5 ms·

why this and not one of the other significantly cheaper linux/arm tablets? if nothing else they would be less likely to grow a pair of legs.

by fungi 17y ago

jodrellblank 17y ago
I'm wondering how much the iPad will be like a scaled up iPhone OS - because as a smartphone which syncs with Exchange, you can force policies on the iPhone from the server to require a PIN, allow remote data wipe, encrypt data, and so on - but you can't do that to a Windows desktop with Outlook. I don't know if you can to a Mac with Snow Leopard. If this is going to have OS X/iPhone software, email, a wifi and data connection then it will likely have an ActiveSync connection to Exchange so the policies might be a possibility to keep your data safe(r) in the event of an unscheduled malfunction of an, ahem, ambulatorial nature.
- cpr 17y ago
  It runs iPhone OS 3.2 with very minimal changes from 3.1. Draw your own conclusions. (Can't say more without risking NDA breakage.)
chime 17y ago
1. Much much better touchscreen 2. Better on-screen keyboard 3. Safari 4. Ease of setup/use 5. 802.11n 6. Low Cost/Performance 7. Quality/stability that I expect from Apple 8. Longetivity 9. Battery life 10. Coolness :)
- jodrellblank 17y ago
  In summary: It's worth spending hundreds of dollars to not have to use Linux / the kinds of devices Linux is associated with. The message the desktop Linux community is refusing to learn from. At least half your points are fairly directly based on the state of Linux at the moment (e.g. Safari, ease of setup) and the other half linked to the state of the ecosystem surrounding Linux which pushes for cheaper and hackier solutions (wifi drivers, perception of coolness, implementation of software and hardware quality).
  - chime 17y ago
    Bug in iPad: 1,000,000 million hits on Google with 1,000 solutions Bug in any of the other Nix tablets: 12 hits, all of them from people like me asking for solutions Question I have to ask myself is do I want to save $2k upfront and spend countless hours some day in the future supporting the device or just pay a higher price and get a stable appliance that I don't have to worry about.
    - moe 17y ago
      Bug in iPad: 1,000,000 million hits on Google with 1,000 solutions I call myth. That's only true when you happen to hit a bug that apple was generous enough to fix. Otherwise you're not only on your own but usually you can't do anything about it. There are plenty of examples, like this gem, which is afaik still unfixed (after 6 months or something): http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10365239-263.html http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10365239-263.html How do I know about it? Because I'm affected and it forces me to reboot my snow leopard every once in a while. And going by the number of reports I gather it's not just me. The related apple forum thread has hundreds of posts... Bug in any of the other Nix tablets: 12 hits, all of them from people like me asking for solutions That really depends on how popular your device is and how obscure a bug you hit. If the tablet is running linux then most bugs will likely be in software components that are also used on other hardware with a much larger userbase. And most OSS projects, at least those surrounding the kernel, have quite active communities, with mailing lists and open bug trackers. Don't get me wrong, I agree that there are reasons to go for the iPad over other tablets - but this is not one of them.
    - bioweek 17y ago
      Counterpoint: my mac stopped seeing my iPhone. There was no advice on the internet on how to fix it. I'm completely lost at what to do. I can't upgrade the phone's software, and can't load new songs, I can't backup my phone :-(
      - cpr 17y ago
        Go to Apple's support forum for iPhone and detail your problem. You'll get plenty of help there. (Of course, first scan the forum for similar problems and use the given advice.)
- johnrob 17y ago
  What about an iPod touch?
  - derefr 17y ago
    Data entry on an iPhone-sized device isn't as efficient as a pen/paper/clipboard, so you'll just end up using a pen/paper/clipboard, and then transferring data into a workstation later. The iPad looks like it could be different—there's just more raw room to place/space the virtual keys—but we'll see; it could be just as crappy.
- pyre 17y ago
  > 3. Safari What is significantly better about Safari than Chrome/Chromium? (Please don't say something about multi-touch interface b/c that's a different issue; a multi-touch interface is a global operating system/hardware issue, not an issue with a particular piece of software)
pmorici 17y ago
"if nothing else they would be less likely to grow a pair of legs." So the best way to keep theft down is to give your employee's less than the best tool for the job? When you think about it that is almost perverse.
- statictype 17y ago
  The best tool for the job is not always the one that fetches the highest market price
- Zak 17y ago
  People don't steal things from their job because they're better for doing their jobs. People steal things from their jobs because they're fun or useful outside of work. Configuring a device so as to seem too work-specific to steal could be an advantage.
jsz0 17y ago
A few others: -Standardization: Same software everywhere you go, consistent UI -Ease of deployment: Restore a preconfigured iTunes backup to each iPad, done. -VPN support: VPN into the corporate network when you're out of the office for secure access -Exchange support: Sadly still a very important feature -Ease of use
dagw 17y ago
Has anybody given a firm release date that one can believe in as to when I'll actually be able to go down my local store and buy one of these rumored cheap linux pads? With Apple I at least know when, what, where and how much.
- stonemetal 17y ago
  They have been on the market for a few years now so feel free to wander on in any time you feel like it.
  - dagw 17y ago
    Really, I've certainly never seen a sub $500 10" Linux based Arm powered tablet in any of the computer or electronic stores I've ever visited. Links?
    - krakensden 17y ago
      You can get an intel one- the EEE has a touchscreen version.

why this and not one of the other significantly cheaper linux/arm tablets? if nothing else they would be less likely to grow a pair of legs.

by fungi 17y ago

why this and not one of the other significantly cheaper linux/arm tablets? if nothing else they would be less likely to grow a pair of legs.

jodrellblank 17y ago

I'm wondering how much the iPad will be like a scaled up iPhone OS - because as a smartphone which syncs with Exchange, you can force policies on the iPhone from the server to require a PIN, allow remote data wipe, encrypt data, and so on - but you can't do that to a Windows desktop with Outlook. I don't know if you can to a Mac with Snow Leopard. If this is going to have OS X/iPhone software, email, a wifi and data connection then it will likely have an ActiveSync connection to Exchange so the policies might be a possibility to keep your data safe(r) in the event of an unscheduled malfunction of an, ahem, ambulatorial nature.

cpr 17y ago
It runs iPhone OS 3.2 with very minimal changes from 3.1. Draw your own conclusions. (Can't say more without risking NDA breakage.)

chime 17y ago

1. Much much better touchscreen 2. Better on-screen keyboard 3. Safari 4. Ease of setup/use 5. 802.11n 6. Low Cost/Performance 7. Quality/stability that I expect from Apple 8. Longetivity 9. Battery life 10. Coolness :)

jodrellblank 17y ago
In summary: It's worth spending hundreds of dollars to not have to use Linux / the kinds of devices Linux is associated with. The message the desktop Linux community is refusing to learn from. At least half your points are fairly directly based on the state of Linux at the moment (e.g. Safari, ease of setup) and the other half linked to the state of the ecosystem surrounding Linux which pushes for cheaper and hackier solutions (wifi drivers, perception of coolness, implementation of software and hardware quality).
- chime 17y ago
  Bug in iPad: 1,000,000 million hits on Google with 1,000 solutions Bug in any of the other Nix tablets: 12 hits, all of them from people like me asking for solutions Question I have to ask myself is do I want to save $2k upfront and spend countless hours some day in the future supporting the device or just pay a higher price and get a stable appliance that I don't have to worry about.
  - moe 17y ago
    Bug in iPad: 1,000,000 million hits on Google with 1,000 solutions I call myth. That's only true when you happen to hit a bug that apple was generous enough to fix. Otherwise you're not only on your own but usually you can't do anything about it. There are plenty of examples, like this gem, which is afaik still unfixed (after 6 months or something): http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10365239-263.html http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10365239-263.html How do I know about it? Because I'm affected and it forces me to reboot my snow leopard every once in a while. And going by the number of reports I gather it's not just me. The related apple forum thread has hundreds of posts... Bug in any of the other Nix tablets: 12 hits, all of them from people like me asking for solutions That really depends on how popular your device is and how obscure a bug you hit. If the tablet is running linux then most bugs will likely be in software components that are also used on other hardware with a much larger userbase. And most OSS projects, at least those surrounding the kernel, have quite active communities, with mailing lists and open bug trackers. Don't get me wrong, I agree that there are reasons to go for the iPad over other tablets - but this is not one of them.
  - bioweek 17y ago
    Counterpoint: my mac stopped seeing my iPhone. There was no advice on the internet on how to fix it. I'm completely lost at what to do. I can't upgrade the phone's software, and can't load new songs, I can't backup my phone :-(
    - cpr 17y ago
      Go to Apple's support forum for iPhone and detail your problem. You'll get plenty of help there. (Of course, first scan the forum for similar problems and use the given advice.)
johnrob 17y ago
What about an iPod touch?
- derefr 17y ago
  Data entry on an iPhone-sized device isn't as efficient as a pen/paper/clipboard, so you'll just end up using a pen/paper/clipboard, and then transferring data into a workstation later. The iPad looks like it could be different—there's just more raw room to place/space the virtual keys—but we'll see; it could be just as crappy.
pyre 17y ago
> 3. Safari What is significantly better about Safari than Chrome/Chromium? (Please don't say something about multi-touch interface b/c that's a different issue; a multi-touch interface is a global operating system/hardware issue, not an issue with a particular piece of software)

pmorici 17y ago

"if nothing else they would be less likely to grow a pair of legs." So the best way to keep theft down is to give your employee's less than the best tool for the job? When you think about it that is almost perverse.

statictype 17y ago
The best tool for the job is not always the one that fetches the highest market price
Zak 17y ago
People don't steal things from their job because they're better for doing their jobs. People steal things from their jobs because they're fun or useful outside of work. Configuring a device so as to seem too work-specific to steal could be an advantage.

jsz0 17y ago

A few others: -Standardization: Same software everywhere you go, consistent UI -Ease of deployment: Restore a preconfigured iTunes backup to each iPad, done. -VPN support: VPN into the corporate network when you're out of the office for secure access -Exchange support: Sadly still a very important feature -Ease of use

dagw 17y ago

Has anybody given a firm release date that one can believe in as to when I'll actually be able to go down my local store and buy one of these rumored cheap linux pads? With Apple I at least know when, what, where and how much.

stonemetal 17y ago
They have been on the market for a few years now so feel free to wander on in any time you feel like it.
- dagw 17y ago
  Really, I've certainly never seen a sub $500 10" Linux based Arm powered tablet in any of the computer or electronic stores I've ever visited. Links?
  - krakensden 17y ago
    You can get an intel one- the EEE has a touchscreen version.