4 ms·

I think the idea of one company controlling what people may do with computers is pretty horrible. I hope this doesn't happen, and would rather develop or inves

I think the idea of one company controlling what people may do with computers is pretty horrible. I hope this doesn't happen, and would rather develop or invest in something that could make the iPad fail than something complementary to it.

troystribling 17y ago
One company, Microsoft, currently controls how most people use their computers. As mentioned in the RFS the iPad is likely a challenge to this near monopoly. Also, I think more technical use cases where a larger touch device can be a control surface could be important as well. A few obvious applications are MIDI controllers, video application controllers and others applications where complex mechanical controllers are used.
- orangecat 17y ago
  One company, Microsoft, currently controls how most people use their computers. No, they don't. Microsoft got raked over the coals in both the courts and public opinion for making it somewhat more inconvenient to use third party browsers and media players. Under Apple's policies third party browsers and media players are entirely prohibited, and that's just a side effect of their complete control. If Microsoft had that kind of power 20 years ago, the web wouldn't exist. Likewise if the iPad and similar devices take over, Apple will be in excellent position to block the next major innovations that might interfere with their established business models.
  - troystribling 17y ago
    Microsoft has a 90% market share in PC OSs and 80% market share in business productivity software, see, http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20091111232207_Microsoft_Windows_7_Tests_4_Market_Share_After_Two_Weeks_of_Usage.html http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20091111232207_Mi... and http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/060409-forrester-microsoft-office-in-no.html http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/060409-forrester-micro...
    - netcan 17y ago
      The point being made is that market share isn't the only measure of control.
      - jacabado 17y ago
        If/When Apple reaches a majority on one of these markets, mobile?, the regulators will enforce them to behave properly. Although if it's really bad to free market they should be enforcing them earlier. Regulation is hard.
tensor 17y ago
I agree with this, and would like to expand on it a bit. For me personally, I do not mind that the iPad is "simple" or even single tasking. The problem is that the software that is run on it is controlled. Worse, it is controlled by a company who has already demonstrated that they are happy to deny applications based on money interests or the opinions of their primarily US market. Last year they decided joke political apps were "not worth offending their user base" for and banned them. This year they ban all applications related to sexuality for the same reason. Web browsers and email clients are banned for money interests. It goes without saying that apps like itunes are banned. What is next? Apps related to evolution and science? Any 3rd party apps related to music? Who knows. Maybe nothing, maybe all those things. This sets a FAR more dangerous precedent than Microsoft's monopoly on the OS market. And as this article correctly points out, very few people outside of IT will care. For them it will be "why isn't there app X, guess IT people are just boring/uncreative/didn't think of it, oh well." This level of control is enough for me to buy an alternative product, even if it may not be quite as good.
- rimantas 17y ago
  What is next? Apps related to evolution and science? Any 3rd party apps related to music? Who knows. Maybe nothing, maybe all those things. There is a name for that: FUD. How do you know, maybe Apple will release cure for cancer as an app. Will they be evil then too?
  - Slashed 17y ago
    OK, if Apple will release such an app... let's not start this topic. Instead, consider this example: I've built a software that allows publishers to distribute their books on many devices at once: Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Sony Reader, etc. Do you think Apple and Amazon will allow me to release such apps for their devices? I doubt it. The only way left for me is to write it as a webapp. Such control is bad for free market in general.
    - ErrantX 17y ago
      Amazon probably not. Apple: absolutely. There are a few such apps (based on your description) like that already :)
zhyder 17y ago
+1. At the risk of sounding too dramatic, it feels pretty evil to help Apple just because there are some profits to be made in apps; feels like helping a tyrannical dictatorship take over the world. I'd rather help some other simplified -but open- platform succeed.
axod 17y ago
I agree, and I'm much more excited by Chrome OS. I can't see why anyone would choose an iPad over a laptop/netbook running ChromeOS. And I highly doubt the iPad will be any more successful than the MacBook air. It's a small niche of users.

troystribling 17y ago

One company, Microsoft, currently controls how most people use their computers. As mentioned in the RFS the iPad is likely a challenge to this near monopoly. Also, I think more technical use cases where a larger touch device can be a control surface could be important as well. A few obvious applications are MIDI controllers, video application controllers and others applications where complex mechanical controllers are used.

orangecat 17y ago
One company, Microsoft, currently controls how most people use their computers. No, they don't. Microsoft got raked over the coals in both the courts and public opinion for making it somewhat more inconvenient to use third party browsers and media players. Under Apple's policies third party browsers and media players are entirely prohibited, and that's just a side effect of their complete control. If Microsoft had that kind of power 20 years ago, the web wouldn't exist. Likewise if the iPad and similar devices take over, Apple will be in excellent position to block the next major innovations that might interfere with their established business models.
- troystribling 17y ago
  Microsoft has a 90% market share in PC OSs and 80% market share in business productivity software, see, http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20091111232207_Microsoft_Windows_7_Tests_4_Market_Share_After_Two_Weeks_of_Usage.html http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/display/20091111232207_Mi... and http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/060409-forrester-microsoft-office-in-no.html http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/060409-forrester-micro...
  - netcan 17y ago
    The point being made is that market share isn't the only measure of control.
    - jacabado 17y ago
      If/When Apple reaches a majority on one of these markets, mobile?, the regulators will enforce them to behave properly. Although if it's really bad to free market they should be enforcing them earlier. Regulation is hard.

tensor 17y ago

I agree with this, and would like to expand on it a bit. For me personally, I do not mind that the iPad is "simple" or even single tasking. The problem is that the software that is run on it is controlled. Worse, it is controlled by a company who has already demonstrated that they are happy to deny applications based on money interests or the opinions of their primarily US market. Last year they decided joke political apps were "not worth offending their user base" for and banned them. This year they ban all applications related to sexuality for the same reason. Web browsers and email clients are banned for money interests. It goes without saying that apps like itunes are banned. What is next? Apps related to evolution and science? Any 3rd party apps related to music? Who knows. Maybe nothing, maybe all those things. This sets a FAR more dangerous precedent than Microsoft's monopoly on the OS market. And as this article correctly points out, very few people outside of IT will care. For them it will be "why isn't there app X, guess IT people are just boring/uncreative/didn't think of it, oh well." This level of control is enough for me to buy an alternative product, even if it may not be quite as good.

rimantas 17y ago
What is next? Apps related to evolution and science? Any 3rd party apps related to music? Who knows. Maybe nothing, maybe all those things. There is a name for that: FUD. How do you know, maybe Apple will release cure for cancer as an app. Will they be evil then too?
- Slashed 17y ago
  OK, if Apple will release such an app... let's not start this topic. Instead, consider this example: I've built a software that allows publishers to distribute their books on many devices at once: Kindle, iPad, iPhone, Sony Reader, etc. Do you think Apple and Amazon will allow me to release such apps for their devices? I doubt it. The only way left for me is to write it as a webapp. Such control is bad for free market in general.
  - ErrantX 17y ago
    Amazon probably not. Apple: absolutely. There are a few such apps (based on your description) like that already :)

zhyder 17y ago

+1. At the risk of sounding too dramatic, it feels pretty evil to help Apple just because there are some profits to be made in apps; feels like helping a tyrannical dictatorship take over the world. I'd rather help some other simplified -but open- platform succeed.

axod 17y ago

I agree, and I'm much more excited by Chrome OS. I can't see why anyone would choose an iPad over a laptop/netbook running ChromeOS. And I highly doubt the iPad will be any more successful than the MacBook air. It's a small niche of users.