Well, you can get a keyboard for it, Bill. I think it's fine as it is. And yeah, I HATE netbooks. They're shitty, plastic notebooks. They are better at NOTHING at all. They cannot do a anything that a laptop can't.
They're just much smaller, some even too small, and are just cheap, stripped versions of netbooks.
As a college student I'm going to have to disagree. Netbooks are MUCH more portable, and the battery life supplies a full day's use without having to find an outlet. And to any who might argue against a netbook, you find me one that starts at $500 for a base model and doesnt compete with the iPad's capabilities. And no, 5,000 fart apps is not an advantage.
An iPad on the other hand is portable but could very easily suffer the fate of the iphone and shatter easily in the college atmosphere (i sell mobile phones and I love the iphone but i see prob a dozen a week shattered)
@Marko Last for 10 hours, mutitouch PCI display, 140,000+ instantly downloadable apps, replace heavy textbooks for students (in some cases help improve they're back muscles), has that simple iPhone UI that people love. /should I keep going?
@schultz Moreover, a Netbook at least keeps the screen safe when I tuck it in my bag - though I wouldn't expect the iPad to just break, the exposed screen would make me paranoid no end.
And yes, I DO like that I can work on a document while returning an E-mail to my tutor, thank you very much.
@mtnDewFTW Now lets compare that with a Netbook...
Protected screen for when it's in my bag? Netbook: yes, iPad: nope. Integrated web-cam? Netbook: yes, iPad: no. Near full-sized, tactile keyboard? Netbook: yes, iPad: nadda. Working on more than one document at once, chatting, returning an E-mail from my tutor and commenting on Engadget all at the same time? Netbook: yes, iPad: no. sub-£250 price tag? Netbook: yes, iPad: ehem...
@mtnDewFTW "Apps" is short for "applications". Full and open computers can download applications, too. In fact, there are more programs written for computers than are sold in the App store... by a fairly incredibly large margin.
This isn't meant as a knock on the iPad, but citing *quantity* of applications as an advantage over netbooks isn't really accurate... and netbooks can have Package Managers, too.
You kinda answered your own question. The main advantage of a netbook over a laptop is that they're smaller, lighter and cheaper. Thus making them both more portable and more affordable, while still being functional for most tasks.
The iPad also happens to be portable, though not really much more affordable than laptops. But it fails at key tasks that are important for average use, such as providing a full web experience (flash is too ubiquitous on the internet to be left out). And it also lacks a proper keyboard, which makes the idea of taking notes during class, or typing a 10 page paper unbearable. Yes, I know you can get a keyboard to use with it, but that means carrying the iPad, keyboard and stand all separately, it would be much more convenient if they were all attached.
@mtnDewFTW netbooks have millions of instantly downloadable apps. Most of which are free. Please don't use app count as a plus for the ipad which is probably only better than a netbook at gaming.
@mtnDewFTW I'd trade a keyboard for a touchscreen any day of the week (:. 10 Hours of batery life - new eee's can do 12. 140.000 apps (of which 139.500 rubbish) - How many applications can you install on a netbook. I reckon millions. Including something usefull like MS Office, or in my case Autocad. I love iphone UI, but Windows UI is still far more useful!
@Marko Simple, intuitive, fast usage; more battery , less heat, less bulkiness, better build quality, more stylish. To sum up, when you are at home, and you will causally take a look to the web read some stuff from engadget lets say, you won't open your notebook, because it's slower at these things and best usage is on a desk. You can just wake-up your ipad and get there in a couple of seconds. And it's much more fun with the multitouch interface. Ipad is a notebook alternative at some stuff. Netbook isn't.
@Load Ran Millions of apps written for windows doesn't matter in this situation. Becasue Windows apps are not sutable for this situation. It's like traveling with SUV tyres on a sports car.
@Gokhan I have fat winter tyres on my sports car at the moment, and it still goes very well, thank you ((((:
I can have a quick look at engadget on my iphone, why do I need iPad for that!? And I can take the netbook on the road knowing I will be able to do all my actual work without carrying a big laptop (it will be a bit slower, I know, but it will work). Sorry, still can't see the point of owning an iPad to do anything useful.
@Marko Turnabout is fair play. What can a netbook do that a notebook can't? It is a rhetorical question but one answer would probably including something about its size. The iPad will have virtually the same size screen as a typical netbook but at half the thickness. Performance of the iPad will be better than the typical netbook.
In some respects, the iPad is truer to the original intent of netbooks than the current netbooks are.
I believe that the iPad will either be a tremendous flop or a tremendous hit. I'd be surprised if it were simply "ok".
Netbooks aren't for everyone and neither will the iPad be. But just like anyone who is a zealot for one company or another, they'll dismiss the offerings of the competition until their favorite company does the same thing.
Zune fans ridiculed Apple for the proprietary nature of the iPod ecosystem, but as soon as MS offered a proprietary ecosystem (the Zune) THEN it was a good thing. The same was true for touchscreen interfaces on portable media players.
The moment you said '5000 fart applications' you lost all credibility.
The same thing about touch v. physical keyboard was made when the iphone was released. Yeah. if you compare the ipad v. netbook arguments being made today - they were 'exactly' the same as the iphone v. traditional smartphones at the time arguments. The iphone didn't have any feature that windows mobile or palm or RIM or Symbian phones did not have...and was missing many features...including a physical keyboard. Yet...history now proves that all those 'geeks' were wrong. I bet when the App store was announced, folks like you only say a store with 'fart apps'.
The problem with "app" numbers is it includes stuff that would not be considered a single application on any other platform. This includes website content, books and stuff that would be part of some larger compilation or program.
@sracer "What can a netbook do that a notebook can't?"
though the question was rhetorical you missed a key point in your argument is cost. maybe the ipad is truer to the original intent of the netbook(this is also arguable) but its misses the cost variable by quite a bit. a netbook has many more easy to access features than the ipad(my personal favorite is multitasking). and although a notebook would blow away any netbook in performance it still would cost twice as much or more. for any average student a netbook is perfect for everyday needs. an ipad is just another expensive device that parents will get their kids so they can break it.
Exactly what I was thinking. My next portable computer buy will be an ASUS CULV notebook. I recently built a Core i7 machine, have an iPod Touch, and gave my desktop replacement 16-inch notebook to my girlfriend. After bringing my iPod Touch around without a notebook, I realized I need those USB ports and full functionality of a PC when I travel around.
@mtnDewFTW Hello sir I just dropped in to tell you that my HP Mini has a brushed aluminium shell! I am looking at it now! So, anyway, just thought you might like to know you are wrong.
@Marko The iPad is perfect for people who have desktops, like me. I love my iMac, and I HATE having 2 computers at the same time. Because the music libraries get all mixed up, and the software, etc. Point is, I don't need 2 computers, that's why I recently retired my MBP.
So, the iPad is PERFECT for me. Because I can have basically a computer that I can sync up with my iMac and then take it anywhere I want. In that sense, it's good for me. But, I can see why many people wouldn't like the iPad, since so many people already have laptops and netbooks
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Well, you can get a keyboard for it, Bill.
I think it's fine as it is. And yeah, I HATE netbooks. They're shitty, plastic notebooks. They are better at NOTHING at all. They cannot do a anything that a laptop can't.
They're just much smaller, some even too small, and are just cheap, stripped versions of netbooks.
@mtnDewFTW And what exactly can iPad do, a netbook can't?!
@mtnDewFTW
As a college student I'm going to have to disagree. Netbooks are MUCH more portable, and the battery life supplies a full day's use without having to find an outlet. And to any who might argue against a netbook, you find me one that starts at $500 for a base model and doesnt compete with the iPad's capabilities. And no, 5,000 fart apps is not an advantage.
An iPad on the other hand is portable but could very easily suffer the fate of the iphone and shatter easily in the college atmosphere (i sell mobile phones and I love the iphone but i see prob a dozen a week shattered)
@Marko Last for 10 hours, mutitouch PCI display, 140,000+ instantly downloadable apps, replace heavy textbooks for students (in some cases help improve they're back muscles), has that simple iPhone UI that people love. /should I keep going?
@mtnDewFTW
Looks like Steve's got himself an engadget alias
@schultz Moreover, a Netbook at least keeps the screen safe when I tuck it in my bag - though I wouldn't expect the iPad to just break, the exposed screen would make me paranoid no end.
And yes, I DO like that I can work on a document while returning an E-mail to my tutor, thank you very much.
@mtnDewFTW I'll drop the C-bomb now: CULV laptops. Blow both the iPad and Atom netbooks out of the water.
@mtnDewFTW Now lets compare that with a Netbook...
Protected screen for when it's in my bag? Netbook: yes, iPad: nope.
Integrated web-cam? Netbook: yes, iPad: no.
Near full-sized, tactile keyboard? Netbook: yes, iPad: nadda.
Working on more than one document at once, chatting, returning an E-mail from my tutor and commenting on Engadget all at the same time? Netbook: yes, iPad: no.
sub-£250 price tag? Netbook: yes, iPad: ehem...
@mtnDewFTW "Apps" is short for "applications". Full and open computers can download applications, too. In fact, there are more programs written for computers than are sold in the App store... by a fairly incredibly large margin.
This isn't meant as a knock on the iPad, but citing *quantity* of applications as an advantage over netbooks isn't really accurate... and netbooks can have Package Managers, too.
@Load Ran Ubuntu FTW.
(I'm more a Gentoo guy myself, but I don't feel like pissing about too much this time ;) )
@mtnDewFTW
You kinda answered your own question. The main advantage of a netbook over a laptop is that they're smaller, lighter and cheaper. Thus making them both more portable and more affordable, while still being functional for most tasks.
The iPad also happens to be portable, though not really much more affordable than laptops. But it fails at key tasks that are important for average use, such as providing a full web experience (flash is too ubiquitous on the internet to be left out). And it also lacks a proper keyboard, which makes the idea of taking notes during class, or typing a 10 page paper unbearable. Yes, I know you can get a keyboard to use with it, but that means carrying the iPad, keyboard and stand all separately, it would be much more convenient if they were all attached.
@mtnDewFTW netbooks have millions of instantly downloadable apps. Most of which are free. Please don't use app count as a plus for the ipad which is probably only better than a netbook at gaming.
@mtnDewFTW I'd trade a keyboard for a touchscreen any day of the week (:. 10 Hours of batery life - new eee's can do 12. 140.000 apps (of which 139.500 rubbish) - How many applications can you install on a netbook. I reckon millions. Including something usefull like MS Office, or in my case Autocad. I love iphone UI, but Windows UI is still far more useful!
So, yes, I remain unconvinced.
@mtnDewFTW The main thing here is 'simple'. And it's not a good thing.
@dracoaffectus Flash is part of the full web experience like sharks are part of the full ocean experience.
@Marko Simple, intuitive, fast usage; more battery , less heat, less bulkiness, better build quality, more stylish.
To sum up, when you are at home, and you will causally take a look to the web read some stuff from engadget lets say, you won't open your notebook, because it's slower at these things and best usage is on a desk. You can just wake-up your ipad and get there in a couple of seconds. And it's much more fun with the multitouch interface.
Ipad is a notebook alternative at some stuff. Netbook isn't.
@Load Ran Millions of apps written for windows doesn't matter in this situation. Becasue Windows apps are not sutable for this situation. It's like traveling with SUV tyres on a sports car.
@Gokhan I have fat winter tyres on my sports car at the moment, and it still goes very well, thank you ((((:
I can have a quick look at engadget on my iphone, why do I need iPad for that!? And I can take the netbook on the road knowing I will be able to do all my actual work without carrying a big laptop (it will be a bit slower, I know, but it will work). Sorry, still can't see the point of owning an iPad to do anything useful.
@Marko
Turnabout is fair play. What can a netbook do that a notebook can't? It is a rhetorical question but one answer would probably including something about its size. The iPad will have virtually the same size screen as a typical netbook but at half the thickness. Performance of the iPad will be better than the typical netbook.
In some respects, the iPad is truer to the original intent of netbooks than the current netbooks are.
I believe that the iPad will either be a tremendous flop or a tremendous hit. I'd be surprised if it were simply "ok".
Netbooks aren't for everyone and neither will the iPad be. But just like anyone who is a zealot for one company or another, they'll dismiss the offerings of the competition until their favorite company does the same thing.
Zune fans ridiculed Apple for the proprietary nature of the iPod ecosystem, but as soon as MS offered a proprietary ecosystem (the Zune) THEN it was a good thing. The same was true for touchscreen interfaces on portable media players.
@schultz
The moment you said '5000 fart applications' you lost all credibility.
The same thing about touch v. physical keyboard was made when the iphone was released. Yeah. if you compare the ipad v. netbook arguments being made today - they were 'exactly' the same as the iphone v. traditional smartphones at the time arguments. The iphone didn't have any feature that windows mobile or palm or RIM or Symbian phones did not have...and was missing many features...including a physical keyboard. Yet...history now proves that all those 'geeks' were wrong. I bet when the App store was announced, folks like you only say a store with 'fart apps'.
Guess what buddy. The jokes on you. LOL.
@Load Ran
The problem with "app" numbers is it includes stuff that would not be considered a single application on any other platform. This includes website content, books and stuff that would be part of some larger compilation or program.
@sracer "What can a netbook do that a notebook can't?"
though the question was rhetorical you missed a key point in your argument is cost. maybe the ipad is truer to the original intent of the netbook(this is also arguable) but its misses the cost variable by quite a bit. a netbook has many more easy to access features than the ipad(my personal favorite is multitasking). and although a notebook would blow away any netbook in performance it still would cost twice as much or more. for any average student a netbook is perfect for everyday needs. an ipad is just another expensive device that parents will get their kids so they can break it.
@The Madman Nada to all of the above unless you have 8 arms and 3 brains thank you very much.
@r3loaded
Exactly what I was thinking. My next portable computer buy will be an ASUS CULV notebook. I recently built a Core i7 machine, have an iPod Touch, and gave my desktop replacement 16-inch notebook to my girlfriend. After bringing my iPod Touch around without a notebook, I realized I need those USB ports and full functionality of a PC when I travel around.
@mtnDewFTW
Hello sir I just dropped in to tell you that my HP Mini has a brushed aluminium shell! I am looking at it now! So, anyway, just thought you might like to know you are wrong.
@Marko The iPad is perfect for people who have desktops, like me.
I love my iMac, and I HATE having 2 computers at the same time. Because the music libraries get all mixed up, and the software, etc. Point is, I don't need 2 computers, that's why I recently retired my MBP.
So, the iPad is PERFECT for me. Because I can have basically a computer that I can sync up with my iMac and then take it anywhere I want. In that sense, it's good for me. But, I can see why many people wouldn't like the iPad, since so many people already have laptops and netbooks