that technology in a small package, which can also count as a feature.
Agreed, doing it out of the box would have been a bit silly given the size of the market...but it is a market willing to spend. Apple should at least offer this as an accessory package. As you said, there will likely be others that will do it anyways.
Maybe they will at a later stage, but it's not Apple's style to do everything at once. There are many little niches that they could have developed the iPad more towards, but by only focusing on core functionality to begin with, they build a stronger product to expand upon.
Well, for me, it's just what I want. It's big enough to comfortably browse the web, but still small enough to live comfortably in my backpack. I don't want a netbook as they're difficult to use as a hand-held device, which is important when I'm on the train or any place there's no table, or when the table I'm sitting at has plates and such taking up all the prime real-estate. As for more functionality, I don't care about that -- I already have a laptop for those occasions. I'm pretty sure there are many others in a similar position to me because I'm a pretty ordinary.
Third, what exactly are you getting for that price? Let's look at the fully loaded 64 gig/3G-enabled version. For roughly $800, you are buying a locked-down device with zero expansion options, zero USB ports or flash card readers, and no way to upgrade. For $800 you could put together a full-blown gaming computer or buy a REALLY nice laptop...hell, you could even buy a used tablet convertible and get the benefits of a tablet AND a laptop! But no, with Apple you get a locked down non-widescreen non-expandable device.
A gaming computer? How is that useful for someone who wants a small device to comfortably browse the web with? Talk about comparing Apples to oranges. As for laptops and those other tablets, they're big, heavy, and clunky compared to the iPad. Not to mention anything the size of the iPad not running a custom OS isn't going to be very nice to use.
Fourth (and this isn't that big of a deal, but it is still a missed opportunity) Apple should have included a stylus with the system. Think about the people that use Wacom tablets, like the Penny Arcade guys or countless other digital graphic artists/designers. If Apple had included a stylus and well-designed software, this thing could be used as a portable Wacom tablet. Digital artists would have MURDERED each other for a chance to buy this thing had they included a stylus. Nope, that's a whole 'nother market Apple shunned with this thing.
You can already buy styluses that work on capacitive touchscreens. Of course, they won't replace a Wacom tablet, as Wacom tablets can have very high resolution (5080 lpi), pressure sensitivity, and tilt sensitivity. That's a lot of technology to build into a product that isn't going to be used by most people. Including such functionality out of the box would be a silly move. It would bump the price up in hope of appealing to a very small market. Of course, I don't see what's stopping someone from adding pressure sensitivity to a Bluetooth stylus and then developing a drawing app, even if it won't be quite the same as a high-end Wacom tablet.
Slashdot Mirror
Sorry, but any potable music with a dedicated reset button screams "I crash a lot". Why waste the hardware to put one in if you're confident about the OS you're running? If your iPod is crashing so often, I suggest you get Apple to replace it, because it's not normal. There is also a power button and it can turn the device completely off if you want to.
As for altering filenames. There is a preference in iTunes for that.
I have read the link, and all it has is a dual screen. Exactly how is that innovative? What does it actually do in terms of improving the interface?
The innovation with the iPad is the software it runs.
What's so innovative about the Courier compared to the iPad?
This is surely one of the most frightening and excruciating conditions one can imagine.
What's your basis for this assumption?
What about doctors and other professions? Perhaps we should be lowering how much they earn to keep out the financially motivated? How well do you think that would go? Plenty of good doctors would simply do something else if they felt they weren't being compensated enough for their work.
What makes you think that you are capable of having such thoughts in such a state? If they are actually able to answer questions, that may not mean they have a normal cognitive process. Many people who have been in comas often report a pleasant, dream-like state. This state could be anywhere in-between or completely different altogether.
There is nothing on the other side. You simply cease to exist, and it's as if you had never existed. All your consciousness is gone.
Assuming that is true is as irrational as assuming the opposite.
Why not? It's not like all trauma is the same and affects all parts of the brain the same way, is it?
I'm interested to know why so many people assume it must be horrible. For starters, you're in a different state of mind to most people and you might not even be able to comprehend the idea of being "shut-in" to begin with. It might just be like when you're half asleep and half awake, and not necessarily unpleasant at all.
If I was in a permanent vegetative state I would love it if someone disconnected me, especially if I was conscious. Being awake in what is essentially a dead body sounds like a small slice of hell to me.
For all you know it could be like a pleasant dream.
You don't think the lack of good teachers might have something to do with the low pay and high working hours?
Isn't that unfair discrimination for those with dyslexia? Especially if you don't point it out.
If you want to talk about restrictions, most of the world can't watch Hulu. As for the rest of the video sites, they'll eventually start offering HTML 5 support if they want to stay relevant. YouTube has already started.
What about the latest iPhone, then? It has screws (plain old Philips, not torax) at the bottom compared to the first generation, making it easier to open the device (for authorised battery replacement, of course). But they could have made it more difficult if they were really trying to keep people out.
What about their move away from DRM in the iTunes store? Or their use of open standards to store and export data?
Apple closes thing up enough to offer a more reliable and seamless experience, and to please whatever industries they need to be involved with. Otherwise, they don't gain much from such restrictions.
Are you saying that to test usability, you need to understand the code underneath or something? Because nothing is stopping you from testing the usability of Apple products simply because some aspects of them are more restricted. I'm talking about proper testing of course, since your average user (inducing programmers) isn't going to get reliable data just by playing around and using their own personal experience as a basis for a usability assessment.
Of course, when it comes to an individual deciding on which product is easier for them to use, most still know a good interface when they use it. Just look at someone who's never used an iPhone before and how quickly they get it. They don't even have to buy anything since Apple have plenty of demo units at their stores. So I'm not sure what you're on about.
How is this flamebait? Some people here have no idea how people use computers. Why is multitasking so important on a small, portable device? There are definitely a few cases where lack of multitasking is inconvenient or even a big problem, but most of the time, for most people, it's not an issue. Tell me why it's a problem rather than modding me down.
My iPhone was about the same price as my Treo 600 was. Or was that overpriced, too? What are you comparing it to?
The iPad will browse the web better than any netbook or previous tablet. Netbooks are awkward to hold, previous tablets are heavy and run desktop OS that are awkward to use. How about you list some of these netbooks that are a fraction of the price, so I can have a look at the specs? Do any of them have an IPS display, for instance?
Maybe you should turn the brightness of your screen down?
but can it, say, play a YouTube video in the background while working on something in the foreground?
When are people here going to realise that such functionality is so far from critical that it just doesn't matter to most users. I certainly don't care about that sort of functionality for a small tablet device.
What's going on? This is Steve's baby. He's been working on a "new Newton" since, what, 2000? Well, his perfectionism payed off and now the ones who aren't laughing are the ones who don't give a shit. Hey guys! Let's make an iPhone, but bigger, and a gajillion times more expensive! They'll love it, especially in this economy!
The top of the line iPad is not even twice the price of an unsubsidised iPhone. It's pretty cheap for what you get.
Here's an idea - What Steve should have done was release a tablet version of the MacBook Air (with the exact same software compatibility, OS, etc.) and call it the MacBook Slate or MacBook Touch. I would have bought one of those, and I'm often the first to question the sexual orientation of male Mac users.
Perhaps you might have bought such a hack, since techies have a much greater tolerance for clunky computers than most people. To do that properly, OS X and most of the applications on it would need to be redesigned.
Multitasking on such a device is overrated. It hasn't stopped the iPhone from becoming popular. The iPad is not meant to be a desktop or laptop replacement, so why are so many people assuming it needs such capabilities?
Well, that all depends on what the consumers think. If the iPad becomes as popular as the iPhone and iPod, then a large number of developers will be developing for the iPad no matter what your average Slashdotter thinks of it.
I was merely commenting on price. They are selling something priced as much as a decked out laptop, yet has only 1/3 of the features of one.
Simply counting the number of features on a list isn't an effective way of comparing value. It doesn't matter how many more features something has if it doesn't do the important ones well.
People can spend their money however they want, obviously...I'm just suprised that so many people are convincing themselves to spend more money for less product.
That's relative. If you value usability and quality components then you're actually getting quite a lot more than most netbooks or laptops (OS tailored to the device, IPS display). You're also paying to get all that technology in a small package, which can also count as a feature.
Agreed, doing it out of the box would have been a bit silly given the size of the market...but it is a market willing to spend. Apple should at least offer this as an accessory package. As you said, there will likely be others that will do it anyways.
Maybe they will at a later stage, but it's not Apple's style to do everything at once. There are many little niches that they could have developed the iPad more towards, but by only focusing on core functionality to begin with, they build a stronger product to expand upon.
Well, for me, it's just what I want. It's big enough to comfortably browse the web, but still small enough to live comfortably in my backpack. I don't want a netbook as they're difficult to use as a hand-held device, which is important when I'm on the train or any place there's no table, or when the table I'm sitting at has plates and such taking up all the prime real-estate. As for more functionality, I don't care about that -- I already have a laptop for those occasions. I'm pretty sure there are many others in a similar position to me because I'm a pretty ordinary.
Third, what exactly are you getting for that price? Let's look at the fully loaded 64 gig/3G-enabled version. For roughly $800, you are buying a locked-down device with zero expansion options, zero USB ports or flash card readers, and no way to upgrade. For $800 you could put together a full-blown gaming computer or buy a REALLY nice laptop...hell, you could even buy a used tablet convertible and get the benefits of a tablet AND a laptop! But no, with Apple you get a locked down non-widescreen non-expandable device.
A gaming computer? How is that useful for someone who wants a small device to comfortably browse the web with? Talk about comparing Apples to oranges. As for laptops and those other tablets, they're big, heavy, and clunky compared to the iPad. Not to mention anything the size of the iPad not running a custom OS isn't going to be very nice to use.
Fourth (and this isn't that big of a deal, but it is still a missed opportunity) Apple should have included a stylus with the system. Think about the people that use Wacom tablets, like the Penny Arcade guys or countless other digital graphic artists/designers. If Apple had included a stylus and well-designed software, this thing could be used as a portable Wacom tablet. Digital artists would have MURDERED each other for a chance to buy this thing had they included a stylus. Nope, that's a whole 'nother market Apple shunned with this thing.
You can already buy styluses that work on capacitive touchscreens. Of course, they won't replace a Wacom tablet, as Wacom tablets can have very high resolution (5080 lpi), pressure sensitivity, and tilt sensitivity. That's a lot of technology to build into a product that isn't going to be used by most people. Including such functionality out of the box would be a silly move. It would bump the price up in hope of appealing to a very small market. Of course, I don't see what's stopping someone from adding pressure sensitivity to a Bluetooth stylus and then developing a drawing app, even if it won't be quite the same as a high-end Wacom tablet.