Okay, now THAT I can agree with since I just bought a pair of these (7 years of heavy use necessitated a new set...):
Sony Pro MDR-7506
Posted on 04/04/2010 12:39:21 AM PDT by myknowledge
The Apple iPad ushers in the era of tablet computing, with a slate-style handheld that looks nothing like a typical computer. in fact, the iPad is more reminiscent of an oversize iPhone than a laptop. But because the iPad's screen is three times larger than that of the iPhone/iPod Touch, you'll be tempted to use the iPad for activities you wouldn't consider doing with an iPhone. Innovative apps and content optimized for the spacious, high-resolution touchscreen make the iPad a treat to use. Nevertheless, the iPad's other limitations make it hard to recommend as a replacement for (rather than as a complement to) the devices you may be carrying around today.
Apple plans to offer six variants of the iPad, starting with the three Wi-Fi models available now: a 16GB model ($499), a 32GB model ($599), and 64GB model ($699). In late April, Apple will ship three additional models that tack on 3G capability, for an extra $130 each. The 3G models will also have a GPS chip inside.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Will it at least have a USB port? That is the biggest detriment I see for the IPad.
So you don’t like the general move to portability? Is that your point?
It is just what most people want. And it seems that even in the home theater department it is vinyl that is holding pretty strong.
It will have WiFi, which implies that it could use resources on the home network like shared printers and disks. Or maybe not, depending on how locked-down Apple wants to make it. I would think, though, that WiFi access to printers, scanners, disks, etc would be needed in order for the iPad to be passably useful.
I don't think the iPad or tablet computers in general are designed for production of content. They are designed as light-weight, highly mobile readers of content.
Apple iFail.
Companies that review tech products are predicting that Apple will sell 7 million iPads around the world during the remaining 9 months of this years. But let's take a more conservative figure and say 5 million units. And lets further assume that all 5 million are the cheapest version selling for $500. So that would make $2.5 billion in gross sells of the iPad.
Apples has very high gross profit margins, somewhere around 40%. But let's take a more conservative figure and say their gross profit is 20%. That would be $500 million. I wish I were so lucky to have a company that had an iFail of $500 million in 9 months.
Simple. During the worst recession since the Great Depression, Apple had record profits. Also their stock price is through the roof. Apple now has the third largest market cap in the US after Exxon Mobil and Microsoft.
Apple changed forever how will think of and use a telephone with the iPhone. And Apple is now the third largest seller of music in the US.
Does that help to explain why media companies are talking about Apple's latest product?
They're pretty vague about a lot of things, but my assumption would be that it doesn't run MS Office, cause they don't talk about Office. It also appears to be pen-based, and they make no mention of being able to plug in a keyboard or mouse.
They also don't talk about third party software and everything they demo appears to work from a single software application. There's no mention of USB ports or anything else.
Right now, some things on the Courier look cool, but the stuff on Engadget raises as many questions to me as it answers. It depends on handwriting recognition, and that's always been problematic. It runs on the same software as the Zune HD. I'm also a little skeptical of the videos, as these aren't actually demos of the applications working, but animations of how it's supposed to work. Will they actually work that way? Who knows? I've seen MS put together some awesome presentations and the product didn't pan out.
I'm particularly thinking about the MS Surface, which was introduced in 2007 and by now was supposed to have dropped in price enough to be a consumer product. It's still around $15000 with installation and a warranty, runs Windows Vista, and is quickly being overtaken by other manufacturers.
Toy? I had a shipment of them on release day and we now us them to manage all of our omnibus accounts. Stocks, options, futures ... It doesn’t matter, we can tie into the main system from a specialized app and submit trade authorizations for virtually any amount. It took under 20 seconds to authorize a currency transfer from us dollars to yen and place a trade on the Tokyo exchange. This is anything but a toy. I am still learning to use mine and i would NEVER go back without a fight.
Thanks, both of you, for the replies regarding why the iPad is getting so much attention and possible usages.
Most of the coverage I’ve seen on TV has mostly been about downloading music and videos. That’s why I referred to it as a toy.
Well, I think you are right about the music and the video. People will be using the iPad for music and video. People with iPads will probably use their TVs and CD players less often now.
The reports I have read on social networks posted by people who bought an iPad on Saturday is that the video is excellent.
“My new Vizio TV has wireless streaming built, NetFlix is faster than cable on demand and at $8.49 what a bargain for unlimited access.”
I wonder if mine does, it’s one of those XVT models. I need to check it out because I also have Netflix (which I watch on my computer). Thanks for the tip.
“So you don’t like the general move to portability? Is that your point?”
I don’t begrudge it, Mr. Blonde, but it seems absurd to push incremental improvements on tiny devices as somehow revolutionary, all the while skipping over the fact that people now accept LOWER quality in both audio and video generally.
"It's not productive enough," they whine.
"It's too delicate and fragile," they sob.
Whine, whine, whine. Sob, sob, sob.
Meanwhile, stockholders in Apple can cheer are this little toy will surely rocket Apple to even higher profits.
Last year, I was blown away by the Kindle. But the iPad makes the Kindle look like an artifact from the cheesy 1970s.
Bookmark this post...one year from now, Apple will be reporting over 12 million iPad devices sold - that's over $7 billion dollars in new revenue from just one product. And that will just be the beginning. Eventually, iPad (and future iterations thereof) will nearly totally replace laptop and desktop computers.
Home electronics are seen as more commodities than your phone. Just the way it is. More people are going to see your iPhone or your laptop, than your 50 in TV.
And I would guess it would be near impossible to tell the difference between a CD and 256K mp3. Provided they were listened to on the same equipment. And headphones can be pretty impressive these days.
Okay, now THAT I can agree with since I just bought a pair of these (7 years of heavy use necessitated a new set...):
Sony Pro MDR-7506
Gee, I was lying in bed, on my side, just last night, turning the iPad pages with just a swipe of one finger. Typing on the table is a piece of cake, the protective cover props it at just the right angle.
Most people do not realize that this is not a “little” laptop.
This is a fantastic USB device that plugs into your computer for syncing to the work you have produced (Aran pattern charts, architectural preliminary designs, photo albums), that you can then display to clients, use for teaching classes, take along wherever you go as samples of your work, etc.)
And, you can take along with you whatever audio book you are listening to, or ebook you are reading, newspapers, radio stations, tv shows, movies, etc, while keeping up with your favorite web forums, facebook, etc.
It doesn’t replace an iPhone, or a laptop. It isn’t designed to do that. It is designed to let you take just what you need at the point in time you need it.
And, I am not a great typist, but after a couple of days use, I am almost as fast as I am on my regular keyboard.
People could use it with a bluetooth keyboard if they really needed to do some production typing when away from home, I suppose.
I love the way I can tuck it under my arm and go, with no need for any peripherals.
Mine is an VF552XVT, LED backlight with WiFi and Bluetooth, has Apps which are useless, but NetFlix is one of the apps.
Go to your account manager on the computer to set up a device.
Thank you!
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