Quote: Originally posted by nilkn
I have considered, though, whether it would be a good device for my grandparents who have just been unable to learn to use a laptop. Maybe it could provide them with a sufficiently easy-to-use interface to the web and various simple forms of multimedia so that they could actually make use of it.

I think this ^^^ is exactly the point of the iPad. It doesn't make sense to most of us on here because we are computer-savvy -- why would we spend the money when we could do so much more with something else?

There's a whole world of people out there who don't know computers very well. This is fine, people focus their energies on differing interests. But even people who aren't very skilled with computers have needs/desires that computer devices can fill, but 1: are unsure what to buy and 2: want to avoid needing to constantly pester someone (like us) to help them when things go wrong. Apple takes care of this for them (1: Buy an iPad. 2: It's a simplified computer.).

We are not their market (as consumers).

One thing I think about all this, is why isnt there any decent competition. Its not like apples tactics are alien or difficult to copy, and with the way they like to kick themselves in the balls it shouldnt be hard to push ahead of them.

Here's the advertising slogan for free.

"Like Apple But Better!".

Quote: Original post by ukdeveloper
Netbooks are too small and too slow yet still require all the maintenance of a regular laptop,

Really? I find my EeePC 900 to be the perfect size, and has plenty of speed for the things it does. Am I going to play high end games on it? no.

But it is perfect for writing and communications. And it is great to carry it around the house, or toss it in a bag and take it on the go. Far nicer than lugging around a 14-15 inch laptop, and a hell of a lot nicer than some of those 17 inch monsters some people use.

Quote: Original post by Calabi
One thing I think about all this, is why isnt there any decent competition. Its not like apples tactics are alien or difficult to copy, and with the way they like to kick themselves in the balls it shouldnt be hard to push ahead of them.

Patents. Lots and lots of them. Along with billions to fuel them.

The only realistic competition that could wage such war is Google (geek company that doesn't quite have that human touch) and Microsoft (which is rigid enterprise-centric company).

See the HTC lawsuit for a small taste. That was just a warning shot over Google's bow.

Tech companies earn money in different ways, but their strength lies in patent portfolio. This is why IBM is still a mammoth that nobody dares touch with over 40,000 patents. Microsoft has over 10,000 patents.

Quote: "Like Apple But Better!"

Trademark violation.

Quote: Original post by Antheus

Quote: Original post by Calabi
One thing I think about all this, is why isnt there any decent competition. Its not like apples tactics are alien or difficult to copy, and with the way they like to kick themselves in the balls it shouldnt be hard to push ahead of them.

Patents. Lots and lots of them. Along with billions to fuel them.

The only realistic competition that could wage such war is Google (geek company that doesn't quite have that human touch) and Microsoft (which is rigid enterprise-centric company).

See the HTC lawsuit for a small taste. That was just a warning shot over Google's bow.

Tech companies earn money in different ways, but their strength lies in patent portfolio. This is why IBM is still a mammoth that nobody dares touch with over 40,000 patents. Microsoft has over 10,000 patents.

Quote: "Like Apple But Better!"

Trademark violation.

Surely they cant trademark the word apple?

I dont think their popularity and success is much to do with trademarks and patents though. I think its mostly to do with fashion and getting their first and exploiting a niche.

Quote: Original post by Calabi

Surely they cant trademark the word apple?

Sure they can. Even if such trademark doesn't even belong to them.

Quote: I dont think their popularity and success is much to do with trademarks and patents though.

Microsoft disagrees.

Quote: I think its mostly to do with fashion and getting their first and exploiting a niche.

Smartphone market is not a niche, it's predicted to be 5 times bigger than PC market at least. And phones and tablets existed for decades, so it's not "getting there first" either.

Fashion is a good seller, but it is especially useful for vendor lock-in. There were many social sites - yet Facebook won, and now uses lawsuits to retain its territory.

When I said niche I was talking about the niche of fashion, simplicity, usibility(and locking in), that apple pushed for in spite of everyone else.

Quote: Original post by Gamer Gamester

Quote: Originally posted by nilkn
I have considered, though, whether it would be a good device for my grandparents who have just been unable to learn to use a laptop. Maybe it could provide them with a sufficiently easy-to-use interface to the web and various simple forms of multimedia so that they could actually make use of it.

I think this ^^^ is exactly the point of the iPad. It doesn't make sense to most of us on here because we are computer-savvy -- why would we spend the money when we could do so much more with something else?

There's a whole world of people out there who don't know computers very well. This is fine, people focus their energies on differing interests. But even people who aren't very skilled with computers have needs/desires that computer devices can fill, but 1: are unsure what to buy and 2: want to avoid needing to constantly pester someone (like us) to help them when things go wrong. Apple takes care of this for them (1: Buy an iPad. 2: It's a simplified computer.).

We are not their market (as consumers).

Well, consider then that my grandparents probably don't even know what the iPad is. My grandmother probably hasn't even heard of it, and my grandfather has probably only heard about it on the news.

People who don't know how to use computers are going to have an awfully hard time finding out anything about the iPad.

Quote: Original post by Talroth

Quote: Original post by ukdeveloper
Netbooks are too small and too slow yet still require all the maintenance of a regular laptop,

Really? I find my EeePC 900 to be the perfect size, and has plenty of speed for the things it does. Am I going to play high end games on it? no.

But it is perfect for writing and communications. And it is great to carry it around the house, or toss it in a bag and take it on the go. Far nicer than lugging around a 14-15 inch laptop, and a hell of a lot nicer than some of those 17 inch monsters some people use.

Okay, perhaps I generalised somewhat there. I never suggested that one might want to play the very latest 3D AAA blockbusters on it; that would be ludicrous indeed.

What I actually meant was that the regular netbooks still require things like antivirus, firewalls, all your files and applications (e.g. I know people running Office Ultimate 2007 on netbooks and storing half their lives on them) defragging if necessary and, often, these machines may be lacking in RAM and processing power to cover all these bases adequately.

Does your EeePC 900 still run the customised Linux or did you hose it and install something else? I know people with feet in both camps and the Linux experience does seem to be an improvement in terms of performance and overall tidiness, even though a full Linux desktop environment was available if you knew how to get to it.

The iPad has none of these concerns and iWork is a suitable substitute for light office work on the move or when you're away from your desk. I can see exactly what Steve is getting at, but I would be wary of paying over the odds for a device which doesn't offer me the flexibility straight out of the box.