I don't get the whole iPad 3 craze.

[Snake Alchemist]

Are there really that many people that can afford a $499.00+tax (minimum) gadget? I understand the talking heads on TV with their 3 martini lunches and nights out in the Upper West Side will all have one, but what about average Americans?

I'm also being told that the new screen will "ruin me" on all other screens. So basically if I have an old iPad or other tablet I am supposed to feel inferior.

I've looked at the iPad to see if it was something that I would actually need since I shoot a lot with my Nikon SLR. Not having a SD card slot is a deal breaker for me. They sell a special adapter you can buy with limited capabilities that allows you to access an SD card, but then I'd be paying even more and I'd have to carry around a loose adapter. The inability to change the battery also turnsme away for similar reasons.

[Taverner]

1. Some people have too much money

You can get a netbook laptop for $100 that includes a keyboard, has USB ports, does Adobe Flash and weighs about the same. The iPad has none of these things.

[Taverner]

13. Here:

Features:

7" High Resolution display (800 x 480 pixels)
2 GB Internal Flash Storage Memory
128MB RAM Internal Memory
WiFi - version 802.11 b/g
3-USB Ports (1-USB type 2.0 supports external memory, 2-USB type 1.1 supports keyboard & mouse only)
SD digital card slot (accomodates up to 8GB)
Microphone jack
Earphone jack - stereo
80 key "qwerty" keyboard
Mouse pad - 2.2 inch
Built in Lithium battery - 8.4 V 1800mAh
DC jack
Built stereo speakers
Windows CE 6.0 professional plus version
Portable ultra lightweight - less than 2 lbs
Requires that you have a wired or wireless highspeed internet connection serive in order to access the Internet.


Cost: $99

[onehandle]

31. Sales of 'netbooks' are plummeting. Asus and Dell are basically giving up on that space.

Apple is doing something right.

[randome]

44. 'Plummeting' is an exaggeration.

They are basically treading water now, which may not bode well in the near future.

With a keyboard, you can type much better and be more productive than with an iPad.

That being said, I don't disparage anyone who wants an iPad or anything else. But netbooks will continue to be useful for a good many people.

[randome]

85. Which are two more accessories you have to buy to use an iPad like a netbook.

And I've seen other descriptions of the netbook market as not so dire.

I have nothing against iPads or Apple, I'm just saying that a netbook is, for most, a more productive device to own.

[riderinthestorm]

90. I just borrowed an IPad for a week to see if I wanted it. Big complaint for me is the keyboard!

So I then borrowed one of the Bluetooth keyboards to see if that "fixed" it for us but my husband's hands are really large and the Bluetooth keyboard is still pretty small for him. I have small hands and even I felt "crammed" with it.... I actually use the keyboard for a lot of typing so that particular deficiency is a really big turnoff for us. Traveling with it, and trying to type was a major pain.

After a week, I now know I'll probably never get a tablet computer and will always stick with something with a full size keyboard, especially for traveling.

[Pisces]

134. macbook air is what you need.

[riderinthestorm]

136. Thanks. We're in the market for a new computer

and trying all brands to try to figure it out.

My desktop handles all of our bookkeeping/word processing/marketing needs. My daughter does most of her homework there. The Sony Vaio laptop does the travelling and operates as a backup work system but it's "old" (6 years) and cumbersome. My husband was impressed with a clients' Ipad at the last competition and we decided to explore it but after decades as a horseman, his hands are very large, powerful, with impressively thick fingers. The dexterity for a small keyboard is difficult. The IPad was fantastic to travel - light and compact - but even after we got the Bluetooth keyboard, he still couldn't easily type. Honestly, he has trouble with even the Sony laptop keyboard and prefers the desktop, but reality dictates that he must have our work systems with him when he hits the road (we have archives of competition notes, jump courses, course designs etc plus our billing system for clients who hire him at the last moment and we need to bill on the spot).

I'm hunting for a Macbook to borrow next. I like the technology but now I know we absolutely need a full-size keyboard. We really do like the Sony Vaio but are trying to keep an open mind. The Apple products have a great reputation but I'm not about to sacrifice serviceability, even for a beautiful product like a tablet.

[Pisces]

209. The keyboard may still be too small for your husband. You may need go with Vaio. We have all macs

and it is so easy to integrate new products into the family. They all sync automatically. Good luck with your search.

[sudopod]

97. Beautifully, you say? nt

[randome]

102. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Or something like that.

[TheWraith]

173. Yes, because journalists are ALWAYS 100% accurate and never sensationalize anything. nt

[IDemo]

47. And Lenovo, is any manufacturer still making them?

[WinkyDink]

125. I LOVE my Acer netbook! WTH would I want an i-Pad for?

[Taverner]

144. There will always be a market

As long as Linux lives and breathes

[Taverner]

205. Ah but give me cheap electronics over cheap beer any day

Especially since Apples aren't really computers, phones or tablets: they are useless, patronizing toys that treat us like we're five-year-olds.

[Taverner]

207. Hey I used to work for the mothership...

In their IS&T dept.

Yeah, they had a great computer if you wanted to go through a few layers to make it so.

I have no problems with their products. Hell, I have an iPod!

But they are toys - not the same as the Intel can be tuned to...

[sudopod]

45. You seem to have missed the fact that he could by five of them for the same price.

Or he could just buy one and 400 tacos.

[sudopod]

93. Don't be mad. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

108. Do you laugh at people that you see out with other non-Apple laptops or tablets?

Or maybe just roll your eyes at them and make cutting remarks?

[Snake Alchemist]

112. It sure sounds like you take a lot of pride in your purchase. nt

[sudopod]

117. I mean, if you have $500 to throw around, good for you.

I like the idea of something that leaves me enough money to buy a month's worth of groceries. (1/1024? That's very specific. :3 )

Those question marks...they really are more like interrobangs, aren't they? This makes me think of some pertinent quotes from the works of Sir Terry:

'Multiple exclamation marks,' he went on, shaking his head, 'are a sure sign of a diseased mind.' -- in Eric

Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind. -- in Reaper Man

'And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head.' -- in Maskerade

http://wiki.lspace.org/wiki/Multiple_exclamation_marks


You are veeery passionate about your entertainment gear. Maybe just a little too much, n'est-ce pas? Do you ever feel that perhaps you are being manipulated?

[sudopod]

126. There was an argument?

I just want to see what makes people who feel like you do tick. The mere implication that anyone could have a device that moots the need for an Apple product makes some folks fly off the handle.

Do you think this is the behavior of a rational person?

This is in the same class of behavior exhibited by my redneck kinfolk who will come to blows over car manufacturers, and it's equally odd (and therefore fascinating). Personally, I think it has to do with the evolution of marketing into what is effectively applied psychology. On bad days, I tend to think of it more as "weaponized memetics."

If you ever need to burn and hour or two on a rainy day and like BBC documentaries, I highly recommend this. It is a story about the merger of marketing and psychology that began early last century, and I think it offers a sensible explanation of some of the problems our society is faced with today, including a disturbing fixation on the material. It's called "The Century Of The Self" This link is to part one: Happiness Machines (not referring to Apple, lol). I especially like the last episode, which examines how these techniques are applied to political campaigns, such as how the legends of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were built from nothing.

I'm sorry if I'm coming off badly, but it just seems so weird, like watching teenagers fight the Playstation vs XBawks war and seeing them actually get mad about it. It's hard not to stir a little.

[Pholus]

138. So you DO work in an Apple Store then....

That does clear up your encyclopedic knowledge of the product catalog.

[Pholus]

142. Again, bagging on One Laptop Per Child is pretty much uncool

http://one.laptop.org/stories

Even more class, reflecting well on your company. Keep it up!

[Pholus]

141. Other NOTHINGS by extention of this post -- One Laptop per Child

http://one.laptop.org/stories

Of course, these are NOTHING compared to the glories of the latest Apple offerings, right Tesha?

Please read this link and reflect for a moment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism

To wit, Tesha, a computer is a computer. For real progress for our race, either is better than nothing. Either could compute the course of a spacecraft flying to the moon. Either could run chemistry simulations. Either can communicate or gain ideas from the network.

Tools, depending pretty much on what the user wants to do.

If I understand the point of your comment you are worried about keeping up with the Joneses and pretty much nothing else.

Fortunately, I have never worried about that. A computer is a tool, nothing more. And I've used enough of them to realize that changing the number of available pixels by a factor of four doesn't completely change the utility of the tool.

[joshcryer]

165. Beautiful.

<3

[sammytko]

59. I kind of miss my netbook at times. I have an iPad2 and a PC

I miss the netbook when i'm cruising on the iPad and then can't watch a video or use a website because it doesn't support Flash.

So I gotta get up and sit at the PC. For some reason, I was never comfortable with a laptop, but the netbook was small enough for me. I have small hands and a laptop could be cumbersome. I do love the iPad and would not trade it in for a netbook, even though I miss it at times. I gave it away to my niece.

[DeschutesRiver]

77. Thanks for that, will google it now

Dh was more interested in a netbook than an ipad, and I think I will have a look for myself as well.

I do think the Ipads are pretty to look at, but at my age I don't "game" or whatever else might be important that the Ipad does which a netbook won't do. I would like one, but like a mac, I choke at the price. Things like computers, tablets, etc become outdated, and new ones must be bought, so it is that choking price over and over.

And I didn't understand the poster who said she ran into older people who are intimidated by computers but not by an Ipad - they do the same thing, yes? But just in a different package? I'm in the older person category, but can't wrap my mind around why a computer would freak me out but an Ipad wouldn't - for us old people, computers are pretty much all we've ever known, not like they are something new (although, true, they didn't exist when I was born

In the end, it is just a tool for me to use.

[adigal]

106. My I-Phone is over three years old

and it still works. The people running out to buy the newest I-pad when they have the last one are consumed by materialism and fear that someone will have something they don't have. They have bigger problems than wasting their money.

[Snake Alchemist]

110. My old one got bricked after a software update that I accidentally allowed. nt

[DeschutesRiver]

158. Yes, esp your last line. nt

[flamingdem]

148. Is this an online deal?

nt

[Zalatix]

156. How about HD Video?

[Ter]

160. That display of a pathetic 800x480 sucks

As a matter of fact, all the specks do. Up to 8 GB? What are we, in 2003? You get what you pay for.

[Mr Dixon]

174. AGREED

good job

[Odin2005]

7. Or are brainwashed by Apple Fanboyism.

[anti-alec]

2. We have a iPad 2.

My wife wanted an iPad3 when she realized it's a mere HD upgrade of iPad2 - and said 'meh'.

She's fine with it, and do not need to spend half a grand buying one. We'll wait until iPad4 comes out, and we'll buy iPad3 at half price or less..

[Odin2005]

3. Mindless consumerist BS is what it is.

[Odin2005]

20. It's overpriced for what it does.

I'd buy one for $100.

[belcffub]

87. so no then

[sudopod]

98. You sure showed him.

Have you ever looked into the marketing business? lol

[belcffub]

100. I'm not pretty enough for marketing

I work in IT with the rest of the trolls...

[sudopod]

101. :/

:3

[Odin2005]

129. I don't have the disposible income for overpriced consumerist crap.

You apparently do, lucky you, you get to show off how cool and hip you are, just like any other addict of consumerism.

My HOME COMPUTER, with which I'm typing this, cost $400. An iPad ain't worth that much.

[belcffub]

140. you got me...

followed the lemmings into the apple store and asked for there best "overpriced consumerist crap"

or did research on what devices had the best applications that would help my autistic daughter. Spoke with a friend at a nearby university who works in the exceptional ed department about what platforms they were experimenting with in house. Had my daughter use some of these apps as part of a grad study... yeah I am the addict of consumerism... you know me so well...

[Odin2005]

155. I was generalizing.

I am autistic myself and meant to offense to your daughter.

[madinmaryland]

5. Only an iDouche will be out buying one today. nt

Definition of iDouche

an elitist person who gladly and enthusiastically pays a ridiculous amount of money for sub par computer and entertainment equipment despite having numerous better and less expensive options because they believe every completely false and semi-false claim made by Apple/Macintosh Inc. or they want to be able to sit at the genius bar and feel superior as they try to use their computer even though they don't know what the fuck they're doing so they ask one of the staff persons at the store who, of course, don't have an answer except that maybe they should try buying some upgrade or apple care or other useless add-on which the douche willingly does without thought or question...they just stare at that glowing half-eaten apple

[Odin2005]

23. ROFLMAO! I'm stealing that!

[madinmaryland]

56. An idouche conversation:

iDouche: Hey check out my new mac.
Smart person: ...cool?
iDouche: Yeah it's got a 1.8GHz processor, 2 gigs of RAM, bluetooth, wi-fi, it's ultra cool
Smart person: How much was it?
iDouche: (some ridiculous amount of money)
Smart person: I just got a pc for half that price with twice as much power.
iDouche: Yeah but this thing is awesome, it can do video editing, I can watch movies, listen to music, it's ultra top of the line.
Smart person: Yeah my pc does all that too.
iDouche: Yeah but I can like plug anything into it and it will work, like an mp3 player, a digital camera, external hard drive, external superdrive...
Smart person: Yeah me too. What the fuck's a superdrive?
iDouche: It can burn cds AND dvds.
Smart person: Oh you mean a combo drive, yeah my pc has one on it. You had to buy an external?
iDouche: Yeah I bought an external but it's more than a combo drive, it's a superdrive.
Smart person: What does it do other than burn cds and dvds?
iDouche: It plays them too.
Smart person: All burners play the media they can burn.
iDouche: ...huh?
Smart person: Nevermind. So does it do anything else? Any reason you spent so much on it?
iDouche: Yeah, it can't get viruses.
Smart person: Yeah it can.
iDouche: No, macs can't get viruses.
Smart person: Then why did it come with virus scanning software?
iDouche: ...in case one day it can get viruses.
Smart person: A computer can eventually lose its features?
iDouche: I dunno, maybe. It doesn't matter...

[HughBeaumont]

69. "macs can't get viruses" . . . always love that one.

My dad's MacBook is LOADED with re-directin' malware, likely from porn sites. I'm not telling HIM this, because then it will result in old man arguing, which I don't need.

[belcffub]

89. there are mac "viruses" but they are few and far between

most of what mac anti-virus software really does is downstream protection... this is basically when a mac user gets a file that is infected with a windows virus... it won't do anything on the mac... but stripping it out saves downstream windows users...

[onehandle]

34. Ha! I bought one for me and one for my wife's birthday yesterday.

Shh. It's a surprise.

And you can't go 'out' and buy one until they arrive in the stores on March 16th.

[tabbycat31]

41. LOL

I'm in the market for a new phone and when I asked for suggestions, I flat out said that "I will not drink the iKoolAid so don't suggest an iPhone to me" (I also require a physical keyboard).

[got root]

50. I recommend iPhones to all my friends

and Androids to all my enemies

[tabbycat31]

83. i'd consider an iphone if they had a real keyboard

I send way too many work emails/texts from my phone to be an auto correct victim.

And I recommend Blackberries to my enemies (what I have now).

[tabbycat31]

187. And how much extra would that cost me?

With a phone that already has a keyboard, I don't need to buy a fancy accessory because it's already built in.

I do own one Apple product-- an iPod video (2006 model). When that dies, I will replace it with an iPod classic.

[tabbycat31]

191. Still have not sold me

I was talking to a guy at the cell phone store and he said there's always going to be a faction of people who will require real keyboards. And then there's a whole website full of people who should have real keyboards (www.damnyouautocorrect.com). I send too many professional emails and texts from my phone to be featured on that website.

The Samsung Epic, which I will get within the next few weeks, is no thicker than an iphone. It's also $100 cheaper.

[WCGreen]

115. Classic....

[Ter]

161. Or a tech geek

I'd buy one if it had an SD/Micro SD slot.

[rbixby]

6. Just shut up and drink the Apple koolaid!

Obviously they have a superior product, and a big list of Apple apologists will attest to the same after I post this!

[DireStrike]

200. Exactly, this is about refined taste

And nothing says taste like the most expensive product line.

[hlthe2b]

8. I'm happy with my current small laptop, but if someone tossed me the $$, I'd buy one.

I don't see it replacing a laptop, though. Without the virus/firewall protections of a laptop, how would one ever feel really comfortable doing anything but casual browsing on wifi. If you use the 4G cellular model, that affords a bit more protection, but still. Further, typing on a virtual keyboard is really not a lot of fun to me--certainly not very efficient, so there goes using it for major document creation. Tapping out a few emails, fine... but

That said, it is a beautiful device that I'm sure would be great to read ebooks on, take to the coffee shop to browse the internet on Sunday mornings and to give the laptop a little break now and then. But, frankly, I don't see it doing anything that I don't get done readily with an iphone and/or my sony laptop.

[dkf]

9. I don't get why you spend so much on a camera. Isn't that more expensive than an iPad?

[Snake Alchemist]

18. MUCH more. But I saved for years to buy one and it's one of my passions. nt

[WinkyDink]

127. And completely different! Try taking the Nikon-SLR photos with an i-Pad! ROFL!!!!

[dkf]

135. Try accessing DU with a camera. That won't work either.

[got root]

10. It's an easy to use computer

People and businesses have found so many uses for it that make it fly off the shelves.

I haven't got one, but I already have a laptop and iPhone, but I do see it's appeal.

[adigal]

113. I think it is a pricey toy

I can't do a lot of typing on it, no creating documents, or creating flyers, etc. It was really useless for my needs, so I ordered a Macbook Pro. Within 12 days, I had three serious issues - they are all made in China now, you know. My old American made Macbook lasted three years until I dumped a bowl of cereal on it. So I sent the new one back. I told them, "I can get three crappy made in China computers for the cost of this one crappy made in China computer, so give me my money back." Never again will I pay extra for a made in china piece of crap Apple.

[got root]

150. well, you'd be wrong as it is much more than a toy - though it can be that, too ;)

competitively priced, and can be used for content creation as well as consumption.

all those things add up to make it a hot item.

though some see conspiracy everywhere

[surfdog]

11. A gadget really?

It's a computer and if you don't see why people would want a computer ? get up walk away from your computer and go look In the mirror , You are going to question why somebody wants a computer as you type out the words on your computer ?

[unblock]

14. amazing what some people will do for porn, isn't it?

[limpyhobbler]

15. I don't feel like I'm missing anything without an iPad.

same goes for iphone, ipod, and itunes.

No need to feel too inferior about that.

[Initech]

16. I call it "Malibu Stacy Syndrome"

It's from the Simpsons - no matter how much the competition tries to come up with something new, innovative, and game changing, as long as you release the same crap with a new hat, people will flock to it. That's exactly Apple's strategy and it works every time - the iPad 3 is just the same crap with a new hat / screen.

[got root]

22. lol

If it really is that easy, why can't their competitors do it, too?

Because it ain't.

FYI

[sudopod]

48. The same reason Apple never sold more desktop OSes than Micro$haft. nt

[got root]

55. lol

zactly

[sudopod]

57. ...eh, maybe not in the way you mean.

Mac OS was tons better than any Windows for a decade or more, but everyone used Windows because thats what was expected, and that's what people knew. The fact that Apple couldn't get above 10% market share until recently is no indictment of Apple Likewise, the fact that iPeople will shiv each other over the last iPad at the store is not an endorsement, either.

[got root]

63. I would argue that Mac didn't have a 'way better' unti X

My main point is that it isn't simple marketing gimmicks that are behind apples post PC success, it is that they are experts at UI/UX, and they are relentless at not only getting it right, but making it better.

[WCGreen]

122. Apple was practically giving machines to schools thinking they could get kids use to using

apple products.

They couldn't break into the corporate world because PC's, from the get go in the 80's, were business friendly.

I don't think there is really too much difference between the products. I have used apple products but I have so much invested in Window based programs that it would be foolish at this stage of my life to chase after the next big thing.

I leave that part of capitalism to people who are still busy defining themselves.

I bought Mrs. WCGreen and I-Pod for Christmas and she loves it.

I have a freind that has to have the newest thing NOW and he is about ten years younger than I am. I think once you get into your fifties, you kind of look around and weigh all the issues before you buy something.

Most of the things I see people using computers for on the Tube are so far removed from my life it's like they are a different species, like humans 1.2...

I can do everything I want on the two lap tops I have and I still use my desktop that I bought back in 2004. I use ti design stuff with Pagemaker and still use it now and then.

[Hosnon]

183. Yeah I remember every computer lab growing up being full of Macs.

Not sure why that didn't work; personally, I remember thinking they weren't easy to use (possibly because every household I knew had a PC).

[Pholus]

139. I was WAITING to use that, and you beat me to it! :)

It's way too apt!

[Initech]

157. It is!

People can't see that Apple just keeps rehashing the same crap with slightly new features. Let me know when Apple open-sources their OS - *THAT* will be newsworthy!

[bowens43]

17. I use my tablet everday for everything of course I would never use an Apple product

I only use open source operating systems.

[Logical]

52. LOL....his loss??? You know his needs? Typical Apple fanboy.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

21. If you're shooting with a Nikon SLR

...and you're not shooting in RAW (which cannot be read on iPads, and would be horribly oversized if you could), then you're not using anything close to the full capabilities of your camera. Additionally, at 16GB default and 64GB max, you wouldn't get very far as regards storage space, given the average size of modern DSLR images, even the jpegs.

If you have heavy processing work to do, such as is required for decent image editing, the iPad is not the right platform anyway. Tablets are great for what they can do, but they still don't cover all of the ground that desktop and server-based computers do. That will change over time, as miniaturization gets better, but for now, PC's and Macs are still necessary for lots of tasks.

[Snake Alchemist]

28. A fellow shooter?

I shoot RAW+JPEG. I shoot with a 16GB Class 10 micro SD card and then I take it out and stick it in my phone. I use the phones screen to quickly go through the photos and see which ones I want to keep and also upload some quick picks for social media. The RAW are processed at home on the big machine for pics we want to actually print and hang in the house or give to friends and family.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

64. I'm from the enemy camp: Canon 7D

I just leave the CF in the camera and connect to my PC with a USB cable. I normally shoot RAW-only, but I batch process with Lightroom and the non-special shots get one of a few standardized profiles I use. For the good stuff, I edit individually, and sometimes export to Photoshop or Photomatix (HDR) for further processing.

Speaking of Lightroom, I don't know if you use it, but they just released version 4 yesterday, and it's retailing for $150 instead of the $300 for Lightroom 3. So far, it looks like extremely competent software. They have a 30-day trial if you're interested.

[Snake Alchemist]

67. Haha, definitely the enemy.

I used to carry my laptop around, but my phone is a lot easier to lug.

Love Lightroom and I thought I saw something about that yesterday. Will have to check it out.

[SidDithers]

24. I don't get the whole Nikon SLR craze...

I mean, a camera is just a camera right? I can take pictures with my point and shoot. Why would I need to spend $500 or $1000 or even $5000 for a camera? I mean, I guess those with their 3 martini lunches can afford that kind of cheddar for a camera.




To each their own, I say.

Sid

[Snake Alchemist]

29. A tad different. It's one of my passions and I saved for YEARS for the camera and lenses.

I will probably not upgrade for 10 years or more unless the shutter gives out on me. Some of my lenses I could sell for more than I bought them for.

[sudopod]

65. Edit: I derped when I should have herped. nt

[LanternWaste]

73. Human nature being what it is and all...

"A tad different..."

Well of course we rationalize and justify to ourselves those things we like to use, and hold those things we don't like to use to a higher, and much more subjective standard. Human nature being what it is and all...

[Snake Alchemist]

74. The difference lies in the fact that my camera will not be obsolete for a very long time if ever.

Unless they come up with something better than digital. Maybe holographic?

[LanternWaste]

78. Again, we simply rationalize those things we like...

And the 25 year old B&W tv I have is not obsolete either...


Again, we simply rationalize those things we like, and call them "relevant difference" or "exceptions". But it all comes down to little more than subjective opinions and personal likes vs. dislikes.

[Snake Alchemist]

82. I always differentiate between a passion for photography and a passion for watching TV. nt

[Tikki]

25. I don't..

Smoke, drink, fly to Europe, shop boutiques, drive an expensive car, have plastic surgery, tithe
a religious institution, buy jewelry, live in a MacMansion, rape the Earth, steal from the poor,
spoil my children, eat at Olive Garden, breast feed or own a pit bull, forget to recycle, repurpose and reuse.
I saved up for a year and bought me an iPAD.. Love, love it, oh and it loves me back.


Tikki

[msongs]

66. apple ipads made by wage slaves and you think you don't "steal from the poor" lol nt

[belcffub]

91. so you buy no chinese products...

or really anything made outside of NA or the EU...

[johnnie]

26. I really don't give a shit what people spend their own money on

But that's just me.

[we can do it]

75. Love Your Response (I agree, its none of my business what other people like)

I love my macs, but if you're not interested fine by me!

[onehandle]

27. I see. iPad owners = Elitists. Apple products are in over two out of three American homes.

That's a lot of 'elitists.'

Get a load of this 'elitist.'

He's a martini swiller, if I've ever seen one:
______________________

iPad gives boy a voice at his bar mitzvah



ANDOVER - The 12-year-old boy sat in the synagogue, looked out at the congregation, and waved. On a day when Jewish tradition marks the transition from boy to man, Matthew Emmi smiled often and moved his hands to the music of the Hebrew songs. During prayers, he alternately slouched and sat erect.

And when it was time for him to say a prayer before the Torah, he touched the screen of an iPad.

Matthew is severely autistic and cannot read, write, or speak sentences. His family, friends, and educators never know exactly what he is thinking, but they know Matthew likes going to synagogue. He has been a regular at the Sunday service at Andover’s Temple Emanuel, where he hums, claps and smiles when Cantor Idan Irelander plays traditional Hebrew prayers on his guitar.

Several months ago, Suzanne and Michael Emmi decided their son’s autism would not prevent him from having a bar mitzvah. “Because of the issues in his life, he’s not going to have a wedding or a high school or college graduation,’’ his mother said. “We wanted him to have that opportunity to have a special moment and shine.’’

http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-04/metro/31119794_1_bar-mitzvah-ipad-prayers

[RevStPatrick]

30. Apple fanboys...

Only iDouches use the iPad:

[HappyMe]

32. Back in the 80s

there was a saying -- He who dies with the most toys, wins.

[bart95]

33. Ebay is the only place I buy electronics

today's latest and greatest is tomorrow's cents on the dollar resale value

and stuff made 3-5 years ago, is likely more than you ever needed in the first place

i've just heard 'this xyz device has bla bla bla' more times than i ever care to hear it ever again

if i need to buy something, then i'll go through those specs, but if not, it belongs out of my mind

[pokerfan]

35. My phone

let's me google and check my email away from home or the office. That fulfills my needs. I would like to pick up a Kindle but those start at $79, not $499.

[bigwillq]

36. Why do you care so much about what other people spend their money on?

And why do you care so much about what other people think of you?

[Logical]

53. I care because I love analyzing marketing ploys.

[sharp_stick]

38. Not to really get in the middle of a good

fanboy/anti-fanboy argument but I stole this from another DU'er and send it to my old grad school (real Apple fanboy) supervisor after every announcement.

[DeschutesRiver]

99. thanks for that, I lol'd. nt

[Dead_Parrot]

104. Think I'm stealing that...

[Skidmore]

39. I don't get it either. I'm just fine with my

Kindle Fire. Does everything I need it for while travelling at less than half the cost of the iPad garbage. And my Tracfone works perfectly well for what I need in terms of emergency contact while travelling. Otherwise I have a laptop at home and an aged PC whic works for maintaining my genealogy database.

[MADem]

198. I am a Tracfone fan, too~~~!!!

I love the fact that you can use it in Madrid, in Rio, in Mexico City, in San Juan PR, in Kingston Jamaica, in Moscow, Paris, Hong Kong...you name it! Same cost per call, too--none of that roaming shit, none of those monthly fees. Sure, the cost per unit isn't cheap, but I buy a one year card and never use all the units over the course of a year. I just don't spend my life gassing and gabbing on the damn phone for hours at a time, so it's a perfect fit for me. You can even text and send pics with the one I have, which is more than I really need but it's fun to use those features every now and again.

[brooklynite]

40. Disparage the iPad buyers all you want...

...given the number of sales they're racking up, either there are millions more wealth people than you think there are, or there are millions of ordinary people who like the technology features AND the coolness.

All I know is that the stock I bought for $4 (when people were ALSO disparaging Apple) is trading at $540 today.

[Snake Alchemist]

42. I suppose anyone who bought the stock when it was 4$ can now afford to buy an iPad 3. nt

[bigwillq]

62. Most anyone can afford an iPad

if they save up for it. Might take some time, but it's manageable.
It's the same thing when people save up for a vacation. At first one might think they will never be able to save that much money, but they do. And then they enjoy a nice trip somewhere.

[sudopod]

71. LOL nt

[adigal]

116. It will be obsolete by the time I save up!!

I am a professional, I make a decent living but $500 minimum is way too much money for me! It is almost a month of groceries, for a toy, really.

[bigwillq]

124. Well then at least you have your priorities straight!

I would rather have the groceries than the iPad. I'm just saying that it's possible to save up a little each week or month and get it eventually if that's what a person wanted to do.

I have my laptop and my iPhone and that's enough for me!

[sudopod]

54. Or advertising is becoming ever more effective.

You ever wonder why poor people vote against their own interests? Why pharmaceutical companies spend more on ads than R&D?

[proud2BlibKansan]

128. +1

[get the red out]

43. It's too pricy for me

But my sister and brother-in-law bought one because they read how helpful it is for kids on the Autistic Spectrum, and their younger daughter suffers from Aspberger's Syndrom. It has really been great for my niece and was well worth what they spent for it.

I would love to have one, but I don't need it badly enough to sacrifice other things I enjoy for what it costs. Not that other's don't have more need or want for one than I, everyone has to sort out their own priorities. A lot of folks wonder if I was bonkers for buying a hybrid car when I could have gotten other models a bit cheaper.

I am glad that new versions of small computing devices keep coming on the market, some of the less trendy ones are starting to get down to a price I will pull the credit card out for at some point.

[hifiguy]

46. They used to call this "planned obsolescence"

and it is at the heart of endless, mindless consumerism.

[Pholus]

146. Ooh, Ooh, Ohh, I do! It means I can't replace my batteries without a big hassle!!!!

In fact, it raises the hurdle to the point where perhaps a new purchase is more convenient.

[Logical]

49. It is this simple......

There are millions, that no matter what Apple releases, no matter how minor a upgrade, no matter how soon after the last device, they will go wait in line to buy on one on release day.

Apple knows this, so they release items often.

And Apple makes a lot of money because of these people.

[got root]

58. I wonder why their competitors don't do this easy trick, too?

Wouldn't that be the logical thing to do?

[Logical]

60. No, it take years to build up the cult status. Apple did a hell of a job doing it.

[sudopod]

61. To clarify what I said above

Mac OS was objectively better than Windows throughout the 90 and into the 21st century, yet for the better part of two decades MS dominated the market. It wasn't Apple's fault, it's a psychology thing.

Now it's working in Apple's favor, that's all.

[raouldukelives]

51. I think that being made by mistreated child labor

Gives it a special luster that makes many owners & especially shareholders happy.

[Liberal Veteran]

68. So this video kinda speaks to your ipad feelings?

[LanternWaste]

70. Telephones and computers are just a craze too.

Telephones and computers are just a craze too. Much like the hoolahoop, they too shall pass...

Goodness, all these fads, so little time to choose one to ...

[KG]

72. still waiting on the MacBook wheel, myself.

[kentauros]

184. !!

"It remains to be seen if the Wheel will catch on in the business world where people use computers for actual work and not just dicking around."



Typical Onion News!

[we can do it]

76. Then why bother posting?

[LanternWaste]

79. I think it comes down to Coke vs. Pepsi.

I think it comes down to Coke vs. Pepsi.

Madison Ave. played a great trick on a lot of people by convincing us to disavow one like product over another.

[sudopod]

94. I know, right?

It's like watching two guys get in a hillbilly fight over Chevys vs Fords, but with skinny jeans and retro tshirts.

[we can do it]

130. thank you! HAHAHAHA

[Broken_Hero]

81. My take

is that its a hobby/need that people find interesting. I've had a handful of friends who were tech geeks and would spend a lot of $$ on the newest cell phone, pager, ipod/mp3 player, etc. Its just something that they liked spending their money on, so I don't give them much grief about it.

The Ipad craze isn't for me, doesn't bother me much...some folks spend their $$ on those toys, while I prefer to spend my $$ on real toys(can't wait for the Arkham City Solomon Grundy toy).

[Nye Bevan]

86. Here's what iPad buyers are giving up:

[Odin2005]

131. My Compaq with Win7 has not crashed once. Nice try.

Oh, and the BSoD has been gone since Vista.

[Nye Bevan]

170. Microsoft themselves beg to differ.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Resolving-stop-blue-screen-errors-in-Windows-7

[KG]

168. yawn.

nobody's seen a BSOD since 95.

[Nye Bevan]

171. I didn't know Windows 7 was around in 95!

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Resolving-stop-blue-screen-errors-in-Windows-7

[Snake Alchemist]

181. Neither was OS lion

http://www.cultofmac.com/112204/auto-restart-your-crashed-mac-in-lion-os-x-tips/

[taught_me_patience]

88. Many of the same people willing to spend $500 on the next Ipad

that isn't much better than the previous version bitch to high hell when gas prices rise $.25 ($100/yr more for a typical driver) or refuse to pay $20 more for clothing made in america. Hypocracy abounds...

[Renew Deal]

92. Nice post Newt!

What's with the "upper west side" comment? We get enough NY hating from Gingrich. We don't need it on DU.

[sudopod]

95. Hit close to home, huh? :3 nt

[Renew Deal]

96. Newt rants on about "NY elites"

It's absurd.

[Snake Alchemist]

132. Born and raised in NYC. I think I have the right to name a place where the upper class

hang out. Now they're even taking over Williamsburg.

[got root]

152. yeah, i was kinda surprised to see this locked...

can't even discuss our most important communication tools, on a political site no less, that would be a bit much, imho.

[William769]

105. Kick.

[rocktivity]

109. With a cover with a built-in keyboard

it becomes Mac's answer to a netbook.


rocktivity

[NightOwwl]

114. I can easily afford one.

but not interested in buying one. I also spend a good deal of money making sure I always have the best graphic card in my PC.

Is there something wrong with that?

[sendero]

120. While I don't question..

... that Apple has a technological lead (for the time being anyway) in these devices, and that they have their uses, I am pretty sure that for 90% of the people who buy them they are just expensive toys.

For me to spend that kind of dough on something, it has to justify it by saving me time and/or effort. Unless you are a field salesman or a realtor or something like that I find it hard to believe that you really need one of these.

Of course, everyone is free to do with their money whatever they want, but I'm also pretty sure that you are paying a really high premium for the name "Apple" and I especially avoid that. That is just playing into the consumerist corporations hands when they convince you that they deserve a staggering margin because their product is so fantastic.

Uh, not really.

[got root]

153. do you have an HD TV

or a nice sound system?

they can be a lot more, though this device does way more than those things, right?

[sendero]

162. Yes but I used them.

.... every day. I just don't think I would USE a pad, when I need a computer I'm usually at work, where my employer provides me with a very nice one or at home where my 6 year old Dell serves my needs just fine.

I do understand your point, we all buy stuff because we "want" it but I do think some demand is "created" out of thin air with slick marketing and I try not to get caught up in that.

[joshcryer]

133. In the developed world, yes, there are a lot of privileged people who can afford it.

That includes poorer people or people in the bottom 25% who, for some, can afford it.

That's just how rich we are as a people.

We'd be richer if we decided to opt for cheaper consumer electronics like the rest of the world does.

But we're consumers first and foremost.

[Taverner]

145. +1000

This is part of why I am not buying new clothing any more

You can get everything you need at a Goodwill, Thrift or 'Vintage' clothing store (unless it's some rare bowling shirt that Chris Isaak once wore, it will be cheap.)

[joshcryer]

154. I'm not ashamed to admit this but I found an entire bag of almost-new shirts...

...in the garbage two days ago and I acquired every single one of them. They were even recently washed (smelled clean, though I do plan to wash them again just because)!

I was so happy when I did, too, because my shirts are getting really worn down and I do hard labor so I was really putting off buying some new shirts (I will buy new just because they'll last longer than a used shirt, shameful, I realize).

I now have enough shirts to last me for years, heh.

[onenote]

178. Yes we are consumers.

Which many people seem to think is a horrible thing. My question is this: does anyone here think that if everyone stopped spending on anything more than the bare necessities it would be good for the economy, good for job growth? Yes consumerism is one of the factors that drives people to buy apple products. Its also what has resulted in apple opening nearly 250 retail stores employing lots of folks (both as retail employees and those involved in the design and construction of the stores). Would I like apple to build its products in the US? Damn straight. But I'm confused by those who complain about where apple builds its products and then turn around and complain about consumerism. (Not suggesting that you are one of those people, by the way).

[joshcryer]

194. I love consumerism.

I dislike blind consumerism.

[sammytko]

137. You can get the new iPads and iPhones almost free if you trade or sell your old ones

I bought the then new iPhone4s for 36 dollars at Radio Shack.

My nephew and his wife sell their old iphones/ipads on ebay or craigslist and hardly have to put anything out of pocket on the new model. The initial outlay is almost the only cost.

[Taverner]

143. It's a toy for people who like a specific brand of toy

Many other toys and tools do what the iPad 3 does

But for those who love that brand - brand loyalty, being what it is, you have the craze

I like my laptop that runs Ubuntu that can use my cell phone to get internet connections anywhere, and I like how I can also mix my album on this same laptop. Take that, iPad!

And I like how, if I need to run any other OS - that is, unless it's iOS or MacOS X (and even then there are ways) - I can thanks to Vmware Workstation.

And I like how I put a superfast SSD in it, reformatted Ubuntu 11 on the laptop, and put it into play, it played marvelously.

[got root]

151. i think that there's probably more to it than that

but who like to think anymore?

[Major Nikon]

147. I have an iPad 1 that works just fine for me

The main reason I got it is for aviation purposes. For $75 I get all the aviation charts and plates for the entire US. Buying the paper versions was several times more expensive and harder to use, so the ipad has already paid for itself several times over.

I also use it with my DSLR. I use an Eye-Fi SD card and shuttersnitch on the ipad. It works pretty well, but I don't know that I would buy an ipad specifically for that purpose as I think there are better solutions out there.

[BiggJawn]

149. Hipsters gotta have "The Newest THING" n/t

[onehandle]

163. The 80 year-old grandmother I saw buying one was such a hipster!

Wait... Maybe I don't know what a hipster is.

[joshcryer]

166. Interesting.

Championing outliers sure does win arguments.

Golly gee, my 66 year old mother is running Windows 7 x64! She's such a hipster!

[onehandle]

169. Apple products are in over 2/3rds of American homes.

The days of painting people as 'fan boys' and hipsters are over.

Apple is fully mainstream.

[Pholus]

172. You can tell a 'fan boy'/hipster from a 'normal' easily.

Just say something negative about an Apple. Anything, actually, like pointing out their labor practices are less than fair to anyone.

At that point, just make sure you're wearing rain clothing.

A normal person will look strangely at you as they consider that and the moment passes. A 'fan boy'/hipster will start filling the air with a stream of invectives.

You need the rain clothing in the latter case, as spittle is uncomfortable to wear for any length of time.

[joshcryer]

195. Precisely. It's like bashing Dell or Windows or something.

A Dell fanboy (do those exist) would get all worked up, most consumers of a Dell computer would look at you oddly, shrug it off, say they paid a low price at most, that it was all they could afford, etc.

Windows fanboys do exist, but in general they make up an extremely small percentage of users, and I don't even think I've seen one posting here on DU.

Someone mentioned Windows 8 recently but that was that, it was a rather mediocre post that I recall, not much drama, couldn't even classify that post as a Windows fanboy post.

It's the mass marketing blind consumerism that comes with Apple products. It's very much like a religion in many cases, with people championing the products above all else, and outright mocking "inferior" products that have a much more revolutionary purpose (like One Laptop per Child), a purpose which will ultimately change the world.

From my close circle of 'friends' all I ever hear about are problems with peoples' Mac's. I have a friend, another whose Mac gives them hell all the time, it's funny seeing their posts but I don't revel in it because they did spend a lot of money on it and I feel for them. Not that PCs are better, again, mind you. It's just, I don't know. Sometimes stuff doesn't work for people. If something doesn't work for me I'd rather have spent a lot less on it. My CPU is acting up, computer freezes occasionally and I think I've narrowed it down to the CPU itself. If I got a top of the line Intel chip and it was messing up, I'd be much more annoyed, but it's just a cheap AMD chip.

And before someone comes in here championing Apple product superiority and arguing that they don't break as often, etc. Sorry, but they use the same manufacturing techniques as all the other companies (in fact, as we've seen in the Foxconn discussions, it's often the same company).

[Pholus]

199. The funniest moment is when the Apple fanboi tries to find your "brand" to pay you back...

What amazes me is how they simply cannot grasp agnosticism towards a manufacturer. A brand name to worship seems to be required along with feelings of rage inside when that name is evoked in a non-positive manner. I've just used too many computers over to long a time to get worked up on the particulars of any one and I've seen a hundred "revolutions" that in fact are merely a calculus sized epsilon over the last revolution.

Reminds me of the Russian guy in Armageddon: "Components. American components, Russian components, ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!"

Man that movie sucked, but that quote was actually pretty good and sadly way too full of truth...

[agentS]

159. I might get it in a year or so, but not right now.

I'd rather donate the cash to the DCCC or Moveon or a campaign or charity this year.
Ask me again in 2013- i might be in the market for a tablet again.

I currently have an off-brand tablet that is smaller than an I-pad and not as effective but I don't need anything more fancy for road trips.

[MichaelMcGuire]

164. Well if its not Puppy Linux its crap

Its growing on me.

[joshcryer]

167. "changing the number of available pixels by a factor of four doesn't completely change...

...the utility of the tool"

A wonderful comment posted in this thread. Look for it. It's a good post.

[onenote]

175. $1.50 a day

That's what an iPad 3 plus tax costs someone. I imagine there are a lot of people who can afford that. Just as there a lot of people who can afford to spend more than that per day for a cup of Starbucks coffee when they could get a cheaper cup of coffee elsewhere.


The iPad isn't your cup of tea. We get that. But it is for others. You feel passionate about your Nikon SLR on which I expect you will continue to spend money (unless you've already sprung for every lens and accessory you might ever want, in which case you will have spend several times over the cost of an iPad.) You could've bought a Canon, or one of several other brands of SLR, some pricier, some less pricey. You picked Nikon and probably feel some loyalty to that particular product (just as some folks feel particular loyalty to Apple products). I know camera buffs that are passionate about their cameras and upgrade their cameras with new ones as the technology has evolved, selling their old ones or giving them to a family member. Do you "get" them? Do you think someone who is passionate about something is being irrational when they upgrade to a newer version of the thing they're passionate about?

Finally, I know a lot of folks who upgrade their laptops every two-three years. They regard a four year computer as a dinosaur. The first generation iPad came out two years ago. So between the millions of folks who never purchased an iPad before and the ones deciding that now is the time to upgrade their old iPad (which they probably pass along or sell to a friend or family member) -- the iPad "craze" really isn't all that surprising.

And, no, I don't have an iPad (or a Nikon SLR). I have macbook at home, a non Apple windows based laptop at work,
and my camera is an old Olympus 5050 for which I have an underwater housing (but I'm in the market to upgrade it this year -- probably with another Olympus).

[Snake Alchemist]

176. I picked Nikon because they have the best color metering. Not the best selection of lenses though.

1.50 a day can be impossible for a lot of people. You also have to assume that the new model they release is not more expensive. I'll probably use my camera for 15-20 years. Can the same be said of any tablet?

[onenote]

177. Of course not. But that's an apples and oranges comparison

You have chosen to spend a lot of money on a camera that you plan to hold onto for 15-20 years. Other Nikon afficianados will not hold their cameras that long, as new models, with new capabilities are introduced. Which is fine. Depending on what someone wants out of their camera and how important new features are, each person makes their own decision.

Of course no one buys a tablet, or a laptop, or even a PC to last 10-15 years. Just as no one buys a phone for 10-15 years. If someone spends $500 every 3 years for a new computer or tablet, in 10-15 years they'll spend $3000. I don't know how much you spent for your Nikon, but a full Nikon set up with lenses etc can easily run that much or more -- all at once, if that's how one chooses to buy it.

But that's the point. Its no more irrational for someone to spend $500 every few years for a new device that they use every day as it is for someone to spend several times that amount for a device (i.e., a digital SLR camera) that they use often but not nearly as often. (Obviously, if you're a professional photographer that analysis is not applicable, but the overwhelming majority of purchasers of digital SLRs are not professional, full time photographers).

For some people $1.50 a day is a lot. But But they're probably not the ones buying iPads. Moreover, since most people don't replace their iPads every year, its proably more like 75 cents per day or less. I don't worry about "getting" those people that spend far more that per day for a cup of coffee and I don't worry about "getting" those who spend their money on something that they enjoy, need, and/or find value in.

I'm curious about one thing -- did you start a similar thread about the "Air Jordan craze"? Seems to me that you should "get" the idea of people fighting to buy a $200 pair of sneakers every year -- particularly where its quite likely that the folks buying those shoes can afford them far less than the typical iPad purchaser -- even less than you "get" the "iPad craze."

[Snake Alchemist]

179. The difference is between a passion and a gadget.

You could root a Nook Color and get 98% of the features while spending 1/3 the amount. But you would not get the shiny logo. I don't know many that upgrade their SLR's often. I know a lot who still shoot with the D50's and D70's they first bought and produce stunning photographs.

Funny that you mentioned Air Jordans. Michael Jordan is a family friend and he used to send me a free pair every year. I never understood the attraction, but I wore them because I needed sneakers and those were free.

[onenote]

182. And there's the answer: what you don't get is that some people are passionate about their iPads.

Last edited Sat Mar 10, 2012, 09:45 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm sure there are people who have a passion for Canon cameras. My guess is that while they don't share your passion for your Nikon, they "get" it. But someone who gets by with a point and shoot, may not "get" why someone spends what they do for an SLR.

I am particularly passionate about a particular band and have spent significant sums in pursuit of that passion (although I know folks who have spent far more). Other people are passionate about other bands that I don't like at all. But I get their passion even if I don't feel it. The difference between the bands is entirely subjective.

I don't know anyone who is going without food or shelter because they spent their money on an iPad. What I don't get is why it matters to you whether they spend $500 on an iPad or $150 on some other device and $250 on other stuff.

[Pholus]

203. It bothers me because they need to be practicing their arithmetic??

By the way, please take this as nothing more than a lighthearted jab cause it was just a simple mistake but...

$150 + $250 = $400? Are you *sure* the A5X is not made by Intel?

[Snake Alchemist]

204. most photographers I meet have a passion for photography

Last edited Sat Mar 10, 2012, 12:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Not a brand.

[negativenihil]

180. lol

I love seeing these posts pop up every time there's a new apple product.

"I JUST DON'T GET IT!"

[Stinky The Clown]

185. I guess we can put you down as a non-buyer

No problem.

[high density]

196. I'm probably going to have to jump on the Apple bandwagon soon

I'm a software developer and so far I've been mostly a Windows guy. Now everybody wants to do everything on an iPad, so HTML5, here I come! Of course my employer is running right out to buy the hardware so I can test everything I write on it... NOT.

[Initech]

197. I finally ditched my iphone today for a Samsung Galaxy and couldn't be happier with the replacement.

It's made in South Korea by actual paid employees, has a gorgeous screen, and pretty much puts the iphone to shame.