Just so you guys know ...

[16VGTIDave]

[sigh] Seriously?

Read SD cards.
Play CDs.
Play DVDs.
Play Blue-ray discs.
Video output to television or monitor.
Connect to mouse.
Connect keyboard.
Connect keypad for data entry.
Upgradeable graphics (on some laptops).
Upgradable storage.
Upgradeable RAM.
Interact with and connect to camera, cell phone, GPS, and calculators. (physically connect, and run the manufacturers' software)
Surround sound output. Critical for games, movies, video editing, etc.
Connect to LAN / ethernet.

Running industry standard and common household software titles: AutoCAD, Arcview, Office, Photoshop, etc., etc., etc.

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Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind having a nice expensive iPad or iPod Touch (I do own a Samsung Galaxy Player), but these are all really just toys and not substitutes for a real computer except for only the most un-advanced consumers.

For the record, the iPad (and most other tablets) CAN do the following:
Read SD cards - requires an adapter.
Video output - requires an adapter, or Apple TV.
Mouse - irrelevant with a touch screen.
Keyboard - Bluetooth, check.
Keypad - part of keyboard...
Interact with [...] - Yes. Crappy manufacturers software? No, but who really wants that? And a calculator? When one has a computing device in hand?...
LAN - using an inexpensive wireless bridge, because cables are so over rated.
Software - those specific titles, no. Other programs that offer similar functionality, yes.

Most consumers are un-advanced. In fact, only a very small segment of people consider themselves advanced. And of those, many over rate their skills by a fair margin. Tablets are selling well because people want the convenience of portability and a days use from a charge. These people surf the web and read email, and not much more. They want a device and OS that is simple and intuitive. And they don't want to spend $1000 on something they know is going to be obsolete in 2 or 3 years. Or that might get dropped next week.

Net books couldn't do it because they have small batteries and used cheap components while running less than optimized software and OS. Ultra books are too expensive (and also missing much of the functionality you listed). Standard laptops are too big and heavy for realistic portability, such that a good percentage of laptops are used as desktops, yet they are no substitute for a "real computer".

Using the right tool for the task applies to everything. Tablets are bringing computing to the masses in a form and/or function they want and will use. Dismissing or berating a tool because it can't do a task it wasn't intended for is silly.

Dave

 

[9blades]

For the record, the iPad (and most other tablets) CAN do the following:
Read SD cards - requires an adapter.
Video output - requires an adapter, or Apple TV.
Mouse - irrelevant with a touch screen.
Keyboard - Bluetooth, check.
Keypad - part of keyboard...
Interact with [...] - Yes. Crappy manufacturers software? No, but who really wants that? And a calculator? When one has a computing device in hand?...
LAN - using an inexpensive wireless bridge, because cables are so over rated.
Software - those specific titles, no. Other programs that offer similar functionality, yes.

Most consumers are un-advanced. In fact, only a very small segment of people consider themselves advanced. And of those, many over rate their skills by a fair margin. Tablets are selling well because people want the convenience of portability and a days use from a charge. These people surf the web and read email, and not much more. They want a device and OS that is simple and intuitive. And they don't want to spend $1000 on something they know is going to be obsolete in 2 or 3 years. Or that might get dropped next week.

Net books couldn't do it because they have small batteries and used cheap components while running less than optimized software and OS. Ultra books are too expensive (and also missing much of the functionality you listed). Standard laptops are too big and heavy for realistic portability, such that a good percentage of laptops are used as desktops, yet they are no substitute for a "real computer".

Using the right tool for the task applies to everything. Tablets are bringing computing to the masses in a form and/or function they want and will use. Dismissing or berating a tool because it can't do a task it wasn't intended for is silly.

Dave

God thank you for saying that!