Comment by bphogan | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bphogan | Hacker News Reader

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The only thing I can say in response to this is that I see that my dad uses his iPhone to surf the web much more than he uses his computer, and he's interested in a bigger screen to do so. He's in his 60s, and he's actually not buying another desktop computer (his is 11 years old) because his iPhone does what he needs, and more, plus he's tired of viruses and spyware. (Yes, we know it's not a target yet, but a closed system does help prevent a lot of that.)

I see it as a step towards hurting Dell, who makes a portion of their money selling laptops and desktops to people who really don't need them, like my parents, grandparents, other non-technical people. It's also a step towards hurting the "PC repair" industry that charges these poor folks $150 to install and run freeware antivirus tools and "double your memory".

I think the lack of Flash support is going to hurt it the most, as the target market I'm describing are people who tend to use Flash a lot (think Facebook games and other online games.)

The iPad is aimed at that market of people - the people who use the Internet as another vehicle for entertainment. I've seen what the iPhone has done for average people, and I think this is Apple taking that a step further.

I guess I wouldn't say it's "revolutionary" but then again, I said that about the iPhone. ("it's just another phone, who cares?") And remember, it was pretty 'meh' before the app store.

I could be wrong, but I think it has the potential to be pretty neat for the average person. We need a revolution in that space.

Why wouldn't a netbook+ChromeOS win?

I disagree @ iPhone. That was revolutionary. It was the first pocket webbrowser that actually worked well and rendered websites properly.

>> "And remember, it was pretty 'meh' before the app store."

Again, difference of opinion. I couldn't care less about the app store. Why would I download software approved by Apple, when I can just use the browser for most things?

If I were Apple, I'd love for ChromeOS and Android to win. If that's the "losing" position for Apple, then they're sitting pretty. By the time that would happen, Apple could just roll their own Android that can run legacy iPhone apps, and even have their own high-end, high-margin Apple walled garden there.

Who's not sitting pretty? Microsoft. They've got to connect a Hail Mary pass with WinMo 7 to survive and stay relevant. They may do it, though.

You're stating it's not useful to you. You're not the target market for the iPad. I personally don't have much of an interest in the iPad, but I'm not willing to go out and say that nobody else will.

You could care less. But you know better than to download malware. Most people don't, and I'm sure you know that if you've ever had to fix someone's computer over the holidays.

As for netbooks? Triad them. Screen's too small for the elderly. Apple lets you zoom up things you can't see. I have horrible vision, and I have an ipod touch and a netbook. Guess which one I surf on? It ain't the netbook.

I really think they're targeting people who don't want a computer who want the Internet for entertainment, and nothing more. It's a good sized market. Time will tell if I'm wrong.

FWIW, I may buy an iPad to play with. But here's the crutial point - I can't see it being useful to my kids, or my mum, who are most certainly in the market you describe.

My mum has a macbook, which serves her fine. My kids have Netbooks with Ubuntu netbook remix which also is great for browsing the web.

I just don't see how the form factor makes sense. I can just see the write-ups now - highly irritating to use for long periods, aching hand/neck, too easy to drop, etc etc

Yeah but that's your family. In my house, Kid #1 slings a macbook and a netbook with no problem. Kid #2 is 2. She loves looking at pictures on the iPod. Kid #2 will be hacking soon enough. But that's the environment I created, and I guess it's just like yours.

Kid #1's friends have computers, but they don't use them like we use them. They use email and Facebook. (Yes, I know, I already covered Flash games previously, so we'll need to see on that one.)

They don't know or care how their computer works, they use Internet Explorer cos it's there, and they don't download software because they've had to pay so much to have it removed by GeekSquad.

This is a smart move by Apple. It'd be smarter if they'd just make Flash work, put a couple of USB ports on the thing, and let it be a master for an ipod.

The fact that you need a win or mac box with iTunes to get music on this thing could very well be the one thing that keeps it out of the reach of the everyman. In that case, you and I are in total agreement.

Yeah I would be in total agreement if they'd come out with a macbook mini, slimmed down small macbook. It's just the form factor that I think is a big mistake. I think we agree on the software side.

Netbooks suck to use, I know because I'm using one right now.

Small, cramped, hot, ugly.

And you're thinking removing the keyboard will make it suck less?

Yes. I can type faster on my iPod touch or my friend's iPhone then I can on his netbook that he uses in class.

With the iPhone (and likely iPad), you'll know what to expect from the device soon enough. With the netbook, I can never quite shake the "This isn't quite a computer, even if its pretending to be one" feeling and get used to the keys being 10% smaller.

Less heat, less space, less crap getting into the computer, less breakable things...

Yes, I fucking do think it'll suck less.

Why wouldn't a netbook+ChromeOS win?

A netbook is more of the same, its what we already have. The iPad is something new and different.

And, I've never even seen a video of a device using ChromeOS. I can't seem to bring myself to have a positive opinion of a device that's been announced for 9-10 months without so much as a screenshot or picture of a device running it.

I've made this point before, but, its worth repeating: I don't even know what market Google is targeting with ChromeOS. I've looked into it, but, I honestly have no idea.

Why would I download software approved by Apple, when I can just use the browser for most things?

Better experience. Sure, if you never use native apps, you won't know what you're missing. But, having used them and then going back, its not quite the same. There's something slightly off about the scrolling, about how everything behaves when pressed, etc.

How would your father update the iPad without a system running iTunes? That is the only major thing I do not like from what information has been released.

I am sure that if that started to be an issue, Apple could just address that in Software and let iPads exist independently.

Exactly. I think that could very well kill it for most people, but he already has an ipod and a computer fast enough to run itunes to sync. But those folks that don't? Hopefully Apple wises up on this one. Of course we all know why they won't. - they suport you playing mp3s on your iPod, but they'd rather you bought from them through iTunes, which you certainly will be able to do on this device.

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