[ale] Android Tablets

[Chris Fowler]

On Thu, 2010-08-19 at 20:03 -0400, Brian Pitts wrote:
> On 08/19/2010 06:51 PM, James Sumners wrote:
> > There is no point in trying to get some folks to see reason. They see
> > such items as a traditional computer, not as the specialized devices
> > that they are.
> 
> Your toaster is a specialized device. Your ipad or android tablet is a
> computer. I haven't fully thought this through, but I think I like the
> distinction made in question #23 of this interview [0]. Is the device
> intended to run software, or is that just an implementation detail? If
> it's the former, it's a computer, and all the concerns you have about
> your traditional computing experience should be applied to it. Now, you
> might not have the same concerns as Aaron does, and I think that's fine.
> But did you really mean to imply that concerns about DRM are not reasonable?
> 
> [0] http://blog.reddit.com/2010/07/rms-ama.html
> 

This should not drag onto this list but the definition of a "specialized
device" is subjective.

What may be a computer to you is a device for another that does one task
and does it well.

No one is holding a gun to anyone's head and forcing them to buy iCrap.
If you feel like that Apple has too much of a hold on the device then
the device does not provide enough value for you pay the money for it.

To me, the iPad is too expensive and I get more value out of my $200
netbook.  I'm sure others feel the same.  For consumers that want the
latest iCrap they would gladly drop their cash.  I want something I can
write programs on.