iPad - Views

[Eagle]

Viruses/exploits/script kiddies? Well, I said Apple's day would come.

 

[RBS]

We had ours delivered and we have been using it for about a week now. I love it!

Anyone else using one?

I am not the most technical person and find technology is sometimes a little beyond me but the iPad is absolutely fantastic! It has already replaced my mobile laptop which comes on holiday with us which will save room in the car.

I don't own an iPhone so this is all new to me. I feel like a child on Christmas Day!

Barbara

Its been a while since it came out, but I still cannot figure out whats the purpose of it/target market? Reading books or checking email? If its meant to be for email - I wouldn`t carry 10" thing for emails - my Palm Pre does the job great.

 

[movietub]

Its been a while since it came out, but I still cannot figure out whats the purpose of it/target market? Reading books or checking email? If its meant to be for email - I wouldn`t carry 10" thing for emails - my Palm Pre does the job great.

Me neither.

I had a play with one and it was very cool, but it doesn't actually serve any purpose, or replace anything else I already have :|

It's a product sold on 'cool' alone. Which means it's still a good product of course, apple make money. Users look cool.

But can anyone tell me one thing that it does that you can't do better on equipment that already existed?

 

[Sacha]

I can't provide you with a definite answer to who the target market is (similar to how I cannot give you a definite answer to the target market of a Play Station 3, for example). What I can say, however, is that it does have a target market - which obviously goes without saying. And what I can furthermore say is that it does have functionality and purpose, to a greater extent but also including emailing and reading books - which I also was under the impression goes without saying. (On a side note if emailing and reading ebooks is all you think the iPad is capable of doing, well, really, you clearly haven't ever had the privilege of using one, and/or it would appear to me to not contain imagination to the countless possibilities of such devices or that of new technology hitting the market.)

It may have been appropriate, wise and foresightful to lambast the iPad's position within the grander 'scheme of things' and to furthermore question its target audience as well as its chances of success before it had launched; but now, after its apparent and obvious success, questioning its target audience and wondering in the point of the iPad existing at all is a rather silly question, in my opinion. If only because we're posting on a business forum.

 

[mit74]

Like the iPhone the iPads days are numbered really. The competition has caught up. Once the Chrome OS laptops comes out there going to be far more desirable than the ipad in terms of what they can do and I'm predicting they're going to be the next big thing.

 

[movietub]

I can't provide you with a definite answer to who the target market is (similar to how I cannot give you a definite answer to the target market of a Play Station 3, for example). What I can say, however, is that it does have a target market - which obviously goes without saying. And what I can furthermore say is that it does have functionality and purpose, to a greater extent but also including emailing and reading books - which I also was under the impression goes without saying. (On a side note if emailing and reading ebooks is all you think the iPad is capable of doing, well, really, you clearly haven't ever had the privilege of using one, and/or it would appear to me to not contain imagination to the countless possibilities of such devices or that of new technology hitting the market.)

It may have been appropriate, wise and foresightful to lambast the iPad's position within the grander 'scheme of things' and to furthermore question its target audience as well as its chances of success before it had launched; but now, after its apparent and obvious success, questioning its target audience and wondering in the point of the iPad existing at all is a rather silly question, in my opinion. If only because we're posting on a business forum.

None of that helps me understand I'm afraid! I have used it, I am a massive techno-geek and I am aware of its capabilities. But it can't email better than a similar sized net-book with outlook (with a physical and tactile keyboard). It could be used as a reader, but it's screen relies on a back-light which is not the best solution for an hours reading. And even if it were, I don't struggle to read my iPhone in bed or watch iPlayer on it etc.

I was hoping for an example of how it could be used as a better alternative to the combination of iPhone and laptop I carry currently.

 

[cmcp]

We're utilising them in meetings. Design and publishing doesn't show very well on projectors, so to get a true reflection on screen on an easily shareable device is great.

 

[Sacha]

Techno-geeks are not the target audience of the iPad.

It's aimed at people with disposable income who don't know a lot about computers, for travellers, for sales demonstrations, for watching movies in bed, for playing games (this is where it has a massive future), for lying on the coach watching TV while chatting on FaceBook or surfing the web, in the kitchen to read recipes, for educational purposes, as well as reading ebooks (I agree the screen isn't perfect as an e-reader but most people don't see it that way).

You probably don't see the point in it, just as you probably don't see the point in spending £1200 on a MacBook Pro but I can assure you many people do see the point in both the iPad and the MacBook Pro and it doesn't necessarily mean they are logical points. It all comes down to desire rather than need (in reality we don't need anything in the modern world) and at its base they are cool things. That's all that really matters, the iPad is cool therefore it has a place in the market, it has functionality and it will sell.

 

[movietub]

Techno-geeks are not the target audience of the iPad.

It's aimed at people with disposable income who don't know a lot about computers, for travellers, for sales demonstrations, for watching movies in bed, for playing games (this is where it has a massive future), for lying on the coach watching TV while chatting on FaceBook or surfing the web, in the kitchen to read recipes, for educational purposes, as well as reading ebooks (I agree the screen isn't perfect as an e-reader but most people don't see it that way).

You probably don't see the point in it, just as you probably don't see the point in spending £1200 on a MacBook Pro but I can assure you many people do see the point in both the iPad and the MacBook Pro and it doesn't necessarily mean they are logical points. It all comes down to desire rather than need (in reality we don't need anything in the modern world) and at its base they are cool things. That's all that really matters, the iPad is cool therefore it has a place in the market, it has functionality and it will sell.

Thats exactly what I said though! Desire, or as I put it, 'cool' factor. That is the reason to buy an iPad.

I take on board that it's a convenient way to browse on the train or play games on the sofa, but then so is the iPhone. I use my iPhone all the time to do those things.

The problem is I wouldn't be able to take an iPad anywhere and everywhere as easily as I can the iPhone. And even with an iPad, I would still need to carry a phone as well. So my choice is between an iphone which does everything. Or an ipad as well, which does some of the things better as it has a larger screen etc.. But is needed as well as a phone, so for each pro I can see an equal con.

This is the problem, for a tech product to have a real value beyond cool it has to make things better, it has to solve a problem whilst also leading the way to a future where more is possible than before.

So I'm still stuck at thinking this is just cool alone.

 

[movietub]

We're utilising them in meetings. Design and publishing doesn't show very well on projectors, so to get a true reflection on screen on an easily shareable device is great.

This was mentioned in another thread regarding iPad uses. It was the only example then as well!

I can imagine a load of thin spectacle wearing design trendies sat round a table passing iPads to one another

And it does make sense in that setting as it is a stylish way of displaying what is hopefully a stylish design draft!

But still, this comes down to the cool factor. It's not as if passing a laptop round would fail to achieve the same. Or simply, a huge great Plasma tv which tends to add a certain gloss to any image normally viewed on a computer screen.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...I can imagine a load of thin spectacle wearing design trendies sat round a table passing iPads to one another ...

Or Councillors:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7922502/Council-plans-to-spend-40000-on-iPads.html

Regards

Dotty

 

[mit74]

I saw that story and luaghed! £90,000 saved on what exactly?

 

[movietub]

Or Councillors:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7922502/Council-plans-to-spend-40000-on-iPads.html

Regards

Dotty

For god's sake!

So the heavy laptop meant they had to print more than the lighter iPad did it? That does nothing to justify the saving at all.

And as for productivity. There is no way they will be able to type half as fast on a touchscreen as on a laptop keyboard.

This is a case of arguing economic saving in order to get ones mits on a new gadget.

 

[movietub]

NB - I don't mind the odd crafty person arguing a false case to get something cool on expenses. But in this case the severly flawed logic just demonstrates why councillors manage to waste so much money on everything they try and do.

 

[DotNetWebs]

Hi Dotty,

I don't see why people care so much about Flash? What exactly would you need to use Flash for? iPlayer works without flash, YouTube obviously works without flash and there are thousands of games that you can download from iTunes for free.

The only reason you would need flash is for watching videos on news/other websites but most of them are going to have non-flash compatible video soon (if they haven't already) any way.

Besides flash is wastes battery life and it's the primary reason computers crash. And it has security flaws.

The only thing I can think of is flash based chat sites?

Here's a interesting post for you:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/

Our use of Flash is not a case of BBC favouritism, rather it currently happens to be the most efficient way to deliver a high quality experience to the broadest possible audience.

See also:

http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-bbc-html5-is-not-ready-for-video-and-sailing-off-course/

Steve Jobs may be betting the upcoming fifth revision to the web’s HTML language will fill iOS’ Flash gap, but the BBC doesn’t think that prospect is going to happen any time soon.

Yes I know you have your iPlayer Apps etc but there is still much Flash content on the BBC and millions of other sites that is being denied to iPad users by Steve Jobs' anti-Flash position.

Regards

Dotty

 

[movietub]

Yes I know you have your iPlayer Apps etc but there is still much Flash content on the BBC and millions of other sites that is being denied to iPad users by Steve Jobs' anti-Flash position.

Regards

Dotty

Quite. Flash is used equally as much to present content as it is to make a few anaimated buttons or banners. What about pure flash sites for instance.

I would also go as far as to say the stylish trendy person that buys an ipad, is probably more likley to visit the types of sites that use a lot of flash. For instance, clothing and fashion related sites, most design company sites I see are heavy or all flash, sites that allow you to customise products often use flash.

So in a way, the perfect customer of those sites that try to be stylish and flashy by 'using flash' can't see half the sites as they were flash enough to buy an ipad that can't (won't!) do flash :|

 

Here's a interesting post for you:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/



See also:

http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-bbc-html5-is-not-ready-for-video-and-sailing-off-course/



Yes I know you have your iPlayer Apps etc but there is still much Flash content on the BBC and millions of other sites that is being denied to iPad users by Steve Jobs' anti-Flash position.

Regards

Dotty

Can't say i have noticed or missed flash when using my ipad

I have enjoyed mine and mostly use it as trade shows and for travelling. Its superb. I can watch films, listen to music, read many books and do all the work and e-mailing i need to in a small, compact package.

Its brilliant, for me.

 

One problem i do have is that often my ipad will not reply to e-mails i have received. Two in particular to Asia, it simply won't send them.

Anyone know how to solve this problem ?

 

[johndon68]

Mini iPad on the way?

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Te...Gadget_Will_Be_Launched_In_Time_For_Christmas

John

 

[stockdam]

I think they look great. I can't justify spending the money on them but I can see the appeal. I'd probably prefer an open source alternative where I can get better applications. An iPhone is not an alternative for browsing.

 

[cmcp]

This was mentioned in another thread regarding iPad uses. It was the only example then as well!

I can imagine a load of thin spectacle wearing design trendies sat round a table passing iPads to one another

And it does make sense in that setting as it is a stylish way of displaying what is hopefully a stylish design draft!

But still, this comes down to the cool factor. It's not as if passing a laptop round would fail to achieve the same. Or simply, a huge great Plasma tv which tends to add a certain gloss to any image normally viewed on a computer screen.

You can't see the wood for the trees.

If I'm pushed for time in a meeting room with 2 hours worth of decisions to be made in an hour slot, 10 minutes waiting for someone to set up a projector / find a charger / connect to the network / whatever other technical problems arise have a great impact on the days business.

The Apple UI is renowned for it's dumb ease of use. Having an iPad absorb this risk has been a great advantage to us so far. It's plug and play to the max, usability and ergonomics are what the product is all about but if you think that's just cool factor that's your call

 

[PhoneTrader1221]

Had a look at the Ipad in Apples new store in covent garden and I will be getting one within a week.

 

[4ce_aamedia]

I haven't bought one yet, but I think its definitely next on the toy list. I like apples simplicity and their "less is more" approach to design.

 

[Eagle]

Will be trialling one from next week. I'll just put it on the R&D budget!

Here's a Q. If I'm on the road and I receive email, how would I get said emails back onto my PC (like I do with my laptop)? Or is IMAP the only way?

 

[Jeff FV]

Here's a Q. If I'm on the road and I receive email, how would I get said emails back onto my PC (like I do with my laptop)? Or is IMAP the only way?

How do you do that with your laptop? When I look at emails on my laptop I use webmail so that when I fire up my PC they'll come through to it.

Back to the OP - I had a look at one in an Apple store a week or so ago, impressed, liked it, but could only really (for me) put it in the toy/entertainment/fashion status symbol bracket - if anything, it'd make me less efficient as it would be a constant distraction!

Jeff

 

[DotNetWebs]

Will be trialling one from next week. I'll just put it on the R&D budget!

Here's a Q. If I'm on the road and I receive email, how would I get said emails back onto my PC (like I do with my laptop)? Or is IMAP the only way?

If using a POP 3 client just tick the "leave copy of email on server" option (or whatever the MAC equivalent says)

Regards

Dotty

 

[Jeff FV]

If using a POP 3 client just tick the "leave copy of email on server" option (or whatever the MAC equivalent says)

Regards

Dotty

Brilliant - thanks

Jeff

 

[Eagle]

How do you do that with your laptop?

I just click and drag to copy them into a folder then stick them right back in when I get back to my PC. I can't see how you can do that with Apple's mail thingy.