Why? Because despite telling myself that the iPad is a moronic, useless slate of shit that I'd never even consider buying… somehow I let someone convince me that I really, really need to get one.
It was actually the awesome show CO-OP that convinced me, during their coverage of some iPad games. During said coverage, I happened to realize that the iPad is also the perfect device for consuming manga digitally. You can read manga on a laptop yes, but a laptop is woefully over-sized for the task, and the screen orientation and the input methods don't suit the task very well either. The iPad, on the other hand, is simply perfect for it.So yeah. Besides having some pretty neat games on it, it also happens to be a great device for watching tv and movies, and reading books and manga. And by great, I mean better than a laptop. If you're using the device for these purposes, it just makes much more sense than a laptop. Surfing the web is another matter, but even without Flash, I'm sure that browsing the web is a delight on the iPad.So now I have many questions I'm struggling with:How much storage space do I need?Do I spend the extra $130 for the 3G model?Can I think of any flaw that could possibly change my mind? Please?!
http://www.excaliberpc.com/595588/lenovo-ideapad-s10-3t-065137u-10.1.html
and for those on a budgethttp://gizmodo.com/5162584/first-hands-on-touch-book-is-part+netbook-part+tabletand just because its coolhttp://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/18/the-nanonote-99-open-hardware-computer-thingie/Cool. Now show me the app store for that Lenovo ideapad full of cool touch-oriented games, and show me the model that has flash-based storage instead of a hard drive, has a 1024x768 screen, and is still cheaper than the iPad.
flash based storage is too expensive these days to be honest. the price per capacitance and speed isn't worth it… yet.
also there are a lot of touch aps that you can use on those laptops however it's not like you can't play other games… i mean not all the ipad games are good with touch screen controls anyway.Well there are draw backs to flash storage, such as since it based on microscopic switches, it eventually looses capacity from everyday writing and erasing unlike a hard drive which uses magnetism to store data. Of course aside from that flash is superior in all other comparisons.
Also it will be easier to develop for Win7 based tablets and easier/cheaper to market your games.It seems like you don't really want to consider alternatives, your focusing so much on what the alternatives can't do instead of what the ipad can't do. iPhone OS is terrible when compared to Windows 7.
I'm looking at their features with an open mind, but they just don't hit the sweet spot for my image of the ideal tablet device.
HP Slate: Pretty cool, but it adds some features that I don't need from a media tablet in exchange for ones I do. USB port? I'm not exactly planning to sync my Zune HD to this thing… and I'm not a rabid photographer either. Thumb drives are about useless for storage expansion, as who really wants one jutting out of their tablet for the sake of a few extra GB? And if I need to transfer files, why not just sync it to my computer? The SD slot is really nice, I must admit. I'd be surprised if Apple didn't add one to future generations of the iPad. That said, 64 GB of storage should suffice. I can always sync new content onto it in exchange for some of the old.Lenovo ideapad: Good price, nice amount of storage (albeit HDD-based), battery life to match the iPad, and a physical keyboard (though bit of a waste since my typing will be very sparse on my dream media tablet). Cons… screen resolution of 1024x600, same as with the HP Slate. Windows 7 is a con IMO, because I actually don't need or want a full OS. I don't want to be managing files or windows on my ideal media tablet.EDIT: I'm not wanting a portable computer to run Firefox or OpenOffice or anything remotely like that. I've got a laptop with Windows 7 to run all those PC applications. I'm looking for a simple media consumption device, not a full-scale computer complete with full multitasking. I'm not exactly going to be multitasking while watching a movie or reading a book, am I?You talk about manga on your iPad, and then you say you don't care for a USB. Now I ask you: how will you conveniently transfer your manga from your computer to your iPad?
64GB should suffice? but you have to pay a shit load of cash for such a small amount lol. By the way my netbook book is pretty much a good media consumption device I've been watching vids all day on it and it's awesome.
also who cares about the 1024x600 res at least my netbook has a larger screen and if I really need to have 1024x768 I can make it so that the screen scrolls the view port or compress it to the screens ratio (that's available on my netbook but I don't bother)I'm going to enjoy my 160+ GB of space for all my videos, music, pics and games as well as all the free aps from the internets.also If i were to get a device I am actually waiting for the microsoft courier. It may not be exactly a media consumption device but it's the ultimate tool for college if it lives up to it's potential :D can't wait for it to actually exist.Just fuck that shit.
http://wepad.mobi/enThere.@ Ferret: If they're in an image format, I sync them to the iPad as an album of photos. Or I get one of the several comicbook viewing apps that support zip files (among other formats) and sync them in that way.
@meow44: Cost isn't that much of an object. Besides, it's not like I'm paying thousands for the thing. A single paycheck almost covers its cost entirely.Regarding screen resolution, one of my roommates had an HP netbook with 1024x600 resolution max, and it was simply awful IMO.But, uh, the Courier could be cool. In general, I like Microsoft's stabs at hardware. I loved the original Zune, and love my Zune HD. The Courier seems to have the same kind of style.@KNZone2: That looks like it could have some potential, but details are vague. I need specs, a release date, and a price tag. And… the hardware and software are both aesthetically rough around the edges. Blatantly copy Apple's minimalist design, then completely ruin everything with a giant, horrid-looking logo on the back that looks so out of place? The software, based on the one screenshot of it that comes up during that slideshow on the main page, looks funkier than an old man's ball sack. Rushed, very little effort, and an eye sore.