Not really sure what the video is suppose to prove.  2 cents of string can do the same thing. I have always said if you want to let the world know how much you spent to be cool looking to check you email and surf then so be it .  Don't get me started on the closed system.  I just don't get the Ipad/Ipod/Iphone pay extra get less breakdown.

I can say congrats to Apple for making this type of market and being successful, but I will not be joining it.

Lance

Quoted from cooke

You know, it's too bad that Apple users are so married to the brand. The HP Slate is going to kick some serious arse when it comes out later this year (and will support Flash and has USB ports and a camera. DUH!), but I suspect it won't sell nearly as many numbers as the Ipad.

But when you have a winning brand I guess you can eliminate support for obviously necessary components and software and charge more money for an inferior product and know that your customers won't really care or even recognize that they're being shafted.

I'm not a Mac hater. I'm just tellin' it like it is.

That video shows exactly why the iPads are going to crush the slate. The HP slate didn't show anything about it's underlying OS/interface, probably because it's Windows 7. It was also clearly mocked up, that wasn't actual footage of an actual slate. And so what if it has more ports than an iPad? That's obviously good but it's just not enough. The slate will ship with very basic video/photo apps and that's all you'll get. All the major app development is being done primarily for the Apple devices, and now thankfully for Android devices.

Yet again, Apple innovates and people stand at the sidelines and poo-poo it and insult the fans of these quality products. At the same time, Apple acts extremely arrogantly and makes very frustrating decisions that really bother tech people. Regardless, I'm glad that Apple's innovating. It forces everyone to improve their competing products (if any exist yet).

It's not that the slate has MORE ports, it's that it HAS PORTS. The iPad doesn't support USB! It doesn't support FLASH! It doesn't have a camera! It doesn't allow for multitasking!

Far be it from me to "poo poo" the innovators but it seems to me they're leaving out A LOT of what people have come to expect. Why are you such an avid supporter of a product that clearly has so many obvious deficiencies? If Mac was so innovative, they'd have included the basics and built upon them.

Quoted from jonny_eh

That video shows exactly why the iPads are going to crush the slate. The HP slate didn't show anything about it's underlying OS/interface, probably because it's Windows 7. It was also clearly mocked up, that wasn't actual footage of an actual slate. And so what if it has more ports than an iPad? That's obviously good but it's just not enough. The slate will ship with very basic video/photo apps and that's all you'll get. All the major app development is being done primarily for the Apple devices, and now thankfully for Android devices.

Yet again, Apple innovates and people stand at the sidelines and poo-poo it and insult the fans of these quality products. At the same time, Apple acts extremely arrogantly and makes very frustrating decisions that really bother tech people. Regardless, I'm glad that Apple's innovating. It forces everyone to improve their competing products (if any exist yet).

You think Apple wrote the OS for the Ipad from the ground up.  Come on, I see you have drank all the kool aid.  I have always said some thing apple does in innovative, but the Apple tax and closed systems will never get me to cross over

Actually HP has been releasing touch-based PC's for quite some time now, so I wouldn't count their experience out quite yet.

Hey, there's one thing the Slate does better even as a mock-up... the aspect ratio!  

Quoted from cooke

Far be it from me to "poo poo" the innovators but it seems to me they're leaving out A LOT of what people have come to expect. Why are you such an avid supporter of a product that clearly has so many obvious deficiencies? If Mac was so innovative, they'd have included the basics and built upon them.

Don't worry, they'll add a camera and input support (via a dongle, sold separately of course) in version 2.  So, in about 6 months.  

Quoted from cooke

It's not that the slate has MORE ports, it's that it HAS PORTS. The iPad doesn't support USB! It doesn't support FLASH! It doesn't have a camera! It doesn't allow for multitasking!

Far be it from me to "poo poo" the innovators but it seems to me they're leaving out A LOT of what people have come to expect. Why are you such an avid supporter of a product that clearly has so many obvious deficiencies? If Mac was so innovative, they'd have included the basics and built upon them.

People shat all over Apple for not including floppy drives on the imac too, but it was for the best. Innovators don't give people what they expect, they rewrite expectations for the next generation of products.

I'm a defender of the iPad because I'm giving Apple the benefit of the doubt. I haven't used it yet, so I don't know yet if I'll like it or use it. If things go according to plan, and I can find one this weekend, I'll let you know.

As for multitasking, that was announced and will be added in the fall. (I enabled it on my jailbroken iPhone, but hardly ever use it)

Keep in mind, this thing is not a computer! The Nintendo Wii doesn't have USB ports either and you cannot do your taxes on it. The iPad is designed as an 'appliance'. It's a thing that sits on your coffee table that you use to entertain yourself (read a book, watch a movie, play a game, etc). It's not something you lug around to take pictures of flowers with.

As for flash support, ya that sucks, but it's probably for the best. Flash sucks, the sooner it's dead and replaced by HTML5 the better. And it looks like Apple's risky decision to not support it is paying off (the easy path would be to support it). Lots of sites are adding HTML5 support just so they can work with the iPad.

You're being way too optimistic about this. I think you should try some cynicism for a change.

I think I'll stick with the Acer multitouch convertible that I got last year (aspire 1420p).  I like having the choice between full on laptop and tablet.  It's still a little heavy for reading docs on sometimes, but it's fantastic (in tablet mode) for watching video, web surfing, and some PC gaming.  THe multitouch in Windows 7 works well, and with apps that are designed for it, the experience is really good.  Screen touches that are translated down to mouse clicks work most of the time, but the issue there is just target size for the most part (big finger, small hyperlink/button).  Still, that's what a stylus (or pinch to zoom) is for.  

Honestly, I'm more interested in seeing how this turns out in the long run for the platform.  Apple finally has what they wanted all along-complete control over the experience.  Not only are they still the only hardware manufacturer, but they can now control the only software distribution channel as well.  If this is successful, I wonder how long it'll be before the next revision of their desktop moves to this model?  I'd also still like to see one in person, just to try out how well the native apps work, and how responsive the touchscreen is.  They've probably done some great work with things like a browser designed for finger inputs instead of a mouse.