More commentary...
Desktops can use fast, cheap, power-hungry, high-capacity hardware and present your applications on giant screens. They can have lots of ports, accept lots of peripherals, and perform any possible computing role. Their interface is a keyboard and mouse, a desk, and a chair. They’re always internet-connected, they’re always plugged in, they always have their printers and scanners and other peripherals connected, and their in-use ergonomics can be excellent. But you can only use desktops when you’re at those desks.iPhones use slow, low-capacity, ultra-low-power hardware on a tiny screen with almost no ports and very few compatible peripherals. They can do only a small (albeit useful) subset of general computing roles. They are poorly suited to text input of significant length, such as writing documents or composing nontrivial emails, or tasks requiring a mix of frequent, precise navigation and typing, such as editing a spreadsheet or writing code. But they’re always in your pocket, ready to be whipped out at any time for quick use, even if you’re standing, walking, riding in a vehicle, eating, or waiting on a line at the bank. You can carry one with you in nearly any circumstances without noticing its size or weight.Laptops are a strange, inefficient tradeoff between an iPhone’s portability and a desktop’s capabilities. They don’t satisfy either need extremely well, but they’re much closer to desktops than they are to iPhones. The usefulness and portability gap between a laptop and an iPhone is staggeringly vast (1:00). You don’t have them with you most of the time, they’re big and heavy (even the MacBook Air weighs 10 times as much and consumes about 10 times as much space as an iPhone 3GS), and they can only be practically used while sitting down (or standing at a tall ledge). Ergonomics are awful unless you effectively turn them into desktops with stands and external peripherals. But they can do nearly any computing task that desktops can do, and they’re able to replace desktops for many people.Many devices (real, vapor, and theoretical) have tried to fill that vast portability gap between laptops and iPhones (even back when they were called PDAs and they didn’t have voice or wireless data capabilities and nobody bought them except rich people and geeks like me). Historically, this has never succeeded in a way that’s even close to mass-market penetration, including impressively forgettable eras as the “palmtop” computer and the Tablet PC.Slate-type devices, like the thank-God-it-was-canned Smart Display and the it-might-be-released-now-but-who-cares JooJoo, have the limitations of keyboard-less design that make long text entry or complex editing impractical. But their screens are too large to comfortably use for frequent touch input. And they’re too big to fit in a pocket.Tiny-keyboarded devices, like the thank-God-it-was-also-canned Palm Foleo and nearly every netbook, haven’t proven to be useful to most people because they’re simply smaller laptops, replicating nearly every laptop flaw while forcing compromises on laptop functionality. The keyboards are too small to be anywhere near as useful as a desktop’s or laptop’s, and the devices are far too large to be pocketed.(I have no idea what the Microsoft Surface is for.)The text-input mechanism seems to be the big hurdle required to bridge this portability-and-usefulness gap. So far, nobody has nailed it.I don’t know what Apple has in mind for the Tablet, but they nailed it with the iPhone: after decades of clunky, awkward, mediocre pocket computers, I think it’s safe to say that the large touchscreen is the best input mechanism for them.But the decision isn’t nearly as clear for a slate-type device with a 7-10” screen, which most people assume to be the Tablet’s form factor. There doesn’t seem to be a good solution. No device in this category has ever even been close to good. This — and Jobs’ toilet comment, as mentioned in John’s article — is what kept me doubting the Tablet’s existence for so long. But even the most conservative intelligence-gathering indicates that the Tablet project is extremely likely to be not only real, but close to release. (Although the late-January event seems a bit soon and could plausibly be for other products, like iLife.)I see two possible outcomes: either Apple has come up with a radical new input method for this form-factor that will overcome the fundamental problems that made every other similar device suck, or the Tablet isn’t this form-factor.(Sure, there’s a third possibility: that Apple is repeating the mistakes of similar products and making their own JooJoo or Foleo. But that’s too unlikely — and stupid — for me to take seriously.)Given that the reliable information we have to go on is… absolutely nothing, either outcome seems equally likely. I predict the new-input-method solution. I have doubts that such a product could be as much of a replacement for general-purpose portable computing as John predicts, but I’m wrong a lot.
iPhones use slow, low-capacity, ultra-low-power hardware on a tiny screen with almost no ports and very few compatible peripherals. They can do only a small (albeit useful) subset of general computing roles. They are poorly suited to text input of significant length, such as writing documents or composing nontrivial emails, or tasks requiring a mix of frequent, precise navigation and typing, such as editing a spreadsheet or writing code. But they’re always in your pocket, ready to be whipped out at any time for quick use, even if you’re standing, walking, riding in a vehicle, eating, or waiting on a line at the bank. You can carry one with you in nearly any circumstances without noticing its size or weight.
Laptops are a strange, inefficient tradeoff between an iPhone’s portability and a desktop’s capabilities. They don’t satisfy either need extremely well, but they’re much closer to desktops than they are to iPhones. The usefulness and portability gap between a laptop and an iPhone is staggeringly vast (1:00). You don’t have them with you most of the time, they’re big and heavy (even the MacBook Air weighs 10 times as much and consumes about 10 times as much space as an iPhone 3GS), and they can only be practically used while sitting down (or standing at a tall ledge). Ergonomics are awful unless you effectively turn them into desktops with stands and external peripherals. But they can do nearly any computing task that desktops can do, and they’re able to replace desktops for many people.
Many devices (real, vapor, and theoretical) have tried to fill that vast portability gap between laptops and iPhones (even back when they were called PDAs and they didn’t have voice or wireless data capabilities and nobody bought them except rich people and geeks like me). Historically, this has never succeeded in a way that’s even close to mass-market penetration, including impressively forgettable eras as the “palmtop” computer and the Tablet PC.
Slate-type devices, like the thank-God-it-was-canned Smart Display and the it-might-be-released-now-but-who-cares JooJoo, have the limitations of keyboard-less design that make long text entry or complex editing impractical. But their screens are too large to comfortably use for frequent touch input. And they’re too big to fit in a pocket.
Tiny-keyboarded devices, like the thank-God-it-was-also-canned Palm Foleo and nearly every netbook, haven’t proven to be useful to most people because they’re simply smaller laptops, replicating nearly every laptop flaw while forcing compromises on laptop functionality. The keyboards are too small to be anywhere near as useful as a desktop’s or laptop’s, and the devices are far too large to be pocketed.
(I have no idea what the Microsoft Surface is for.)
The text-input mechanism seems to be the big hurdle required to bridge this portability-and-usefulness gap. So far, nobody has nailed it.
I don’t know what Apple has in mind for the Tablet, but they nailed it with the iPhone: after decades of clunky, awkward, mediocre pocket computers, I think it’s safe to say that the large touchscreen is the best input mechanism for them.
But the decision isn’t nearly as clear for a slate-type device with a 7-10” screen, which most people assume to be the Tablet’s form factor. There doesn’t seem to be a good solution. No device in this category has ever even been close to good. This — and Jobs’ toilet comment, as mentioned in John’s article — is what kept me doubting the Tablet’s existence for so long. But even the most conservative intelligence-gathering indicates that the Tablet project is extremely likely to be not only real, but close to release. (Although the late-January event seems a bit soon and could plausibly be for other products, like iLife.)
I see two possible outcomes: either Apple has come up with a radical new input method for this form-factor that will overcome the fundamental problems that made every other similar device suck, or the Tablet isn’t this form-factor.
(Sure, there’s a third possibility: that Apple is repeating the mistakes of similar products and making their own JooJoo or Foleo. But that’s too unlikely — and stupid — for me to take seriously.)
Given that the reliable information we have to go on is… absolutely nothing, either outcome seems equally likely. I predict the new-input-method solution. I have doubts that such a product could be as much of a replacement for general-purpose portable computing as John predicts, but I’m wrong a lot.
― Elvis Telecom, Saturday, 2 January 2010 01:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
it is upon us
― Freddy 'The Wonder Chicken' (Gukbe), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:45 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah I bumped the other thread today cos I thought the thing was today
VVVVVVV this poster is dumb
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
it's perhaps a sign of my fanboyism that I am already imagining how I'm gonna use this thing before it's even been announced
― i'm with stupid ☞ (dyao), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:52 (3 years ago) Permalink
like I was thinking on the train today "hmm wouldn't it be nice if I had a nicely laid out electronic version of the times to page through at this very moment"
― i'm with stupid ☞ (dyao), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
leaked/fake ad
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
For names, I am rooting for iPad.
http://www.rantrave.com/Rave/New-Commercial-Shows-Apple-iPad-Tablet.aspx
― kenan, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
WHOA xpost. Yeah, that video.
carnival of stupid is in full swing already
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:58 (3 years ago) Permalink
I'm ready to buy one just so I can use this: http://www.bitcartel.com/comicbooklover/
(comic book reader for iPhone and Mac that supports cbz and cbr files)
― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:59 (3 years ago) Permalink
pretty sure steve's one more thing won't be the tablet but DUKE NUKEM FOREVER
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 01:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
I wonder if these guys who make these fake ads think they're gonna get a job in apple's advertising department as a a result
― i'm with stupid ☞ (dyao), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 01:05 (3 years ago) Permalink
such a waste of fcp/motion skills
― ENERGY FOOD (en i see kay), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 01:07 (3 years ago) Permalink
still think this guy should have got a gig
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 01:08 (3 years ago) Permalink
Is the event tomorrow or Wednesday?
― Jeff, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 04:35 (3 years ago) Permalink
Wednesday
― kshighway (ksh), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 04:54 (3 years ago) Permalink
Momus has one
http://imomus.livejournal.com/520114.html
― Adam Bruneau, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 16:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
bah its fake!
― Adam Bruneau, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 16:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/the-apple-tablet-a-complete-history-supposedly/
― James Mitchell, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 20:44 (3 years ago) Permalink
Please let this thing run Serato.
― Spencer Chow, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:27 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://daringfireball.net/linked/2010/01/26/tablet
― kshighway (ksh), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:29 (3 years ago) Permalink
exciting
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
― James Mitchell, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 03:21 (3 years ago) Permalink
Dilute Dilute OK!
― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 03:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
― Spencer Chow, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:27 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Serato is actually the main interface to the OS
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 10:48 (3 years ago) Permalink
I hear the tablet is actually manufactured by Numark and will come with red racing stripes.
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 13:47 (3 years ago) Permalink
comes with a grounding wire
― scent of a wolfman (s1ocki), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 13:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
will also function as a fridge magnet iirc
― i'm with stupid ☞ (dyao), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 13:57 (3 years ago) Permalink
you have to buy two of them to be a real tablet dj
― sir ilx-a-lot (cutty), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 14:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
like this guy:
― sir ilx-a-lot (cutty), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 15:24 (3 years ago) Permalink
so amazing the amount that has been written (and illustrated) about this w/o apple publicly saying word one about it
― scent of a wolfman (s1ocki), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 15:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
i heard it can go up stairs by itself
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 15:31 (3 years ago) Permalink
I heard it doesn't have a name so death can't find it, it doesn't have a home or people to care for. it's not afraid of anything, men least of all. It's fast and strong like a big wind. It can hear for a hundred miles and see a hundred miles underwater. It can hide in the shadow of a noon sun. It could be right behind you and you wouldn't know it 'til you're dead.
― Freddy 'The Wonder Chicken' (Gukbe), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 15:33 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/is-this-the-apple-tablet/
― randy e. bugler (jeff), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:01 (3 years ago) Permalink
CANT WAIT TO NOT BUY THIS
― mayor jingleberries, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:05 (3 years ago) Permalink
haha fantastic post gukbe
― Maria, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:06 (3 years ago) Permalink
yeah, good post, but from what I'm reading none of that is confirmed
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:20 (3 years ago) Permalink
i want to be jaded and w/e but i have a feeling that i'm really, really gonna want one of these immediately
― his power told him (about the fish) (gbx), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:25 (3 years ago) Permalink
ur a doctor qed
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:30 (3 years ago) Permalink
sike! me too
― randy e. bugler (jeff), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:32 (3 years ago) Permalink
Harvey Dent, he's at it again!
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:36 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/
― kshighway (ksh), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:43 (3 years ago) Permalink
starting in 17 minutes
From that engadget post:
9:42AM Okay! We're in our seats and there's some Dylan playing on the sound system!9:11AM Overall the mood is really jovial right now. It's basically a party in the U.S.A.
9:11AM Overall the mood is really jovial right now. It's basically a party in the U.S.A.
― kshighway (ksh), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:46 (3 years ago) Permalink
Well, now I know not to read that coverage.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:47 (3 years ago) Permalink
basically a party in the U.S.A.
― his power told him (about the fish) (gbx), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:49 (3 years ago) Permalink
new board motto
I hope the home button isn't in the middle of the tablet, as has been shown in all the mock ups; it makes sense on the iphone (where the thumb lands innit) but wouldn't on a tablet (on the same principle)
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:53 (3 years ago) Permalink
http://www.justin.tv/#r=y6Ire8c
― I think ur a probotector (cozen), Wednesday, 27 January 2010 17:55 (3 years ago) Permalink
i've been dongleless when it's mattered. i have several now. : (
my hdd use varies, but it was basically impossible until i signed up to itunes match, which i still don't really like.
― caek, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 16:23 (Yesterday) Permalink
all worth it though for the weight imo
― caek, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 16:24 (Yesterday) Permalink
(xp) LOL. Esp this:
― schwantz, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 16:27 (Yesterday) Permalink
how is "aapl" one point on a line? wouldn't the whole line be appl?
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 17:36 (Yesterday) Permalink
you dont trust externals, sheesh
― max, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 17:45 (Yesterday) Permalink
external hard drives are literally the same as internal hard drives, but external. You can convince yourself of this by buying a regular hard drive and slapping it in an enclosure.
― the REAL Dr Morbius (silby), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:15 (Yesterday) Permalink
I never said I was being rational.
― Not Simone Choule (Eric H.), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:18 (Yesterday) Permalink
I am, after all, buying an Apple product.
i have had so many external hard drives die on me, they are horrible
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:18 (Yesterday) Permalink
spinning disk hard drives in general are horrible, tho.
― the REAL Dr Morbius (silby), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:19 (Yesterday) Permalink
externals are fine. get one with a warranty and clone it/back it up to the cloud.
― max, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:26 (Yesterday) Permalink
i dont know why im selling the mba so hard, ITS YOUR FUNERAL
i swapped out my optical drive for a spinny hard drive, feels great but it also feels like it might die on me at any moment
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:27 (Yesterday) Permalink
do you trust checkboxes or flush headphone jack
― kenjataimu (cozen), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:29 (Yesterday) Permalink
I'm pretty happy with iTunes match other than it has screwed up the artist list on the iPhone.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:37 (Yesterday) Permalink
my biggest ITM complaint is that it doesnt play well w/ my ISP for some reason and gets stuck in an endless upload loop. otherwise works more or less entirely as advertised
― max, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:39 (Yesterday) Permalink
my theory based on nothing but my guessing is that one of the things that kills external hard-drives is shittier electronics/power supply than whats in your computer. I've had external drives "die" that I've opened up, pulled the drive out of the enclosure and stuck it in my mac and gotten a few years out of it.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:47 (Yesterday) Permalink
yeah it could be the usb interface in the enclosure itself
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 18:51 (Yesterday) Permalink
i think this is true, the USB interfaces die before the drive itself does. which makes it the more annoying when they glue the case shut or some such idiocy
― Nhex, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:13 (Yesterday) Permalink
― max, Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:26 PM (47 minutes ago) Bookmark
i did that multiple times. kinda impossible to back it up to the cloud when it's 3TB tho :(
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:14 (Yesterday) Permalink
i have been buying externals since they cost $500 for 60GB and were huge and had loud spinning fans. this has been a long heartbreak
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:15 (Yesterday) Permalink
I think the main problem with external drives is that until USB3/Thunderbolt you were stuck with USB 1 or 2 which suuuuucked or you had a nice firewire drive that was less supported with each hardware revision
― mh, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:18 (Yesterday) Permalink
idk what to tell you slocki
― max, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:20 (Yesterday) Permalink
stop buying external drives from montreal mob-owned counterfeit computer stores
― mh, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:21 (Yesterday) Permalink
― max, Tuesday, June 18, 2013 3:20 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark
just say you're sorry
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:22 (Yesterday) Permalink
eSATA > USB anyway
― they are either militarists (ugh) or kangaroos (?) (DJP), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:24 (Yesterday) Permalink
ive been using fw800 for video stuff but i have a weird feeling about it
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:26 (Yesterday) Permalink
weird
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:26 (Yesterday) Permalink
fw800 users hate this one weird feeling
― they are either militarists (ugh) or kangaroos (?) (DJP), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:27 (Yesterday) Permalink
weird feeling in my firewire
― mh, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 19:54 (Yesterday) Permalink
That's my thunderbolt.
― Not Simone Choule (Eric H.), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 20:22 (Yesterday) Permalink
my #1 itunes match complaint is that there are gaps between the tracks on "and their refinement of the decline" by stars of the lid.
― caek, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 20:38 (Yesterday) Permalink
terrible
― max, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 20:40 (Yesterday) Permalink
the weird feeling is i finally got around to spending the money on FW800 just as the technology is about to officially die
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:28 (Yesterday) Permalink
do they sell thunderbolt enclosures yet? would probably be pretty simple to do a swap
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:33 (Yesterday) Permalink
i dont have a thunderbolter yet
i have seen thunderbolt adapters, particularly for one of my seagates (which has died twice, rebate is great but not if it keeps dying), but they cost as much as the drive itself :/
hard drives suck
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:36 (Yesterday) Permalink
yeah... i wonder if you did the pricing of replacing HDs over time, whether that would come close to the amount of money it costs to have a dropbox pro acct
although it looks like personal use accts top out at 500 GBs
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:38 (Yesterday) Permalink
i do have a pro acct
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:48 (Yesterday) Permalink
and it's totally useful and gives me a lot of peace of mind but yeah, it's only so large. and syncing TBs of data over the internet is just... never gonna happen any time soon
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:49 (Yesterday) Permalink
if s1ocki has terabytes I'm assuming he is messing with video and doesn't really have the bandwidth to continually back those files up to dropbox
― mh, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:49 (Yesterday) Permalink
dang, xp and I missed the boat
s1ocki have you looked into Drobo?
― the REAL Dr Morbius (silby), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:50 (Yesterday) Permalink
i have—though i have heard mixed things from pros who use it. i will prob eventually get something like that if i ever make enough money to again
― we're up all night to get (s1ocki), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:51 (Yesterday) Permalink
i've never had an external HDD fail on me. Not even the ones I frequently left to bake in the car in summer sun.
― every snapchat tells a story (Lee626), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:55 (Yesterday) Permalink
what's the upload speed on FIOS like
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 21:57 (Yesterday) Permalink
consumer cloud syncing of TB-scale data probably depends on symmetric 1Gbps to the home, which is available at roughly 0% of US homes. (I can get it for $120 a month if I want to.) Of course storing a TB of data in S3 costs $95 a month.
― the REAL Dr Morbius (silby), Tuesday, 18 June 2013 22:02 (Yesterday) Permalink
cool silby, what's your government name and billing address?
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 22:14 (Yesterday) Permalink
feel like storage is cheap enough where most people will be fine buying a 2TB drive for under a hundo. it's only the video people and the committed media pirates who are still looking for solutions at the consumer level
― 乒乓, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 22:15 (Yesterday) Permalink