Doctorow on the iPad

[TallMomof2]

If this had come out 3 years ago I would've bought it because even though I own a Touch I always wanted a bigger one. Heck, if I didn't already own a nice laptop I would probably buy it. The iPad looks like a great media consumption device as long as you don't need to consume it outdoors.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

If this had come out 3 years ago I would've bought it because even though I own a Touch I always wanted a bigger one. Heck, if I didn't already own a nice laptop I would probably buy it. The iPad looks like a great media consumption device as long as you don't need to consume it outdoors.

Personally, I think i'll wait and see how the alternatives shape up, but i'm definitely going to get a larger colour device to complement my existing ereader at some point this year.

After the amount of work of moving all my existing books and comics with me when I recently moved and most of them still ended up in the cellar due to a lack of space I just want something that allows me to get that content without clogging up my apartment.

[DawnFalcon]

Crowl - Um, given you write for the iPad using Coca (C++) and for Android using Java, it's really not trivial to shift work for one to the other.

And er...have you read Little Brother? Talks a lot about hacking game consoles to make useful, unwalled mesh networks... (And yes, he's smacked console makers in the past)

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by Crowl

Oh please, its the content thats the important thing on most computers these days even the ones that haven't been specifically designed with content consumption in mind.

Yes, and your question (I think? Did I misunderstand you?) was, to paraphrase "other than problems with the content, what's wrong with it?" Since the content is the only thing that matters, then the problems with the content are the only thing that matters. It is akin to asking (about a hypothetical car) "other than only being able to drive on roads that are preapproved by the car manufacturer, what's wrong with it?"

Once I buy a computer, I expect it to be MINE. To do as I please with, including getting software from any place I choose, modifying the OS in any way I choose, and installing any OS I choose. I wouldn't mind having an iPodish toy, but I'd never buy one that I didn't really own.

(And yes, FWIW, I have replaced the firmware on my PRS 300 with a custom hack.)

[Gurvan]

Originally Posted by kennyc

A Kindle or Sony Reader is readable under any conditions where one can read a book. That is not true of the iPad.

Can you read a book or a Kindle or a Sony reader in total darkness ? No... But you can read an iPad then...

That point is of importance to me...

[Sonist]

Originally Posted by Gurvan

Can you read a book or a Kindle or a Sony reader in total darkness ? No... But you can read an iPad then...

That point is of importance to me...

Hm, reading a 9.7" backlit screen in total darkness (without any ambient light) will probably kill your eyes fairly fast.

[Gurvan]

Ever been in an ATC room ?

I have been reading books on backlit LCD screen ever since the Palm 5000 came out... And heard that same tired excuse ever since...

[Krystian Galaj]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

Crowl - Um, given you write for the iPad using Coca (C++) and for Android using Java, it's really not trivial to shift work for one to the other.

Afaik Cocoa uses Objective-C, which is extension of C and doesn't need the C++ mess. One can write in C++ and use Cocoa and it all compiles, but when using only C and Cocoa, the compiler can use all the tricks it uses for compiling pure C programs and come out with much better optimized code than when compiling C++. At least with gcc, which is Apple's compiler of choice.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by DawnFalcon

Crowl - Um, given you write for the iPad using Coca (C++) and for Android using Java, it's really not trivial to shift work for one to the other.

Fair enough, I thought they were more similar since there are tools out there for cross-platform development like appcelerator, although tbh I still think the two biggest bars to any development would be having the right ideas and the determination to follow through.

[dmikov]

Well other thing while we talking sdk. Doctorow indicated the "device" doesn't empower creativity. You are discussion buying the other computer to develop for aforementioned device.
I think Cory point stays, the guy/gal with iPad cannot create in iPad for iPad.
He has to have old fashioned computer.

Having SDK does not mean consumer device able to use it.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by Gurvan

Ever been in an ATC room ?

All Terrain Catfish? A**-Tazing Cop? Asian Tickle Club?

Okay, I give up-- what's an ATC room? (I'm kinda hoping for the third.)

[Gurvan]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Okay, I give up-- what's an ATC room? (I'm kinda hoping for the third.)

Air Traffic Control... I am thinking regional control center here. Those are darkened rooms where one work on screens... They used to be CRT and now are mostly LCD and still nobody is going blind from using those.

Sorry for that third option... Sounded promising !

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Yes, and your question (I think? Did I misunderstand you?) was, to paraphrase "other than problems with the content, what's wrong with it?" Since the content is the only thing that matters, then the problems with the content are the only thing that matters. It is akin to asking (about a hypothetical car) "other than only being able to drive on roads that are preapproved by the car manufacturer, what's wrong with it?"

I guess it depends on your definition of content, for me it would be books, music, video, comics and stuff like that which will all work just fine give or take a bit of transcoding.

As far as the apps and their importance in the grand scheme of things, I think a better car analogy would be, other than having to use fluffy dice that were pre-approved by the car manufacturer what's wrong with it.

[Gurvan]

Originally Posted by dmikov

I think Cory point stays, the guy/gal with iPad cannot create in iPad for iPad.

There is a word processor on the iPad... Thus it can be used to create content like using of those Moleskine pad. Who knows, the next Hemingway or Oscar Wilde could be writing his future grand opus on one right now...

The iPad is not meant for geek but for the rest of the world... And the rest of the world far outnumbers the geek...

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by dmikov

Well other thing while we talking sdk. Doctorow indicated the "device" doesn't empower creativity. You are discussion buying the other computer to develop for aforementioned device.
I think Cory point stays, the guy/gal with iPad cannot create in iPad for iPad.
He has to have old fashioned computer.

So what, if I was inspired to write after reading a particular book then other than scribbling in the margins I would need something else to write on as well.

If anything about the iphone/ipod/ipad harms creativity it is apple only releasing the sdk for osx when that means that over 95% of the market cannot use it.