Borders Going Bye Bye

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've always said, if the internet were nothing but IMDB, I'd STILL happily pay $30/month for it.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

My interest in an iPad was piqued only when I learned (in this thread) that I don't need to incur another $75 monthly bill for yet another device to be connected to the internet. So, yeah, I'll want a DISC to insert my own media by hand. I charge nothing for that service.

I'm also waiting for it to be a COMPUTER, and not merely a display device. Once the iPad or any decent tablet is also a REAL COMPUTER, I'm buying. Not until then.

Is this more like what you are thinking of?

The ASUS Eee Slider tablet.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

You know, watching a lot of 60's scifi recently, I think google is what the computer was expected to do for us in the future - answer random questions with authoritative responses. Everything else is gravy.

VM

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Alex

Define "REAL COMPUTER"

Ya know, like a laptop. But in tablet form. I want to be able to do anything, and run any software that I would be able to on the old-style portable device - but on the new-style portable device.

In fact, I've never purchased an old-school portable (such as a laptop) because I felt a less-clunky portable would be coming soon. But it's gotta be just as much a computer as a laptop, and not simply a bigger display device (essentially an iPhone that can't make phone calls).

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Is this more like what you are thinking of?

The ASUS Eee Slider tablet.

Nope. Adding a keyboard and a mouse won't cut it. Needs to be a COMPUTER. With, ya know, computing power. Not simply a glorified television screen. I guess adding a USB port is a step in the right direction. (Do iPads have any inputs at all?)

More seriously, I guess the ability to run "Apps" is sort-of computerish. But not really. My phone runs Apps, but cannot run any of the software I've been running on my desktop for decades.

I'd like to be able to take that computing power with me wherever I go. But not so much that a laptop was ever a priority for me. Too clunky. Gotta admit, iPads are dead sexy. But I'd like a portable computer, not a giant non-phone iPhone.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

More seriously, I guess the ability to run "Apps" is sort-of computerish. But not really. My phone runs Apps, but cannot run any of the software I've been running on my desktop for decades.

The question is not what can it run. The question is, what do you want to accomplish with it?

[Alex]

If I'm hearing you right, you don't so much want a "real computer" as you want a tablet device that is Windows based and supports all the software that Windows supports?

Because as computing devices, for the most part the current crop of tablets and netbooks have the power to run your software, it is just that for the most part nobody particularly wants them to. This is not to say you're wrong in what you want, but you aren't too likely to get it in a broadly adopted platform.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Nope. Adding a keyboard and a mouse won't cut it. Needs to be a COMPUTER. With, ya know, computing power. Not simply a glorified television screen. I guess adding a USB port is a step in the right direction. (Do iPads have any inputs at all?)

More seriously, I guess the ability to run "Apps" is sort-of computerish. But not really. My phone runs Apps, but cannot run any of the software I've been running on my desktop for decades.

I'd like to be able to take that computing power with me wherever I go. But not so much that a laptop was ever a priority for me. Too clunky. Gotta admit, iPads are dead sexy. But I'd like a portable computer, not a giant non-phone iPhone.

Bluetooth and WiFi take away most of the needs for inputs. Cords are old school.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Bluetooth and WiFi take away most of the needs for inputs. Cords are old school.

I only started jonesing for an iPad upon reading in this very thread that I wouldn't have to pay for monthly internet access for my third concurrent device. I can't justify that expense. Of course, like most laptop users, I'd be happy to make use of WiFi hotspots like coffee shops and such to do all my internet-based stuff, if it would save me having to pay up for a third internet device.

Originally Posted by Alex

...Because as computing devices, for the most part the current crop of tablets and netbooks have the power to run your software, it is just that for the most part nobody particularly wants them to. This is not to say you're wrong in what you want, but you aren't too likely to get it in a broadly adopted platform.

Really, all those billions of people who purchased laptops for the last 20 years had no desire to run the software (Windows or Mac-based) that they also enjoyed on their work or home desktop computers? I find that hard to believe. In any event, I'd partially agree - in that most of my "work" requires concentration that can't likely be found on a bus or in a coffee shop - but I'd still like the portability to do my more project-based stuff in, say, different parts of my apartment - or to tend to 15 minutes here and there while I'm sitting on a bus (assuming I'd ever take a bus - - let's say, while I'm sitting on a monorail - much more likely in my case).

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

The question is not what can it run. The question is, what do you want to accomplish with it?

Specifically what I tend to do with my computer that requires more than an iPad is complex photo-shop work* and complex sound-editing and video-editing. Again, not the kind of stuff I'm likely to tackle on the go, but in order to be tempted to transition from deskbound to portable, I've got to be able to. If I had a laptop, I'd be able to - so as soon as tablets catch up with that capability, and assuming I don't have to pay for monthly internet access yet again, I'm on board. I may even use the thing to read books!




* I assume something like photoshop is available for the iPad, actually.

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Specifically what I tend to do with my computer that requires more than an iPad is complex photo-shop work* and complex sound-editing and video-editing. Again, not the kind of stuff I'm likely to tackle on the go, but in order to be tempted to transition from deskbound to portable, I've got to be able to. If I had a laptop, I'd be able to - so as soon as tablets catch up with that capability, and assuming I don't have to pay for monthly internet access yet again, I'm on board. I may even use the thing to read books!




* I assume something like photoshop is available for the iPad, actually.

For example... this.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by mousepod

For example... this.

Ok, that is the first thing that has made me want to give Apple money in many years.