iPad For all those who hate the iPad:

[splendor]

as i said before, i planned to by an Ipad with Pixel Qi screen for $1200, but now im not even buying for $499. without that kind of screen, i doubt it will succeed in ebook market

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by splendor

as i said before, i planned to by an Ipad with Pixel Qi screen for $1200, but now im not even buying for $499. without that kind of screen, i doubt it will succeed in ebook market

Apple would never use a screen such as Pixel Qi. The iPad is squarely aimed at people who would like to watch video and pictures on it. Those will account for 90% of those who will buy the device. The colors and speed of the Pixel Qi would never satisfy them. The Pixel Qi in its current state is a bad compromise -- a poor reader screen and a stone age color screen. A great idea but Mirasol and other new technologies will kill it before it ever really gets off the ground. I guess that we will see a few devices with Pixel Qi screens will be coming out, with lackluster sales, and they never make it to the second or third generation.

There is no way -- with current technology -- that Apple could have made a device that satisfies their main target market AND avid readers. That is still 2 years off.

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

Apple would never use a screen such as Pixel Qi. The iPad is squarely aimed at people who would like to watch video and pictures on it. Those will account for 90% of those who will buy the device. The colors and speed of the Pixel Qi would never satisfy them. The Pixel Qi in its current state is a bad compromise -- a poor reader screen and a stone age color screen....

There is no way -- with current technology -- that Apple could have made a device that satisfies their main target market AND avid readers. That is still 2 years off.

I have to agree with HansTWN here.

The LED/IPS screens I have here are great for all-day reading without eye-strain, but I'll have to see the iPad in person, before I can judge for myself if I should dump my Kindle for it.

I certainly wouldn't buy it for web browsing, if it lacks Flash capability.....

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by nikkie

If so, doesn't that mean that your only objection to this device is the LED screen? Since many of us prefer or have little objection to a lit screen (we read in dim light or the dark, in bed), how does that make the iPad not a very nifty device?

Beyond the obvious point of the screen being far less usable as an ereader than other options, there are plenty of other downsides to the ipad such as the lack of either usb or a built-in card reader and of course the lack of multitasking which is something that even casual users would expect to be able to do on anything larger than a phone.

Also, given that most tv and all films are widescreen then you also have the shape of the device being a bit odd, some have said that this screen ratio suits webpages better, but it seems to me that the vast majority of sites tend to long and narrow so widescreen would be fine there too.

If the rumours about multitasking being part of the 4.0 OS and I will still be able to access my existing ebooks then I would consider getting an ipad in the future, but it's definitely not a gadget I would rush out and buy right away because contrary to Jobs' claims there simply isn't anything that its inherently better than the alternatives I already have.

[dragonbone]

Why on earth would anyone hate the iPad?

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by dragonbone

Why on earth would anyone hate the iPad?

Hyperbole is the rule of the internet, a topic of 'for all those who dislike something about the ipad' would get less replies than one with a more melodramatic title.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Crowl

Hyperbole is the rule of the internet, a topic of 'for all those who dislike something about the ipad' would get less replies than one with a more melodramatic title.

Exactly, know one "hates" the iPad, if only because nobody here has even seen an actual iPad. Just as nobody can "love" the iPad, because you cannot be sure how it will look and feel and perform in real life.

What does bug me somewhat is that unbelievable hype surrounding it. It is a good looking device with a very decent battery life. But there are a lot of features missing and it is definitely NOT revolutionary in any way. There is not a single function that could not be performed better by another device already being in everybody's possession (laptop/smartphone/netboook/e-reader). The only question is: is the combination of features and the overall package worth getting an additional gadget?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

The only question is: is the combination of features and the overall package worth getting an additional gadget?

For some people it is. For others, no. As with all devices, you have to make the choice for yourself. Is the lack of USB and cardreader a big problem or not? Is the lack of multitasking a big problem or not?

I'd like a device that combines all those functions (except for the 3G), but especially the lack of USB is a big drawback. One that will most certainly prohibit me from buying it.

If I were to use it at home (I presume it has wifi), it wouldn't have been too much of a problem, but I'd probably also use it at locations without wifi access. And I don't have any 3G subscriptions of any kind (nor do I want one).

But yes, hate is a big word. Except, in one aspect I do hate the Ipad. But that hate is not so much geared towards the gadget, but rather towards the hype surrounding it...

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

But yes, hate is a big word. Except, in one aspect I do hate the Ipad. But that hate is not so much geared towards the gadget, but rather towards the hype surrounding it...

My point exactly. The almost religious fervor some people Apple lovers display (I am not referring to any persons in our discussions here), the way any old gadget with the Apple logo is being woreshipped and even its obvious faults become "features", the way obviously paid bloggers and journalists chant their exaggerated praises -- all this can really get on one's nerves. Reminds me of American politics!

That being said, Apple do good design, take a lot of good things from others and suddenly made them fashionable (a good example is a big screen on a phone, there were phones with 3.5+" before the iphone, but they never made main stream, now everybody does it). I am a great admirer of Jobs' marketing genius. But this all pervasive hype is really getting out of hand. And I think, this time a lot of people were disappointed, the iPad is not bad, but it did not live up to the enormous expectations.

[Bremen Cole]

For the iPad haters.

This could be a pretty good option for you. http://haleron.com/index.php?page=sh...mart&Itemid=63 looks to be a good Windows/full OS machine for all the iPad haters. For those wanting a traditional computer in a tablet format, it looks pretty good.

Get into it, that way you can get your mind of something you hate, and quit the endless complaining about a product you will never buy.
__________________

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

For the iPad haters.

This could be a pretty good option for you. http://haleron.com/index.php?page=sh...mart&Itemid=63 looks to be a good Windows/full OS machine for all the iPad haters. For those wanting a traditional computer in a tablet format, it looks pretty good.

Get into it, that way you can get your mind of something you hate, and quit the endless complaining about a product you will never buy.
__________________

If nobody says what he or she thinks is wrong about a device, how will the manufacturer be able to remove flaws? Or, worse, even know what the public wants?

And I know (or rather, my husband knows) people who were thinking about buying the Ipad, but decided not to, mostly because of the most mentioned reasons in this thread. And they most certainly aren't apple haters (rather, they even had the Iphone before it was even remotely available here...)

[Bremen Cole]

"If nobody says what he or she thinks is wrong about a device, how will the manufacturer be able to remove flaws? Or, worse, even know what the public wants?"

People speak with their money. If Apple does not sell many iPads, they will add/take away features. Apple does not go to Mobileread forums every day to see if the few dozen posters like their as yet un-released product.

That being said, I was trying to be helpful and offer what looks to me a good alternative for those that want a full OS pad. By all means, keep whining about the iPad!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

That being said, I was trying to be helpful and offer what looks to me a good alternative for those that want a full OS pad. By all means, keep whining about the iPad!

After some digging I found what you were linking at (your link goes to a login page!). And yes, it's a neat device!

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

If nobody says what he or she thinks is wrong about a device, how will the manufacturer be able to remove flaws? Or, worse, even know what the public wants?

FLAWS? I think the iPad is damn near perfect! I can't wait to get my hands on one and I can't believe how cheap it is - relatively speaking (in comparison to the DXi for eg.). How can someone say it has flaws? What other reader can even hope to come CLOSE?
I'm totally lost.....

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by dragonbone

FLAWS? I think the iPad is damn near perfect! I can't wait to get my hands on one and I can't believe how cheap it is - relatively speaking (in comparison to the DXi for eg.). How can say say it has flaws? What other reader even comes CLOSE?
I'm totally lost.....

The lack of an USB port is a huge flaw, in my eyes. The fact that you can't read epubs from other sources than Itunes is an even bigger flaw, in my eyes. And if you can't turn off that page turning effect in the reader, I know I'd never ever use it.

And comparing this thing to a DXi, is comparing apples to pears... Yes, you can read books on both, but that's where the similarities end.