Bill Gates: The iPad Isn't All That
Bill Gates gently shrugs off the iPad.
Brent Schlender over at Bnet had a quick discussion with Bill Gates about Apple's much hyped iPad, and Gates wasn't impressed.
There's no denying that Apple's trying to be market-maker when it comes to slate/tablet computers. Up until this point, pretty much all tablet computers that have come out have all been forgotten. No one even remembers the HP Slate that came out during CES. It was a big launch for HP, and then the day after, no one spoke of it again.
Bill Gates doesn't seem to be too fond of the iPad either, saying that there's nothing on the iPad that he wished Microsoft would have done. Despite that, he did give Apple credit for the iPhone.
The quote:
“You know, I’m a big believer in touch and digital reading, but I still think that some mixture of voice, the pen and a real keyboard - in other words a netbook - will be the mainstream on that,” he said. “So, it’s not like I sit there and feel the same way I did with iPhone where I say, ‘Oh my God, Microsoft didn’t aim high enough.’ It’s a nice reader, but there’s nothing on the iPad I look at and say, ‘Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.’”
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You're right on Bill!
You left out the official quote where Gates said "iPad ain't all dat and a bag of chips, girlfren!"
There's not denying it, this thing is ugly. Looks exactly like an oversized (and cheap looking) digital picture frame.
Yeah Gates, I bet you said the same thing about the iPhone when it initially came out.
Yeah Gates, I bet you said the same thing about the iPhone when it initially came out.
Your comment proves that you didn't read the article!
Nothing like reality. I love when people are honest.
I agree with Gates for a device the size of the I-Pad. If Apple had introduced a smaller form factor I could see the utility.
There's not denying it, this thing is ugly. Looks exactly like an oversized (and cheap looking) digital picture frame.
As much as I don't like the whole hype behind the iPad, I think your observation is a little corny.
As much as I don't like the whole hype behind the iPad, I think your observation is a little corny.
No I don't think so at all - I mean I don't want to argue it because this is all a matter of perspective, but the first day I saw that thing being held by Jobs that's exactly what I thought. I'm actually not knocking the device at all, I'm just saying it's ugly - it's very archaic in it's design. I don't think that's corny at all. If this thing was borderless and thin, I guarantee you it would be praised.
@ omnimodis
Do you know how frustrating and annoying a borderless touchscreen display would be? It's not borderless for a reason
and its 0.5" thick, how much thinner would you like it?
Its is great for giving speeches with out looking stupid unlike Obomao and is great for sneaking in a good porno for when class couldn't suck any more than you thought it would. (college) Plus it isn't all that bad in my CCNA 2 class.
every time I see or hear "ipad", I expect to see a commercial with a woman putting it inside her trousers..
Sarah P. can probably find a good use for this iPad - beats writing on her hand like a 12 year old..
I would feel like an asshole carrying that thing around
For 2 years I actually was trying to find a 15" picture frame with ISP panel - and I was prepared to pay $500 for it - no one made them. They put cheap TN panels, that look absolutely terrible when you look at them even slightly from above or below.
I will definitely buy iPad. It will stay on our table as a wireless picture frame, and when my wife wants to browse the Internet, she will grab it. Oh, and books and games for our kids. Laptops or netbook - kids can easily break the lid off. iPad is much more sturdy. I already love it :-)
Hes got a point there...
And this is why Bill Gates is a legendary figure: Admits the downfalls of his "preferred" company, while not being overly critical of his "competition"'s inferior products.
Right on point in my mind.
The iPad is overrated simply because it's an Apple. Trees have apples; I don't see anyone praising those! lol...I'm obviously joking--don't thumb me down. lol
And this is why Bill Gates is a legendary figure: Admits the downfalls of his "preferred" company, while not being overly critical of his "competition"'s inferior products. Right on point in my mind. The iPad is overrated simply because it's an Apple. Trees have apples; I don't see anyone praising those! lol...I'm obviously joking--don't thumb me down. lol
jokes are meant to be funny. take the ipad for example.
With the MS Surface which does all this and more for businesses and soon homes, why would he be amazed?
I think the iPad is meh. Surface is cool. Can't wait to see a touch netbook. Well there is a touch Atom based LG phone hitting soon
Yeah Gates, I bet you said the same thing about the iPhone when it initially came out.
He was right; the first-gen iPhone basically bombed. It was an incredibly poor device, that was basically a non-smart phone with half an iPod touch slapped on, along with the $400US Apple Logo. Sales for it never took off.
Of course, Apple doesn't like that story being told, and everybody instead remembers the iPhone 3G and 3GS, which took off wildly. But they had so many improvements that they basically were a whole new device. Just think about it for a moment; were it not for the app store, (which took a while before it finally made an impact) addition of multi-touch, and having Internet fast enough to actually download things, the iPhone would be a RATHER weak device.
Of course, this COULD mean that, while this iPad is basically doomed to failure, I've recognized from the start that perhaps Apple might realize this, and replace it with a wildly better device that COULD be successful.
IF Bill Gates decided to run for president i'd vote for him twice!
IF Bill Gates decided to run for president i'd vote for him twice!
...and get arrested for voter fraud lol
...and get arrested for voter fraud lol
damn straight lol
I agree with Gates. For me, iPad will most likely be a letdown, and me not owning an Apple product still. I just will wait until Sony, Asus, or other companies do with a Slate PC.
jokes are meant to be funny. take the ipad for example.
XD
Seriously though...I am not a fan of Bill Gates (or Jobs)... but I do like that Gates is modest enough to say what he feels.
Meanwhile, Seriously did a third grader come up with the name? Plus why the "i" part of iPad? I thought this was suppose to be a new product not just a new iPod? All apple products do not carry the "i", only the products that have to do with the iPod (I let the iPhone slip since its half iPod to a point). Sorry for the rant.
I think with Steve Jobs, it's "iPad" myself on the back.
Apple's next product:
Youtube link
The problem with any kind of tablet is that even though Bill Gates demo'd one 9 years ago, MS only does the OS that can support a tablet. They could have gone into the hardware market like they did with the Xbox but instead waited for other hardware vendors to have suitable tablet creations. Plenty have come along and all have been fairly dull. Now that the hardware exists to make a good looking and running tablet, Apple release one and instead of having it run an OS that can make it "be all it can be" they downgrade the software so it is nothing more than a grownup filofax.
People have been asking for a tablet for years that can do what the OS is capable of and wanted the hardware to catchup. We wanted OSX or Windows and the golden rule of customer service is to give the customer what they want.
I just don't see the use in one (Ipad). When you could get a "tablet" packing a real OS, tegra 2, web cam, ect.. from HP or MSI or one of the many others coming out with one.