Reboxing iPad | Hacker News Reader

Reboxing iPad

buzzmachine.com

20 pointshasanove26 comments

Fair enough, though I wonder if you really need to buy it to realise that you don't have a use for it. I suppose a trial run is reasonable, in case it has some magic use you don't consider till you have it.

I'm still though, to this day, boggled by the commenters who seem to think that a Flashless browser is crippled. What sites do these people use all day whereby the Internet is entirely useless without Flash? I see it only on an occasional Flash Game and video sites who have not yet rolled out HTML5 (a number dwindling month on month). Once a particular TV catchup service I use deploys <video>, I'll literally see Flash once a week.

Is there some usage pattern for the web that I'm unaware of, wherein people require Flash continuously?

I don't really look for it but I noticed earlier today that ESPN/ESPN360 use Flash. Also most porn sites use Flash and nearly all game sites use Flash (jayisgames.com is one of my top 5 sites).

For me, those 3 above limitations make the flash-less web "crippled".

I think EPSN (and porn :) are basically just video. Porn is normally at the cutting edge of tech, so I expect <video> there soon enough and I'd guess EPSN would get it once enough of their users start moaning. So, in the long term, this once again just leaves "games" - something the iOS isn't really suffering a shortage of.

I didn't believe it even 6 months ago, but given how many sites I use are now rolling out <video>, I'm coming around to the idea that Flash could be largely irrelevant within a year or two. The only holdout that might cause problems will be the landing page/"entire site as flash" 'designer' nonsense. How quickly those transition to HTML 5 (or a sane end user experience) will be interesting to watch.

There was a lot of hype that it was a great browsing experience; he might have bought it just to see what it is all about.

I personally share his feelings - I enjoyed using my roomates' iPad initially, but it quickly proved useless relative to my laptop. Part of the issue was that it was so darn uncomfortable to use.

At least his reasons are not ideological, he doesn't find any practical use of an iPad. Neither do I. He openly admits that he uses other Mac products.

I will probably consider buying an iPad (or other slate device) once the market matures and there are other reasonable slate devices I can compare to. Also there is a good chance that Apple will release the second iteration soon, which might improve on an already impressive device.

Just following the hive minds and buying things because everyone else is doing it too, even if you don't see any use of it, is quite silly IMO.

If you view the iPad as a replacement for a laptop, then it falls short. Text entry is difficult, you can't print, can't use USB devices, can't use flash, can't videochat, etc. People who have extremely limited computer needs will find it sufficient, but that's a niche market.

However, as an adjunct to your computer, it's quite nice. Certain kinds of web browsing are much more pleasant. Curling up on the couch with ABC video is comfy. Comics are fantastic. Within narrow domains, it's better than anything else on the market. That being said, a laptop or phone does all of those things, just not as well.

The question is, which way are people going to see it?

I'm surprised he bought it knowing he had no use for it. One week out I'm finding it extremely useful for various things -- largely leisure stuff like reading long articles that test my attention span browsing on the desktop, a resurgence in my interest in casual gaming, and I already read an entire book on it. I'm checking the App Store 3 or 4 times a day. My favorite geeky app at the moment is MyCongress which really shows off what a bigger screen can do for simply aggregating information from other sources. It pulls together Twitter, YouTube and OpenCongress into a nice GUI that you can pop around really quickly and explore. I'm excited to see this model applied to other areas of interest for me.

> it’s not out of dogmatism but because I simply don’t see a good use for the machine and don’t want to spend $500 on something I’m not going to use.

So why did he buy it?

It's reasonable to think you might find a use, once you've used it.

So you go to an Apple store, or friend's house, and try it.

Purchasing something with intent to treat it like a free trial is sketchy. And then writing a post complaining is worse.

I think the most important use case is one where you don't already have a Macbook or an iPhone. In fact the most important use case for an iPad is when you don't use computer at all ... http://buzz.dennykmiu.com/ipad-is-the-prequel

you need to own a computer to sync the damn thing.

And I have a computer to sync. But now my parents can have their own computer to browse pictures of their grandkids, read newspapers and magazines in their own language, and an infinite other possibilities as more apps appear, all using their arthritic fingers.

The saturation of computers in this country is very high. Pretty much the only people who don't have one are too poor to afford an iPad.

Then why bother? This is not about poverty. It is about user interface and easy of use.

You claim in your blog post: "Until iPad comes along, only few people can use computers"

I'm not sure what you mean by this: 78% of American households 3 years ago had computers. 95+% of those making over $100k do.

I suspect only two groups don't:

-The poor who can't afford one, let alone an internet connected one

-The elderly who are confused by computers. The iPad is a bit less confusing (but still very much so!), but unfortunately uncomfortable to use (esp. for a senior).

Few people make over $100K so even if 100% of those who make $100K can use a computer, that's still a minority.

" 78% of American households 3 years ago had computers."

I believe the statistic that you are referring to is that it is projected that 78% of the households would have broadband connection by the year 2010 which was a 2005 study. My own experience is that in my own extended family, kids have no problem with computers, but less than one-third of the 18 adults are comfortable enough to use a computer. In any case, I am not making the case that iPad would change the World, but that it is the existence proof that allows the rest of the industry to change the world.

I think the most telling part of the video is the 2 screens he has behind him.

I have seen a few people contemplate getting an ipad, it wasnt to support their primary computer, it was their primary computer, I cant see any use for an iPad, but I have those 2 screens as well.

Given that it's sold out everywhere, I'm sure he won't have trouble finding a buyer. He could probably resell it a slightly higher markup too.

There's plenty at the local Apple stores and Best Buys around here.

Here's hoping we see more of these when people sober up, if nothing else just to spite the newspaper people.

because if there is one group who deserves our spite, it's the newspaper people?

among others, yes, mostly for pushing an unnecessary $500 toy in a time of high unemployment because they plan to monetize it, it's highly unethical.

Seriously? Unethical?

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