Should we reserve a spot for Apple's Tablet in our devices list?

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by CyGuy

I am excited about the "similar devices" part.

Huh?

Why, exactly? And what are these "similar" devices? You and all the "I don't want no damned iPad" crowd have no clue what the device will be, or what it would do. There is currently nothing really exciting on the horizon, which comes close to what the rumors about the Apple product are.

But if you just hate Apple for the sake of it, then by all means, buy something else. But why keep harping over and over about how much you don't need a product you know nothing about?

For what it's worth, a bunch of major publishers seem pretty excited about the new product. Perhaps they know something we don't.

As to "I can't mount my iPhone on my desktop," a simple Google search would have brought up tons of applications, some free, which will allow you to easily do just that.

[EowynCarter]

If the whole copy/paste files thing is critical to you on an iPhone, let me reiterate my suggestion of a number of apps that do that. I don't see the need to take a book back off Stanza, given that we don't use our phones for library puposes (yet). Really? You don't use your PC for your e-reading library? Then you're doing it the hard way, since no smartphone is wonderful for that.

Yeah, the moment i went wondering about then, was i when i was thinking about getting an iPod, rather than kindle, to get book off amazon. Now kindle for pc is there, so.

[CyGuy]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Huh?

Why, exactly? And what are these "similar" devices? You and all the "I don't want no damned iPad" crowd have no clue what the device will be, or what it would do. There is currently nothing really exciting on the horizon, which comes close to what the rumors about the Apple product are.

But if you just hate Apple for the sake of it, then by all means, buy something else. But why keep harping over and over about how much you don't need a product you know nothing about?

For what it's worth, a bunch of major publishers seem pretty excited about the new product. Perhaps they know something we don't.

As to "I can't mount my iPhone on my desktop," a simple Google search would have brought up tons of applications, some free, which will allow you to easily do just that.

Heck, maybe they will surprise me and deliver an awesome product and put me in my place, I would love that. I am just going by the current crop of products they offer. I am also only speculating that the new device will:

Have proprietary connection instead of mini USB.
Be missing the SDHC card reader and only have internal memory.
Will be locked to purchasing content to some appstore.
Will be way overpriced.

I could be wrong though, and I hope I am. I have been wanting a decent tablet for many years, maybe they will deliver the goods...

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Huh?

Why, exactly? And what are these "similar" devices?

I'm just glad to see some progress on tablet computers that I can take notes with, read from, listen to music, and surf on. There are a number of these coming out (the "similar" devices I mentioned) and I look forward to them and love the friendly banter here about their merits (or lack thereof) and the speculation involved. Pull up a chair, if you're a mind to, and enjoy!

[Penforhire]

Oh no, I mostly agree with that last post Cy.

[stustaff]

Will someone please explain how drag and drop is easier than itunes?

I genuinelly dont get it please lay it out simple for me.

As i see it on both systems it would go like this.

1st stage - Get media onto PC/Mac etc
option 1 -rip a CD, either way this requires opening and running a piece of software inserting a disc and pressing go.
option 2 - download from an online store, either way this requires opening software(maybe a browser or iTunes)

Result - A digital file is now on the PC/Mac

2nd stage - get digital file onto device
Plug in device -
Itunes would then auto open and I would drag the music from the library to the icon representing my player iTunes will manage and look after what folder etc it foes on, this is literally 1, plug in device 2,drag files onto device icon.
UMS Double click on players drive icon to open folder, now normally then navigate to the folder actual music is in(eg most music wont be dropped on the top level of the file system) open place music was saved to, do drag and drop.

Now the iTunes option seems easier to me? can anyone explain why its not?

oh and consider dropping say you favourite 20 new tracks each from a different artist onto a player in itunes I hold down ctrl and scroll down the list whilst clicking on them and then drag them all to iPod.
Using UMS id need to open at least 20 folders and do 20 seperate drag and drops.


Im confused as to how anyone could suggest UMS is easier ESPECIALY for the non tech savvy user.

Anyone?[

[kennyc]

For one thing you don't need a special application to do the drag and drop.

[Nate the great]

Drag and drop will work from any computer, not just ones with iTunes installed. I have e computers and could only get iTunes to work on one of them.

[stustaff]

Ah so your saying once iTunes is installed then it is easier?

but that having to install a piece of software makes the process harder?

but surely for most people the install is something that they do maybe once every two years?

if thats the only reasons then it does seem that iTunes 'once installed' is clearly the better option.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by stustaff

..
if thats the only reasons then it does seem that iTunes 'once installed' is clearly the better option.

I'm sure it would seem that way to some, but having to do nothing and having it work clearly seems clearly the better option to me.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I'm sure it would seem that way to some, but having to do nothing and having it work clearly seems clearly the better option to me.

but withg itunes installed - ONCE ten minute job

transferring tracks is then easier EVERY time. for me thats the last 3 years and hundreds of track so surely in the long run iTunes is simpler and surely not the big issue/nightmare some portray it as?[

[kennyc]

No it's not easier.

[Penforhire]

I think it is true that each iPod/iPhone can only be registered with one iTunes installation. So the complaint, as I understand it, is you can't take you iPod to another PC and easily dump the contents. You could do that if it was treated as a generic USB drive like some other devices. A reason for Apple not to allow that is ease of music theft. This is absurd, to me, in that you can take your iTunes music library (if filled with non-DRM like mine) on a portable drive and copy directly from THAT drive to another PC. But I believe that is the reasoning.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I'm sure it would seem that way to some, but having to do nothing and having it work clearly seems clearly the better option to me.

Not necessarily. For instance, I much prefer to use Calibre to organize and add/delete book to my Kindles, than dealing with the folder structure.

In any case, Apple is bringing out web-based iTunes, so as long as you don't mind installing Java, you don't have to install the app.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by kennyc

No it's not easier.

having to install software wise agreed. and if your not with your own computer then yes also harder

but if iTunes is on there then as I have shown it IS an easier process. If it is not then why not you dont seem to have any actual reason for saying what you say.

Penforhire - yeh I agree fortunately there is software to get around that but it seems odd that it needs to be the case.