Digital Foundry vs. iPad

By Richard Leadbetter Published 20 May, 2010

The next big small thing dissected.

Page 1 of 4

There's no doubt about it, Apple's iPad is a hugely polarising product. Some say it's the device the netbook should have been, an ultra-portable net browser and movie player, functionally rich and possessing phenomenal battery power. Others criticise it as little more than a mammoth, over-expensive iPod Touch, deliberately hobbled in several key technological aspects and prevented from full compatibility with a huge range of websites out there owing to Apple's dogmatic refusal to support Flash.

On the eve of the system's international launch, Digital Foundry decided to get hands on, and after a week of iPad ownership it is difficult to argue with either party. As a piece of hardware it is undoubtedly expensive for what it is, and as a paying customer I expect the browser to be fully functional, and not deliberately hobbled because Steve Jobs doesn't like Adobe.

However, these are pretty much the only criticisms I can level at the device: it seems to be the case that most of the negativity levelled at the iPad is made without checking out what it is designed to offer, and that experience definitely surpasses expectations.

The iPad is about much more than just the spec. First of all there's the make-up and form factor of the device itself. It feels a touch heavy, but it has that customary Apple build quality and thus the sense that it's very much a premium product.

The 9.7" LCD screen itself feels as though it's just the right size for browsing (aided by the fact that both portrait and landscape screen orientation are supported) and screen quality itself is beautiful with superb constrast levels and minimal backlight bleed. The overall size and heft of the device is clearly a step beyond the average netbook, weighing in at just shy of 700 grams.

'Digital Foundry vs. iPad' Screenshot browser1
'Digital Foundry vs. iPad' Screenshot browser2

Apple's Safari browser comes into its own on the iPad. The relatively enormous amount of screen real estate compared to the iPhone rendition makes all the difference.

Key to the iPad's charm is obviously the user interface. iPhoneOS migrates beautifully to the larger screen and arguably the most frustrating aspects of the system are overcome simply by having more real estate.

Liberated from the lack of pixels, Safari works that much better - just as well as a desktop browser, you could say. Indeed it's superior in some respects as touch simply feels more intuitive and faster than keyboard and mouse. The lack of Flash only proves annoying when embedded movies are completely absent from the page.

The sheer speed of Safari is also worthy of praise. Up against a 2.6GHz Core 2 laptop running Safari from a performance SSD, the iPad compares favourably and the browser feels faster and smoother than what you would expect from the average netbook. Similarly the default iPhoneOS email client works beautifully. It's hardly Thunderbird or Outlook but fast, stripped-down and to the point is what you'd want from a mobile internet tablet.

'Digital Foundry vs. iPad' Screenshot elements1
'Digital Foundry vs. iPad' Screenshot elements2

The iTunes App Store throws up all manner of cool goodies, including The Elements: A Visual Exploration, packed with facts and 3D photography you can touch and interact with.

Convenience is another key factor in the iPad's appeal. Fancy dashing off a quick email, or checking your Facebook status? iPad gets you to where you want to be within seconds of pressing the power button.

Not only that but the stories about the device's prolific battery life are all true. You can easily get the requisite 10 hours of life from the onboard battery, and the lifespan of the charge seems to hold up whether you're playing games, browsing or watching movies. All of these aspects combine to make the iPad feel like a unique piece of technology.

Some semblance of Office-style applications are available in the form of Apple's own Pages, Keynote and Numbers tools. We won't go into depth on these, but they're easy to get to grips with and online help is only a couple of touches away.

The ability to perform Office-based tasks on the move is obviously welcome, and the sense is that the packages here are fully formed and will produce worthwhile results. However, importing and exporting documents via a convoluted hook-up with iTunes or the iWork website is hardly user-friendly and many will not be pleased that it's effectively impossible to print out your work from the device itself, necessitating more importing and exporting.

Perhaps more directly, there's a sense that the touch-screen keyboard isn't all it could have been. While accomplished typists should be able to get to grips with it quickly, there's no instant access to quotation marks or the apostrophe, which means that you're effectively beholden to the auto-correct to insert them for you if you're looking to produce work at a consistently reasonable speed.

The alternative is to switch to the sub-keyboard to get access to them, along with your numbers too. It's all the more bizarre in that the exclamation mark is instantly available on the main keyboard. The overall typing experience is not great, but certainly serviceable enough for emailing or the odd, swift blog post.

Moving back to the areas where the iPad is more competent, Apple's tablet has obviously been designed to take on Amazon's Kindle and Sony's E-Reader. Interestingly, the iPad doesn't ship with its iBooks functionality built in, it's a free download from the App Store.

The iBooks app slots into the user interface just fine, and performs exactly as you would expect it to. Navigating through your bookshelf and the store is easy, there's full support for both both portrait and landscape reading, fonts can easily be managed to give you the size and look you want from any book.

'Digital Foundry vs. iPad' Screenshot ebook1
'Digital Foundry vs. iPad' Screenshot ebook2

Winnie the Pooh is the freebie illustrated E-Book that comes with iBooks. Even if the price of the online store gives pause, there's still plenty of out-of-copyright classic material to download for nowt.

The American iBooks store seems to offer prices that are reasonable, if not spectacular, when compared to buying the physical copy from a shop like Amazon: some books are more expensive, others a touch cheaper.

Prices for digital copies range from 10 to 15 dollars, and browsable samples are easily downloaded. The thinking here seems to be that the convenience of downloading books and not being weighed down by them on your travels more than makes up for the fact you are effectively buying data, as opposed to a physical, collectible item.

Whether you go for that line of thinking is up to you, but one noteworthy aspect of the store is that there is a range of classics available to download for free. Not only does this give you instant, free access to some brilliant books, but it also allows you to test the iBooks app to see if the basic notion works for you as an alternative to buying the traditional hardback or paperback copy.

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Comments (103) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • HoriZon #1 2 years ago

    Still want one but must not!!

  • Vroom #2 2 years ago

    Buyers remorse gone!

  • Katana-Bob #3 2 years ago

    iFad

  • mowgli #4 2 years ago

    Looks good. Just too expensive!

  • Beano #5 2 years ago

    But how does iPad compare to Red Dead Redemption on PS3??... TELL ME, DF!
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 14:24

  • ignatiusjreilly #6 2 years ago

    Nice review.

    I just can't get past the e-book thing though. The whole reason things like the Sony Reader and Amzon Kindle exist is because we worked out some time ago that it is not practical or comfortable to read from a backlit LCD screen, so e-ink was invented to fix that problem (and did a good job). Now the iPad is here people seem to have forgotten about that whole issue!

  • SleepyMagpie #7 2 years ago

    iFad

  • Fab4 #8 2 years ago

    Saw Jake, off the F1 on BBC, using one last Sunday.

    Take that as a selling point, or not...your choice ;)

  • Nazo #9 2 years ago

    Now for the Face-off:
    http://tu ut.atdt.nu/a/b352a1d6af672df394...

  • George_Robo #10 2 years ago

    Hang on, why is there an advert on the BBC website?
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 14:33

  • schnide #11 2 years ago

    What we have here is an impressive 1024x768 screen that's literally "in your face"

    Sounds painful. But hopefully that's just yet another misuse of the word 'literally'.

  • UncleLou #12 2 years ago

    so e-ink was invented to fix that problem (and did a good job). Now the iPad is here people seem to have forgotten about that whole issue!

    With its own set of problems though. Ink is still gray rather than black, turning a page is still an exercise in patience, and the things are rather clunky.

  • ignatiusjreilly #13 2 years ago

    why is there an advert on the BBC website?

    Presumably that's the international version of the site, which does carry some ads. Why, after doing a three-page review, DF can't do it's own pictures and/or screenshots I don't know, but EG usually use publisher-provided screenshots all throughout the website.

  • GordonJ #14 2 years ago

    "Hang on, why is there an advert on the BBC website? "

    It's the international edition

  • George_Robo #15 2 years ago

    "Presumably that's the international version of the site, which does carry some ads. Why, after doing a three-page review, DF can't do it's own pictures and/or screenshots I don't know, but EG usually use publisher-provided screenshots all throughout the website."

    Few I though the Torys had already gotten there hands on the licence fees or something without telling anyone.

  • ignatiusjreilly #16 2 years ago

    Ink is still gray rather than black, turning a page is still an exercise in patience, and the things are rather clunky.

    Well that's true to some extent, and no colour is the biggest problem right now, but there's still a reason they were made and invented. If an LCD screen was suitable people would surely have just stuck with their laptops.

  • Danbojones Verified Senior Staff Writer, GamesIndustry.biz #17 2 years ago

    @ignatiusjreilly Actually AFAIK those are Rich's own screengrabs - he lives abroad.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #18 2 years ago

    If this device were more open, had a widescreen display with a usable resolution, allowed storage cards to be used and usb devices to be plugged in without adapters and had a keyboard, I would consider purchasing it. I have no interest in buying a device simple to consume media.

    Does look pretty though.

  • telboy007 #19 2 years ago

    Adobe PDF reader doesn't even allow embedded PDFs in non safari web browsers on the Mac, talk about pony support for Apple's machines!

  • chiz #20 2 years ago

    I don't see how flash can become redundant. It's ideal for games on the web. Just because the iphone/ipad doesn't use it, doesn't mean it's set for failure. 70 million farmville users would be pissed off at an html5 incarnation (which isn't possible).

  • ignatiusjreilly #21 2 years ago

    @Danbojones

    Ah OK, apologies. Did think it was a bit odd that the EG king of video capture and analysis couldn't do his own screenshots ;)

    And generally agreed with JonnyWashnGo: after initial scepticism, I've been sold on the form factor and the media consumption purpose, but there's just a fatal flaws like USB ports, Apple's walled garden etc. that I'll never be able to get past. Luckliy, loads of hardware companies copy Apple's ideas so I should be able to get the best of both worlds in a few months.
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 14:57

  • PearOfAnguish #22 2 years ago

    Would quite like a tablet but lack of removeable storage, usb and widescreen kill the ipad for me. Be interesting to see what google have in the works.

  • ybfelix #23 2 years ago

    Microsoft, did you learn? Why tablet pc had no such hype? Did you learn that despite what people on the 'net say, lots consumers just don't want choices, don't want freedom. Next time you should build your own hardware and disregard the internet vocal's opinion.

  • hiddenranbir #24 2 years ago

    So I have to keep it held up or lay it on the table and lurch over it?

  • DavoTheDiv_2010 #25 2 years ago

    "If this device were more open, had a widescreen display with a usable resolution, allowed storage cards to be used and usb devices to be plugged in without adapters and had a keyboard, I would consider purchasing it. I have no interest in buying a device simple to consume media.

    Does look pretty though."

    .......so, a laptop then?

  • Johnsters #26 2 years ago

    ^^^^^^^
    Yes, but with a laptop you'll have to open the lid. Too much effort :-)

  • berelain #27 2 years ago

    No mention of the minimalist storage space? Or the lack of connectivity? Or the fact that, as good a media player as it might be, it doesn't actually fit in your pocket?

    The max 64gig storage is utterly useless for a device thats supposed to be such a great media player- I have almost 60 gigs of music alone, and if I want to start adding videos I'd need a damn sight more storage space than that offers, particularly since it goes down the typical Apple route of being non-expandable. I hear there is a memory card reader attachment, but you can bet that'll come at a premium as well.

    Bloody ridiculous. Its a nice piece of tech in many ways, but it just doesn't seem to fulfill any particular use. It still seems to me like a jack of all trades that doesn't really know what it wants to do; at least the iPod and iPhone, expensive as they are, serve specific purposes. The iPad? Not so much.

  • FogHeart #28 2 years ago

    It's got Bluetooth, and there are Bluetooth mini-keyboards. Would they work together, in theory? Making long typing sessions less of a chore?

  • dominalien #29 2 years ago

    Yes.

  • Sunyavadin #30 2 years ago

    consumers just don't want choices, don't want freedom

    Never were truer words about Apple's turnaround from gutter to glamour spoken.

  • Johnsters #31 2 years ago

    @berelain
    My media player wont fit in my pocket. It's a bloody PS3 and a 40"" TV
    Why does it need to fit in your pocket. thats what an iPod or phone is good for.

    I think there is a big market for this (1 million+ shipped the in US alone is good product selling. thats $500 million in Revenue) though this could just be the apple faithful.

    Im in on the fence - I like the idea of it. All I use the home PC (imac) for is web browsing, photos and the odd Microsoft office app - mainly excel - dabble with garage band and imovie but nothing serious. So for me its a great idea. Leave it in the lounge or kitchen, don't need to be away from the family. As my iMac is 5+ yrs old I need an upgrade, original choice would been another iMac, possibly a mac book, but now - not sure. If it supports remote storage (which I haven't looked at yet) then I maybe sold.
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 15:48

  • ignatiusjreilly #32 2 years ago

    Would they work together, in theory? Making long typing sessions less of a chore

    Yes they work fine! Perfect solution IMO, unless you desperately need a hardware keyboard when out and about. In that case you'd probably stick with a laptop though. Or get something like this: http://clamcase.com/ :D

  • Sunyavadin #33 2 years ago

    If this device were more open, had a widescreen display with a usable resolution, allowed storage cards to be used and usb devices to be plugged in without adapters and had a keyboard, I would consider purchasing it. I have no interest in buying a device simple to consume media.

    My sentiments exactly. For £400 I got exactly that.
    Plus it has a 250GB HD, and supports Flash.

    And I could spend the £100 I saved by not buying an ipad on shoveling coke up my nose at parties. Score.

  • Flying_Pig #34 2 years ago

    Looks lovely, but too damn expensive for me

  • Red-Moose #35 2 years ago

    Whata bunch of garbage. Do you actually read what you wrote?

    The browser is better than the one on the iPhone because of the bigger screen? Well fuck me, what a surprise! The 3.8 litre turbo charged engine in my 911 Turbo is better han the 2.7 piece of junk in the Cayman! You are comparing it in some instances to the iPhone - IT'S NOT A PHONE - and then to netbooks - and it has no keyboard.

    Trying to figure out where it sits - and what its good for eh? A complicated way of saying "I don't know". Catshit is better than cowshit, bleu better than salt?
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 15:53

  • berelain #36 2 years ago

    @ Johnsters - "Why does it need to fit in your pocket. thats what an iPod or phone is good for."

    Because theoretically the iPad is a portable device capable of playing media quite well. Its not really useful as a home media hub- I like wise opt for a big telly and games console- because it can't really connect to much. Except, presumably, an iPod dock, if you can find one it will fit in. There's probably an Apple-branded adapter for £20 to do the job.

    Not that I'm bitter about Apple's prices or anything.

  • Essien #37 2 years ago

    Great review. Looking forward to receiving mine next week. As a gaming device the iPhone has become my primary gaming device. And I read news and watch movies on I too. Ipad will hopefully take this to the next level.

  • old_skool #38 2 years ago

    There's no way I will buy a device where the battery is not removable by the user...

  • markyHD #39 2 years ago

    @johnnywashngo

    Go and buy a fucking laptop then and stop reading stories about this "media player".

    So much emphasis on what it isn't, rather than what it is. Hey look, my GTR is fast as fuck, but really it's quite shit because it doesn't fly, nor sail.

  • ignatiusjreilly #40 2 years ago

    So much emphasis on what it isn't, rather than what it is

    That's because when you think about what it is, your mind always goes to what is missing. There's nothing wrong with pointing out these shortcomings surely?

    It's an ebook reader but uses a backlit LCD.
    It's a video player but the display is 4:3.
    It's a web browser but doesn't support Flash.
    It's a portable muic player but it won't fit in your pocket.
    It's a games machine but has no buttons.

    These are are perfectly valid criticisms, and there should be no surprise that people keep mentioning them.

  • jonbwfc #41 2 years ago

    "That's because when you think about what it is, your mind always goes to what is missing."
    Only if you're an arch pessimist. My mind goes from 'this is what it is' to 'Ok, now how could it make my life better'.

    Jon

  • ignatiusjreilly #42 2 years ago

    It's not about being a pessimist, it's about thinking through pros and cons realistically before you spend £400 on a gadget you don't really need.

  • Pistonhead #43 2 years ago

    Absolutely excellent reading, and the most level-headed and objective run-down of the iPad I've come across. Keep up the superb work DF.

  • Doctor_What #44 2 years ago

    "Some say it's the device the netbook should have been, an ultra-portable net browser and movie player, functionally rich and possessing phenomenal battery power."

    Hey, that's sound like my netbook! It's got 8.5hours battery (although I think I pushed 10 on it recently) plus a keyboard and USB ports.

    Great review of the iPad Rich, very balanced I thought. I'm not sold on the iPad at all, but I think you did a good job of saying why people could love it, but also told me precisely why it's not for me.

  • wez_316 #45 2 years ago

    I can't believe all the moaning about the fact that there is no keyboard for the iPad. What about Apple's keyboard dock specifically for iPad or the fact that it can connect wirelessly to a bluetooth Keyboard? Did anybody ever think to even search iPad keyboard on Google before moaning about the fact that it hasn't got one? Seriously...

    And before you whine about it not being in the box... not everybody needs a keyboard. The on screen keyboard is enough for most but the option is there.

    I can appreciate most other ciriticisms of the iPad but pulling it down due to a lack of keyboard seems stupid.

  • Weezer #46 2 years ago

    Pleasantly surprised. Already pre-ordered the 16GB version for the living room, but it's nice to see a relatively unbiased review. I've never seen a device incur the wrath of the Internet quite so much - anyone wold think you had to buy one by law and every purchase was accompanied by a drowning kitten. Strange...

    Don't like it? Don't buy one!

  • kobashi #47 2 years ago

    it is criminal that it has lack of support for most video codecs.

    For the price this thing should playback MKV video files.

  • Iain815 #48 2 years ago

    Everyone knows deep down inside they would love one.

    But alas, I can't afford it :(

  • knightmt #49 2 years ago

    The backlash is pretty much about the image and advertising, you would think that apple were as big as MS if you were to go by their online presence. It is so massively hyped on every technology website that it seems like a compulsory purchase. It was no so bad with the Ipod because there was very little presedence and it seemed quite innovative. Even the Iphone was innovative because smart phones are very progressive. But the iPad seems very Brand heavy. I did not understand a lot of this review because it was so anachronistic. The most innovative thing about the Ipad is that it does not have Flash, is that innovative. When I said anachronistic I meant full of achronyms but the wrong word adds a touch of lateral perspective.

  • thomaspower0 #50 2 years ago

    I have an Alienware m11x. 830 Euro's, 4GB RAM, Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 (OC to 1,73Ghz), 320GB 7400RPM HDD, Nvidia GeForce GT335M 1GB ddr3 ram. Oh, and it supports 3G phone cards. 3 hours battery life while gaming, about 6 hours when doing normal stuff (switchable graphics). 16:9 1366x768 LED backlight.

    For about 100 euro's less you get an iPad. 4:3 screen. 1(?)Ghz processor, no GPU, no keyboard. Maybe something for people who don't know how to work with a laptop. Hmm.


    iPad (NOVA HD) [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=pEDb4J4duTw
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=pEDb4J4duTw
    [/link]

    M11x (MW2) [link url=http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=GslGmYSBFu4
    ]http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=GslGmYSBFu4
    [/link]

    M11x wins.


    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 17:39

  • Sharzam #51 2 years ago

    I find is amusing that there is all that refrence to "well we must convert this" or "doesnt support this" in regards to codes and media where as any netbook or laptop you can just simple install what you like including any needed codecs (and the mkv format is no issue), but this overlooked as along with the fact you cant print from a ipad and must use apples soultion.

    This is all in despite that it is priced at more than a netbook and not to far from a decent laptop.

    Ok we get it, the mainstream loves apple regardless of there closed nature. I have lost count of the amount of times people have accepted that there iphone doesnt do x however if something doesnt do what i want i will either find a way to make it so or change to something that can. If i want to buy a ipad for media which iam sure alot will then i sure as hell should be allowed to play media how i like, with whatever player and formats.

    Rant over.

    More importantly why is this on eurogamer website? I thought gaming was the focus not random gadget stuff for that see techcrunch, engadget etc

    edit: yes i did read it, but your right i didnt neassaily balance myself. I dont think this has a place here as gaming is a secondary function in my view because you would buy a DS to play games and thats all but you wouldnt buy a ipad or iphone for games would you. It would be akin to reviewing a mobile phone because it can run some java code.
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 18:44

  • JensonJet #52 2 years ago

    I've not really looked into this, but I've a couple of quick questions for anyone who knows. Can you connect a USB external drive? Does it display PDFs? I'm not in the market for one of these as I don't have the cash, but I will be one day. From what I know of this product, every single one of my friends with a laptop is perfectly suited to owning one. But as they all want the safety and comfort of the common old PC laptop none of them would consider it until perhaps one makes the move. I guess when Microsoft copy this product they'll reconsider. I'm not into technological toys, but I really like this product.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #53 2 years ago

    How horrid would it be to use for anything but movie playback if it had been 16:9?

    I dunno. The Joojoo looks a bit silly being in wide aspect. So much so, apparently that their website deliberately foreshortens it https://thejoojoo.com/. But the variety of 16:9 aspect WVGA Android phones that we have at my work all look fine.

    Edit: proper comparison
    Edited by 2 at 20/05/10 @ 18:07

  • kobashi #54 2 years ago

    @Sharzam. Apple's closed nature is the one of the mains reasons I will never buy one of their MP3/PMP's or even consider an Ipad.

  • Rodchenko #55 2 years ago

    A big part of Richard's text deals with gaming, Sharzam. Labelling his report 'random', when in fact he mentions one reason for it to be the iPad's imminent European launch also seems a bit uninformed. I am leaning to the idea that you didn't read the text at all and that you just wanted to vent of some good old anti-Apple karma.

  • Pulsar_t #56 2 years ago

    @knightmt Apple is not the only company selling people "fashionable" stuff they don't really need.

    Geek chic can go to hell.

  • PearOfAnguish #57 2 years ago

    "Can you connect a USB external drive?"

    Nope, there are no USB ports, the only external devices supported are official (or officially licensed?) Bluetooth gadgets.
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 19:31

  • Doctor_What #58 2 years ago

    That lack of USB was a a swinger for me against the iPad. I don't want to have to put movies onto a server then transfer them across the ether back into my machine when I could bung them on a stick and put them in the side of my netbook instantly. For a media player, convenience is a huge thing for me and the iPad just doesn't sound convenient for what I want... But that's just me, I'm sure it'll be wonderful for some people who just like to browse the web.

    Oh, and to the chap who was having a go at people complaining about the lack of keyboard, saying that people could easily connect one: how comfortable is it to prop up the screen with a separate keyboard? Do the plug in keyboards have tracker pads for moving the cursor? These things are important to me, but perhaps not to everyone.

  • Johnsters #59 2 years ago

    @Berelain

    I dont think it's aimed as a home media hub or even as a pocket device. I've heard people regard it as an expensive digital photo frame :-)

    "Can you connect a USB external drive"

    Well maybe you can. There are companies that have adapters that will allow you to connect USB devices. Search on the big internet thing.

    "closed nature" I guess refers to DRM and proprietary tech? Apple do it the way that they feel people require. Seems to work. I have friends that were anti isheep - all supported creative and Sony MP3 players until I showed them the itouch (blagged one from the US on launch day 3 yrs ago) and they just put their hands in the air and surrendered. The both bought one within weeks.

    I'm not saying Apple is always right, lack of blu-ray support is preventing me from making further mac purchases and I got burned with Gen1 itouch, but I think they know how to make very good useable devices. A laptop can do more, if you need it to, but the iPad will suit needs of a particular set of people.

  • Gamer_Zero #60 2 years ago

    Eurogamer just fell down a notch on my objectivity meter... oh well, still better than Ign and Gamespot.

  • comissars_handgun #61 2 years ago

    Haha, I'm still kind of amazed at the hatred people have for the iPad. Just don't buy one, Christ.

    i think the iPad looks very cool, but I don't really have a use for it and I'm broke, so I won't buy one. Why do people seem to get personally offended when a product isn't for them?

    Lack of MKV support is pretty understandable, Apple need to get content providers working with them. Making things easy for pirates (are MKVs used for anything apart from pirated HD video?) would annoy the Hollywood studios. Flash is kind of annoying, but I browse on my iPod touch quite a lot and it's rarely an issue.

  • TessaTickle #62 2 years ago

    And it blends ! http://ww w.blendtec.com/willitblend/vide...

  • jefranklin18 #63 2 years ago

    Can you imagine the grief that Microsoft would get if they deliberately borked IE so that it would not support Flash? As shown by this: http://ww w.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/30/... The anti-competitive practices that Apple can get away with because they cosy up to the media is staggering.

    *Edited to add link to back up my original statement*
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 22:57

  • old_skool #64 2 years ago

    @zerolight
    And what happens to your data when you ship your iPad back to Apple? *Poof* It's gone unless you've synced the device and backed up the data,which you have to do every single day if you are paranoid about losing it, if it had a SD slot then most of your essential data could've been stored on that. An SD slot would have made transferring files simple, but it appears that Apple is directing your actions into going online and downloading from their app store.
    I admit the device is sleek and stylish like all of Apple's devices, but I'm sold on features not looks. I'm unfortunately not its target market.

  • sanctusmortis #65 2 years ago

    Gah. Comments FAIL.

    Apple doesn't refuse Flash support, Adobe can't get it working in a reliable way with Apple's OS. Even in OS X on my iMac, Flash support is woeful, thanks to Adobe.

    Don't like the file support? Well, already there are apps that work via Cydia (the homebrew enabling unlock app) to fix it. Simple, but ideally you should be using the device as designed: syncing it to iTunes and onverting it across, or getting it straight off the store.

    Honestly, half your issues are caused through ignorance rather than Apple's megalomania. You all pull out the "giant iPhone" comparison, and how did you get the very same files on that? iTunes, same as iPad.

    As for the "not enough storage"... Seriously, it's not to replace a desktop, but supplement. You shouldn't be keeping giant swathes of files on one, like you don't on a laptop; regular syncs to clear out unwanted stuff and replace with the new mean storage isn't an issue. My 16GB iPod never gets full, because I clear off what I don't use! Why would a 16GB iPad be any different?

    Excuses to hate, as ever.

  • Skurmedel #66 2 years ago

    I think this article should be a bit more about games to warrant it's place here... three pages are just about the device. Sorry to be pissy but I'm afraid of this site loosing it's focus.

    sanctusmortis: Have you ever tried getting PDFs on your iPhone without using Wifi, well I have and it's almost laughably bad. I think it's a serious shortcoming of Apple not allowing people to transfer stuff (that isn't videos or music) to their phone/gadget/whatever without using Wifi and launching some weird third party server on your machine.
    Edited by 2 at 20/05/10 @ 23:10

  • Pulsar_t #67 2 years ago

    sanctusmortis is an Appleboy, so what's the point of debating his allegiances?

  • White_Westie #68 2 years ago

    I really want to like this, but I just can't get excited about it. Maybe I'm a Microsoft bot now... I have been looking at pivoting notebooks. E. G acer aspire 1820ptz. Unfortunately if its to stream YouTube, etc. Just not for me. I want to be able to put music on in a way I decide, access my pc via rdp, co ordinate between my home network easily, etc. And view videos in eurogamer from their flash enabled previews... something even my HTC phone can do.. - Android 2. 2... so if my phone can do it why can't this....!

    The notebook from acer pivots over the keyboard and it is a multi touch, screen, albeit not as well as the ipad for touch functions.

    I know a lot will buy this as it is lovely tech, but its just a giant iPhone to me, which seems to need workarounds out of the box rather than be flawlessly integrated with media, to what it seems its original intent was...

    To me, flash, codec, etc should all be integrated into it.

    To say flash will die in 2 years is pretty naive, to write this off now is also naive too. Perhaps as they do OS updates, it will evolve into what it should be. Similar to the iPhone. I was a day 1 adopter - when it didn't even have picture messaging, but look at it now.. hopefully it will evolve like the iPhone and I will reconsider in the future. But for me for now its a pivoting notebook with a 10 hour + battery life...
    Edited by 1 at 20/05/10 @ 23:45

  • klasseng #69 2 years ago

    Google and Adobe have been working like mad trying to get Flash to work on Android. This week is a major Google confab and they showed the result of all that work. Beta Flash 10.1 on Beta Android 2.2. Engadget got to play with it:
    - doesn't use the GPU
    - hot phone (I don't mean great, I mean temperature wise)
    - sucked the life out of the battery
    - slow frame rates
    - works (barely) on set of sites recommended by Google.
    Face it, the reason Flash isn't on the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad isn't because Apple won't allow it . . . it's because Adobe can't deliver Flash for any mobile platform yet.

  • Prodigy_BE #70 2 years ago

    I had one iPad, but my gf used it so much for couch browsing, couch mailing and couch gaming (I showed her Tap Tap revolution, my mistake), that I sold our macbook and imported a second one. I'm no tech geek and want these devices to do what i want in the shortest time possible, and without any hassle. And this thing does just that.

    You can bash that Jobs dude all you want, but this is an amazing achievement, imo.

  • Wobbler #71 2 years ago

    Looks like a fair & balanced review to me. I know I'll be using mine for PDF & eBook reading (I have hundreds of the damn things, and reading them on a Laptop is not ideal, IMO). I dunno if it's because I spend the vast majority of my waking life looking at backlit LCD screens (at work, at home, on my phone all the time) but the "Oh noes! LCD eyestrain" just doesn't happen to me. (And I played with some eInk devices and I hated them -- way too low contrast for me, not clear enough, and enough time to make a cup of tea between when you press the 'next page' button and being able to continue reading. Horrid. I realise that I could well be in the minority, though, as eInk turned me OFF the Kindle, for example.)

    I use a Flash Blocker on my desktop -- to get rid of annoying animated ads, mainly -- and it makes the web a lot nicer place to be. And I don't feel like I have to turn Flash on very often -- just for YouTube, iPlayer & Vimeo, pretty much (Sorry Eurogamer video, but it never really occurs to me to bother going through all the faff of watching it). So I'm going to call the lack of Flash a big PLUS in my book :)

    The one thing that I do feel is lacking is a good range of codec support. Whilst I have no problem with Quicktime, friends & family often email me 'funny' video clips in non-Apple formats (WMV, DivX, etc.) Ideally, there would be a kind of "VLC for iPad" app that handles it. I dunno if that's possible, however.
    Edited by 1 at 21/05/10 @ 00:27

  • UncleLou #72 2 years ago

    "consumers just don't want choices, don't want freedom"

    As aptly demonstrated by console sales. Convenience wins.

  • Gamer_Zero #73 2 years ago

    What's with all the hatred and downranking my post by apple fanboys? I was talking about Eurogamer not Apple. From Eurogamer i expect to uphold some standards in the reviews, be it games or hardware. This review failed to mention some pretty important facts like the lack of a USB port or the prevention of multitasking. It was clearly not being objective.

    I'm not an Apple user so i couldn't care less about how good or awful the machine is, but as a Eurogamer reader i care about what i read. You lot take the time to downrank a comment that's not even bashing you but not have the curtesy to reply, and you accuse everyone who is not using Apple as a hater. Boy if this isn't hypocrisy i don't know what is.

  • mowgli #74 2 years ago

    I assume it was down ranked for being fucking stupid. Not for being 'anti apple'. The iPad also doesn't have a fucking waffle maker attached but I don't expect that to be mentioned in the review.

  • Moz #75 2 years ago

    Still not feeling it. Whils the article makes some valid points about what the iPad CAN do it doesn't change the fact that if I did have an iPad then i'd still have to keep my Power Book close by to play Lord of Ultima. And what the iPad CAN do that my power book can't just doesn't seem worth the expense or hassle of juggling 2 devices.

  • webcider #76 2 years ago

    Can we get a warning mail when Eurogamer goes in Ipad Advertisement Frenzy mode?

    It would be nice to actually read about some games instead of lame ebook devices.

    And just stop with trying to sell it as a Gaming device it really stands no chance in doing so. But ofcourse there will be the possibility of playing mediocre games with poor designs to people desperate for using their ebook for other stuff.
    however those are not games they are just time wasting.

  • RodHull #77 2 years ago

    So it's a not much cop for simple office tasks, has a counter-intuitive keyboard, won't work with half the websites out there and is less able as an e-book reader than the competition. SOLD!

  • Fatnick #78 2 years ago

    We've been testing one out at work and I must say it is a fantastic device. At home its much comfier to use than a laptop or (presuming you want to relax and not sit bolt-upright at a desk) and on the move it's not massively more inconvenient than the iphone. Obviously for your hardcore gaming/photo editing/music & movie making you'll still need a decent laptop/desktop but to be honest a tablet would probably be a bit rubbish for those things anyway. Having used it i definitely think an Iphone OS was the right way to go (even if using the exact same Iphone OS is a bit cheap).

    It's a bit cheeky that apple don't even supply you with a wipey cloth though: the screen gets REALLY dirty.

  • Jackface #79 2 years ago

    I'd just say that the browser isn't deliberately hobbled purely because Jobs doesn't like Adobe, but because there is not a single mobile device that can do Flash properly. Read the reports of how Flash is being handled by Android devices at Google's I/O event this week: it makes them extremely hot and kills the battery.

    FACT.

  • Jackface #80 2 years ago

    I did not understand a lot of this review because it was so anachronistic. The most innovative thing about the Ipad is that it does not have Flash, is that innovative. When I said anachronistic I meant full of achronyms but the wrong word adds a touch of lateral perspective.
    Three of the most ill-informed sentences ever written?

  • Jackface #81 2 years ago

    Still not feeling it. Whils the article makes some valid points about what the iPad CAN do it doesn't change the fact that if I did have an iPad then i'd still have to keep my Power Book close by to play Lord of Ultima. And what the iPad CAN do that my power book can't just doesn't seem worth the expense or hassle of juggling 2 devices

    What really fucked me off about Nintendo is that even though I have a DS, if I want to play Mario Galaxy I still have to turn on my Wii, turn on my TV, switch to the correct channel, make sure my Wiimote batteries are charged up...

    Fucking stupid Nintendo.

  • Jackface #82 2 years ago

    How is this article relevant to Eurogamer?

    It's an electronic computing device (one) that plays games (two) and appeals to a vast section of EG's readership (three).

    Idiot.

  • bluebird #83 2 years ago

    In these comments there seems to be a clear trend: everyone who owns an iPad seems to love it.

    This should be a signal to the haters, maybe it's true you can't dismiss the iPad purely on the specs.

  • Jackface #84 2 years ago

    sanctusmortis is an Appleboy, so what's the point of debating his allegiances?

    And almost all of those slagging it off are Applehaterz, so what's the point of debating their allegiances?

  • old_skool #85 2 years ago

    @zerolight
    Like I said, this device isn't for me. I have a central server with harddrives in a RAID 5 config. All my essential content is on it. I've been in too many situations where HDD's pack up, memory sticks crash, CD's and DVD's corrupt and it's a real pain doing data recovery. I download stuff to the server and transfer either via WLAN or LAN ot SD card or USB, making that portion easy is important to me. Yes, sitting on the bed browsing the web is nice, I do it many times from my laptop, windows mobile phone and my psp.
    But:
    want to post a picture on facebook quickly?
    Erm, first need to sync with Mac to transfer pic to IPad.

    Want to view a video on the web?
    Erm, it's in flash.

    Going on a long trip? Let's transfer some videos
    Erm, needs to let it sync

    Wan't to watch video?
    Erm, file format isn't supported, need to re-encode.

    I could go on about the issues I have with this device. When I travel I take my laptop with me, if I need to game I use my PSP/NDS, I like using buttons. I was really interested in getting the iPad using it mainly as an e-book reader, but some reviews have really been off putting. Admittedly, there's no one device that does it all (except a laptop and it's crap to read docs on a LCD), alot of people like the iPAD, it serves their needs, Apple saw a gap in the market and addressed it, good for them and good for you too.

  • UncleLou #86 2 years ago

    want to post a picture on facebook quickly?
    Erm, first need to sync with Mac to transfer pic

    Use one of the countless apps - like the (free) Dropbox.

  • Skurmedel #87 2 years ago

    Jackface: Yes that is probably why people get negged for criticising a device they own... This discussion is as usual full of zealots on both sides.

    And despite it being SPAM uttering it, I agree with him, this article is too much about stuff not relevant to gaming. Will there be Windows Phone reviews soon, why not Android gaming... soon you'll have to cater for every device in the universe that can play a game if this focus is to be fair in anyway.
    Edited by 2 at 21/05/10 @ 15:15

  • rocklnd #88 2 years ago

    best computer i have ever owned. ipad is so cozy to use...on the subway, in bed, wherever...like having a thin light magazine in your lap to surf on, read books, email, game, etc., versus having a bulky heavy laptop, with it's tired clamshell design, always having to open and close and retilt the screen, keyboard and mouse. with the ipad you just zip around on it's beautiful display with a finger. no complaints

  • old_skool #89 2 years ago

    @UncleLou,

    Why go all the way developing an app to transfer stuff? What is good old file transfer not good enough anymore. Now you need an app to view websites. A browser isn't good enough anymore? Talk about re-inventing the wheel. Anyway to each their own, some people like the iPad, some don't.

  • knightmt #90 2 years ago

    @jackface Damn I agree about two of the sentences, I hardly know anything about flash on mobile devices.

    Though I hardly think they are the most illinformed sentences written ever. Why don't you just say EPIC FAIL.
    And FACT is the most unconvincing argument I see written on forums regularly, I much prefer links or references that present evidence, I am not doubting your source, I would just like to see it.

  • sanctusmortis #91 2 years ago

    Thankyou jackface for an injection of sense.

    Look, the usual battlelines are being drawn. That's sad, to be frank. I thought people had finally grown up and moved on from brand wars, but apparently no, they just migrated en masse to the internet. All companies are as bad as each other, as they exist to make money. Brand biases are infantile playground arguments, and I would hope you're all adults.

    The iPad is a device designed to be used in a variety of ways supplementing a main system. It is not a stand-alone device, it is a multi-use device used in conjunction with a main machine. It is a walled garden to keep out the viruses that plague the internet, and naturally to create revenue. It can play the media that the software it connects to is designed to run, in an aspect ratio that is common across all media. It avoids Flash, as if anyone could be honest for a minute it's rubbish and resource hungry, far inferior to the approaching HTML5. It does everything it is designed to do well, like Apple always aims their products to do. It's not always successful, as the Apple customer coda of "wait for version 3" attests. As with the iMac, iPhone and iPods, I'll wait for version3 before money gets involved - and then buy an earlier version cheap!

  • xenonexe2558 #92 2 years ago

    You know what? It's pricey for the spec. Apple products always are. But people don't want tech specs they want appliances that DO things. This is not a Netbook or a PC. Nor is it simply a giant iPod. It's new and murky product category.

    This thing is literally a blank slate: a portable page & the bottom line is it's amazing.

    It's a computer,tv,radio, newspaper,magazine,library and hand held console as thin as a magazine you can sling in a bag or sit by the sofa. What more do you people want?!!!!!

    Amping up the touch screen and making the keyboard optional are key to its success.

    All the limitations and objections raised above are valid, but it doesn't matter. Name one other device you can buy today that does everything an iPad does as well as an iPad does?

    It's 1.0 version of the software. Remember how firmware transformed the iPhone & iPod Touch?

    Everything about the thing is exciting. It's LOADED with potential especially with creative apps. I do a lot of writing on mine, with a BT keyboard, even with that it's half the weight of my MBP 13.

    In the 2 weeks I've owned one, my laptop has not left the house or even the desk. I used to be welded to the thing.

  • migasUK #93 2 years ago

    even most of people complaining here about lack of flash price and stuff will get it eventually...

  • chiz #94 2 years ago

    Drunken rant:

    See you fucking mac wankers, you cant fuck off. You love the fact adobe can't get flash on your underpowered shit (with no USB slots), yet you seem to forget that Adobe is the ONLY reason to own a mac.

    It's usually designers. I'm a designer myself, and RAM = faster, so I use a PC. Photoshop is the same fucking program, it just runs faster on a P.C. because it's more upgradable. You cunts seem to think because you have a mac, i't's better. It's not, it's worse.

    Oh yeah, gaming. Welcome to 3d. The same sort of gfx we had since quake 1; But it's on an Ipad > Retards. Good luck fighting for that top high score on fucking bejewled; you sad, sad fuckers. Maybe one day you'll have real buttons [that you can press].

    I'm old enough to remember the speccy v c64 thing, the amiga v st thing and the mac v pc thing. Now, it's the netbook v ipad. Good luck sticking your photos on the ipad. Good luck not having firefox. Good luck not being able to change the battery yourself. Oh, and good luck not being able to watch videos on the net. HTML5 is a good thing, but it's not just video.

  • Les #95 2 years ago

    "and appeals to a vast section of EG's readership (three)."

    I honestly doubt that part, but then again, what was the last time the majority (or even a significant part of humanity) was right?

  • Jackface #96 2 years ago

    Hey chiz, do you always make up complete and utter factually incorrect rubbish when you're drunk? :D

  • freakzilla #97 2 years ago

    Everyone was raging on Sony for $599 but at least the PS3 is pretty powerful but the ipad at £599 is a dream come true even though its pretty weak, can't multitask, can't flash etc etc etc.

    Vote me down if you want but anyone on anything close to average income should never buy apple.

  • Les #98 2 years ago

    "Vote me down if you want but anyone on anything close to average income should never buy apple."

    I prefer a straight argument over the cowardly down voting. It's a ridiculous statement and needs to be pointed out as such. It suggests that there are comparable alternatives, which isn't the case: there simply isn't any other company (yet, I hope) that has realized that separating hardware and software is A Very bad Idea. With a little luck though competitors will get it eventually, limiting Apple's ability to charge a premium simply for being the only company around that does a proper job.

  • White_Westie #99 2 years ago

    @xenonxexe
    "It's a computer,tv,radio, newspaper,magazine,library and hand held console as thin as a magazine you can sling in a bag or sit by the sofa. What more do you people want?!!!!!

    Amping up the touch screen and making the keyboard optional are key to its success.

    All the limitations and objections raised above are valid, but it doesn't matter. Name one other device you can buy today that does everything an iPad does as well as an iPad does? "

    -----

    Errr... virtually any android based multi touch phone.,.... htc desire for example..... with it being portable and convienient to carry....

  • Veggiedude #100 2 years ago

    Who says farmville can't be done in html5? If google could put packman up on their homepage, then it can be done!

  • septimus #101 2 years ago

    Getting one as a B'Day present. Commutes will be much more palatable.

    Good write up, but I am guessing the thread is a mess of fanboys and haters. Time to find out.

  • gammonbanter #102 2 years ago

    it's a rubbish netbook!

  • CaptainKid #103 2 years ago

    I've scanned the article, I found it quite boring sadly.
    I still don't understand why anyone would buy an Ipad instead of a laptop.
    Web browsing
    -No Flash, not that big a deal but still.
    -Can't choose your own browser. right?

    Film watching
    -Ridiculous low resolution, I thought we settled on HD and now we go back to SD?
    -No USB confuses the hell out of me. How am I supposed to get films on the bloody thing?
    Upload it to a server and then stream it? Seems like a LOT of hassle and takes a long time.

    Games.
    -I'm not even going to bother with this.

    The only persons I can think of buying this is the women who enjoy browsing the web on the couch.
    And this is more convenient then a laptop for that
    Edited by 1 at 28/05/10 @ 14:25