Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor • Hacker News Board

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#101

Post by rbanffy » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 9:11 PM UTC

slantyyz wrote: post #58

rbanffy wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I expect it to have real potential to sell more than a million devices Is the iPad a real competitor to netbooks? This specific product is not a huge risk for Apple - it's easily clonable by other manufacturers and, by itself, it will never have a huge market share. The combined power of just about every Chinese manufacturer is a very real threat to Apple. Steve must remember the Apple II. Hardware makers for this…

By virtue of the iPad's capabilities, you could also argue that it's a competitor to PCs and laptops. I would argue that most of the people who are currently claiming that the iPad is a threat to computers and laptops are simply trying to draw eyeballs to their blogs with sensationalistic headlines. I see a lot of cheap keychain digital cameras being sold at supermarkets, but I highly doubt that anyone would seriousl…

> it's a competitor to PCs and laptops.

iPad sales will eat into sales of both desktop computers and laptops. Not all people need a desktop computer to check e-mail and browse the web. An iPad is cheaper than many desktops and very mobile, which may be a bonus. A lot of people also demand similarly simple uses with mobility. If all you'll do is to check your e-mail and browse the web, the iPad may be the notebook for you.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#102

Post by dotBen » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 9:12 PM UTC

You can discount this one if you like because it is a home-brew fix up.

But when the first 10"+ screened Android tablets come out from quality manufacturers, they will give Apple a run for their money. I hear there are a number of such devices being held back for a Fall launch for the Christmas purchasing season.

If I could buy a similarly speced + quality finished tablet to my iPad that ran Android I'd switch in an instant.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#103

Post by rbanffy » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 9:17 PM UTC

mattmaroon wrote: post #68

Tichy wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That definition of compete is really quite useless. Sure, if you define it like that, you win the argument, but we have learned nothing.

That's how Apple would define it. Lexus doesn't care what Kia's building, they care what BMW is.

And, of course, Apple relies on the image of a refined taste, so its customers will have the illusion that by having an iPad, they are on the same league as those who get driven around in Maybachs.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#104

Post by thought_alarm » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 9:19 PM UTC

7" is such a ridiculous screen size. It's too big to fit in your pocket, too small to be a compelling tablet.

You'd be much better off with an iPod Touch than this thing. It's faster, runs the latest software, has a proper touch screen, fits in your pocket, and is overall is a much higher quality of software and hardware.

I really wish there was an iPod Touch equivalent Android device, but so far there isn't. And there won't be an iPad equivalent until Google develops a proper tablet OS, with its own tablet UI guidelines and SDKs to make it happen (rumored to be Android 3.0). But that obviously won't prevent manufacturers from rushing out devices before the OS is ready. Buyer beware.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#105

Post by wmf » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 9:19 PM UTC

chaostheory wrote: post #44

I thought Google didn't allow the Android Store for tablets yet? Am I wrong? If I'm right, this would be a really severe limitation.

The rules changed recently so some tablets should be able to get the store, although I think they still require a camera.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#106

Post by rbanffy » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 9:24 PM UTC

eli wrote: post #93

Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky, but I really don't want to have to hack or coerce the things I buy in order to make them do what I want.

Same here, but I value the ability to hack and coerce the things I own when I decide to do with them things their makers would not approve.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#107

Post by dagw » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 10:32 PM UTC

theli0nheart wrote: post #43

Tichy wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if you are not looking for a tablet? Few people were looking for a tablet before the iPad launch.

True, but that's irrelevant. My point is that few people buy electronics on impulse, without research, before walking into a store.

I take it you've never worked at a major electronics retailer. People will drop several thousand dollars on impulse if a slick sales person does a catchy demo.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#108

Post by dieterrams » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 10:46 PM UTC

david927 wrote: post #9

allend wrote: post #7

I love it when people think competing with the iPad means having more bullet point features.

I love it when the faithful think that features and price are not competitive.

> I love it when the faithful think that features and price are not competitive.

I don't love it when jerks deride Apple fans as "the faithful". We're a pretty damn discriminating and thoughtful bunch of folks.

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#109

Post by blasdel » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 10:52 PM UTC

borism wrote: post #46

DeusExMachina wrote: post #6

2) It’s not a very bright screen, like the iPad. But if you intend to do a lot of reading, this is a plus. No, it's not. On the iPad you can adjust the brightness of the screen directly in the iBooks app if you want. But when you want a brighter screen for anything else, you can have it.

yes it is. most users will end up not adjusting brightness thus hurting their eyes

What the fuck? You're reading this on a screen right now. You and everyone else reading this thread likely read text from LCD screens for at least half of your waking hours!

What about a tablet formfactor suddenly makes backlit LCD screens completely unbearable?

Re: Out Of Nowhere, The iPad Has A Real Competitor

#110

Post by borism » Mon, Jul 12, 2010, 11:24 PM UTC

blasdel wrote: post #109

borism wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes it is. most users will end up not adjusting brightness thus hurting their eyes

What the fuck? You're reading this on a screen right now. You and everyone else reading this thread likely read text from LCD screens for at least half of your waking hours! What about a tablet formfactor suddenly makes backlit LCD screens completely unbearable?

What about a tablet formfactor suddenly makes backlit LCD screens completely unbearable?

we're talking iPad here. I haven't used one in direct sunlight, only in a bar one evening, but I do have an iPod touch and new Macbook Pro with glass (or mirror) display. Few downsides to Steve's obsession with glass:

- as I said, no matter how bright is backlight glass becomes mirror in sunlight (M̦̆̆BP is mirror even in low light) - thus backlight has to be driven at very high power, regardless of conditions - baclights' low setting is still much higher than on similar non-glass devices which makes said devices painful on the eye in the dark (same applies to my HTC EVO, especially for you Apple fanboys)