ExoPC Slate has iPad looks, netbook internals, Windows 7 soul

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

There's a distinct difference between a tablet PC and an internet appliance.

right I see now thanks.

Surly an internet appliance would be something like the Joo joo?

the iPad is a tablet computer right? it runs off line it runs software etc

The iPad as a tablet computer has a much better battery life than the other tablet computer. better than any other tablet computer so far in this size range I believe.

[DawnFalcon]

No, the iPad's an internet appliance. A PC is by definition general purpose, which the iPad (which is in Apple's walled garden) does not meet.

[zacheryjensen]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

No, the iPad's an internet appliance. A PC is by definition general purpose, which the iPad (which is in Apple's walled garden) does not meet.

By whose definition? Yours? When the term "Personal Computer" was coined, maybe you're too young or new to computing to know this but, most computers required a room of their own to house them, and a team of operators to keep them running. Those computers were highly controlled, and though in some cases (such as at universities) a person could get away with using them generally, the common case was that the operators controlled everything those computers would run.

The term Personal Computer merely referred to the same type of device (electronic number crunching, aka "computer" as in, "computes things") that could fit on a desk or in a generally acceptably personal amount of space. It has nothing to do with the capabilities in terms of general usefulness, openness, or whatever. That's all coincidence.

Really the only thing to take away from this reminder is that the term "PC" is meaningless in its original form, and in current times it actually more often refers to computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems, vs. "Macs" or "Linux" computers.

As for "internet appliance" this is a term that was coined to refer to prepackaged device+software combinations that had predetermined purposes and could be deployed easily. For example, google produced an internet appliance for search. It was meant to be dropped into a LAN and produce an index of all the private data there. Other devices termed internet appliances include those crappy email terminals targeted at grandmothers, as well as set top boxes like WebTV.

So frankly neither term applies to a device like an iPad. iPads are equal in capability to an iPod Touch, but larger. I wouldn't consider an iPod Touch to be a computer nor something simple enough to be termed an appliance. In fact, in the industry this device mostly resembles what as been called a "MID" or "Mobile Internet Device" as its intended use is based primarily around internet access. But nearly all MIDs allow third party software, so that name is a bit misleading too. If you look at similarly capable devices based on android, but taking notebook form, we see the term "netbook." A decade ago this device would've been lumped into the palmtop category.

In reality I expect this and other similarly capable devices to become the hallmark of "tablets" without any added "pc" moniker. As consumer electronics companies tend to have more say on this question in the end, I'll be surprised if the term isn't used this way in the future. Of course, I also wouldn't be surprised to see some reference to "pad" become the norm, just because of Apple's awesome naming choice.

[DaleDe]

Another interesting device in the same vein is the Archos 9 described in our wiki.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

No, the iPad's an internet appliance. A PC is by definition general purpose, which the iPad (which is in Apple's walled garden) does not meet.

Wow you invented a new definition for a personal computer and even under your invented definition it still makes no sense!

firstly a definition of a computer "A personal computer (PC) is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end user, with no intervening computer operator." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer
hmm but tahts from Wikipedia, I guess maybe Collins would be better at definitions... they say:
"personal computer
(Electronics & Computer Science / Computer Science) a small inexpensive computer used in word processing, playing computer games, etc."

or maybe this one "personal computer
n. Abbr. PC
A computer built around a microprocessor for use by an individual, as in an office or at home or school."

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/personal+computer

Which as you can see would all clearly include the iPad.

Weirdly None mention 'general purpose' however lets look at your made up definition even then are you seriously suggesting the iPad isnt general purpose?

Ebooks, Web, Video, Games, office software, VNC software, Audio recorder, photo editing, email, music etc

In your invented belief that a PC is defined by being general purpose what exactly are you saying are the general purposes it must be able to do?

[DawnFalcon]

Whatever format you claim for the iPad, it's clearly in the same one as the iPod Touch. I stand by "internet appliance".

And the iPad is not general purpose, and hence not a PC. It's really quite simple... (Win 7 tablets are PC's, ofc...) "Things specifically allowed by Apple" is not "General"

[fugazied]

Originally Posted by petermillard

4 hrs battery life though -

That's it. They have thrown in netbook components into a tablet and run into battery issues, the fast processor probably uses a lot of power. With windows 7 multi-tasking, imagine battery life once you have a few things open and the CPU is at 50%.

It would still be cool for the windows diehard who wants an around the home device. It has the specs the anti-iPad guys were after? Not sure about HDMI out, but it would have flash support, multi-tasking, USB, User replaceable battery in etc. Just buy 3 batteries and rotate them to match the iPad 10 hr battery life.

Dawn falcon you may be letting your dislike of Apple blind your reason a bit. The apple tablet can: run applications which do all kinds of things, act like a GPS, consume movies/audio/ebooks/newspapers/comics, be a photo library which qualifies it as more than an 'Internet Applicance'.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

Whatever format you claim for the iPad, it's clearly in the same one as the iPod Touch. I stand by "internet appliance".

And the iPad is not general purpose, and hence not a PC. It's really quite simple... (Win 7 tablets are PC's, ofc...) "Things specifically allowed by Apple" is not "General"

Its not 'me' claiming it its the English language your arguing against!
you completely failed to address any of the points put to you.

What does the iPad not do that a tablet running Win 7 or android or linux do that means it is an internet appliance and they are PC's?

Oh and could you please explain how the iPod touch is an Internet appliance as my dad doesnt have wireless at his house so his touch has never been connected to the internet.

yet he is able to make notes play games music video etc etc

[DawnFalcon]

I do not need to "address" any point except the fact they're limited-purpose, unlike netbooks and tablet PC's.

*shrugs*

If you chose to misuse language, that's your business.

[stustaff]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

I do not need to "address" any point except the fact they're limited-purpose, unlike netbooks and tablet PC's.

*shrugs*

If you chose to misuse language, that's your business.

Me?

you claimed a completely different definition of PC than wikipedia and a collins english dictionary and its me misusing the language... thats interesting...

The iPad is not any more limited purpose than a netbook or tablet, again you are making things up.

[Teddman]

The iPad is definitely an internet appliance. It's just a large iPhone/iPod Touch. They run the same OS.

[DawnFalcon]

You edited the wikipedia page to take out the requirement for "general purpose" in the definition of a PC? *checks* No, still there.

If you can install a program for any given (legal) purpose on a device, it's general purpose. The App Store requires approval, and hence dosn't fit this.

[guyanonymous]

I think of the term computer as being on the same level as the term mammal. There are many sub-classifications, and perhaps arguing over how to classify them would be more productive than over the broadest most encompassing term imaginable.

computer
1640s, "one who calculates," from compute. Meaning "calculating machine" (of any type) is from 1897; in modern use, "programmable digital electronic computer" (1945; theoretical from 1937, as Turing machine). ENIAC (1946) usually is considered the first. Computer literacy is recorded from 1970; an attempt to establish computerate (adj., on model of literate) in this sense in the early 1980s didn't catch on. Computerese "the jargon of programmers" is from 1960, as are computerize and computerization.

A calculator is a computer, for all intensive purposes.

[DawnFalcon]

Sure. "Personal Computer" has a meaning different from "Computer", that's all.

[dmaul1114]

I think it's silly to try and put a super specific label on everything. It's more just something for loudmouths on the internet to argue about, and to bash devices they don't like by giving them a label like "Internet Appliance" to imply it's inferior.

Personally, I have no use for a tablet PC. I don't want to do my computing with a touch screen device as Keyboard and mouse is far superior for computing tasks. And Tablet PCs with keyboards and touch pads are too bulky to use like a Tablet (hold and read, hold and write with other hand etc.).

So I want something less powerful like the iPad--though it doesn't quite fit my needs either.

And I wouldn't call them an internet appliance as I wouldn't do much web browsing on a tablet. I'd use it for reading and marking up PDFs, books, word documents I'm proofreading/grading. I'd use it for magazines. I'd play some games. I'd watch some videos. Hardly just an internet device.

It's not a full featured Tablet PC either, but I (and many) don't need that as we have desktops and laptops and netbooks. Tablets/slates fill another niche--something more useful than smartphones/PDAs (both of which I don't care for) and a full PC/laptop.