iPad

[Mine'sAPint]

For a long time now I've been dreaming about a net/notebook which would have a mode which lets you use the screen as an external monitor and have USB out for the keyboard/trackpad. If it could look like a USB mass storage device to another machine, then all the better.

The idea is that you would have a normal notebook, but at the flick of a switch (or more likely via a reboot) you've got a complete set of peripherals that you can plug into that headless server that's been causing problems.

Sounds a little like the old Microsoft Mira aka Smart Display circa 2002 - http://www.pencomputing.com/frames/mira.html. Basically a wireless display/touchscreen for a PC that you could dock with the PC or use to surf the web from the couch. I've got a half dozen AMD based prototypes in my garage that I need to find a project for

[Guru-Meditation]

matt: If you're already liking Android (I think you mentioned you use it before) then may as well wait to see what Android tablets come out.

[Misfit]

matt: If you're already liking Android (I think you mentioned you use it before) then may as well wait to see what Android tablets come out.

I have an Archos 5 Android tablet and it is a lovely bit of kit. Soon it should have flash and Android 2 on it and it will be very nice.

But I'm really not sure what all the Android fuss is about? OK it's open source and has lots of apps but there isn't really anything special about it, it certainly doesn't give the lovely experience of something like the iPhone interface.

[juice]

My take on the iPad is that it's a nice device for casual use at home, and I think that's exactly the market Apple is aiming for: Joe Six pack, on the couch, firing it up to check mail, blogs and the odd bit of Youtube. It's essentially intended for passive activites, not active.

Past there, it's going to be interesting to see how well it works: one implication of the bigger size is that you're going to have to hold it with one hand and tap with the other: two-handed controls are only really going to be viable when it's lying flat on a surface (which carries it's own ergonomic issues). Though there's some potential for "thumbs in the corner" virtual dual-stick controls when it comes to gaming...

[Firefox]

Interesting that they're not mentioning how much RAM it has. Which probably means "not that much, really".

I'm not interested in this version because it's not a proper general-purpose computer and because it lacks memory card slots and (dedicated) USB sockets. I think it will be a good fit for a lot of people who don't need a traditional computer, though.

[defsdoor]

It's a sofa surfer. Which isn't a bad thing.

[Guru-Meditation]

But I'm really not sure what all the Android fuss is about? OK it's open source and has lots of apps but there isn't really anything special about it, it certainly doesn't give the lovely experience of something like the iPhone interface.

Put my reply in the iPhone vs Android thread in Bleatings. Long version short, just like with any OS YMMV.

[Darkflame]

My view is simple; For $500 theres a lot better "casual surfing" devices out there, and with that screen it would suck for reading eBooks.

(Might be the best thing for comics, mind you....If Apple lets a CBR reader be released and theres some easy way to copy the comics onto it)

I like the new Eee PC however;

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=KIqtSJ1aVsmVpeqS

It has multitouch, solid state, etc.
Only it also such wonderfull innovations as usb slots and card-readers

[HGFB]

(Might be the best thing for comics, mind you....If Apple lets a CBR reader be released and theres some easy way to copy the comics onto it)

http://www.bitolithic.com/ComicZeal/comiczeal.htm

It has multitouch, solid state, etc.
Only it also such wonderfull innovations as usb slots and card-readers

And also a bit pants.

[Darkflame]

Why?
Only downsides I see are less inbuilt storage (easily fixed with a SDHC card) and a keyboard some people might not want.

Other then that it seems a nice bit of kit. Windows7 even looks quite good working on it.

[Darkflame]

(Might be the best thing for comics, mind you....If Apple lets a CBR reader be released and theres some easy way to copy the comics onto it)

http://www.bitolithic.com/ComicZeal/comiczeal.htm
.

Seems ok, but am I right in reading you have to convert your files for use?
You cant just use any CBR/CBZ files?

I'm used to converting my comics at the moment to read on my DS, and hoped to one day not need to do that to enjoy comics on a portable system. (the DS of course, having far too little Ram to resize Jpegs on the fly - I would have thought the iPhone had enough though).

[VNVObit]

There is Comixology for the iphone which is pretty good comic reader but doesn't do CBR AFAIK as it is a shopfront (but there are plenty of free issues)
nice little app really

[HGFB]

Seems ok, but am I right in reading you have to convert your files for use?
You cant just use any CBR/CBZ files?

Scanned comics big. iPhone screen small.

[RiK]

(Might be the best thing for comics, mind you....If Apple lets a CBR reader be released and theres some easy way to copy the comics onto it)

Interesting snippet from the new SDK (and I'm not breaking NDA as this was all over Macrumors within minutes )

File Sharing.
A shared file directory is provided that will mount on your Mac or PC. This is presumably how files such as iWork documents will be transferred to and from the iPad. iPad applications will be able to access this shared directory.

[tufty]

(Might be the best thing for comics, mind you....If Apple lets a CBR reader be released and theres some easy way to copy the comics onto it)

Interesting snippet from the new SDK (and I'm not breaking NDA as this was all over Macrumors within minutes ;) )

File Sharing.
A shared file directory is provided that will mount on your Mac or PC. This is presumably how files such as iWork documents will be transferred to and from the iPad. iPad applications will be able to access this shared directory.

A while back, I posted a bit of what I want. It's dreamland, but apple seem to be getting there with the integration between apps (shame really, as they already had a lot of it with Newton).

1 - Device that's *not* app-centric. They are getting there with that, but only with Apple-supplied software. The ability to hook into it ifor 3rd-party developers is there, but it's hard to do right (this is not Apple's fault, of course). I'd actually like to see the concept of a "file" die a horrible death.
2 - Handwriting recognition. They had good HWR 12 years ago on the Newton, and now you're looking at devices with 10 times the processing power in raw Mhz, vastly more in reality. On screen keyboards are horrible. This could be done relatively easily, the hooks are there for "ink", but "ink" is spelt "wank".
3 - Use as a second (or even primary) screen for your desktop, without needing to bugger about. Plonk it down next to your machine, touch a button, and presto - it's your desktop.
4 - No need to manually "sync" files - your device takes the data you want automatically. Not as some sort of shared drive, but as a part of your actual storage. Plonk it down next to your machine, changes in shared data are merged back and forth automatically. You might tag some data as "iPad only", some as "desktop only", and some as "shared", at the *record* level. Easiest way to see this is in address book terms, you might want one group to be available everywhere, but some entries to only be available on the desktop (never use them when moving about). Data that isn't available accessed via an encrypted internet link to your desktop box if you have access.

All said, though, I want one, maybe. Probably wait for v2, though.