Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Apple iPad

Joel
Apologies for my earlier quick replies as I was rushing around and read your enquiry about Capacitive as being related to the iPad and not the Sooloos

As you say, the Sooloos Control:10 is a Resistive

The iPad is a Capacitive Mutli-Touch One

Although Apple manufacture a separate USB drive for �65, I prefer the Firewire/USB drive from LaCie for �85 (or their Firewire/USB Bluray drive for �350).

Yes, Apple mass storage devices are pricey - and although I would buy a six-bay ReadyNAS Pioneer, Apple do sell the 'Promise SmartStor DS4600' complete with 4x1Tb drives for �699.

Very interesting comments on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/maggieshiels/2010/01/the_morning_after_the_tablet.html

The overwhelming majority of comments are very negative along one or more of the following themes:

1) It's a big iPod Touch - so what?

2) Are you really going to carry it around with you?

3) Another means for Apple to rip off consumers. Expensive and still tied to the App$tore.

4) iPad has sanitary towel connotations.

5) It has no camera(s).

6) It doesn't do multi-tasking.

7) It doesn't support Flash.

8) What can it do that my PC/Mac or Netbook can't?

It's an interesting reminder that we, on this forum, represent a very select slice of public opinion (though if all those who commented aren't interested in gadgetry, what are they doing on that web page in the first place? ).

I think that, these days, the world has so few experiences of technology that "just works", and so much experience of the mundane and frustrating, the automatic response is cynicism even when something wonderful shows up. That and the human pre-disposition against change and anything unfamiliar. I like to think that I'm beyond that: I jest not, I've been waiting for something like the iPad for twenty years, ever since I first saw the first attempts at electronic organisers (e.g. Psion) and flawed, but visionary, products like Apple's Newton.

I thought the statistic that Apple has now sold more than a quarter of a *billion* iPods (including iPhones) was astounding. This is the retort to the nay-sayers.

Another thing was that, when I watched Steve Job's keynote speech and the "iPad video", I was struck how the Apple corporate culture is so loaded with the mindset that the world works on the affluent Western ("American executive") consumer model (no offense intended). I think this is how many corporations in the US think, but I'm not going to criticize a company that has both vision and the ability to deliver on that vision spectacularly. The question on Apple's (and every other CE company's) impact on the environment isn't for this thread or forum.

Anyway, I've got some comments on the iPad:

1) I think it *is* a large iPod Touch; but that's the point, and the iPad is the first device to bring everything together in a single product. It is also the first "tablet" which is designed not to be used with a stylus and which is multi-touch.

2) Whilst some executive types will carry one around, I think that most iPads will find use in the living room, on the sofa, in front of a TV or music system. It seems the most obvious use case to me. An iPad will be a much more comfortable device to browse with on a sofa than a laptop with a touch pad.

3) I wonder how many people will actually use it as an iPod if it stays in the home?

4) Lack of Flash support is interesting. Obviously it could be added, but you don't lose out on iPlayer and YouTube. I wonder if Apple really is trying to kill off Flash? A pain that the CBeebies games won't work though!

5) If you want to multi-task, work at a desk with your computer.

6) As no stranger to the existance of Crestrons and other very expensive kit, $500 seems pretty cheap for a media control unit which will be a joy to use), that has a great browser, that I can do email on (typing with both hands), that I can access this forum on, that I can play games on, that my daughter can learn on, that I can view and share my photos on (in either portrait or landscape orientation) without humping my laptop about, that I can run any existing iPhone app on, etc., etc.

In short, I'm completely sold.

Me too!





Sorry for such a short reply, but I am.

People who don't get it didn't get the iPod either when it was released and I bet everyone of them have one, or similar, now.

Here's a new situation...myself and the 'missus will be racing to see who can buy one first. So, two iPads for this household!

Cheers

George

Could you detail a bit Arcade please, does the mini DVI or mini DisplayPort carry Audio ?

Or you send it to the HD621 optical ?

TIA

j

The typical BBC employee (I see wandering around) can be (kindly) described as 'fashion and trend aware'. They'll be loads of iPads here as soon as they're available!


I think this is a short sighted view, the iPad (IMHO) has just killed all other eBook readers and netbooks.
The brand alone will make people pay that extra $100 to be in with the in crowd.

Steve.

The big disadvantage of the iPad is that it has a regular LCD display. This makes reading ebooks useless compared to a proper e-ink reader. Unfortunately the electrowetting displays of Liquavista are not available until next year ...

Strange ... all reviews I have read so far were very positive.

The whole point is not what it can or can't do, it is about how it is done. I tend to agree with Jobs, a netbook is just a bad notebook. The statement is similar to saying a �300 Yamaha can also handle surround sound, just like the 861 ...

I'be been an iPhone 3G user for the last 1 1/2 years. I debated for a long time about what phone to get. Its one of those rare pieces of technology that has greatly exceeded my expectations. Its not perfect, but it largely does a good job at most things I want it to do.

Late December I accidentally killed our family laptop. I've still not got around to fixing it. The reason why - my wife has a netbook, I have an office PC for doing proper things and I have an iPhone for 85% of everyday browsing. I fond myself reaching to press my wifes netbook screen than use the mouse, so going touch screen is the way ahead, as long as I keep my mouse for CAD.

The reason for 85% browsing. No Flash and its too small and is occasionally painfully slow. The iPad will take that to 95%. If they put Flash on it, 98%. Yes - there are still occasional things that I would not use it for.

However, where the iPad is of benefit, ie its larger size, its also a disadvantage. Not having physically seen one I cannot be 100% sure, but I don't think that my coffee table is going to have room for a stack of books/magazines, coffee cup, TV remote or two, my iPhone (for calls) and now an iPad. I suppose I could balance it on my magazine pile, but then everything becomes a juggling session.

Also, the iPhone is great for mobile email/internet. Can't see me wanting yet another SIM/contract and probably duplicate apps. So its not going to go outside. And if it doesn't go outside and my iPhone does 85% of things that the iPad would do for me, then its quite hard to justify.

Hi Joel,
you are churning out some fine posts of late. Not enough cyber trouble to keep you busy

cheers

N

Great post Joel (VK). I agree with your 1-6 conclusions but I'm not sold. This is just down to personal preference. I just don't see how I would use it. To me the biggest thing that's different here is the ereader capability. And as an ereader I am unsure of a backlight LCD screen being superior to the eink in the Kindle and similar products. I have a kindle and I think it very well done. I think there is some real potential with the iPad though. I absolutely agree that Crestron and AMX should be very worried- this is a better touch panel than they sell for many times the price. Some thoughts:

I think most of us are not able to see where this can go. I know I can't. I remember when the iPod came out and I thought the name was stupid and I already had a Creative Nomad MP3 player. Why would I want this. At first it was the more elegant interface- it was a better MP3 player. But it was mac only. That was limiting. Then it became available for windows as well and more people adopted it. I forget how long it took but the killer app for the iPod was the iTunes store. I was surprised by how many people bought the same content they owned on optical disc via the store just because it was easier for them to transfer it. I thought the iPhone was revolutionary when it came out and I still do think so. But this, my first gut reaction is to be a nay sayer, however, I think I know better. My gut feeling is I won't be one of the first with this one but I can see someone doing something with it that makes it all of a sudden useful.

As to the perceived oversights. My takes for whatever they are worth:

1. Camera: I do think this one was a mistake. But the counter argument is people say they want a camera but actually don't want others to see them nor want to see themselves- hence why though there are so many computers with video cameras, we still don't have anything close to universal video telephony. We've even moved more away from voice to forms of text (is that progress?!). Still I think the younger generation is really big into video chat and I think leaving the camera off has to be viewed as a mistake.

2. Multitasking. These devices CAN multitask! The standard Apple apps (phone, mail, iPod) I believe can work in the background when another is running. More correctly its the 3rd party apps that are forbidden from multitasking. I believe the reason is due to battery concerns. I hear iPhone OS 4.0 will allow multitasking for all apps. Since this is basically a big iPhone/ touch then this should get that as a software update. I think this is of moderate importance because there are those who will want to play music say from Rhapsody while browsing and they won't care about the sound quality from the tiny iPad speaker.

3. Flash. Apparently Flash is a big time performance and battery hog and it seems that there are many groups that would like it to go away in favor of an open format. I believe these groups and Apple are aligned in wanting this and I think in the end Flash is going to see a diminished role. That said, it would be nice to have Flash for web browsing today.

Finally while this is all interesting, how is this any more relevant to our discussion of things Meridian than our auto thread? I understand that upset some people and I felt it was a fun diversion. I don't mind discussing things technical but I aside from controlling our Meridian gear, I don't see how the iPad or phone or anything else Apple is truly germane to our discussion, unless our discussion is actually more open and then why would the discussion of autos be off limits, especially on the eve of Meridian doing its first (that I am aware of) in car audio system.