Before someone else comes back to you, I'll say it right upfront. Keyword:barely usable. 90 minutes boot-up, snailpaced cursors. Apple dont roll that way.

Why the need to quote my post then? Dude, I'm not ignorant or stupid when it comes to other alternative OSes. I've used and still have in my possession, the Nokia N770 on Maemo turned to an LCARS PAD interface long before Nokia deemed it fashionable enough to bring it to the masses on the N900. I repeat: I am not ignorant, or stupid.

Where do people draw the line then? I can hackintosh my way into the early EEEPC but what's the point if it's crawling to even begin with? Just to prove a point?

Apple Has Another Tablet In The Works: More Like A Mac Than An iPhone.

That is more like it! Those who wants to stick with stunted creativity or happy with just being an end-user, can stick with the iPad, while the rest who wants a proper traditional Mac experience can move up to this!

Contrary to a certain post above me, OSX on a tablet WILL NOT be like running Vista on a Tablet. Go ask the Hackintoshing community, they've run miracles on mere netbook specs, and it runs more than satisfactorily, it ran smoothly in fact. And this without proper trimmings and modified OSX optimizations for touch either!

It is not called GREED, it is called "never settling down for something mediocre when you can have something better" Technology never stop advancing, and unlike the typical Malaysian attitude of "aiyah this one good enough lah" being displayed here, there are others who would rather push the envelope than settling in them. Apple should have posted a snippet of this news sooner to assuage the huge backlash and unfavourable reactions seen around the net.

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Added on February 2, 2010, 10:28 amIt's simple really, look at this past experiences with a portable. All on Windoze-based laptops. No wonder his "expectations" are as such. Those who have spent their time with OSX , proper or properly hackintoshed, would say otherwise. Ask the Axiotron fellas with their Modbooks. Hell, ask our forum member wei why he toiled with his iTab project. And look at the reactions and responses he get from his creation on Engadget itself. It's a pent-up demand on a market that yearns for more than what they get on "a Vista on a Tablet". Yuck on that, but CERTAINLY not Yuck on OSX.



This post has been edited by stringfellow: Feb 2 2010, 10:28 AM

Look, I did say OSX optimizations, and to elaborate further, optimizations that would be in place to take advantage to the fact that it is now touchscreen, and in tablet form. If Apple say they can do the iWork suite in touchscreen format, why cant the other suites? Logic Pro/Express is screaming for this, as well as touching up pictures on Aperture, or fixing timelines in Final Cut Pro/Express. While you're out of the office or offsite, simpler forms of manipulations of the controls on these apps can be done on the tablet, and once you get back to the office, docking it back with the Mac Pro, you can you the tablet itself as HID for the fullblown version on its big brother.

The key here is optimization, or if you wanna go one step further, a whole new UI for Mac OS X. Think of it as a layering over the underpinings of the actual OS X, just like how HTC skins the WinMo/Android devices with Sense UI. Similar horrified looks and expressions were seen when the mouse was introduced, and look where we are now. The time is ripe to move on to touch-based UI.

The current implementation of what's available to produce a semblance of a touch-based input UI is exactly as what wei says "not exactly something that will be of much use on your desk or on your hands". But with such aggresive approach and audienced receptive acceptance for the already excellent touch-based interfaces on the currently available iPhones, and iPod touches, why not take this gathered momentum and move ahead further while "the food on the plate is still warm"?

EDIt: I'd love to stay and chat, but all my bags are packed and I'm ready to go. Yup, leaving on a jet plane. Hey, that's the lyric of that song innit?

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Feb 2 2010, 11:23 AM

Probably true, but what is stopping Apple from producing a Modbook version for themselves, and still have that "instant performance, instant boot up everything"?

Please don't get me wrong, for the A4+iPhone Os, that would be best, but there is an equally large number of people who are as interested on the portability of the tablet form, but with significantly more power than what's offered by the A4+iPhone OS combo.

I don't see people complaining about the thickness of the current Macbook Pro, and losing that keyboard in favor of a touch-based interface would make it even thinner than it is now. What is stopping this form factor/spec? You might say the touch-based UI is not yet in place in OSX but, then again, all this while, all your Macbooks were never a touchscreen anyway, why would Apple place a touch feature on a hardware that does not support it? Introduce the tablet, and in tandem, introduce the accompanying touchscreen UI that would complement that form factor.

God I really need to go!



Then build it from the base up. Just don't skimp on the specs, Apple. Knowing Apple, they aren't a strip-down kind of people, they move up. Take advantage on this momentum. The expected initial aversion towards a new way of interfacing with your applications on your hardware will always be there, and people will always whine because having to learn new things and leave the old ways behind, but they will begrudgingly follow through and in no time, it will be second nature to them.

Remove the keyboard. Remove the touchpad. Remove unnecessary components. It's already moving in that direction with the Macbook-->Air. Carbon fibre the shell. There lots of other ways to do it, and Apple's more than bullish than trying new engineering feats and unorthodox production methods.

Seriously, what is stopping Apple from putting a CULV processor instead of the A4, maintain the storage capacity SSD chips, while still maintaining the iPad form factor, or making it slightly thicker for cooling purposes?

Easy. Market is as how they're marketing the segmentation of their current MB/MBP/MBA right now. Majority will pick the iPad which those with specific needs will have the option of getting the more specced up tablet. But the again you'll bring up the streamlining of lineup argument again, so.....

Really gotta go. The plane's here.

I think the spot where people were pointing out where the cam is, is probably ambient light sensors. No, not for you to put to your face and turn off the backlighting of the iPAd, but more of assessing the amount of light in your environment, and dim it or brighten it up as needed.



This post has been edited by stringfellow: Feb 3 2010, 01:51 PM

What comes after the iPad?

Humorous, yes...but underlying a valid point. IMO of course.

Tish, I flew with our mutual friend and managed to fondle his iPad. I'm having second thoughts about not wanting this, the iPad is mad sexy!

It's surprisingly heavy for its size though. iBook and Goodreader apps won me over though. I can finally ditch my paper manuals and put everything on the iPad digitally. If I could see HD iTunes TV show episode running on this, it'll definitely tip me over to the "believer"camp. My TV shows would look absolutely delicious on this!

Careful on the Apple iPad case though. Reports saying that it's a b**** to take out of it once it is slotted in. Docks won't work on it and placing the iPad in portrait while in the case causes it to wobble because the bottom is rounded.

Naked. Until there's solutions that allow some form of protection without compromising the dock connection access.

Looking around for any form of "Mi-Fi"-like personal hotspot generator available. So far none. Nope, not gonna jailbreak for MyWi, wireless-on-wireless is killer on the iPhone battery, even if I'm using the Moshi Juice Air.

A more pressing issue is finding a proper form of protection for the iPad. A case should do fine, but the current selection of cases available are pretty dull. No silicone for me, as that kind of material collects dust like a vacuum cleaner. I may just relent and get myself the Apple iPad case even though I've mentioned how below par the case is.

Someone just please make a clear case for the back, and I'll just slap on a screen protector and be done with it. I'm carrying around the iPad with its original plastic cover wrapped on it, for crying out loud!

Not a big fan of "wrapping-style" protection.

I just need a clear case for the back and a screen protector. I know there's that Epik case around, but the design is not so "epik", if you get what I mean.

I've just repurchased N.O.V.A, Modern Combat: Sandstorm, NFS Shift and Real Racin HD for the iPad. In addition, MGS Touch looks nice on the iPad as well, and also purchased Geometry Wars Touch. I'm still on the fence with regards to Scrabble for iPad, Civ Rev for iPad and Warpgate HD.

Also purchased the World Atlas HD by Nat Geo for work purposes, Weather HD for that seriously beautiful weather forecast screens, and have synced all my Kindle books into the iPAd via the Kindle app.Foreflight 3 HD looks enticing, but I'm not convinced I can put it to good use at work because of the lack of more detailed data especially on airports outside of continental US.

Nothing purchased from iBookstore, just samples. Tons of movies, TV Shows and music synced in, the iPad is made for this very purpose. Especially with my labour of love tagging all my media with detailed metadata, nice HD covers and movie posters, this turns out seriously breathtaking on the iPad. Too bad 64Gb isn't that big to shout about, I have to pick and select which TV Show/Movie/Songs to sync into. Just for info, my iTunes library alone clocks in at 1.9TB (nope, not a typo, that's a Terabyte).

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 19 2010, 02:43 PM

Clear case, if any. I've made arrangements to get the official Apple iPad Case from a colleague now in LA. He just reported back in via SMS that he have the dock for me, no news yet on the iPad Case. I've also arranged from another friend here in KL (one of the "15" I helped getting the iPhone 3G from Auckland last time), to get the iPad Case for me, it should arrive next Monday. Much appreciated on the offer for help, Mac.

OT: The volcano's the culprit isn't it? I've an Istanbul flight to do tomorrow and even that is 50-50. The "company" greenlighted the Rome sector, so I guess IST is a go as well.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 19 2010, 02:49 PM

Impressions read from Macrumors forum says something about the sides not being protected, as compared to the Apple's Case. The reviewer end up returning to the Apple case.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=893920&page=2. Post #43.

Today is a very productive and fruitful day!

Thanks to "B" (you know who you are), I managed to get s super-finely wrapped iPad back, as well as turn my iPad into what is essentially a 3G iPad. Hear me out.

"B" managed to hook me up with his contact who sells this:-
Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352 - Intelligent Mobile Hotspot for HSPA Network (Europe)



What does this credit card size device does?



What does all this mean, you ask? I am now basically a "walking mobile hotspot". With the Celcom 3G Broadband simcard inside, my iPad can now log into the SSID generated by the MiFi and surf wirelessly by the 3G connection from my Celcom data plan subscribed (which is unlimited, BTW). Not just that, with the GPS enabled/assisted 3G positioning, I can finally use the Google Map application on the iPad as it is intended to be, mobile and on the go! Weather HD now ACCURATELY detects positioning and displays weather forecast INDEPENDENT of Wifi position or the need to be at a fixed hotspot, and what is even more liberating, AppStore download cruises like nobody's business, I had downloaded the free Toy Story picture book app using the MiFi mobile hotspot, with the line zipping by at HSDPA speed fed to the mobile hotspot!

The device self-installs on both Mac OS X AND Windows (installation packages are smartly extracted from the built-in storage memory, and installed without the need of looking for drivers), and once installed, you can set up secured SSID and assigned channels so that your iPAd can use is as a mobile hotspot. Once you have set the SSID name, and chosen a security encryption level and password, you can simply disconnect it from the computer and it runs practically on itself using its removable rechargable Li-Ion battery. What is even crazier is that, you don't even need to slot the battery in if you plug it into a powered USB slot, the MiFI draws power from the USB slot and runs it like any other normal USB 3G modem! Want something much crazier? It comes with built-in MicroSD slot to turn it into a USB Mass Storage device with a MicroSD card up to 16GB!

Security encryption offered is up to WPA2-PSK level, and up to 5 different devices can log in wirelessly at one time. Tried it just now at Gamers Solution (they just moved there for the new store opening, hence no Internet connection ATM), and were happily downloading and surfing on 3 different machines (2 iPads and one desktop computer) while the connection remained steady violet (Violet = HSDPA up to 7.2Mbps, Blue = 3G, Green =GPRS). We even tried it while driving, and along the way from Pertama Complex to Wangsa Maju, till my house in Keramat, the line remained steady violet, and speedtest app on the iPad (done while DRIVING on the road to these location!) constantly gives between 1.5Mbps to 3.5Mbps! The iPad never felt so alive with the internet connection feeding it, and I was personally downloading free apps like Adobe Ideas and Background HD while we were going between these places. Simply amazing!

I believe this device, or iteration of this device has been rebranded/rebadged by Sprint as Sprint MiFi, pictured below:-



but bear in mind, Sprint runs on the EVDO frequency channel, which is not compatible with our 3G GSM network.

"B" then later hooked me up with his favourite wrapping shop in Lowyat to wrap the back of the iPad, and trust me, I am skeptical as hell about all this wrapping business. I was sufficiently convinced after seeing the work done on his own iPad, and after the service was applied to my own iPad, my worries were really not necessary. Great looking and well-protected application of the wrap, and all it needs now is the front screen protector, which again, "B" is helping me getting along with his, and my iPad will be naked and thinly protected!

What a great day it was! iPAd sufficiently protected and essentially turned into a 3G iPad with the help of the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352. Very very pleased with the outcome today!

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 20 2010, 12:53 AM

LOL bro, anytime! Friends help one another.