iPad Joe Wilcox: I was wrong about the iPad

[nick101]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Scrolls do have separate pages. Eg:



Their main disadvantage is that you have to rewind them after you've finished. One finds in Latin literature a number of insulting remarks about the rudeness of people who don't rewind their scrolls for the benefit of the next reader, after they've finished with them.

I slouch corrected (I went to a comprehenisve, so I'm a=obliged to slouch)

Replace 'pages' with 'leaves' perhaps.

Incidentally, your comment is prima facie evidence that, despite all our prejudices, rudeness did not suddenly spring into being when we turned older.

[FlorenceArt]

I wonder if the inability of the iPad to multitask is actually an advantage in the distraction department?

I am not very good at reading on a computer screen, I get distracted much too easily. I know I'm not alone in this, but I'm sot sure what the reasons are. The fact that I can switch to something else just by clicking is certainly a factor. And maybe the habit I have developed of switching applications constantly when I'm at my computer.

When reading a pbook or on my Opus, of course much will depend on what I am reading, but usually I have no problem concentrating. Except... lately I have started reading at home with my laptop close by, and I keep interrupting my reading to check MR. Mmmm...

[Bremen Cole]

Maybe they could make a "Scroll" app for the iPad. It would take a book, format it to look like that picture above, and you tap to literally scroll to the next page....

Of course when you are through reading you hit rewind.....

[Daddy Warpig]

Originally Posted by nick101

And then printing? Who wants to read the mechanically produced printged version and lose the pleasure of well-executed calligraphy?

Well, illuminated manuscripts were beautiful, hand illustrated by ascetics in monasteries.

That said, I'm an early adopter so when Gutenberg started printing books, I was one of the first to buy one.

Waited two hours in a line. None of this "Apple concierge" nonsense, either. Cold. Muddy. Snowing. Uphill both ways. Nightmare, but it was worth it.

[Daddy Warpig]

(scrolls)

Originally Posted by HarryT

Their main disadvantage is that you have to rewind them after you've finished. One finds in Latin literature a number of insulting remarks about the rudeness of people who don't rewind their scrolls for the benefit of the next reader, after they've finished with them.

After all this time, have we learned nothing?

Folks, be kind. Rewind.

[pagansoul]

Remember VHS and cassettes. I think the biggest problem is people spend so much money on one format only to have it replaced in a few years. I still have several hundred comic books that I have not touched in years. I did give my VHS to Goodwill and got rid of most of my paperback and magazine collections. Since I got my iPad it,s been with me everywhere. I'm finally catching up on the new Doctor Who series via Netflix, at least 3 show a week (started with season 1). I read a bit more than with my Kindle because now I get to read my comic book collection while not at my computer (have a huge Star Trek PDF collection). What I now need is a way to put my National Geographic DVDs on my iPad, all 100+ years. Going forward I have my subscription on Zinio. How can people not see the iPad as useful?

[dorino]

content is better presented than on a laptop and browser.

:/

Not the best comment to make.

(started with season 1)

Doc 9 is my favorite!

[scottjl]

season 1 starts with William Hartnell, not Christopher Eccleston.

[Wordcrasher]

Originally Posted by dorino

Doc 9 is my favorite!

There is not a Doctor I don't love

[leebase]

Originally Posted by pagansoul

How can people not see the iPad as useful?

I don't get it either. Everyone who sees my iPad wants one. I see net books and would like to have one. I see kindles and nooks and would like to have one. I see Android bases phones and would like to have one. I see luxury sports cars and would like to have one.

Of course I don't choose to buy everything and most the time it's not even my choice. The iPad is just really cool and it's an interesting case of psychology to see such animosity towards it.

Lee

[Daddy Warpig]

Originally Posted by leebase

The iPad is just really cool and it's an interesting case of psychology to see such animosity towards it.

The animosity baffles me. I don't like chocolate cake, but I don't hang around chocolate cake forums telling those who do how bad they are.

I truly don't get the hatred. Boggles my mind.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by leebase

Of course I don't choose to buy everything and most the time it's not even my choice. The iPad is just really cool and it's an interesting case of psychology to see such animosity towards it.

The reasons for it seems fairly obvious, for all the things that an ipad does well there are a number of restrictions and omissions that are very unwelcome to many people and there will nb the fear that apple's success so far will have a negative affect on the overall market as other companies also go for needlessly limited devices to speed their time to market.

The other reason is the usual one of people reacting negatively to the level of hyperbole that comes from Steve Jobs and far exceeds even what you would expect from a CEO introducing a new product. Take the ipad presentation, if he had described the browsing experience as almost any other superlative than 'best' then people would not have reacted in the same way.

[Trubu]

Originally Posted by Crowl

The reasons for it seems fairly obvious, for all the things that an ipad does well there are a number of restrictions and omissions that are very unwelcome to many people and there will nb the fear that apple's success so far will have a negative affect on the overall market as other companies also go for needlessly limited devices to speed their time to market.

Ridiculous fear, IMO. One of the ways Android has differentiated itself from iOS is by being more open; that won't change in the tablet space.

If there's a demand for tablets with more open hardware and software, the market will respond.

[Daddy Warpig]

Originally Posted by Crowl

The reasons for it seems fairly obvious

Neither of the reasons you've stated would seem to justify the level of animosity displayed by some anti-Apple fanatics. IMHO.

(I'm excluding yourself from that group, because you seem level-headed and polite. That is, you give reasons for your opinions and didn't drop F-bombs. We disagree, but you're not ranting at me because of it.)

Best? Many people think their... whatever is the best. Ask a man if his wife is the most beautiful woman in the world (or if his children are exceptional). Many, perhaps most, would say yes. Do people hate him for saying it, and vent at him? Then why the iPad?

(Or PS3/Xbox 360. People in those camps seem as fractious, if not so vitriolic.)

No, just disagreeing with Steve Jobs' adjectives doesn't justify the apparent attitude of some. Just because he loves the iPad, and others agree, doesn't justify the corrosive level of contempt and bitterness some display. (It may explain it, but not justify it.)

As for restrictions, everything has restrictions. Restrictions on who can drive, who can vote, DVD encryption, trespassing laws, copyright laws, traffic lights, the physical laws of the universe, the talents and abilities you were born with, physical limitations, technological limitations (limited RAM, processor power, HD space), the need to spend money to buy things, the need to work to get money, the money taken away from you in taxes, the iron law of consequences, other people's thoughtless actions impacting your life, having to compromise with your S.O.:

Life is a morass of limitations and restrictions. It is impossible for anything to be free of them.

Of all of the restrictions one could get virulently angry about - and again, I don't include you as one of those people who has - is the iPad really that important?

I happen to believe that, if people had more pressing problems, they'd worry about those instead. What problems are more pressing?

Most of the above would seem to be far more important ("impactful"). To those, I could add invading enemies, genocidal governments, unrestrained banditry, mass famine or plague, lack of adequate clothing or shelter, contaminated water supplies.

For the iPad to matter that much, their lives must be free of having to worry about any of these. A majority of the people alive today are not so lucky. If that's so - and I think it is - shouldn't we get a little perspective, place the problems in context, and downgrade the emotional intensity?

Dislike the gadget, that's fine. Dislike the restrictions, no problem. Choose not to buy it, cool.

But vitriolic and corrosive rants are unjustified. No matter how many superlatives an Apple press release contains.

[scottjl]

if you ask me.. they do it for the attention. it's easy to like apple products. lots of people do. you're just one of the crowd. publish an article with the headline "the ipad is amazing!" and who cares? no one. you're one in a few hundred of similar articles.

now. say you hate the ipad. jobs is the devil. apple is rotten. there you go. now you can sell headlines. "what? someone doesn't like apple?" ever notice that these articles seem to make more news because of their headline than their actual content? news segments on tv cause more of a stir when they're trashing apple than praising them. the trolls get a lot more attention for coming on here and talking trash than they do when they say something positive. we all give them some attention they crave when we tell them to go away or try and counter their pointless arguments. bloggers do it for the page views. page views translate into ad hits. ad hits translate into cash in their pocket.

i don't have a problem with people disagreeing with apple, microsoft, or any other company. i've been in the it business almost 40 years. no company is perfect. they all have their flaws. companies rise (Apple right now) and companies fall (where is IBM these days?). life goes on. but if you're going to criticize, and you want to be taken seriously, do it rationally, have a point to say, and be prepared to back up your arguments with facts. saying "i hate apple because steve jobs sucks!" is just silly and you look like a fool. saying "apple only has 28% of the mobile phone share and rim has 35%, rim is more popular!" and attributing your source, at least then we know why you have the opinion you do and that you've done some relevant research. i may not agree with your point of view, but i'll respect it and respect you.