So what sort of alternatives to the iPad, touchscreen-wise, are you using or intend to use? I was originally going for the Asus EP121 when it comes out, but it looks too expensive, so I might go for an iPad 2 or a Galaxy thingy (is that any good?) or whatever else is coming out soon.

I'm thinking the Galaxy thingy would be too small, but I want both a handheld and a tablet-sized touchscreen device, I think, so it's possibly just the right size?

I'm waiting to see if anything worth buying comes out at CES this winter in Android.

The Android tablet running an early version of Honeycomb Andy Rubin showed at All Things Digital looked pretty nice. Honeycomb will most likely be Android 3.0, and it's supposed to have a lot of features that will optimize Android for use on tablets.

You can see the whole interview with him here, and a demo of Honeycomb on a prototype tablet in development:
http://www.androidcentral.com/d-dive-mob...view-video

So until the tablet he shows us in the video (or something like it) is available with the features I want, I'll pass. The tablets out right now just don't do it for me, and I choose not to be beholden to the turtlenecked one and his iStore.

Until then, I have a perfectly powerful lappy that runs Anki just fine.

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As a Mac user, the iPad is a no brainer. There are loads of apps out there which interface the iPad with other iPpodtouch, iPhone... and even use it as an external display.

I'm eyeing the iPad lately, but waiting to see what iPad 2 looks like.

Here's a really great show iPad Today on TWiT Network, I found via Reddit yesterday. The presenters really enjoy it and you can see they've spent a lot of time with it.

I'd like to keep an eye on iOS as well, if you know of a really good show for Android please post

I'm planning to buy an iPad2 on launch. I would just get an iPad1 right now but I can wait for the next gen. Hopefully they increase the pixel density to challenge e-ink.

Right now the iPad just seems too restrictive to me, even jailbroken, it just looks like a pain in the ass. Also, do Android devices require you to have an 'app' for every little thing? When I imagine the iOS thing, I imagine a system where you have to pay a separate fee to do everything, unless you pirate it. It reminds me of pay-to-play like WoW where Blizzard managed to convince everyone to buy the same game every month. ;p That's why even though the Asus EP121 is using Windows 7 full which means not optimized for touchscreens, I was tempted, but it seems way too expensive and I'm sure there's other options.

Plus from what I've read you have more options with the iPad 2, at least in terms of multitasking and Flash and stuff. And maybe I have the wrong impression with the apps? If it's coming out next month or something I might just grab it and wait for another gen of non-Apple devices.

Also, iPads don't have built-in Japanese support? It's Chinese or something? wtf.

Android is going through its growing pains. It's still a mixed bag, but overall, I like it because I have more in the way of device choices.

It isn't a whole lot better with its JP support, to be honest. All of my JP support comes from 3rd party apps, keyboard-wise, anyway. Simeji is hopelessly ugly, but amazingly useful as a JP/EN keyboard.

If the tablets are anything like the phones, then yeah, it's app hell either way. But then again, PCs are like that, too. The standard Google Apps are impressive overall, but the Music Player app takes some getting used to. It was designed by software engineers, not designers, so it's kind of clumsy and ugly, but it also has hidden features of brilliance, too. And at least it never forgets where I am in a long playlist, unlike my iPhone, which would constantly lose my place if I ran more than 3 apps in a row. (Dammit.)

The main difference between the two major mobile OSes for me is the "Run non-market programs" switch, which lets me run whatever I want without having to jailbreak or root my phone (well, not *everything*-- a small number of apps still require rooting, but it's not usually something worth rooting the phone over.) And there's always the risk of running something that will screw up your phone. *shrug* That's half the fun.

These things are simple to backup, you just turn your phone into a HDD, copy everything onto your computer's HDD (as many as you like), and you're good to go. No iTunes needed, no Big Brother telling you how many computers you're allowed to do it on, no odd formats, just a straight file dump.

The other thing I have noticed is more free/open source apps available for Android than I noticed when I had an iPhone. Maybe that has changed in the last 6 months, but just about everything I put on my iPhone, I had to shell out for. Sometimes I have to pay for apps on Android, but not always. There's a lot of great free/open source stuff out there.

And while Android app quality wasn't there at first (some of it was just awful), I think it has improved a great deal over the last 6 months since I picked up my N1.

I still wouldn't buy anything that wasn't at least 2.2, though... and 2.3 is officially out now.

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It appears Japanese IME will be added with iOS 4.2.

nest0r Wrote:Also, iPads don't have built-in Japanese support? It's Chinese or something? wtf.

Wait, since when has the iPad not had Japanese support? It's been there from the beginning; it just doesn't have Japanese handwriting recognition like it does for Chinese.

Mcjon01 Wrote:

nest0r Wrote:Also, iPads don't have built-in Japanese support? It's Chinese or something? wtf.

Wait, since when has the iPad not had Japanese support? It's been there from the beginning; it just doesn't have Japanese handwriting recognition like it does for Chinese.

Wait, since when was the iPad in existence in the beginning? They didn't even have technology then! Oh wait, I can infer from context what you were talking about rather than nitpick over phrasing. ;p

Personally, I think the iPad is hands down the best tablet for japanese study.
Mainly because it's the only tablet where you can find all the major japanese
dictionaries in the app store.

Really, tablets are all about apps and Apple is #1 when it comes to app stores.
None of the other tablets out there are successful enough to encourage Japanese developers
to create software specifically for them.

I would advise you to wait for the iPad 2, Notion Ink Adam, and Blackberry Playbook before making a final decision.

NOTE: I have an iPad and Android phone. Also, I have computers with Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux. So I'm not a fanboy of any platform.

nest0r Wrote:Wait, since when was the iPad in existence in the beginning? They didn't even have technology then! Oh wait, I can infer from context what you were talking about rather than nitpick over phrasing. ;p

It's okay, I can forgive you for expressing your thoughts poorly. <3

chamcham Wrote:NOTE: I have an iPad and Android phone. Also, I have computers with Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux. So I'm not a fanboy of any platform.

You forgot to mention your private yacht docked at Martha's Vineyard

Mcjon01 Wrote:

nest0r Wrote:Wait, since when was the iPad in existence in the beginning? They didn't even have technology then! Oh wait, I can infer from context what you were talking about rather than nitpick over phrasing. ;p

It's okay, I can forgive you for expressing your thoughts poorly. <3

loal. No wait, I am feeling self-conscious now. I tried to articulate clearly what I meant, hence "or something" and "wtf"—those are trademark phrases I use in my comments when I am speaking concretely from a place of authority.

vileru Wrote:

chamcham Wrote:NOTE: I have an iPad and Android phone. Also, I have computers with Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux. So I'm not a fanboy of any platform.

You forgot to mention your private yacht docked at Martha's Vineyard

Yes. And I also forgot to mention the Playboy models on that private yacht.....

chamcham Wrote:

vileru Wrote:

chamcham Wrote:NOTE: I have an iPad and Android phone. Also, I have computers with Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux. So I'm not a fanboy of any platform.

You forgot to mention your private yacht docked at Martha's Vineyard

Yes. And I also forgot to mention the Playboy models on that private yacht.....

I bet they all passed the JLPT N1 in a month.

kainzero Wrote:

chamcham Wrote:

vileru Wrote:You forgot to mention your private yacht docked at Martha's Vineyard

Yes. And I also forgot to mention the Playboy models on that private yacht.....

I bet they all passed the JLPT N1 in a month.

Yes. They did. And it's all because of the iPad.....lol..... :-p

chamcham Wrote:

kainzero Wrote:

chamcham Wrote:Yes. And I also forgot to mention the Playboy models on that private yacht.....

I bet they all passed the JLPT N1 in a month.

Yes. They did. And it's all because of the iPad.....lol..... :-p

Then you took them back to your 愛 pad.

kainzero Wrote:

chamcham Wrote:

kainzero Wrote:I bet they all passed the JLPT N1 in a month.

Yes. They did. And it's all because of the iPad.....lol..... :-p

Then you took them back to your 愛 pad.

I see what you did there.

愛pad, that's a surprisingly common Japanese pun, apparently! ;p

I guess I'll just wait and see what's out in April when the iPad 2 is released. Till then the iPod Touch will tide me over... the Galaxy Tab doesn't even have a Wi-Fi version yet, does it?

vileru Wrote:

chamcham Wrote:NOTE: I have an iPad and Android phone. Also, I have computers with Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux. So I'm not a fanboy of any platform.

You forgot to mention your private yacht docked at Martha's Vineyard

And a monocle, they always wear one.

nest0r Wrote:I guess I'll just wait and see what's out in April when the iPad 2 is released. Till then the iPod Touch will tide me over... the Galaxy Tab doesn't even have a Wi-Fi version yet, does it?

I guess we're supposed to infer what you mean instead of responding to what you actually asked again, yes?

The Galaxy Tab has Wi-Fi, but the Wi-Fi Only version is yet to be released, yes.

JimmySeal Wrote:

nest0r Wrote:I guess I'll just wait and see what's out in April when the iPad 2 is released. Till then the iPod Touch will tide me over... the Galaxy Tab doesn't even have a Wi-Fi version yet, does it?

I guess we're supposed to infer what you mean instead of responding to what you actually asked again, yes?

The Galaxy Tab has Wi-Fi, but the Wi-Fi Only version is yet to be released, yes.

You're joking, right? Like, Colbert style humour?

A quick Google search tells me it's relatively common to type "wifi version" in addition to "only", which makes sense given it's not a "WiFi version" at the moment, the "version" would more logically be reserved as appended to the main services in question (i.e. the 3G networks).

But thanks for answering my question. Though this time, context should've told you that I was asking a rhetorical question. Albeit occasionally amusing, I'm unconvinced by the tone you often take here on the forum Jimmy, the scathing dismissal and whatnot (i.e. indiscriminately speaking arrogantly from a place of ignorance), so feel free to just ignore my comments in the future (esp. if my posting style grates on your nerves as well).

I'll admit your intent was a bit clearer regarding the WiFi version, but I'm not the one who tore into Mcjon01 a few posts back for misinterpreting a very poorly worded question.

I don't know how you expected anyone to interpret "Japanese support" as "Japanese handwriting recognition." I also don't know how you expected anyone to interpret your more recent question as rhetorical, given the context. I think you assume you're conveying more information in your posts than you actually are. Maybe it's your vastly superior intellect that leads you to think we're just as good at finding hidden meaning in your words as you are, or maybe I'm wrong and it's just that the rest of us are existing in a place of ignorance.

JimmySeal Wrote:I'll admit your intent was a bit clearer regarding the WiFi version, but I'm not the one who tore into Mcjon01 a few posts back for misinterpreting a very poorly worded question.

I don't know how you expected anyone to interpret "Japanese support" as "Japanese handwriting recognition." I also don't know how you expected anyone to interpret your more recent question as rhetorical, given the context. I think you assume you're conveying more information in your posts than you actually are. Maybe it's your vastly superior intellect that leads you to think we're just as good at finding hidden meaning in your words as you are, or maybe I'm wrong and it's just that the rest of us are existing in a place of ignorance.

The rest of us? You're no spokesperson, unless you think everyone on the forum only posts negative criticisms of other posters' comments, as you do literally every time. So I'll ignore all the sarcasm in this case as another instance of JimmySeal getting carried away with the insolent critique schtick.

At any rate, I'm not sure why you're reading so much into Mcjon and I's light, mutually sarcastic exchange, I merely pointed out to them that I was speaking vaguely and generally, not making a 'particular statement' about 'Japanese support'.

Indicators: Statements with question marks, "or something", the overall context of an inquiry about other devices, none of these warranted Mcjon's response of "Wait, since when... " as if I had made a concrete, authoritative statement. The comment itself wasn't bad, just the preface was unnecessarily oppositional and putting words in my mouth in a manner of speaking.

My question was clearly rhetorical because to say something specific about a device indicates assurance, and adding "does it" hardly subverts that, especially to readers interested enough in the topic and familiar enough with it to critique my terminology, who may have seen the 500 articles about there not being a WiFi version of the Galaxy Tab.

At any rate, please stop wasting my time with this petty nonsense, go find some other comment to pop in on and criticize, one where you're actually in the right or offering something substantive and helpful. Maybe mix things up and be supportive or neutral in tone somewhere.

You win. Congratulations. Please collect your cookie.