“So will Windows RT tablets, with purchases through Windows Store.”
Does this mean the traditional installation from .exe files, either from the Web or removable media is now out the window?
“Various applications have the ability to load their own files.”
Yeah, but it’s not like an Android tablet, in that you can hook it to any computer and go. If I had an Ipad, and I was on the road, I’d have to have a laptop along as well in order to sync files from a computer.
“Thankfully. Managing everything between the internal memory and SD card in my Android was a PITA.”
I agree, the way Android manages SD is a PITA. But, if you simply plug in your card and can open the card directory in My Computer or something, that’s way more functional. I assume Windows 8 will have this capability?
“Every system has the set of videos that it has codecs for.”
More specifically, every system has a set of videos that it DOESN’T have codecs for. And Apple is by far the worst. I’ve never had to re-encode a video to get it to play on my Android tablet.
“Since you note the use of an adapter is acceptable to you, just get the iPad Camera Connection Kit, which comes with USB and SD adapters. If you are a serious photographer, this setup even supports RAW (and Apple is continually shipping RAW updates as new cameras come out).”
More money and kludgy add-ons to duplicate functionality that other systems have already. Silly, especially at twice the price.
“Windows 8 will use Secure Boot, optional on PCs, but mandatory for tablets. No OS or driver without a cryptographically signed key will run on the hardware.”
AAAAAAAAAAAAAND we have our dealbreaker. Thanks but no thanks...I’ll keep my netbook.
From all I've read, yes. They want the functional equivalent of the iPad and App Store.
If I had an Ipad, and I was on the road, I’d have to have a laptop along as well in order to sync files from a computer.
Thus the whole iCloud thing. Apple is thinking a step ahead of the old idea of the tablet as a slave device. A lot of people are giving up their desktops and notebooks completely in favor of the iPad.
I assume Windows 8 will have this capability?
Probably not for RT. They are rightfully trying to get away from that old paradigm of viewing files, one that Apple started ditching with the iPod. We don't need to care about song *files* being moved. We care about *songs* being moved. We don't play mp3 files, we play songs, let the OS worry about where the files (if any) actually are.
I’ve never had to re-encode a video to get it to play on my Android tablet.
I did for my Android phone. The popular MKV format has spotty Android support too. BTW, one reason for Apple's limited video format support is the hardware. Apple includes a dedicated hardware H.264 encoder that consumes very little power to display high-profile HD content. You get a consistent user experience. Apple is known to hinder flexibility to gain the best user experience. This is good and bad, depending on the circumstances and your point of view (and totally evil according to Richard Stallman).
More money and kludgy add-ons to duplicate functionality that other systems have already.
Your ideal required a "kludgy add-on" (an adapter) and so does the iPad solution.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAND we have our dealbreaker. Thanks but no thanks...I’ll keep my netbook.
Everybody has their requirements. Often they are made up to steer the user to what they already want or avoid what they don't like. We see this often in Apple haters trying to find some reason not to buy the generally superior Apple product (read above).
However, this is a reasonable absolute requirement. If you want to run Linux, and the product won't run Linux, then it's not for you. Too bad, it would be the best general-purpose Linux tablet out there.