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Poll: Are you getting an iPad?

news.ycombinator.com

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Re: Poll: Are you getting an iPad?

#71

Post by modoc »

The market is people like myself I guess. I'd like something I can leave in the living room or bedroom and be able to surf the web or check e-mail without being limited to my iphone screen. It would also be wonderful for plane trips. My 17" MBP doesn't work too well on most US domestic coach seats, so having a smaller, 10 hour batt life eBook reader, video player, etc... would be great. Yes, I've tried watching videos on my iphone on the plane. The screen is small and you have to either hold it up the whole time, or bend your head down, neither is comfortable. Also with iWork and projector support I could bring things on many day trips/business meetings instead of lugging my full laptop.

It's basically an iPhone only bigger screened, a Kindle only better and bigger screened, with color, a video player, and enough of a laptop to get me by on day trips and sales meetings. Well worth $499, and in fact well worth $829.

Your needs may vary from mine, but don't assume just because you don't want one that means there's no market. I and my five closest friends are all getting them, so out of tech folks I know personally, that's a pretty decent indicator.

Re: Poll: Are you getting an iPad?

#72

Post by lylejohnson »

willwagner wrote: post #53
protomyth wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

just out of curiosity, how would one take pictures with something that big?

I think the point of a camera for me would be the potential of video conferencing. With a screen that big, you could have a virtual meeting with several participants. Additionally, it would be pretty cool if you could watch the same video remotely while video conferencing with your friends so you could chatter about the show while watching it.

As others have pointed out, a front-facing camera sounds like a good idea until you think about how you'd have to hold the iPad "just so," so that you'd get the right angle for the picture. It certainly wouldn't work well if you were trying to prop it up in your lap, unless you're going to hunch over to look down at it.

Now if they could come up with a clever solution to that problem, I'd definitely like to see a camera in a future iteration of the iPad.

Re: Poll: Are you getting an iPad?

#75

Post by GHFigs »

intellectronica wrote: post #28

No. I've had it with apple. I bought a few of their products. They're beautiful and clever, but eventually I always end up feeling humiliated by how evil they are - treating me as a user like I was a worthless money machine. Also I find it hard to imagine how I would use such a device - too big to put in my pocket, no e-ink, so it can't serve as a book reader and no keyboard, so I can't use it to create things.

treating me as a user like I was a worthless money machine

Could you be more specific?

Re: Poll: Are you getting an iPad?

#76

Post by alex_c »

lylejohnson wrote: post #72
willwagner wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the point of a camera for me would be the potential of video conferencing. With a screen that big, you could have a virtual meeting with several participants. Additionally, it would be pretty cool if you could watch the same video remotely while video conferencing with your friends so you could chatter about the show while watching it.

As others have pointed out, a front-facing camera sounds like a good idea until you think about how you'd have to hold the iPad "just so," so that you'd get the right angle for the picture. It certainly wouldn't work well if you were trying to prop it up in your lap, unless you're going to hunch over to look down at it. Now if they could come up with a clever solution to that problem, I'd definitely like to see a cam…

Let the camera swivel, and make it possible to control from software (throw in face detection, and let it auto-trace your face when you shift the tablet around). It needs some thought, but I'm sure it's not impossible to do well enough for Apple's standards.

Re: Poll: Are you getting an iPad?

#79

Post by dagw »

I really like the form factor and I'm tempted, but based on what I've seen it's not exactly what I want. Unless it blows me away in ways I'm not expecting when I see it hands on, it will probably be a No. I want a tablet with this form factor and I have $500, hopefully this will kick start other companies to get similar devices out the door.

Re: Poll: Are you getting an iPad?

#80

Post by joezydeco »

sjs wrote: post #47
novum wrote: post #32

No. Who is the iPad for? I don't understand the target market. People whose computing needs are basic enough that this can serve as a primary computer? It plays video, and runs apps, and syncs with iTunes, but so does my iPhone and so does my macbook. It's too big to fit in your pocket, so you need a bag for it, but why not just put my macbook in the bag? I'm a power user and I demand a lot from my computers. That's…

The iPad replaces a computer for most people, and does a lot more by being so portable and simple to use. Seriously, get one of these a keyboard dock and you're good to go. For developers and other content creators we still need the power of a notebook. If we have a smart phone then this isn't as compelling, but for most "normal" people who consume content this is huge. Make no mistake this is a game changer.

I was kind of interested in the keyboard dock at first glance. Here's a way to turn an iPad into a simple computer that my kid can use for school tasks or email without trashing my desktop computer setup.

But on second glance: how do you drive the UI from the keyboard? Can you use a mouse? Are you going to have to lift your arms and gesture all over the place to open a file, change apps, etc?

If they have an answer to the second problem, watch this thing get pushed heavily at the education market in the fall.

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