Comments on: iPad – a Game Changer?

By: portable ebook reader

portable ebook reader — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:10:00 +0000

Good indeed. I don’t want to miss this opportunity. Thanks for such information.

By: RadicalPatron

RadicalPatron — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:41:49 +0000

Game changer - because unlike smart phones and ebook readers, it changes the relationship with content people turn to libraries for. For a view of some rich content in the works and Advertising Age's sense of the market a few years from now. iPad is a gamechanger for libraries.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:30:35 +0000

With the availability of wifi in so many places, connecting would be pretty easy. Seniors just need to know where to go. Libraries provide wifi, right?

By: Wallace McLendon

Wallace McLendon — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:14:21 +0000

Jobs an elitist? Interesting read from today's NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/weekinreview/...

but as STEVE LOHR concludes -- "The iPad bet could prove a loser for Apple. Some skeptics see it occupying an uncertain ground between an iPod and a notebook computer, and a pricey gadget as well, at $499 to $829. Do recall, though, that when the iPod was introduced in 2001, critics joked that the name was an acronym for “idiots price our devices.” And we know who had the last laugh that time."

I'm figuring a $3,500 annual line item in hsl budgets to buy these kinds of technologies early for library R & D would be funds well spent.

By: davidleeking

davidleeking — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:49:49 +0000

Yep – time will definitely tell. A side note – I've had iphones since they
first came out, and never had a slow response in my keyboard… possibly a
problem with your particular iphone?

By: facebook-27435111

facebook-27435111 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:55:34 +0000

I am not sure that the Ipad is a game changer as much as it is a high profile game player. Most of the previous post have pointed out that it is just a huge Iphone/Ipod Touch. The lack of direct USB connectivity and camera are huge let downs for me. Also, using a version of the Iphone OS is a double edge sword. The lack of a normal keyboard makes it perfect to carry around and write papers, surf the internet or what ever in a small package. However, the QWERTY interface on the iphone can be slow in response after 6 months of use. Jobs did say that the unit was utilizing the power of an advance processor. So, we have to see if a touch pad keyboard can keep up with those of us that type really fast. But not to down play this accomplishment, Steve Jobs has gotten the basic idea right by offering something that enhances the basic features of a net book. I am in grad school now, and 25hrs of battery life would be killer if the specs hold true. I would not need to run out to my car and get a charger all the time while working papers. In summary, I think we can hypothesize whether or not this device will succeed in the market all we want, but time will only tell. Apple has never really been totally about innovation. They have been about making existing ideas better and taken them in new directions.

By: davidleeking

davidleeking — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:49:19 +0000

The cheaper one won't have monthly data charges – it just has a wifi
connection – so that's not a problem. On the up-front costs, I'm not so
sure. It makes connecting (ie., email and facebook) easy, and stats & trends
show that seniors are quickly moving to both in droves.

By: no

no — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:44:54 +0000

*Think of the options for all kinds of seniors….*

I can't see seniors [many of whom are on fixed-incomes] shelling out the upfront costs or the monthly data charges for these devices.

By: No

No — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:38:55 +0000

It's nice, but it's not 500 dollars nice.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:59:24 +0000

Well, as I was discussing with some friends on Facebook, the iPad changes things for older adults because they're much bigger and easier to see, and they only have to touch, not use a mouse. I wanted to trick out my mom's little cell phone so she could get FB updates, but it would require too much work. An iPad would work so well for her.