Books in the Age of the iPad

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Tamara

... The screen is tiny and the keyboard is tiny and they don't really do anything well especially as an ereader.

If you replace the second 'tiny' with the word 'non-existant' in the above sentence I think you have the perfect description of the iPad

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

If you replace the second 'tiny' with the word 'non-existant' in the above sentence I think you have the perfect description of the iPad

The screen isn't non-existent, but the keyboard is--at least the physical one!

But I don't need a keyboard on a tablet. I'll keep a PC and laptop for anything that requires text entry. The tablet will be used for other tasks as outlined above.

[Nakor]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

It's not that bad. They got the form factor, battery life and price right. And I like having all the features.

Give it at least an 8.5 x 11 inch screen and built in stylus support for taking notes and marking up documents and I'd buy one day one.

I'm not that interested in something that I can only use to read and mark up documents--I'd much prefer something like the iPad that does all the multimedia stuff but has the larger screen and mark up abilities built in.

I get tired of having a bunch of gadgets only good for one task that I end up not using all that often. So I'm really interested in a tablet that I can use for my work reading and document mark up, magazine and newspaper reading, maybe some novel reading etc. [...]

Oh, I get where you're coming from, and I do think that Apple was on the right track, but here are my problems with the iPad:

- 1GHz Processor -- this is very low-end, I have to imagine they could have gone higher without a significant impact. (Might've been a battery life thing, but still.)
- No builtin USB ports -- seriously Apple? Seriously?
- No multitasking, period -- This is the killer here. You literally cannot do two things at once. To open a second application you MUST close whatever other application you're in first; it's one program at a time.
- Apple approved app-store apps only -- As opposed to a netbook where you can install whatever you like.

Like I said though, the real killer is no multitasking. You literally cannot open two things at the same time on the iPad.

[...] But also do internet, e-mail, PDA for my contacts and calendar, play some games, watch some videos, listen to music while doing the reading/markup work etc.

Not on the iPad you don't. You can listen to music OR do your work... not both at the same time.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

The screen isn't non-existent, but the keyboard is--at least the physical one!

I didn't suggest the screen was non-existent - perhaps you should read posts before responding to them?

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

But I don't need a keyboard on a tablet. I'll keep a PC and laptop for anything that requires text entry. The tablet will be used for other tasks as outlined above.

Good plan!

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I didn't suggest the screen was non-existent - perhaps you should read posts before responding to them?

My bad, missed the "second", but not need to be a dick about it.

Good plan!

Not a good plan, just common sense. No one will by a tablet to use in place of a laptop or PC, it's a supplementary device.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Nakor

Not on the iPad you don't. You can listen to music OR do your work... not both at the same time.

Only partially true. You CAN listen to music in iTunes while doing other stuff--just like you can on the iPhone. But you couldn't say stream music on Pandora while doing other stuff.

So that parts fine for me as I mainly listen to music in iTunes.

But yeah, lack of multitasking is a biggy for me.

Lack of multi-tasking, screen less than 8.5x11, lack of built in stylus mark up support, and lack of flash are the reasons I'm not buying one.

But the form factor, battery life and price are all great and set the bar high. So I can't wait to see what others put out to compete with it.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

My bad, missed the "second", but not need to be a dick about it.

Ah, the spirit of Oscar Wilde lives on - except old Oscar would have realised that saying 'not need' made him sound like an illiterate prick.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

And now picking on typos. Fucking Brits.

You really are quite pathetic - wherever you're from (which I guess you're ashamed of).

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

And now picking on typos. Fucking Brits.

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[Nakor]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Only partially true. You CAN listen to music in iTunes while doing other stuff--just like you can on the iPhone. But you couldn't say stream music on Pandora while doing other stuff.

So that parts fine for me as I mainly listen to music in iTunes.

But yeah, lack of multitasking is a biggy for me.

Lack of multi-tasking, screen less than 8.5x11, lack of built in stylus mark up support, and lack of flash are the reasons I'm not buying one.

But the form factor, battery life and price are all great and set the bar high. So I can't wait to see what others put out to compete with it.

I stand corrected on the music point. But as you say, multitasking remains a rather big deal.

Your last sentence does make me think though. While I don't think the iPad is a wise purchase, it does make sense that someone out there will now try to best it -- perhaps with a similar device that lacks these fatal flaws? Even if only indirectly, perhaps Apple has opened the door to a bit of future awesome. Only time will tell.

[Tamara]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Yep, I hate them. My 15" laptop is easy enough to take around--and I don't take it out of the house that much anyway.

Netbooks are just too small, and they're very underpowered. A lot of my casual laptop use is streaming HD video, something every netbook I've used chokes on--most can't even handle standard def video.

I can see the appeal for people who are constantly going to the coffee shop to relax and surf the net etc. But even that I'd rather do on something like an iPad. To each their own of course.

Since I got the iPhone, my laptop rarely leaves my house anymore. About the only time now is if I'm traveling for work.

I was in a coffee shop a few days ago and it's amazing how many people are using laptops. They all stake out the tables close to power outlets.

[Tamara]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

If you replace the second 'tiny' with the word 'non-existant' in the above sentence I think you have the perfect description of the iPad

I'm guessing that you've never used an iPhone. The on screen keyboard works very well and I expect that the on screen keyboard on the iPad will be even better plus the iPad can also connect to a physical keyboard for those who like physical keyboards.

[Tamara]

Originally Posted by Nakor

I stand corrected on the music point. But as you say, multitasking remains a rather big deal.
.

Multitasking can be implemented by firmware upgrades in the future.

[Nakor]

If it is implemented, it would certainly up the device's value. Still stuck with the app store (unless this is changed too), but it would be a huge improvement. Those are both "ifs" of course.