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Excuse my ignorance and non-appleness for this simple, non-technical, potentially stupid question: While my 13" MacBook Pro rests on my knees, I can smoke with

by mojuba 17y ago

Excuse my ignorance and non-appleness for this simple, non-technical, potentially stupid question: While my 13" MacBook Pro rests on my knees, I can smoke with one hand, hold my coffee in the other hand, and read this article at the same time. I started it in the kitchen and finished in the bedroom. How is iPad going to make my life better? Will I be able to do 3 things at a time with it? I suspect one hand will always be busy holding the thing. It will get tired, let alone that I won't be able to smoke and have my coffee and read an article (and always have the UNIX shell at hand) at the same time. This seems like an iPad killer in the bad sense to me. I'm sorry.

superjared 17y ago
Maybe you should quit smoking. Seriously though, the iPad isn't made for the likes of us on Hacker News (though I still kinda want one). It's for people like my father who don't really give a damn what a computer is as long as it's easy to use.
- mojuba 17y ago
  He probably should care that his arm is going to get tired holding his iPad for more than 15-20 minutes. Seriously, I'm failing to picture any long-time user of this device being really, really happy with it.
  - stcredzero 17y ago
    I'm jazzed about my Windows slate at 3 pounds, and yes, I can browse and post on HN all day with it, even from bed. You don't have to hold it up to use it in any context you can use a hardcover book. My iPad will weigh half as much and won't require a stylus.
  - commieneko 17y ago
    Because no one ever held a book steady in their hand for more than 15-20 minutes without getting tired... Hell, I've watched whole TV shows on the bus with my iPod Touch. And don't get me started on games. There will be plenty of problems with the device, it's a 1.0, but there will be plenty of people really, really happy with it.
mgcross 17y ago
Surely stands or docks will be(or are) available, but I definitely see your point. Judging by the 'lifestyle' photos and videos, the device doesn't look very ergonomic. I'll stick with my Eeepc; I'd just get Egg McMuffin grease on the touchscreen anyway. And I wouldn't be able to play MAME while I'm standing in line at the DMV.
- DougWebb 17y ago
  Stands and docks are available, for a price. My wife wanted one of these, thinking $500 was worth it, but when I started to look into it I found that the $500 model is pretty crippled. You need to be near a WiFi access point if you don't get a 3G model ($130 more) and $30/month service plan, so no 'internet all the time' unless you pay extra. The $500 model also has 16GB of storage, and I have no idea if that's a lot or a little. Since 64GB is available I assume 16GB is not much. So that's another $200. Now you're looking at $830 rather than $500, and you still don't get any accessories. Vanilla Dock: $30 Keyboard Dock: $70 (looks really flimsy and has a fixed angle) Case: $40 (need to protect that screen if you're going to carry this thing around) Camera connection kit: $30 (you need a dock to use this) VGA adapter: $30 (you need a dock to use this too) Basic set of accessories: up to $170 Total Price: $1000. Hmm... nice round number, huh? So much for a $500 revolutionary computing device.
  - Zev 17y ago
    You need to be near a WiFi access point... Correct me if I'm wrong – although I don't think I am - but, isn't the point of wifi that you don't need to stay tethered to a router? And the iPad supports 802.11n, so you'll be able to get a decent range with a pretty cheap router. Definitely enough to cover your house and yard. The $500 model also has 16GB of storage, and I have no idea if that's a lot or a little. Since 64GB is available I assume 16GB is not much. The size of a movie won't change if you have a 16 or 64GB iPad. And as with everything else, if its enough space or not depends on what you use it for. Personally, 8GB is more than enough space for me, on my iPod touch (and 16GB on my Pre is excessive for what I need). So, I preordered a 16GB iPad. The availability of a greater size doesn't change the amount of information a smaller size can hold. 16GB is 16GB, regardless of the existence of a 64GB model. It just that there are different sizes that cost different amounts of money. Total Price: $1000. Hmm... nice round number, huh? $670-$700 being rounded up to $1000 is a big jump.

by mojuba 17y ago

superjared 17y ago

Maybe you should quit smoking. Seriously though, the iPad isn't made for the likes of us on Hacker News (though I still kinda want one). It's for people like my father who don't really give a damn what a computer is as long as it's easy to use.

mojuba 17y ago
He probably should care that his arm is going to get tired holding his iPad for more than 15-20 minutes. Seriously, I'm failing to picture any long-time user of this device being really, really happy with it.
- stcredzero 17y ago
  I'm jazzed about my Windows slate at 3 pounds, and yes, I can browse and post on HN all day with it, even from bed. You don't have to hold it up to use it in any context you can use a hardcover book. My iPad will weigh half as much and won't require a stylus.
- commieneko 17y ago
  Because no one ever held a book steady in their hand for more than 15-20 minutes without getting tired... Hell, I've watched whole TV shows on the bus with my iPod Touch. And don't get me started on games. There will be plenty of problems with the device, it's a 1.0, but there will be plenty of people really, really happy with it.

mgcross 17y ago

Surely stands or docks will be(or are) available, but I definitely see your point. Judging by the 'lifestyle' photos and videos, the device doesn't look very ergonomic. I'll stick with my Eeepc; I'd just get Egg McMuffin grease on the touchscreen anyway. And I wouldn't be able to play MAME while I'm standing in line at the DMV.

DougWebb 17y ago
Stands and docks are available, for a price. My wife wanted one of these, thinking $500 was worth it, but when I started to look into it I found that the $500 model is pretty crippled. You need to be near a WiFi access point if you don't get a 3G model ($130 more) and $30/month service plan, so no 'internet all the time' unless you pay extra. The $500 model also has 16GB of storage, and I have no idea if that's a lot or a little. Since 64GB is available I assume 16GB is not much. So that's another $200. Now you're looking at $830 rather than $500, and you still don't get any accessories. Vanilla Dock: $30 Keyboard Dock: $70 (looks really flimsy and has a fixed angle) Case: $40 (need to protect that screen if you're going to carry this thing around) Camera connection kit: $30 (you need a dock to use this) VGA adapter: $30 (you need a dock to use this too) Basic set of accessories: up to $170 Total Price: $1000. Hmm... nice round number, huh? So much for a $500 revolutionary computing device.
- Zev 17y ago
  You need to be near a WiFi access point... Correct me if I'm wrong – although I don't think I am - but, isn't the point of wifi that you don't need to stay tethered to a router? And the iPad supports 802.11n, so you'll be able to get a decent range with a pretty cheap router. Definitely enough to cover your house and yard. The $500 model also has 16GB of storage, and I have no idea if that's a lot or a little. Since 64GB is available I assume 16GB is not much. The size of a movie won't change if you have a 16 or 64GB iPad. And as with everything else, if its enough space or not depends on what you use it for. Personally, 8GB is more than enough space for me, on my iPod touch (and 16GB on my Pre is excessive for what I need). So, I preordered a 16GB iPad. The availability of a greater size doesn't change the amount of information a smaller size can hold. 16GB is 16GB, regardless of the existence of a 64GB model. It just that there are different sizes that cost different amounts of money. Total Price: $1000. Hmm... nice round number, huh? $670-$700 being rounded up to $1000 is a big jump.