13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings

What? You can use itunes with your ipad? Good for you buddy.

I also transfer files using my phone and USB. Everybody, except poor ipad suckers, have USB. But I also have a job and don't just sit around on my couch talking about how I have an ipad on my couch, a kindle on my toilet, a netbook on the stairs, a laptop in my car, and never seems to reach any point even with all that typing.

What is the ipad for? What is it for? Controlling personalized HTPC setups? Yeah, right. Glad that works for you, I just use a wireless keyboard/trackball and a remote control.

You know, I could have sworn it was USB that I was using to talk to my iPhone and iPad. Yeah, the connector is different on the device end, but ALL that changes is what cable I use, not what I can do with the device.

USB on the DEVICE is only REALLY interesting if it lets you connect to OTHER PERIPHERALS.

Fair point, that I already conceded, on the fact that I cannot transfer arbitrary files to the device over USB. I can do it over WiFi or the internet though, and don't even need to be at my PC to do it. I can print wirelessly to, though I do not ever see needing to do that from an iPhone or iPad.

I explained what I used my iPad for. It's a nicer interface to things that, yes I can do with other devices - but that are more convenient and/or richer from the iPad. I do not expect my needs or desires (or my budget) to be the same as everyone elses.

I don't use an HTPC at ALL.

I have a series of Tivo devices, all controlled from the iPhone/iPad. I have a house-wide Sonos system, all controlled from the iPhone/iPad. I have a Linn DS as part of my primary music system, and that is also controlled from my iPhone/iPad. I can drive my music system, especially when I have guests, without having to sit with a keyboard and a trackball.

Currently guests in my home can change what they watch or listen to in their rooms using iPod touches that are present in each bedroom. A couple of those rooms have iMacs (running Windows 7) in so they can browse and read their email, Facebook etc. with. I may well repurpose those machines and put iPads there instead.

I work too ;)
 
The iPad will change the way we use our MINDS man. Clearly this product is too good for people bound by flesh and bone. Release yourselves from your corporeal bindings and become pure energy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
This is all a great number people want from this device. If the HP Slate works well with a REAL digital pen and OneNote HP won't be able to make enough of them.

OneNote is, at least from my perspective, the first real killer-app for these devices.

No matter what else they are capable of, as long as they run OneNote well, the first to market with a suitably performant device will be something I purchase immediately.

I don't care about any other application on a Windows 7 tablet - though those are deal-sweeteners for sure - if you do it well enough that OneNote doesn't require me to lug a 4.5lb device around then you have a sale here.

Hell, if the iPad supported pen input then I'd sit down and divert my app-writing activities to producing a viable OneNote clone for it. And while I think if you have to choose between pen and touch input for the mass-market then touch is the way to go, I DO think Apple have missed an opportunity here.
 
MSNBC has taken the iPad around the block a few times and came up with a list of glaring iPad shortcomings that people should probably be aware of before plunking down all that cash.

"The Kindle is a better e-reader. Frankly, we're not sure what need the iPad fills, other than the desire to be cool by owning a device that is in a class all its own."

The Special Ed class.
 
At Apple? :p

LOL ... no, not at Apple :)

But I see where you're coming from ;)

I did work at Microsoft for 8+ years, most recently as a principal architect in the Office group. I went back to working at start-ups a couple of years ago - Microsoft was stagnating horribly. I am talking to some people in building 31 (significant to this discussion if you know anything about MS) about possibly going back though.

That majority of my hardware is not Apple, it's self-built PCs. For my "work" machines however I've leant towards the Mac Pro (running Windows 7). I only have three dedicated OS X machines: 1x MacBook Pro, 1x Mac Pro and 1x iMac. Everything else is Windows 7 or Server 2008 ... and Windows is where I make the vast majority of my income.

Even on my "guest room" machines, I put Windows 7 on, since most of my guests are just more familiar with Windows (OS X is still there if they want it, but I use bootcamp and leave them running Windows.
 
my 2cents

I've played with one and I liked it, it was easy to use ran smoothly and had a lot of good apps and fun games. I'm not going to defend it's short comings and I certainly won't buy one for the price they are asking.
 
FTA:

It's thin and sleek and not like any other gadget out there.

I'm sorry, what?

How is it not like:

-Tablets that are already out
-Tablet laptops (turn around screen with touch and stylus capabilities)
-E-readers
-Archos Internet Media Tablets (specifically)
-iPod Touch

Yay another website where I stopped reading after the first paragraph because they clearly do not have a broad exposure to products...
 
OneNote is, at least from my perspective, the first real killer-app for these devices.

No matter what else they are capable of, as long as they run OneNote well, the first to market with a suitably performant device will be something I purchase immediately.

I don't care about any other application on a Windows 7 tablet - though those are deal-sweeteners for sure - if you do it well enough that OneNote doesn't require me to lug a 4.5lb device around then you have a sale here.

Hell, if the iPad supported pen input then I'd sit down and divert my app-writing activities to producing a viable OneNote clone for it. And while I think if you have to choose between pen and touch input for the mass-market then touch is the way to go, I DO think Apple have missed an opportunity here.

Think about the functions of a device like the iPad. Games, everyone already has plenty of and better gaming devices. Web browsing, once again been there done that with better devices, even smaller devices. Media consumption? We've got eReaders, PC, laptops, etc.

But a device this size, hell any size with a REAL pen that takes notes? Simply doesn't exist, not at $600 and not well marketed and not with OneNote. This is UNIQUE in a way that's beyond the value of a million crap apps.
 
You probably should omit that from the resume. ;)

LOL! :)

That really did make me laugh!

I left Microsoft, and Office, for a reason ... ;)

That said, the employment power of being part of building and shipping the second most widely used piece of software on PCs is very hard to overstate. People come to me with offers. The relocation and salary package offers are nothing less than insane (I just love WA, very close to how my home is). And companies create positions to hire you.
 
Think about the functions of a device like the iPad. Games, everyone already has plenty of and better gaming devices. Web browsing, once again been there done that with better devices, even smaller devices. Media consumption? We've got eReaders, PC, laptops, etc.

But a device this size, hell any size with a REAL pen that takes notes? Simply doesn't exist, not at $600 and not well marketed and not with OneNote. This is UNIQUE in a way that's beyond the value of a million crap apps.

A device that takes notes is not something Apple would make. They are in the business of mass market, not niche market.

And yea, to most of us, that's a pretty useless function. I can type notes on a Laptop or Notebook.
 
Think about the functions of a device like the iPad. Games, everyone already has plenty of and better gaming devices. Web browsing, once again been there done that with better devices, even smaller devices. Media consumption? We've got eReaders, PC, laptops, etc.

But a device this size, hell any size with a REAL pen that takes notes? Simply doesn't exist, not at $600 and not well marketed and not with OneNote. This is UNIQUE in a way that's beyond the value of a million crap apps.

You know I'm agreeing with you, right? ;)

Except on the "any size" part. 4.5lb devices are more than I am willing to carry around even for OneNote. At 1.5lbs, hell, I'm SO there.

OneNote, no matter how I get it, on a lightweight and easily portable device with all-day battery life is something I have wanted since the bleedin' Toshiba M200.
 
A device that takes notes is not something Apple would make. They are in the business of mass market, not niche market.

And yea, to most of us, that's a pretty useless function. I can type notes on a Laptop or Notebook.

Sure you can, but you can't leverage the real power of OneNote without a pen.

If you don't work in a capacity where OneNote is something you think of as a necessity, then I get the disconnect - it's hard to put into words.

HP Slate (or whatever works efficiently in a simlar form factor - dont' really care) + One Note = Sale!
 
You know I'm agreeing with you, right? ;)

Except on the "any size" part. 4.5lb devices are more than I am willing to carry around even for OneNote. At 1.5lbs, hell, I'm SO there.

OneNote, no matter how I get it, on a lightweight and easily portable device with all-day battery life is something I have wanted since the bleedin' Toshiba M200.

I know, maybe I didn't come across right. I was just pointing out unique the HP Slate would be if it did indeed work like we're hoping.
 
I know, maybe I didn't come across right. I was just pointing out unique the HP Slate would be if it did indeed work like we're hoping.

No worries :)

I sit thinking about all-day non-luggable OneNote w/ pen-input, wireless projector support and my typical design sessions ...

We do this now, with TPCs, I just don't want to carry them outside that capacity - yet I'd definitely use the hell out of it if it was smaller/lighter.
 
Except on the "any size" part. 4.5lb devices are more than I am willing to carry around even for OneNote. At 1.5lbs, hell, I'm SO there.

A 4.5 lbs device that's got a keyboard, plays games, has HDMI out, runs all of my tools just like a desktop AND has a digital pen. Got NO problem with something no heavier than a hardback book. In fact I'd probably carry my tm2 and Slate in my laptop bag all the time.

But for out and about trips to the store where I'd just want a web browser and jotting, I'd take the Slate.
 
How am I wrong?

The article raises perfectly valid issues with the iPad (I've not disputed that once). They just happen to be issues common to other devices of that nature as well.

Sounds more like your position is based on a different argument than anything else.
your reply comes across as very fanboi-ish.. Are you really Steven Jobs or something? :)
 
A 4.5 lbs device that's got a keyboard, plays games, has HDMI out, runs all of my tools just like a desktop AND has a digital pen. Got NO problem with something no heavier than a hardback book. In fact I'd probably carry my tm2 and Slate in my laptop bag all the time.

But for out and about trips to the store where I'd just want a web browser and jotting, I'd take the Slate.

Sadly there is no 4.5lb device (TPC or otherwise), that runs my personal tools even close to like a desktop. If there was, I'd have one (or two) :)

I don't play PC games at all ... that became far too much trouble for me a good while ago. HDMI out I have no use for, I cannot ever see plugging any of my portable devices into a TV ... those are all hooked up for direct streaming in other ways.

I don't think you can beat the general utility of a TPC ... just my "PC" needs go so far beyond what currently models are worth I tend to fall into the "media device" or "desktop PC" camp. My MacBook Pro is a necessity for coding or serious photography work in the field.
 
I know you may not realize it...but almost a quarter of the 57 posts in this thread are yours. :eek:

My bad ... I thought the point of such threads were for discussion.

Color me stupid for addressing issues relating to a divergence from the posted article's contents and the general, apparently frowned-upon, trend here to divert threads into alternative discussions.

Easily remedied.
 
This thread looks much different with Torq on ignore.

Now can anyone come up with any reason, except to run a personally customized HTPC setup, to purchase an ipad? Is this thing really just a ridiculously expensive remote control for the very few who would waste this much money on said remote?

:confused:

Even my mac loving friends can't figure out what the ipad is for.
 
Sadly there is no 4.5lb device (TPC or otherwise), that runs my personal tools even close to like a desktop. If there was, I'd have one (or two) :)

What tools do you use? I run pretty much everything on my tm2, Visual Studio, Office, ripping and small encoding jobs, HD playback and everything runs great. I don't do Photoshop but other tm2 owners tell me it runs great. Can even do light video editing but that just works better on larger screens anyway.

A tm2 can be a desktop replacement for tons of folks.
 
Nice try but no. Maybe half but not 9 out of 10.

1. Awkward
2. Heavy. Very unlikely that anyone's tablet will be 10 ounces.
3. Possibly slippery. If they choose metal as well, it may well be.
4. Very likely that the screen will be glossy since that's the style currently
5. Hard to read in the sun is a natural LCD issue, especially compared to epaper
6. If its glossy, its going to be a fingerprint magnet
7. Tablets are likely going to have virtual keyboards. or its going to be huge.
8. Most of the tablets announced are around $500-600 range
9. No one has stated what if anything tablet computers will replace. And with the announced ones mostly being atom based they probably don't have the power to replace a desktop or laptop.
 
Slippery? Really?

That's a big issue I have with my iphone and I know I'm not alone with that issue. Everyone I know with one hates how slick it is and puts a big protective case on it which helps but then again, that defeats the purpose of having a sleek device.
 
What tools do you use? I run pretty much everything on my tm2, Visual Studio, Office, ripping and small encoding jobs, HD playback and everything runs great. I don't do Photoshop but other tm2 owners tell me it runs great. Can even do light video editing but that just works better on larger screens anyway.

A tm2 can be a desktop replacement for tons of folks.

It doesn't run OS X AND Windows is an issue, for ME but to answer your question ...

Logic Pro, Visual Studio (14 million line code-builds), PhotoShop CS4/Lightroom w/ 18MP images, XCode, Final Cut.

Absolutely a tm2 can replace the desktop for some professional use, I am not arguing that. It just doesn't come close to my needs. A double-performance higher-resolution MBP is borderline at BEST for me. Not a tm2 criticism, just a reality.

I'm a music nut more than video, so HD video is a minor point for me - even at home.
 
My bad ... I thought the point of such threads were for discussion.

Color me stupid for addressing issues relating to a divergence from the posted article's contents and the general, apparently frowned-upon, trend here to divert threads into alternative discussions.

Easily remedied.

Don't go getting all offended there Captain iPad, you know exactly what I meant and what others are saying....you are single handedly debating every person in the thread. :(
 
Don't go getting all offended there Captain iPad, you know exactly what I meant and what others are saying....you are single handedly debating every person in the thread. :(

No, I didn't know what you meant at all.

"Captain iPad" ... how's that not meant to be offensive?

I debate on facts ... I've conceded or left unchallenged EVERY point of opinion (or stated it as such) and every point of fact that is against the iPad.

I'm either not going to comment, or I'm going to address blatant mis/cross information. I don't much care which. If sticking to facts, and acknowleding opinion where that's what it is, is the wrong way to be here, then I've spent 3.7 years on the wrong site.
 
I don't even know what you guys are talking about on this page of the comments.. i thought it started out as a topic about how the iPad sucked...
 
I don't even know what you guys are talking about on this page of the comments.. i thought it started out as a topic about how the iPad sucked...

I think the most damning thing you can say about it is when you look at the purchase economically. Instead of an Ipad you can get any number of alternate devices to fulfill the same requirements for less money. And these alternates will do a better job. Basically the Ipad is just another Apple product. Unless you want to use one for a slick, custom remote control for your kick-ass homemade HTPC system there really doesn't seem to be an actual use for this device.
 
Or the biggest freakin GPS on the planet?

iPad-coche.jpg
 
1. It's awkward

ok, by making that the first point, they set the tone of the article to being "i dont like tablets"

2. It's heavy

1.5 pounds is heavy? lol lay of the mcdonalds, go to the gym twice a week and i promise, nothing 1.5 pounds in weight will seem heavy. ./facepalm

3. It's slippery

maybe if you eat too much mcdonalds. see #2

4. The screen has too much glare

ips displays mostly have glossy screens. thats a ford chevy issue but for the most part, i think everyone here on the [H] love ips displays.

5. Forget reading in the sun

i have to totally disagree on this one. i tested this myself by walking to our community mailboxes at around 12 noon here in southern california. i hung out at the mailboxes for a few mins reading the first chapter of neuromancer by william gibson. sure, it wasnt as clear as it was inside, but it was totally readable for me.

6. Fingerprints are annoying

Again, lay off the mcdonalds. this goes for any touch screen device. if you eat that much crap to make your fingers that greasy, get a screen protector. personally, i dont have any problems with fingerprints and numerous people have used my ipad at school checking it out.

7. It does not multitask

1st party apps multitask, 3rd party apps dont.

8. The browser is limited

his main argument here is the browser doesnt have flash. i fall into the camp of people that dont see a problem with that. an open standard is a better thing to support than a closed standard. but more importantly, the sites I personally visit every day, havent seen any issues by not having flash. I just dont notice the lack of it.

9. The virtual keyboard stinks

The on screen keyboard is nice for a touch screen keyboard. seriously, if you dont like the on screen keyboard here, you just dont like on screen typing on anything. its the best touch screen typing experience out there. the authors went on to say even typing on a paired keyboard is "awkward" because of the lack of a mouse. again, i think this reinforces my original point. the authors clearly dont like tablets of any kind.

10. There's no USB port

usb requires more power than the tablet could provide. it would have to be able to support usb devices that need power. Theres no way youre going to get this kind of battery life with a usb port. personally i think this point shows how little the authors understand computers and clearly shouldnt have written the article. funny, upon investigation, it turns out neither of the authors are tech bloggers. they normally write for live science. if i need to save something, theres gmail, theres tons of sites "in the cloud" i can go to in order to save stuff, in or out.

11. iPhone-only apps look horrible

they claim "What the company doesn't tell you is that when enlarged to fit on the iPad's screen". bs, jobs was clear about it in the keynote. its been covered in the press numerous times. people in the apple store are clear about it. iphone apps are iphone apps. i just dont give much credence to this criticism at this point. theres some fantastic iphone apps out there. developers have been able to achieve some amazing things. marginalizing all those great apps written by all those great 3rd party developers probably wasnt the best thing to do for their tech writing careers either.

12. The price is just too high

it costs the same as the joojoo and if you look at the tablets coming out, they will all be around the same price point and furthermore. compared to whats out there today, i.e. the joojoo, what you get from the iPad blows away what they managed to do with the joojoo ( anyone that wants to call me on this should watch the engadget review here first. http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/05/fusion-garage-joojoo-review/ )

13. It doesn't replace anything

Again this point shows the authors clearly dont understand tablets. tablets arent supposed to replace anything. every company making one, and every pundit excited about tablets all overwhelmingly agree, tablets are a NEW category that sit inbetween laptop and smartphone. they are designed for a lean back experience. laptops are a lean forward experience, and smartphones are an in transit experience.

if kyle reviewed one for a week, id listen to his criticisms even if i didnt agree with some of them. if anand reviewed one, id listen as well. but these jokers have clearly shown a) they dont like tablets and b) clearly dont understand technology.
 
If you are unable to understand what is being said, you need to take a step back from the thread.

Maybe you should be explicit with what is being said, instead of being vague and then adding meaning-specific qualifiers and insults later?

I asked you privately to close my account, now I am asking you publically.

If straight, frank, fact-based discussion is an issue here, then I see no reason to remain.

I don't see you publically going after the name-callers that are, supposedly, unwelcome per your various posting requirements.

I won't be posting or visiting again, please delete my account.
 
It's not about it being heavy in relation to other things like weights. Not that your 'lay off the McDonald's remarks weren't the high point of comedic genius. :rolleyes: 1.5 lbs can be uncomfortable for any length of time depending on how it's held. This actually needs an explanation?
 
It's not about it being heavy in relation to other things like weights. Not that your 'lay off the McDonald's remarks weren't the high point of comedic genius. :rolleyes: 1.5 lbs can be uncomfortable for any length of time depending on how it's held. This actually needs an explanation?

i have to disagree. i think anyone that thinks 1.5 pounds is heavy is lazy and out of shape. period.
 
Finally, an iPad review that doesn't sound like it was written with the author's lips around Steve Job's ****.
 
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