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I remember that the iPod's dirty secret was that you had to pay big money for a battery replacement since it wasn't user serviceable. Other dirty secrets for po

I remember that the iPod's dirty secret was that you had to pay big money for a battery replacement since it wasn't user serviceable. Other dirty secrets for popular consumer products include things like child labour being used to build sneakers or unsafe factory/dormitory combinations that kill hundreds of people when the factories catch fire. I get the sense that the phrase "dirty secret" is being watered down in the same sense that the word "evil" is being watered down to simply mean "something I disagree with."

g0atbutt 17y ago
It was meant as a rebuttal to Steve Jobs proclaiming the iPad offers "the best browsing experience you've ever had" which is simply not true. While it's true that other "dirty secrets" (some of which you listed) are more important, it doesn't change the fact that is one of Apple's dirty secrets.
- thought_alarm 17y ago
  It's only a "dirty secret" if you're prone to believing in conspiracy theories.
- awolf 17y ago
  To me, "Dirty little secret" implies a factual piece of information that Apple is knowingly hiding from the public. "I don't like the iPad browser because it doesn't have tabs." is NOT a "dirty little secret".
  - anigbrowl 17y ago
    Yeah, but 'only 256 mb RAM' might be for a lot of people that have got used to more.
    - anigbrowl 17y ago
      What? It was news to me from reading the article. I had assumed it would have about the 1gb which is a common spec on $300 netbooks now. I think people are overreacting a bit to the the title...it's just one of those headline cliches, like 'anatomy of a flame war'.
- MWinther 17y ago
  I don't think the iPad browser experience is going for the "leaning forward" kind of browsing. It's going for the "leaning back" approach to browsing you do while lounging in the couch. The tabs aren't as important there, although I would of course not mind if the leaning forward part of the equation worked better, too. Then again, it's version 1.0 of the iPhone OS for iPad, and considering the strides of iPhone OS for the iPhone, I am sure we have plenty of UX refinements to look forward to.
ahoyhere 17y ago
Very good point about the watering down. I'd add "anti-competitive" and "monopoly" to your list as well. Oh yeah. And "journalism."
petercooper 17y ago
You once said "Web applications are dangerous." You were taking similar creative license with the word "dangerous." There is nothing wrong with this practice in non-formal writing.
- raganwald 17y ago
  It is my honour to bestow the order of the sacred upmod garter upon you for service to HN's tone and quality. Arise, Sir Cooper!
  - petercooper 17y ago
    Again? But I'm already in the Order of the Sacred Pedant and I just can't turn my back on it..

g0atbutt 17y ago

It was meant as a rebuttal to Steve Jobs proclaiming the iPad offers "the best browsing experience you've ever had" which is simply not true. While it's true that other "dirty secrets" (some of which you listed) are more important, it doesn't change the fact that is one of Apple's dirty secrets.

thought_alarm 17y ago
It's only a "dirty secret" if you're prone to believing in conspiracy theories.
awolf 17y ago
To me, "Dirty little secret" implies a factual piece of information that Apple is knowingly hiding from the public. "I don't like the iPad browser because it doesn't have tabs." is NOT a "dirty little secret".
- anigbrowl 17y ago
  Yeah, but 'only 256 mb RAM' might be for a lot of people that have got used to more.
  - anigbrowl 17y ago
    What? It was news to me from reading the article. I had assumed it would have about the 1gb which is a common spec on $300 netbooks now. I think people are overreacting a bit to the the title...it's just one of those headline cliches, like 'anatomy of a flame war'.
MWinther 17y ago
I don't think the iPad browser experience is going for the "leaning forward" kind of browsing. It's going for the "leaning back" approach to browsing you do while lounging in the couch. The tabs aren't as important there, although I would of course not mind if the leaning forward part of the equation worked better, too. Then again, it's version 1.0 of the iPhone OS for iPad, and considering the strides of iPhone OS for the iPhone, I am sure we have plenty of UX refinements to look forward to.

ahoyhere 17y ago

Very good point about the watering down. I'd add "anti-competitive" and "monopoly" to your list as well. Oh yeah. And "journalism."

petercooper 17y ago

You once said "Web applications are dangerous." You were taking similar creative license with the word "dangerous." There is nothing wrong with this practice in non-formal writing.

raganwald 17y ago
It is my honour to bestow the order of the sacred upmod garter upon you for service to HN's tone and quality. Arise, Sir Cooper!
- petercooper 17y ago
  Again? But I'm already in the Order of the Sacred Pedant and I just can't turn my back on it..