Comments on The Burd Report: Give me one good reason

This device has amazing potential. The Apps that ...

2010-01-31T10:47:05.680-05:00

This device has amazing potential. The Apps that will be developed for industry and commerce will be the most interesting to watch.
Is this the end of the clipboard?
Oh yes, let us not forget. All this on a stable OS.

Really, this thing is just a big iPod Touch..which...

2010-01-29T16:00:29.820-05:00

Really, this thing is just a big iPod Touch..which is why I'm definitely getting one. This baby looks to be the best music interface I've had barring only my violin.
I have a regular computer (PC), which does nice regular computer things (and I wouldn't swap it for a Mac for any money) but my real favourite toy is my iPod Touch. And this is the low cost ($200) budget one with only WiFi access.
Let's see: 50+ books on it, a bunch of recorded music, a couple of movies, a few TED video lectures, a wad of photographs, a stack o' games, a few relaxation things (aquarium, zen garden), instant access to all the NFB films, CBC radio and a stack of amazing music software geared to the touch screen. All of this in my shirt pocket.
The problem with the Touch is that it's really too small to use for live performance (my fingers aren't that small) so I need the iPad to get the full utility of all this bounty. It's going to be a excellent, practical tool. No poring over a laptop for my shows. Now I can walk about the stage while playing!

True it looks like developers still need to go thr...

2010-01-29T08:34:57.042-05:00

True it looks like developers still need to go through the approval process to make native apps, but one can also develop apps that run in the Safari browser with no approval. In fact Google is launching its Chrome OS for netbooks this year with no native apps at all - it's the browser or nothing.

Wally, power windows were an incremental step back...

2010-01-29T08:26:22.392-05:00

Wally, power windows were an incremental step backwards. The convenience of the push button is far outweighed by the cost of repairing the damned things. I know,- I've had 2 driver side power window failures.

The reasons for buying it would probably be better...

2010-01-29T01:25:02.641-05:00

The reasons for buying it would probably be better off coming from a Mac user, but I can share my modest thoughts :)

1. The touch screen is a great feature in that type of product; it would make it easy to leaf through a magazine or book.

2. Apple is very well known for their applications (I personally think it's getting a bit excessive) and I imagine that the iPad will have some great ones. I would want an application that facilitated electronic magazine subscriptions. Animating certain sections of books could be fantastic as well. I can imagine reading book that has a soft soundtrack in the background at certain passages. A dictionary app would also be useful, especially for children as they are learning. A simple double tap and the definition would pop right up!

3. It has the potential to have a positive environmental impact. I hate that I have to buy huge, expensive textbooks that are out of date by the time my semester is over. If students could access textbooks electronically, it has the potential to save a lot of trees. It is not the same as a laptop because of the design and touch screen. It will be much more similar to reading an actual book. Further to that, anyone who has read a mediocre book and laments the tree that had to die to create it may appreciate this feature.

4. When reading books, it would be great to be able to save your page, or electronically highlight sections. This would technically apply to any electronic reader though. I believe the Kindle does not have colour, so the iPad will have a distinct advantage in this regard.

Personally I don't need one. But I don't n...

2010-01-28T21:47:24.262-05:00

Personally I don't need one. But I don't need a cellphone either. Saves a lot of expense and bother.

One day these techno nerds will realize that freedom is NOT being on-line with your boss/so-called friends/the world etc 24/7.

But seems to be a neat gadget for reading newspapers on the train and watching videos although still a lot to lug around. But I think I'd wait another six month before buying until they offer one with a phone included.

Basically, the Ipad is a watered down laptop which...

2010-01-28T19:53:51.813-05:00

Basically, the Ipad is a watered down laptop which you have no control of which software to install, only the Apple approved “apps” . We can expect Apple to freeze out Google apps, like the iphones

If I buy hardware I expect to be able to control what to install and use, not be “locked out” or held hostage by Apple.

Nice business model Jobs...

Hitler wants an iPad. http://www.youtube.com/watch...

2010-01-28T15:29:41.596-05:00

Hitler wants an iPad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4

You should neither indulge nor post Wally Keeler&#...

2010-01-28T12:36:57.295-05:00

You should neither indulge nor post Wally Keeler's comments Ben. He is a bully and offers nothing to the visitors of your site.

Power steering and power windows can be regarded a...

2010-01-28T11:54:36.073-05:00

Power steering and power windows can be regarded as redundant. That is an insignificant arguement.

It is a incremental technological development, not a revolutionary development. As a 'progressive' I thought you'd find it preferable to revolutionary.

The technology is indicative of a trend, and apps will flow towards the new tech. Check out the thousands of apps for it.

Oh, there is a side benefit -- continuing employment for countless numbers of people. Steve Jobs has probably done more for jobs creation than 10,000 whining progressives.

I think this is going to be the start of the next ...

2010-01-28T11:15:56.031-05:00

I think this is going to be the start of the next best thing. Apple is way better that windows- no virus or very little spam- I feel that Steve is after all the big newspapers and magazine's like music and video's . This is the start of getting away from expensive news print. The apps store is assume and till you try it you will not know where I feel computers are going. The Ipad is just the start and when I get one I will let you see it.

Ken Jansen

Gramps wasn't the insult, and BTW I've alr...

2010-01-28T11:11:15.552-05:00

Gramps wasn't the insult, and BTW I've already deleted a riposte to your earlier comment because it insulted you. If you read the original post instead of imposing your opinion on it then you would see that as a sceptic in this case this device seems to be a redundant, although tchnologically brilliant, piece of equipment.

Again give me one good reason why I should buy it!

Fuck this. Fuck that. That is the kind of manners ...

2010-01-28T10:33:38.712-05:00

Fuck this. Fuck that. That is the kind of manners you let slide by from Merklin Stuffley. All too often opinions offered here are an insult to intelligence.

Too bad that I don't suffer fools gladly. Eg. There were those who in the day who opposed power windows and power steering on vehicles, because, well, because it has always been done without, and the little engines that power these devices just add unneeded expense to the vehicle and are prone to breakdown. You sound the call of the Neanderthals.

There are always those who piss on technological innovation.

I've been called "gramps" from time to time from some -- water off a ducks back. Develop some skin, or go the bathroom and have a good cry -- it works for me.

Aha Chris it's a generational thing - a touch ...

2010-01-28T09:54:02.082-05:00

Aha Chris it's a generational thing - a touch screen and all the supposed ease that brings. One good reason so far

Well the typical netbook is heavier, thicker, has ...

2010-01-28T09:50:46.455-05:00

Well the typical netbook is heavier, thicker, has a lower quality display with no touch screen, is slower, runs Windows (with all the joys that brings) Price-wise it's actually a good deal - Amazon.com sells their Kindle DX for $489. Now I'll shut up as I sound like a product evangelist.

I was actually thinking that it was a way for &quo...

2010-01-28T09:49:47.328-05:00

I was actually thinking that it was a way for "Boomers" to be able to enjoy iphone apps without the need for 'trombone arm' while struggling to read the phone's display.

Another good quality comment from the objective pe...

2010-01-28T09:34:44.681-05:00

Another good quality comment from the objective person that you are Wally I left this up to show your bad manners and ignorance in your retorts normally not worth answering but your uncalled insulting ways have to be called out.

Ben, you're not important enough to bother con...

2010-01-28T09:24:54.413-05:00

Ben, you're not important enough to bother convincing.

I've been tickling computer ivories ever since I took data processing at Loyalist College in 1972.

Pounding on an Underwood is for nouns; computers are for verbs.
Death is a noun; living is a verb.

Get it gramps?

That's the point isn't it Chris, if there ...

2010-01-28T09:17:26.909-05:00

That's the point isn't it Chris, if there are netbooks that can do all the things that this device can do some better and all more powerful than the Ipad, and all definitely cheaper then why bother?

H LP! Can anyon t ll m wh r I can g t a n w ...

2010-01-28T09:06:04.958-05:00

H LP!
Can anyon t ll m wh r I can g t a n w ' ' k y for my Commodor 64?

This thing is driving m nuts!

I wouldn't try to convince you personally, but...

2010-01-28T08:38:49.987-05:00

I wouldn't try to convince you personally, but we do know there is a big market for "secondary" computers that are smaller & lighter than a laptop - hence all the Netbooks you see on the shelves.