my thoughts on the IPAD

[deathshadow]

(Feb-02-2010 08:28 AM)Mitcho1989 Wrote:  \seriously though, why no multitasking?

Because literally ALL they did was upsize the iPhone/iPod Touch... with no other REAL improvements. Even funnier since it's ARM A9 based, which means it's most likely multi-core. (since A9 is NOTHING more than multicore A8)

[Mitcho1989]

yeah true. revolutionary technology my ass. i can give an iPod Touch steroids too

[carbonize]

Well they've already started to screw with the ebook system. It was bad enough Amazon wanting $9.99 for an ebook but now the publishers are telling them they want them to charge $14 per ebook thanks to Apple working as a middle man rather than a retailer. How can they seriously justify $14 for an ebook? And then we have the fact Apple will be using their own propriety book format at the start but will eventually be switching to ePub but with their own DRM in place making an ebooks purchased for the iPad incompatible with any other ebook reader.

[Ryan]

This whole eBook business - will it take off? I'm not sure there is THAT big of a demand because people can read them eBooks on the computer anyway.

[carbonize]

(Feb-07-2010 11:05 PM)Ryan Wrote:  This whole eBook business - will it take off? I'm not sure there is THAT big of a demand because people can read them eBooks on the computer anyway.

Trust me it's not the same as reading it on a hand held device. I personally have a Sony PRS-600 and it's great for reading on. Not sure how well the iPad will do as an ebook reader though given it is backlit. Most ebook readers use eink.

The main thing stopping ebooks taking off right now is the ridiculous prices sites charge for them.

[deathshadow]

Oddly enough the "eink" ebook readers for me at least - are completely illegible. Text is nowhere near black enough and the paper nowhere near white enough for me to use it with any degree of comfort. It makes newsprint look high contrast.

I'd me more open to using a device like the iPad or the dozens of other tablet PC's (if the resolution wasn't crap) just because it's backlit providing that extra contrast. If they made one at say... 1440x1050 resolution with a resolution independent UI/font rendering then I'd see it as something I'd want to use.

Font smoothing technology is good, but with the iPad being only 128dpi and most eInk devices topping out at 150dpi, it's no comparison to 300-1200dpi, much less analog print.

[carbonize]

Have a look at the now deprecated Sony PRS-505. That is what I originally wanted as, according to everything I have read, it had incredible contrast between the text and the background.

[deathshadow]

(Feb-08-2010 10:46 AM)carbonize Wrote:  Have a look at the now deprecated Sony PRS-505. That is what I originally wanted as, according to everything I have read, it had incredible contrast between the text and the background.

Seen it in person - I see little difference from the other eInk devices as the light color is too dark (as in darker than newsprint) and the dark color isn't dark enough (as in lighter than the "black" areas on a cheap backlit passive LCD from a 1994 Packard bell laptop).

I'd REALLY be interested in those devices if they could get the contrast ratio between light and dark above 50% - which so far... Uhm, no.

[carbonize]

Can't say I have any trouble reading on my PRS-600 and it's not even got the best screen due to the touchscreen that is over the eink screen.

[carbonize]

The iPad has been taken apart and priced up - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/11/ipad_breakdown/

Quote:Apple stands to make a profit of up to $483 per unit on its iPad according to a very literal breakdown by industry analysts iSuppli.

The research firm said the total cost of materials and manufacture for Apple's big iPhone ranged from $229.35 for the 3G-less, 16GB version, which sells for $499 to $346.5 for the top of the range 3G 64GB version, which carries a $829 price tag.