I'm coming to the conclusion that it may be a computer for people who don't like computers. You know the kind - they do a bit of e-mail and web browsing, but they're not engaged in any real sense, don't understand the technology at all and don't really enjoy using it. I think it could also be surprisingly successful among older people.
Rob ----------------- Rob Beattie Freelance writer and book author www.robbeattie.com 07769 902820 On 11 June 2010 11:11, Tobio <[email protected]> wrote: > These are very compelling stories. I share the sentiments of the > cycling situation, as i have a macbook pro as my main "do everything" > computer and while its not too heavy for me, you know its there. I > was looking to purchase a macbook air with an SSD to be my travelling > machine within the next few months, leaving my macbook pro at home > permanently connected to the monitor. Reading these case studies now > has me thinking that an ipad might just meet the needs, be cheaper and > still have the wow factor. I'd previously dismissed it on the grounds > of why would i need one, and had the iphone 4 as the essential > purchase. Also i hate faffing around with usb modem dongles on my > macbook. I think i will go to the apple store to have a play today. > > On Jun 10, 11:38 am, [email protected] wrote: >> An attempt ... >> >> I have an iMac, a G4 12" iBook and an iPod touch and no mobile phone or car. >> >> I've used my iBook for taking notes at meetings, reading & preparing >> documents on the train, watching films in bed, showing my photos to my Mum >> and updating my family history using the superb Reunion when I'm at the >> library or with family. Having no car, when walking or cycling I've carried >> my iBook along in my rucksack but it's a noticeable weight, especially if >> I'm going around town or doing other things beforehand as so many times when >> it would have been handy to have it, I don't, because I'm not going to carry >> that weight with me just on the off chance it could be handy. >> >> Having my iPod touch has been great because I keep London tube maps on it, >> French lesson audio files, films and TV progs for long train journeys, the >> above mentioned Reunion, record talks and music with a mic I bought and play >> games as and when (I have about 3 games on my iMac). One of the bugbears for >> me though has been that if I'm out and about I can't update the tube service >> line status when I'm in London, can't check on train times, can't use Google >> maps if I'm going somewhere completely new or I'm just lost and miss out on >> the handy OmniFocus nearby context feature all because I have no internet >> connection most of the time as it's WiFi only. I always wanted 'a mobile >> phone without the phone and the text'. >> >> When Apple announced that the iPad would have a 3G option my eyes lit up! >> Because it's so light I now slip it in my rucksack as a matter of course. It >> has 3G so all that online stuff I mentioned above is now available to me if >> I need it - even, as I discovered recently, in a campsite in North Wales! >> Because of the larger screen I can now read PDFs easily which are a real >> effort or else completely impractical on my iPod. My Mum will really >> enjoying seeing my photos as the screen is much bigger than my iPod and much >> better than my iBook and viewing those films on the train will be a much >> better experience. The Shakespeare app on the iPad is a real delight >> compared to my iPod as of course are all the free books I've now loaded on. >> Google street view on the iPad is extraordinary though I've no use for it at >> present. >> >> I have no digital radio and even if I did I couldn't listen to FIP on it. >> The speaker in the iPad is hardly up to that of a good portable radio, but >> it's WAY better than the iPod and now means that I can stream FIP to my iPad >> in the kitchen and listen whilst cooking or washing up. Nice. >> >> These are all practical reasons but there is the other big reason - the iPad >> is just a delight to use. If any of you are motorcyclists you will >> understand the difference between the large movements of steering wheel and >> gears on a car compared with an almost imperceptible lean and a flick of the >> toes to do the same thing on a motorcycle. I've always found it a more >> 'mental' than 'physical' relationship that is an essential part of the >> appeal of a motorcycle. Robert Pirsig says in the amazing book 'Zen and the >> Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' - "The difference between driving a car and >> riding a motorcycle is that in a car you're watching the film and on a >> motorcycle you are in the film". This is my long way of saying that using a >> screen a foot away and a mechanical keyboard and a mouse compared to >> touching, flicking and swiping on the screen of an iPad is a parallel. On >> the motorbike, the gap between the machine and rider is much reduced >> compared with a car and I feel that the same is true of the 'normal' >> computer and the iPad. >> >> I now sit on the sofa an read my RSS feeds using The Early Edition in >> preference to using my Mac to read them and the same goes for Safari, though >> I'm an OmniWeb user so it's not really the same, but for all that I enjoy >> the experience of the web more on the iPad. >> >> The big downer at present is one thing that I still need my iBook for is >> Garageband. If I could record sound/MIDI on my iPad, lay down those tracks >> and have them played back as I'm recording another then I'd be totally >> sorted. The MIDI recording is now available as is the mic, but that workflow >> is not. Maybe in a year ... >> >> Also, the iPad has only been out for a couple of months. The kind of apps >> that could exist on it in a year or two will, I suspect, totally amaze us >> because that larger screen and keyboard make all sorts of new apps possible >> that would be impossible or tedious on an iPod touch. >> >> Also, as I'm developing apps for the iPhone and iPad I need to have a device >> to test on. Not a persuasive reason for most though I'll admit! >> >> Well, what a load of chat! I hope that adds something to your consideration. >> >> Stephen >> >> On 10 Jun 2010, at 00:59, Ray Packham wrote: >> >> > I went into the apple store the other day the look at the IPAD , its >> > shinny and fantastic but alas I couldn't find a real use for it as I have >> > my MacBook. I did think that it would be superb for my elderly parents who >> > do not want a computer but would like access to the internet, its so >> > intuitive and simple to use even my mum can pick it up in 5 mins! I >> > wonder if Apple have missed an opportunity to advertise for so called >> > silver surfers who are technophobes, I personally dont think Apple would >> > associate themselves with this sort of advertising as it does not fit with >> > their young image but I still feel its fantastic for those of the older >> > generation who dont want a laptop or tower/desktop simply because as my >> > mum has proved its so simple to use even a complete novice can pick it up >> > in 5 mins. >> >> > Anyhow just as a quick question how does it fit in with your existing kit >> > and what do you all use it for ? >> >> > Regards Ray >> >> "The costs are such that my department is not so much the department of >> energy and climate change, as the department of nuclear legacy and bits of >> other things," - Chris Hune, June 2010 > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Sussex Mac User Group" group. > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/smug?hl=en-GB. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sussex Mac User Group" group. 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