iPad..

[Albannach]

Anyhoo...if people had said "Why do I need a mobile phone?" then this behemoth would be sitting beside the Sinclair C5 in the 'TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS AHEAD OF IT'S TIME' collection in Kidderminster.

I had the Motorola equivalent of that 'phone!

[KERRSURF]

I suppose thats partially my point.

I have a mobile phone. Do I need one? No, absolutely not. I survived without one, I still could. In fact, I very rarely take it out with me. I'm not so important that a phone call cant wait til I'm home again. Very few other people are that important either, but that doesn't stop some folk going everywhere with one glued to their head.

Ah but, you are only considering your use of a mobile phone, look at the millions of businesses that rely on the technology, climbers and other outdoor types who have found it a life line in certain situations and loads of other examples where the mobile phone has become the technology of choice.
The iPad may or may not become as important but you can't deny that even though you may have no use for one it could be of enormous benefit to some.

Plenty of 'app' developers have created business where none existed before and business creating jobs and getting the cash flowing is rarely a bad thing.

[mckirdy-services]

I remember when i got my first phone, my mate said it was just a fad like the minicall (pager) and that it would never catch on.

every so often i remind him ;-)

Who knows the effect of the Ipad in 5 years time. mobile internet i think will be the new mobile phone.

[Albannach]

The iPad is nothing more than a lidless laptop with a touch screen. Nothing special.

[jmhole]

Ah but, you are only considering your use of a mobile phone, look at the millions of businesses that rely on the technology, climbers and other outdoor types who have found it a life line in certain situations and loads of other examples where the mobile phone has become the technology of choice.
The iPad may or may not become as important but you can't deny that even though you may have no use for one it could be of enormous benefit to some.

Plenty of 'app' developers have created business where none existed before and business creating jobs and getting the cash flowing is rarely a bad thing.

Good point, I have an iPhone and have had other smart phone's in the past none of which came close including HTC with windows mobile that was just crippled by bad design and worse software!

With regard to the iPad if you are NOT in a creative job then you probably don't NEED an iPad.
On the other hand if you are competing for a contract on web design, photography, advertising or the like and the competition turn up with an all singing and dancing device like the iPad to display their talents and capabilities, and you turn up with a Vista laptop that refuses to connect to the wireless internet, throws up error messages every 30 seconds and then decides it wants to update and restart which you already know will take the best part of 10 mins before it sorts it self out! I would argue that you DO NEED an iPad.

The iPad is nothing more than a lidless laptop with a touch screen. Nothing special.

Don't buy one then?

[Apache]

if you are a farmer, mechanic, refuse disposal technican, council grass cutter, locksmith, or any other job that does not generally need to move with the times or embrace technology, then you probably don't NEED an iPad

A better way to put it was 'anyone NOT in a 'creative' type field doesn't NEED an iPad'. I'm in fairly high tech Engineering (been in both mechanical and electronic over 20 odd years) and I can say an iPad would be no more useful than a toy. Having said that, PCs are generally found wanting for serious number crunching / data analysis too.

Small wonder that serious data analysis and simulation is still done on Sun type machines running Unix based OS.

[jmhole]

A better way to put it was 'anyone NOT in a 'creative' type field doesn't NEED an iPad'. I'm in fairly high tech Engineering (been in both mechanical and electronic over 20 odd years) and I can say an iPad would be no more useful than a toy. Having said that, PCs are generally found wanting for serious number crunching / data analysis too.

Small wonder that serious data analysis and simulation is still done on Sun type machines running Unix based OS.

I agree Creative would be a better description!

[Apache]

I agree Creative would be a better description!

Ahhh, OK. So people in sales and marketing, or advertising etc. People who dont have a proper job.

[jmhole]

Define a proper job? One that earns a living or one that is manual?

[Apache]

I'll define what *isn't* a proper job.

The likes of companies set up to produce 'HIP's for the housing market. Quangos put together from self appointed 'experts' to interefere with how various public services are run. In the words of Jimi H, 'castles made of sand'

Bet they all had orders in for iPads!

[JUDWAK]

Define a proper job? One that earns a living or one that is manual?

doing official duty for private gain

[Albannach]

Don't buy one then?

Another one telling me what to do! If I want one, I'll buy one; just like if I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.

[Albannach]

Define a proper job? One that earns a living or one that is manual?

Are you saying that people with 'manual' jobs don't earn a living?

[steve s]

i do

[jmhole]

Another one telling me what to do! If I want one, I'll buy one; just like if I want your opinion, I'll ask for it.

Good for you!

I said that as I got the impression you were slating it because it was of no interest or use to you.
That was clearly not the case!