I guess I could find a use for an iPad after all
Interesting to see the different reactions for iPad since its release yesterday.
Some love it and will get one, someone thought it is going too cheap... (!!!) and then the various iPad jokes. Um, perhaps they could have named the product a bit different...
I guess I would fit to the category of too nerd to get hyped up and enthusiastic about it right now... as Cult of Mac put it:
"As we predicted, the iPad is Steve Jobs’ “computer for the rest of us.” It’s a natural successor to the original Mac, which introduced the GUI to PCs - and was derided by geeks as a “toy.” But look around, the GUI kinda caught on.
The iPad is not for geeks. It’s for ordinary people who want a lightweight computer and are sick of computer headaches. This is a machine you’d buy for your grandmother and not have to worry about tech-support.
Yeah, you relinquish some control - which is something PC fans have always hated about Macs - but most ordinary people are grateful not to think about file systems, software installers and virus definitions.
The iPad is the first computer for people who are completely computer illiterate - and there’s millions of them. "
I'd be more comfortable with my mum using that than the other computers or gadgets I've got around (even if the only thing I could see her get interested in is Skype).
At least for me, it won't replace the netbook (the only Dell I've ever enjoyed using.. my Inspiron 9 is light, cheap thing for mobile needs when I don't want to carry with or risk the MacBook Pro in less than safe areas of this world); it won't replace the Kindle (my other half has one - the only books I wouldn't mind reading with it are technical manuals that tend to be very big, heavy, and expensive on paper or to print and carry around... plus those are easier to search within the book than in analog version. If iPad had the same battery life as Kindle, yes, I would be interested... I read big books when I travel. 10 hours of battery won't satisfy me on hte road), it surely won't replace the analog books (I like leaving them around after reading them or when traveling, and seeing where they end up... DRM protected ebook files don't really threaten bookcrossing fun).
But, when there will be one around, I'll try it. Maybe it'll be something like iPhone was - I didn't want one - I barely use the phone, and hated the only operator iPhone had in Ireland ( O2 really sucks), but now I have one (my other half's old one, with an AT & T pre-pay - does just fine).
Hm... I guess there are a few applications that would work nice with it, such as
* GPS (I hate the small screens of most GPS devices, and will definitely need a GPS as all the roads look the same - not good to end in San Antonio when trying to head home) - of course, assuming having an iPad on dashboard is legal when used as GPS only. So I guess GPS would be my main use for it now (finding a free or cheap, ideally open source GPS software and maps will make it more interesting)
* Language etc learning courses (with handwriting recognition à la Newton it would be awesome for learning to write in Japanese, Chinese or Arabic) with proper multimedia applications...
* For developing other multimedia learning uses (schools etc), or even pet applications (aquarium app for cats..)
Other than those, edu field would and will probably find use for those devices. Keep the text book application open - can't really sidetrack or get lost with facebooking with it when there is no multitasking yet.
Or all the non-techs.
My list of wants in it isn't as long as the usual ("no camera, no multi-tasking, no flash.." more in that Wired article); I want handwriting recognition and with not just Latin alphabet. Japanese, Chinese, Arabic.. Newton could do that in the 90s. And microphone would be nice so I could use it with Skype.
Some love it and will get one, someone thought it is going too cheap... (!!!) and then the various iPad jokes. Um, perhaps they could have named the product a bit different...
I guess I would fit to the category of too nerd to get hyped up and enthusiastic about it right now... as Cult of Mac put it:
"As we predicted, the iPad is Steve Jobs’ “computer for the rest of us.” It’s a natural successor to the original Mac, which introduced the GUI to PCs - and was derided by geeks as a “toy.” But look around, the GUI kinda caught on.
The iPad is not for geeks. It’s for ordinary people who want a lightweight computer and are sick of computer headaches. This is a machine you’d buy for your grandmother and not have to worry about tech-support.
Yeah, you relinquish some control - which is something PC fans have always hated about Macs - but most ordinary people are grateful not to think about file systems, software installers and virus definitions.
The iPad is the first computer for people who are completely computer illiterate - and there’s millions of them. "
I'd be more comfortable with my mum using that than the other computers or gadgets I've got around (even if the only thing I could see her get interested in is Skype).
At least for me, it won't replace the netbook (the only Dell I've ever enjoyed using.. my Inspiron 9 is light, cheap thing for mobile needs when I don't want to carry with or risk the MacBook Pro in less than safe areas of this world); it won't replace the Kindle (my other half has one - the only books I wouldn't mind reading with it are technical manuals that tend to be very big, heavy, and expensive on paper or to print and carry around... plus those are easier to search within the book than in analog version. If iPad had the same battery life as Kindle, yes, I would be interested... I read big books when I travel. 10 hours of battery won't satisfy me on hte road), it surely won't replace the analog books (I like leaving them around after reading them or when traveling, and seeing where they end up... DRM protected ebook files don't really threaten bookcrossing fun).
But, when there will be one around, I'll try it. Maybe it'll be something like iPhone was - I didn't want one - I barely use the phone, and hated the only operator iPhone had in Ireland ( O2 really sucks), but now I have one (my other half's old one, with an AT & T pre-pay - does just fine).
Hm... I guess there are a few applications that would work nice with it, such as
* GPS (I hate the small screens of most GPS devices, and will definitely need a GPS as all the roads look the same - not good to end in San Antonio when trying to head home) - of course, assuming having an iPad on dashboard is legal when used as GPS only. So I guess GPS would be my main use for it now (finding a free or cheap, ideally open source GPS software and maps will make it more interesting)
* Language etc learning courses (with handwriting recognition à la Newton it would be awesome for learning to write in Japanese, Chinese or Arabic) with proper multimedia applications...
* For developing other multimedia learning uses (schools etc), or even pet applications (aquarium app for cats..)
Other than those, edu field would and will probably find use for those devices. Keep the text book application open - can't really sidetrack or get lost with facebooking with it when there is no multitasking yet.
Or all the non-techs.
My list of wants in it isn't as long as the usual ("no camera, no multi-tasking, no flash.." more in that Wired article); I want handwriting recognition and with not just Latin alphabet. Japanese, Chinese, Arabic.. Newton could do that in the 90s. And microphone would be nice so I could use it with Skype.