Anyone else not impressed by tablets?

[Pliablemoose]

I'm ambivalent on the LTE update. You'd torch through your monthly totals in one or two netflix movies. Until carriers start offering more data for less the benefit of LTE on a device that can more easily access/use that data is severely gimped.

Yep, I actually went back to 3G on my phones, I used an HTC ThunderBolt for a while and it ate GB's like nothing, the carriers are going to make a killing on overages and plan modifications to higher limits.

 

[vi edit]

Yep, I actually went back to 3G on my phones, I used an HTC ThunderBolt for a while and it ate GB's like nothing, the carriers are going to make a killing on overages and plan modifications to higher limits.

I'm not against it on cellphones because I know my normal useage and what I would want it for. It's for looking up random things when I'm shopping or pulling up a web page to waste time when waiting in line. I'm just not a heavy data user. I don't know if I've ever used more than a gig a month in a years worth of use.

The iPad on the other hand is in a format where I would in theory burn through a lot more data if i was bored...watching a netflix movie while waiting for a car to get serviced, or netflixing while at a hotel, or watching a lot of youtube videos ect. I could see myself getting into a lot more bandwith issues with the high screen size of that device than the dinky little 3.5" display on my phone.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Yeah, the demographics data indicates most iPad purchasers are making ~$75K+ and have college degrees.

Interesting when you compare that to who says they have no use for a tablet here.

Manufacturers would kill for a strong customer base with that much cash.

I'm in that demographic and don't own an iPad. However, I was in the "I'm skeptical of tablets" camp and didn't want to spend $500+ on a device I was afraid would collect dust. So, I jumped on a $150 Touchpad instead to see if I would actually use one and I've found that my laptop pretty much collects dust now. I'm considering upgrading it this year, but I'm not sure if it will be an iPad or not. I still think $500+ is probably too much to pay for a tablet given my typical use.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'm in that demographic and don't own an iPad. However, I was in the "I'm skeptical of tablets" camp and didn't want to spend $500+ on a device I was afraid would collect dust. So, I jumped on a $150 Touchpad instead to see if I would actually use one and I've found that my laptop pretty much collects dust now. I'm considering upgrading it this year, but I'm not sure if it will be an iPad or not. I still think $500+ is probably too much to pay for a tablet given my typical use.

Score a refurb from Apple, the newest iPad generation shows up about 3 months after launch. Apple refurbs are indistinguishable from new ones, carry a full 1 year warranty, and are eligible for Apple Care.

I had one of the $100 touchpads, I gave it away, it worked, but it didn't work well IMHO.

WiFi iPad 16GB gen 1-$299
WiFi iPad 16GB gen 2-$349

I'm getting really torn about keeping the 2 gen 3's I have coming, they're going for ~$725-$750 on craigslist already...

 

[crownjules]

I'm not impressed, but I'm not the demographic they're catered towards. Nor am I reeled in by marketing hype and feel like I need to consume for the sake of consuming. My current devices serve the same purposes as an iPad/tablet just fine.

Tablets are for non-technical people that just need an internet device to browse the web, check email, and play casual games. Tablets offer that with larger screen space over smartphones to make visual media a better experience. So in that market they'll replace the laptop. And that's admittedly a sizable segment.

 

[GotIssues]

Personally, I wouldn't use a tablet for much of anything. I don't even use a laptop for much of anything. It would be a simple toy that would occassionally get used, nothing more, which is why I don't want to spend $500+ on one. I fall well past the $75k+ demographic, but I just don't use my computer for much more than gaming (and I prefer my desktop for that).

However, thanks to Pliablemoose's insight into the refurbs, I might buy my wife one for the hell of it because I think she's fallen victim to the "cool" factor of wanting one.

 

[OverVolt]

I'm planning to take the tablet on vacation, to read books with. And it's great for showing off my photos.

It's almost like you could save $700 by reading a regular book and showing your photos on a laptop or desktop.

I'm not interested in eBooks because you don't own the books. I'm not a fan of leasing something for the same price as it used to take to buy it.

 

[ponyo]

I'm in that demographic and don't own an iPad. However, I was in the "I'm skeptical of tablets" camp and didn't want to spend $500+ on a device I was afraid would collect dust. So, I jumped on a $150 Touchpad instead to see if I would actually use one and I've found that my laptop pretty much collects dust now. I'm considering upgrading it this year, but I'm not sure if it will be an iPad or not. I still think $500+ is probably too much to pay for a tablet given my typical use.

Do you have CM9 (ICS) installed on your Touchpad? If not, I would try that before even entertaining the thought of buying another tablet.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Do you have CM9 (ICS) installed on your Touchpad? If not, I would try that before even entertaining the thought of buying another tablet.

Or sell the TouchPad and make 100%+ on the thing, put it towards a refurb 16GB gen II iPad.

The TouchPads are still sought after, another 6-12 months, not so much...

 

[Sho'Nuff]

That used to be true, however currently, I think that's not accurate, look at Anands reviews of Apple products for the last few years.

You might also ask the manufacturers about how "mediocre" the iPad is, they seem to have a hard time keeping up.

I keep seeing phrases like "The XXX tablet is the best tablet that isn't the iPad, but if you want a tablet, buy an iPad"

But hey, hold onto those misconceptions.

To be fair, Pliable's comments are only misconceptions when it comes to the ipad and, perhaps, the iphone. Apple's mac books and desktop computers are powered by equipment that was, in many cases, old 2 years ago.

Part out the hardware in a macbook pro (minus gimmicks like the thunderbolt I/O that likely won't catch on), and you will see that Apple is charging a ~30-40% price premium for a decent OS and a really nice design. The only reason I own a Macbook and am contemplating replacing it with another is because it is wife proof (my wife doesn't need me to tell her how to operate it) and because it interfaces seamlessly with the other Apple devices we own (2 iphones, 1 ipad).

That really sums up Apple's genius in a nutshell. They make a useful product that is idiot proof, reasonably powerful, and very, very pretty. That is what 80% of the market wants. Us geeks on Anandtech don't give two shits about the design because it does nothing for us. And we don't care about usability because we are, in most instances, power users who know how to get what we want from less user friendly platforms.

Case in point, if you think Linux is user friendly, the Apple OS and hardware is not likely to impress.

 

[ponyo]

Or sell the TouchPad and make 100%+ on the thing, put it towards a refurb 16GB gen II iPad.

The TouchPads are still sought after, another 6-12 months, not so much...

I wouldn't dream of selling the Touchpad. CM9 is already on nightly and it won't be long til CM9 final is released. I'll take CM9 Touchpad over iPad 2. I think Android ICS is the best mobile OS right now. Touchpad is very special tablet, only one with dual boot.

If you're thinking long term resale value, I would put my money on the Touchpad over iPad2. Neither will likely be worth crap in the future but the Touchpad has a shot at being collector's item 10-20 years out. No one will give a damn about iPad2 when iPad20 is out.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Us geeks on Anandtech don't give two shits about the design because it does nothing for us. And we don't care about usability because we are, in most instances, power users who know how to get what we want from less user friendly platforms.

There's another thing going on here too, I've gotten PM's from a ton of people that own Apple products here that don't admit to owning them publicly.

And since a lot of you all don't visit the Apple forum, a lot of people fly under the radar here that post in the Apple sub forum.

I'm posting this on a Dell I got for cheap a few years ago, but I have more than a few Apple devices. And if you look up the thread further, you'd see I'm rocking a giant SSG Note and a couple of non Apple tablets and a Kindle (I still prefer reading e ink over LCD) to drag along to work, in the 7" form factor (I'll be selling them (the Flyer and PlayBook) since the Note is more convenient to take along and does double duty for me at work) I'll likely always own a Windows OS'd device, just like I;ll always likely own a pickup in one form or another.

Also, the current generation MBA is pretty sweet, if you've used one, you'd be impressed. Rumor is Apple will be remaking the laptop line to reflect MBA design cues and without a HDD or CD/DVD rom drive, the Air spawned a whole new group of thin notebooks.

The Thunderbolt spec Windows PC's will start showing up soon, and I suspect we'll see more peripherals that take advantage of it.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/eyes-on-with-thunderbolt-on-windows-at-idf-2011-video/

 

[13Gigatons]

Tablets are the new netbooks.

 

[bearxor]

I wouldn't dream of selling the Touchpad. CM9 is already on nightly and it won't be long til CM9 final is released. I'll take CM9 Touchpad over iPad 2. I think Android ICS is the best mobile OS right now. Touchpad is very special tablet, only one with dual boot.

If you're thinking long term resale value, I would put my money on the Touchpad over iPad2. Neither will likely be worth crap in the future but the Touchpad has a shot at being collector's item 10-20 years out. No one will give a damn about iPad2 when iPad20 is out.

As an iPad user that recently had to go to a CM9 touchpad for various reason, I couldn't disagree with you more.

But hey, opinions are like...

 

[D1gger]

I just got the email telling me my iPad Gen3 has shipped. I've never seen the need for one, but my wife and I plan on doing more travelling, and we like to travel very light, so being able to take a tablet and do everything I need with one small device should be sweet.

 

[Crono]

The newest generations of ultrabooks (including Macbook Air) and Windows 8 tablets (especially convertible ones) are going to start eating iPad sales by year's end.

Greater functionality and power (which is what most netbooks lacked) in addition to lightweight portability are attractive selling points to people who need to work on the go, or who want higher end gaming than the iPad or Android tablets can deliver.

I want a Zenbook or the new Samsung Series 9 so bad. There's a healthy amount of competition in the ultrabook category early this year, and I'm hoping prices continue to drop from just below $1,000 to below $800. I wouldn't even consider a tablet at that point.

 

[KeithTalent]

I have a phone and a PC; absolutely zero use for a tablet.

KT

 

[SirStev0]

I want one.

 

[vi edit]

The newest generations of ultrabooks (including Macbook Air) and Windows 8 tablets (especially convertible ones) are going to start eating iPad sales by year's end

I disagree. They'll take a small percent of sales, but it's not going to be anything significant. Part of the appeal of the tablets is the "un-pc" nature of them. They are simply easy to use appliances. You turn it on, it works. App installs are cake. Malware and viruses are (essentially) nonexistent threats at this time. There's no driver issues. Endless numbers of security patches. Ect.

They are also reasonably priced...all things considered..for the function, portability, and battery life they provide. A 16 gig wifi iPad is almost half the price of an 11" MBA. Other branded "ultra books" aren't priced much better.

 

[BoberFett]

Meh, he's posted dozens of times how much he hates anything Apple, he just waits for threads like this to try to prove his point.

The best thing, is that Apple has been kicking ass in a struggling economy, now that it's picking up, it's going to be pretty brutal if you're an Apple hater. I freaked out the other day in the subway here, I saw dozens of people using Apple products, it actually weirded me out a little.

Correct, I do hate Apple. I despise what they're doing to the future of computing. Anybody who values freedom in computing should. Compared to Apple's iron-fisted control of the entire hardware and software stack, Microsoft is a comparatively benevolent force championing the rights of users everywhere, which is a pretty sorry state of things.

And I don't doubt that the imbecilic masses flock to an idiot proof device. Of course this is the same group of people which allows... nay demands that the government set up a fantastic, fun-loving organization like the TSA to grope us as we stand in line because of a single violent incident over a decade ago. So I guess it's not surprising that those same sheep would gladly trade freedom of choice for the ease of not having to think.

Yay, Angry Birds!!!

 

[vi edit]

Correct, I do hate Apple. I despise what they're doing to the future of computing. Anybody who values freedom in computing should. Compared to Apple's iron-fisted control of the entire hardware and software stack, Microsoft is a comparatively benevolent force championing the rights of users everywhere, which is a pretty sorry state of things.

As a past (current?) developer do you not at least appreciate the ability to publish a title to a couple hundred million possible people for next to zero cost on your end? If anything the Apple store has been an incredible tool to developers with little access to publishing/marketing resources.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Just a bit of trivia, since it's claimed iPads are sold to consumers already in the ecosystem, 70% of iPad 2 launch sales went to brand new Apple customers.

I'm seeing estimates of a million gen III iPads are going to be sold on launch day.

And Boba Fett, you realize HTML 5 changes everything, right? And that Apple is one of the companies pushing HTML 5?

Your solution to your hatred of Apple (LOL, Apple kills babies and starts wars I guess) is for everyone to run Windows? It's voluntary, there will always be platforms with more freedom. Dunno that Microsoft is in danger of losing any markets that I can see.

Web Apps, all beyond Apple's control, it'll be a whole new game. The wild wild west actually...

Tethering for iPads & iPhones all from an HTML 5 web app, but you knew HTML 5 would destroy the App Store, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GkbAiRMf40

 

[Fingolfin269]

And I don't doubt that the imbecilic masses flock to an idiot proof device. Of course this is the same group of people which allows... nay demands that the government set up a fantastic, fun-loving organization like the TSA to grope us as we stand in line because of a single violent incident over a decade ago.

Lol, in other words "If you like Apple then you like them TSA crotch grabbers. Neener!"

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Anything with a screen smaller than my PC can fuck off.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Lol, in other words "If you like Apple then you like them TSA crotch grabbers. Neener!"

Yeah, I browsed his last 200 or so posts, he seems pretty angry, unhappy.

shrug... I remember that crazy depressed shit when I lived in the great white North, always sort of felt trapped by the economy and everything, sort of like being in an episode of Prarie Home Companion on Quaaludes.