iPad Things the iPad Does Not Do

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by lifevicarious

Can I ask what you want USB for? People keep saying this but what do they use USB for aside from a printer (and there are solutions for that). And the dock connector actually is USB but that's besides the point.

In the iPad's current form, it is useless.

If it had a file system and easy drag and drop for loading content, I'd want a USB just to have an easy way to get files on it. I'm always using USB hard drives and flash drives to move files from my office desktop to my laptop.

I'd like the same functionality in whatever tablet I end up with. But as the iPad lacks a file system and drag and drop support (and probably always will) I don't see that much use for a USB port either.

Flash is dying.

But it's still super prevalent, and all that matters is the present. Especially for gadgets like tablets that I'd be replacing every 2 or 3 years anyway.

All that matters is currently some sites won't display properly, some video sites I use a lot (and would want to use on a tablet) won't work etc.

In a few years Flash may be gone, but that's moot in the present and I wouldn't still have a first gen iPad at that point anyway. All that matters is that it doesn't satisfy my current browsing needs.

[lifevicarious]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

The ordering does get messed up. My girlfriend put some albums full of jpegs of comic book pages in there and the ordering gets mixed up on the iPad despite being in the right order on PC. I'm not sure what she has the files named etc. as I haven't looked into it for her, all I know is they're in the right order on the PC, but get mixed up a bit on the iPad once they're synched.

What order are they in? I don't think they are in any order on your PC, they are simply displayed in the order you chose (sorted by X). I'm sure there is a logical explanation as to the sorting order on the iPad (I don't know what it is) but I'm guessing your filenames could be adjusted.

[lifevicarious]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

In the iPad's current form, it is useless.

If it had a file system and easy drag and drop for loading content, I'd want a USB just to have an easy way to get files on it. I'm always using USB hard drives and flash drives to move files from my office desktop to my laptop.

I'd like the same functionality in whatever tablet I end up with. But as the iPad lacks a file system and drag and drop support (and probably always will) I don't see that much use for a USB port either.

E-mail them or put them on a cloud somewhere. I'm not saying it couldn't be useful but I personally would much prefer not having an extra device and an extra expense when I can do what you are mentioning in other, more efficient methods. And if you are referring to a huge file, the iPad probably can't do much with it anyway.

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

But it's still super prevalent, and all that matters is the present. Especially for gadgets like tablets that I'd be replacing every 2 or 3 years anyway.

All that matters is currently some sites won't display properly, some video sites I use a lot (and would want to use on a tablet) won't work etc.

In a few years Flash may be gone, but that's moot in the present and I wouldn't still have a first gen iPad at that point anyway. All that matters is that it doesn't satisfy my current browsing needs.

Flash will die far more quickly now. Companies are getting rid of flash daily now, especially since 1 million have been sold. Most flash on the web is advertisements and it pretty much all requires mouseovers. Even if Flash was on the iPad, other then video, you couldn't do much with it. BUt I can understand why people would want it, I use my iPhone constantly and the lack of flash has never been limiting to me.

[rrburton]

I just wanted to comment that I am glad that the iPad doesn't have/do all of these things. They are not necessary for the intended functionality. I'd almost go as far as saying that the problem is not the device, it's the users.

[nikkie]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

In the iPad's current form, it is useless.

If it had a file system and easy drag and drop for loading content, I'd want a USB just to have an easy way to get files on it. I'm always using USB hard drives and flash drives to move files from my office desktop to my laptop.

Well, the computer end is USB, and that's all that's needed for this scenario. And for apps that support it, you can just open itunes and drop the files into the apps you want. Also, you can jailbreak and drag and drop files pretty easily too if you want. I used to add files to a jailbroken iPod Touch via usb.

[nikkie]

Originally Posted by rrburton

I just wanted to comment that I am glad that the iPad doesn't have/do all of these things. They are not necessary for the intended functionality. I'd almost go as far as saying that the problem is not the device, it's the users.

I certainly wouldn't say the "problem" is the users...but the hangup is with the users. There are clearly iPad users who are happy without any of the listed features, or who enjoy it without them. (I personally am one of them. A couple of the features would be nice, but certainly not all of them.)

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by lifevicarious

E-mail them or put them on a cloud somewhere. I'm not saying it couldn't be useful but I personally would much prefer not having an extra device and an extra expense when I can do what you are mentioning in other, more efficient methods. And if you are referring to a huge file, the iPad probably can't do much with it anyway.

Fair enough. I just prefer jump drives, drag and drop etc. to cloud storage etc. And I'm mainly just talking pdfs, word docs etc. as I'm a professor and my main need for a tablet is reading and marking up documents.

Flash will die far more quickly now. Companies are getting rid of flash daily now, especially since 1 million have been sold. Most flash on the web is advertisements and it pretty much all requires mouseovers. Even if Flash was on the iPad, other then video, you couldn't do much with it. BUt I can understand why people would want it, I use my iPhone constantly and the lack of flash has never been limiting to me.

Streaming video would be a HUGE use of any tablet for me, just like it is on my laptop currently.

My main hobbies are movies, TV and sports. The iPad has some use on that front with the Netflix App, ABC app etc. But currently you're out of luck for CBS or Fox shows, stuff on Hulu, ESPN 360 etc. And of course Porn--which could be a big draw to an Apple tablet for me with the negligible risk of viruses/malware vs. PCs.

Again, down the road maybe a non-issue. But a huge draw back for the near future for me.

Originally Posted by rrburton

I just wanted to comment that I am glad that the iPad doesn't have/do all of these things. They are not necessary for the intended functionality. I'd almost go as far as saying that the problem is not the device, it's the users.

I can agree with that to some extent. The issue for me and others is Apple doesn't give a crap about power users, business users, academic users etc. They make tech toys basically (outside of their PCs and laptops of course), not productivity tools. So the iPad just isn't meant for people like me. We'll have to wait for a business oriented tablet to come out.

Originally Posted by nikkie

Well, the computer end is USB, and that's all that's needed for this scenario. And for apps that support it, you can just open itunes and drop the files into the apps you want. Also, you can jailbreak and drag and drop files pretty easily too if you want. I used to add files to a jailbroken iPod Touch via usb.

Yes, but that's very clunky IMO--especially if you have say multiple PDF readers and have to drop files individually into each (though that should be fixed in the future with the update adding a central file location).

Doesn't matter for some, but I won't buy a tablet that doesn't have a traditional file system.

I don't need a full tablet PC, but I need something that leans more towards productivity tool and less towards media consumption toy.

[MsAstoria]

Interesting thread. I got to say that I am really enjoying my Ipad 3G. It is an amazing machine. It is a great e-reader and I migrated all my Kindle books with the Amazon app. It was easy to add my non DRM books to my Ibook shelf. Nice to be able to surf the web and check email too. I use Evernote to transfer info from Ipad to my computer if needed. There are some amazing apps available to really enhance my computing experience. It is not a laptop replacement, but I haven't pulled mine out since getting this unit.
Thanks for all the lively discussions!
My most negative comment will be on the AT&T coverage restrictions. Since I live in a rural area, I only get AT&A Edge coverage which is somewhat slow. The Ipad is quite fast accessing Internet sites on Wi-Fi and no problem streaming video such as ABC shows. Basically non existent video streaming with the much slower 3G access.

[wqoq]

Originally Posted by nikkie

iBooks:

• iBooks does not have a night view.

Not strictly an iBooks feature, but I suppose it is worth mentioning the system-wide accessibility you can adjust in the Settings app to enable "White on Black" on a triple-click of the Home button.

[scottjl]

Turning down the brightness to an acceptable level doesn't qualify as "night view"? This should be re-written as inability to change font and background colors.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

But it's still super prevalent, and all that matters is the present. Especially for gadgets like tablets that I'd be replacing every 2 or 3 years anyway.

All that matters is currently some sites won't display properly, some video sites I use a lot (and would want to use on a tablet) won't work etc.

In a few years Flash may be gone, but that's moot in the present and I wouldn't still have a first gen iPad at that point anyway. All that matters is that it doesn't satisfy my current browsing needs.

I am starting to get the feeling that the iPad may be the hammer that drives the stake in the heart of Flash, which is what is getting Adobe's undies in such a bunch. Maybe if they came up with a Touch version to replace the old old old code, then they would be back on top. It's a matter of evolve or die, I guess.

After I get my iPad, I suppose I'll find out if this annoys me or not. It hasn't been an issue with my Touch, but I don't use it for browsing much more than the Apps Store.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I am starting to get the feeling that the iPad may be the hammer that drives the stake in the heart of Flash, which is what is getting Adobe's undies in such a bunch. Maybe if they came up with a Touch version to replace the old old old code, then they would be back on top. It's a matter of evolve or die, I guess.

Well it will depend on what happens with other tablets.

If a bunch of Android, WebOS, Windows 7 etc. Tablets come out and sell very well (combine to sell more than iPad) and all support Flash, then the iPad will have little impact on it.

If they don't (either don't sell well or don't support flash well etc.) and the iPad really explodes, then Flash may die off faster.

In any case, it's here to stay for a at least 2-3 more years of being very prevalent on the net--and that's probably the longest I'd use a 1st or 2nd gen tablet before wanting to upgrade anyway, so it will remain a fairly large consideration for me--though not a deal breaker.

[pshrynk]

That still leaves the question of how a touch technology pad will compensate for the hover over function, though.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by scottjl

Turning down the brightness to an acceptable level doesn't qualify as "night view"? This should be re-written as inability to change font and background colors.

I would think of night view as inverting the normal colours, so that you have white on black, rather than black on white.

[CyGuy]

I feel that Apple could have sold 5 or even 10 times as many iPads if they had decided to make the device appeal to technical users instead of just non-techs. They could have sold me one if they:

Added built-in SDHC card reader.
Added built-in USB port
Included a built-in file browser (with copy/paste to/from device with no restrictions)
Unlocked the hardware so you can install apps from anywhere.

One thing that I do like about the iPad is that it will generate many copy-cat tablets in the near future. Can’t wait to see what is coming!