Apple iPad

Call me names ("fan-boy"), but I love Apple products. Apple released it's iPad today, and even though it's basically a bigger, better iPhone, I have to admit, I'm going to start paying more attention to the adventure games that become available for the mobile operating system shared by these devices. Has anyone played Broken Sword on the iPhone before? Any titles you would like to see become available?
«1

Comments

  • edited January 2010
    Call me names ("fan-boy"), but I love Apple products.

    You lost me there, dude.
  • edited January 2010
    ipods having been the only apple products I've used thus far, I really, really... Well, let's just say they were responsible for raising my blood pressure, figuratively speaking, so I had to vow to never use those again.

    Their phones sound pretty cool though, but having never used one myself, I can't make proper judgment.
  • edited January 2010
    The iPad makes me think of someone from Boston trying to pronounce "iPod." I can't wait to see what it's like when people try to order it.
  • edited January 2010
    The iPad makes me think of someone from Boston trying to pronounce "iPod." I can't wait to see what it's like when people try to order it.

    I've been shown that iPad made some think of THIS;

    http://failblog.org/2010/01/27/name-fail-photoshop-win/

    Now I can't think of anything else when I hear the word.
  • edited January 2010
    Falanca wrote: »
    I've been shown that iPad made some think of THIS;

    http://failblog.org/2010/01/27/name-fail-photoshop-win/

    Now I can't think of anything else when I hear the word.

    People really aren't being funny when they make tampon jokes, they're just showing how immature they are.

    Anyway, the apple iPad looks amazing. It will revolutionize movie-watching on-the-go, and shut up the old people who say "I can't watch a movie on a screen this small!". Also, the fact that it's compatible with iPhone/iTouch apps just closed the deal for me.
  • edited January 2010
    In the end what separates a man from an Apple fanboy? Money? Power? No. A man chooses, an Apple fanboi BUYS EVERYTHING WITH AN APPLE LOGO ON. FANBOY! FAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    *ahem* Sorry.
  • edited January 2010
    I'm not sure I understand the point of the device, to be honest. The iPhone and the iPod Touch are amazing products because they store that functionality in such a small space. When you make the thing that big, I just don't see a reason for the thing to exist in its own right. Am I crazy for thinking that I'd much rather have an ereader, or an iPod Touch, or a nice laptop? And the cost of the thing is so prohibitive.

    I don't get it. Why do we want a big iPod Touch? Am I missing something here?
  • edited January 2010
    Well, like I said in the OP, I think adventure games could eventually benefit, so that's one positive. Also, I don't think $499 is unreasonable, why do you?
  • edited January 2010
    Well, like I said in the OP, I think adventure games could eventually benefit, so that's one positive. Also, I don't think $499 is unreasonable, why do you?
    For $499 you're getting what is essentially their "Bare bones" model, 16 GB of storage and WiFi alone, no 3G. So we're talking a device about the size of a normal laptop or netbook, with a price higher than that most consumer laptops and netbooks, and with less functionality than these products that are half the thing's cost.

    Your average laptop or netbook can multitask. It can utilize Flash. A normal laptop or netbook is open to whatever software you want to buy and install from anywhere, not just the manufacturer's application store. Most laptops and netbooks have this functionality without buying an extra adapter that costs more money.

    Apple's system for the iPhone and the iPod Touch can live and thrive in the environment of the pocket-sized devices. But I just can't see how it can double the price, make the thing far bigger(removing a huge benefit of its elder brethren), and think this is a new product that people will adopt in droves. I don't really need to think about why it's not overpriced, I'd like someone to tell me why it's not overpriced.
  • edited January 2010
    If its anything like my ipod it will break a day after its warranty...
  • edited January 2010
    One thing I really don't get is: The device isn't HD, thus won't support HD movies from itunes natively, not only that but he also has a dig at netbooks, which are not only cheaper, support HD, but also more powerful. I really don't see their being a large market for the ipad (urgh, is it really called that?). The thing itself is really ugly, which is completely against the apparent Apple mantra of style.

    So yeah, I guess I don't like it.
  • edited January 2010
    This thing looks too fragile. All it is is a bigger and square version of an iPhone. It may not be bad, but I wouldn't want to spend $499 on that.
  • edited January 2010
    I think it seems pretty cool, it is over priced.... 700$ for that is not really affordable, might as well buy a laptop.... I still want one.... So cool.... *drools*

    *edit*
    You also have to keep in mind that when you buy apple stuff you pay a lot for the design. If that fits you then get apple, if you don't care if it looks ugly or bulky get an other brand, in general on apples products :)
  • edited January 2010
    patters wrote: »
    One thing I really don't get is: The device isn't HD, thus won't support HD movies from itunes natively, not only that but he also has a dig at netbooks, which are not only cheaper, support HD, but also more powerful. I really don't see their being a large market for the ipad (urgh, is it really called that?). The thing itself is really ugly, which is completely against the apparent Apple mantra of style.

    So yeah, I guess I don't like it.

    The screen is small enough for HD not to make that much of a difference, altough that's just an assumption on my part. I kinda like the look of this, sure netbooks may be cheaper, and I haven't read any specs for the iPad yet - but I'm interested in this, simply because of the touchscreen and functionality of the iPhone. It's not something I drag around at all times of course, like I would with an iPhone, but it'll be great as an alternative to a laptop/netbook. It's gonna need some huge screen-protecters though, I don't want a screen full of scratches. And I'm not looking forward to putting those on, without having airbubbles all over the place. :D
  • edited January 2010
    How is it competition for netbooks? For the price of the cheapest iPad I could get this netbook from Asus, which is twice as heavy, but has a bigger screen, three USB ports, one VGA and one HDMI as opposed to none; has a bigger screen, 250 GB HDD instead of 16, webcam and a full sized keyboard.

    Why would I buy the iPad over that?
  • edited January 2010
    StarEye wrote: »
    The screen is small enough for HD not to make that much of a difference, altough that's just an assumption on my part. I kinda like the look of this, sure netbooks may be cheaper, and I haven't read any specs for the iPad yet - but I'm interested in this, simply because of the touchscreen and functionality of the iPhone. It's not something I drag around at all times of course, like I would with an iPhone, but it'll be great as an alternative to a laptop/netbook. It's gonna need some huge screen-protecters though, I don't want a screen full of scratches. And I'm not looking forward to putting those on, without having airbubbles all over the place. :D

    My point is that having 2 copies of a video (1 HD 1 SD) on your main machine to transfer the tablet, is ridiculous, downscaling wouldn't be worth doing as it always looks terrible. I'm also very surprised it's 4:3, if it's supposed to have videos watched on it then it should at least be 16:10.

    I could see it being a fantastic tool for image manipulation, though not better than a dedicated drawing tablet.
  • edited January 2010
    I think poeple whoare comparing to a laptop are missing the point. It's a bridge between a smartphone and a laptop. I have an iPod Touch and a netbook and as far as I can tell the iPad can do everything I use either for in the home.

    It won't try to replace laptops - it's a consumer device, not intended for professional applications.
  • edited January 2010
    Well, I think we can agree that it will be a fantastic platform for ScummVM (there's already an iPhone version, isn't there, so it will work from day one - although I assume it needs to be hacked first).
  • edited January 2010
    I think the only point of the iPad is to look Sci-Fi. Seriously, you could be like Picard who sits on his desk, working on some screen without buttons! It’s the future dude!!

    But thats the only point I can think of.
  • edited January 2010
    I think poeple whoare comparing to a laptop are missing the point. It's a bridge between a smartphone and a laptop. I have an iPod Touch and a netbook and as far as I can tell the iPad can do everything I use either for in the home.

    It won't try to replace laptops - it's a consumer device, not intended for professional applications.

    What does that mean? Why would I want something that bridges the gap between a smart phone and a laptop? What's the advantage to a really big iPhone? Why is making something more cumbersome a positive?
  • edited January 2010
    Because it has an Apple logo on it so that means whoever owns one is in the club for cool people? :p
  • edited January 2010
    Lena_P wrote: »
    What does that mean? Why would I want something that bridges the gap between a smart phone and a laptop? What's the advantage to a really big iPhone? Why is making something more cumbersome a positive?
    Yep. It's just too big. People don't like carrying big things! I know I don't. It's one of the reasons why I have an iPod shuffle. (Well, and also because it's cheap. I hate expensive things that don't do all that much.) As has been said, a netbook is way more useful. Now, if they would take this touch-screen technology and put it in a working table, that is also coffee-stain proof... that would be something else. But even then I'd probably prefer an old-fashioned television set over such a table.
  • edited January 2010
    It won't try to replace laptops - it's a consumer device, not intended for professional applications.
    I have no idea what it means. Why are netbooks and laptops not "consumer devices"? What is the benefit to having a "consumer device" rather than a laptop or netbook?

    Because looking at the iPad, I see an iPhone. Now, the iPhone is a pretty good device, but this is mainly due to its portability. Having an "app for that" is half the equation, the other is "on the go". None/very few of the iPhone/iTouch apps are impressive when compared to a real computer's applications. Why they tossed a device perfectly suited to its environment, something that is actually impressive and a leader in its field into a market that it has no business competing in is baffling.

    It's a computer. An underpowered, locked-out computer with really poor specs for its price range. When I can look at this, and then get for the same price something that is by every landmark BETTER at doing the same things, I don't know how any change of definition or reclassification makes it have more value.
  • edited January 2010
    Haggis wrote: »
    Yep. It's just too big. People don't like carrying big things! I know I don't. It's one of the reasons why I have an iPod shuffle. (Well, and also because it's cheap. I hate expensive things that don't do all that much.) As has been said, a netbook is way more useful. Now, if they would take this touch-screen technology and put it in a working table, that is also coffee-stain proof... that would be something else. But even then I'd probably prefer an old-fashioned television set over such a table.

    the microsoft surface
  • edited January 2010
    Before people start bashing the iPad for not being useful, watch the keynote. The iPad has a version of iWork as good as the mac version. (which means its better than Microsoft Office)
  • edited January 2010
    Friar wrote: »
    So if you spill coffee on it, it won't break? Cool. Of course, it shouldn't use too much energy, then this might be interesting... imagine playing a board game that you don't actually physically own, or something. Or read the newspaper, or look at pictures... no more need for coffee table books!
    natlinxz wrote: »
    Before people start bashing the iPad for not being useful, watch the keynote. The iPad has a version of iWork as good as the mac version. (which means its better than Microsoft Office)
    Yes, but... you'd need a keyboard to use that, right? So... then it's like a netbook, but bigger.
  • edited January 2010
    Haggis wrote: »
    So if you spill coffee on it, it won't break? Cool. Of course, it shouldn't use too much energy, then this might be interesting... imagine playing a board game that you don't actually physically own, or something. Or read the newspaper, or look at pictures... no more need for coffee table books!


    Yes, but... you'd need a keyboard to use that, right? So... then it's like a netbook, but bigger.

    Er, iPad and iPhone uses digital keyboards. Touchscreen, remember.
  • edited January 2010
    StarEye wrote: »
    Er, iPad and iPhone uses digital keyboards. Touchscreen, remember.

    People don't like writing for extended periods with a touch screen, you don't have the tactile feedback of keys or a pen.
  • edited January 2010
    natlinxz wrote: »
    Before people start bashing the iPad for not being useful, watch the keynote. The iPad has a version of iWork as good as the mac version. (which means its better than Microsoft Office)
    So now we're looking at office suites and productivity. Alright...

    -We can buy a normal netbook and Office 2007 for less than the hardware of the iPad alone. Remember that the netbook has superior hardware and a far larger hard drive. And that's buying Office 2007 and the netbook at suggested retail price, which is a bad idea.

    ((Personally, I'm waiting for the release of Office 2010 before I buy another license for MS Office. One of my computers is running the 2010 beta, and 25 GB of cloud storage for files is a godsend))

    -The iPad will have an inferior system for entering large amounts of written data, as it doesn't have a keyboard(without an unspecified extra cost). Nobody is going to use a touchpad as quickly as a keyboard, unless they spend their data entry time staring at the keyboard.

    -Sadly enough, most places use Microsoft Office. Compatibility is a bitch. iWork is somewhat compatible with Office files, but not completely. And it's going to be when you have a project due the next morning and you're trying to open a file at midnight that the thing will tell you that the specific formatting your boss/colleague/professor/fellow student used is not going to be accepted here.

    -The thing can't multi-task! For the practical working sort, this means a lot of lost productivity. A netbook can do multitasking.


    The iPad may marginally win if equipped with 3G, but we have to consider the extra cost for that functionality. When you add up the cost of getting the platform to do what a netbook does and then add the 3G, is it really comparable to adding 3G to a netbook? I don't think it is.

    -Apparently you didn't watch the keynote closely enough. I'm pretty sure the iWork apps are $10 apiece. Granted, this is a good deal cheaper than the MS Office software, but as mentioned above you're already above the point where you're paying anything reasonable for what this device can do.
  • edited January 2010
    I don't get all the fuss about this bloody thing, as already noted it just looks like a giant iPhone. I'd much rather have a laptop with an actual keyboard than have to 'type' with a touchscreen, plus I'd imagine that the screen of the iPad will be more vulnerable to damage what with it being permanently exposed. Not to mention that it'll most likely cost way more than your average laptop because it's got the bloody Apple logo on it and rounded edges.

    Then again, since I don't like Apple in general, I'm pretty biased.
  • edited January 2010
    The ibookstore has me interested, but i think that looking at the screen for hours on end will lead to me developing the patented iStrain. (sorry!)
  • edited January 2010
    Ash735 wrote: »
    Because it has an Apple logo on it so that means whoever owns one is in the club for cool people? :p

    No. It's the club for gullible people who think that spending more money makes them cooler.

    Seriously! Can't you just get an iPhone for $300? I mean, even that's too expensive!
  • edited January 2010
    patters wrote: »
    People don't like writing for extended periods with a touch screen, you don't have the tactile feedback of keys or a pen.
    Yeah, this. Also, it's ergonomically awkward; I already have problems with my netbook keyboard (I can never find that stupid right Shift key with my pink). I can't see myself typing on a touch screen for extended periods. Unless they do handwriting recognition really well, tables are useless for writing.
  • edited January 2010
    Friar wrote: »
    The ibookstore has me interested, but i think that looking at the screen for hours on end will lead to me developing the patented iStrain. (sorry!)
    I'd much rather go for an Amazon Kindle or the Barnes & Noble Nook for reading books. The e-ink screens are just beautiful to look at, just like looking at paper. But I'm waiting for the refresh rate on them to go up, and maybe for the price to go down, or maybe for color e-ink to be implemented which would make magazine subscriptions a good deal better on the thing.
  • edited January 2010
    I don't get it myself, but everyone who got their hands on it gushed about it (Stephen Fry shamelesly so) maybe it's just cos those attending were the Apple hardcore. Apparently it's gonna be great for games, but i'm still confused about it all.

    Steve Jobs presentation of it was REALLY dissapointing, he just didn't seem excited about it at all, maybe it's his health or maybe he deep down thinks it's just a massive iPhone
  • edited January 2010
    I'd much rather go for an Amazon Kindle or the Barnes & Noble Nook for reading books. The e-ink screens are just beautiful to look at, just like looking at paper. But I'm waiting for the refresh rate on them to go up, and maybe for the price to go down, or maybe for color e-ink to be implemented which would make magazine subscriptions a good deal better on the thing.

    I'm not sure colour e-ink is possible. Well, it is, but it would be monotone. From what i understand of e-ink is that it works a bit like an etch-a-sketch, only with kindle co-ordinating the distribution of charge on the screen (and hence where the ink substitute is attracted and sticks to)
  • edited January 2010
    Haggis wrote: »
    Yeah, this. Also, it's ergonomically awkward; I already have problems with my netbook keyboard (I can never find that stupid right Shift key with my pink). I can't see myself typing on a touch screen for extended periods. Unless they do handwriting recognition really well, tables are useless for writing.

    Even if they get handwriting recognition right, it doesn't feel right, writing on glass. As someone who primarily uses fountain pens I know being able to feel the paper through the pen is a very important thing.
  • edited January 2010
    patters wrote: »
    Even if they get handwriting recognition right, it doesn't feel right, writing on glass. As someone who primarily uses fountain pens I know being able to feel the paper through the pen is a very important thing.

    I know what you mean. The screen is usually far too rigid. Paper usually has the right amount of bounce.
  • edited January 2010
    Friar wrote: »
    I'm not sure colour e-ink is possible. Well, it is, but it would be monotone. From what i understand of e-ink is that it works a bit like an etch-a-sketch, only with kindle co-ordinating the distribution of charge on the screen (and hence where the ink substitute is attracted and sticks to)
    Ah, but you'd be wrong. I have no idea how they do it, but it is being done, and has been worked on since 2005. The problem with it, for now, is cost, and of course the inherent drawbacks of an e-ink screen.
Sign in to comment in this discussion.