Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Laptop Killer? Pretty Close
The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 1, 2010 | Walter S. Mossberg

Posted on 04/01/2010 6:42:26 PM PDT by myknowledge

For the past week or so, I have been testing a sleek, light, silver-and-black tablet computer called an iPad. After spending hours and hours with it, I believe this beautiful new touch-screen device from Apple has the potential to change portable computing profoundly, and to challenge the primacy of the laptop. It could even help, eventually, to propel the finger-driven, multitouch user interface ahead of the mouse-driven interface that has prevailed for decades.

But first, it will have to prove that it really can replace the laptop or netbook for enough common tasks, enough of the time, to make it a viable alternative. And that may not be easy, because previous tablet computers have failed to catch on in the mass market, and the iPad lacks some of the features—such as a physical keyboard, a Webcam, USB ports and multitasking—that most laptop or netbook users have come to expect.

If people see the iPad mainly as an extra device to carry around, it will likely have limited appeal. If, however, they see it as a way to replace heavier, bulkier computers much of the time—for Web surfing, email, social-networking, video- and photo-viewing, gaming, music and even some light content creation—it could be a game changer the way Apple's iPhone has been.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: apple; ipad; itard; laptop
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

I don't think the Apple iPad is a complete laptop replacement. It's just an enlarged iPhone.

1 posted on 04/01/2010 6:42:27 PM PDT by myknowledge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

Put down the crack pipe Walter


2 posted on 04/01/2010 6:45:26 PM PDT by tx_eggman (Liberalism is only possible in that moment when a man chooses Barabas over Christ.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

Kind of sounds like Walt’s never actually used a computer.


3 posted on 04/01/2010 6:48:14 PM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (Socialism is for people who've given up.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge
Eh. I'm not interested. For what I do, it would be a big pain. I do a lot of graphic stuff, so I need my stylus. Drawing with my fingers is finger painting. Forget about it.

Also, I need a large display--the bigger the better.

Also, it's not really purse size.

Also, my Droid uses Verizon, which, unlike AT&T, doesn't suck.

4 posted on 04/01/2010 6:56:43 PM PDT by giotto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

If newspapers were smart, they’d utilize this technology. New York Times should offer a free one-year subscription with ever purchase of an iPad. Not that I would buy it or recommend it, but it would make good businessense from their perspective.


5 posted on 04/01/2010 6:57:04 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Islam is incompatible with American traditions and values)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Psycho_Bunny

Seems like most of the reviews have been fairly positive.


6 posted on 04/01/2010 6:57:55 PM PDT by Mr. Blonde (You ever thought about being weird for a living?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzRziK-kZtQ
star trek 4: the voyage home episode

[Scotty] - Computer. Computer!
[Doc] - Just use the keyboard.
[Scotty] - Keyboard. How quaint!


7 posted on 04/01/2010 6:58:48 PM PDT by JerseyHighlander
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

How is this different from a tablet pc?


8 posted on 04/01/2010 7:02:19 PM PDT by gitmo ( The democRats drew first blood. It's our turn now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

myfastpc.com is a trojan/malware


9 posted on 04/01/2010 7:10:34 PM PDT by omega4179 (www.JDforsenate.com myfastpc.com is malware)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gitmo
How is this different from a tablet pc?

The tablet PC uses mouse-style point-and-click (with a stylus) navigation. The iPad uses the iPhone's finger navigation, where windows are easily opened, closed, and resized and content is browsed with intuitive finger motions.

The iPad is a whole new ballgame. Competitors' trash-talk is going to hit Keith Olbermann-like hysteria levels over the next week, but it looks Apple has lapped the field with this device.

10 posted on 04/01/2010 7:11:21 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ( "The right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended." - Rowan Atkinson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: gitmo

The iPad is the most revolutionary consumer product in the history of civilization. It is going to change everything - including the world. As the release date nears, I have had difficulty getting to sleep and when I do sleep, I dream about the iPad, not only in vivid color but also in HTML 5.


11 posted on 04/01/2010 7:13:01 PM PDT by SamAdams76 (I am 17 days away from outliving Jack Kerouac)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

Have you tried the Lower The Seas feature? Is it fast enough that you can watch the waters recede, or is it a background process that you can’t really watch?


12 posted on 04/01/2010 7:17:37 PM PDT by gitmo ( The democRats drew first blood. It's our turn now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: omega4179

OK, where did that come from?


13 posted on 04/01/2010 7:24:19 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (No Representation without Taxation!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76

Oh, now. It’s really not all that bad. Somebody’ll do a half-hearted knockoff soon enough, maybe with a tiny little physical keyboard or USB ports or Flash compatibility, and you can tout that.


14 posted on 04/01/2010 7:25:34 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: SamAdams76
I have had difficulty getting to sleep and when I do sleep, I dream about the iPad

I've taken some long walks lately, been breathing some fresh air and had a picnic today at the park with my wife and kids. Just the 5 of us. Yeah, it's corny as hell and the interface is old school. I've been spending less time on the Internet too. It's nice to not receive IM's. I turn my cell phone off most of the time or I just don't answer it... Life feels like 20 years ago to me. Archaic and Simple. How did we ever do without things like the Internet, Cell Phones and the Ipad? For some strange reason, I've never been happier.
15 posted on 04/01/2010 7:27:42 PM PDT by lmr (God punishes Conservatives by making them argue with fools.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

Stupidest gimmick device ever to come out of Apple.

Nothing more than a big iPod.


16 posted on 04/01/2010 7:45:18 PM PDT by Hammerhead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

I think what really matters is what the under 20s think abou it. Kids who have grown up on Iphones. If THEY take to it, it will be a winner.


17 posted on 04/01/2010 7:48:33 PM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

I just saw it on tv and checked it out and want to get the word out to people. Malwarebytes will remove it fortunately.


18 posted on 04/01/2010 8:05:21 PM PDT by omega4179 (www.JDforsenate.com .............................. myfastpc.com is malware)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

get back to me when they make it a REAL computer...


19 posted on 04/01/2010 8:10:43 PM PDT by Mister Muggles (.Seattle: A city full of Liberal men with vaginas.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: myknowledge

Wasn’t there a comparison with the IPAD and an HP device that was similar and the HP was better?


20 posted on 04/01/2010 8:44:56 PM PDT by SkyDancer (If someone calls me a racist I'll just tell them you're just saying that because I'm white ....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson