http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/05 ... ltrabooks/

I'd never even heard of ultrabooks before

Not so sure tablets are a fad, Apple could sustain them alone, though it'll be interesting to see how long the likes of Samsung persist...

I read elsewhere today, that that Apple are anticipated to still have 60% of the tablet market, by 2020. That will leave everyone else with scraps. If they sell an estimated 120 million iPads by then that is a huge head start over anyone else. I fo not think that they will be a fad. I may be wrong I did but Palm Tungsten.

As for the ultra books they will always be a niche because of the price.

Neural nanonic filaments are the way forward. Everybody knows that.

I'm still waiting for a killer-app, or more, a kille use-case for a tablet. But they are still very expensive (I can get 2 laptops for the price of an iPad). Out and about, my WP7 or iPhone is enough, at home my iMac or laptop are fine. I like the idea of a tablet, but I really haven't found a use that would justify the purchase price.

I need a cheap tablet for occasional browsing that won't give me eye strain if I decide to read a book on it...

It its books you want to read opt for a Kindle. Though I would probably wait till a colour version comes out so you can read graphic novels on them. Though if you want a tablet why not get the cheapest iPad. Unless you have loads of apps you can get away with streaming and browsing on it. You can at least be sure that they will still be around in three years which is more than you can say of any other tablet.

Can't justify an iPad, got a netbook and laptop as it is, like I say, needs to be cheap for the above somewhat niche uses... Also, aren't you obliged to use iTunes?

Well wait till the new iOS comes out then you do not have to use a computer at all. As for it being a niche have a look on the iTunes store for apps to see what might appeal to you. I use a radio app so now use my iPad as an alarm clock radio. It can access the weather. TV via TVCatchup or the various iPlayer apps. Youtube via a special app. A TV guide and games as well.

What do you mean re new iOS?

The PS3 handles what you've mentioned on a big screen, and I 'don't do apps' as there's nothing I use often enough to justify them

The next version of iOS makes the requirement to have a PC or Mac to run an iDevice essentially redundant. Right now, when you first start an iOS device up, the only thing you can do with it is plug it into a PC/Mac with iTunes to configure it and initially sync data to it. With iOS 5, when you first switch it on it'll say 'OK, do you want to sync me with a Mac/PC? Or do you want me to use an iCloud account to get your stuff from? Or would you like me to set you up an iCloud account if you haven't got one?' You never need to plug it into a PC at all. In reality I rarely plug my iPad into my Mac as it is anyway, but iOS5 will remove that first mandatory sync.


Fair enough like. It seems a very broad statement though... To me, that's like someone saying 'I don't do cutlery' or 'I don't do stairs'. Apps are little 'of themselves', the function of the vast majority of non-game apps is simply to show you data that's been grabbed from the internet or you've created yourself. You can access the vast majority of that data via a web browser too, obviously. Apps simply represent a different interface to that data.

Jon

Thanks for the iOS info.

I didn't mean the 'not doing apps' bit to sound as harsh as it did, it's just the truth

I haven't seen an app yet (as much as I take notice of them) where I wouldn't sooner jump to the website in question

I can appreciate that. I only discovered the wonders of apps once I bought an iPad. It can be an expensive as an experiment but try one out in a store if you can. Better if a friend has one. Though you can get some of the experience from using apps on an iPhone.

well youll still need a PC/Mac to get your data onto iCloud, but once thats done you wont need one.. then youll be at the full mercy of Apple <tin foil hat time> locked forever into the iOS ecosystem MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH <exit stage left>

How is business?

I have all of those things on my phone, and honestly it's quite big enough to read about what's on telly. For personal use, it's perfectly big enough for watching TV shows on too - I can read the subtitles and it doesn't freeze, which are my main priorities!

While I would like an iPad to leave on the coffee table, it's just too expensive to justify. Like Ernie, I have a really decent netbook which is easily portable and far more versatile for the occasions when I need to work or play on the move.

However, when the price drops to £60 for a decent tablet (the ones at that price now are seriously rubbish) then I might end up with two...