[OSX-Users] Re: ipad?

[Steve Harris]

On 29 Jan 2010, at 14:21, Philip Boulain wrote:
>> 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? ;)

You could just leave it oy your desk(s)...

>>> 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've got an old ipod USB adaptor, and a video adaptor somewhere, so I  
hope it's compatible. It uses the iPod port thingy.

>> 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.

Real men use SSH :)

>> 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? ;)

Correction, 0.606". It's still going to make the thing quite fat. I'd  
like to be able to fit it into a bag without bulging it, like an ebook  
reader, or iphone, but unlike a netbook.

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

Prettier is good too. I find nice objects are more pleasant to  
interact with. Not everyone cares.

>> 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.

For you maybe. Clearly it's a compromise, but not as much as the  
keyboard on current slider phones. I've owned lots of phones (2 treos,  
3 nokias) with physical querty keyboards, and I'm faster on the iphone  
than any of them.

I type quite lengthy emails on my iphone while on the train, FWIW.

- Steve