Ebay Tipps a Story

March 14th, 2010 by touchores

    Clothing
  • 6pm: Up to 60% off Quicksilver Apparel
  • 6pm: [Clothing & Accessories] 20% to 85% off New Balance shoes and apparel at 6pm: Deals from $11 + $7 s&h
  • Lands' End: [Mens Apparel] Lands' End Men's Overstocks: Deals from $4 + free shipping
  • 6pm: New sales at 6pm: Up to 85% off Diesel apparel and shoes, more
  • Kenneth Cole : $50 Off $150 Purchase w/ Coupon FANS3
  • Shoes.com: Save 15% off Most Shoes Store-Wide

      • Computers and Electronics

    • Dell Home: Dell Inspiron 15 Intel Dual Core Laptop $399 + free shipping
    • OfficeMax: HP Pavilion dv4 14-inch Laptop $549.99 + free shipping
    • Logitech.com: Logitech Z-5 USB Omnidirectional Stereo Speakers $44.99 + free shipping
    • Best Buy : Lexmark Multifunction Wireless InkJet Printer for $59.99 + $3.99 Shipping
    • Buy.com : [Remote Control] Gyration Air Music Remote for PC for $59.99 w/ Free shipping
    • Dell : Vizio 55″ LCD 1080p HDTV for $1749 w/ Free Shipping
    • Newegg: [Computers and Electronics] Seagate Expansion 750GB Portable External Hard Drive + $20 Gift Card $109.99 Free Ship
    • Walmart: [Computers and Electronics] SHIPPING NOW – Final Fantasy XIII Game (Xbox 360, PS3) w/ $10 Gift Card $59.96
    • Superbiiz.com (eWiz.com): [Computers and Electronics] Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB Internal SATA Hard Drive $144.99 Free Ship

      • Entertainment

    • Amazon : Mass Effect 2 for PC for $29.99 w/ Free Shipping
    • Meritline : [Console Accessory] Classic Style Controller for Nintendo Wii for $9.99 w/ Free Shipping

      • Home

    • eBay: [Bed & Bath] Temperature Controlled LED Faucet Light for $5 + free shipping
    • AeroGrow: AeroGarden SpaceSaver 6 w/ Gourmet Herb Seed Kit for $39.95 + $7.95 Shipping
    • Bed Bath & Beyond : 3 Santokus Knives and Cutting Board Set for $9.99 w/ Free Shipping

      • Miscellaneous

    • REI Outlet: Save $69 off: Gregory Z22 Dayback Backpack $40
    • Amazon: Save up to 40% on Bestselling Fitness Products

    Morning Deals are purely an informational service for the readers. Consumerist receives nothing in exchange for their posting.

    If you have a tip for Morning Deals, send it to tips@consumerist.com, and be sure to put “morning deals” in the subject line.

    How To Not Get Screwed On eBay Motors, From The Horse's Mouth

    (Ed Note: The auction wizards at eBay Motors have been following the saga of McFly, the Once and Future Hyundai Owner. Because neither eBay nor Jalopnik want you to get screwed, we asked the 'Bay for some buying tips.)

    With more than three million vehicles sold on eBay Motors to date, and a car selling every minute, eBay is one of the world's largest automotive marketplaces. The site brings together a huge community of buyers and sellers every day. Where else would you go to find a Tesla Roadster, a Porschefied Subaru WRX STI, a 1952 Studebaker pickup, and a Back to the Future DeLorean, all on the same day and in the same place?

    Think about that for a second: three million sales. With turnover like that, there are bound to be anomalies like the recent Hyundai case. Still, there are protections in place on the site that help foster trust between buyers and sellers. Some of these protections are common knowledge; some aren't. To that end, here are some tips for prospective buyers:

    Do Your Homework

    1. Know what you're purchasing. We recommend seeing the car in person, but even so, rolled odometers or past accidents often hide under a veneer of shiny paint. That's why eBay offers free vehicle history reports on every eligible car and truck listing. We also highly recommend having an unbiased professional check out the car. If necessary, the site can faciliate such a check-out.

    2. Know who you're dealing with. One of the best tools for eBay users is the feedback reputation system. It's basically a seller's rap sheet, and it allows buyers to avoid a scene from The Goods by viewing ratings and comments on the history of a potential seller. (Tip: If the dude is wearing a plaid blazer and wants you to check out his excellent Thundercougarfalconbird, he probably shouldn't be trusted.)

    3. Communicate with the seller. Contacting the seller through the eBay Motors platform before bidding is one of the best ways to avoid sticky situations. Sellers should be prepared to answer questions and be up front about the vehicle's cosmetic and mechanical condition. (If not, the vehicle history report will probably narc on them anyway.)

    4. Grab the title. It's always a good idea to see a copy of the vehicle's title before committing to a purchase. If the title has Wite-Out on it, run screaming.

    5. Use common sense. This is perhaps the most important tip. Don't get carried away by wishful thinking or passion — no matter what the car is, another example will eventually come along, and not buying something hurts a lot less than losing thousands of dollars. Basically, you just need to use common sense — if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. (That rocket-powered, $1500-Buy-It-Now Jaguar D-Type that Steve McQueen once owned and flew to the moon in? Probably not real.) Use good sense and patience to sniff out any potential problems.

    Protect Yourself

    1. Never use Western Union, MoneyGram, or any other instant cash-transfer method to pay for a vehicle. This sort of thing is cool if you're buying a SlapChop (or in for a Cash4Gold transaction), but not with a car. If you decide to pay in cash, do so in person, and be sure to get a written record of your transaction. (Also, bring a friend that works out. When it comes to transaction security, too much muscle is never enough.)

    2. Check to see if the vehicle you want to buy is covered by the eBay Motors Vehicle Purchase Protection Plan. You can find out in the “Buy Safely” section of the listing. Most vehicles are covered, and those eligible are protected for up to $50,000. (In order to be covered by the plan, eligible transactions must be made on the eBay Motors platform. In other words, if you found a car on eBay and purchased it in some other manner — say, going to the seller's house and offering him a briefcase of unmarked bills before the auction end — it doesn't count.)

    These tips aren't a guarantee, but keeping them in mind will go a long way toward assuring a trustworthy, legitimate transaction on eBay. Happy bidding!


    Image Credits: XKCD, Demotivateus

    The author of this post can be contacted at tips@jalopnik.com

    If you’ve been using the Internet, and specifically email, for any length of time, then by now you’re most likely aware of most of the common email scams that exist online. Dean covered the five most common email scams, so if you aren’t familiar with them, then please take the time to read his thorough article.

    Beyond just basic email scams, there are other methods that scammers use to defraud people of their money through the Internet. Today, I would like to examine five additional Internet scams that are very commonplace, but unfortunately not quite as many people are aware of them.

    These are scams that trip up the most people every year and lead to a substantial financial loss. Take the time to read through and understand these scams so that you never find yourself a victim of them.

    Nigerian Scams Revisited

    I remember watching a documentary a few years ago that detailed how scammers, usually located in third world countries, set up computer clusters connected to the Internet and send out thousands of Nigerian scam emails every day.

    The name of the scam comes from the original form of this scam, which consisted of emails outlining a situation in Nigeria that required a massive transfer of money from that country into the United States for safety. For assisting with the money transfer, the recipient of the email is promised a percentage of the transfer amount, usually totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to a few million.

    Once this came became widely known, it immediately evolved and continues to evolve even today. It now takes a very wide variety of forms including the elderly sick person looking to transfer their entire estate into your bank account.

    Then there is one of my personal favorites, the young woman in danger who is seeking a savior to help her – and of course she has a very large sum of money to offer as a reward. Here is an email from “Miss Diana” of West Africa, who has a DC worth $5.9 million, and is seeking to escape her country and live in the United States.

    The scammers put together storylines and plots that appeal to the basic human emotions of greed, goodwill and love. In some cases they almost always reference God in some way – in an effort to appeal to western Christian values. In the end, the many variations of the Nigerian scam end in only one place if you offer up any of your contact information or, even worse, your bank account information – an empty bank account.

    Scammed By A Counterfeit Website

    The second most common Internet scam is email phishing. Dean mentioned this in his article (fake links in emails to banks or Paypal), and MUO covered SonicWALL, which can detect phishing emails. However, did you know that even if you don’t click on a fake link and you follow the advice to type in your bank or Paypal’s URL directly into the browser, that the site could still be counterfeit?

    It’s true. If you visit the wrong website or download the wrong file from an infected email attachment, you could end up with malware on your PC that specifically targets a browser security flaw. Internet Explorer seems to be the most vulnerable to these. The Malware basically re-routes your browser URL query to a different page than the domain that you typed in.

    Because the scammer has altered the DNS settings for a specific website or hijacks your browser, it’s very hard to realize that you’re actually visiting a counterfeit version of the site you intended to visit. How do you prevent such a scenario from happening to you?

    First, run MalwareBytes religiously. Second, keep your browser fully patched and updated. And finally, be vigilant about anything on the website that seems a bit odd. Thankfully, most major banks are catching on to this problem and are starting to incorporate a unique image of your choosing into the login process. Each time you log in, the website asks you to confirm the image. If the website doesn’t ask you to confirm, or it’s the wrong image, then you know you may be visiting a counterfeit site.

    Three Major eBay Scams

    While the Nigerian scams and phishing emails with fake links are the two most common Internet scams, the popularity of eBay over the past decade has led to another whole family of Internet scams. There are three significant scams that you should be aware of if you’re an eBay user. The first is a scam that targets eBay sellers, and it involves the scam artist obtaining a matching broken item that’s identical to the item that you’re selling. Often, such scam artists will actually purchase one right off eBay that’s in need of repairs or otherwise has some damage to it at a fraction of the cost of a new one.

    Then they will purchase your identical item, which is in perfect condition. They’ll make payment to you, receive your item, and then email you to say that the item was damaged in shipment. Often, they’ll threaten to give you negative feedback (a hard thing to deal with as an eBay seller). Many sellers simply cave and send a full refund, and the scammer returns the damaged item, keeping the working item for themselves.

    Protect yourself from this scam by either requiring your buyers to purchase shipping insurance, or doing what the seller in the above example did and put in writing that all sales are final, and no returns are accepted.

    The insurance option is the best approach because it removes all liability from you as the seller. If the buyer claims that the device was damaged in shipment, it’s up to them to prove it to the postal service, and face fraud charges if they are found lying.

    The second common eBay scam is the Auto Scam. The Motors section of eBay is a bustling auto marketplace where huge volumes of sales take place every day. Unfortunately, because these are big ticket items, and because the financial transactions on eBay are not very secure for buyers, the marketplace is very attractive to con artists.

    The con is very simple. First, they list a very popular big-ticket auto that they actually don’t even have. Sometimes they’ll even just steal photos from other listings.

    Now, I don’t know if the listing above is authentic or not, but I offer the listing as an example of how much money is at stake. If you really want this car and you don’t live near enough to inspect it, you might be willing to cough up payment, or even a partial payment, at the end of the sale. Don’t do it. There are far too many examples where people have sent in a significant chunk of change, and the seller simply disappeared without a trace. Never bid on an auto on eBay Motors unless an on-site inspection by you or a third party on your behalf is agreed upon.

    The last eBay scam is shown above. As a seller, you’ll get used to notifications from eBay, and sometimes it’s easy to assume they’re all authentic. Scammers will scour completed eBay sales and then send these fraudulent emails to the seller, as though it’s from eBay’s automated system. The goal of the email is to get you to click on the link and log into your eBay account. The moment you do – your eBay account and all financial information contained therein, is compromised.

    Have you ever been “taken in” by an Internet scam? Do you know of any other popular Internet fraud or scams that are floating around out there? Let readers know in the comments section below.

    We think ebay tipps could help you!

    Torrents on isoHunt are indexed and cached from hundreds of sites, and enhanced by aggregating identical torrents from multiple sites to give you torrents that are always updated with the latest active trackers, so your BitTorrent client can find the most peers to download with.

    Tip: On dead torrents you find elsewhere, you can search for its info_hash here (40 characters string), which gives you the same torrent with oftentimes more trackers and peers to bring your torrent back to life.Hey guys,

    Don't you hate it when you write a whole message here, then ebay has an error when you click 'Post Message', and you lose all that you have written? AHH. Always copy and paste your writing as a backup! Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest. Not sure if I can write this again at 1am. Well, here's the short of it…

    A couple months ago, I was welcomed by ebay as a Bronze Powerseller. On my last invoice, I received a 15% discount. This past month, my 3-month sales have briefly dipped to $2,600, but will soon go beyond the $3,000 mark again in the coming week. I am still a Bronze Powerseller, but on this month's invoice, I did not receive a discount. Shouldn't I still receive the discount if my Powerseller status has not been revoked during a short decline in sales?

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    Gute Nacht Spruch :-)

    March 4th, 2010 by touchores

    Ich bin Klein mein Herz ist rein,
    mein Popo ist schmutzig.
    Ist das nicht putzig!

    Im Augenblick des Zusammenkommens beginnt die Trennung.

    Je stärker die Bindung, desto heftiger der Ruck, wenn sie reißt.

    Mögen die Scharniere unserer Freundschaft nie rostig werden,
    möge die Fallstricke des Bösen
    nie um deine Türschwelle gespannt sein,
    möge dein Geschirr so zahlreich sein,
    dass du immer einen Teller für einen hungrigen Gast hast.

    Mögest du immer einen Freund an deiner Seite haben,
    der dir Vertrauen gibt,
    wenn es dir an Licht und Kraft gebricht.

    Tags: , ,
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    Sprüche zum Nachdenken

    February 28th, 2010 by touchores

    Und hier eine Menge Sprüche zum Nachdenken

    Alles hat sein Für und Wieder.

    Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben.

    Besser spät als nie!

    Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.

    Ein gutes Gewissen ist ein sanftes Ruhekissen

    Frisch gewagt, ist halb gewonnen.

    Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall

    Jedes Ding hat seine zwei Seiten.

    Kleinvieh macht auch Mist

    Lange Rede, kurzer Sinn.

    Süße Träume wünsch ich Dir, wieso bist Du nicht bei mir? Meine Augen fallen zu, mein letzter Gedanke, der bist Du!

    Siehst Du die Sterne, sie rappen nur für Dich. Ich Liebe nur Dich, wenn ich im Bett liege, träume ich, wie Du neben mir liegst.

    Wenn du Nachts zum Himmel schaust und Dir dort ein Sternchen klaust, küss es lieb und denk an mich, denn dieses sternchen, das bin ich.

    Ich könnte 1000 schöne Träume träumen, doch sie wären alle nicht die meinen. Ich mag alle nicht, denn Du bist in keinem! Du hast es mir nicht leicht gemacht, doch jetzt wünsch ich Dir eine gute Nacht! Süße Träume wünsch ich Dir!

    Ein kleiner Fratz aus weiter Ferne schenkt Dir eine Hand voll Sterne, wünscht Dir eine gute Nacht, bis das Morgenland erwacht!

    Leise liege ich in meinem Bett und denk an Dich. Siehst Du da draußen den kleinen Stern, der sagt Dir leise, ich habe Dich sehr gern! Sage Dir hier ganz still gute Nacht!

    Tags:
    Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

    Coffee

    February 28th, 2010 by touchores

    Nothing is better then a fine kaffee

    Tired of hearing about the Tea Parties? WaPo introduces the “Coffee Party”, which aims to “promote civility and inclusiveness in political discourse, engage the government not as an enemy but as the collective will of the people, push leaders to enact the progressive change for which 52.9 percent of the country voted in 2008.”
    All fine. But where’s the liquor-based political discussion group?

    How to make banananut coffee cake

    Most would agree that our Government hasn't been doing much to endear themselves to their constituents for quite some time. In response fringe and not so fringe groups have been sprouting up all over the place, the biggest of course being the Tea Party movement.

    But say you are someone that is not happy with the way our government is being run but don't want to necessarily be associated with the Tea Party lunatic fringe, the leader of which can't even spell his racial slurs? There is a new group that might meet your need to express your displeasure, The Coffee Party.

    It all started with documentary filmmaker Annabel Park venting her frustrations on her Facebook page about media coverage that made it seem that the Tea Parties were representative of the “real America.” She vehemently disagreed and her comments on Facebook got a lot of feedback from people who similarly felt pent-up and frustrated.

    Their name the “Coffee Party” directly references the Tea Party movement and presents itself as an alternative. Park argues elected officials who represent us should work towards positive solutions to the problems the country faces instead of adopting obstructionist political tactics that play on peoples’ fears and which are driven by deliberate misinformation.

    The Coffee Party is currently organizing nationwide. It is stressing the message that its members are voters who intend to hold elected officials accountable to holding up progress. Its members will participate and be engaged in the political process.

    In addition, the Coffee Party values diversity, is, itself, diverse and completely comfortable with the changing ethnic demographics of the US. Park argues that politicians are exploiting the anxieties people feel regarding these changing demographics for political gain and that it is wrong.

    (Coffee Party USA)

    Vermont-based Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is no stranger to community service. Like many other coffee companies that trade directly with coffee growers and their cooperatives, they have championed a number of initiatives to better the lives of those coffee farmers who make it possible for the business to exist. Thus, it’s no real surprise to see that the organization is one of many specialty coffee companies that have contributed more than $25,000 to Grounds for Health, a Waterbury, VT based organization that has been taking on the problem of women’s health since the mid-1990s.

    Grounds for Health was founded by members of the specialty coffee industry who traded with farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico. In the course of the relationships that they developed with farmers and others in the small mountain communities, they learned that women in rural Oaxaca suffer much higher rates of cervical and breast cancer than women in the United States. Part of the reason, they learned, is the lack of access to routine health care and cancer screening.

    Thus was born Grounds for Health, a volunteer organization that provides cancer screening services to towns in Mexico, Central America and, most recently, Tanzania. Funded in large part by members of the specialty coffee industry, the program makes use of the networks created by coffee cooperatives to reach women in far-flung rural areas with medical services. According to the Grounds for Health web site:

    In many countries where coffee is grown, cervical cancer rates are among the highest in the world. However, this disease is both preventable and, when caught early, one of the most treatable cancers.

    Our mission is to bring effective cervical cancer screening and treatment to women in coffee-growing communities. We currently work in Mexico, Central America and Tanzania. We use an innovative, affordable and community-appropriate method called the Single Visit Screen & Treat Approach, which has been endorsed by the World Health Organization.

    Our work is made possible through partnerships with local coffee co-operatives, national and regional ministries of health, and specialty coffee companies. These partnerships have made it possible for us to bring better and sustainable health care to women in coffee-growing communities.

    To maximize donations to the cause, Grounds for Health operates on a volunteer basis. With the exception of the office staff, everyone associated with Grounds for Health is a volunteer. Those volunteers include doctors and other health care providers who travel to the coffee growing regions to provide the screening and health care services. The services are provided in a one-stop treatment campaign as much as possible to maximize the probability that the needed medical procedures will be carried out.

    The ultimate goal for each area with which Grounds for Health works is for the area to eventually be able to manage the health care services themselves. This is what happened in Huatasco, Mexico, where Grounds for Health worked for eight years and helped establish a dysplasia clinic and ongoing screening center for the women in the area.

    For more information about supporting Grounds for Health – including information about the Specialty Coffee Auction that raised over $100,000 for the organization last winter – visit the Grounds for Health web site at http://www.groundsforhealth.org.

    Coffee Liqueur Cookies

    2 eggs
    2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals
    2 tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur
    1 cup butter or margarine, softened
    3/4 cup packed brown sugar
    1 cup granulated sugar
    2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

    Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).

    In a small bowl, dissolve instant coffee crystals into the coffee liqueur; set aside.

    In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Gradually add eggs and coffee mixture while mixing.

    Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.

    Drop dough by rounded tablespoonsful onto a cookie sheet. Cookies should be at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes. Immediately transfer cookies to cooling rack after baking. These keep well at room temperature or refrigerated.

    Makes 3 dozen.

    Washington Post:

    Furious at the tempest over the Tea Party — the scattershot citizen uprising against big government and wild spending — Annabel Park did what any American does when she feels her voice has been drowned out: She squeezed her anger into a Facebook status update.

    let's start a coffee party . . . smoothie party. red bull party. anything but tea. geez. ooh how about cappuccino party? that would really piss 'em off bec it sounds elitist . . . let's get together and drink cappuccino and have real political dialogue with substance and compassion.

    Read the whole story: Washington Post


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    Twitter, Facebook, and Google Buzz!

    music is like coffee to my senses by alvin lamucho ©

    Tags:
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    Ebay a Story

    February 26th, 2010 by touchores

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    Sprüche

    February 25th, 2010 by touchores

    Alles hat sein Für und Wieder.

    Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben.

    Besser spät als nie!

    Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.

    Ein gutes Gewissen ist ein sanftes Ruhekissen

    Frisch gewagt, ist halb gewonnen.

    Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall

    Jedes Ding hat seine zwei Seiten.

    Kleinvieh macht auch Mist

    Lange Rede, kurzer Sinn.

    Süße Träume wünsch ich Dir, wieso bist Du nicht bei mir? Meine Augen fallen zu, mein letzter Gedanke, der bist Du!

    Siehst Du die Sterne, sie rappen nur für Dich. Ich Liebe nur Dich, wenn ich im Bett liege, träume ich, wie Du neben mir liegst.

    Wenn du Nachts zum Himmel schaust und Dir dort ein Sternchen klaust, küss es lieb und denk an mich, denn dieses sternchen, das bin ich.

    Ich könnte 1000 schöne Träume träumen, doch sie wären alle nicht die meinen. Ich mag alle nicht, denn Du bist in keinem! Du hast es mir nicht leicht gemacht, doch jetzt wünsch ich Dir eine gute Nacht! Süße Träume wünsch ich Dir!

    Ein kleiner Fratz aus weiter Ferne schenkt Dir eine Hand voll Sterne, wünscht Dir eine gute Nacht, bis das Morgenland erwacht!

    Leise liege ich in meinem Bett und denk an Dich. Siehst Du da draußen den kleinen Stern, der sagt Dir leise, ich habe Dich sehr gern! Sage Dir hier ganz still gute Nacht!

    Tags:
    Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

    iPhone Rewies again

    February 24th, 2010 by touchores

    This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

    Now that the dust has settled and we know what the Apple iPadApple Ipad is, many people have begun trying to answer the question, “How can I justify spending the money to get one of these things?” There is certainly no denying that the iPad is a very cool looking device, but as a small business owner, do you really need one? And what about netbooks? Apple CEO Steve Jobs claims that the new iPad fills a niche for which netbooks were failing to deliver, but is that really true for business users?

    Here, then, are reasons why you should go out and buy an iPad as soon as they’re available, and reasons why you shouldn’t.

    Why You Need One

    There are many reasons why small business owners could justify purchasing an Apple iPad. Though clearly aimed at casual users and touted primarily for couch web surfing and multimedia consumption, the iPad also has plenty of potential business uses. By creating a special iPad optimized edition of iWorkiWork ‘09, Apple’s productivity suite, Apple also clearly sees the iPad’s business potential. Their ultra-competitive announced price of just $9.99 for the app indicates that Apple plans to aggressively court business users, even if that is not necessarily their core customer.

    Essentially, the iPad is a big iPod touch that in theory provides a better typing experience (by virtue of its larger onscreen keyboard). Because the iPad will run any of the 140,000 iPhone/iPod apps right out of the box, any business use you already have for your iPod touch or iPhone (except making phone calls) will be available to you on the iPad — but bigger. With that in mind, the iPad could certainly become an asset to sales people who make presentations on the road (what’s more impressive — clicking through PowerPoint slides or manipulating product demos and data visualizations with your fingers?) or anyone who needs to easily monitor core business functions (server health, web site traffic stats, sales indicators, financial numbers, etc.) from the road using a relatively cheap and compact device.

    Why You Don’t

    What the iPad isn’t, however, is a replacement for your desktop or laptop computer. There are many features missing from the iPad, but two in particular could be deal breakers for serious small business users.

    First, the iPad lacks a standard USB port. There will almost certainly be aftermarket accessories available to add USB support to the tablet, but the bottom line is that using the USB devices you already own, such as memory sticks and external hard drives, will not be easy or even possible with the iPad out of the box.

    Second, and more egregious, the iPad, like the iPhone and iPod touch, currently lacks the ability to multitask. For Apple’s apparent target consumer — users who will use the iPad for casual web surfing, to watch movies, and to play games — not being able to run more than one program at the same time isn’t likely a big deal. But for business users, that’s a major setback. If you’re putting together a presentation or writing up a sales report, you need the ability to be able to refer to a web page or data locked in some other application while you work. For that reason alone, the iPad in its current form is not an ideal business machine.

    What About Netbooks?

    For about half the price of an iPad you could buy a very capable netbook (some come even cheaper when subsidized by a 3G data plan subscription). According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, “netbooks aren’t better at anything.” But in many ways, a $299 netbook outshines the $499 iPad, especially for business users. If what you’re after is a machine that offers extreme portability and business critical features for a low price, a netbook might be a better option.

    Netbooks have a number of advantages over the iPad. They multitask, they often have cameras (for video conferencing), they can generally run WindowsWindows (meaning they run Microsoft Office and Outlook), they support an open software ecosystem (meaning more choice and the ability to easily custom develop and deploy software for your organization), and they have standard ports and inputs. While they can’t match the iPad for cool factor, as far as business functionality, netbooks pack a lot of bang for the buck.

    So which should you buy? That will come down to what type of device you need and its intended use. The iPad, however, is not a must-have purchase for all small business owners — at least, not in its first generation.

    More business resources from Mashable:

    - How Social Media Helps One Small Business Connect with Fans
    – Social Media Marketing: How Pepsi Got It Right
    – HOW TO: Take Advantage of Social Media in Your E-mail Marketing
    – HOW TO: Implement a Social Media Business Strategy
    – The 10 Stages of Social Media Business Integration
    – HOW TO: Use Social Media to Connect with Other Entrepreneurs

    Comments

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    1. Um, Leadsexplorer, GE, GE, Maytag, Frigidaire. No Samsung in my kitchen. unless you know something I don't know.

      Does anybody else think this whole Internet of Things idea could be really freaking annoying? Anybody have a 100% bug-free piece of electronics?

      Even a Mac crashes sometimes.

      Posted by: BmoreKarl |
      February 23, 2010 6:13 AM

    2. Please can people stop writing articles which appear pathetically desperate to find a use for the iPad.
      “the iPad may well become”
      “The iPad could be that device”
      “the iPad may become”
      “the iPad may well become”
      “The iPad may well become “

      This reader is so very bored. This could have been an interesting piece about future home connectivity, but instead focuses on Apple's latests product push.

      Is there nothing else worth reporting on/writing about?! Sorry RWW, but this piece has just tipped me over the edge!

      Posted by: Tom |
      February 23, 2010 6:41 AM

    3. If we're talking straight up convenience I would rather keep a phone in my pocket than lug around a tablet all day.

      Life needs less devices, not more.

      Posted by: Smith |
      February 23, 2010 8:18 AM

    4. People say things like:

      “the iPad may well become”
      “The iPad could be that device”
      “the iPad may become”
      “the iPad may well become”
      “The iPad may well become “

      Because they see the potential in the iPad. What other tablet out there now or forthcoming has the hype of Apple behind it, the iTunes and App stores to get and keep customers returning, partnerships with the NYT, Hulu, etc. It's a true statement, the iPad COULD become _______.

      It's going to do well, and other tablets won't go out of business, but to not see its unique potential is not taking a look at the bigger picture.

      http://iPadLot.com

      Posted by: Fretboard |
      February 23, 2010 8:36 AM

    5. Um, I just cannot see people moving about in the house with an iPad tucked under their arms. If you open the fridge you usually have something in your hand (or will, when you close the door). Would you risk the iPad slipping out from under your arm and hitting the hard kitchen floor? I cannot. When I open the fridge I have both hands free, with my iPod securely in one of my pockets.

      Posted by: Juergen |
      February 23, 2010 8:47 AM

    6. @BmoreKarl In Europe and Asia-Pacific the Samsung brand is omnipresent in retail stores both white and brown goods (and mobiles). Maybe not yet in US.

      Now Samsung has also their Appstore that should have the same application for both your Smartphone and your TV-set.

      Getting the Appstore to the fridge is just one step beyond.
      This is feasible for Samsung as they supply all the goods, appliance, and devices themselves.

      Posted by: LEADSExplorer |
      February 23, 2010 9:21 AM

    7. Amazing idea to use ipad in the future.

       Posted by: Min |
      February 23, 2010 9:30 AM

    8. The iPad won't do that without multi-tasking

      Posted by: Mike |
      February 23, 2010 10:15 AM

    9. It would be silly to use the iPad for the purposes mentioned in this article when the iPhone would be much better suited for them. The iPhone is small and portable, can be slipped into a pocket or attached to the belt-loop with a case, and is actually better ruggedized for randomly bopping around the house. Does the author really think that people going to the fridge are going to lug a large tablet when they need both hands free? Come on. This article is really thoughtless.

      Posted by: Jim |
      February 23, 2010 10:33 AM

    10. I don't see too many people walking around their home with their “trusty iPad tucked under their arm”.

      Surely something that fits in your pocket, e.g. an iPhone, would be much more practical for the purposes explained here?

      We've explored the possibilities of internet-enabled appliances ever since the internet became ubiquitous, and yet this domestic interconnectedness has never really taken off. I don't think the advent of the iPad will be the tipping point.

      This comic I read this morning is rather pertinent.

      Posted by: Dan |
      February 23, 2010 10:37 AM

    11. Jim, Dan,

      Well the iPhone may be used for these purposes too, but as a larger device the iPad has more utility. The iPhone is a bit too pokey to be used as the connector device envisaged, whereas a laptop is a bit too bulky. The iPad is in-between and so it may be just right.

      And re “Does the author really think that people going to the fridge are going to lug a large tablet when they need both hands free?”

      -> er, no. As I wrote in the scenario, the iPad would be placed on the kitchen bench or somewhere. Before (anonymously) accusing the post of being “thoughtless,” why not read the words first.

       Posted by: Richard MacManus |
      February 23, 2010 11:01 AM

    12. I see where you're going with this, but I've felt that Android (or I guess Chrome OS) is a better platform for these types of applications. I understand that the touchscreen and interaction model with the iPad is why you would mention it though. I can't for the life of me understand why car companies wouldn't replace their terrible UI's like maps, navigation, contacts, etc. with apps built on a platform like Android. It would be a far better user experience.

      Posted by: Mark R. |
      February 23, 2010 11:57 AM

    13. wow, this article was written by someone from Apple's Marketing Department. To non-Apple fanbois, the vast majority of Apple trinkets are overhyped and overpriced. There's already a device that alot of people carry around with them around the house, it's their netbook- it's better than the iPad. In the future, if people prefer slates, they'll get more capable ones rather than this Apple iToy

      Posted by: tim |
      February 23, 2010 12:58 PM

    14. I think iPad would not stay longer as number of other competitors would through quite smart machines, one example can be refined version of 6thSense.

      Posted by: nitGreen |
      February 23, 2010 1:31 PM

    15. The Apple fan club has erased our comment about Samsung and all it's appliances / devices.
      Stupidly the Apple fan club forgot to erase the reply comment from someone else.
      Seems conversations are prohibited if Apple is present.

      Posted by: LEADSExplorer |
      February 23, 2010 1:36 PM

    16. @LEADSExplorer – Apply fanboyism? Hardly.

      We deleted your comment because it looked suspiciously like spam. You don't use a real name, and you link to a lead-gen site.

      I suggest you start using a more appropriate handle for RWW comments so this doesn't happen in the future.

       Posted by: Jolie O'Dell |
      February 23, 2010 2:09 PM

    17. Ah, great minds think alike!

      I posted on this a while back (see http://blog.davidjeade.com/2010/02/on-the-ipad-the-ultimate-fridge-magnet/).

      The iPad for me really is about a different market, I call it 'the market of my mum'! A device open enough to enable multiple, as yet un-imagined outcomes, yet familiar enough to engender trust.

      I'm not an Apple groupie – but I do think their 'build a platform and the apps will come' model is spot on.

      Dave

      Posted by: David J Eade |
      February 23, 2010 2:48 PM

    18. @LEADSExplorer, I actually thought your comment was valid and your website seems ok to me, so I'm going to disagree on this occasion with my esteemed colleague and reinstate your comment. Apologies.

      Re the Apple fanboy complaints, well it may well be I am favoring the iPad over netbooks. I just think Apple has proven time and again that they can break open a previously uncracked mass market. They did it with the iPod (music), again with iPhone (mobile) and I think they will do it again with iPad (tablets).

       Posted by: Richard MacManus |
      February 23, 2010 5:14 PM

    19. Can you really write that we'll walk around the house with an iPad tucked under our arm while keeping a straight face? Doesn't this sound the slightest bit ludicrous?

      Posted by: David Berkowitz |
      February 23, 2010 8:14 PM

    20. I agree David. My crazy thought (see link in my comment above) is that somebody design a magnetic iPad cover to enable the iPad to be a fridge magnet.

      I know. Inspired ;)

      Posted by: David Eade |
      February 23, 2010 8:24 PM

    21. Richard, I did in fact read your words, which were:

      “Adam Greenfield explained to me that the iPad may become the kind of device that people carry around with them everywhere inside the house, from the lounge to the bedroom to the kitchen.”

      But if your response to my comment is that people are going to leave their iPads sitting around in the kitchen all day waiting for the fridge to nag them, I will go ahead and call that silly, too.

      Also, my criticism was not anonymous to you, as you require an email address to comment.

      Posted by: Jim |
      February 23, 2010 10:12 PM

    22. I confidently predict success of the iPad will hinge on other than whether or not it is worn around the house tucked under their arm.
      I can also imagine a couple of scenarios in which having an iPad would be an advantage. Somewhere between my deskbound iMac and helpful but limited iPhone.

      Posted by: Roger Murdock |
      February 23, 2010 11:07 PM

    23. @Richard MacManus apologies accepted – no problem.
      @Jolie O'Dell please note we have posted many more comments since many years.

      Posted by: LEADSExplorer |
      February 24, 2010 2:28 AM

      24. @brown like dookie

      You people have the wrong idea of what the iPad is.

      The iPad is not a touchscreen macbook. Neither did Apple say it was.

      The iPad is a netbook replacement. Let's compare it to what Apple says it's trying to replace and not compare it to our fantasy of what it should be. Let's compare it to what's considered one of the best netbooks out there, the Asus Eee PC 1000HE.

      Yes, the iPad has limitations when compared to the netbook. However, the same can be said about the limitations of the netbook when compared to the iPad.

      The question then becomes, which one would you prefer after you have considered the pros and cons of both.

      Speed
      Netbooks run slowly because the applications were designed for more powerful computers. That's what will make the iPad better that a netbook. The apps will be created specifically for this form factor and application will run faster.

      Netbook apps will have to be re-writen for the netbook like Apple re-wrote iWork for the iPad. That's the only way the netbook will catchup to the iPad in speed. Yes Android will copy the iPad and create an appstore for touchsreen tablets and you will praise it for being open source.

      Internet connection cost
      Netbooks are used for the internet but the price of connectivity over 3G is double that of the iPad. Your $60/month netbook / laptop connection fee will cost you $360 more that the iPad every year. And there is no free wifi for you from the nations largest wifi hotspot provider.

      Finger touch screen
      As far as I know the iPad will the the first finger touch netbook like device on the market.

      Third party apps
      As far as I know the it'll have the most apps designed specially for a netbook like device with a finger touch screen.

      Size and wight
      As far as I know it'll be the thinnest and lightest

      Design
      As far as I can tell it looks better than any of the proposed finger touch tablet prototypes

      No the iPad doesn't have Flash, or multitasking, or a webcam and no drag and drop file management.

      Question is do these limitations justify paying $360 more every year for your connection fees, enduring the slow speed of netbooks and walking around with a bulkier, ugly device with no finger touch screen?

      This is what the debate should be about. Not about your fantasy or what the rumors said it would do, but what Apples says it is trying to do – which is replace the netbook.

    Tags:
    Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

    Mein niedlicher Flohzirkus

    February 23rd, 2010 by touchores

    Ich weiss noch an die Zeit wie unser Hund noch mini war.
    Das Hundebett war vor andertalb Jahren noch
    viel zu riesig für unseren WauWau.
    Das praktische war, das wir das Hundekissen einfach abwischen
    konnten, wenn wir mal nicht schnell genug mit unserem Hund draußen waren.
    Das waren schon wilde Zeiten.

    Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

    iPhone Storys again

    February 21st, 2010 by touchores

    That Time Of The Month: The Best Period-Related iPad Jokes

    Apple's iPad announcement earlier this afternoon prompted a score of WTFing across the internet, prompting many to ask, “Are there any women on Apple's marketing team?” Answer: Apparently not. (Period.)

    From Twitter (for what it's worth, #iTampon is apparently the number three trending topic on the site.):

    tjakabon: “It surfs the web AND stops the bleeding.”

    Gelatobaby: And you can use the giant QWERTY keyboard to get your period on the #iPad!

    CarolBlymire: Is #apple making an iPad for light-flow days? Just wondering…

    Trish1981: iPad? Really? All I can say is, I'm sticking with Always, bitches.

    tremendousnews: So I can say “That chick is on her iPad” and not be called a pig? Thank you Apple.

    melissapierce: iPad has changed “the conversation” from how we use tech in context to how we use tech as Kotex. (who named this thing?)

    TwittsMcGee: I haven't heard this many period jokes since I was forced to watch The View last month. #iPad

    kathycacace: Okay, just one more. The iPad: protecting your data from embarrassing incidents.

    Johnpapa: “64 gig iPad will forever be known as the heavy flow model.”

    From the comments section of “Period Pieces”:

    lady_justice: Did the prototype come with a belt?

    Lymed: Does the Period Tracker app come free?

    fauxfruit: If I order this, will my boyfriend and I have to worry if it comes late?

    andBegorrah: If you and your friends all buy one, will they sync up?

    boston_nj: Meh. I'll wait until they come out with the iDivaCup

    morninggloria: Don't wear white jeans while using an iPad, and especially don't use an iPad in front of your crush. You're a teen magazine embarrassing moment waiting to happen.

    ms negative the easy-going unicorn: someone needs to make a 'mysterious blue liquid stain on white' wallpaper for this.

    LilSpitfire: Later in the year they will be releasing the companion tablet pen, the Ipon.

    Vesuvius At Home (I believe in peace, bitch): But what if the cute boys see me shopping for one? What if my dad has to take me??

    NellMood: It's so beautiful when an electronics company finally becomes a woman…

    Cinnamoncanuck: @NellMood: Aunt Flo will be so happy! Reply

    soykatrina: Eh, I prefer the CVS brand. A few bucks less but does the same thing…

    vlvtjones: So will iffy Wifi coverage be called iSpotting?

    morninggloria: Can I get a scented iPad for when my data feels not-so-fresh?

    Mary McCarthyite: Everyone, just try to Stay(free) calm and Poise(d). It's Always nice to see a new product on the market. I Depend on Apple to come up with great ideas. Maybe we're taking this out of Kotex.

    Lymed: Somebody give the iPad a Red Bull, because it ain't no good without wings.

    andBegorrah: Are you there, God? It's me, Marketing.

    NellMood: iPads are for 8th graders. I'm waiting for the iTampon, because I prefer to do all my interneting from inside my vagina.

    BicSharpie: Hopefully it will help people deal with the 24-hour news cycle.

    (Image Credit: Brad Stephenson)

    Earlier: 8 Reasons Women Should Be Excited For Apple's “iPad”

    Related: Apple's iPad Name Not the First Choice for Women. Period. [Fast Company]

    Send an email to Latoya, the author of this post, at latoya@racialicious.com.

    Game Developers See Potential, Not Gold Rush in Apple's iPad

    On its surface, Apple's iPad may seem like a glorified e-book reader, but developers working on games for the system say they see within its extra-large screen and faster processor, great gaming potential.

    “Our creative teams are really just digging in and brainstorming ideas that the power and specs of the iPad might bring to life,” said Andrew Stein, director of mobile platforms for PopCap games, maker of Bejeweled and Peggle. “Nobody could have anticipated the huge blossoming of creativity engendered by the iPhone and iPod Touch and I think the iPad could easily take this to the next level.”

    The iPad is essentially an over-sized iPod Touch. The device features a 9.7-inch re-engineered multi-touch screen, a 1Ghz processor and 16GB to 64GB of storage. The device will be available either with WiFi only support or with the ability to connect to the Internet through a 3G AT&T cell service. The iPad, which hits this March, will sell for $500 to $830.

    Game developers looking to support the new device have two ways of doing so. Because the iPad will run the same sort of operating system as the iPhone and iPod Touch, it can also run the same apps built for those devices. But those apps will either have to run at their original, smaller size, or lose a bit of fidelity when they are artificially enlarged. Developers could also decide to develop games specifically for the device or to develop a higher-resolution version of their iPhone or iPod Touch games for the iPad.

    Firemint, which has a community of 6 million people playing their games Flight Control and Real Racing GTI, say they are already working on an “enhanced for iPad” version of Flight Control.

    “We want to do more than just up-size the art assets to the higher resolution,” said Alexandra Peters, Firemint's community manager. “When we design a game we always think about the fundamental and unique qualities of the platform and how we can best work with those.”

    But, Peters says, they can't forget that there are 75 million people with the iPhone and iPod Touch and currently zero with the iPad.

    “We wouldn't be surprised if people line up at Apple stores around the world on the day iPad is released but even so, there's a logistical limit to how quickly devices can be manufactured and sold, so it will take a while for the iPad installed base to ramp up,” she said.

    PopCap, despite its exuberance for the iPad and successes with the iPhone and iPod Touch, haven't yet announced any games for Apple's latest bit of gadgetry.

    “Apple has a tough act to follow in the iPhone and iPod touch – they really rewrote the book on portable gaming with those devices,” Stein said. “From a technical spec, the iPad looks like it could be a phenomenal gaming machine and I would expect games to be the leading revenue category of apps. Commercially, the iPad is in an interesting niche and we'll have to see if Apple has hit another home run a la iPod and iPhone.”

    The team behind one of the iPhone's most talked about gaming success, Trism, have no such doubts about the success of the iPad, they're already at work on two titles for the device.

    Trism 2, a sequel to their best selling puzzle title, is being developed for both the iPhone and iPad and Trism Spinoff is being developed exclusively for the iPad, said Demiforce founder Steve Demeter.

    “Trism Spinoff is intended for a larger footprint device because of certain characteristics such as a higher count of trisms as well as an onscreen metagame,” Demeter said. “Trism 2 was originally going to be exclusively for iPhone and iPod Touch. However, when we realized it would be so easy to cross-compile apps for the iPad, we decided to do Trism 2 for it as well. It will look more resolute on the iPad, but other than that, it'll be the same game.”

    Namco Networks were already thinking of what they would do with more screen real estate before the iPad was announced, now they're moving forward on a number of their “concepts and plans,” said Jon Kromrey, general manager of Namco Networks Apple Games division.

    That includes updates to existing titles like Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, which will get new capabilities and have social gaming features added, he said. And, Kromrey adds, Namco has a “big announcement” planned for March's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

    iPhone game publisher Ngmoco think the device will push developers to make more substantial games for the iTunes Store.

    “It is easy to imagine that gamers will be more engaged and less snacky on the iPad,” said Simon Jeffery, Ngmoco chief publishing officer. “Games like Eliminate which are perhaps more time and focus intensive will benefit from couch play. We envisage that the iPad will take game time away from the frontline videogame consoles, and drive the usage of those devices to be yet more hardcore.”

    While more processing and screen space could mean more complex games, the feature developers seem most excited about is the iPad's ability to allow the portable device to become a platform for multiplayer gaming.

    “It's the perfect device to have in the lounge room,” Firemints' Peters said. “There's something very satisfying about a group of people sitting in a circle with a single shared focus point, whether it's gathering around a camp fire, around the kitchen table or around an iPad. At the moment multiplayer games are physically distancing, either because you're in completely different places as with (massively multiplayer online games), or because you are all facing a large screen instead of each other, as with lounge room consoles. Once a family has gathered around an iPad to play a board game, they are far more likely to try other kinds of games as well, so it could open up yet another huge new audience for all game developers.”

    Demiforce's Demeter, Ngmoco's Jeffery and Namco's Kromrey also see the potential for single-device multiplayer gaming as the iPad's biggest addition to the realm of portable gaming.

    “We are looking closely at extending the Mobile gaming experience to the couch in a transparent, frictionless way,” Jeffery said. “It's important that one of our customers can get off the bus after playing an iPhone game and then pick it up again seamlessly on the couch.”

    Much of the iPhone's surprising gaming success was driven by its ability to tap into a group of people who had never played or even considered playing games. Rather than cannibalize those customers, the iPad could achieve that a second time because the audience picking up this e-reader and video and music playing tablet are likely to be made up mostly of an entirely new audience.

    But Apple's past successes have almost always been driven by its ability to stay focused on a single message, a single device. The iPad's launch though, diffuses that message, coming at a time when the iPhone still enjoys rocketing success and the potential market needs convincing that they need a device that fits awkwardly between laptop and iPhone.

    Well Played is a weekly news and opinion column about the big stories of the week in the gaming industry and its bigger impact on things to come. Feel free to join in the discussion.

    Send an email to the author of this post at editor@kotaku.com.

    Comments

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    1. yeah, who paid them? Ridiculous. A toy for folks who need to show others they have it. It is useless.

      Posted by: y0himba
        |
      February 5, 2010 11:23 AM

    2. Funny how a device that can't do everything one person wants is immediately useless…

      Posted by: Johnny Worthington
        |
      February 5, 2010 11:25 AM

    3. It is another “it” device. Trendy, but nothing innovative or necessary. It is like yet another pair of cheap silver earings. Every iClone must have one just to show it off and say they have it.

      Posted by: y0himba
        |
      February 5, 2010 11:27 AM

    4. It's a hammer with an easy grip handle. The innovation does not come from the item itself but the access to the general public of otherwise confusing and complicated technologies. If you need a sledge hammer to drive in a stake, get one. Apple will be busy selling LOTS of easy grip hammers to people just needing to drive in nails.

      Posted by: Johnny Worthington
        |
      February 5, 2010 11:32 AM

    5. Quotes seem to be from all the same people that said the “good times” will NEVER end” back when the stock market was at 14,000 circa late 2007

      zero credibility, pure speculation

      Posted by: Todd |
      February 5, 2010 11:57 AM

    6. @y0himba – the device isn't for you, and it's innovation comes from making life easier for people like “our mom's”… who just want the internet, music, email, and an ereader…

      That's all they use their computers for, and this device is way better for them than that… save the exclusion of flash.

      Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean that there isn't a market for it, or that it's not innovative for another segment of the population… If all you did was the items outlined above, would you buy a laptop for $1,200, or this?

      Shoot, just saw @Johnny's post above. He essentially says the same thing.

       Posted by: Jack Benoff |
      February 5, 2010 12:05 PM

    7. I agree that the iPad will do well and the it will do great depending on the apps. I think it'll do at least “well” because it's part of an overall coherent strategy to build up a platform (iTunes, iBook, apps) with a lot of consumer touchpoints to get more leverage when negotiating with “Big Media.”
      http://tropicalgringo.com/Jipn

      Posted by: TropicalGringo |
      February 5, 2010 12:07 PM

    8. If I have to choose between Steve Jobs' (certainly biased, yet extensively researched) opinion on whether iPad will do well, and that of a person only recently educated on the iPad, analyst or not, I have to go with Steve (and buy more APPL).

       Posted by: Jean-Michel |
      February 5, 2010 12:20 PM

    9. Nope…

      they could have easily put out a better product.

      it's the fact that they have the guile to release such an inferior product when we know that could have done better.

      I thought the kindle was bad technology with an upsale for a niche audience that would pay the price.

      what is the iPad? better bad technology.

      for the sake of us having the most advanced amount of technology in our lifespans…DONT BUY THE IPAD…the ipad gives the green light for big corps to drag out pushing out new technology/features/advancements over the course of decades, instead of giving us everything they have right now.

      What a sad day.

      Posted by: Bobby Barker |
      February 5, 2010 1:29 PM

    10. I think it now depends on other manufacturers. If someone puts out a good tablet then they are gone.

      I choice at this stage is a Notebook/Netbook convertible: power, functionality, freedom of software. The iPad will get the patron of those who want a large eBook with additional features.

      Your analyst are bais – how manu have put their money down to buying one. I am in the market for this sort of thing and no they have lost me. However I still have an eye on announcements by HP for their tablet.

       Posted by: Keith |
      February 5, 2010 1:48 PM

    11. #9 proclaims “they could have easily put out a better product.” Um, I'd like to see the portfolio of $500 handheld touch-screen wireless devices that #9 has delivered to market so I can see a better product.

      Posted by: MEC |
      February 5, 2010 2:18 PM

    12. MEC, #9 probably is referring to the lack of a camera, phone, multitasking, Flash Support, having other carriers than AT&T, you know, the things that you would expect from a device in this decade.

      and no one cares about the price. $500 is nothing, as is $1500, that is if the darn thing did anything useful.

      me personally i want to see IR in a tablet, and a Remote Control program that comes standard…so i could make it a universal remote as well…I have so many remotes on my couch so there would be even more clutter with an Ipad.

      Posted by: Anon |
      February 5, 2010 2:42 PM

    13. I agree with MEC and others who have posted that most of the criticism comes from people who obviously want a full computer in tablet form and not an information appliance. Too bad you guys have never supported all the previous products in this category. Also, in reference to: “camera, phone, multitasking, Flash Support” missing, this is just echoing the same old “why can't I supersize it?” mentality. There is a very funny photoshopped image of someone using the iPad as a phone – seriously, this is not worthy of consideration. Camera would be nice, but I'm sure one will be along soon (either built-in or from 3rd parties). I'm not sure these posters are aware of just how popular browser plugins that defeat Flash are – but most agree that HTML5 will kill Flash, and Steve is right – Flash is buggy, slow, and getting harder to program with each passing release. As for multitasking – running multiple apps means going back to a general computing device and not something for people who hate computers. To sum up, the iPad is supposed to be for people who hate computers – and the criticisms leveled against the product give ultimate proof as to why the industry continually fails to deliver something for the real masses.

      Posted by: MPstein |
      February 5, 2010 3:59 PM

    14. GETTYMOVIE … the Getty/Hitler Trilogy — is being released throughout the web — as director’s cuts … before it opens at major theatres. Can't wait to see it on the new iPad.

       Posted by: Grant |
      February 5, 2010 5:30 PM

    15. what a number of commentators here fail to appreciate is the value of “creative cutting” . . . it's something that Jobs is good at, and it's the difference that makes a difference.
      Reports from inside Apple have stressed time and again that what Jobs will often do is take all the ideas from the engineers and programmers and ideas people and then CUT features that clutter or confuse the device “gestalt”
      It's scary as hell to be in that role, we're all more comfortable ADDING stuff (in life as in technology) just in case. More is better mentality.
      Jobs seems to have this knack, call it genius if you will, for making the cuts that not only don't damage, but actually ENHANCE the experience and ultimately the functionality and appeal of the device.
      You see that in all the recent introductions from Apple, not least in the iPad.

      Posted by: Slongwor |
      February 5, 2010 6:13 PM

    16. Kathy Huberty has become bullish on Apple.

      Some pundits are saying the iPad is a toy and useless and yet it has not even gone on sale yet. I guess they think that it's going to be like the past Windows tablets that failed time and time again for consumers. Those that say it will sell because it'll be cool and trendy to own one are probably right but eventually they will come to realize that the iPad is indispensable to them.

      If companies were to raise the prices of netbooks to about $500, nobody would probably even buy them. The only reason people buy netbooks are because they are cheap. Netbooks are the dregs of the Windows PC industry. I can see all those poor Windows sycophants waiting for the HP Slate with a full-blown version of Windows 7 choking every Atom processor cycle. That's before the anti-virus software kicks in and brings the display to a screeching halt. Any full version of Windows is useless on a tablet as it always has been and the HP Slate will fail miserably.

      I only hope Apple can sell about four million iPads in the first year in order to give Apple some extra revenue in a poor economy. And I hope Apple gets a ton of ad revenue from each iPad they sell.

      Posted by: iphonerulez |
      February 5, 2010 7:30 PM

    17. I've typically avoided Apple products, but I'm open to the iPad, primarily as an ebook reader.

      I've resisted ebook readers so far. I prefer to read actual books when I can, and PDF files on my computer when necessary.

      Posted by: John Soares |
      February 5, 2010 7:47 PM

    18. I can't wait to buy an iPad so I can put lots of .pdf files on it and use it to watch H.264 videos on youtube. No Flash.

      Posted by: LaughingBoy48 |
      February 5, 2010 7:56 PM

    19. Most analysts are missing the point and only look at iPad as a product. Visionary will look at iPad as a test case for next computing revolution. Few years down the road when many are using a tablet like iPad that have virtual instead of physical keyboard, no mouse, using hand or fingers or voice to interact, they will then understand why the current design of desktop and laptop will have to go. It is time to change the decades old user interface when better technology is now available. Good luck to those still using a stripdown laptop running a decade old windows XP.

      Posted by: angmolan |
      February 5, 2010 8:01 PM

    20. I'm sure a lot of people don't understand or don't need an ipad (or can't afford one or work for an apple competitor) but like the iphone, Apple only has to sell a couple hundred million of out 2 billion cell phone users to be a wild success … maybe the ipad won't be a wildfire success but 75-100 million at $600 per is still nice revenue for the next 5 years. Plus itunes revenue …

       Posted by: Joe |
      February 5, 2010 9:18 PM

    21. For me iPad is the natural next step after having a 2G iPod Touch for nearly a year.

      I'm in for the prospect that most of the apps i have had for iPod so far will be able to run on iPad. Multitouch-optimized iWork is a welcomed addition; i can't wait to learn to get some of my work done using multitouch hand gestures.

      As for Adobe Flash on iPad, i wish Apple could follow Gmail's UI and asks whether the user wants to enable it on specific sites. On the other hand, i'm used to seeing the blank box on the iPod Touch already.

      Posted by: Robert |
      February 5, 2010 9:21 PM

    22. The iPad is the most non-green device ever made, its made with virtually all non-recylable parts, has no replaceable battery, so when your mom and grandmoms battery dies in 3-4 years they will have to toss their precious iPad in the trash, which may i remind you if it doesnt boot there is no way to retreive the data from the device, yes Real winner Apple and steve jobs, I wonder how many iPads will be littering our Land Fills in 50 years from now.. what a stupid device.

      Posted by: nebadon |
      February 5, 2010 9:35 PM

    23. Hi No. 12. I like your ideas. Infrared, YES! And it should do FAX! and use IE 6! and have a real radio in it! And use Navigator and a STYLUS. YES!

      Posted by: Roger Mercer |
      February 5, 2010 10:56 PM

    24. No. 22. You miss the point. The iPad is the ultimate green machine. In fact, the whole reason that Mother Earth created Steve Jobs is that she craves iPads buried in her vast bosom. Are you green, No. 22? Don't you belong to the earth? And if so, wouldn't your iPad be a natural part of the earth as well?

      Posted by: Roger Mercer |
      February 5, 2010 10:58 PM

    25. @nebadon. From the Apple site:
      'iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:
      Arsenic-free display glass
      BFR-free
      Mercury-free LCD display
      PVC-free
      Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure'

      Posted by: peter |
      February 5, 2010 11:20 PM

    26. still doesn't change the fact this device has no replaceable battery.. should i feel better because 25% of the device is biodegradable? it just does not seem well thought out too me, and literally once the battery dies, 100% of the machine is trash.. but hey you wont feel so bad throwing it out cause its partially degradable/recyclable right? lol

      Posted by: nebadon |
      February 6, 2010 2:19 AM

    27. in addition to post 25, the battery issue is just wrong also. when an ipod battery dies you bring it back to apple and get an exchange; you don't throw it out. And if the ipad dies i'm sure you will be able to bring it back to apple for recycling just as with ipods.

      Posted by: tb |
      February 6, 2010 5:37 AM

    28. sounds like a real convenient device, Makes me feel all warm and cozy that Apple has a proprietary process for its completely proprietary hardware, they give you lots of choice on who to deal with, I guess this device is just perfect for the person who has no clue how to decide for themselves what is best. i can see the slogan now, iPad, we can do all your thinking for you.

      Posted by: nebadon |
      February 6, 2010 9:57 AM

    29. The iPad will sell well. Apple fans alone will secure a volume that will make this a notable device. “Broken” design flaws will be fixed (e.g. camera) and sizes, storage, thickness, battery life will all be enhanced in the next generation “Maxi iPad” ;>

      What has changed, is that a credible, working ecosystem of Apps has evolved and the iPad extends the possibilities for developers to generate revenue. What has changed is post-iPad, new generations of computers will look more like iPads than traditional PCs. “Touch is the new Black” and thus far, Apple does touch best. A quality version of Dragon or MacSpeech on a future iPad will further erode the need for keyboards and help signal the evolution from PC/Laptop to a “companion” device.

      Existing PCs will look and be antiquated within a year after the iPad ships. Every manufacturer will race to catch-up.

      Sure the first generation of the iPad is only 50% of what it should be. Given the average pace of product evolution, we'll see that fixed within 12-24 months.

      Apple (with iPad and previous products) has added a new sense system to our technology as a default, touch. That adds another rung to the ladder of the personal systems for the future.

      Posted by: Ken Nickerson |
      February 6, 2010 11:48 AM

    30. The iPad will sell as Ken mentions. I doubt, however, that this is a step in computer evolution. There will still be needs for servers, desktops, and laptops. I mean who is going to create all those great iPad apps and web pages?

      What we are seeing here is reminiscent of the iPhone and the Wii. Products that created their own markets because of the user interface and form factor. The majority of the naysayers keep comparing the iPad to a netbook, a laptop, or an e-reader. It is none of those things by virtue of its form factor and user interface. It needs to be evaluated on its own merits. It was designed for people that want to get online fast, read email/twitter/facebook,etc and look something up quick online. If people really want all those other things (webcam, ports, Flash, big display ,etc.) they have devices for that. They are called laptops.

       Posted by: Paul Deveaux |
      February 6, 2010 3:55 PM

    31. @nebadon
      You can and should backup your data in iTunes.
      As for battery replacement as tb said you just bring it back to Apple: ( http://www.apple.com/batteries/replacements.html )

      Please do not assume that all people on earth must be the same as you.
      The iPad has a big market: people who want none of the complexity of current Human-Machine Interaction.
      There are plenty of them around, and you might even know a few yourself.
      Tone the negativity down a bit or at least check your facts.

      Proprietary system: well you have lots of choices, there's plenty of other manufacturers: it's not like Apple has taken over the world. (yet)

      Posted by: zigcla |
      February 6, 2010 6:59 PM

    32. Imagine Joe-The-Plumber in an electronics store having the option:
      - iPad at $499
      - LCD (or even a LED) TV set at $499
      The TV-set he can hang in his bedroom or kitchen to watch TV, play games on his PS/2 or Xbox or watch video (from a memory USB key).
      The iPad he can … do so little with it on the tiny screen.

      Posted by: engago |
      February 8, 2010 12:45 AM

    33. I agree. The iPad will sell well, finally I device I can use to have all my .pdf ebooks and movies in one place without chugging my clunky laptop. Although it doesn't look like a good gaming device to me –the controls will be awkward. Article bookmarked.

      Posted by: William |
      February 16, 2010 12:36 PM

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    Esprit Werksverkauf

    February 20th, 2010 by touchores

    Ich war jetzt beim Esprit Lagerverkauf in Ratingen. Die PreiseAnziehsachen|Kleidung} dort sind chic.
    Etwas Durchsetzungenvermögen ist das schon gefragt bei den ganzen Profis
    das ist dort ein ganz schöner Theater und ich war begeisert das ein oder
    andere Schnäppchen zu machen.

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