Can NetBooks & Tablets Co-Exist? 291
bsk_cw writes "According to Computerworld's Serdar Yegulalp, there has been a lot of talk about whether the iPad will take the place of the netbook — or, in fact, whether it will eat into the market share for more mainstream desktop and laptop computers. But, he continues, the iPad has a long way to go before it becomes a netbook killer — if only because it has created a space all its own."
Yes. (Score:4, Informative)
They occupy different niches (even though there's some overlap) and can coexist. Next question!
Asking this... on Slashdot? (Score:3, Informative)
Maybe it's just me - but the Slashdot crowd seems like entirely the wrong demographic for this question. Or, at least, for you to get an answer that'd translate to the world at large. Anyway...
Given the size and weight (my daughter has an iPad, and I have borrowed it several times) - I'd take neither. The netbook makes too many compromises, and the iPad is too heavy for what it is. I know it's a pound and a half lighter than my MacBook Air, but (due to the ways they're held and used) I couldn't possibly use an iPad for a long period of time while the weight of the Air is generally unnoticeable. I think for the iPad to truly own the "small and light" market, it needs to shed more weight - get down reasonably close to the Kindle.
Of course my daughter is probably much closer to the target demographic than I am, and she loves the iPad to death. So my opinion should be taken with an appropriately-sized grain of salt.
Re:Where is the evidence (Score:5, Informative)
Very true. I bought an iPad not fully aware of all the little limitations it has. I was aware there is no flash and no third party apps, but after using the thing for 4 months I've built a long list of shortcomings they just don't tell you about.
At the top of the list is one so frustratingly counterintuitive. I'm studying for a Ph.D., and part of that job includes reading paper after paper. Reading the papers is just great on the iPad, but you can't actually download and save papers from the iPad itself.
To get a paper on my iPad for offline viewing, I actually have to open up my netbook and e-mail the pdf to myself, then save it to iBooks from the mail app. E-mailing is actually the easiest file transfer method between iPad and computer, the alternative being digging out a cable, launching iTunes (kill me now) and syncing (and just sync the PDF if you want to get on with things, instead of waiting for EVERYTHING to sync). There is no wireless file transfer option.
Of course there are other options and apps out there which can hack together this functionality, but the main point is there are hundreds of examples of things like this, where you expect the functionality and it isn't there, necessitating a netbook or other companion PC.
The net effect is, I'm constantly switching between my iPad and netbook, and I'm increasingly wondering why I have an iPad at all. If it weren't for how great it is to read on, I'd probably sell it.
Re:Where is the evidence (Score:3, Informative)
From what you're saying this is probably an iOS 4 feature (and so will probably appear on the iPad in the next couple of months), but on my iPhone when I open a PDF in the web browser, an 'Open in iBooks' button appears at the top. Hopefully this means that your biggest issue with the iPad will be fixed soon.
Won't replace anything... (Score:3, Informative)
The iPad won't replace anything while you need to attach it to a real computer running iTunes before you can even use the bloody thing, and to do updates.
REPLs are b& from the App Store (Score:3, Informative)
BASIC?
Perhaps you should get an iPad...
Nope. The iOS developer agreement explicitly bans interpreters into which the user can load a program. Anything with a REPL [wikipedia.org] is right out. In fact, Apple pulled a C64 game from the App Store precisely because the player could touch some keys and reset the emulated C64 into the REPL of its ROM BASIC.
Re:Summary does not claim invention (Score:3, Informative)
Your numbers are based on iSupply numbers, which are often wildly inaccurate. And in the link you posted, there is this:
"The fact remains that this well placed tablet computer, that seems to be the perfect crossover gadget between smartphones like iPhones and laptops, is priced way below what the market expectations of the costing was."
If Apple's margin were really so huge we'd see competitors with the same hardware at a much lower price. Where are they?
The fact is that no company can realistically have 100%+ margins, and every time Apple has reported margins they are more like 11-20% - on the lower end now because as stated, Apple is trying to gain market share.