My uninformed iPad review
Full disclosure. I’ve not seen an iPad yet. But I’ve used my son’s iPod Touch on occasion, given what I’ve read and heard second-hand from people who have, the iPad, in it’s current incarnation is nothing but an iPod that won’t fit in your pocket.
That being said - In the world of personal computing, Apple still has a small percentage in terms of market share. 10%. And I’m not talking about just the computers, that’s INCLUDING the iPhone. **Source NetMARKETSHARE (http://www.tuaw.com/)
Add that to Apples absolutely STUPID refusal to support Flash on ANY of their devices (rendering sites like Hulu.com completely unusable) and it’s the Betamax all over again.
I love the Apple OS, I think that if there was a version of Snow Leopard that would run on readily available hardware I’d probably jump at it - (I’m an Ubuntu user on my laptop, Windows on my Desktop) – however I don’t see that happening, because Apple uses it’s software to guarantee hardware sales. (My only other problem with it is I have a few applications that still require the use of a serial cable, apples still have no serial port)
Which brings us to the biggest problem with the iPad, the iPhone, and Apple in general is the vendor lock-in that goes with any of these products. Most people don’t like lock-in, it’s the same complaint I heard recently about the Kindle. The biggest complaint about the iPhone/iTouch/iPad, etc I’ve heard is the fact that you can almost not get a single application through anyone but Apple. Yes other vendors can submit applications for the i<device> but it remains to be approved by apple and apple doesn’t approve new apps lightly.
And then, once you’ve bought your app, you’re hooked, because you can’t transport those applications to another platform.
Which is exactly where Apple wants you to be. Beholden to them.
The main benefit to the HP Slate, and the Dell versions that are undoubtedly soon-to-be-announced, is this.
If I decide I don’t like my HP, I can take my applications to the next platform. I’ve already paid for them, why shouldn’t I?
Portability and availability are the things that HP and others will offer that Apple can’t, or won’t.
Just my .02 cents
2 Comments
My Pictures
I appreciate the optimism of the way you write “apples STILL have to serial port” (emphasis mine), as if they might someday have one. In fact, Apple is notorious for deciding what technology is on its way out (Flash, Firewire, etc.) and simply ceasing to support it. Since serial ports haven’t been seen on Macs since I don’t know when, I think it’s safe to say they never will.
Many people who buy Apple products (and I count myself among them) don’t mind being locked in to a single vendor, as long as that vendor gives us what we want. And, for the most part, Apple does. It’s akin to a benevolent dictatorship. If you can count on the benevolent part, there’s really nothing better.
.-= Michael´s last blog ..why i run =-.
I’ve *NEVER* seen an Apple with a serial port that I can recall, and certainly not the newer ones. Now yes, they all have USB, and there are about a billion USB-to-Serial converters on the market, but not a damn one of them is worth a damn, I know, I have about six floating around my office because the idiots who bought our new work laptops bought HP’s that don’t have a serial port.
Again – like anything, Apples have their niche. They’re great for graphics and art and are extremely easy to use. But when it comes to hooking up a management cable to a Cisco network switch to figure out why it’s not responding via IP, Apples just don’t cut it.
And I think you’d rather the people in charge of keeping your internet connection up not have to deal with a flaky USB converter if they don’t have to.