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iPad Air

arstechnica.com

261–270 of 286 posts

Re: iPad Air

#261
post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ahah, the mythical ordinary user. I know some users. I don't know if they are ordinary. I think they are. My parents in their 50's. A grandmother of 80. Some friends which are 30 with a very average computer literacy. Every one of them took fast with the iPad (that's how Apple is good), but no one of 'em'll fill 16gb of space.

I have a similar set of "ordinary users". They've all had storage issues on 16GB.

Anecdotes are such an awesome way to evaluate market data.

Re: iPad Air

#262
post #207

I really, really dislike how much hate there is in this thread. I feel like someone always ends up making similar comments every time there's a new launch from Apple/Microsoft/Google/whomever, and there is never any change. Do you guys get psyched about anything ? On the one end we have "Oh man, iPad air only has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of flash, how stupid" and on the other end we have "iPad hasn't cured cancer yet; wou…

I actually found that most of the 'hate' in this thread is in (what I see as useless) responses to (what I see as useful) criticism.

In turn I'm getting tired of these meta that comments discuss criticism, like yours. Yes I know, others will become tired of comments commenting on these meta comments, like mine, and ad infinitum. I think yours, mine and all these other meta comments have a point, but I don't see why it needs to be made every time.

Re: iPad Air

#263
post #107

I find it slightly odd that Apple goes into a decent amount of technical detail on the processor in the iPad - calling out the number of registers and transistors - but still doesn't ever disclose how much RAM is in the thing. This is especially vexing, as my biggest complaint with my current iPad is that it doesn't have enough of it.

The processor is Apple's own design and its performance is a distinguishing feature. RAM is commodity tech, and Apple will never pick a number that makes everyone happy. I agree that it'd be nice to get that number, but I can also see which one a marketer would rather feature.

ARM and Samsung probably get a little credit for the processor too.

Re: iPad Air

#264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

T-Mobile may work for your use case (if you're in a coverage zone), with 5GB of their 4G and unlimited EDGE (it was good enough for the original iPhone which relied exclusively on HTML5 apps, right?) for $30/mo prepaid. I don't know how well the iPad works on T-Mobile's network though, YMMV.

Stream a couple HD movies. There goes your 5GB.

So god forbid you watch your movies on the go in SD in order to eke out a few extra showings. 5GB is still worlds better than AT&T offers, and there's still unlimited EDGE.

Re: iPad Air

#265
post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anecdotal strawman? It's hardly anecdotal to say that the Lumia, being made of solid polycarbonate plastic, can withstand impacts more than an iPhone made of glass and rigid metal. There are multiple YouTube tests that show how much force a Lumia 920 can withstand without breaking. Your example is an anecdote, since there are many forms of proof that the iPhone is quite fragile as well as, for example, the Nexus 4. (…

You said that people often comment on how your phone is too thick, and then take the case off their phone to compare the size. The story characterizes the owners of those phones as imbeciles. This is the strawman anecdote I was referring to. You also say that iPhones need cases, which is not true.

The person I responded to said iPhones need cases. I was just agreeing with him.

And the story I told is called "storytelling". It's a way to emphasize a point that's entertaining to read. Point 1: people use cases on their iPhone. Point 2: the Lumia is thinner than an iPhone with an average case. Point 3: The iPhone is thinner without a case. There's your facts, without entertaining storytelling.

Re: iPad Air

#266
post #207

I really, really dislike how much hate there is in this thread. I feel like someone always ends up making similar comments every time there's a new launch from Apple/Microsoft/Google/whomever, and there is never any change. Do you guys get psyched about anything ? On the one end we have "Oh man, iPad air only has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of flash, how stupid" and on the other end we have "iPad hasn't cured cancer yet; wou…

The iPad to enrich people's live... Sorry, but the iPad/tablets are mostly used for browsing, creating photos and using apps and games. That's not really "enriching" life as i see it, it's a consumer device, not a production device... If you really want to make it enriching, make it non-obtrusive. And i would feel sorry for those whose life really is enriched with a electronic device.

Mostly...

The written word is mostly used for very boring or petty purposes.

That doesn't negate the existence or importance of literature.

"Mostly" is irrelevant. Most of the time an automated external defibrillator (AED) just sits on the wall, most of them are never used, ever. Nevertheless they save lives.

There's nothing tawdry or impure about someone's life being enriched by an ipad specifically. ipads, and other computers, allow people to learn, to connect, and to share. These are some of the most important and profound activities any human being is capable of. Is it pitiful for someone to be enriched by reading a book? Pitiful for someone to be enriched by sending or receiving love letters? Pitiful for someone to be enriched by being able to share their expertise or enthusiasm in a subject with others?

Re: iPad Air

#267

Lighter. Faster. More magical. Sigh. Disappointing. What happened to doing something revolutionary? Where is the the text input? Apple are driving by creatives. When can I write my book on my Apple tablet? And what's with the 16gb model. As they said, it has been almost 4 years now. And the 16gb model persists.

> Where is the the text input? Apple are driving by creatives. When can I write my book on my Apple tablet? Er, attach a keyboard to it? What were you expecting, mind-reading?

Possibly a top-notch first-party keyboard from Apple that turns the iPod into more of a laptop form factor when you want to use it as such. The kind of thing Microsoft is doing with the Surface. As much as Windows RT is pretty useless, the Surface keyboard is a really nice piece of kit.

Re: iPad Air

#268
post #23

So their new commercial for the iPad focuses on the fact that so many people use it for productivity, so why can't Apple create a decent, first-party pressure sensitive stylus, so we don't have to deal with expensive, clunky, third-party solutions.

The iPad doesn't have the same finger+stylus sensor tech that other tablets like the Samsung and Microsoft ones have. A real stylus simply won't work on an iPad because the iPad lacks the technology. So, as much as Apple says the iPad is for creative productivity, you won't find professionals using it like this: http://www.penny-arcade.com/2013/02/22/the-ms-surface-pro

Re: iPad Air

#269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Where is the the text input? Apple are driving by creatives. When can I write my book on my Apple tablet? Er, attach a keyboard to it? What were you expecting, mind-reading?

Possibly a top-notch first-party keyboard from Apple that turns the iPod into more of a laptop form factor when you want to use it as such. The kind of thing Microsoft is doing with the Surface. As much as Windows RT is pretty useless, the Surface keyboard is a really nice piece of kit.

There are already very good third-party solutions (though the better ones tend to be expensive); not sure why Apple making one would make a huge practical difference.

Re: iPad Air

#270
post #180
post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know at least 2 people who'd love to have the option to buy Wacom pens for iPads. Right now it doesn't really work unless you use some very hacky solutions. I wish Apple supported pressure sensitive pens. I'n also still hoping for an 11"-12" 16:9 iPad Pro (they can just make it longer like they did with the iPhone 5 that comes with a keyboard. It should basically be an iPad laptop (not hybrids, no point) that costs…

>>still hoping for an 11"-12" 16:9 iPad Pro Personally I was hoping for two products; a retina iPad with 11"-13" screen -- and a Macbook Air with the same screen! (If they could reuse the screen and electronics it wouldn't be expensive, but drivers etc would hardly be easy to move over processor architecture?)

Great idea - the top half of the computer is an 11" iPad that detaches from an 11" MacBook Air (keyboard part only) - could be awesome, especially if Remote Desktop worked via Wifi... Software integration would need loads of thought though, as would the hinge/detachment mechanism!
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