http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAl28d6tbko

Just click on the link and watch in horror, or delight.

One of the stupidest things I've ever seen.

Yeah. I watched one of those before. I think it was the iPhone.
Just watching the vid is a waste of time. Nevermind actually taking the trouble of filming this, or making a whole series out of it.

The only good use for an iPad.

Besides looking like an asshole at Starbucks anyway.

Echoing the thread about cellphones, I am not interested in getting a cellphone myself. At all. Mainly because I don't feel threatened enough by my own self to have to find refuge in the comfort and relative certainty of some dude on my friends' list calling me to ask where I am right this moment, I suppose.

The iPhone, I found somewhat interesting, because of its functionalities.

The iPad... now, I'm genuinely curious. I must admit.

So. Is the thing worth it? Is it just the latest gimmick, or a serious tool that may be useful in a variety of situations? Like which situations? Honest questions.

It is a deeply consumer unfriendly device that exists to try and funnel consumers into a monopolistic means of content provision that is openly hostile to a true free market.

Doctorow does a great job explaining the problem here: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/04/02/why-i-wont-buy-an-ipad-and-think-you-shouldnt-either.html

The same problem applies to the iPhone.

As for your eyeroll inducing comment on cellphones, I have a cell phone because possessing a device that allows me access to the power of the internet for providing useful information wherever I go is basically invaluable.  The internet is full of many resources that become much more day to day usable when available on the go.

I am also as frequently out of my house as not, and being able to contact people to arrange meetings and the like without being tied down to a specific location is similarly handy.  With Google Voice I can even have the same number for every eventuality.  

I am sorry that the 21st century frightens and confuses you, but your estimation of the uses and needs for a cellular phone are staggeringly ignorant.

Quote from: J Arcane;371932I am sorry that the 21st century frightens and confuses you, but your estimation of the uses and needs for a cellular phone are staggeringly ignorant.

Not as much "staggeringly ignorant" as just different than yours.
Fuck off.

Quote from: Benoist;371933Not as much "staggeringly ignorant" as just different than yours.
Fuck off.

QuoteMainly because I don't feel threatened enough by my own self to have to find refuge in the comfort and relative certainty of some dude on my friends' list calling me to ask where I am right this moment, I suppose.

Your words.  That's not a "different viewpoint" that's just fucking insulting people who have cell phones because of some misplaced ignorant view of their use.

The cellular phone didn't become one of the most important new technological developments of the 20th/21st century because "guys are needy".

It was a stupid, ignorant fucking thing to say, that says more about your typical reactionary attitude towards fucking everything than it says about the actual reasons to own a cell phone.

Quote from: J Arcane;371936Your words.  That's not a "different viewpoint" that's just fucking insulting people who have cell phones because of some misplaced ignorant view of their use.

The cellular phone didn't become one of the most important new technological developments of the 20th/21st century because "guys are needy".

It was a stupid, ignorant fucking thing to say, that says more about your typical reactionary attitude towards fucking everything than it says about the actual reasons to own a cell phone.

Your point of view, not mine. I do indeed think that the cellphone picked up not because it was particularly handy at the time, but because it was a gadget that both provided some sort of social status as well as an opportunity to stay in touch with everyone, all the time.

You may have your reasons to have a cellphone, and if you check out the cellphone thread, you'll find out that I understand why some people, in some circumstances, would own one, but the cellphone first and foremost is a way for people to not be alone with themselves, not have to just make a decision on their own in the supermarket but instead phone their significant other to choose between oreos of fudge cookies, to walk around without paying attention to anything surrounding them, but watch TV and listen to music instead... I could go on.

So yeah. I believe that not being alone with oneself is a huge incentive to own and use a cellphone all the time.

As for me being reactionary, that's the kind of stupid comment anyone throws at everyone who doubts the benefits or discusses the flaws of any change whatsoever. That makes you a sheep in this regard. Fact is, you don't fucking care that I select the technologies and changes I would adopt and those I would not. Don't fucking care that I actually stated I'm interested in the iPad, which is the latest fucking innovation on the block.... but nooo. I'm a reactionary.

Well, fuck you, Mister Progressive.

Quote from: Benoist;371965Don't fucking care that I actually stated I'm interested in the iPad, which is the latest fucking innovation on the block.... but nooo. I'm a reactionary.

Don't you get it? He's for cellphones, but against the iPad. Join his agenda or die.

Quote from: brettmb;371971Don't you get it? He's for cellphones, but against the iPad. Join his agenda or die.

Quote from: Benoist;371975

Whoa, there guys. Not all iPad owners are Sarah Palin fans.

Quote from: jeff37923;371982Whoa, there guys. Not all iPad owners are Sarah Palin fans.

This wasn't about the iPad.

Quote from: Benoist;371965As for me being reactionary, that's the kind of stupid comment anyone throws at everyone who doubts the benefits or discusses the flaws of any change whatsoever. That makes you a sheep in this regard. Fact is, you don't fucking care that I select the technologies and changes I would adopt and those I would not. Don't fucking care that I actually stated I'm interested in the iPad, which is the latest fucking innovation on the block.... but nooo. I'm a reactionary.

Well, fuck you, Mister Progressive.

There's nothing innovative about the iPad.  It's an iPhone with a bigger screen, that's literally the extent of it's abilities.  They weren't even the first to announce or release a tablet device to market, they just have a bigger marketing budget than everyone else, and can afford to do things like buying entire episodes of TV shows to advertise their product.

I don't accept new technologies just because the TV and the newspapers tell me it's "revolutionary".  I accept new technology when it actually produces daily benefit on an unavoidable scale.  There's nothing the iPad does that existing devices don't do better, and future devices will do better still.  

The only thing sheep like here is buying into one of the most-overhyped and useless pieces of plastic to hit the consumer market in years.

Tablet Computers are fucking old hat, man.  Hell I used to work with one on and off for a year about... five years ago and it wasn't even 'new and shiny tech' then.

What I DO NOT GET is the massive hype 'geekgasm' I've been seeing around over this thing.  I mean: Its subdued compared to the IPhone hype (which baffled me a bit in its day. Touch screen technology and cool icons are both decades old, as is the concept of 'cell phone'. WHy is putting them together such a 'wow' factor?... I say this as I own one....), but its still out there.

These days its like Steve Jobs could get up on stage with his little boom mike, whip out his cock and piss on the audience and sell it as an Ipee and peopled would be lined up to get it.  

do.not.get.