Apple releases iPad...

[anon_vlad]

Very Cheap Shot

Re Dee's article: Would anyone be offended by the statement "IPads are recommended for the autistic"?

 

[Techman]

I know two couples with autistic children and it's amazing how computers have changed these kids lives. If the iPad could bring further improvements in these kids' lives, it should be made available to them. Here in Quebec, the government will subsidize the purchase of computers for autistic children and I hope they extend that subsidy to the iPad when it comes on the market here.

 

[MakeIt]

I just got an iPad for a special project at work. Sorry if this has already been covered but this thread is too long. I just wanted to say I've been a windows user for 20 years and use a blackberry so I don't have much exposure to apple's world other than playing a mac occasionally. However, having worked with the iPad for a few days, i think iPad (and eventual tablets like HP Slate) are game changers. You can't really compare this to a computer or netbook or even a tablet computer. The interaction us totally different. The device is so unobtrusive, that when you're using it, its like have a book out on the table. Even the best laptop doesn't reach this level of non-invasiveness. Were adapting a web application for insurance agents on the iPad for exactly this reason. Use of a computer in person to person transactions are distracting to both people. However, so far the experience with the iPad is that its like working with a stack of paper, except much more efficient. Plus the ability to access the net easily for product info makes for a great customer experience. The size of the iPad and its display is perfect for reading and working with documents in insurance, especially with a proper web interface. I let my kids play with it as well and I was surprised at how quickly they took to it. However I find kids are much less attched to a computer and more so to their phones. The iPad is really more smart phone than computer - its first about communicating information and second about computing.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Bad news for Canada.
Apple has just announced that the international launch of the iPad will be delayed until late May due to the demand exceeding the supply.

 

[Techman]

Bad news for Canada.
Apple has just announced that the international launch of the iPad will be delayed until late May due to the demand exceeding the supply.

Which is really interesting considering there doesn't seem to be a shortage of them anywhere in the US. Sounds like more PR just to get some free press.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=13833&tag=col1;post-13833

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Which is really interesting considering there doesn't seem to be a shortage of them anywhere in the US. Sounds like more PR just to get some free press.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=13833&tag=col1;post-13833

Just won $10 predicting your response almost to the word. I owe you a beer.

 

[Techman]

I actually had my post ready well before you made your own but I thought I'd let you earn your money as Apple's MERB advertising rep before making my post.

 

[Below500k]

That article is ridiculous speculation with the premise being that he has not seen them on the street? Y'ok. The logic is retarded at best - selling more units internationally for the sake of free press, oh that makes good business sense.

Apple has no problem getting press, nor paying for advertising, they do both easily and very well.

 

[Techman]

Reporting false shortages is a typical marketing ploy to drive up demand. Seeing as the iPad is easy to find just about anywhere in the US, in other words, sales aren't exactly booming, so you report a shortage and then people will hopefully rush to buy one while they can still find them in stock. This strategy is nothing new and many companies have used it in the past. It may also be a ploy to cover up the real reason they are delaying the release, like maybe they're working on solving the widely reported problem with WiFi connectivity before releasing it in other markets. When you consider how litigious the EU tends to be, if the iPad is released in the European market with a known problem, you can be sure that someone will be filing a law suit in relation to it. Much better to fix the problem before going into world wide release and claiming a shortage is about their only option seeing as Apple never admits to problems with their products. You only have to look as far as the 27" iMac for proof of that.

The one thing that is certain is the fact there is no shortage of iPads on the US market.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

The one thing that is certain is the fact there is no shortage of iPads on the US market.

And you know this, how? The two places that carry them in Burlington have no inventory. And the $500 iPad is being scooped up on eBay at $650.

 

[Below500k]

Reporting false shortages is a typical marketing ploy to drive up demand. Seeing as the iPad is easy to find just about anywhere in the US, in other words, sales aren't exactly booming, so you report a shortage and then people will hopefully rush to buy one while they can still find them in stock. This strategy is nothing new and many companies have used it in the past. It may also be a ploy to cover up the real reason they are delaying the release, like maybe they're working on solving the widely reported problem with WiFi connectivity before releasing it in other markets. When you consider how litigious the EU tends to be, if the iPad is released in the European market with a known problem, you can be sure that someone will be filing a law suit in relation to it. Much better to fix the problem before going into world wide release and claiming a shortage is about their only option seeing as Apple never admits to problems with their products. You only have to look as far as the 27" iMac for proof of that.

The one thing that is certain is the fact there is no shortage of iPads on the US market.

TM,

As usual with your taint on Apple, your response is truthiness at best.

I say again, the premise and logic of the article is retarded. Do you think that because there is some stock in US stores that Apple is going to do what, round them up and ship them to foreign countries? Is that how you imagine international supply chains works?

Incorrect that Apple does not admit their problems, anyone who follows tech knows this. Like any other company, they do not widely publicize their interim problems (cough, cough Vista cough, cough), but to date, Apple has never NOT been upfront about their manufacturing defects, and has always done well by their clients UNLIKE other companies that just patch or completely deny. And there have been a quite a few of them... iPods, laptop batteries, overheating etc., where they've gone through great trouble and expense in doing the recalls, and for the trouble they've caused, given rebates and/or newer models, and/or cash to their clients.

It is plausable that part of the delay is for the wifi fix, I agree, but that is not an evil ploy to be scorned, it is being responsible (see above).

 

[metoo4]

I just did a quick check at BestBuy.com. Sorry I didn't copy the addresses, I just put the city.

Apple® - iPad™ with Wi-Fi - 16GB is available at the following preferred stores:
Los Angeles: available
Miami: available
New-York: available
Burlington MA: available
Washington DC: available
Fort Lauderdale FL: available
Plattsburgh NY: available
Albany NY: available
Syracuse NY: available

That's only one distributor, easy to find without much imagination. Where's the shortage? Even if a small hole in the middle of nowhere who got only 2 or 3 is out, it does not mean there is a shortage. When there is a real shortage, places like BestBuy are usually hit first.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I just did a quick check at BestBuy.com. Sorry I didn't copy the addresses, I just put the city.

Apple® - iPad™ with Wi-Fi - 16GB is available at the following preferred stores:
Los Angeles: available
Miami: available
New-York: available
Burlington MA: available
Washington DC: available
Fort Lauderdale FL: available
Plattsburgh NY: available
Albany NY: available
Syracuse NY: available

That's only one distributor, easy to find without much imagination. Where's the shortage? Even if a small hole in the middle of nowhere who got only 2 or 3 is out, it does not mean there is a shortage. When there is a real shortage, places like BestBuy are usually hit first.

Check again.
Products that are AVAILABLE at a specific store will show the store name in bold (ex. Rockville MD).
Products that are UNAVAILABLE at a specific store will show the store name and address grayed out.

23rd And 6th NY 60 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10010 Map & Directions
44th And 5th NY 529 5th Ave, New York, NY 10017 Map & Directions
Union Square NY 52 E 14th St #64, New York, NY 10003 Map & Directions
62nd And Broadway NY 1880 Broadway, New York, NY 10023 Map & Directions
Bdwy N Of Houston NY 622 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 Map & Directions
Jersey City NJ 125 18th St, Jersey City, NJ 07310

All of these stores are grayed out. There's not a single 16gb iPad to be had in the NY Metropolitan area.

None in LA either:

Glendale CA 2909 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 Map & Directions
West Hollywood CA 1015 N LA Brea Ave, W Hollywood, CA 90038 Map & Directions
Montebello CA 2415 Via Campo, Montebello, CA 90640-1805 Map & Directions
Culver City CA 10799 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 Map & Directions
Clvr Cty Wstfld CA 6000 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230 Map & Directions
Burbank CA 1501 N Victory Pl, Burbank, CA 91504 Map & Directions

 

[Techman]

Apple has never NOT been upfront about their manufacturing defects,

REALLY??? Remember the iPod catching fire scandal where Apple did everything it could to try to prevent it going public, including forcing customers whose iPods they replaced to sign a non-disclosure agreement?

I don't think Apple (or any manufacturer for that matter) can really prevent cases like this, but Apple's attempts to prevent the report from going public are of course despicable and an indication that something is indeed going on.

http://www.osnews.com/story/21878

It took more than 7-months for KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy to get her hands on documents concerning Apple’s iPods from the Consumer Product Safety Commission because Apple’s lawyers filed exemption after exemption. In the end, the CPSC released more than 800 pages which reveal, for the very first time, a comprehensive look that shows, on a number of occasions, iPods have suddenly burst into flames, started to smoke, and even burned their owners.

http://www.kirotv.com/money/20089894/detail.html

Apple never releases info on their failures until they are forced to do so, either by investigative reporters or threat of lawsuits.

PS: Does this sound familiar? Earlier this year when there were many complaints and problems with the 27 inch iMac, Apple had this to say "Although there have been problems with the new 27-inch iMac, and those same machines have been in short supply, the two are not related, according to Apple. Instead, popularity is the supply culprit."

They did eventually solve the problem by removing the problematic model from sale and replacing it with a new model.

http://mac.blorge.com/2010/02/03/27-inch-imac-problems-did-not-cause-shortages/
http://mac.blorge.com/2009/11/24/fatal-problems-with-new-imacs/

And for some reason, those problems never did get much press at all. So little exposure in fact that I'm sure very few people ever heard of it at all.

 

[metoo4]

My mistake Rumple. Damn fine prints!

 

[Techman]

iPad banned in Israel

It seems the iPad has been banned in Israel, it's even being confiscated at airports because it doesn't meet their WiFi technical standards and that it doesn't meet Europe's tech standards for WiFi broadcast power either.

Seems to me this is a more likely reason for the delay of the European release than shortages.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=13842&tag=col1;post-13842

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=ipad&itemNo=1163231

http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/mobile-...unch-by-a-month-40088628/?tag=col1;post-13842

 

[HornyForEver]

The iPad is so user-friendly that even your pet will enjoy it, a very cute video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYyXRiziHL8

 

[Below500k]

REALLY??? Remember the iPod catching fire scandal where Apple did everything it could to try to prevent it going public, including forcing customers whose iPods they replaced to sign a non-disclosure agreement?


http://www.osnews.com/story/21878



http://www.kirotv.com/money/20089894/detail.html

Apple never releases info on their failures until they are forced to do so, either by investigative reporters or threat of lawsuits.

PS: Does this sound familiar? Earlier this year when there were many complaints and problems with the 27 inch iMac, Apple had this to say "Although there have been problems with the new 27-inch iMac, and those same machines have been in short supply, the two are not related, according to Apple. Instead, popularity is the supply culprit."

They did eventually solve the problem by removing the problematic model from sale and replacing it with a new model.

http://mac.blorge.com/2010/02/03/27-inch-imac-problems-did-not-cause-shortages/
http://mac.blorge.com/2009/11/24/fatal-problems-with-new-imacs/

And for some reason, those problems never did get much press at all. So little exposure in fact that I'm sure very few people ever heard of it at all.

Oh please. TM stop getting your "scandal" news from Apple hate bloggers in their basement. The extreamly isolated cases were represented by ambulance chasing birther-type lawyers. I find it highly amusing that you consistantly bring up "closed monopolisitc systems" and lawsuits with your almighty MS position, a company who has been sued by nations for that practice, and lost. If the regulatory system in states had any sort of backbone, MS would have been tried and dismembered 20 yrs. ago for that and racateering business practices -- you know the ones that made them the "choice" for businesses? But I digress.

And an Isreal ban is nothing new, nor is it anything valid. Isreal is notoriously odd and paranoid about technology. The iPad uses the same wireless chip as the iPhone, which has a radio receiver and transmitter, and they have not been banned.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Try this with your Netbook...

...except you can't.

Maya Design has designed an app that functions as a turn signal for cyclists. You slide in into a sleeve and strap it on your back. As you're riding along, if you want to turn right, you lean right and the iPad flashes an arrow in that direction. Lean back a bit and it flashes a stop sign.

http://www.maya.com/sprocket

 

[Special K]

...except you can't.

Maya Design has designed an app that functions as a turn signal for cyclists. You slide in into a sleeve and strap it on your back. As you're riding along, if you want to turn right, you lean right and the iPad flashes an arrow in that direction. Lean back a bit and it flashes a stop sign.

http://www.maya.com/sprocket

Is that the best you can do? LMAO!! How many people are going to strap their iPad's to their backs just so they can have turn signals when riding a bicycle? Probably one and he also wears his bicycle helmet into restaurants and bars, Rumples!!