Cyprus-Forum.com

[Demonax]

but the real heavy duty kick in the balls will be coming in january....with the introduction of the surface running win 8 pro with an intel i5 and the ivy chipset, they reckon between $800 -$900...this will steamroll not only the ipad but half the mac range...

Well I hope it's better than the Surface RT which was neither a good tablet nor a good netbook and nobody has bought.

what you failed to understand is microsoft today exclusively owns and controls more than 80% the server market, the operating system, the applications, a gaming platform and shelled out heaps of bucks for skype, read computer telephony...and you are sitting there telling us microsoft is in a real dilemma?...

Microsoft is having to manufacture its own computer because its profitability from Windows is under long-term threat. It can't rely on profits selling expensive software on cheap computers. The shift is towards the tablet market which doesn't support Microsoft's model. That's why Apple is making huge profits. Last quarter, Microsoft brought in $20.89 billion in revenue. Apple brought in $46.33 billion. Put another way: Apple’s iPhone business alone is larger than all of Microsoft’s businesses combined.

my rooted samsung galaxy S2 runs hoops around any tablet ipad can dish out, with connectivity and flexibility, something incoherent to an apple user...

You mean you plug things into your mobile phone? Who the hell plugs things into a phone. Don't you know about wi-fi? Bluetooth? The Cloud? You are such a tech dinosaur. You need to move on, mate.

[Demonax]

So, I can buy a Pipo today (which has a stunning 9.7" IPS display, dual core 1.6GHz processor 1G RAM and 16G flash) and in a couple of years time buy another tablet of the latest specification for the same money.

Grumpy old chap. It's a cheap knock-off made with cheap components with a dodgy UI, Chinese bloatware, poor screen, lousy wifi and mediocre battery life. Why do you think it's so cheap? But if I were you, I'd buy it because I reckon these things don't bother you. You'll reckon you have bought a top quality product. Like those tourists in London who buy fake perfume from a bloke in Oxford Street thinking they have bought the real thing. Good luck! But don't say I didn't warn you.

I take it you have actually used on then...?

Grumpy. In all seriousness, I've looked into the cheap Android tablet market out of curiosity and read a lot of reviews/forums and there is a reason that these tablets are so cheap. Apple could produce a really cheap tablet if it wanted. But it doesn't because it would be a lousy tablet that would provide a lousy experience. And it wouldn't make any money that way. By all means try one out. You can’t go wrong at those prices. It might even be quite usable. But I have used an iPad and it's a really nice product which I use far more than I expected. So much so that my laptop is gathering dust these days.

If I was in the market for a tablet right now I'd be looking at an iPad Mini which is actually a very nice size and not at all compromised except for the lack of a retina display - which is the one thing I would miss from the larger machines. Next year's model should get the retina display then it would be the perfect tablet in my opinion.

[cyprusgrump]

So, I can buy a Pipo today (which has a stunning 9.7" IPS display, dual core 1.6GHz processor 1G RAM and 16G flash) and in a couple of years time buy another tablet of the latest specification for the same money.

Grumpy old chap. It's a cheap knock-off made with cheap components with a dodgy UI, Chinese bloatware, poor screen, lousy wifi and mediocre battery life. Why do you think it's so cheap? But if I were you, I'd buy it because I reckon these things don't bother you. You'll reckon you have bought a top quality product. Like those tourists in London who buy fake perfume from a bloke in Oxford Street thinking they have bought the real thing. Good luck! But don't say I didn't warn you.

I take it you have actually used on then...?

Grumpy. In all seriousness, I've looked into the cheap Android tablet market out of curiosity and read a lot of reviews/forums and there is a reason that these tablets are so cheap. Apple could produce a really cheap tablet if it wanted. But it doesn't because it would be a lousy tablet that would provide a lousy experience. And it wouldn't make any money that way. By all means try one out. You can’t go wrong at those prices. It might even be quite usable. But I have used an iPad and it's a really nice product which I use far more than I expected. So much so that my laptop is gathering dust these days.

If I was in the market for a tablet right now I'd be looking at an iPad Mini which is actually a very nice size and not at all compromised except for the lack of a retina display - which is the one thing I would miss from the larger machines. Next year's model should get the retina display then it would be the perfect tablet in my opinion.

So that is a 'no' then...?

You really have no idea do you...?

I've actually owned a cheap Android tablet - it was excellent! However, I made the mistake of buying a 7" device which wasn't really large enough for me... I gave it to my daughter and she is thrilled with it.

Hence the reason I am looking for a device with a larger screen.

So unlike you, the 'expert' on the subject I actually know what I am talking about...

I'll explain in greater detail for the hard of understanding why the iPad Mini would not be the perfect machine for me....

I have a small network of Windows 7 based PCs.

I have a QNAP NAS that stores all my data, streams music and video, manages backups, etc. That was about £150 plus the drives (2 x 1TB).

I do some web development, e-mail, browse some forums, etc.

So, if I need a mobile device to travel the Pipo would be perfect for me. I’d simply pop a 32Gb Micro SD card (£13) into my PC and copy all the music, pictures, movies and data that I need from the NAS.

Then pop the Micro SD card into the Pipo and I’m up and running – 9.7” IPS tablet, 48Gb storage – all for under £160.

Then, when you and the other Apple fanboys are queuing up at midnight in a couple of years time to get the iPad mini 3 or whatever it is, I'll be able to turn the Pipo into a beer mat and buy the latest Android or Windows device with the money I saved by not buying an iPad Mini!

There really is no reason in the world why I would buy an iWhatever...

[Demonax]

Then, when you and the other Apple fanboys are queuing up at midnight in a couple of years time to get the iPad mini 3 or whatever it is, I'll be able to turn the Pipo into a beer mat and buy the latest Android or Windows device with the money I saved by not buying an iPad Mini!

Wrong. The iPad will still work fine in three year's time and still run the most current version of IOS so I would sell it for a couple of hundred euros and upgrade to the latest iPad. Whereas you'll be lumbered with a beermat and a cheap Chinese tablet with poor components and Chinese bloatware which you'll have to send back to China when something inevitably goes wrong with it. And you will have ended up spending more than me overall.

[cyprusgrump]

Then, when you and the other Apple fanboys are queuing up at midnight in a couple of years time to get the iPad mini 3 or whatever it is, I'll be able to turn the Pipo into a beer mat and buy the latest Android or Windows device with the money I saved by not buying an iPad Mini!

Wrong. I'll have no need to upgrade the iPad because it'll still work fine in three year's time and still run the most current version of IOS. Or I could sell it for a couple of hundred euros and upgrade to the latest iPad. Whereas you'll be lumbered with a beermat and a cheap Chinese tablet with poor components and Chinese bloatware which you'll have to send back to China when something inevitably goes wrong with it.

Says the Apple fanboy who now admits his entire knowledge of Android tablets is reading a few reviews on teh Interwebs!

Lets face it fanboy, there have been four generations of iPads in two years - the chances of you still using the one you own in three years are extremely slim - and the chances of you getting €200 for a current model in three years time even slimmer!

[Sotos]

If you spend 2000 euro for an Apple computer and I spend 2000 euro to build a PC then my PC will be far more powerful than your Apple...

Who the hell builds their own computer these days, Sotos? Hours piecing it together, then after installing Windows, updating drivers, you get all those hundreds of security updates. And then spending a week troubleshooting the inevitable driver issue. Followed by hardware faults, annoying blue screen of death, components overheating, and software getting corrupted to the point you have to keep upgrading. Haven't you outgrown that nonsense yet? Who needs it? Give me a beautifully designed Mac. Open the box, plug it in and it works. And I don't have to stare at that ugly Windows OS every day. That is worth €€ to me.

I can build a PC and install the OS, drivers and updates within a few hours. If you don't want to do it yourself then you can buy a ready made PC... you will still get a more powerful computer than the Apple you would get for the same money. I didn't have any blue screens for years. Some component could go wrong, but that could happen with a Mac also...in fact many components in apple products are made by companies such as intel, samsung etc!! If you can build your own PC that is the best. You get the most power and you have control over your system so you can fix it yourself very fast without the need to send it away to strangers for days... while those strangers are free to look into your private data. Second best is to buy a ready made PC... you will still get more power than the Mac you would get for the same money. By the way ... while I like a lot the design of the Apple devices I don't find anything too nice with the design of their OS. And when it comes to iOS vs Android I find that Android has a much nicer design. Many people like the Windows Metro design the most. Aesthetics are subjective!

[Demonax]

Says the Apple fanboy who now admits his entire knowledge of Android tablets is reading a few reviews on teh Interwebs!

Yes, grumpy. Crappy battery life, a crappy screen, a crappy camera, crappy UI and tons of Chinese bloatware. All for £160. You've got to hand it to the Chinese.

there have been four generations of iPads in two years - the chances of you still using the one you own in three years are extremely slim - and the chances of you getting €200 for a current model in three years time even slimmer!

Wrong again, grumpy. Second generation iPads are going for £230 secondhand. Do you know why? They still work perfectly and run the latest version of iOS. It's a false economy to buy Android. You end up paying more in the long run and with a worse technology and lousy user experience. You end up with crap and you don't even save any money. How dumb is that?

[Get Real!]

That’s it! I’m getting a Pipo and I’m unanimous about that!

[B25]

Demon, i'm with you mate.

No other manufacturer has sold product by the millions on the first day of launch. Apple can and does, why, because miliions and millions recognise the superiority of the product. I use both apple and microsoft products, Apples are by far superior.

Sure there are cheap tablets out there, as there are skodas, but when you need a class product that can retain its resale value, Apple is it.

So when you are done with the rest, just come to the best.

CASE CLOSED.

Soto, sure you can get more power for your bucks, but 90% plus of the users are not in that category, maybe it suits you, most just want to switch on and go. So you analogy is not really relevant.

GR, you would be better off getting a Bippa mate, cheaper and more pleasure.

[cyprusgrump]

Says the Apple fanboy who now admits his entire knowledge of Android tablets is reading a few reviews on teh Interwebs!

Yes, grumpy. Crappy battery life, a crappy screen, a crappy camera, crappy UI and tons of Chinese bloatware. All for £160. You've got to hand it to the Chinese.

there have been four generations of iPads in two years - the chances of you still using the one you own in three years are extremely slim - and the chances of you getting €200 for a current model in three years time even slimmer!

Wrong again, grumpy. Second generation iPads are going for £230 secondhand. Do you know why? They still work perfectly and run the latest version of iOS. It's a false economy to buy Android. You end up paying more in the long run and with a worse technology and lousy user experience. You end up with crap and you don't even save any money. How dumb is that?

It is as dumb as the Apple fanboy that has never used one yet knows everything about them...

And given that a brand new iPad 2 costs ~£300 on Amazon, being able to buy a second hand one for £230 doesn't do much for your argument does it...? Buy a new one today and lose £70 as soon as you unwrap it?

I can buy a new Pipo for ££80 less than a second-hand iPad 2 yet get the same screen, a faster processor, more memory, better resolution cameras and more storage...

Where does that leave your bargain iPad fanboy?