Ipad 2 - 5 out of 5 ??

[bigboss]

The main issue surrounding Apple products like iPad is, people are either on one side or the other. Some Some are ardent supporters and admirers of Apple products, almost to the level of religion. While others hate them and look for every little issue against their products (no wonder "antennagate" blew out of proportion).

I've had my iPad 2 for about 3 weeks now. These are my thoughts:

Plus points:

1) Good battery life.

2) Beautiful screen, and no backlight bleed.

3) Much more useful than I thought, with many medical apps. iWork is brilliant and easy to use. I'm using the iPad exclusively for my projects now. It's certainly not a gimmicky toy (even I thought the same before).

4) AirPrint feature is very handy to print documents wirelessly. AirPlay will become more useful when video support comes with iOS5.

5) I think on a balance, 4:3 screen makes more sense than a 16:9 screen. it's just more comfortable.

6) I considered the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, but it's still early days for Honeycomb tablets. It wasn't useful for me today, with lack of apps, especially medical apps. Like Android phones, Android tablets will take about 2 years to mature. My brother-in-law is an official tester for google products in the US (including chrome books). He was given the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 by Google. He didn't know what to do with it for general use! Ironic it may sound, but he bought the iPad 2 for me (obviously I asked him to get one for me).

Minus points:

1) No flash and Java support. This is a big big negative for me. There are many websites I generally check, which don't work in iPad. I wanted to check some Denon products on their website the other day, but couldn't! I still have to go back to my laptop to check some sites (so we're not still "PC free" as Apple would like us to believe).

2) No dedicated slots for SD card & USB. It's not the end of the world though, as you can buy the adapters. It works well.

3) Contrary to popular belief, the iPad can crash. It has crashed twice so far in the past 3 weeks. But that's the story with Honeycomb tablets as well.

On a balance, I would say that the iPad 2 is a very useful product but far from perfect. It's still the best tablet available in the market today despite its flaws.

 

[Anonymous]

The main issue surrounding Apple products like iPad is, people are either on one side or the other. Some Some are ardent supporters and admirers of Apple products, almost to the level of religion. While others hate them and look for every little issue against their products (no wonder "antennagate" blew out of proportion).

I think this is the wrong way around. The "faults" are not faults, they are purposeful ommisions. usb, sd, no-flash etc are all decisions made by Steve Jobs.

If the iPad had SD, usb and flash support more people would like it and less people would resent the way Apple do business.

Also, for me still the 4:3 screen feels wrong. All my other screens (PC, laptops, 2 TVs, PSP) are widescreen.

One thing not mentioned also is that unless you jailbreak your Apple product, there is only ONE option of where to purchase software...from Apple.

Apple products are about one mans desire to control everything you consume. And they used to be the good guys.

 

[The_Lhc]

And they used to be the good guys.

No such thing. They used to be the market underdog, getting pushed around, now they're the dominant player, doing exactly the same as every other dominant player in their particular market, pushing everyone else around.

It's business, I don't understand why anybody would be surprised by that.

 

[d4v3pum4]

It might be business but companies like Microsoft used to get into trouble for it.

You have to hand it to Apple though, they used to be niche and cool, now they're mainstream and cool. I still can't get over the hype generated whenever the bloke in a turtle neck gets on stage though. As for people queuing up to get the latest phone or tablet. It's just sad.

I just wish reviewers were fair both on the Apple product and the competition instead of just bending over backwards to be complimentary towards them. The tech jounos just need to grow a pair......

 

[Anonymous]

why do people want 1080P playback anyway. the screen has a crap resolution so would not work anyway. ipad 2 is rubbish end of.

 

[Ryan92]

To be fair, each to their own. If you want something that plays flash and crashes, by an android tablet. If you want something that rarely crashes but is a great media solution as well as a pleasure to use, buy an iPad.

PS. There is now a flash browser in Cydia, it crashes a lot 🙂

 

[WishTree]

And they used to be the good guys.

Very well said! I have MBA, Mini, iPhone 4, Cinema Display but still do not like the company and the way they restrict.

For me it is a company with great harware and good software but has serious issues with the concept of 'greater good'..

 

[bigboss]

And they used to be the good guys.

No such thing. They used to be the market underdog, getting pushed around, now they're the dominant player, doing exactly the same as every other dominant player in their particular market, pushing everyone else around.

It's business, I don't understand why anybody would be surprised by that.

Couldn't have put it better. This is exactly my thought.

 

[John Duncan]

why do people want 1080P playback anyway. the screen has a crap resolution so would not work anyway. ipad 2 is rubbish end of.

Actually I rather like mine. What tablet did you get instead of the iPad 2?

EDIT - note also that the iPad 2 has better dpi resolution than my television (by a factor of about three), so looks excellent with movies (even SD ones) up close.

 

[chebby]

why do people want 1080P playback anyway. the screen has a crap resolution so would not work anyway. ipad 2 is rubbish end of.

Quite obviously it isn't "rubbish end of" (sic) unless you are suggesting that everyone who buys one is happy to spend at least £399 just because it is an Apple.

Yes, there is a 'fanboy' element - who will slavishly buy everything Apple make - but most buyers are more discriminating than you imply and are capable of deciding for themselves.

Off topic and just out of interest, what does... "end of" mean please? I read it as meaning that no-one's but your opinion counts, 'end of discussion'.

Was that correct? (I am so behind all the latest idioms. It could mean something entirely different next week!)

Googling 'end of' gets me nowhere.

 

[hammill]

You are right about "end of". Other examples include "Tea tastes horrible and is responsible for the loss of the British Empire, end of"

 

[John Duncan]

You are right about "end of". Other examples include "Tea tastes horrible and is responsible for the loss of the British Empire, end of"

cf: "legacy gear"

 

[Paul.]

In all seriousness though, it means 'End of discussion'

 

[Paul.]

Im pretty sure "end of" means "Apple 4 teh win, w00t!!!1!" (at least thats how I interpreted it 🙂 )

 

[hammill]

Im pretty sure "end of" means "Apple 4 teh win, w00t!!!1!" (at least thats how I interpreted it 🙂 )

I beg your pardon sir, I fear I don't quite follow you.

 

[grifz]

May issue of WHFI magazine cover is ULTIMATE ITUNES UPGRADES-ipod dock+airplay living with Apples wireless wonder.

June issue-a nice big ipad

July issue - Apple tv on cover

August issue-Ipod docks on cover

Then i look through the issues and start counting how many pictures and references of an apple product there is ,well theres a lot

.Sorry i have been up early (puppy)

 

[Alec]

......but it's an apple product and therefore must be great. It takes a brave reviewer to buck the trend and actually review it objectively and deduct marks/points/stars for the flaws rather than just brush over them because everyone else will just award it top marks. Who wants to be the odd one out or isolate themselves from Apple? It's all about marketing and the 'experience'.

Wow.

So, what, we should be feeling sorry for WHF for lacking the testicular fortitude to be honest?

Indeed, are you saying they are not being honest, that they are cowering in a corner giving good reviews willy-nilly, lest the other boys and girls castigate them for being professional, for doing their job?

 

[Anonymous]

......but it's an apple product and therefore must be great. It takes a brave reviewer to buck the trend and actually review it objectively and deduct marks/points/stars for the flaws rather than just brush over them because everyone else will just award it top marks. Who wants to be the odd one out or isolate themselves from Apple? It's all about marketing and the 'experience'.

Wow.

So, what, we should be feeling sorry for WHF fo lacking the testicular fortitude to be honest?

Indeed, are you saying they are not being honest, that they are cowering in a corner giving good reviews willy-nilly, lest the other boys and girls castigate them for being professional, for doing their job?

Based on value for money and functionality, they are more like 3 or 4 star products...they do what they do exceedingly well and are easy to use and look great...however compared to rival products they are expensive and lacking in features. However...they are Apple. And like it or not, many people, including it seems the magazine industry are mesmerized by that little apple chunk.

It's the ultimate placebo effect. Steve J calls a press conference and the media do a little love wee.

 

[John Duncan]

Based on value for money and functionality, they are more like 3 or 4 star products...

Do you think this may be why the Apple TV got three stars in the magazine?

 

[Anonymous]

Based on value for money and functionality, they are more like 3 or 4 star products...

Do you think this may be why the Apple TV got three stars in the magazine?

Fair point, but then it isn't quite so sexy. It isn't a "hands on" product, and probably releases less Apple-pheromones into the blood-stream 🙂P

 

[John Duncan]

Based on value for money and functionality, they are more like 3 or 4 star products...

Do you think this may be why the Apple TV got three stars in the magazine?

Fair point, but then it isn't quite so sexy. It isn't a "hands on" product, and probably releases less Apple-pheromones into the blood-stream 🙂P

True, though it still seems to sell in its millions apparently. The old version with the hard disk was a much cleverer product though. I would still buy an iPad over it's android rivals though (ooo I already did) because the app side of it is *so* much more sorted than android (and will remain so, IMO). And when was the last time you saw a Blackberry Playbook dock in John Lewis? Or an Acerbic Iconia case?

 

[Anonymous]

Based on value for money and functionality, they are more like 3 or 4 star products...

Do you think this may be why the Apple TV got three stars in the magazine?

Fair point, but then it isn't quite so sexy. It isn't a "hands on" product, and probably releases less Apple-pheromones into the blood-stream 🙂P

True, though it still seems to sell in its millions apparently. The old version with the hard disk was a much cleverer product though. I would still buy an iPad over it's android rivals though (ooo I already did) because the app side of it is *so* much more sorted than android (and will remain so, IMO). And when was the last time you saw a Blackberry Playbook dock in John Lewis? Or an Acerbic Iconia case?

If the iPad suits your needs and you're happy tying yourself to only using Apple, to buy software, then it's ideal. As I said, I'd like a tablet, but the iPad fails for me on most counts. Wrong aspect now all my other screens are 16:9, no flash, no java, so the internet isn't a full internet, lack of usb, lack of HDMI, and price.

I prefer the Android devices for functionality, but what I really want is a sorted, inexpensive windows device, with a removable battery and all the above that the iPad lacks.

Essentially I want a netbook, with no keyboard and a proper touchscreen OS, and one that runs my windows software.

Rumours are that MS themselves will be releasing a tablet with Win8...I'm looking forward to that.

 

[bigboss]

Microsoft is responsible for it's own state right now. Since Windows 95, all they've done is little tweaks here & there. It's taken them 15 years to get to Windows 7, & yet it takes almost 2 minutes to start the PC! What progress has Microsoft made? Microsoft famously said that tablets would never take off, & refused to optimise MS Office for tablets, many years before the iPad came in. Being the dominant player in the market, it just rested on its laurels. Tablets of today's quality should have been invented 10 years ago.

It's now trying to play catch up. First it tried with Zune player & failed. It's now trying with Windows phone, & later tablets. For someone who was meant to be a market leader, is now a follower. It's just sad really.

I've got a Windows 7 laptop, but seriously, it's still not up to the levels I'm expecting.

 

[The_Lhc]

That's odd, my Windows 7 laptop is the fasting booting PC I've ever owned, doesn't take anything close to 2 minutes. Even if it did it would probably still be one of the fastest booting PCs I've ever used, some of them used to take an age. The only one that boots faster is my work PC but that's running XP on a core2 duo.

 

[bigboss]

But still it's no patch on macs which boot up in 5-10 secs, or tablets which switch on instantly.