Evening Reading: Game Padding

So the iPad is real and as expected games got part of the spotlight during its mediarific unveiling. (iPad News and Discussion thread) Not much surprise given the success -- both real and perceived -- of game apps for the iPhone/Touch. But, much like the device itself, what looked like a slam dunk before the show has become the subject of some uncertainty now that the details are out.

Before the show-and-tell even ended I was questioning all the hype given games in the run-up to the announcement. Back when we did the John's iPhone game of the week segment on the podcast it would seriously divide the audience because the cool games on the platform often fell outside the conventional expectations. It was what made them intriguing and one of the main reasons I was wanted a Touch just for games. At the iPad announcement, only two games, a shooter and racing game, were shown. It doesn't get much more traditional in video games than that.

That's not to say the other games won't be part of it all. The iPad runs all the existing apps so that's not an issue. The decision to show these off, though, points to the trap posed by the larger screen. It's going to be easy to get caught up in making games to "take advantage" of it. But traditional games and high fidelity multimedia gaming haven't been the strength of handheld gaming, just ask the PSP.

For that matter, the iPad isn't exactly a handheld as we usually think of it in the game world anyway. I mean, it's not like you're going to jam it in your pocket. I'm looking forward to playing around with one but for the moment I don't think I need or want the cool iPhone/Touch games blown up. I don't see myself sitting around the house where I have real HD consoles set up wanting to play more ordinary games either. And I wonder whether developers can justify dedicated iPad versions of games when the installed base is so strong already for the smaller size. We've seen divided platforms before; it's not pretty.

We did have some other eye-catching stories on Shack today:

In case you haven't already seen it, MadTV predicted iPad a while ago

If you like that Bayonetta ad, here's the addictive music from it

Oh, and we're giving away 10 copies of some game called Mass Effect 2 -- 5 PC and 5 Xbox 360. You know the drill, in the comments.

UPDATE: To be specific, this is the Mass Effect 2 contest thread. The rest will be nuked and who wants to make the mods have to spend all night nuking?

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 27, 2010 6:00 PM

    I wasn't especially inspired by the iPad, but it doesn't look horrible.

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      January 27, 2010 6:02 PM

      I think it'll do a lot of things okay, but nothing great. Maybe version 2 will be better.

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      January 27, 2010 6:02 PM

      If I'm going to buy something that large, footprint size, I'll go for a full tablet laptop instead. The iPhone is a good size for that impressive of an interface, but at the iPad size, it's nothing really new beyond branding.

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      January 27, 2010 6:03 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:03 PM

      Do you agree that this is the most important product Jobs has been an part of?

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        January 27, 2010 6:05 PM

        [deleted]

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        January 27, 2010 6:06 PM

        he's lost the fucking plot if he really believes this; I blame the new liver its obviously defective.

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        January 27, 2010 6:09 PM

        [deleted]

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        January 27, 2010 6:11 PM

        City will be built around it.

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          January 27, 2010 6:12 PM

          Cities. Ugh.

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            January 27, 2010 6:17 PM

            No, the iPad will unify everything into one sleek-cornered mass: CITY.

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          January 27, 2010 7:17 PM

          ooh, he's making a segway joke.. very nice..

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        January 27, 2010 6:22 PM

        The amazing thing is that it has a web browser in it. A truly revolutionary innovation that only Apple could create! Tablets with browsers. Browsers on tablets. It's the Reese's peanut butter cup of computing.

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        January 27, 2010 6:23 PM

        Has to be the iPod. Everyone has one. Everyone pretty much likes them. Many homes have several of them.

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        January 27, 2010 6:30 PM

        #1 iPhone
        #2 iPad
        #3 iPod

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          January 27, 2010 6:34 PM

          How the iPod which put apple back on the map and the device that is the base of the first two listed gets ranked #3 us beyond me.

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            January 27, 2010 6:35 PM

            Yeah, iPod #1, iPhone #2, nothing else comes close.

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              January 27, 2010 7:18 PM

              I think iPhone #1, iPod #2.. he took over an established industry.. ipods came out "near" the beginning of the mp3 player "revolution".

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                January 27, 2010 7:32 PM

                iPhone has not taken over just yet. It's not even available for every carrier. People overestimate the market saturation of the iPhone. While the iPod dominates and nothing else comes close.

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                  January 27, 2010 9:18 PM

                  But in terms of IMPORTANCE, its pretty high up there. I really wonder why Steve said that about this tablet. It was a giant card to play but from what we saw no one agrees.

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            January 27, 2010 6:50 PM

            I think that iTunes was far, far more important than the iPod. MP3 players were doing pretty alright around the birth of the iPod. It was iTunes, and the iTunes store and idea that really galvanized the system. I'd rank it as iTunes, iPhone, iPad.

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            January 27, 2010 10:36 PM

            The iPad more important than the iPod? Lay down the pipe.

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        January 27, 2010 7:14 PM

        I think the Apple I is still the most important

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        January 27, 2010 7:18 PM

        Didn't he work on some personal computer in the 80s?

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        January 27, 2010 10:36 PM

        No, I'd say that's the iPod and then the move to Intel and OSX.

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      January 27, 2010 6:03 PM

      I haven't been following much but what crowd is it aimed for besides the apple drones?

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        January 27, 2010 6:05 PM

        People who have gigantic hands and want an ipod touch

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      January 27, 2010 6:04 PM

      It looks like a fun toy but nothing I would be willing to do work on, which is what I'd rather use a tablet pc for.

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      January 27, 2010 6:05 PM

      1. It's the perfect computer for people who don't already use or know how to use computers.
      2. It's really complimentary to people who already own itunes content.
      3. eBooks and magazines are going to be a big market and this may be the reader of choice, as 99% of people don't have the slightest clue what "e-ink" is or why it's better for reading.
      4. The hardware is pretty slick.
      5. Welcome to the dawn of trusted computing.

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      January 27, 2010 6:05 PM

      It's basically like magic. Just like magic.

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      January 27, 2010 6:06 PM

      I kind of wish the thing was a bit more open. I was thinking about little things like printing and the fact that Safari is the only browser that will ever be on the thing meaning no user scripts or things like that.

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      January 27, 2010 6:07 PM

      I look forward to seeing what HP, HTC, Google, and Microsoft have in mind for the same form-factor. I think they can do much better with little effort.

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        January 27, 2010 6:08 PM

        And cheaper.

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        January 27, 2010 6:17 PM

        Yeah if anything this has opened the door for something better

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        January 27, 2010 6:20 PM

        I don't think HP or Microsoft has it in them. HP has made a few attempts but they were built on Windows and Windows just doesn't do touchscreens very well. Proper touchscreen software needs to be created from scratch; making titlebars bigger isn't good touchscreen software.

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          January 27, 2010 6:25 PM

          Nah, you can use Windows or OSX or Android or Linux or whatever as your base OS and put whatever GUI on top.

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            January 27, 2010 6:29 PM

            I agree. I've written a lot of touchscreen apps on top of Windows, but it was custom software written from the ground up to work with a touchscreen. It's not just a normal Windows GUI running with big toolbars and fonts.

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          January 27, 2010 6:45 PM

          [deleted]

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            January 27, 2010 7:06 PM

            1000% agreed. They have to develop the hardware and software together and in service of the purpose of the device, just like they did with the XBox 360, if its really going to compete.

            Running a desktop version of Windows on a tablet isn't going to cut it.

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            January 27, 2010 7:49 PM

            But do you think they'd be willing to do that and not slap Windows on it?

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          January 27, 2010 7:20 PM

          Between Surface and the ZuneHD I think they could develop a pretty solid OS.

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          January 27, 2010 8:07 PM

          What did you think of Windows 7's touch interface? It may not have been perfect, but it seemed like the first attempt at showing that MS actually gives a shit about touchscreens. After using Surface, I know that it's physically possible for them to make a good touchscreen interface, they just need to work on it more.

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            January 27, 2010 10:12 PM

            I haven't seen or used the touch interface beyond a really lame demo I saw at one of those Win 7 developer day things. I agree they do care about them -- they need to look like they're keeping up technology-wise with Apple, but I don't ever see them building a device that does what an iPad does that doesn't somehow involve Windows. They'd be cutting themselves off at the knees compared to what they're going to make off selling copies of Win7 and Office installed on a Windows Tablet PC.

            Can you imagine them making a custom touchscreen version of MS Office then selling it for $10/app? Yeah me neither.

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        January 27, 2010 6:30 PM

        [deleted]

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        January 27, 2010 6:44 PM

        [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:08 PM

      the whole event and hype was a joke from day 1. and the device is part of that joke.

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      January 27, 2010 6:09 PM

      is this bad humor i dont know http://0.thumbs.4chan.org/g/thumb/1264643192000s.jpg

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      January 27, 2010 6:09 PM

      [deleted]

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        January 27, 2010 6:20 PM

        [deleted]

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          January 27, 2010 6:24 PM

          well apple doesnt want to cannabilize the macbook market, it is $999 isnt it? that's not too bad

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        January 27, 2010 6:42 PM

        ^^^ Yep. The average poster on the Shack is not the target demographic for the iPad. I was thinking earlier today that one would be great for my mother, if it only had a webcam so she could Skype with me.

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        January 27, 2010 6:48 PM

        [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:09 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:09 PM

      It looks fun but you can't be productive on it, so I'll rather get a Macbook Pro.

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        January 27, 2010 6:10 PM

        It's a badass tablet.

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          January 27, 2010 6:16 PM

          [deleted]

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            January 27, 2010 6:19 PM

            You can draw on it. It's a badass tablet for the price.

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              January 27, 2010 6:22 PM

              I doubt I can draw on it as well as I can on my intuos 4.

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              January 27, 2010 6:22 PM

              [deleted]

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                January 27, 2010 6:24 PM

                *shrug* maybe...maybe not

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                  January 27, 2010 6:27 PM

                  [deleted]

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                    January 27, 2010 6:28 PM

                    [deleted]

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                      January 27, 2010 6:30 PM

                      I will reserve judgment for the final product.

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                        January 27, 2010 6:37 PM

                        [deleted]

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                          January 27, 2010 6:41 PM

                          Sorry, I was on the phone and could not expound on the subject. Perhaps you are right about the tablet not being pressure sensitive...but what if it is? What then? Can we automatically dismiss such an item prior to its arrival if we think it does not have some capabilities? I think not.

                          I will reserve judgment. Perhaps you are right, however.

                          The End.

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          January 27, 2010 6:18 PM

          sure, if you hate carrying on a conversation on IM while surfing the internet

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      January 27, 2010 6:11 PM

      again, it looks like it will mature into a very nice device. there will often be times when i wake up, and i want to check my email and surf the web before getting up. this is something that could fill that need, if i don't feel like getting up to get my laptop. sure, i could have my laptop sitting next to my bed, but it seems that the target for this is still someone who ALREADY has a laptop.

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        January 27, 2010 6:13 PM

        or, what manero's link said. sometimes i travel, and i want web access, but my phone screen is way too small to deal with when i'm not sitting on an airplane, but my macbook pro is a little too "big" to take with me. an ipad would be a nice touch. or, a netbook, sure. but this is pretty sexy.

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        January 27, 2010 6:13 PM

        Agree. It's a companion to a laptop, not a replacement IMO

      • gmd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
        reply
        January 27, 2010 6:25 PM

        it is great for someone that has a desktop but doesn't want a laptop just something simple I can move about the home

        • gmd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
          reply
          January 27, 2010 6:25 PM

          and by someone i mean me

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          January 27, 2010 6:26 PM

          yeah this is why i'm interested in it.

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          January 27, 2010 6:32 PM

          I hate to agree with giant metal dog, but yeah

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          January 27, 2010 9:28 PM

          if i get one this will be why

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 6:13 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:16 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:16 PM

      until i use one i dont think its for me. that said i can think of people that would love one.

      my mum liked my ipod touch but it was too small for her to use for anything she asked me "why dont they make a bigger one that i can read text on" and thats what they have done. they have their laptop (which is a 17inch desktop replacement) and it stays put, it never moves. i could see my mum getting on of these so she can read internet news and send emails from the couch.


      i think it might end up being one of those things you change your mind about when you try it.

      like Anal.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 6:16 PM

      If only someone would create multi-touch interactive porno

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      January 27, 2010 6:17 PM

      Same. Maybe v2 when it has a camera and a 16:9 res. 4:3 wtf Apple it's 2010.

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      January 27, 2010 6:19 PM

      John Gruber of DaringFireball got to play with it and said he was really impressed with it and that the web surfing was really snappy. I don't know, I'm not too impressed, but I think I would get my money's worth because lying on my couch and surfing the web and playing games on a big ipod touch sounds like something I would spend a lot of time doing.

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        January 27, 2010 7:26 PM

        I am shocked, shocked that John Gruber was impressed with a new Apple product.

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      January 27, 2010 6:20 PM

      with some custom apps this thing could grow huge in some areas. a Medical specific app that hospitals could use and nurses/doctors could carry it around with them to pull up a patients chart etc.

      some little plugins like a barcode/RFid reader and it could dominate warehouse stocktaking etc

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 6:21 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:24 PM

      10" iPod Touch, who isn't excited by that?

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      January 27, 2010 6:25 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:26 PM

      ok so next gen ipad will have that capacitive recharging thing in it front facing camera.
      support flash.
      and iphone os 4 will support proper multitasking (as next gen iphone will have a much better cpu and battery

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        January 27, 2010 6:31 PM

        Flash support won't happen, they'll resist it until HTML5 goes standard and then it won't really be an issue anymore.

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          January 27, 2010 6:32 PM

          ok fine, no flash, BUT IN A SHOCKING MOVE, silverlight support.

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          January 27, 2010 6:33 PM

          lol, HTML5 isn't going to displace Flash anytime soon, if ever.

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            January 27, 2010 6:41 PM

            It won't really matter once video embedding works. That's the only significant thing that the lack of Flash brings to mobile devices.

            Games are the only wide usage of Flash that I don't see being displaced by HTML5. Even now AJAX covers so much. I can't imagine how shitty some of those AJAX heavy pages would be if they used Flash instead.

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          January 27, 2010 6:36 PM

          if it had flash support i could just recompile winchatty and it would run on the ipad :( fuck html5

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          January 27, 2010 6:37 PM

          I really do applaud them for standing strong against Flash. It will take someone like Apple (and more) to turn the tide. At this point, I'm not sure that a web developer can completely ignore the market of users that would be left out were crucial elements of their site to be available only through Flash.

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            January 27, 2010 10:40 PM

            Yeah, it will take 10% of the browser market to turn the tide.

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          January 27, 2010 10:39 PM

          People keep saying this and it makes me laugh. The transition to ubiquitous HTML5 will take years. I mean browsers still battle on basic standards. What makes people think Flash will become irrelevant over night?

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      January 27, 2010 6:28 PM

      [deleted]

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        January 27, 2010 6:38 PM

        There are plenty of tablet convertibles out or coming out based on netbook platforms. Check out Viliv's products and the new stuff they announced at CES.

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      January 27, 2010 6:30 PM

      Probably not for me but I can also see that its a great alternative to Macbooks or netbooks. Cheaper than a Macbook, faster than a netbook, with very nice hardware. It having an IPS display is huge points from me. It has functional limitations out of the box but based on the hands on videos it seems to do what its made for pretty well. Apps will fill out the rest like it did with the iPhone.

      I secretly hope that this negates the need for me to buy another Macbook Pro when I decide to retire my current one. The price is just too good, but I'm not sure.

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        January 27, 2010 6:38 PM

        I think App developers will do a lot of the filling out, like with the iPhone. A lot of people are just harping on what it isn't doing right now, but the possibilities of new apps specifically for that size is great.

        For example all those recipe apps could turn into full on cooking assistants now that it's big enough to read from a distance. Advance recipe steps by voice commands, don't have to touch it with greasy hands, etc... I know I'd love that.

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        January 27, 2010 6:41 PM

        [deleted]

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          January 27, 2010 6:51 PM

          That's exactly what I'm thinking. Aside from occassional FTP and booting into Windows to play TF2 or L4D2, which I did exactly three times last year, I could easily have done all that stuff on an iPad. I got the MBP partly for Final Cut Pro, and its installed, but I never use it, ever. iChat is the biggest "if"; there better be an awesome client made for it.

          I dunno, I can't commit to buying a tablet without a test drive, but I'm all for saving a few bucks with this thing instead of a notebook if it works well.

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            January 27, 2010 7:05 PM

            [deleted]

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              January 27, 2010 7:09 PM

              I know, its almost as stupid a notion as a "gaming" laptop.

              Ok, gaming laptops are super stupid, but the point still stands. :)

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      January 27, 2010 6:35 PM

      Personally I'm gonna wait for something a little cheaper running Win7

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        January 27, 2010 6:36 PM

        or Linux lolz

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        January 27, 2010 6:39 PM

        [deleted]

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          January 27, 2010 6:45 PM

          And we still do. :)

          Looked pathetic before, looks even more pathetic now. I have higher hopes for a custom version of Android or Chrome OS on a tablet.

          Microsoft needs to get their heads out of their asses. Full desktop operating systems on generic tablet hardware has failed for years because it doesn't work. The sooner they ship a tablet with a specialized OS the better.

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            January 27, 2010 6:57 PM

            [deleted]

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              January 27, 2010 7:12 PM

              Microsoft needs to ditch that line of thinking and approach tablets like they did with the ZuneHD or XBox, ditto their reliance on handset partners for their mobile devices. It simply doesn't work, they're getting creamed by Apple and RIM, and if they don't react accordingly they will also get smoked in tablets. They have been in the touchscreen market for years and they still have yet to gain any traction in it.

              • reply
                January 27, 2010 7:15 PM

                They should just make Courier and call it a day.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 6:36 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:40 PM

      I don't understand how a device such as this can't multitask.

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        January 27, 2010 6:56 PM

        I'm sure it can, it just doesn't because Steve Jobs doesn't think that would be an elegant design.

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      January 27, 2010 6:42 PM

      [deleted]

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        January 27, 2010 6:49 PM

        [deleted]

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          January 27, 2010 6:52 PM

          people are asking for a smaller bezel, not no bezel at all

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            January 27, 2010 6:54 PM

            this, using your fingers and your thumb placed vertically along the edge does not require a 1.5" bezel around it or however big it is.

            it's even more comfortable to hold your thumb that way then straight out horizontal pressing down on it with the tip.

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          January 27, 2010 6:54 PM

          I have a feeling jobs would never approve such a bezel, but it had to be done for something, battery life maybe, or it had to be big for old people to hold it easier

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            January 27, 2010 6:55 PM

            i think they won't to use the same case and shit to introduced a refreshed model with a bigger screen that has a smaller bezel but isn't larger overall.

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            January 27, 2010 7:14 PM

            A place to grip it. Yeah, approving that bezel had to be one of the worst compromises he had to make, it really doesn't look good.

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              January 27, 2010 7:17 PM

              example : http://i47.tinypic.com/2hqfekl.jpg

              completely sturdy and easy to hold like that on both edges for easy extended reading. completely supported by my hand under it.

              it's unnecessary as i demonstrated to coworkers who argued the same thing.

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                January 27, 2010 7:25 PM

                i heard the ipad is actually pretty heavy

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                January 27, 2010 7:29 PM

                Its a pound and a half, you'll want to get one thumb around and on the front of it if you want to hold it up. The Kindle weighs a lot less and its bezel is also made for holding that way. Pretty necessary sometimes.

                The face of the iPad is also glass, you really don't want to be dropping it, nor do you want to give a legitimate excuse for damaged iPads from droves of customers that were all holding the edges with their fingertips because they didn't want to block the display.

                It doesn't look great but any device I've tried in tha size has had a bezel of some sort.

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                  January 27, 2010 7:32 PM

                  we'll see, but with that little ridge around it like the iphone has i think it would work just fine.

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                January 27, 2010 7:33 PM

                [deleted]

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                  January 27, 2010 7:48 PM

                  you wouldn't need to hold it that way much. when reading stuff you hold it with both hands and just take off one for a second to pick something.

                  we'll see tho, like i said.

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                January 27, 2010 8:31 PM

                how could you hold it like that and press on the screen with the other hand? you'd drop it right away

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      January 27, 2010 6:44 PM

      [deleted]

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        January 27, 2010 6:51 PM

        yeah it's a pretty good device for grandparents, the text is big, avoid spyware
        if textbooks catch on, would be great carrying a 1.5lb device than a bunch of 2lb books
        and the device should be durable, no moving parts, would last longer than netbooks and laptops.
        its not that bad for $499

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        January 27, 2010 7:25 PM

        I can understand that. That is why many of the people who know how to actually use a computer think this is a joke. The iPad in a way brings us one step closer to idiocracy . Now old people don't need to learn how to use a computer, let's just lock them into what Apple wants. Apple has the final say in everything that is executed on the iPad. Apple doesn't give the user the chance to make mistakes, hence the user doesn't learn from them either. Old folks don't need to do much anyway, so that's fine for them, but not for everyone else who's already learned how do do things. The true revolutionary device would be one that does the same thing but doesn't limit people. Give me that same damn device but able to run a real OS on it and I would have thought about buying one. I like the idea behind it, I just don't like not being able to do what I want to with it other then their approved apps.

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        January 27, 2010 8:52 PM

        [deleted]

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          January 27, 2010 11:17 PM

          Apple is not about making products. Like any company, they're about making money. Product is simply a means to an end.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 6:46 PM

      [deleted]

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      January 27, 2010 6:52 PM

      I really can't decide if I want one. I think I'm gonna wait until after the wifi one comes out and see what the reviews coming in say. I think it looks awesome for a lot of things, but definitely lacks some of the functionality I was hoping for.

      I just wanted something that looked at some of the functions of the courier and said "hey that's a good idear" and thieved them and made them their own. Also it's a 1 ghz processor and we still have no multitasking? Fucking limit it to 5 apps if you really want but let me fucking listen to pandora and browse through the new york times. It's re god damn diculous.

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      January 27, 2010 6:56 PM

      I will buy either the 32 gig or 64 gig one, without 3G.. I hate how long my netbook takes to boot up, and the browser is slow as shit anyway. Between that and the photo capability, it'll be a nice system..

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      January 27, 2010 7:09 PM

      I'd probably snap one up if they added Flash support and multitasking. For my use, I don't need 10hr battery life so i'd sacrifice some for multitasking functionality and I just need Flash since it's used on so many webpages.

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      January 27, 2010 7:22 PM

      sooo smax. time to eat some poop

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      January 27, 2010 7:23 PM

      I will buy this. Use it for sketching (with a 3rd party stylus and autodesk). Then when v2 comes out, i will give it to my wife and she can facebook on it.

      that being said.. they really need to fix the deficiencies soon before they open the door too wide for competition.

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        January 27, 2010 8:29 PM

        There's no pressure sensitivity on this thing. Stylus won't work...

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      January 27, 2010 7:37 PM

      No flash really is just a big meh.

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        January 27, 2010 7:44 PM

        Sup Buddy. I agree.

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          January 27, 2010 7:53 PM

          (but it also really sucks for web devs that have gone down the road of flash on many sites.... due to client needs, choices, or whatever. Just takes time to refresh to new standards... html5 etc.)

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        January 27, 2010 8:02 PM

        No kidding, I would have been interested if it actually did flash. As it is, it looks like a big ipod. I'm not paying $500 for a big ipod.

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        January 27, 2010 8:33 PM

        Once that mobile Flash comes out for other OSs I'll be even less interested.

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      January 27, 2010 8:03 PM

      One thing that can't be overstated is what this means for developers. They now have an extremely rich and powerful platform to develop on with virtually no preexisting competition (excluding current iPhone apps). Couple that with an already well established means of sale and distribution, and you have a great combination of factors to promote creativity.

      For example, I would love an iPad app that would mimic the functionality of this device: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJwxbTKwONc

      Its something you simply couldn't recreate properly on any other platform. If the iPad becomes home to this type of software, it will create a fantastic new niche in computing.

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      January 27, 2010 8:06 PM

      No 16:9, no Flash, no handwriting recognition, no deal.

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        January 27, 2010 8:17 PM

        no handwriting recognition? do you enjoy writing slowly on touchscreen devices?

        'cause I can't see why someone would absolutely need this. and if you're writing Chinese or Japanese, there's already handwriting recognition for that.

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          January 27, 2010 8:52 PM

          I hate touchscreen keyboards more than anything. I would buy this in a heartbeat if it had handwriting recognition. Would be amazing to take to class to take notes on.

          • reply
            January 27, 2010 10:27 PM

            ^^^This. I hate software keyboards, but if the tablet had handwriting recognition it could actually be a viable replacement for textbooks. Despite whatever agreements they have, if I can't easily take notes in my digital textbook it's not really of much use to me.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:06 PM

      Can I use it as an XBMC remote? If so, sold! Having to have the TV on to browse music sucks

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:16 PM

        [deleted]

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:09 PM

          Yeah, I want a more badass app with cover art etc. and a slicker UI taking advantage of the larger screen - I wonder how long it will take

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:20 PM

      I totally forgot about this but it better be fucking fixed in iPhone OS 4. Please get rid of comic sans in notes

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:31 PM

        BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WROTE IT!!

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 9:13 PM

        That is not comic sans.

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:19 PM

          I'm sorry. Marker felt thin or whatever the hell it's called. It looks just as bad and needs to go away.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 9:15 PM

        All I want is voice recognition everywhere just like NexusOne. I will be very disappointed if they are unable or unwilling to integrate it with the OS.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 10:50 PM

        Get ready for disappointment. Same font is used in the iPad build of Notes...

        You could always use my app. :P www.cocoatasks.com (yes I am a $2 whore)

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:23 PM

      This may sound retarted but if this was foldable into thirds, it would be great. Im guessing the technology or materials are not there yet for that.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:24 PM

      My roommate is drooling over it... it just looks like a glorified iPod and I already have one of those

    • gmd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
      reply
      January 27, 2010 8:28 PM

      Everyone comparing this to a lowend laptop or netbook is a retard. Some people don't want either, they already have a home pc and don't want another, but what they do want is a nice slim, slick device that has Internet capability. It also helps that it is well designed and doesn't look like it was made by a group of 60 year old engineers.

      • gmd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
        reply
        January 27, 2010 8:29 PM

        Also comparing to the iPod or iPhone is also retarded, they suck ass for casual browsing due to limited screen size , and I just typed this on latestchatty

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 8:34 PM

          I don't see how this is going to work well for internet browsing at all without flash support. Most of the web uses flash in one way or another.

          • reply
            January 27, 2010 8:36 PM

            For ads, video, and games.

          • reply
            January 27, 2010 10:18 PM

            you have a Youtube app for watching that, most the websites I visit don't have Flash, and the ones I'd like to see that use Flash are even taxing on my iMac CD2 (fucking Flash Player in OS X sucks ass), so I don't miss Flash on the iPhone or the iPad.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:49 PM

        how's your turtleneck fitting? It's totally a big ipod touch (w/ 3g if you pay for it).

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:54 PM

        [deleted]

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:10 PM

          I can't wait to see this thing in action.

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:13 PM

          If they get a good cost on that I would be very interested.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 9:09 PM

        It's an inevitable comparison. For a person that is looking for a small form factor computing device, primarily for web, email, document editing, and so on; something portable and lightweight, tablets and netbooks and super-cheap laptops are all vying for the same consumer.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 9:09 PM

        I agree gmd.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 11:41 PM

        You know who else is a retard? SOME PEOPLE.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:29 PM

      If it ATLEAST had 1 USB port it would be a lot more functional

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:44 PM

        one USB port would allow someone to plug in a FLASH drive, and no FLASH shall touch Apples supple lips!

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 11:12 PM

        It doesn't have a USB port? Hah, oh for fuck's sake apple.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:30 PM

      I think you guys are forgetting one thing.

      This is going to be the greatest little boardgaming device ever.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:35 PM

        on a ten inch screen?

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:49 PM

        No that would be Microsoft Surface (if they ever release it to the public).

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:53 PM

          I think the cost of Surface is going to make it prohibitive for them to design a consumer solution for a long time to come. The technology is still just too damn expensive.

          Isn't it like $25,000 for the current model still?

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:36 PM

      that finger skateboard game could be cool with the extra screen realestate.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 8:53 PM

        yeah you could finally see what the hell was going on

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:52 PM

      It's seriously the least innovative new product in history. It has nothing new going on for it.

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 9:08 PM

        It'd be awesome if some other company just cloned it with a linux or winCE derivative OS and some USB or whatnot ports. It could even be another 100-200$ cheaper. The hardware set has been around in less powerful forms for 5+ years (ARM-based tablets are pretty simple), Apple has just decided to refresh it and put it into a more elegant case.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 8:55 PM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        January 27, 2010 9:23 PM

        And then selling it as a complete loss when Apple introduces a new version S with a camera, OMG cameraz. Also, omg multitasking in the SS version. OMG MULTITASKING IN 2012!

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:38 PM

          Yeah the camera is inevitable (video conferencing not being ready is probably the #1 reason it was omitted). The multitasking on the other hand, who knows what will happen, but I bet this issue is going to get really heated with the iPad, since the only excuse left is "security/stability."

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:41 PM

          They will do a big reveal with front facing camera for their full lineup.

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:48 PM

          like most other things apple, im sure the resale value will be really high

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 9:55 PM

          [deleted]

        • reply
          January 27, 2010 11:19 PM

          [deleted]

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 9:47 PM

      we're likely getting one for my little girl as a teaching tool. She's had delays in her speech, but the tablet PC I got has really helped her make some amazing strides. She uses it like a pro and knows how to play the games at nick jr, etc... anyhow - the only drawback to the tablet is its stylus controlled, and we really like the idea of the ipad being touch driven. it'll make things even easier.

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 9:56 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 27, 2010 10:22 PM

      how long before someone makes a battery powered pen which emulates a finger's touch?

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