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Tablets

paulgraham.com

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Re: Tablets

#121

Post by Psyonic »

timcederman wrote: post #85
blahedo wrote: post #81

Here's the thing: people who aren't geeks often like and even prefer single-purpose devices. There is, as has been noted (see http://g4tv.com/videos/44277/DICE-2010-Design-Outside-the-Bo... ), a "pocket exception", but for larger devices, people who aren't us are often intimidated or confused by devices that do many things. And of course there are dangers in making a machine more general-purpose than it needs to be.…

This doesn't explain the iPhone though.

"pocket exception," also trendiest phone (phones are fashion accessories as well as devices)

Re: Tablets

#122

Post by pkulak »

"I wouldn't be surprised if by playing some clever tricks with the accelerometer you could even replace the bathroom scale."

I'd be surprised. Very, very, very surprised.

Re: Tablets

#123

Post by ABrandt »

Azuldolphin wrote: post #44
dnsworks wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, Apple's shareholders are out there saying "I'm so glad we're making great stuff". Apple wants to make money, no matter how much fandom we bestow upon Apple for having a great design aesthetic, Apple is a corporation whose aim is to make money. Apple is a golden boy because they aren't Microsoft, and if we keep comparing the two, we never give Apple an honest shake.

I don't know. I've always gotten the feeling that Jobs is a perfectionist to the point of it almost being a pathology. I doubt his motivations are primarily focused on money, especially at this point.

Jobs may be a perfectionist, but he is ultimately just the CEO. As such, he's an agent to the true owners (shareholders). His laser sharp focus on design has been extremely profitable and thus his interests are aligned with those of shareholders. When these interests get out of sync, see ya Steve.

Its hard to imagine now but there will be Apple without their fearless leader one day. They are a profit seeking venture like any other--brilliant marketing has people convinced otherwise.

Re: Tablets

#124

Post by cookiecaper »

alanthonyc wrote: post #110
lukeschlather wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft's control was superficial, and that's how they like it. They don't want to control what you put on your computer, they just want you to pay them the same reasonable price. Apple on the other hand clearly does care what you put on your iOS device, and in ways that go beyond a desire for good UX to a desire to control what is acceptable for society: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/apple-finds-christianity-offe…

Here's the difference: You don't have to use any Apple device if you don't want to. That choice is yours. I spent many years working in places where you had to use Microsoft products. There was no choice. Microsoft didn't care what you put on your machine because all they care about is making money selling you stuff.

You don't have to use Microsoft if you don't want to either -- just don't work somewhere that requires MS products. Do you suppose that there aren't companies where using Apple products is required? There are.

Re: Tablets

#125

Post by Psyonic »

patrickk wrote: post #25

Other stuff being replaced by smart devices: watches, alarm clocks, portable radios, cheap digital cameras, spirit levels, dictionaries and perhaps soon your wallet and physical mass-produced books. Looking at some of the creative stuff people do with mounting their iPad in vehicles, perhaps iPad-like devices will replace traditional dials in cars in the near future. The only reason we even consider calling them "mob…

Calling the iPhone an iPad mini (or iPad nano) is a common joke as well.

Re: Tablets

#126

Post by bborud »

edw519 wrote: post #9

Developers have used the accelerometer in ways Apple could never have imagined. That sentence is one instance of this sentence: Developers have used in ways could never have imagined. What better argument for open standards, APIs, and community cooperation?

...and paraphrasing William Gibson's "...the street finds its own uses for things" ("Burning Chrome" 1982).

Re: Tablets

#127

Post by arethuza »

Psyonic wrote: post #118
arethuza wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Video on the iPad is its killer app for - I don't check email with it, I do a fair amount of Web browsing and I have read a few books through Kindle on it - but with video (a ripped DVD, iPlayer or a movie rented from iTunes) it is simply wonderful. [NB I noticed the other evening that an iPlayer at the distance I normally cradle it is larger than our 50" plasma at whatever distance that is from where I sit - no wond…

That mono sound really sucks you in

To watch an action movie with others I'd put it on the big screen and turn up the surround sound. Watching a history/science documentary by myself I prefer the iPad.

YMMV

Re: Tablets

#128

Post by mikecane »

Azuldolphin wrote: post #44
dnsworks wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, Apple's shareholders are out there saying "I'm so glad we're making great stuff". Apple wants to make money, no matter how much fandom we bestow upon Apple for having a great design aesthetic, Apple is a corporation whose aim is to make money. Apple is a golden boy because they aren't Microsoft, and if we keep comparing the two, we never give Apple an honest shake.

I don't know. I've always gotten the feeling that Jobs is a perfectionist to the point of it almost being a pathology. I doubt his motivations are primarily focused on money, especially at this point.

It was never, ever about money: http://thinkexist.com/quotation/i_want_to_put_a_ding_in_the_...

Re: Tablets

#129

Post by steveklabnik »

iaskwhy wrote: post #116
alanthonyc wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's the difference: You don't have to use any Apple device if you don't want to. That choice is yours. I spent many years working in places where you had to use Microsoft products. There was no choice. Microsoft didn't care what you put on your machine because all they care about is making money selling you stuff.

I'm just saying but who knows if in x years you also have to use Apple? You know, there was always an alternative for Microsoft products like there is for Apple ones but people actually vote on this with their wallet: if the vast majority chooses Apple you will be forced to use their products too. I'm sure of this because I would never think about working with Objective-C and here I am doing iOS apps because that's w…

> I'm just saying but who knows if in x years you also have to use Apple?

Then that's when I'll start to take issue with them.

Re: Tablets

#130

Post by kenjackson »

Tablet is the wrong term. In fact I fear the use of it becoming the term to use as I think it immediately prunes potential avenues of exploration. I think mobile or personal device is a better term as its really about the intent of the device, which is to be with you always. Tablet really seems to describe the form factor. I'm not convinced that the form factor is all that important.
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