Why Is Every Non-geek In My Family in a Froth About the iPad?

[Crazed Rabbit]

My biggest problem with both the iPhone and now the iPad is how you're locked away from free software. At least, I think you are; I've never owned either device, so I can't say with certainty.

I likes my Firefox, my OpenOffice, my GIMP. Frankly, I'm more confident about the tools I download from SourceForge than I am of many commercial applications.

The i-stuff is interesting, and I have a creeping feeling they're going to have a huge impact, but they're not for me.

That's one thing that disturbs me as I learn more about it. Apparently you can only get software through Apple's official store - which they boasted about in the presentation. Do Apple Geeks really like only being able to buy from the company store?

Two things came to mind; that's a huge limitation compared to any laptop or computer or non-Apple product.

Also, I see Microsoft get fined hundreds of millions of dollars for including IE with their OS, and I wonder how Apple gets away with including a store program and only letting people obtain things through it (Did someone here mention AOL's walled garden?). And it's not just small market share; Apple has a huge share of the mp3 and phone market.

CR

[Gregoshi]

That's one thing that disturbs me as I learn more about it. Apparently you can only get software through Apple's official store - which they boasted about in the presentation.

This is actually kind of funny coming from the company with one of the most famous commercials in TV history: the Macintosh Big Brother spot.

[Beskar]

[TinCow]

Also, I see Microsoft get fined hundreds of millions of dollars for including IE with their OS, and I wonder how Apple gets away with including a store program and only letting people obtain things through it (Did someone here mention AOL's walled garden?). And it's not just small market share; Apple has a huge share of the mp3 and phone market.

There is a significant difference in market share between Windows (92%) and the iPhone (30%).

[Vladimir]

That's one thing that disturbs me as I learn more about it. Apparently you can only get software through Apple's official store - which they boasted about in the presentation. Do Apple Geeks really like only being able to buy from the company store?

CR

16 bits-what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.

[Lemur]

Well, this is getting interesting. Amazon has deleted all McMillan books, not only from the Kindle, but from the Amazon store as well. Amazon claims it is over a price disagreement on the Kindle, but that doesn't square, not with them removing the physical books as well.

Let's get ready to ruuuuuumble!