[NTLK] OT: iPad vs. MS Courier: Sound Off

Wed Apr 7 17:07:21 EDT 2010

Ryan,
Let's think this through.

If they think it's too heavy - then they shouldn't buy one ... or they
should eat more Wheaties every day. We wouldn't want them to suffer the ill
effects of "physics!" Jeepers - one tap too many and they might throw their
back out! Or suffer neck strain! Or need a knee replacement!

One review from Slashdot does not translate into "a flood of discouraging
reviews." In fact in the New York Times alone today there are 6 reviewers
that offer praise ... and some predictions and constructive criticism. Not
one of them complained that it's just too heavy! Or that they had to
interact with it too much! Geeez.

Ryan, it appears from your "I saw this a mile away" remark, that you are
predisposed ... biased ... against the device ...  and you finally found one
reviewer ... where was that? ... oh yeah "Slashdot" (evidently a 98 pound
weakling) ... to back you up! Slashdot is for sure the one reviewer that I
am for sure going to totally rely upon for my decision .... NOT!

Dude, embrace the future ... it is iPad, and iPhone.

So we can't write on it like we could our Newtons. So it doesn't have the
genius (it can read my handwriting) level HWR that my 2100 has. But for no
$$ at all I can add the free Dragon app and dictate to the iPad - just like
I do on my iPhone. Slick. And I can do that with the iPad lying on the
table! Look ma! No Hands!!

Gimme a break.
Steve 

-----Original Message-----
From: newtontalk-bounces at newtontalk.net
[mailto:newtontalk-bounces at newtontalk.net] On Behalf Of Ryan
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 1:39 PM
To: newtontalk at newtontalk.net
Subject: Re: [NTLK] OT: iPad vs. MS Courier: Sound Off

Interesting.

The first few days after the iPad launched, the reviews were all great.
Mossberg, PCWorld, MacWorld, some user reviews.  But now there is a flood of
discouraging reviews.  A complete about face.

Maybe the iPad is more hype than anything else?  

I just did another sweep of reviews and now almost all of the latest reviews
complain about the weight.  It's too heavy.  This leads me to believe that
it is something real, not imaginary.

Here's a snippet from the comments on Slashdot:

"Yes. Even a magazine is too heavy, but usually you can rest it on your
chair/lap until you need to turn the page. Now you have this gadget that
needs lots of user input/interaction...hello gorilla arms. It isn't the
ability to lift and hold the device or media, it is the need to continuously
hold it and interact with it for long periods of time that becomes the
problem. Sure, you can life a 20lbs or even 30lbs dumbbell a few times with
one arm. But can you hold it there for 10 to 15 minutes with no effort? It
is the reason why we don't have touch screen monitors for work and we
continue to use keyboards and mice. Keyboards and mice simply take less
muscle effort.

Now from the article:

--Finally let me talk about the device itself. It's heavy. I mean,
surprisingly heavy. The specs say that it is 1.5lbs, which sounded very
light on paper. For the first few minutes, I liked the heft; I felt that I
was holding a solid, well-crafted item in my hands. But then I started
trying to figuring out ways to type. I wrote a number of emails of moderate
length and slowly realized that I just don't like typing on this thing.--

I saw this a mile away. The reason an "pad" device will never work is
because of weight. Even a plain plastic clip board is annoying without a
desk or surface to support it. Similarly it is why devices the size of a
cell phone will continue to dominate. You can comfortably hold your phone in
your hand and it isn't going to feel heavy because there is no lever force.
All of the weight is in your hand. Now you have this pad device in your hand
but you need to hit a point on the opposite side with your hand that's not
holding the device. That "tap" will feel a lot heavier than it is because of
physics. Now you need to do this a 100 or 200 times? 10 minutes? Nevermind,
it'll be worth it to get the laptop in 1 or 2 minutes and not have to use so
much energy just to hold the device.

Sorry everyone, it is going to continue to be phone size devices or laptops
and full size keyboards for a while.

Of course the ipad will have a convenient stand at the Apple store so you
don't actually have to hold it. You have to admit, they do know how to sell
something.

But there is a solution to the ipad input, and Apple is not going to like
it. It involves using your thumbs instead of your index finger similar to a
gameboy. Apple is never going to like this because it isn't "friendly"
enough. Just like their one-button mice and cmd clicking."

Thank you,

Ryan

====================================================================
The NewtonTalk Mailing List - http://newtontalk.net/
The Official Newton FAQ     - http://splorp.com/newton/faq/
The Newton Glossary         - http://splorp.com/newton/glossary/
WikiWikiNewt                - http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/
====================================================================

CyberDefender has scanned this email for potential threats.
Version 2.0 / Build 4.03.29.01
Get free PC security at www.cyberdefender.com