Okay, This Is The Line

[Blake Noble]

I'm seriously about an inch away from stepping over the line and joining the "I HATE APPLE!" club.

This is essentially what this man has done:

[FAPTurbo]

You'd think Apple would've learned their lesson from the Newton, but no, no they haven't.

I can't even see how this device would remotely productive in any application. Christ, it can't even support Flash, nor does it have a camera, or media card reader, or USB... You pretty much NEED to have a laptop around in order to maximize any potential this device has.

If you say 'Mac's iPad' kinda fast, it's kinda funny.

Oh yeah, Apple sucks.

Edited January 27, 2010 by FAPTurbo

[Drew Dowdell]

My new Lenovo laptop is slightly thicker, slightly heavier, has 9 hours of battery life in the real world, real keyboard, 4 gig ram, 250gig hard drive, real processor, and a real OS.

Cost $635 plus shipping.

[Justin Bimmer]

I thought you loved macs YJ?

[Drew Dowdell]

I called the iPad an "iPod Touch De Lux LS Brougham" on twitter and got all sorts of hell for it.

[Blake Noble]

I thought you loved macs YJ?

Bah. I liked them for their advantages in recording music, that was it.

[Intrepidation]

iPad...it's like an iPhone only more expensive and can't do as much.

Macs aren't even great for music recording compared to PC's...the only thing they have (or had, I dunno if its changed) over PCs is that their can match the color settings of the screen to the printer. However the photo lab I worked at used PCs and had programs for calibrating the monitors too.

[Z-06]

Somewhere in the cyber world is a hardware equivalent site of cheersandgears, which in 2052 will post a poster like the one below with Toyota and Toyoda replaced by Apple and Jobs. And the art work will be done by a Linuxfan.

[regfootball]

this thing is awesome for watching movies, videos, surfing, and book reading. why get a Kindle? Perfect device for media on the go. If you want a keyboard, you can get that too. Starts at 500 bucks and way more useful at that price than say, a stupid netbook running xp and 1g of ram.

i'd love to have one. perfect device for my kids to watch movies in the car while traveling. great for surfing while in the rest room.

not every apple device has to be a full on computer. why blow 300 on a kindle when for 200 bucks more you can watch movies and check your email?

Edited January 28, 2010 by regfootball

[Justin Bimmer]

this thing is awesome for watching movies, videos, surfing, and book reading. why get a Kindle? Perfect device for media on the go. If you want a keyboard, you can get that too. Starts at 500 bucks and way more useful at that price than say, a stupid netbook running xp and 1g of ram.

i'd love to have one. perfect device for my kids to watch movies in the car while traveling. great for surfing while in the rest room.

not every apple device has to be a full on computer. why blow 300 on a kindle when for 200 bucks more you can watch movies and check your email?

Because all the movies and stuff you want to do with it have to be bough through apple and it isn't open source. So when Google comes out with their own version, it will be way better.

[Intrepidation]

this thing is awesome for watching movies, videos, surfing, and book reading. why get a Kindle? Perfect device for media on the go. If you want a keyboard, you can get that too. Starts at 500 bucks and way more useful at that price than say, a stupid netbook running xp and 1g of ram.

i'd love to have one. perfect device for my kids to watch movies in the car while traveling. great for surfing while in the rest room.

not every apple device has to be a full on computer. why blow 300 on a kindle when for 200 bucks more you can watch movies and check your email?

Or get an iPhone...which can do all of that plus be an actual phone for less.

[regfootball]

Or get an iPhone...which can do all of that plus be an actual phone for less.

already have the iphone and appletv. will one day have imac, macbook and one of these things.

the apple products are so nice to use. and i dont sit at the computer to game, so i really don't care about that.

itunes is so easy to buy music and movies and videos from. and i don't steal that stuff off the internet. i don't mind electronic purchasing to itunes and the whole program organizes it simply and slickly and shares between devices in simple effective ways.

they play nice with each other too. my iphone can control my itunes on the computer, or the appletv hooked up to my stereo. no extra stuff to get it work. all on wifi.

you can rent a movie on itunes and play it on the ipad. no disc. you could even watch netflix streaming on the ipad. a terribly useful device, not a throwaway, nice size. its not for everyone, it doesn't need to be.

apple covers what most folks do with computers at home with a few devices.

the simplicity of it all is so worth the cost.

buy an imac, you've got all the software you need.

[regfootball]

i wonder if they will make a larger one, a max-i pad

[regfootball]

Because all the movies and stuff you want to do with it have to be bough through apple and it isn't open source. So when Google comes out with their own version, it will be way better.

i kind of don't care about the open source thing. the apps and products and buying experience all work so well and simple, and gives me what i need. open source to me means more clutter, more confusion, in some instances. i really don't need 20 versions of itunes when the one i have already works exactly the way i want, and will always be top of the class.

[Blake Noble]

These are, of course, obligatory.

Edited January 28, 2010 by whiteknight

[PurdueGuy]

this thing is awesome for watching movies, videos, surfing, and book reading. why get a Kindle? Perfect device for media on the go. If you want a keyboard, you can get that too. Starts at 500 bucks and way more useful at that price than say, a stupid netbook running xp and 1g of ram.

i'd love to have one. perfect device for my kids to watch movies in the car while traveling. great for surfing while in the rest room.

not every apple device has to be a full on computer. why blow 300 on a kindle when for 200 bucks more you can watch movies and check your email?

I agree on the Kindle part, but the netbook you described would be $200, not $500. $500 will get you (as a quick example) a dual core pentium processor, 15.6" screen, 4gb of ram, 250gb hard drive, win7home64, and a DVD burner. I believe the iPad will be a success, but only because there are enough people who don't need a computer that can do much more than surf the internet & play media, and a lot of them are willing to pay the Mac tax in order to have that portability and show off to their friends.

[Intrepidation]

i kind of don't care about the open source thing. the apps and products and buying experience all work so well and simple, and gives me what i need. open source to me means more clutter, more confusion, in some instances. i really don't need 20 versions of itunes when the one i have already works exactly the way i want, and will always be top of the class.

Open source actually tends to be less clutter, less unnecessary crap, and less resource intensive. iTunes has become so bulky and overwrought in the last few versions. Used to use it, no longer do.

[daves87rs]

Or get an iPhone...which can do all of that plus be an actual phone for less.

True.

[Intrepidation]

Apple will sell these, because there will always be tools who think it got an "i" in the name so it must be awesome and who have to have the latest thing...even if they look like dorks holding something like that.

[vonVeezelsnider]

To be fair to the Kindle I really do like it. My dad bought one when they were first offered in Canada in December and at first my mom and I mocked him for what we perceived as yet another in a long line of frivolous purchases but at the end of the day that screen looks just like real paper. Doesn't strain the eyes the way a computer screen does and hasn't got a harsh back-light.

[pow]

I would be interested in buying one once the price goes down. I have an old MacBook right now, and there are instances where I wish it'd behave more like an actual... well, notebook (the paper kind).

For simpler tasks, like taking notes in class, quickly showing pictures to friends, reading a book, or surfing the web during moments of free time, it's nice not having to unzip a laptop case, unfold its screen, wake it up from sleep mode, and wait for the appropriate program (iPhoto, iTunes, MS Word, etc) to load. If it's like an iPhone, those features can be accessed immediately.

And judging by Apple's current products, it's going to be nice looking and well-made, too. I'd personally get the optional case... reminds me of elementary school when I had my Five-Star zip-up binder...

[daves87rs]

I would be interested in buying one once the price goes down. I have an old MacBook right now, and there are instances where I wish it'd behave more like an actual... well, notebook (the paper kind).

For simpler tasks, like taking notes in class, quickly showing pictures to friends, reading a book, or surfing the web during moments of free time, it's nice not having to unzip a laptop case, unfold its screen, wake it up from sleep mode, and wait for the appropriate program (iPhoto, iTunes, MS Word, etc) to load. If it's like an iPhone, those features can be accessed immediately.

And judging by Apple's current products, it's going to be nice looking and well-made, too. I'd personally get the optional case... reminds me of elementary school when I had my Five-Star zip-up binder...

I', not sure why I like that....

[regfootball]

I agree on the Kindle part, but the netbook you described would be $200, not $500. $500 will get you (as a quick example) a dual core pentium processor, 15.6" screen, 4gb of ram, 250gb hard drive, win7home64, and a DVD burner. I believe the iPad will be a success, but only because there are enough people who don't need a computer that can do much more than surf the internet & play media, and a lot of them are willing to pay the Mac tax in order to have that portability and show off to their friends.

and the notebook you describe is a huge brick in comparison. portability of the iPad is more like the kindle or a portable dvd player.

windows products are highly disposable. no one remembers the cheap laptop they bought 3 years ago, its either obsolete by now, or broken.

this device is something that will remain useful longer.

the mactax IMHO only applies to the highest price macbook pros and most optioned up IMacs. if the device is nicer and works better and has more software its not that much of an effective price difference. not all products are sold only on price like GM used to be accused of.

Edited January 28, 2010 by regfootball

[Drew Dowdell]

this thing is awesome for watching movies, videos, surfing, and book reading. why get a Kindle? Perfect device for media on the go. If you want a keyboard, you can get that too. Starts at 500 bucks and way more useful at that price than say, a stupid netbook running xp and 1g of ram.

i'd love to have one. perfect device for my kids to watch movies in the car while traveling. great for surfing while in the rest room.

not every apple device has to be a full on computer. why blow 300 on a kindle when for 200 bucks more you can watch movies and check your email?

No Flash.... meaning no Youtube, no Youporn.

Why get a Kindle or nook? E-ink is readable on the beach, back lit screens, no matter what they are lit by, aren't readable in direct sunlight. e-ink is much easier on your eyes. Kindles and nooks also have free cellular wifi, no data plan to pay.

I have a Lenovo laptop that is marginally larger, 4 gigs of ram Core2Duo processor, Win7 64 bit, full size keyboard, and 260gig HD that only cost $135 more than the very base iPad does. Think Macbook Air at less than half the cost.

[PurdueGuy]

and the notebook you describe is a huge brick in comparison. portability of the iPad is more like the kindle or a portable dvd player.

windows products are highly disposable. no one remembers the cheap laptop they bought 3 years ago, its either obsolete by now, or broken.

this device is something that will remain useful longer.

the mactax IMHO only applies to the highest price macbook pros and most optioned up IMacs. if the device is nicer and works better and has more software its not that much of an effective price difference. not all products are sold only on price like GM used to be accused of.

I was simply pointing out how retarded your comparison of the iPad to a netbook was. A netbook is 2/5 of the price of the entry iPad. For an equal price you get a device that blows the iPad out of the water in every measure of usability except portability. Not sure what your problem is with Windows products (I assume you mean windows-based products, no matter what manufacturer they come from), but I know plenty of people with 5+yr old windows laptops that are still quite functional. I will be replacing the DVD drive on one next week, as everything else on it is working fine and the DVD player only recently decided to quit. Batteries wear out in ~3yrs, but Macs aren't exempt from that. A friend of mine has a macbook whose battery exploded after ~6 months.

Apple makes some good stuff, but quit being such a fanboi. The Mac tax only applies to upper models? Let's look at what you get in a $500 Mac laptop. Oh wait, they don't have one. The Macbook starts at $999, let's look at what you get:

13.3" screen

250gb 5400rpm HD

DVD-RW

2.26ghz Intel Core2Duo

1066mhz FSB

2gb DDR3 ram

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM (sounds like a dedicated graphics card, which is good)

What's a windows-based machine offer for the same money? Here's a quick example from Toshiba, which consistently gets rated very highly for building a quality product.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114743

16" screen

500gb 5400rpm HD

DVD-RW

2.8ghz Intel Core2Duo

1066mhz FSB

6gb DDR3 ram

NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M 1GB GDDR3 discrete graphics memory (sounds like a much better dedicated graphics card)

So how is the Mac not ridiculously more expensive?

Edited January 28, 2010 by PurdueGuy

[pow]

I was simply pointing out how retarded your comparison of the iPad to a netbook was. A netbook is 2/5 of the price of the entry iPad. For an equal price you get a device that blows the iPad out of the water in every measure of usability except portability. Not sure what your problem is with Windows products (I assume you mean windows-based products, no matter what manufacturer they come from), but I know plenty of people with 5+yr old windows laptops that are still quite functional. I will be replacing the DVD drive on one next week, as everything else on it is working fine and the DVD player only recently decided to quit. Batteries wear out in ~3yrs, but Macs aren't exempt from that. A friend of mine has a macbook whose battery exploded after ~6 months.

Apple makes some good stuff, but quit being such a fanboi. The Mac tax only applies to upper models? Let's look at what you get in a $500 Mac laptop. Oh wait, they don't have one. The Macbook starts at $999, let's look at what you get:

13.3" screen

250gb 5400rpm HD

DVD-RW

2.26ghz Intel Core2Duo

1066mhz FSB

2gb DDR3 ram

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM (sounds like a dedicated graphics card, which is good)

What's a windows-based machine offer for the same money? Here's a quick example from Toshiba, which consistently gets rated very highly for building a quality product.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114743

16" screen

500gb 5400rpm HD

DVD-RW

2.8ghz Intel Core2Duo

1066mhz FSB

6gb DDR3 ram

NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M 1GB GDDR3 discrete graphics memory (sounds like a much better dedicated graphics card)

So how is the Mac not ridiculously more expensive?

In the same way you get a lot "more" from a Hyundai than a similarly priced BMW or Caddy...

There is a Mac price premium if you only look at specs, but there's also interface, design, user experience, build quality and materials, packaging, branding, after sales care, etc.

And besides, I thought C&G preferred products from US-based companies over those based in China (Lenovo) or Japan (Toshiba).

[PurdueGuy]

In the same way you get a lot "more" from a Hyundai than a similarly priced BMW or Caddy...

There is a Mac price premium if you only look at specs, but there's also interface, design, user experience, build quality and materials, packaging, branding, after sales care, etc.

And besides, I thought C&G preferred products from US-based companies over those based in China (Lenovo) or Japan (Toshiba).

And Apple is very happy they've convinced you it's a Hyundai vs Cadillac difference. IMO it's at most a Buick vs Cadillac difference. And if the OS is worth that much more to you, add $50 to the cost of the PC and buy the Mac OS & install it. Not that hard.

You prefer US goods, eh? You do know that Apple products are almost universally made by Foxconn, which is based in Taiwan, right? Of course some of the actual hardware is made in China. If Foxconn hardware is what gets you excited, I can build you a computer using primarily Foxconn products. It'll cost a fraction of what it would if it had a little fruit with a bite out of it on it. Oh, and it'll have more features & higher specs. And since you like the Mac OS, I'll throw that on there for ya too. And since I have my own business that (among other things) builds computers, you'll be supporting American business just as much, by paying an American company to build your computer out of Asian parts. I'll be glad to double or triple the price if that's your thing as well.

Sorry, I forgot to address packaging, branding, and sales care. Also known as "ways to make people who can't make a decision based on substance like your product better than the competition." Guess you got me there, Apple does spend a crapload on advertising and expensive packaging. Makes it all worthwhile.

Edited January 29, 2010 by PurdueGuy

[Blake Noble]

What I would like to see Microsoft do is make a media player better than that thing they call the Zune. Some serious competition for the iPod that doesn't look like it was made by some off-brand company in China in 1999 ...

Edited January 29, 2010 by whiteknight

[FAPTurbo]

What I would like to see Microsoft do is make a media player better than that thing they call the Zune. Some serious competition for the iPod that doesn't look like it was made by some off-brand company in China in 1999 ...

Um... unless you're referring to the 1st Gen Zune, the 2nd and 3rd Gen's, plus the Zune HD don't look like knock-offs at all In fact, they're surprisingly well built and look great too.

Plus, they ARE better than the iPod, but just because they don't have an Apple logo on the back, nobody knows any better.

[ShadowDog]

If the info is correct, the major shortcoming that Apple will have to address for the next iPad or software is to enable multi-tasking capability (iPad can only have one application open at a time).

Maybe this was designed this way in order to require a iPod/Phone/Touch to listen to music while puttering around the net.

[Blake Noble]

I own the Pandora's Box that led to this ... iTampon, the iPod touch. To clarify, yes you can listen to music while browsing the web, and yes it will play 99% of the videos on YouTube. It will also play any Quicktime compatible videos, so in theory, yeah if there was a "mobile pr0n" site that had its videobase Quicktime compatible, you could watch pr0n on the iMaxiPad/iPod touch/iPhone.

Then again, my iPod touch is the 2nd generation model that doesn't have the latest iPhone OS (3.0), so who knows what Apple de-contented just so assholes can copy and paste text and use the Bluetooth functionality that was there before Apple even released 3.0.

Um... unless you're referring to the 1st Gen Zune, the 2nd and 3rd Gen's, plus the Zune HD don't look like knock-offs at all In fact, they're surprisingly well built and look great too.

Plus, they ARE better than the iPod, but just because they don't have an Apple logo on the back, nobody knows any better.

Microsoft may have really tried with the Zune HD, but there's something about its aesthetics that doesn't impress me.

And if hackers finally get around to making the 2nd-gen touch able to be totally jailbroken, well, I wouldn't think once about a Zune HD.

[pow]

And Apple is very happy they've convinced you it's a Hyundai vs Cadillac difference. IMO it's at most a Buick vs Cadillac difference. And if the OS is worth that much more to you, add $50 to the cost of the PC and buy the Mac OS & install it. Not that hard.

You prefer US goods, eh? You do know that Apple products are almost universally made by Foxconn, which is based in Taiwan, right? Of course some of the actual hardware is made in China. If Foxconn hardware is what gets you excited, I can build you a computer using primarily Foxconn products. It'll cost a fraction of what it would if it had a little fruit with a bite out of it on it. Oh, and it'll have more features & higher specs. And since you like the Mac OS, I'll throw that on there for ya too. And since I have my own business that (among other things) builds computers, you'll be supporting American business just as much, by paying an American company to build your computer out of Asian parts. I'll be glad to double or triple the price if that's your thing as well.

Sorry, I forgot to address packaging, branding, and sales care. Also known as "ways to make people who can't make a decision based on substance like your product better than the competition." Guess you got me there, Apple does spend a crapload on advertising and expensive packaging. Makes it all worthwhile.

They've added perceived value to a product, and I find it worthwhile to pay a premium for it. Works for me. It's about the whole package and experience, not just what components make up a computer.

[Intrepidation]

What I would like to see Microsoft do is make a media player better than that thing they call the Zune. Some serious competition for the iPod that doesn't look like it was made by some off-brand company in China in 1999 ...

I own the Pandora's Box that led to this ... iTampon, the iPod touch. To clarify, yes you can listen to music while browsing the web, and yes it will play 99% of the videos on YouTube. It will also play any Quicktime compatible videos, so in theory, yeah if there was a "mobile pr0n" site that had its videobase Quicktime compatible, you could watch pr0n on the iMaxiPad/iPod touch/iPhone.Then again, my iPod touch is the 2nd generation model that doesn't have the latest iPhone OS (3.0), so who knows what Apple de-contented just so assholes can copy and paste text and use the Bluetooth functionality that was there before Apple even released 3.0. Microsoft may have really tried with the Zune HD, but there's something about its aesthetics that doesn't impress me.And if hackers finally get around to making the 2nd-gen touch able to be totally jailbroken, well, I wouldn't think once about a Zune HD.

The Zune HD is a much more focused product when it comes to being an music players than the iPod is. For people who like music it is the better choice. I the iPod Touch has more Apps/3rd party support for now, but then its been out for longer. It's browser is better than teh SZune's as well, but again, it's a music player first...and has some really neat features for music. The Zune also has a far cooler and more create menu system than the iPod's, static pictures may not look like much, but the way it works is very slick. Plus its one of only two media devices on the market that use an OLED screen, which is far superior for clarity and color to other screens.

Styling is naturally, subjective, but how this:

somehow looks amazingly better than this:

is beyond me.

The original Zune was a joke, this one is not.

I've seriously considered a Zune HD...really impressed with it. The only thing stopping me from getting one is the iPhone, because I like the idea of a gadget that can be a phone, cheap camera, and mp3 player all in one.

That and I have other things I need to spend money on before a gadget right now.

They've added perceived value to a product, and I find it worthwhile to pay a premium for it. Works for me. It's about the whole package and experience, not just what components make up a computer.

lol

[Lamar]

They've added perceived value to a product, and I find it worthwhile to pay a premium for it. Works for me. It's about the whole package and experience, not just what components make up a computer.

lol

LOL from me too.

[Drew Dowdell]

For those of you who think Apple products are somehow more reliable or last longer than PC/Non-apples.... people pay more for Apple and also buy an extended Applecare warranty because they are notoriously more expensive to repair.

I'd never spend more than $200 at an Apple store without also springing for Applecare.

[Paolino]

Whenever a new Apple product comes out I always think of this:

[regfootball]

No Flash.... meaning no Youtube, no Youporn.

Why get a Kindle or nook? E-ink is readable on the beach, back lit screens, no matter what they are lit by, aren't readable in direct sunlight. e-ink is much easier on your eyes. Kindles and nooks also have free cellular wifi, no data plan to pay.

I have a Lenovo laptop that is marginally larger, 4 gigs of ram Core2Duo processor, Win7 64 bit, full size keyboard, and 260gig HD that only cost $135 more than the very base iPad does. Think Macbook Air at less than half the cost.

funny, I was watching YouTube on my iPhone just a bit ago, without flash.......YouTube won't be an issue.

[regfootball]

In the same way you get a lot "more" from a Hyundai than a similarly priced BMW or Caddy...

There is a Mac price premium if you only look at specs, but there's also interface, design, user experience, build quality and materials, packaging, branding, after sales care, etc.

And besides, I thought C&G preferred products from US-based companies over those based in China (Lenovo) or Japan (Toshiba).

Yes the interface. Vista was horrible. So bad I have no plans for win 7. Apple manages to simplify the mess. In terms of working easy , the way you expect , delighting in simple ways and has nicer more polished designs and materials. I'll take a nice aluminum case that will look good forever with a dura le gorgeous glass screen. No ugly cd rom drive. Fewer cables. More functional software included ( for example you can make music and movies my win laptop the DVD player and cdr software or office wasn't even included.

It's not. 'being a fan boi' it's simply having devices that are nicer to use and you want to own becuase they don't look like afterthought toy factory in china plastic crap.

So if I have to pay some more, that's fine. It's better to be happy with a large purchase than to spend less but hate what you spent it on. That is more wasteful.

To be honest I do not subscribe to the whole 'culture of apple' the geeks at the genius bar etc. But I just simply like their products.

[Drew Dowdell]

[FAPTurbo]

You prefer US goods, eh? You do know that Apple products are almost universally made by Foxconn, which is based in Taiwan, right? Of course some of the actual hardware is made in China.

Just thought I'd post this article about Foxconn. They're already well known for being some of the biggest dirtbags in the industry, and here's just one more tick against them. It does make you think twice about America's biggest trading partner, and the fact that Apple users think they're somehow not supporting a giant, 'evil' faceless company.

A Reuters reporter is manhandled for taking photos of the outside of a Foxconn factory.

Apple is notoriously secretive about upcoming products, refusing to comment on anything until there's been a product launch. We've all heard the crazy stories about people at Apple working on projects under dark cloths, so that passing coworkers can't see what they're doing.

The fact that Apple is so tight-lipped about new products probably contributes to how strict contractors are about helping to keep Cupertino's secrets. Security at the factories is tight and companies are often given several different versions of the same product. This makes it easier to tell who's been leaking information should that situation arise.

One Reuters reporter decided to go and check out the security at one of Foxconn's facilities outside of Hong Kong. What happened to him is truly frightening. The report cites an employee who says, "Security is tight everywhere inside the factories. They use metal detectors and search us. If you have any metal objects on you when you leave, they just call the police."

Arriving outside the facility, the Reuters correspondent called the police himself. The reporter was apparently standing on a public road outside the factory, snapping pictures of the front gate and security check point, when a guard shouted at him. The journalist jumped into his waiting taxi but the guard stood in front of the vehicle and threatened to strip the cab driver of his license if he did not stop.

The Reuters correspondent exited the car and pointed out that as he was on a public road, he was well within his rights to be taking photographs. The guards tried to drag him into the factory but when the writer's requests to be released were not met, he pulled out of their grasp and began to walk away. One of the guards then kicked him in the leg and another threatened to hit him again if he moved.

Foxconn brought around a security car but the reporter refused to get in. Instead, he called the police who arrived soon after and diffused the situation. The guards apologized and the police gave the journalist the option to press charges, but not before advising him, "You're free to do what you want, but this is Foxconn and they have a special status here. Please understand."

Reuters goes on to say that it is unlikely Apple tells its contractors security guards how to behave or how to respond to reporters taking pictures of the outside of the factory. However, it does highlight how seriously these companies take Apple's confidentiality agreements.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Foxconn-Security-Guards-Reuters,9694.html

There's also a link to the Reuters article at the bottom of the TomsHardware one.

Edited February 19, 2010 by FAPTurbo

[ShadowDog]

I was mildly interested in the tablet for some of my requirements; however, its limitations left me wondering how I could consider myself a smart guy by plunking down so much money on something so basic.

I'll admit that I like to use my iMac 2.8 with OS X; however, not once have I ever considered it superior to a PC. Each has their benefits and drawbacks. In my case, the drawbacks with my iMac are rather annoying. My scroll ball on the wheel-mouse is garbage; the keyboard is so flat, seemingly for pure aesthetics than ergonomics, it's as if it requires perfection to operate; the DVD drive/burner bailed on me last week and the repair has been identified as stupidly expensive, so I will be replacing it later in the future myself and have an external DVD drive/burner currently hooked up; I either forget how to get to my desktop with a single click, or there just isn't a way to do so; ... and a bunch of other fairly insignificant details. Now, there are a bunch of positives that I won't bother mentioning for which I thoroughly enjoy my iMac for; however, they're all small features, creature comforts or eye-candy.

I still have my Windows XP PC behind me as a backup and extra system for internet downloads and business-related work. When something goes kablooie on that thing, it's easy to fix if not a little time consuming. This stupid DVD drive on the iMac can absolutely cripple the entire machine if there is no backup! One can credit Apple for keeping money in the coffers by engineering expensive repairs for common conditions.

Edited February 19, 2010 by ShadowDog

[Drew Dowdell]

My big issue with the iPad is the OS. Had it shipped with an OS X lite, that would have been teh awesome..... iPhone OS for something like this = fail

[ShadowDog]

Apple iPad users report wi-fi problems

Many Apple fans couldn't wait to get their hands on an iPad. Some owners of the newly-available iPad have reported problems with connecting their devices to wi-fi.

Hundreds have complained about weak signals on the tablet computer.

Apple acknowledged on its support page that "under certain conditions, iPad may not automatically rejoin a known wi-fi network".

LINK

Hmm, $h!ty. LOL

[FAPTurbo]

That's what you get for waiting overnight in line for a completely new and useless product.

The people posting and identifying the problems are the 'smart' ones. How many others would even know how to access their dual-band router's firmware?

[RjION]

Next they come out with the MaxiPad ....... for all of you who needs.

[ocnblu]

It's all about flow.

[Blake Noble]

It's all about flow.

Which it will not go with while using Safari.

[Robert Hall]

It's an interesting gadget, but I couldn't see myself getting one. I just don't see a use case that works for me. I like paper books and magazines..both work fine in bed, bathroom, sofa, chair,airplane, etc. When I'm surfing, well, I have two laptops and wireless for that. For music, I have my iPod.

Without being able to arbitrarily download applications from the internet, it's too limited (you can only install apps from the Apple appstore, correct?). Now if it were running OS X, could be used w/ a mouse and keyboard (I'm not down w/ touchscreens), then it might be more compelling to me.

Though several friends got their iPads last Saturday...I'll have to play around w/ one when I'm back in Denver at the end of the month.

Edited April 10, 2010 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Intrepidation]

I saw on the new people who waited in line for days at the Apple Store in NYC for one. One guy came from Germany cuz he couldn't wait a few weeks for it to be released in Europe. One woman said they couldn't live without one. Tools.

[Blake Noble]

I saw on the new people who waited in line for days at the Apple Store in NYC for one. One guy came from Germany cuz he couldn't wait a few weeks for it to be released in Europe. One woman said they couldn't live without one. Tools.

That's all the general public amounts to anymore. Are you honestly surprised? And if you think it's bad now ...