Apple's iPad Megathread

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Not once have I ever been offered the option of paying for US-based support. Where is this option and why isn't it offered to me every time I complain about getting someone who can't understand what I'm calling about?

Also, while we're on the topic, it was only about 5 years ago that everything moved to India. The prices didn't come down at all, either. I think that's just something you guys are told to tell people... but prices all over the computer industry have all come down together. Stuff at Dell is just as cheap as it is at HP or Toshiba. I'm not paying $200 less because tech support is in India, I'm paying $200 less because the whole market is $200 less... and Dell is just making up for the loss profits by farming their support services out to India.

I am pretty sure HP and Toshiba support isn't out of the US either. All the companies did it or it would be impossible to be competitive. I went to the website and it appears the option isn't on the consumer side. I don't know if it ever has been, but on the business side Prosupport is US based I believe unless things have changed. No one told me to say anything I don't sell PC's. I guarantee everything I sell has US support and US Sales (ie me). It also starts at about $30000.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Sowa

I am pretty sure HP and Toshiba support isn't out of the US either. All the companies did it or it would be impossible to be competitive. I went to the website and it appears the option isn't on the consumer side. I don't know if it ever has been, but on the business side Prosupport is US based I believe unless things have changed. No one told me to say anything I don't sell PC's. I guarantee everything I sell has US support and US Sales (ie me). It also starts at about $30000.

US support is for products that start at $30000? Was that a typo?

It's unfortunate that you brought this up, because it's really bad timing. I just ordered my 8th (personal) computer/laptop from Dell over the last 15 years (I've easily ordered over 200 business computers from them in that time), and I honestly had the guy I talked to on the phone ask me how to spell "Bob." The really messed up thing is that Bob isn't even my real name, I just said it was so I wouldn't have to go through the usual 10 minutes of spelling everything out.

Anyway, needless to say, I finally just ended up hanging up in frustration and ordering it online.

I'm not trying to rag on you or anything, it really was just a humorous comment that has now turned into a discussion. I'm ok with letting it go, if we don't want to keep talking about it.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

US support is for products that start at $30000? Was that a typo?

It's unfortunate that you brought this up, because it's really bad timing. I just ordered my 8th (personal) computer/laptop from Dell over the last 15 years (I've easily ordered over 200 business computers from them in that time), and I honestly had the guy I talked to on the phone ask me how to spell "Bob." The really messed up thing is that Bob isn't even my real name, I just said it was so I wouldn't have to go through the usual 10 minutes of spelling everything out.

Anyway, needless to say, I finally just ended up hanging up in frustration and ordering it online.

I'm not trying to rag on you or anything, it really was just a humorous comment that has now turned into a discussion. I'm ok with letting it go, if we don't want to keep talking about it.

All business sales should be US based well at least for US customers I don't know about Canada. Do you buy the Optiplex/Vostro computers or just the consumer ones? I am actually interested in finding out. Maybe things are different for Canada. That $30,000 wasn't a typo, but all enterprise products (ie servers) have US based support and sales for the US.

[Frequitude]

I've come to the conclusion that the iPad is not a new category of device. It is not a "whole life device". It is not revolutionary.

It's just a really big iPod Touch with 3G...and that's pretty freakin cool.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

I've come to the conclusion that the iPad is not a new category of device. It is not a "whole life device". It is not revolutionary.

It's just a really big iPod Touch with 3G...and that's pretty freakin cool.

It does intrigue me. Not enough to buy it now, but I think in a couple years the revised versions will get me to bite. I wish it had a camera, USB (it has some sort of adapter that may or may not be only used for cameras), and multitasking those might have been enough for me to get it.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

For the last freaking time people it is iPad, iPhone, iPod etc. Lower case 'i'!!!!!!!!!!

Is it really going to be for the last time?

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Sowa

All business sales should be US based well at least for US customers I don't know about Canada. Do you buy the Optiplex/Vostro computers or just the consumer ones? I am actually interested in finding out. Maybe things are different for Canada. That $30,000 wasn't a typo, but all enterprise products (ie servers) have US based support and sales for the US.

Home machines have all been XPS or Dimension, business machines were all Optiplex with a couple of the new Vostro models in recent years. The two servers I've bought were from the server line (can't remember the name off hand), but both were in the $2500 range (not $30000 enterprise stuff).

Since the switch to India, I've never been offered an option for US support. Dell used to be the best company for support, back in the day. In fact, it was one of their biggest selling points.

I was a Dell fanboy long before I ever became a Mac fanboy.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by KTrain

Is it really going to be for the last time?

I have no idea why it bugs me so much. A while back I was hanging out with my buddy and get keep calling his iPod Touch his iTouch. It took all my restraint to not say anything and keep smiling.

[photon]

Really a killer feature would be Bluetooth tethering to your phone. Having 3G on it is really cool, but paying twice for Internet is already too much, I really don't want to pay 3 times.

[FanIn80]

I was wondering about that too. I know it has bluetooth, but will it have tethering? Technically, it's built into the OS...

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Sowa

It does intrigue me. Not enough to buy it now, but I think in a couple years the revised versions will get me to bite. I wish it had a camera, USB (it has some sort of adapter that may or may not be only used for cameras), and multitasking those might have been enough for me to get it.

I think this is exactly how I feel about the iPad.

I understand exactly what it's supposed to do. I understand the device category. I know it's not supposed to replace a laptop or a netbook, but I still feel like it needs some additional features to consider it a strong buy. However, having those features like USB or Flash support apparently puts me squarely inside the box, and thus I guess I just don't "get it".

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Sowa

You stated what I was talking about and also the direct model. It changed the game and I don't think people realize how much Dell had in a hand in driving down pricing. Everyone caught up to how Dell did things as far as manufacturing goes.

What Dell did was apply an evolutionary business practice at best, which was to take a minimal stake in R&D and compete on price, and basically price alone. To say Dell has done anything revolutionary for the PC industry is a joke. Dell has never had a product or technology that innovated and forced other companies to play catch up.

And that's OK, the PC industry needs their version of McDonald's too.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

What Dell did was apply an evolutionary business practice at best, which was to take a minimal stake in R&D and compete on price, and basically price alone. To say Dell has done anything revolutionary for the PC industry is a joke. Dell has never had a product or technology that innovated and forced other companies to play catch up.

And that's OK, the PC industry needs their version of McDonald's too.

Ha! That's pretty good. I've been trying to figure out a way to describe what goes through my head every time I deal with Dell these days... McDonald's is perfect.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Regorium

I think this is exactly how I feel about the iPad.

I understand exactly what it's supposed to do. I understand the device category. I know it's not supposed to replace a laptop or a netbook, but I still feel like it needs some additional features to consider it a strong buy. However, having those features like USB or Flash support apparently puts me squarely inside the box, and thus I guess I just don't "get it".

There's nothing wrong with wanting the iPad to support Flash or have a USB port. My wisecrack about the box was in response to you suggesting that a mobile device should be permanently plugged in instead of having a lengthy battery life. Other than that everything's good.

I think the sooner the internet can move past Flash, the better... but it's still a pain to not have it once in a while. The USB thing isn't really that big of a deal, since there are plenty of ways around it. There are apps for transfering data on and off wirelessly, and there are lots of accessories that do (and will) use the Apple port. There is also Bluetooth for connecting a keyboard, etc.

In fact, now that I think about, I can't really think of something I'd need a USB port for... I mean, I'm sure there is something, I just can't think of anything right now.

[calculoso]

Thinking outside the box...

This is what I want... and I don't care who makes it or what software it uses as long as any documents are compatible with MS Word:

- A very light tablet with a touch screen and insane battery life that I can take with me anywhere.
- It can be a picture viewer, movie player, dvd player, etc.
- It will allow writing on the screen with a stylus, type on an on-screen keyboard, etc
- Scan and perfectly OCR documents by laying the page on the screen (obviously in a special mode)
- Allow documents, web pages, etc to have notes taken on them, areas circled, highlighted, etc (whatever you can do with paper), but with the ability to show/hide these notes/highlights/etc.
- Have automatic and flawless syncing with specific computers, phones, etc.
- have a built in letter/legal sized printer
- a very low ($500?) price

... and that's all that I would have wanted this weekend...

[QuadCityImages]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

And I don't understand how making software easier to use is wrong. I'm a systems designer and my *GOAL* is to make my software as easy to use as possible. So once I was done making my videos in FCP, I cut them to DVD using iDVD. It was definitely easy to use. I don't know why I would want to use something difficult to burn the DVDs. Maybe I'm just "dumb".

I suppose I should have qualified my statement in that Apple has always been big in the video and music editing fields, but how many of us are in those fields? In general companies that make things "easier" to use do it by making them simpler, ie taking away options. Console versions of PC games are simpler/easier because of lack of keyboard/mouse. The Wii is easy because it has fewer buttons, the iPhone is easier because it has fewer options for customization or multitasking, etc. For people that want to set up their phone desktop however they want to, or play more complicated games, these easier devices are frustrating.

I guess I wish things had a way to turn on advanced mode, which would allow more things that some people would find "hard." Then one device could conceivably service both sides. I suppose you could argue that would jailbreaking the iPhone, but that doesn't really count.

As far as multitasking, I don't know how I would do without it on my Droid. I'm constantly running a couple tabs in the browser (which the iPad can do), but also switching back and forth between the browser, a file manager, Pandora, or whatever. Its not as difficult as it sounds, as in requiring a task manager or anything. On Android you can do a long press of the "home" button and it will pull up the icons of the last 6 apps you've run. Its almost like an easy alt-tab. Things run in the background until the OS decides it needs their resources, so you don't have to constantly worry about closing background applications.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Regorium

I think this is exactly how I feel about the iPad.

I understand exactly what it's supposed to do. I understand the device category. I know it's not supposed to replace a laptop or a netbook, but I still feel like it needs some additional features to consider it a strong buy. However, having those features like USB or Flash support apparently puts me squarely inside the box, and thus I guess I just don't "get it".

and that's totally cool. if you've ever seen a product life cycle curve it puts you in the early majority but not as an early adopter or innovator (at least for this product)

remember the first iPod? physical buttons!!

[Russic]

Some thoughts:

- I've never really cared about running apps in the background. I'm sure i'd enjoy it if the iPhone had it, but truthfully I rarely notice it lacking.

- The idea of a netbook-ish computer that starts up and launches apps like an iPhone intrigues me.

- Listening to a podcast on it I've noticed there is a theme to many reviews from people that have played with it. They all seem to feel that the true appeal comes when you play with it. Of course these are mac fans, but I'd argue these are mac fans that will call out apple on their BS. Listening to them gets me very excited.

- I never took pictures in the days of film. The day I got a digital camera that really changed and it's truly changed how I spend my free time. I'm not a big reader, but I find myself wondering if this device will have me reading more. I won't be buying it for that purpose, but I look forward to investigating.

- I think people who are either shocked that flash isn't supported or are hoping that flash comes in the future really don't get the hate-on jobs has for adobe. While I do find certain flash usages excellent (gamecenter), it is also a buggy drag at times. I encourage you to install a flash blocker for one week. I've been using one for a few weeks and my browsers move much faster and don't need as many restarts.

- I didn't realize the wifi versions are available in Canada in march. My work benefits kick in on July 1 so i have a while to decide if I really need the 3g version. I'm leaning 32 gig wifi.

- I also didn't realize that you don't need the keyboard dock if you have a Bluetooth keyboard. I have the little mac keyboard and while I hate it with my iMac it would be perfect as an ipad companion.

- I see the problem with mobility for guys that don't carry bags. Thankfully for me I carry a briefcase/bag/man-purse to work each day, so mobility should be a snap.

- I was thinking about this for my parents tonight. It may be perfect for them. Something small, out of the way, super quick and (most importantly) doesn't run an operating system that I find myself constantly troubleshooting for them. My parents have poor computing skills so when a windows problem arises for them they have a hard time fixing it. Something that just does internet, email and photos and can sit by the phone might be just the trick.

- many photographer blogs recommend a little hard dive device that you can upload pictures to on a photo shoot to both preview images on a larger screen and to protect your images from sd card corruption. Many of these devices run in the $300-$400 range. The ipad would be a great photo shoot companion.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

What Dell did was apply an evolutionary business practice at best, which was to take a minimal stake in R&D and compete on price, and basically price alone. To say Dell has done anything revolutionary for the PC industry is a joke. Dell has never had a product or technology that innovated and forced other companies to play catch up.

And that's OK, the PC industry needs their version of McDonald's too.

I never claimed that they did something technologically innovative for the PC industry, but changing the way every company did business is revolutionary whether you think so or not. The fact that 15 years ago a entry level PC was $1500 and is now $499 due in part to Dell is revolutionary. Don't just look at thing's from the technology standpoint. Business practices can be revolutionary.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I think the sooner the internet can move past Flash, the better... but it's still a pain to not have it once in a while. The USB thing isn't really that big of a deal, since there are plenty of ways around it. There are apps for transfering data on and off wirelessly, and there are lots of accessories that do (and will) use the Apple port. There is also Bluetooth for connecting a keyboard, etc.

I agree Flash will die eventually. Hopefully this year but I think it will be next. So my desire for a USB port maybe stems from my lack of knowledge about the apple port. I am an Android guy (love open environments) so I don't have an iPhone. Do they make external hard drives that can connect to the Apple port? That's the big thing for me if I buy this I want to watch movies on business travel. It would be nice to use the external hard drive I have on my PC with this so I can easily interchange movies. Obviously I could do it over a wireless network, but USB would be nice. The other thing about USB is that it adds features to older tech. In a year or 2 when 4g has replaced 3g, it would be nice to just have a USB adapter that upgrades you rather than shelling out another 500+ to catch up.