I didn't realize how popular iPads were

[xanis]

I was briefly considering an iPad Mini, but I think I'm going to go with the new Nexus 7 instead; no retina display, but it's half the price, so...

 

[SlitheryDee]

I was briefly considering an iPad Mini, but I think I'm going to go with the new Nexus 7 instead; no retina display, but it's half the price, so...

The nexus 7 has practically the same pixel density as the ipad mini. I think it's off by maybe 3 ppi? As far as display quality goes the mini probably has better color reproduction, but in general you're not really taking a significant step down with the nexus 7.

 

[Eug]

The nexus 7 has practically the same pixel density as the ipad mini. I think it's off by maybe 3 ppi? As far as display quality goes the mini probably has better color reproduction, but in general you're not really taking a significant step down with the nexus 7.

Heh, yeah. It seems Apple's Retina advertising wins again. The 2013 Nexus 7 is "Retina" specs-wise even though it isn't labeled as such.

The consideration of the Nexus 7 should be based on ecosystem and OS approach, not screen specs.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The consideration of the Nexus 7 should be based on ecosystem and OS approach, not screen specs.

Don't forget form factor. The Mini and Nexus 7 have different advantages for form factor.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JixbzFjv_cU

I still laugh at that ad campaign.

As for today...I still can't stand touchscreens.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

How many are in each box? I wonder what the retail value of the inventory in that photo is.

10 per box, actually. That's how we get them delivered too.

At $500+ per iPad, 1600 iPads is a minimum of $800k.

 

[poofyhairguy]

As for today...I still can't stand touchscreens.

I guess you will be waiting out the smartphone revolution for the consumer version of Google Glass?

 

[Vdubchaos]

I guess you will be waiting out the smartphone revolution for the consumer version of Google Glass?

It's hype and it will not last for very long.

Personally I don't like anything touchscreen. It works ok for small phones or tablets but I still prefer Laptop/PC + Mouse Keyboard over touchscreen.

And touchscreen PC/Laptops are simply a disaster IMO. No way in hell I want to use that.

But that's just me.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

I guess you will be waiting out the smartphone revolution for the consumer version of Google Glass?

I've been using keyboard smartphones since the Droid 1 came out.

tiny screens + a touchscreen = a bitch. With the tactile feedback of the keyboards/keypads I was able to not even look at my screen while I texted/typed.

It's a fad...something will replace it in the (hopefully) near future.

 

[lxskllr]

It's hype and it will not last for very long.

Personally I don't like anything touchscreen. It works ok for small phones or tablets but I still prefer Laptop/PC + Mouse Keyboard over touchscreen.

And touchscreen PC/Laptops are simply a disaster IMO. No way in hell I want to use that.

But that's just me.

A touchscreen is sufficient for "making do". It's an acceptable trade off for a computer that fits in your pocket. For any kind of real work, a real keyboard is necessary.

 

[Vdubchaos]

A touchscreen is sufficient for "making do". It's an acceptable trade off for a computer that fits in your pocket. For any kind of real work, a real keyboard is necessary.

Yep, like I've always said. Smartphones/Tablets make good Travel companion and toilet material.

My preference is ALWAYS PC/Laptop. I don't even like to type emails on touchscreen device....

 

[rudeguy]

I would take a picture of the iPhone rack at work but I got in trouble when I took a pic of the boxes of 5C's and 5S's that came in.

Lets just say they are really, really popular.

 

[poofyhairguy]

It's hype and it will not last for very long.

And touchscreen PC/Laptops are simply a disaster IMO. No way in hell I want to use that.

We can agree there. Until Intel get more serious about mobile the Windows x86 tablets suck.

 

[Imp]

Damn. That means the free iPad Mini I would get for spending $4500 on an IR camera would be worth a lot less.

 

[poofyhairguy]

It's a fad...something will replace it in the (hopefully) near future.

Global smartphone sales passed a quarter of a billion units for the first time ever this past quarter,

http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/28/s...n-q3-and-samsung-grew-twice-as-fast-as-apple/

If smartphones are a fad than personal computers were a fad.

I think your perspective is biased by the fact you produce on a computer. Once you realize most consumers just consume on a computer, and they want to do it without viruses or keyboards, THEN you will understand why tablets are outselling laptops.

Source:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/16/tablets-to-outsell-pcs/2819451/

 

[rh71]

The iPad 1 is really old now in mobile terms. Its SoC is like a tenth as powerful as an A7 in the new iPads.

It was never a great device hardware-wise. Those who bought first-gen iPads were like first gen iPhone users- they paid a premium to play with the first gen of a new category of devices.

It wasn't until the iPad 2 that the category had a refined product.

Is there a technical reason it can't run iOS 7? Features are disabled for ipad 2 - why can't the same be done with the original ipad? Google reveals no such answer.

Also, ipad 1 still works perfectly fine for Netflix and web browsing (save for the random crash that didn't used to happen) - it doesn't need to be super stocked for its original intended purpose and its hardware doesn't degrade over time. There's no good reason they can give faithful customers that they've been abandoned... "but if you give us another $500..."

 

[xanis]

The consideration of the Nexus 7 should be based on ecosystem and OS approach, not screen specs.

I've never owned an Android device, but I'm sure it's user-friendly enough. It would definitely be an adjustment, though.

Don't forget form factor. The Mini and Nexus 7 have different advantages for form factor.

They're similar enough that I strongly doubt I'd care either way, especially for a difference of $270.

Nexus 7: 7.9 x 4.5 x 0.3
iPad Mini: 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.29

 

[lxskllr]

[ THEN you will understand why tablets are outselling laptops.

Tablets are outselling laptops cause they're the new hotness. People already have laptops that do what they want, so they're buying tablets as an addition. Computers have finally gotten fast enough, and yearly upgrades no longer give a reasonable performance boost.

My desktop is a C2D I built in 2006, and it works great for my needs. I bought my 900mhz CeleronM netbook in 2008, and it's sufficient for mobile computing. It could be faster, but it works for my purposes. I also have an $80 tablet I got as an Ereader/portable web browser. It's a nice addition, but it would be the first to go if I had to choose between my devices.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Is there a technical reason it can't run iOS 7? Features are disabled for ipad 2 - why can't the same be done with the original ipad? Google reveals no such answer.

Yes. Two reasons actually that make good sense:

1. The 256mb of RAM. The ONLY device with the same SoC as the iPad 1 that gets iOS7 is the iPhone 4, and that is because of 512mb of RAM in the phone.

2. The GPU and screen resolution. The GPU of the iPad 1 was the same one the iPhone 4 has (and 3GS actually), but the iPad 1 has a higher screen resolution than the iPhone 4 so the GPU has to push more pixels. Considering the fact that the iPhone 4 can only run iOS 7 with most of the effects turned off means the iPad 1 GPU deficiency was probably too much to overcome. Meanwhile the iPad 2 had a GPU better than anything at that time with the same resolution as the iPad 1 so iOs7 works fine on there.


Quite simply the iPad 1 was a compromise device. Much like the first retina Macbooks the technology was rolled out before the guts were ready and the result is a device with a limited lifespan.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/28/s...n-q3-and-samsung-grew-twice-as-fast-as-apple/

If smartphones are a fad than personal computers were a fad.

I think your perspective is biased by the fact you produce on a computer. Once you realize most consumers just consume on a computer, and they want to do it without viruses or keyboards, THEN you will understand why tablets are outselling laptops.

Source:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/09/16/tablets-to-outsell-pcs/2819451/

I said touchscreens were a fad, not smartphones.

 

[Aikouka]

Maybe something like that will make me like the iPad 2 I got better (Dish sent it to me when I signed up for free). That clunky on screen keyboard ruins the browsing experience for me (and that's mainly what I've been using it for). So far I just don't get the appeal of a tablet - just seems like a weak laptop without a keyboard. If I do seriously browsing as in comparison shopping I just put it down and head for a desktop.

It's nice for an easy, always-on content consumption device. For example, if I want to do some baking, I just open the recipe on my iPad. If I want to look up something real quick, I just use my iPad. If I want to type a forum post like this one? I'd probably prefer a PC. However, I have typed shorter, simpler posts on the iPad.

And then they go ahead & support the ancient iPad 2. Makes no sense haha.

The "ancient" iPad 2 has the exact same SoC as the latest iPod Touch (A5). The iPod Touch is an iPhone 4S with an iPhone 5's screen.

They really need 2048 MB, probably because 64-bit has a bigger memory footprint. I've been getting Safari tab reloads because of the RAM limitation.

Anand said the 64-bit apps end up using 20-30% more memory.

 

[Eug]

I've never owned an Android device, but I'm sure it's user-friendly enough. It would definitely be an adjustment, though.

I own multiple iOS devices, and two Android devices. These include both an iPad 2 and a 2012 Nexus 7.

Just saying "user-friendly enough" is probably oversimplifying things. The Nexus 7 is fine for my tablet needs, but I couldn't wait to replace my Android phone with an iPhone 5s.

It really depends on what you do and how you do it.

Is there a technical reason it can't run iOS 7? Features are disabled for ipad 2 - why can't the same be done with the original ipad? Google reveals no such answer.

Also, ipad 1 still works perfectly fine for Netflix and web browsing (save for the random crash that didn't used to happen) - it doesn't need to be super stocked for its original intended purpose and its hardware doesn't degrade over time. There's no good reason they can give faithful customers that they've been abandoned... "but if you give us another $500..."

I already explained it in this thread. The original iPad only has 256 MB RAM. Big, big problem for current versions of iOS. The iPad 2 has twice the RAM.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I said touchscreens were a fad, not smartphones.

They go hand-in-hand when every major flagship smartphone (even Blackberry!) has a touchscreen.

Heck even Google Glass has a capacitive area. Touch will be around for a while and buttons are dinosaurs. Watch some episodes of TNG and accept the new reality.

 

[rudeguy]

They go hand-in-hand when every major flagship smartphone (even Blackberry!) has a touchscreen.

Heck even Google Glass has a capacitive area. Touch will be around for a while and buttons are dinosaurs. Watch some episodes of TNG and accept the new reality.

DS9 > TSG

Say anything else and I'll kick your ass

 

[Eug]

The original series >> all.