COMIC & BLOG
iTUNES FEED
EMAIL JOEL
Numfar! Do The Dance of Joy
I’ll be at Dallas Comic Con this weekend. Come say hi!
Alternate Title: The Slate of The Union Address
2nd Alternate Title: His Name Is Lancelot, He Like To Prance A Lot
Oh, Steve. You had me at “we are not currently developing a tablet.”
Seems like the new Apple iPad would be fun to travel with. Can’t see much use for it around the house when it really isn’t much smaller than my laptop, but I haven’t laid hands on it yet (which is typically when an Apple product grabs hold of your soul and doesn’t let go). I imagine the UI is crazy fun to play with and developers are going to have a blast coming up with new ways to utilize it. The entry level price point of $499 is also quite tasty, considering the first iPod cost that much.
I can’t wait to see how they adapt this thing for kids and the classroom. My 2 yr old already loves iPhone games, and computers. She is more confused by mice and keyboards because she expects every device to be multitouch.
The area I’m MOST interested in is seeing if they open up the iBookstore or whatever to independent publishers. I’d love to put the HE Books in ePud format and sell them through Apple’s distribution-hole.
What did you think? Fun toy or tech-revolution on par with the iPod?
- Read Engadget’s live blog of the whole “Latest Creation” Apple event
- Anil Dash on geek attention on the iPad vs. tonight’s State of the Union
Related posts
January 27th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
boh funny and somewhat disturbing
January 27th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
I'm anxious to see how it affects the comic industry. (I'm a consumer whore, so I'll still pick up my floppies every week and shell out for discounted trades and hardcovers.)
I don't plan on picking up one of these bad boys until at LEAST the second generation.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
It would be awesome if you could multitask, but you can't so it's not worth it for me
January 27th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
I haven't checked this out at all, because I don't need/want another Apple gizmo. Except that I do. I always imagine that Apple laces their touch screens with ecstacy, or something. It must be why I feel such unending joy whenever I'm around them.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Multitasking would be nice, as would flash. I would also like to see it have a stylus or something so you can write/draw on it….
January 27th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Considering I'm not impressed with the iPhone, I'm not sure why I should be impressed with this. If it was full-blown OS X, maybe (I know that won't happen, ARM vs. x86), but an embiggened iPhone? meh.
January 27th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
All Apple comments aside, I kinda pegged Josh for being hairier. Certainly I’m not the only one.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Underspecd and overpriced, I think apple missed the mark with this one. I just don't see the market for it, too large to be easily portable and it doesn't have half the features of a $300 netbook.
No camera, video output, flash, or multitasking. Really Apple? this is your netbook killer?
January 27th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Neither. It’s an oversized iPod Touch that won’t fit in my pocket. Nothing more. And not nearly as functional as a netbook should be. This is neither remarkable or revolutionary.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Duder, through a range of accessories, iPad can output to TVs, projectors and displays. And with the new HTML 5 standards, who even needs Flash.
As a freelance journalist who often travels by bus, train and sometimes plane, I can't wait to use this little device. Especially the iWork suite.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Keep in mind that Joel has never seen me naked.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Pictures of Josh as Kratos are available on the web. While not abundantly hairy, he's certainly cute.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
omgomgomgomgwantwantwant!
I am an iPod touch junkie. I love the idea of an embiggened iPod touch. I bet it would make a fantastic sketch pad. I want one with Brushes installed to magically appear on my desk right this second….okay, still waiting….still waiting…damn. Didn't work.
For folks who want a stylus – there is the POGO, which works with the iPhone/iPod touch. I bet it would work with the iPad.
I do have one objection to this marvel of technology, though – the name. It makes me think it should come with wings and a commercial featuring a woman in white pants sitting Indian style on various white chairs.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Wait, so it's a giant iPhone that can't make calls? (Oh wait, the iPhone can't make calls either).
So it's a small iPhone shaped laptop without a (real) keyboard that can't run multiple apps at the same time, still doesn't have a battery that the user can change AND costs more than a lightweight laptop that can do all these things and more???
Sign me up! Oh wait, no.
I'm pretty sure Apple could make an Automated Junk Kicking Machine (iKickJunk) and people would lap it up.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
That title just made my day. Also, I want an iPad. Now.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:06 am
Meh…. we'll see how it actually performs… honestly, I can't afford and don't need new technology right now.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:10 am
go ahead and put this same comment on all of my comics.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:11 am
its definitely a "weight for rev2" kind of device.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:12 am
a stylus would make it useful to me on a whole other level but I expect they will leave that to a third party. I imagine it would have to be powered.
Multitasking probably wont be in this hardware rev. I assume Apple is just weighting for the rest of the world to forget about flash so it can say "i told you so."
January 28th, 2010 at 12:14 am
is it ARM? I thought apple was using their own new chipset called A4 or something?
January 28th, 2010 at 12:15 am
ive seen your shirtless. I just dont know how to draw you hairy without making you look like a monster.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:15 am
I really just dont know how to draw cartoon body hair. I know it betrays his character but everytime I try it seems way overdone.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:17 am
its not a netbook killer at all. they really arent competing in that market. its not an anything killer, because ePaper readers are a different animal as well. Their plan is not for this item to take over the world, but for it to start a 5-10 year product line that will end with something as ubiquitous as the iPod.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:18 am
Apple has abandoned flash the same way they abandoned floppy drives. We all thought it was too soon but end the end they were right. Flash will fade and apple will gloat. In the meantime its very frustrating for users.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:19 am
that name is horrible but I think the shock will pass just like it did with the Wii. Your points are all quite cromulent.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:22 am
I withhold my enthusiasm on Apple products until the second generation is released. Generally the people that rush out and buy the first release on the first day live to regret it.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:24 am
i wonder if apple will make it in the same price range as other tablets or hike up the price because there logo is on it
January 28th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Are you saying the iPad is better than bacon? 'Cause we haven't seen Josh get naked and run for bacon. I just can't believe the iPad is better than bacon.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:32 am
I think Apple got some things right with this, and some things wrong. What I've been wanting for the last three or so years, and am still waiting for, is a personal communications device that takes the place of my laptop AND phone, but is light and touchscreen. The iPhone is almost it, but I want a bigger screen. It can't quite take the place of my MacBook…almost, but not quite.
Give me an iPhone the size of the iPad, with a webcam built in (like on my MacBook), with a USB port for transferring info (and/or hooking up any peripherals), and with bluetooth capability for phone calls (would kindof have to have this to make calls on a mega-sized device), and that's what would fufill all my needs.
If I had that, it would be everything: my laptop, phone, gaming system, entertainment device, music/video player…everything. It needs to be able to multitask, be speedy switching between apps, and have a decent-sized solid-state hard drive.
THAT I would fall in love with, and I would happily pay up to $1000 for.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:33 am
iTampon.
That is all.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Oh, and I would take it with me everywhere, like I do with my phone, but like I don't do with my laptop.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:36 am
it does have video output
January 27th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I don’t see this one getting that much mainstream attention. Fundamentally, it’s geared at the “second laptop” audience. The type of people who have a small computer just for farting around on the internet or showing off youtube videos. Right now, those people are using a NetBook, or a regular laptop when they have business on the go. Or their desktop at home. In some cases, they don’t have a desktop, or in my case, a regular laptop.
I use my Netbook for entertainment mostly, and Apple’s discounted 3G plan (30 compared to 60) is attractive. So here’s my qualms with the device:
- The lack of multitasking is a concern. Can I have IM and music and web browsing open? Will it alert me when I have a new e-mail or tweet?
- No USB or SD ports. I have a 160GB iPod classic full of all of my music, that I plug into my netbook and have access to my entire music library. I can not transfer all of this music to any size of the iPad, and that’s a huge dealbreaker
- No Flash in the browser. This completely hobbles it as a web browsing device. I read the thing comparing it to floppies, but when Apple ditched those, it was a “well, it’s nice for legacy support…” to have a floppy at the time. Right now, Flash is EVERYWHERE and HTML 5 is years away from prime time. Making a device that’s unusable for a lot of web content for the next couple of years seems really…shit, I don’t have a fancy word, but it sucks ass.
Once I got over the glitz, I realized it was close, but not quite there. Maybe next time, Steve Jaerbz!
January 28th, 2010 at 1:18 am
http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2010/01/27/ipad-debu...
January 28th, 2010 at 1:19 am
YouTube's HTML 5 implementation was….OK, at best. If the biggest video site in the world can barely get it working, it's gonna be a while before the rest of the world does.
January 28th, 2010 at 1:20 am
I'd like to use this to thank Joel for not regurgitating this "played-out-10-minutes-after-the-name-announce" joke into the comic. Comedy poison.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
well, I hope this toy pushes the old makers of real talbet computers (lenovo & dell, nobody cares about the others) to lower their prices, sweeten the design & portability. (My X61 only goes 4hrs, but keeps one warm in winter).
January 28th, 2010 at 4:04 am
I think what Apple is trying to do is to FORCE the faster adoption of HTML 5. If they can get enough market penetration with devices that don't support Flash, consumers will demand functionality, and Flash will disappear.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Nope, you're not the only one. Especially since he goes to Bear Pride on Memorial Day.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:49 am
But but but how would I watch Homestar Runner then?
January 27th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
It will be interesting to see what the $499 price point will be once it hits Australia. I doubt very much that our carriers will be so generous as whatever deal Apple have worked out with whoever is doing the data for them in the states.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:00 am
Seriously… I was having a crappy day, saw that title and about died with laughter. The only thing better than that is the knowledge that Numfar was, in fact, Joss Whedon.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:02 am
What this product has to do with peripheral artery disease I've no clue.
As for naked Josh, I can only say Holy Dennis Frantz, Batman.
Lastly, I'm with all the "wait for gen 2 or even 3" people. To paraphrase Max Bialystock, he who adopts early is poor.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:10 am
I know this isnt THE device to revolutionize print media (magazines comics etc) but it is a start. I would love to put out collections just for this with different content and built in audio commentary.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:14 am
I think people will soon discover what Sony and Amazon already know — that a backlit screen isn't so great for reading eBooks.
I was actually half-hoping it would turn out that Qi — that full-color, high-speed E-Ink screen that some startup claimed to have developed but is currently in "vaporware" status — was ready, and the reason we hadn't heard from them in a while was that they had a secret exclusive deal with Apple. Oh well.
I don't see the point in it, but I didn't see the point in netbooks either. What they have is definitely better than a netbook, and I can see people who don't want to own a laptop being interested, especially once the apps start pouring in. I just want to know how you're supposed to get your files on and off of it.
January 28th, 2010 at 12:19 am
omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg! Angel reference as the title!!!!! Joel, may I please have your babies?
January 28th, 2010 at 5:52 am
I just assumed some "manscaping" was involved. Perhaps he met a Fancy Bastard that isn't into body hair.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Coming soon: iBacon. It's bacon that plays a song from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog when you fry it.
January 28th, 2010 at 7:56 am
Sure if you buy the optional adapter on top of the already exorbitant price. There is also a camera kit. There is no excuse for these things not being built in/included.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:11 am
How are they not competing? Both are situated between smartphones and laptops and will serve similar functions. I can understand starting modestly and slowly building up the product line but it's really just a supersized iTouch. Lacking so many standard netbook features I can't see the market for it.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Ok, 2 questions on the iPad: WHAT DOES IT DO AND WHY SHOULD I GIVE A DAMN/ 500 BONES/ AN ARM & A LEG TO GET IT?
Also, now that I have seen Josh naked, I envy the blind. My Eyes, THEY BURN!
January 28th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Yes but for the price those things should have been included/built in. The iPad lacks so many features that consumers have come to expect in a netbook size/class device that it's been virtually crippled into uselessness. I really like the concept but the execution falls far short of the mark.
January 28th, 2010 at 3:44 am
If there weren’t any text in the bubbles I would say this is how Josh reacted of the announcement of this: http://www.republicofbacon.com/en/Default.aspx
January 28th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Keyboards are multitouch. You can press as many keys as you want.
January 28th, 2010 at 6:10 am
So Joel… what sort of liquid serenity were you enjoying whilst Josh cavorted skyclad? I'd venture a strong assumption at some sort of herbal steeped goodness–green tea with jasmine, mayhap?
January 28th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Yes… but not nearly enough of your comics involve a naked Josh prancing around…
January 28th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I remember the time where John Lithgow had to get all mad at Josh to make him leave, and Josh didn't understand so he got all sad. Pretty sure I'm remembering that 100%
January 28th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I may or may not have danced around naked when I heard the news. I've actually been thinking of getting a netbook for around the house surfing
January 28th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Touchable things: I dont like them. I would use it to draw or something, but i'll stick to my Keyboard, Mouse and XP box.
January 28th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
actually, you should check that out. most USB keyboards cannot handle more than 4 or 5 concurrently pressed keys.
January 28th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Or indeed gets F'ed in the A by Steve Jobs the stone cold pimp
January 28th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
Far too cultured. I assume its potable eye-bleach
January 28th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
I think it's a waste of time. No multitasking is crap, you can listen to music and read on a kindle/nook at the same time, why can't you do both on an iPad? The name is atrocious. The fact that you have to buy adapters just to have a USB port or video is shit. No HDMI is dumb. The thing is basically an oversized iPod touch. My money will be better spent on a nook. At least trying to read on eink doesn't give me a throbbing headache after an hour or so, I can't say the same for LCDs. As for tablets, even the JooJoo is more attractive than this pile.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Are you disturbed that there's this many people wanting naked Josh?
January 29th, 2010 at 12:07 am
Joel, you lazy lazy man! No-one has forged a Hijinks ensue Wiki article till now.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:54 am
I tend to think of each cartoon as an avatar of the real thing…they don't look exactly like "real life", just the City of Heroes (or your fave MMORPG) version.
And personally, having manhair, I wouldn't want someone trying to do their 'toon impression of "gay Russian bearGeek" and making me look like a sasquatch or an early experimental Propecia subject.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:58 am
*pours out a 40oz. of Mountain Dew Throwback for Andy Hallett*
January 29th, 2010 at 1:16 am
I think it is. Even in the short term, it has the possibility to force Diamond to change their practices, and more people could find indy books and publishers. Furthermore, if they retain the $1 price tag from comics on the iPhone, it makes any book more appealing. A digital collection is also a nice alternative to longboxes and shelves.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:16 am
He probably got that excited about bacon when it was new.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:24 am
Several people have tried. They are deleted almost instantly as non-relevant or some such.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Look again, mine seems to have survived the night, and god knows thats the wikipedophiles high noon.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:40 am
[...] celebration and speculation at HijiNKS [...]
January 31st, 2010 at 8:39 pm
I love how quickly you changed your statement. From 'it has no video out' to 'well, but I have to pay for it!'. As for the 'there's no reason not to include it, hmmm what about form factor, price, which standard to go with, the additional circuitry (and increased heat dissipation), additional end user cost etc etc. Hell, my partners $500 Asus EeePC doesn't have video out, or an SD card reader and flash on it is too slow for playing games. So much for your netbook arguments.
February 1st, 2010 at 6:11 am
My $350 MSI does have video out SD carder reader and camera AND runs OSX so much for your netbooks suck argument
February 1st, 2010 at 6:15 am
everyone please maintain civility. Its just toys. No reason to start fighting.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:08 am
It depends on the people who run the government. Every system should be conducted for prosperity of the people.