[OSX-Users] Re: ipad?

[Philip Boulain]

On Fri, 2010-01-29 at 13:51 +0000, Leslie Carr wrote:
> On 29 Jan 2010, at 13:27, Philip Boulain wrote:
> > Full OS    X    ✓
> You made that category up. What is a "Full OS" when it's at home? And why does it matter?

I mean that I can multitask, I can install and run arbitrary programs, I
can do useful things with USB hardware beyond mass storage devices...

If it ran OS X, that'd be a "full OS". (No, I am not interested in
implementation detail pedantry about how it's got some of the same UNIX
and CoreFoo libraries underneath.)

> If you mean "meatspace keyboard" then they demoed it with one of those too.

...because carrying around a separate docking station with integrated
keyboard intended for use on a desk is practical? ;)

> > VGA, USB, etc. without a million stupid costs-extra dongles
> >           X    ✓
> I hope they are the same as the ones on my MacBook / iPhone.

Aren't the modern Apple display dongles from Mini DisplayPort to things?
I don't know about the iPhone connector though.

> I have always thought precisely the same of NOT being able to run LaTeX :-)

Well, with mind to presenting at conferences and being able to correct
last-minute typos, "full Office", then. Although Apple have covered that
special case, I think. At least if you use iWork instead.

Dave wrote:
> Missed one:
>              iPad   EeePc(OS X)
> Battery Life 10Hhs  2Hrs

Well don't run hackintosh on it, then---clearly the power management
isn't working. :P

I got 3--4 hours off the original battery and "all day" off the new one
(because swapping batteries is something I can do ;) ). I'll let Hugh
dispense his theories on why effective battery life is subject to
quantisation by practical charge patterns if someone asks for
clarification on "all day".

Steve wrote:
> So annoying to use I gave mine away
>              X    ✓

Actually, I got mine off Jules that way...

> Are you honestly trying to say that you'd prefer it if it was ~1 inch
> thick, so it could have a VGA port?

...yes? Besides the exaggeration, why does thickness matter? Are you
planning to try to slide it under doors to solve adventure game puzzles
involving keys left on the other side of the lock? ;)

If it's a style thing, you may as well just say "I want the iPad because
it's prettier".

> Or of it had the keyboard from the EeePC?

Hell, I prefer the EeePC keyboard to the one on my full-size MacBook
Pro. I've never quite understood the hate they've attracted, and I've
hardly got dainty fingers.

The iPhone keyboard is kind of impressive for the technical constraints
Apple imposed upon themselves, but it's still terrible in comparison to
something with physical, mechanical position cues and feedback.

-- 
| Philip Boulain   PhD student |  _`._  |        Reality is the        |
| IAM, ECS, Uni of Southampton | /  K \ |      original Rorschach.     |
| http://zepler.net/~lionsphil | \__-_/ |       -- Principia Discordia |