The Apple iPad Conspiracy

Originally posted by johnny2127

I am at a coffee shop right now.

[edit on 4-4-2010 by johnny2127]

LOL - that sums it all up Great for sitting in the coffee shop looking trendy.

I just bought an Acer netbook for $299 and it absolutely kicks backside. It has plenty of USB ports, VGA out, wireless N, Ethernet, 160GB hard drive, widescreen, lightweight, hours of battery life, can multitask well. Makes an iPad look a little silly, although it won't get me points while sitting in Starbucks

Oh, and I'm not a "Apple sucks!" person. I've been using Macs since 1993 and love them. Windows is still playing catch-up to what Mac OS was doing years ago. Love my iPod. I even think the iPhone is great. I just think they're trying to bridge a gap that doesn't need bridging here - and have made a pretty useless product as a result. It doesn't really need to exist.

As for the actual OP. No conspiracy here - just Apple marketing in full swing. I work in marketing and I have to hand it to Apple. Very, very good at what they do.

I first heard of the IPAD yesterday and watched a demonstration video of it. They searched different bookmarked pages on the internet, cleverly avoiding the question which I know wouldn't help it sell...

WHERE THE HELL DOES THE KEYBOARD GO??

If you have to tap it all in on the screen on some keyboard interface that comes up, i could imagine it being annoying piece of E$#5 etc.. otherwise what?.. Take it home, plug a keyboard into it, of which there is no usb port anyway? So I guess that eliminates typing things like. User's would want to plug things into i'm sure as they would soon find it to be rather annoying, but that point you'd just have a bunch of wired and crappy tech to tote around. It would be more like a home PC.

If they could perfect voice activated typing then that would save a lot of annoyance. But people are so insecure, they don't want to be speaking out what they're searching in public.

So can anyone tell me where the keyboard is, and just how crappy it is?

Mac's impress me with being reasonably fast and free of bugs, but they should considering opting out "what's cool".. for something that works. I am pretty annoyed with a mac as far as how difficult it is to get around. Windows isn't great either but at least you can open up and see the guts of the files. Maybe they're trying to make computers simpler and simpler until we can't do anything with them. We don't know who's monitoring us, who's sending and downloading what, we're hopeless to even find the problem with it.

I do like a slick and nice looking computer, but i hope they never take away that functionality and availability to really control every file and process of your system. I still use windows XP!

Anyways, IPAD looks like garbage. I thought it was useless from the keyboard issue alone until this thread where they mentioned why it was even more useless. Just another shiny, grease covered electronic to carry around and feel "whoaahhHh it's the futURE..."

Originally posted by Max_TO
I won't be getting the ipad . I see it as nothing more then an oversized ipod / iphone . If that wasn't enough the ipad will require a data package from an eager service provider charging a monthly fee .

If the ipad had of been more computer than over sized ipod I then might be more inclined to buy .

I opted for a dell 10" to suit my portable needs

At least get your facts right before you start with your mindless rant! The iPad Wi-Fi version doesn't need the AT&T G3 network. Also, unlike the iPhone, you can buy the iPad G3 version without a contract with AT&T. If you get a contract they're not 2 years and you can get out of it at anytime.

I'm not affiliated with Apple or AT&T, but it's just annoying when people spread lies ...

I have a few questions on this thread if you can help expand on my list below.


How is it a conspiracy?

Why can it not just be an over advertised gimmick.

How does it related to being evil in anyway?

Is the term conspiracy and hidden meanings being confused with the term advertisements and information?

How is it a conspiracy to Easter?

Apple and the Tree of Knowledge is my only connection symbolism issue here.

[edit on 4-4-2010 by The time lord]

People, you need to get your facts straight.

The iPad/iPhone can multitask. It has a small MacOS/NeXT on board, that mean microkernel (Mach) so yes - it runs tons of apps.

The reason for one 3rd party app is mainly a choice. It's not possible for iPhone due to lack of memory. We don't know how much the iPad has so we don't know if the next OS version will support it or not (though the rumors say yes).

And the power of Apple/iPhone/iPad has always been the UI and experience. No drivers - just plain applications. Sure you can't run windows on it - but who wants that anyway?

And yes - it's a terrible thing to do. One system, one company to administer all the apps that are running - pure fascist. But - it's their thing.

when this thing first came out i was like, "why in the hell would anybody need this?!"

this thing is weird, i mean you look at it and you can't really decide whether it's too big or too small, it's just weird... it kinda looks out of place... idk...

how can you not include a camera and mic on device like this, especially at a time where a lot of people are using VOIP?!?!

how can you not have FLASH support?!?! most smartphones today support flash (well the better ones anyway....)

no HDMI?!?! come on!

while i agree that apple does bring out some good products and have some good ideas, most of their products are overhyped... but i mean they have to market it, otherwise... no money for steve.

so let me get this straight... you can't use VOIP, you can't playback HD video on your tv, can't look at websites or videos using FLASH, and can only do one thing at a time... which would be reading... hmm...

but wait "it haz touchscreenz!!! me wantee!!!"

of all the overhyped things that apple sells this has got to be the winner.

nice post OP!

[edit on 4-4-2010 by bladebosq]

I agree totally with you , I don't see anything good with this device.

And I have seen bad reviews though, but it is really just a sucky device.

The iPad in it's current form will never replace a laptop, notebook or a Windows tablet computer.

Why? It's just not meant to be used as one. It's great for sending off quick emails, reading eBooks and watching movies. I might go as far to say it'll be a nice little tool to do light office document editing.

But since you can't hook up an external bluetooth keyboard with it, many will find the touch screen keyboard difficult to use for extended periods of time. The only keyboard you can get for the iPad is one qith a built in dock, or is it a dock with a built in keyboard?

Not very pratical, however I think the device looks great and I'm a fan of both PC's and Apples.

What I don't like about it is how Apple has the ability to control what you have on your iPad, iPhone or iTunes library.

Let's just say, that an author of an eBook ends up retracting his book. He, thanks to the iTunes ULA you clicked on while signing up makes it easy for him to retract his book from the iTunes store and even from your device.

When I purchase an app on my iPhone, I feel like I'm "borrowing" it. (Which I actually am, since I don't own the software, but I don't like the feeling that it can be *taken away from me* when I've done nothing wrong.)

Apple is a business, one with a little shady sides to them IMO, however I still enjoy them and their services.

Originally posted by truthquest
reply to post by johnny2127

 

I guess the difference is that you consider a laptop bag a significant inconvenience whereas I would not. As for battery life, you can buy a second or even 3rd battery for a laptop. If I were a frequent plane traveler I'd probably prefer to have a Kindle or Ipad rather than a laptop. But if you look at the number of people who are frequent plane travelers its a very small portion of the population. The problem with the Ipad is that it does not have a keyboard and is therefore not a laptop. Most of all, $499 is a total ripoff price for such a product! The cost should be no more than $200. Also I'd find typing out messages on a screen key by key to be excruciatingly slow.

The Ipad is good for taking in media whereas I'm creating media myself much more often than taking in media.

I think this is the whole point and what you guys don't get. Its not meant to replace a laptop for the people that use it to create media. Its meant to be all forms of media on the go. Its about media consumption in all forms. Staying portable and connected. So no, it is not meant to replace your laptop when you're working.

This is a different product category ladies and gentlemen. Its not meant for everyone. Its for when you aren't working and want media on the go in all forms. Books, magazines, movies, tv, internet, etc. All in one spot. The only business applications its really good for is using it for presentations, or within hospitals and universities. Hospitals and universities all over the nation are buying these for their purposes. University text books will be loaded into these, patient histories and documents at doctors/nurses fingertips.

This isn't meant to be a laptop that does tons of processing. But its meant to be media as portable as a newspaper or magazine, but with ALL of your media in this one small device. Don't you guys get it? Its a new product category. Trying to fit the iPad into the category of laptop or smart phone won't work. This is something completely new.

reply to post by Faiol


Apple iConspiracy®

With the new and revolutionary Smell Interface™, the first one that you can smell but can't really touch it. Apple iConspiracy® will replace all of your conspiracies.

Originally posted by lafcadio
People that buy macs and apple products do it for the "lifestyle". They think it's cool.


PC Forever!!!

Not to turn this into a debate on which platform is better, (I have to use both for work) That is the most incedeary statement I've ever heard. I have been using Mac's since way back when they were the preferred platform for graphics work, now that the programs have pretty much been ported back and forth, I use one simply because I prefer OSX, not for some strange lifestyle that I may have with it, and I'm sure there are a lot like me as well that aren't caring about the "status" but care about the preferences and the comfort level.

All of the above said, I was a beta tester for XP, Vista and 7, and run a Windows 7 PC in my office that sits next to my Mac.

Originally posted by SpectreDC
reply to post by johnny2127

 

YOU PAID 600 DOLLARS FOR AN IPOD TOUCH YOUR OPINION IS NULL AND VOID.


[edit on 4-4-2010 by SpectreDC]

A) Don't tell other people how to spend their money.

B) You don't own one, so you don't know what you are talking about concerning an iPad.

C) Innovation requires people to think outside the box my friend. So while you call me a drone, you are the one trying to fit the iPad into one of your preconceived notions. Its a new product category my friend. Don't believe me, thats fine. But there is a reason innovators and inventors don't think like you and aren't as closed-minded as you appear to be

To the OP i apologize if this is harsh but It needs to be said. Your theory is flawed in the fact that at a basic level You more than likely don't need %90 of the things you have but you still have them right? Even if you "need" your computer for work there is always a more basic way to get around conveniences that we have in our everyday lives. Want to talk about what we actually need? Food, Water, Shelter.

Aside from that this is a retail product. Ever see an Iphone? yeah its a real big version of that with more power for double the price of a top of the line Ipod and a couple hundred more than an Iphone. You really going to tell me it is that Insanely overpriced? People like compact and mobile devices, even modern laptops can be cumbersome. Will this change your life?no. will you replace your PC or laptop with the pad instead? probably not. Is it Expensive just like any new run of technology is? yes. Will it get cheaper? yes.

Should you complain about having to see commercials on your "necessary" media device called a tv? no, turn it off.

/end of 2 cents


edit:just looked it up Apple estimates 600-700k units sold day one.
lol, guess there is no market for this overpriced piece of junk. /sarcasm

[edit on 4-4-2010 by dtalon3]

reply to post by Faiol


I think you mis-understood and got all worked up like typically happens...

The thread is fine - heck I’m always open for some conspiracy.... The thread answers have made me laugh.

You dont need to bold and shout all your answers and points to get something across - just make sense! :0)

The iPod was not the first MP3 player, not even the second, I never said that - but it was the device that revolutionised digital music and it’s distribution - I can even talk to my mum and she’ll know ‘iPod’. The same will happen for iPad - it will take a couple of years and just like the 1st generation iPod was pretty low-tech compared to others it will evolve.

Will it include Flash in the future? I really hope not as HTML 5 is the way to go - if we stuck with the ‘old tech’ mentality then we’d still be on Netscape Navigator and dial-up modem. Flash is buggy and exceptionally resource hungry - html 5 is awesome and the sooner websites wise up the better the web will be.

Yes, the Apple system can be hacked (I did not say it could not) - but it’s much, much harder. Many of the items you express are when you have jail-broken your device or have a level of tech/nerd to do so. This is not something my mum or young kid is not going to be doing. There are probably numerous users on windows that have all sorts installed on their machines just by simply browsing the web or opening their emails as they are not tech savvy to secure their system. Some have probably fallen foul to some of the adverts on this very site that lead to less than desirable things.

The iPad is generation 1 - it will evolve and will become the way many people interact with the web, books, magazines and I will gladly visit this thread in a couple of years to say ‘told ya so’.... Or eat it my hat (I dont own one but I will go and buy one).

Like I say, nothing wrong with the thread - keep it up but let me laugh at the replies please... no need to get all defensive and shout.

I have an iPad, got it yesterday via UPS.

In fact, I'm using it now to post.

I haven't spent much time with it, any my primary reason for being an "early adopter" is to ensure that we (ATS) are well-informed so as to ensure we can evolve into the arena of the kind of content delivery the iPad represents.

My first impressions are very good, and I can see why there has been a great deal of misconception and misplaced expectations.

It's definitely not a computer, but it does a few "computer-like" things such as email and personal info/organization.

It's a content-consumption device... and when you focus on it from that point of view, it's much more possible to see the potential it represents.

Surfing the web (and especially the new ATS 2010 site design under development) is just amazing... it's difficult to describe how much better reading a website is with this device. Somehow, since it's a more book-like experience, reading comprehension and speed is improved (as opposed to sitting a desk at a computer), as well as comfort (probably related).

Videos, books, and magazines (Time) also look really good... but more on that later.


I believe it represents the first iteration (not perfect) of a game-changing concept for content consumption.

But more later as I spend more time. I'll likely post a full review with photos.

reply to post by AlwaysQuestion


Jobs made pretty bold promises about the iPad at the 2010 keynote, that it would be better than a laptop/smartphone for browsing, music, games etc. Turns out it's basically an oversized iPod touch, an iTunes vending machine as someone on macrumors described it

reply to post by The time lord


well, I suggest you read the whole thread, because its sad when people that didnt even tried to read come to the board trying to find some supernatural cause

not everything its supernatural

its just a market thing

iPad = salvation for some big mainstream media ?
mainstream media = good reviews, why?

thats the subject about the thread, if you want to know, you can read it instead of asking a personal explanation ^^

Originally posted by johnny2127

Originally posted by SpectreDC
reply to post by johnny2127

 

YOU PAID 600 DOLLARS FOR AN IPOD TOUCH YOUR OPINION IS NULL AND VOID.


[edit on 4-4-2010 by SpectreDC]

A) Don't tell other people how to spend their money.

B) You don't own one, so you don't know what you are talking about concerning an iPad.

C) Innovation requires people to think outside the box my friend. So while you call me a drone, you are the one trying to fit the iPad into one of your preconceived notions. Its a new product category my friend. Don't believe me, thats fine. But there is a reason innovators and inventors don't think like you and aren't as closed-minded as you appear to be

A. When did I say how to spend your money? I said it was a waste of money. I never told you how to spend it, merely I believe you spent it unwisely. That is not a dictation in how one must spend their money.

B. How do you know I don't own one? Furthermore, considering the amount of buzz, the fact that the specs and abilities have been out for a while, and the fact that I actually have used one because I associate with individuals who have been given one free of charge due to their media connections, I think my opinion does have some credence. I used to be heading into the computer world as a career path; I understand technology very well. I know what the specs mean and what the thing is capable of. It's lacking many things it simply shouldn't be lacking.

C. If you had read what I said, which is increasingly becoming evident you haven't, you would have read that I did say this was an innovation but an innovation that came out too early. First off this is only innovative because it is the first thing of its kind on the market. This tech has been around for a while, just not for wide application. The iPad is an attempt to make it widely applicable, and it can be, but it's simply lacking too many things it should have for it to be truly useful outside of gimmicks. It needs more stuff. No USB? No Flash? No multitasking? No full OS?

If I could listen to music while reading a book with this thing, I wouldn't be saying this. But you can't! I might as well set at home, read a book at home, and listen to music on my computers stereo system. All it is, is a larger iPod Touch with a few free apps. That's it.



The BIGGEST problem with it though, beyond everything else, which makes it not only a bad buy but a foolish buy, is that the battery can not be replaced. It is built in. What was the last think Apple did that had this same problem? It was called the MacBook Air. And it wasn't that popular or successful.

Are you happy with your 600$ paper weight? Will you be happy when the paper weight doesn't turn on any more and you need to buy a brand new one?

how is it a conspiracy???

it is,

first, the ipad software, not an "open" operative system, you're stuck with an ipod touch look alike software, which i don't like to have on a computer
yes, they provide an SDK or something so you can make your own applications, but how many people out there have the knowledge and time for that??!! and + you have to pay for every freaking application to use the thing

i would appreciate a 13'' ipad that runs snow leopard (and windows 7) and at least 320gb of storage, (i know the technology is out there), so i can store al my data, movies, music, e-books, and not just browse the internet, but make movies, type text (2usb as a "must" included)

i want to read the pdf books i already have an not have to download them from apple store
i don't want to be stuck with apple useless applications

and i love apple products, i have a macbook pro 13 which i LOVE, and it's portable and functional, and i have an ipod touch, so the question is why would i need an ipad, a cross between the two that doesn't do much???!
and second, the ipad is just some fancy toy to show to the kids on the block
i'm disappointed apple, much oddo about nothin


edit: forgot to mention a digitized pen to take notes in class and a wacom enabled screen for designers and painters, once again ipad is USELESS without that
i can't believe they can't make a macbook PRO without the keyboard, just the screen and call it iPAD, they did it with the imacs

apple, HELLO!?


[edit on 4-4-2010 by raynemarina]

reply to post by dtalon3


well, good to know that you didnt read

I didnt present a theory, just some facts

- media thinks iPad is their ultimate salvation
- a lot of news about it, a lot of hype
- good reviews, without mentioning the flaws of the device that wouldnt be unnoticed in any other device

if you believe that there is a conspiracy, ok, if not, than its coincidence ... thats it ...