Re: NEWS: Microsoft's dual-screen booklet shows 'face' on web • The Register

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:12:08 -0800, John Navas
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/06/microsoft_courier_details_report/>
>>
>> Could be an iPad killer -- Microsoft may have finally got one right.
>
> It was also leaked about 6 months ago. Nothing happened:
> <http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/09/23/microsoft_courier/>
> It sure looks nice. However, since it's Zune based (WinCE 6), my
> guess(tm) is that there will be copious legal limitations and
> entanglements limiting user installed software, music, user created

It doesn't matter how great the hardware is, where are the apps?

The iPad is going to be the 2010 "educational" toy and entertainment
device sitter that parents buy their kids. Those kids with a Nintendo
DSi in the car will be so 2009. The Microsoft product, if it's real, is
going to be more of a product used for actual work.

> apps, etc. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for Microsoft Surface:

Microsoft Surface has been in commercial use for several years already.

SMS wrote:

> Microsoft Surface has been in commercial use for several years already.

Is this the software we are seeing on large screen TVs in TV newsrooms
where the reporter is using pinching and swiping movements to shrink and
move various windows? I've seen a lot of this in the past few weeks on
the news and on some tech TV dramas (CSI? or similar).

jc

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> It's very rare when a new product niche is actually used in the manner
> the manufacturer intended.

A photographer friend thinks the iPad will be used as a portable
portfolio display device for photographers. We won't need to make
portfolio books anymore, just load photos into a slideshow application
on the iPad and click play. It will be easy (perhaps too easy) to carry
multiple portfolios, each with a different type of image (e.g.
landscapes, weddings, sports).

jc

SMS <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>It doesn't matter how great the hardware is, where are the apps?

Uh, the demo seemed to have plenty of apps built in already. Okay, it's not
going to give you a snow globe or liar's dice, but what the heck, the Courier
Engadget certainly impressed me, and I'm not impressed by very much.

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

<snip>

> Good idea. Too bad Apple didn't include an SD card slot or USB jack
> to install one externally.

They do sell a kit with an SD card slot for the iPad. Of course most
professional and "prosumer" D-SLRs use Compact Flash, but you can also
import via USB directly from the camera. It's not a full USB port that
you get, but it's good enough to transfer photos from a camera.

On Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:27:04 GMT, (E-Mail Removed) (David Kaye)
wrote:

>JC Dill <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>A photographer friend thinks the iPad will be used as a portable
>>portfolio display device for photographers. We won't need to make
>>portfolio books anymore, just load photos into a slideshow application
>>on the iPad and click play.
>
>Who needs an expensive iPad when a cheap picture frame display will accomplish
>the same thing? Sony's got a nice one with automatic slide show for $100.

Cheap is a relative term. I'm waiting for those picture frames to
break the $14.95 mark, then I'm jumping in.

Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>The iPad is scheduled for release April 3. Let's see if Apple pulls
>off another iPhone style release and gouges the early adopters.

They also have the trademark infringements to work out. There are two other
computer-based "iPad" trademarks already. It won't be as easy to wiggle out
of them as they did with with "iPhone".

I happen to have an iPad. That's what I wrote on it some time back before
his unit was even a gleam in his eye. It's a bit hard to back up (I have to
go to Kinko's), but it doesn't get viruses and it's easy to expand the memory.
Sells for $1.59 at any corner store or gas station.

SMS wrote:
> Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Good idea. Too bad Apple didn't include an SD card slot or USB jack
>> to install one externally.
>
> They do sell a kit with an SD card slot for the iPad. Of course most
> professional and "prosumer" D-SLRs use Compact Flash, but you can also
> import via USB directly from the camera. It's not a full USB port that
> you get, but it's good enough to transfer photos from a camera.

Pro photographers will import processed photos from their computer, not
raw photos from a camera. Those that already use Macs will find it easy
to use an iPhoto/iTunes transfer/sync type of interface.

jc