5G. Wow, those cars are so incredible that I can't even conceive what it would feel like to go around in one.

They won't miss these added features because those primarily exposed to Apple's mass marketed products won't expect them by default. If Apple can define tablet PC to lack or not require GPS, a camera, possibly even Flash then that will define their expectations. I'm sure more are and will remain oblivious to the likes of the Archos 5G/9 which is superior to the iPad and does everything it should:

Archos 9 - $600
1.76 lbs.
1.1Ghz ATOM Z510. Runs Windows 7.
8.9", 1024 x 600 pixels resistive, LED backlight.
10.08" x 5.28" x 0.67" thick
7.4v Lithium-Polymer battery, 5 hours, removeable. 36W (12v @ 3a) power adapter.
HDD 60GB (1.8")
WiFi (802,11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
Microphone.
Stereo Speakers.
Headphone jack.
1.3mp Webcam,
Optical trackpoint mouse,L/R mouse buttons.
Built-in Stand, 2-positions.
USB port.
Lotus Symphony included: Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations.

iPad - Starting at $500, but $700 for that amount of hard drive space.
1.5 lbs.
1Ghz A4. Runs iPad OS 3.2.
9.7", 1024 x 768 pixels, capacitive, LED backlight, IPS, Oleophobic
9.56" x 7.47" x 0.5" thick.
25Whr Lithium-Polymer battery, 10 hours, fixed. 10W (5v @ 2a) power adapter.
16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash memory.
WiFi (802,11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR)
Microphone.
Speakers: Mono Audio.
Headphone jack.
iPad versions of iLife apps: $9.99 each (x 3).

Also I think the user utility associated with Apple's products is exaggerated. It's simplicity that they do well, and again the kind of people who are not aware of the customization they might appreciate, are missing out on and might benefit from are the same people that laud it. That and the fact that user utility feels like it's too often conflated with style. The scroll wheel on the iPod sure was a fancy marketing gimmick but having used a 5G iPod now for over a year, I would gladly get tactile controls back. There's simply no comparison, and really the only thing I can assume is Apple users who claim it's efficient have no frame of reference. The same can be said with OS X, sure it's full of stylish transitions, animations and some good features, but I'd wager especially with how familiar everyone is with Windows, it's no more of an efficient work tool. I see Jobs made a big deal about pointing out that the iPad will have a similar user interface to the iPhone. I think that drives home the point that there's nothing that immensely intuitive about Apple devices. They still must be learnt. People are simply more willing to invest time into learning to how to use an interface of a device that is more popular and they predict will be around for a longer time.

Coming back to the iPad, I still think even the average consumer is going to be pissed off by the lack of some features. It's pretty clear that they didn't just want to make a portable internet device that surpasses the iPhone in usability, they wanted to make something that clearly doesn't eat into the market share of their budget MacBook and MacBook Air. They could have loaded a desktop OS on it, but they purposely didn't. I think many will struggle with the idea that an internet device like this can't do Flash, doesn't have a USB port and can't run their favourite PC/Mac programs.

That may be it's downfall or marketing, and simplicity as you mentioned may win out. If Apple says 'revolutionary' enough, maybe they won't realise this device is bested by something that came out in October 2009.

That one guy pulled 10.5G! Crazy.

>> ^Psychologic:
They're only allowed to have 5g of weed? That's less than a quarter of an ounce (damn english system)... hopefully that is only a limit on the amount a person can carry on them.
The problem with the prohibition system is that criminal organizations control the distribution. Decriminalizing small amounts won't help unless people can grow their own plants. If users can't do that then they still have to pay those organizations to obtain the drugs, further funding their often violent activities.


People are going to pay the organizations anyways. At the same rate. Except unlike the U.S.A, now small time possession won't amount to criminal prosecution, freeing up police, and courts, to prosecute those violent criminals. They will also save money, referring to incarcerating people in prison for possession. This in turn will cease the production of criminals, who, while non violent and peaceful people who just wanted to get high, after being forced to join a gang and smuggle things up their assholes for their 'daddy', will likely leave the prison system after being repeatedly raped and beaten by hardcore inmates, and find themselves in a life of crime, thus creating more crime, more violence, and yes, more drug dealers.

Decriminalization leads to ordinary citizens remaining ordinary citizens, and criminals remaining behind bars. I live in Canada, and we have decriminalized small amounts as well. Your view is typical of the half thought out way your fellow countrymen approach most societal issues. Under your system, I would be in prison learning how to shank someone right now, so that when I get out to no job, life, family, I can kill your moms for her purse. Then you cry foul. Well foul on you friendo.

They're only allowed to have 5g of weed? That's less than a quarter of an ounce (damn english system)... hopefully that is only a limit on the amount a person can carry on them.

The problem with the prohibition system is that criminal organizations control the distribution. Decriminalizing small amounts won't help unless people can grow their own plants. If users can't do that then they still have to pay those organizations to obtain the drugs, further funding their often violent activities.

If you hadn't mutilitated your 5G iPod yet, I'd have recommended installing rockbox firmware on it. Far better and more customisable than default and plus it bypasses iTunes altogether and allows you to drag and drop music onto it. Would have been a good chance it would have fixed your problem too.

Anyway, I totally agree they overprice their computer/laptop line tremendously although frankly the iPod line, particularly the 5G and down hard disk models are a great piece of hardware and having tried various other digital audio players, I think they're one of the best in sound quality. I also dislike their style and simplicity over functionality and customisation attitude although there's obviously a huge demographic this appeal to. Still, the fact that iPods are now filled with bloatware that practically no one uses, while they can't seem to integrate a decent audio equaliser into it it sad. Not to mention scroll wheels and touch-keyboards for all their sleekness will never be as easy to use as tactile keys.

Haven't dealt with their customer service, but I recall a mate of mine in high school managed to have his iPod replaced because he claimed it scratched too easily.

His stare is so fucking INTENSE. It's like he's looking right at me and thinking, "Now, for dessert..."

EDIT: HOLY shit, I just found out the nutritional value of 40 pizza rolls . For those who are curious:

Nutrition Facts
Per 7 serving (1 serving being 6 pizza rolls)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1470
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 70g
108%

Saturated Fat 17.5g
88%

Trans Fat 10.5g

Polyunsaturated Fat 0g

MonoUnsaturated Fat 0g
Colesterol 70mg
24%
Sodium 3360mg
140%
Total Carbohydrates 168g
57%

Dietary Fiber 7g
29%
Protein 49 g
98%
* Based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
134%
Sodium 19200mg
800%
Total Carbohydrates 960g
320%

Dietary Fiber 40g
160%
Protein 280 g
560%
* Based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Agree with rougy on this one - the speed required to cause almost the entirety of the plane(composed primarily of carbon fiber and aluminum) to virtually slice the central columns, after having passed through the outer steel columns, would simply be astounding(quite greater than ~500-600mph).

Density of steel is ~7.8g/cm^3 - aluminum/aluminum alloys generally run ~2.8g/cm^3. I'm not even going to go into the density of carbon fiber.

That's not to say that the engines, composed primarily of titanium/aluminum, could not have gone through a center column or two - density of titanium is ~4.5g/cm^3.

Sure, the planes have a large amount of mass, but the WTC towers weren't exactly low mass themselves.

More fun stuff to keep us talking...

So? So, like .5g of hagfish goo has the ability to turn hundreds of times its own weight of water into slime immediately. We don't understand how to do this!

There are a lot of suppositions to be made since I don't know what the design load limits for the 777 are. Per the Federal Aviation Regulations, the positive load factor required for this category of airplane is between 2.5g and 3.8g at maximum takeoff weight. At the minimum that means the wings must support between 2.5 and 3.8 times the force of gravity to be certified. The significance of 154% on the video is that they were trying to get to 150% of the design load limit before structural failure.

Anyway... the maximum take-off weight of a Boeing 777-200 is 554,000 lbs (keep in mind, this is now the smallest, lightest 777 on the market. The newer Boeing 777-300ER is 775,000 lbs., the 747-400ER is 910,000 lbs, and the upcoming 747-800 is tentatively at 970,000 lbs. For comparison's sake, the A380's is 1.235 million lbs.) That means that wing was supporting one half the take-off weight multiplied by between 2.5 and 3.8 - between 692,000 and 1052600 lbs, and that is just for 100% of the load limit!

I'm glossing over lots of subtleties, but the general idea still stands. That's a lot of force!