Thoughts on a PC Purchase, Part V - iPad vs Laptop
In my last installment of Thoughts on a PC purchase, I discussed Mac OS vs. Windows 7. I was going to move on to Linux, but the release of the iPad warrants preemption.
Background
My main desktop machine was built in 2008 for video editing and flight simulation. The machine took a long time to boot up, so I used to let it run 24 x 7, which reflected very nicely in my electric bill. When the CPU’s liquid cooler failed, I took advantage of it to upgrade some key components.
Having squared away the video editing/flight sim machine, I had another decision to make: iPad or laptop for my general use.
IPad – 3G Model with 64GB – Nearly $900
The iPad seemed a logical choice for me. After all, I already have an iPhone loaded with apps, so a mobile device which builds on that interface and technology seemed the right way to go. The iPad is very light, and I was going to get the 3G-enabled model. So, on the day the WiFi-only model was released, my wife and I stopped by an Apple Store and went to see what the hubbub was about. After a 10-minute wait punctuated by store employees clapping and whooping to congratulate customers who bought an iPad, I finally got to hold one and do some experimenting.
No Flash
First order of business was to load my own website. How would it render? Several items in my sidebars were broken – no Adobe Flash. This means that most non-YouTube videos will not work either. I accept that on an iPhone, because it’s a handheld mobile device. But, I cannot accept it from a machine that retails from $500 to nearly $900 depending on how it’s configured. The lack of Flash was a show-stopper right there, but I continued checking the display sample.
No WebCam
I have Qik and UStream. Sometimes, I cover events on location. My iPhone has a video camera built in, so it seemed logical that this device should have one. The iPad has no webcam, meaning: no live broadcasting events, video blogging, or video conferencing. Second show stopper.
Continued on the next page
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