The thing that Apple does that the competition does not is have some control over hardware and software. Apple spec all the components of a device write the operating system and supply the developers with a set of tools to write the software which they then have some say in approving for sale.

In the Windows/Android/et al World each manufacturer specifies a different set of components that must work together under an operating system written by Microsoft or another third party which then runs software written to no set of guidelines.

For certain markets Apple provides an out of the box solution that no one else can match without bolting together bits from several sources.

If you want a cheaper faster PC you can most definitely spec one. If you want a mobile device that runs flash content you can find them. But the same is true of buying a car (or anything else) each manufacturer will being a different proposition for the consumer and in the end as with other products you pays your money and takes your choice.

Not strictly true, Microsoft do supply SDK's and DDK's to developers and manufacturers with guidance and frameworks, and in an enterprise deployment you can control / block the use of unsigned applications with the applocker in 2k8R2 / Win7 or indeed with software restriction policies in previous windows versions.

The worrying thing about the iPad devices (back on track) is that people are wanting to charge silly money for what is in essence, a big iPod / big phone. The Motorola zoom is supposed to hit this week with prices around £500 - 600, the Playbook not far behind it all and the next Samsung Galaxy tab is up at the same end of the market. It's a lot of money for what is actually not a lot of hardware.

All credit to apple for re-igniting the tablet trend, lets see if competition can actually lower prices

Not strictly true, Microsoft do supply SDK's and DDK's to developers and manufacturers with guidance and frameworks, and in an enterprise deployment you can control / block the use of unsigned applications with the applocker in 2k8R2 / Win7 or indeed with software restriction policies in previous windows versions.

The worrying thing about the iPad devices (back on track) is that people are wanting to charge silly money for what is in essence, a big iPod / big phone. The Motorola zoom is supposed to hit this week with prices around £500 - 600, the Playbook not far behind it all and the next Samsung Galaxy tab is up at the same end of the market. It's a lot of money for what is actually not a lot of hardware.

All credit to apple for re-igniting the tablet trend, lets see if competition can actually lower prices

Hi. I agree all these tablets are at the high end of the price scale. However, I have read that the delay with getting some of the contenders to market was because the manufacturers had to find ways to get their prices down to competitive levels. I suspect the components are in no way the largest cost item. Research and development must play a big part also. And finally, of course, billions of pounds profit comes from a large profit margin per item. So once again it is us the customers fault I suppose.

i've been a long-time apple user now, i've had g3, g4, imac, mini etc desktop machines and they have always been brilliant at what they do, also got 5th gen ipods as well and the thing that's always troubled me most about apple products is that the software is never quite ready for release at the launch date, there's always some little(or huge) bug fix, it's kinda like they do it deliberately.. i can't help feeling the ipad will be the same, there will be stuff on there that doesn't work the way it should and you'll have to wait 3 months for a software update to right it.

can't see myself buying the ipad, it's far too expensive for what it is, maybe if it were cheaper then all of the apple-haters would have one too :wonder: as has already been said in this thread if it were a couple of hundred notes less it would be perfect! but lets face it, if there were 500 people in a queue to buy one then why would they make it cheaper eh?? supply and demand

Comet's website is currently showing the iPad 2 as available to order in the 16GB and 64GB 3G black versions. I successfully selected a Saturday (2 April) home delivery slot for the latter but didn't go through with it because my husband really wants - and has ordered - a 64GB Wi-Fi version in white.

Not strictly true, Microsoft do supply SDK's and DDK's to developers and manufacturers with guidance and frameworks, and in an enterprise deployment you can control / block the use of unsigned applications with the applocker in 2k8R2 / Win7 or indeed with software restriction policies in previous windows versions.

But that still only gives Microsoft control over the OS and "some" developers, no control over hardware and not many people purchasing electricals from the high street retailers are using them in an enterprise deployment.

If you want to talk to a Microsoft employee face to face you would have to go a trade show or make an appointment at one of their offices and even then they couldn't help you with a HP or Sony piece of hardware, with Apple you just walk into a retail store and they can discuss hardware and OS issues.

I'll be ordering one in the next week or two, cant wait

I'll be ordering one in the next week or two, cant wait

tart :p

Congratulations. Look forward to your views on it when it arrives. White or black?

Edited 8 April, 201115 yr by Crawfsyeti

I see some of the competition are coming in at £600. Is the iPad now a bargain?

Hi. 4 million iPad owners in the UK. Can't be bad.

Random Ipad questions

1) what's the most robust case/cover/skin you can get?

2) can you splice/edit .mov digicam clips with Imovie?

3) how easy is it to get itunes to pick up video files you've ripped from DVD?

Random Ipad questions

1) what's the most robust case/cover/skin you can get?

2) can you splice/edit .mov digicam clips with Imovie?

3) how easy is it to get itunes to pick up video files you've ripped from DVD?

Hi.

1. The Rolls Royce of cases are made by Vajacases.com

2. Yes.

3. If you can get it onto itunes then you can move it to the ipad. Handbrake application does it all for you.

Hi.

1. The Rolls Royce of cases are made by Vajacases.com

2. Yes.

3. If you can get it onto itunes then you can move it to the ipad. Handbrake application does it all for you.

1) Thanks but I'm looking for something most likely to survive the worst a small child on granite floors can do to it and a bit cheaper than that not an accessory to show off at the gym.

2) Cheers

3) I dunno, does itunes pick up all your video files? (It may surprise you but not everyone uses itunes)

Edited 20 April, 201115 yr by 'daiking'

1. Does such a child-proof case actually exist? I don't think I've seen an inch thick Kevlar, foam padded case for an iPad yet.

Perhaps as good as you're going to get?

1) Thanks but I'm looking for something most likely to survive the worst a small child on granite floors can do to it and a bit cheaper than that not an accessory to show off at the gym.

2) Cheers

3) I dunno, does itunes pick up all your video files? (It may surprise you but not everyone uses itunes)

Vaja cases are expensive. My wife dropped her ipad whilst standing in the kitchen, onto a stone floor, and there was not a mark on the ipad. Job therefore done. It paid for itself.

Vaja cases are expensive. My wife dropped her ipad whilst standing in the kitchen, onto a stone floor, and there was not a mark on the ipad. Job therefore done. It paid for itself.

I'd sacrifice all the style for something much less in price, you could almost buy another ipad for the cost of complete case. I've seen the otterbox one Wardy linked elsewhere. I was wondering if anyone had experiences/recommendation from ipad1's. I thinking case rather than cover or skin, permanent that you can use the ipad fully whilst in the case. I like the smart cover but don't think its what I need.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/OtterBox-iPad-Commuter-Series-Case/dp/B003TW6B3G/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303326009&sr=1-2

Cheaper option,Otterbox stuff is really good,I have one on my iphone.

Have a look at the Otterbox range of cases http://www.otterbox.com/ they seem quite robust

Further research is telling me that iOS iMovie is not compatible with 3rd party video, ie P&S camera footage :(

I see some of the competition are coming in at £600. Is the iPad now a bargain?

I think this is what is swinging it for me. I don't have an iPhone because I can get all the functionality I need for less than half the price. But I've been "stung" by a major manufacturer effectively abandoning the model early doors with no S/W upgrade and my phone has been stuck on Android v1.6 unless I root it (which I intend to do). Apple took a lead on the tablet market and I've looked at taiwanese android copycats but I'm concerned about market fragmentation with these. The cheap ones are too small and the bigger ones are not much cheaper than the iPad. Now other big name manufacturers are getting involved they don't seem to be undercutting Apple in the same way that has happened in their other product markets - music players/phones/computers. It is a lot of money for a "toy" or something with a number of flaws in functionality but the more the market is evolving, the less bad it is making the iPad look.

Maybe Apple reduced the UK price of the iPad 2 because it isn't such a leap from the the first one (more of a v1.5?) or its life cycle will be quite short before 3 comes out (Xmas?) but from what I've seen, you get the most from these products if you buy ealry in the product lifecycle and dare I say it Apple products seem to age better. A month or so after launch seems like a good time to me and hopefully the performance increase will be enough to benefit from whatever S/W changes iPad 3 sees in the future. I seriously thought about getting an iPad 1 when I was in the US in Jan (glad I didn't because of the Feb price drop) which is leading me to make a now or never decision. The UK/US price differential has shrunk and I'm not going to the US soon anyway so that's a lesser issue now and I've been looking for refurb one but is saving £100 worth being left behind?

A friend of mine still thinks I should get the entry level Macbook Pro as this offers the best "value" in the Apple range (after recent spec update) but I'm not sure it's worth going to the dark side without a recent gen ipod/iphone/ipad to use with it. He has current a MB Air, the £12/1300 model, the week or so they came out last Autumn as he is convinced that if you're going to buy one you do it that way. I mean, who is still buying iPhone 3GSs?

All your base are belong to Steve Jobs

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/apple_sued_by_customers_for_co.html

All your base are belong to Steve Jobs

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/apple_sued_by_customers_for_co.html

Hi. In English please !!

Hi. In English please !!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base_are_belong_to_us

Ah. English poorly translated from the original Japanese. How could I have missed that Cato? Touché.

I don't have an iPhone because I can get all the functionality I need for less than half the price

As with most technology you know it will be out of date in at least 6 months time. But if the device you buy today provides all the functionality you need then it will still do that 12 months down the line. There are people using 10 year old mobile phones as they still perform the tasks they bought them for.

If you worry about having the latest thing you will never buy anything, buy what does the job at the price you are comfortable with. Why do some people buy Skoda's and others Bentley's they both get you from A - B, have a wheel at each corner and seats inside.