iPad in the UK [Poll added]

[Tweed]

I think the passion on this is partly due to the fact that the pro-ipadders are completeley missing the point that one or two of us are making...

Not at all, I actually agree with most of the anti-camp's points. It doesn't do anything new, quite right. I also think it's crazy to camp outside an apple store to get one (though, I think it's crazy to do that for just about anything... unless, they do a limited run of diamond encrusted, platinum coated iPhones for £3.50, then I'll be there with my little camping stove and wooly hat!) and while I'm singing it's praises, I'm not getting one (yet).

While I can see many many situations where I'd use one, it is a total luxury. I can do everything it does with a combination of my iPhone and my laptop, it would just be a bit nicer doing it with an iPad. Just like I can get from Manchester to Cambridge in a Ford Focus, it's just nicer doing it in a Z4.

Apple products do tend to illicit this kind of impassioned response from people. If it were Dell releasing such a product, I wonder if it would even have garnered a thread? There's just a certain 'theatre' to an Apple product launch.

 

[Beancounter1980]

Nah don't think i will..

I bought an Ipod when they first came out. I thought it was poor build quality and more style over substance.

Never went back to apple products.

I am hankering after a state of the art phone though...so don't know...maybe an iphone lol! But most likely a HTC variant or something..

 

[peddy]

Peddy - why so hostile? Surely the success of the preceding Apple products (and already the i-pad) proves that there's a lot more than glitzy cases here?

I think it's a mistake to simply compare the i-pad to existing hardware - it's a brand new type of computing, so there's nothing comparable at the moment.

Just look back in a year or so and see how many doubters have felt the need/desire to buy one, especially when the apps, etc start to really get going! It's a Lifestyle product that finally brings computing into the lounge, whilst maintaining a serious side when required.

Finally, one interesting point about Apple products in general - their owners actually love them - always have. How many of us love our Dell or HP PC or laptop? It just doesn't happen in the same way.

Bet you get one sometime, Peddy :wink:

Because I truely believe it's a waste of money. For £500 I can get so much more! It's a product that does less than a iTouch, which is older technology. Yet it's about 4 times as more expensive? That for starters just doesn't make any sence...

I actually think it makes life harder as there is no keyboard, can't print, no camera, needs a special sim for 3G, etc, etc, etc...

The only good thing about it I can say is that it's got a bloody good battery life!

 

[ferrelscent]

I actually like Apple products and agree with most of what has been said here (excluding the evangelical stuff).

And despite enjoying winding this discussion up a bit, I will probably buy one myself

But it won't be for a LONG while, i.e.

1) When my current laptop has died. Absolutely no point before that.
2) When the hype is over.
3) When it is a fraction of the current market skimming price, at a price more appropriate for the novelty that it is, not the life changer that the brain washing machine wants us to think it is.

 

[bmwangler]

JimmyP

I think the passion on this is partly due to the fact that the pro-ipadders are completeley missing the point that one or two of us are making. This is not as far as I can see it a discussion of the merits if apple over pc, I think most would agree on that. It's simply that this device does not do anything that your existing gadgets have already been able to do for years.

Agreed. Just don't forget that the new Z4 does exactly the same as the old one - so why buy it........but we all want one.........get the point?

Progress isn't solely about constant innovation, it's also about variation and refinement of a theme.

 

[mcbeee]

The Gf is liking one (for the books etc) so I'll probably get her one for her BDay. I suppose it will blend in with my iMac and Macbook..

 

[ferrelscent]

JimmyP

I think the passion on this is partly due to the fact that the pro-ipadders are completeley missing the point that one or two of us are making. This is not as far as I can see it a discussion of the merits if apple over pc, I think most would agree on that. It's simply that this device does not do anything that your existing gadgets have already been able to do for years.

Agreed. Just don't forget that the new Z4 does exactly the same as the old one - so why buy it........but we all want one.........get the point?

Progress isn't solely about constant innovation, it's also about variation and refinement of a theme.

Good example

1) Did BMW claim that the Z4 was new in a 'life changing' way (if you wonder why I ask this then just read some of the posts above)

Answer - No

2) Did I pay 30 odd grand for it the minute it came to market?

Answer - No, ..it was 7 years old and cost me 10k

 

[cj_eds]

I won't be buying one - for two reasons. First it's Apple so you pay over the odds. Secondly the lack of flash. You can't just ignore half the content of the web just because Jobs has personal issues with Adobe & vice versa. I despise the sort of Flash based websites that have no consideration for usability because they've got lost in the gimmicks, but I recognise that you need the support for the sites that do use it wisely. I'm typing this on an HTC, and I enjoy surfing the web on it despite the lack of Flash support but then most decent websites have a mobile version. On the PC or on an iPad I'd expect the web in all it's full glorious Technicolor. It's dead easy to write a site that checks your user agent to customize the content for the device you are viewing it on, so any decent designer should now be taking that into consideration for the iPad.
Two years ago I bought my laptop after spending ages agonizing over an Asus R1F tablet. The final decision was that I just couldn't justify a 4 figure sum on a gimmick when a laptop costing half that amount filled my requirements perfectly. The touch screen just didn't offer me enough to warrant double the price despite having successfully sold the idea to my wife! The iPad again falls foul of the same acid test. In any case if (or more likely: when) I do need that function, I'd be far more likely to go for a JooJoo or a Windows based device. Don't suppose anyone knows if there's a VM available for iPad?
Another comment would be that personally I don't think it's actually new technology - it's just Apple have a knack of marketing a brand people want. You can't buy that brand image, it has to be built and you can only respect Jobs & co for it - regardless of whether you're an Apple lover or hater. The iPod being the perfect example: it was far from a new idea - following the Diamond Rio's etc. The iPhone wasn't the first web connected, music playing, touchscreen phone either, but it was the first one people desired and queued up to buy. Similarly the iPad has evolved the tablet PC, internet tablet, PDA and smartphone genres into the Star Trek device that surely everyone could see coming one day. The sales of tablets and PDA's were falling - one never took off and the other surpassed by better technology but Apple have successfully rejuvenated that market for mobile computing in a massive way.
The idea of 'The App' isn't new either - it's everything that was hoped for from Web 2.0 and implements the 'Software as a Service' approach fantasticly. Not new but superb marketing despite the restrictions in places on the user's ability to add software.

For a long time I carried a seperate mp3 player, PocketPC, camera and mobile phone. The reason was that the all-in-one device was always compromised. It always lacked something. To me the biggest issue that had me tearing my hairout though was always the compatibility of them all - syncing would be a pain in the arse. We are now well beyond the point of successfully merging those all together into one much better device.
The netbooks & tablet PC's were the first step, and the iPad like devices are the next evolution into merging PC's with the Smartphone functions.
Again though it's the connecting them up that I find exciting - picking up any of my devices & being able to access my files, emails, music etc from anywhere I use them. Its the controlling my squeezeboxes from my android phone. And when I get round buying a new TV, it'll be the ability to watch the DivX's or DVD's from my network hard drive directly on the big screen, along with surfing the web or browsing email on it after watching a TV program or film that has just been streamed direct from the web. Bringing the ideas and individual devices together is the exciting bit.

 

[teamemmenracing]

my tuppence worth ............ I reckon it's the same as everything else Apple makes, initially nobody can figure out why they made it, and in no time, everybody wonders how they did without it.

I do have one pet gripe ....... how can they fit 160 Gb in my tiny ipod classic, and then tell me 64 Gb is all I can have in the new itouch .....

Think I'll wait for the IPad to get it's 5th generation update before I part with the cash.

 

[Raify]

I do have one pet gripe ....... how can they fit 160 Gb in my tiny ipod classic, and then tell me 64 Gb is all I can have in the new itouch .....

Because your classic is a traditional hard drive and the itouch is solid state memory which is faster, smaller and more expensive.

A 2.5" 160gb hard drive is £380 in solid state, £36 in 'normal'.

a 160gb itouch would be about £700 if Apple decided to make one.

 

[Mr Whippy]

iPhone does the same job if you just hold it nearer your face

I'd get fed up of holding that heavy thing, and if it's on the lap with both hands free, I have a better laptop for that job anyway!

Dave

 

[ferrelscent]

iPhone does the same job if you just hold it nearer your face

I'd get fed up of holding that heavy thing, and if it's on the lap with both hands free, I have a better laptop for that job anyway!

Dave

Agree, but you forgot that the iphone has the added benefit of being able to make calls and take photos.

By the way has any new ipadder worked out how to hold this thing ? I think sitting down against a tree with knees bent and the thing on your lap looks like a good option. But what happens if you haven't brought your tree with you ?

And what about on the train,..do you sort of lay it on the table in front of you then stoop over it with your hair in the oppsoite passengers face ? Or is it one arm cradling and the other touch typing ?

And laid on your side in bed. Hold with one hand and type with your nose ?

I might test this out for myself by carrying a set of bathroom scales around with me for a week or so.

 

[Taz]

I might test this out for myself by carrying a set of bathroom scales around with me for a week or so.

 

[flimper]

I would be interested if the ipad could interact with a large screen tv, i.e. browse youtube on the ipad and then watch it on the bigscreen. Or can you do that already?

 

[Lucy]

I had a play with one in the Apple store the other day, and I have to say, it's quite tempting. I liked it.
I have my desktop infront of me all day at work, so when I'm at home I tend to only use my computer there for web browsing. I don't have a laptop. Which is a bit of a ballache having to mess about waiting for the desktop to load and I'm limited to just using it in the spare room. Sometimes it would be nice just to check my emails on the sofa or in bed. But I've never bothered getting a laptop. And as for my phone, I don't have an Iphone, I've had Samsungs for years and I love them. But internet browsing isn't amazing. So the Ipad would do more than my phone does. I love the look of the Ipad. It's small, lightweight and perfect for what I would be using it for. I'd go for the cheapest option, there'd be no need for the bigger memory for me. I love my Ipod and I think Apple make great products.
So all in all, it's a yes from me.

 

[ferrelscent]

I had a play with one in the Apple store the other day, and I have to say, it's quite tempting. I liked it.
I have my desktop infront of me all day at work, so when I'm at home I tend to only use my computer there for web browsing. I don't have a laptop. Which is a bit of a ballache having to mess about waiting for the desktop to load and I'm limited to just using it in the spare room. Sometimes it would be nice just to check my emails on the sofa or in bed. But I've never bothered getting a laptop. And as for my phone, I don't have an Iphone, I've had Samsungs for years and I love them. But internet browsing isn't amazing. So the Ipad would do more than my phone does. I love the look of the Ipad. It's small, lightweight and perfect for what I would be using it for. I'd go for the cheapest option, there'd be no need for the bigger memory for me. I love my Ipod and I think Apple make great products.
So all in all, it's a yes from me.

Sounds ideal for you since you have no laptop or Iphone.

 

[Mr Whippy]

Get an iPhone then!

iPhone is so good if checking emails and browsing web quickly around house/in bed is needed.

The 4.0 software will make the iPhone much more powerful again, bringing it closer to the iPad in many ways except just having a smaller screen.

Problem I'd have with iPad is, just as with my laptop, it'd be stuffed somewhere near the charger and rarely 'on me' when I needed it.


I dunno, different stuff for different people, but having a desktop PC and laptop at home, desktop workstation at work, and an iPhone, I just can't think how an iPad would make any sense... that said, if I had £500 burning a hole in my pocket for one, and some apps etc, then I might be tempted from a toy POV!


Dave

 

[JBBY]

Steve Jobs and Apple will be announcing new products early next week.
Expecting new iPhone and who knows what else.
Found my meeting today with the ipad, much bigger map than iphone so far easier to use.
Yes, it doesn't do anything new, but it does do many things better.

 

[peddy]

BTW, has anyone seen the cringy advert! :thumbsdown: I truely cring everytime it comes on!

 

[shambolic]

Just emptied piggy bank and terramundi pot last night had over £600 notes in it sorely tempted to get ipad but going to wait on the keynote speech next week first.

Although after fecking two wheels in a multi storey yesterday the money may be going in that direction :x