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It's an instant-on appliance with a real web browser and real mail reader on a real screen. I guess that's the selling point right there. It's not a computer t
by statictype 16y ago
It's an instant-on appliance with a real web browser and real mail reader on a real screen.
I guess that's the selling point right there.
It's not a computer that requires booting and starting up system services and logging in. It's an appliance you can immediately turn on and start using.
- weaksauce 16y agoThat is precisely the reason I love my iPad. (iPhone too when on the go)
- _delirium 16y agoThat particular point doesn't seem like a huge win to me, as someone who never shuts down his laptop. I just open the lid and it's on, then close the lid and it's "off". The form factor/weight seems like the bigger win, at least for me. Although if you're going to carry around a Bluetooth keyboard to use it, like jwz apparently does, that seems like it eats away at the advantages there a bit?
- joezydeco 16y agoJust curious: when you close the lid on your laptop, are you hibernating/sleeping, or is the CPU always running? When I do the closelid/openlid thing on my Debian laptop, it takes a good 10-20 seconds for my wifi to reacquire...and that's after I log in. Then I need to tickle Chrome or my mail client to sync up. I'd say maybe 30 seconds before I can see new email or load a web page. In playing with the iPad, I've found it just comes up right away and I can see mail in 10 seconds. I can also scoop the iPad off the counter with a drink and some other items and plop on the couch. Not as easy to do with my laptop.
- _delirium 16y agoIt hibernates/sleeps, and does so basically instantly as far as I can tell. It's an OSX laptop. Due to driver issues, I believe Debian's hibernation isn't quite as smooth, though I've heard it's getting better (I only run Debian on my desktop, so have no first-hand knowledge).
- ugh 16y agoWell, you sort of can use current laptops that way. I rebooted my MBP last two weeks ago (probably because of some update) and wake from sleep works reliably fast. I can see how the much longer battery life and the much more compact and unintimidating appearance helps with that.
- xal 16y agoThat being said, the ipad needs user profiles so badly it's not even funny.
- wazoox 16y agoApple sells it as a personal device, so you have to buy one for each and every family member. Do you have user profiles on your phone? Of course you don't.
- tomjen3 16y agoBy that estimate my computer is an appliance too - I just open the lid, and it is on. Why more people don't do this, I don't know.
- loewenskind 16y agoThat is handy but it is not the same thing. When you close the lid things are getting written to the hard rive. This means you shouldn't move it around until the light starts "breathing" or you risk data loss (afaik this doesn't apply with an SD drive however). With the iPad there is no startup/shutdown time.
- simonsarris 16y agoHow is that a selling point versus all of the other laptops and netbooks that can do the same? Almost all modern netbooks are like that now. Even my large HP Envy can do that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_on
- access_denied 16y agoI agree. And this makes it perfect for planning, thinking, note-taking. Hanging around in the garden, the thoughts are coming, hit Omni-Focus or something and develop your vision. Put the device on the side and jump into the pool. It's features are more 'indirect', keyword practicability.