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Fat Abe · 04-17-2010, 09:19 PM

I regard the iPad as a chic little toy now, and don't use it for reading, except for art books, and occasional internet surfing. Yesterday, I attempted to watch a video about artist Marina Abramovic's nude exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35873720/

Alas, the video could not play on the iPad. I guess I'll have to fly to NYC to brush against the nude models. Lol.

The raison d'etre for the iPad will vary by user, but the incomplete pdf support and the subtle differences between font rendering/presentation of the iPad vs. some of the better e-ink readers, has put me solidly in the e-ink camp. What should we have expected of the iPad toy? A very prescient blog was released a month ago:

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/techt...bref=obnetwork

It's ironic that the same magazine, Newsweek, had the iPad on the cover of a recent issue, declaring the device to be a revolutionary creation. I don't see it that way. It is an evolutionary device. Yes, it is highly novel and easy to use. It functions as a tablet computer without a flip-out keyboard, and the display configures itself automatically to portrait or landscape mode. These are two handy features. But does that make it revolutionary?

Before we get excited about HD racing and stupid trick apps that let you play dog and cat sounds via the virtual keyboard, think about long lasting appeal. It's not there yet. Not for heavy readers like me.

04-17-2010, 09:19 PM	#5
Fat Abe Man Who Stares at Books Posts: 1,826 Karma: 10606722 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: 50th State, USA. Also, PA, NY, CA, and elsewhere. Device: All of the Above	I regard the iPad as a chic little toy now, and don't use it for reading, except for art books, and occasional internet surfing. Yesterday, I attempted to watch a video about artist Marina Abramovic's nude exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35873720/ Alas, the video could not play on the iPad. I guess I'll have to fly to NYC to brush against the nude models. Lol. The raison d'etre for the iPad will vary by user, but the incomplete pdf support and the subtle differences between font rendering/presentation of the iPad vs. some of the better e-ink readers, has put me solidly in the e-ink camp. What should we have expected of the iPad toy? A very prescient blog was released a month ago: http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/techt...bref=obnetwork It's ironic that the same magazine, Newsweek, had the iPad on the cover of a recent issue, declaring the device to be a revolutionary creation. I don't see it that way. It is an evolutionary device. Yes, it is highly novel and easy to use. It functions as a tablet computer without a flip-out keyboard, and the display configures itself automatically to portrait or landscape mode. These are two handy features. But does that make it revolutionary? Before we get excited about HD racing and stupid trick apps that let you play dog and cat sounds via the virtual keyboard, think about long lasting appeal. It's not there yet. Not for heavy readers like me.