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[sola]

Some thoughts about these two new tablets, which have the same form factor as the XO-3:

http://wp.me/pKBau-1s

[BeckyJ]

I've noticed a frequent objection for the iPad is that it doesn't have multitasking and a few other bells and whistles. Check back in July.

And let's not forget, like Apple products in general, it runs very well, without frequent issues; that will continue to be a huge plus.

[BeckyJ]

If this video is any indication the Adam has a long way to go before it offers any serious competition for the iPad:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/notion-ink-adam-stripped-bare-and-our-in-depth-video-hands-on/

[mavrothal]

Sola
you are probably right but what determines success or failure of these products is what they DO. Not what they do not do.
Also what makes or brakes a product is the software, not the hardware. Look at game consoles (unique titles), mp3 players (iTunes/AppleStore), iPhone (GUI), PCs (office and business solutions), XO-1(... )
Finally consider that 95% + of the people, including young ones, "just want to use" a computer as easily as possible and do not want to bother with what's under the hood.
But then again June is near  
 

[metal.lunchbox]

The thing that is so frightening about the ipad is this new kind of restricted computing that it creates. There may be tons of apps but they each have to be approved by apple and cannot be altered from the approved form. As well they can only be gotten from apple and there is not great clarity on what criteria will disqualify one's app. The media that one plays on the ipad is strictly controlled regardless of the wishes of its author. Circumventing these unneccesary digital right management apparatuses is a crime in the US and it is also not very easy. People should have freedom in computing, and the ipad is an unfortunate setback in this regard. I'd rather have a shiny new XO1.5

[sracer]

I've noticed a frequent objection for the iPad is that it doesn't have multitasking and a few other bells and whistles. Check back in July.

And let's not forget, like Apple products in general, it runs very well, without frequent issues; that will continue to be a huge plus.

Further investigation shows that there is multitasking, but not between multiple app store apps.  (I'll try to dig up the link with that info)

I can't see how people are comparing the iPad to tablets that are over twice the thickness, twice the weight, and are not as responsive.  I've seen quite a few hands-on videos of the iPad and it already looks amazingly responsive.  (and there's still some more work to go on them)

The winner for me is the keyboard dock.   I could use it as a tablet for powerpoint presentations (swiping the screen to advance the slides, using the virtual laser pointer, on-screen markup/drawing).  I can see using it laying flat on a podium for lecture notes.  Use the touch screen for short notes and emails... but use the keyboard dock for more extensive typing.

[sracer]

The thing that is so frightening about the ipad is this new kind of restricted computing that it creates. There may be tons of apps but they each have to be approved by apple and cannot be altered from the approved form. As well they can only be gotten from apple and there is not great clarity on what criteria will disqualify one's app. The media that one plays on the ipad is strictly controlled regardless of the wishes of its author.

I care more about the licensee (me) than the author.  The media that I purchase and convert is mine for my personal use (with the exception of DMCA regulations).  The iPad (Mac, or iPod) will not prevent me from using my media on it.

Circumventing these unneccesary digital right management apparatuses is a crime in the US and it is also not very easy.

Not exactly true.  Digital circumvention of DRM is indeed prohibited by the DMCA, but analog copies for personal use are permitted. The sad thing is that digital circumvention is dead-easy which makes DRM schemes pointless IMO.

[RoboRay]

The sad thing is that digital circumvention is dead-easy which makes DRM schemes pointless IMO.

The point of DRM and the DMCA is not to prevent you from duplicated copyrighted material...  It's to create an actual crime to charge you with, rather than a simple civil offense.

[GregYohn]

FLASH will not work on it!

NO YouTube!

We need to realize that the iPad is a large iPhone and not an iMac!

[GregYohn]

Adolf agrees with me! He just does it a bit too strongly!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/lQnT0zp8Ya4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/lQnT0zp8Ya4</a>

I credit the link from Christoph Derndorfer's tweet.

[BeckyJ]

Both Greg and Hitler can relax; the iPad plays YouTube fine (similar to the iPhone or iPod Touch) but much larger:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UNnBlMB3L84" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/UNnBlMB3L84</a>

(Starts in SJ's presentation about 14:30 into the vid)

[mavrothal]

At the end of the day, I think that what the $500 iPad and the $300 Adam is telling us, is that an $100 XO-3 a couple of years from now is entire feasible (assuming tablets will be successful in the market)

What to run on it, is a whole different story though

[sracer]

At the end of the day, I think that what the $500 iPad and the $300 Adam is telling us, is that an $100 XO-3 a couple of years from now is entire feasible (assuming tablets will be successful in the market)

What to run on it, is a whole different story though

It might be telling YOU that... but those devices are telling ME that the $100 XO-3 is even more of a pipedream.  How can anyone take the idea of a $100 XO-anything seriously? 

[mavrothal]

It might be telling YOU that... but those devices are telling ME that the $100 XO-3 is even more of a pipedream.  How can anyone take the idea of a $100 XO-anything seriously? 

Is that a "flamy" tone or I just thing so...?

Anyway. Apple has a (publicized) 39% gross profit margin. Is using an expensive screen and a big battery to support the expensive/power hungry screen for 10 hours. Has 16MB of storage and unrevealed amount of RAM. A9 ARMs just entered the market. Apple also payed for the development of both the hardware and the software. Finally we are talking a couple of years down the road.
Do the math.
As a guide see how much the first A8 smatrphones were selling for when introduced and how much 2 years later (without a service plan).
What number are coming up with?

[sracer]

It might be telling YOU that... but those devices are telling ME that the $100 XO-3 is even more of a pipedream.  How can anyone take the idea of a $100 XO-anything seriously? 

Is that a "flamy" tone or I just thing so...?

Anyway. Apple has a (publicized) 39% gross profit margin. Is using an expensive screen and a big battery to support the expensive/power hungry screen for 10 hours. Has 16MB of storage and unrevealed amount of RAM. A9 ARMs just entered the market. Apple also payed for the development of both the hardware and the software. Finally we are talking a couple of years down the road.
Do the math.
As a guide see how much the first A8 smatrphones were selling for when introduced and how much 2 years later (without a service plan).
What number are coming up with?

"flamy"?  Why?  Because my opinion disagrees with your opinion? 

Your numbers are in the hypothetical.  Any numbers that I come up with to refute your hypothetical numbers would be hypothetical as well.  I do not deal in the hypothetical.  I deal with reality.

The reality of the situation is that OLPC has never met the $100 target. (revisionists claim that OLPC never intended to reach that target)  Neither has any reputable PC maker.  Negroponte continues to move the bar further out into the future with hardware mockups that are more at home in a scifi movie than in a child's hand.

blind pie-in-the-sky optimism was one of the reasons for OLPC's lack of success... there has been an overwhelming "wishing it will make it so" attitude.  The response by the faithful has been to proclaim, "shun the unbeliever!!!"