TOPIC: iPad

Hi Toby,

Sorry you're right, calling it iJunk is going a bit overboard. It has been a huge disappointment to us, other developers and inspectors for what we wanted to use it for. I don't know how you can call us Anti Apple since we're one of only 2 programs that run NATIVELY on the Mac! Approximately 25% of our users are Mac users. There are other slates you can purchase to carry around, you can even buy the modbook from Axiotron: www.modbook.com/ which WILL work with Home Inspector Pro (Mac Slate been around much longer than the iPad).

The iPad is not a content creation device. Apple will tell you that. It is a consumption device. EBooks, Web Browsing, Music, Games. Work great. Don't try to edit video, create big presentations, etc, as it's not made for it. It only has 256 megs of ram (a cheap netbook has 4 times that at 1 gig, most laptops now come with 4gigs). The iPad is GREAT for what it was made for. Unfortunately a lot of developers such as ourselves had hoped Apple would go with the original talk of the iPad being closer to the Mac OS, which it's not. It runs the iPhone OS.

No software developer can afford to let the consumer decide here. You're talking about at least $50,000+ and literally hundreds of hours in development for a single device for a market where there's only 20,000 inspectors in the entire country. If Apple had put Java on the device like 99% of other devices we could have made a version for it in around 100 hours and it would be worth trying out. But as it is we'd need to sell 500 copies to people who are only buying HIP because of the iPad to break even financially and that doesn't count the lost features that all the other users lose out on because we're not developing the software for other mac & windows users. It just doesn't make sense. Especially when we expect (hope) the next iPad will have Flash & Java.

Facts about the current iPad(assuming we did make it):

The iPad does not allow more than 1 program to run at a time unless it was created by Apple. This means you could not generate your report without closing out of the software to look at it. Then restarting the program to open it back up.

256 megs of ram means you couldn't import many photographs and have the software resize and work with them.

The 1 ghz processor would make the entire process and program extremely slow.

The device is made to be used with a virtual keyboard which takes up 1/3 of the screen. It does not suppose hand writing recognition which is required to walk and write.

It costs just as much as the CTL2Go which includes a keyboard or the new HP or Intel slate which are identical but run Windows on much faster processors and a lot more ram.

I understand completely what you are saying, I am not, and do not know how much work it truly takes to create an app. What bugs me, is how EASY the iphone, and in turn iPad is to use. Maybe I am biased, but with all the iphone downfalls it is the simplest, most intuitive device I have ever used, and cannot imagine life with a physical keyboard phone again. Apple has me under its spell, there devices simply WORK as they say in their promos. I have owned windows computers all my life, and was a palm treo user for years. I can tell you my Treo had to have a hard reset multiple times a day, and we all know the issues with windows. I bought my first mac about a year ago and the difference has been phenominal. Its BLAZING fast, it is visually stunning, and I now know why someone would pay so much for a computer. As for the iphone, twice in the 8 months i have used it I have had to reset it. Its amazingly reliable. Thats what I am looking for for my business very easy to use hardware/software that is rock solid reliable.I guess that is my frustration, I want to use a device that is new and exciting while also being very functional. I see all of those things in the iPad. Play it safe, just create a very basic, text input only iphone app. I WOULD USE IT even on the small screen I would still happily use it, and would pay extra for the luxury. Also, sorry, i dont buy its underpowerd. Every tech editor out there has been amazed at how fast it is. For god sake the iphone is only a hair over 600mhz processor and can run the most amazing games. I only say that because how much processing power do you think a device will need to run a basic text input app that will sync with the full version? I promise, im getting off my high horse now, but to not even consider apps for arguably the most popular mobile devices out there is just sad.

Hi Toby,

It was definitely considered. And every time we get an email from someone requesting it, we consider it more. So far about 30 guys have asked for it. Out of those 30 I know about 25 went out and bought the CTL2Go and 2 bought the modbook (just like iPad but more powerful).

It is a nice device for what it's made for, but it is underpowered for what we need to do. The CTL2Go for example has a 1.6ghz processor which makes it 60% faster than the iPad's 1ghz. There are many negative reviews about the iPad from developers and editors, but they are online, magazines don't print them. The amount of ram on it at 256 megs is equivalent of a computer made 10 years ago. That's part of the reason Apple limits it to one application at a time. I think the Generation 2 iPad will be MUCH better, just like the Generation 2 iPhones were a huge improvement.

Many inspectors take 150 to 300 photos per inspection at anywhere from 5 to 10 megapixels which takes a massive amount of power to resize and input into software. For normal programs where they have millions of potential users, heck ya it's a great investment to make a program form. But 20,000 inspectors / 10 inspection programs does not compute. I'm sure the next generation will have Java on it and we can make a port. You actually could already run Home Inspector Pro on it but it requires you to 'jailbreak' the iPad so it runs Java which we can't support as it voids your warranty.

Check out the modbook, it's a sweet Apple slate. We have a few inspectors who use it now!

P.S. I'm very grateful I don't have my windows based Treo any more. The palm versions weren't too bad. I do have an android phone now and the new android based tablets look like they'll have Java and will be able to run our software too.

Dominic-

Do you know anything about the durability of the Modbook? Looks great, but doesn't look sturdy.

Basically any tablet except the ctl2go and toughbook are only slightly tougher than regular laptops. Even the ipad will easily bust if dropped. The modbook would be the same so I'd get a sling for it.

I for one am so disappointed that ALL of the inspection software companies are so anti-apple. To call the ipad junk is totally ridiculous. It has it's shortcomings but I think it would be a wonderful device to carry around on an inspection. Too bad no one let's the customer decide.

EXACTLY!!!!