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The Chair

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21–30 of 186 posts

Re: The Chair

#21
I think Apple has the sense that the iPad will dominate the tablet market like the iPod has dominated the mp3 market. The main reason Android has overtaken # sales of smartphone is because of the price tax that the carriers (and also Apple) has taken. But Apple doesn't have the carriers to worry about with the tablet (cause most people are buying the wifi versions). And they've decided they're going to compete on price with the iPad, just like they did with the iPod and iPod Touch. After watching the keynote, it's hard to see the competition creating a better tablet (hardware, software, design, apps) for a cheaper price. Apple has integrated the whole process of innovation, and they're way ahead... and this shows the most in the iPad.

Re: The Chair

#22
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,…

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

Most of the Xoom is available now. I'm amazed they deemed it sensible to ship it with a non-functional SD slot, and "promised upgrade" to a 4G radio. And then there's the touting of Flash as a major selling point, even though it's not yet available either.

"And here are the keys to your new car. By the way, the windshield wipers don't work, yet…"

Re: The Chair

#23
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.

Yes, I do see the issue with that and on a fair note, sad to see Apple resort to this. While the rules and the implementation has been dogmatic, there were companies who were very craftily bypassing the app store in app purchases to do all kinds of stuff. Again, I am not justifying the way in which Apple did this, but I do not see how not letting competitors and app developers by pass the rules of the eco-system is getting corrupted.

Re: The Chair

#24
post #10
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,…

Serious competition with the iPhone took time to emerge, but it did. It's a temporary advantage, not a permanent one, as are all such advantages. Just as in the iPhone arena, Apple won't stand still but eventually it will not be able to singlehandedly defeat everybody on all fronts. But while they lead, they will rake in the bucks, and more power to them. I don't want them to be the only viable company out there and…

In some ways it doesn't even matter if they have competition or not, since Apple effectively defines the category and the expectations of the users. Even now, smart phones are generally playing catch-up to the iPhone. Yes, there is some innovation above and beyond Apple; Windows Phone 7 is surprisingly impressive, and the Web OS notification system is arguably superior. But, the comparison always comes back to the iPhone or iPad, just as it did to the iPod. By providing the first truly mainstream offering in each category, Apple establishes its products as the benchmark. This gives it the freedom to go where it thinks makes sense, instead of being stuck following the leader.

Re: The Chair

#25
post #14
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What UI? The UI of the 65,000 full screen iPad specific apps, or the UI of the 16 Android Tablet apps?

Have you actually tried a Xoom?

Re: The Chair

#26
post #14
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Honestly, I had a similar first impression. But as I used it more, and saw iPad-specific apps begin to appear, it really is it's own device. If anything, the iPhone is a smaller, less functional clone of the iPad.

Re: The Chair

#27

I think Apple has the sense that the iPad will dominate the tablet market like the iPod has dominated the mp3 market. The main reason Android has overtaken # sales of smartphone is because of the price tax that the carriers (and also Apple) has taken. But Apple doesn't have the carriers to worry about with the tablet (cause most people are buying the wifi versions). And they've decided they're going to compete on pri…

And the halo of the iPad will probably have a pretty powerful effect in boosting the iPhone, particularly if they release some cheaper iPhones for PAYG as rumored.

Re: The Chair

#28
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What UI? The UI of the 65,000 full screen iPad specific apps, or the UI of the 16 Android Tablet apps? Have you actually tried a Xoom?

Yes, I've tried a Xoom today, I also have bought an iPad a while back. Have you tried a Xoom yourself? I don't really see the relevance of the number of applications to the the UI experience.

Re: The Chair

#29
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…

Yes but for most non geeks, the Xoom doesn't do much beyond the built in apps, whereas the iPad has 65,000 apps they can use today. That might be different in a year's time but the average user would be crazy to choose a Xoom over an iPad 2 now for that reason alone.

Re: The Chair

#30

I think Apple has the sense that the iPad will dominate the tablet market like the iPod has dominated the mp3 market. The main reason Android has overtaken # sales of smartphone is because of the price tax that the carriers (and also Apple) has taken. But Apple doesn't have the carriers to worry about with the tablet (cause most people are buying the wifi versions). And they've decided they're going to compete on pri…

And the halo of the iPad will probably have a pretty powerful effect in boosting the iPhone, particularly if they release some cheaper iPhones for PAYG as rumored.

Agreed. I think Apple will be forced to compete on price with the iPhone. Hence, likely will see some lower priced iPhones. I have a feeling that Apple is working to solve the real problem, namely the ridiculous contracts and fees carriers are charging.
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