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The Chair

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Re: The Chair

#11

Post by mcav »

This is why I hope Steve Jobs continues to drive Apple for years to come. He presses forward relentlessly, driving the user experience forward, even when the competition can't come close. No one else has been able to match the original iPad's size, cost, and specs; the iPad 2 makes the other tablets seem so bulky, so utilitarian, even though they haven't shipped yet.

Any other company would milk the original iPad for all it's worth. They'd get a device with the iPad's dimensions and call it good enough. They wouldn't push forward unless their competitors caught up. I can't imagine Motorola, Microsoft, Samsung, Google, or anyone else having the muscle to put a device like the iPad 2 out so soon.

Forget pro-Apple or anti-Apple. More companies need to strive harder to be better, whether or not they see someone hot on their tail.

Re: The Chair

#12

Post by recoiledsnake »

>There’s a palpable sense among everyone from Apple I spoke to yesterday that this is the biggest and most important thing in the history of the industry.

Seriously? Bigger and more important than the invention of the Internet and WWW?

Well, I just wish the Post-PC devices wouldn't come with a 30% (or 43%) surcharge for all subscription content.

Re: The Chair

#13

Post by bobz »

My favorite thing about Jobs:

Seeing a man who actually DESERVES every ounce of his celebrity, clearly enjoying it so much.

Nice piece by Gruber capturing the event, and my favorite flavor of Apple worship.

Re: The Chair

#14

Post by edderly »

dhh wrote: post #7
orangecat wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can't even buy any of them, except for Samsung's Galaxy Tab. The Xoom is available now.

Unfortunately I found it to be, well, shit compared to the iPad. I bought one for the lure of speed and returned it the next day when I realized that speed was very low on the list of properties that actually mattered. The total user experience is just far worse. The Xoom feels like a PC that has better specs than a Mac. Yes, the frame rate is higher but the game sucks. I seriously wish that webOS is going to show Ap…

Strange really because I've found the iPad to be a dull clone of an iPhone where the Xoom seems to have a UI which exploits the size of the screen.

Re: The Chair

#15

Post by akashs »

It's a bit unfortunate that most of the post is a bunch of gushing about how Apple is so amazing. Unfortunate because there's a very insightful point in that second to last paragraph.

The chair is definitely part of Apple's genius when it comes to the iPad. It shows us that this isn't a laptop or a PC and the iPad doesn't fall into the paradigms we're used to. It's something new, meant for you to use when you're relaxing rather than working, and you haven't experienced anything like it. You won't get it until you try it.

As for the competitors, they do have a ways to go. But the Xoom is definitely a great step, especially with the higher-res, less awkward screen for watching video (the aspect ratio is an annoyance on the iPad).

Re: The Chair

#16

Post by tuhin »

Love how Steve Jobs has craftily defined a point in time "Post-PC era" that everyone including me is referring to in the discussions. A phrase that many of us had not used a few days ago is now the parameter to judge policies of companies: "that's how it was in post-PC era". As far as the point of power corrupts is, I do not really see the basis for that. iPod, iPhone? How did the power corrupt Apple? Or is there some serious competitor to iPod that I have somehow missed?

Re: The Chair

#17

Post by recoiledsnake »

tuhin wrote: post #16

Love how Steve Jobs has craftily defined a point in time "Post-PC era" that everyone including me is referring to in the discussions. A phrase that many of us had not used a few days ago is now the parameter to judge policies of companies: "that's how it was in post-PC era". As far as the point of power corrupts is, I do not really see the basis for that. iPod, iPhone? How did the power corrupt Apple? Or is there som…

> As far as the point of power corrupts is, I do not really see the basis for that. iPod, iPhone? How did the power corrupt Apple?

A forced 30% cut of all subscriptions to the iDevices.

Re: The Chair

#19

Post by aik »

I don't understand Gruber's conclusion, starting with: “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology is not enough.”

Firstly, what does Steve Jobs mean by that? I believe simply that Apple is where "Technology meets Liberal Arts".

Gruber seems to think this means "better designed, has more developer support, and it’s cheaper", which is all stuff that competitors can't copy?

That seems to just be an overview of Apple's status in this and their status relative to others, not necessarily having to do anything with "Technology meeting Liberal Arts".

In addition, I don't believe Jobs is referring to their marketing model in this -- that the technology is part of a greater "experience".

Rather, and perhaps I'm wrong on this and assuming too much, but I see it as a plea for something greater beyond just the technology and the ingenious marketing scheme. I see the devices (most specifically the iPad) as a technology that is humankind-enhancing material beyond just making life a little bit easier. Sure other tablets are, or could be rather, and I hope will be, the same or better, but at the moment the iPad does hold a special slot here. With the immense backing that it has, that's a fact I would say.

Whether Apple has purposefully created it to be so exceptional in so many areas (partner in healthcare, schools, etc.) is something I don't know or if they just got lucky, but it is true that it is excellent(or at least a big step forward) in those areas. And for that reason alone I see the device as more than just a gimmicky piece of technology and rather more of a device that assists in the advancement of mankind.

Re: The Chair

#20

Post by blinkingled »

tumult wrote: post #2

The tech press needs to play up the competition to the iPad as much as possible, because drama drives clicks. But the reality is that Apple's iPad is so far ahead of everything else that it's almost out of sight. Have you used one of the 'iPad killers'? That is not competition. It's a joke. You can't even buy any of them, except for Samsung's Galaxy Tab. [And the Motorola Xoom, but only at retail Best Buy in America,…

Xoom can be bought online at Verizon or Moto websites. That nitpick aside it isn't anywhere near as bad as you are making it out to be. I am typing this post on one.

The browser is far better. The OS is far more usable than the iPad, the higher screen resolution is great - I can RDP into my work PC and use it all day. The hardware is top notch, and battery life is plenty. I haven't connected it to a PC yet - have my apps, music and video wirelessly synced! Once Flash is out and Moto ships SD Card enabling update I have everything I need from a PC replacement tablet.

People sadly have just decided to exclusively fall for whatever Apple markets them and there is no convincing them to drop their prejudices.

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