iPad seems to make a great photo portfolio

[mrcricket]

I was one of those folks who succumbed to the glossy seduction of the iPad today. I must say this thing is an amazing piece of technology. But it seems to transcend technology just as the iPod and iPhone. Originally when it was announced I was underwhelmed. But then a lightbulb went off in my head- this thing is the ultimate portfolio. As a creative director and avid photographer my portfolio needs are varied. I need to present photos, designs, brochures, logos, ads etc. And I need to be able to show my television reel as well. Now I can do all of that without bringing out a laptop. I can just hand the iPad to clients and they can intuitively flip through, enlarge and play my samples. All on an elegant and beautifully designed device.

I've had the iPad all of just 6 hours and I'm hooked.

So, what do you other photographers think about the iPad?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

It looks pretty neat, but I can't get past the restriction on only getting software from Apple's store. I pray that business model doesn't spread.

 

[photo_chick]

I could see using it as a portfolio if I could bring myself to cross back over to the dark side. Though my husband (he's a CD in game design) never could because of it's lack of flash support. And I'd never be able to pull up my site on it because of that either.

 

[ukcatfan]

I can see using it for your purposes, but the capacity is not really enough for someone that wants to bring their catalog of pictures with them. The iPad has the hype now, but they are crossing into Windows territory now and I see Apple eventually getting crushed in this market. It is going to be difficult for them when they have one or two models, but you can pick from upwards of a hundred or more different models that run Windows.

 

[mrcricket]

I can see using it for your purposes, but the capacity is not really enough for someone that wants to bring their catalog of pictures with them. The iPad has the hype now, but they are crossing into Windows territory now and I see Apple eventually getting crushed in this market. It is going to be difficult for them when they have one or two models, but you can pick from upwards of a hundred or more different models that run Windows.

Well that would only work if you like windows. I am an Apple faithful. Have been for 26 years. Besides, I think you're thinking of the iPad as something it's not. It's not a a tablet computer. It's a tablet media consumption device. And that's taking the iPod to a whole new level. As for this thing not being big enough to bring your catalog of work-I don't get that. It's not to work from, but to share from. Hence why I suggest it's the ultimate portfolio. And for that I don't need full size raw files. Just appropriately sized jpegs. And I can put thousands of those on here.

 

[mrcricket]

I could see using it as a portfolio if I could bring myself to cross back over to the dark side. Though my husband (he's a CD in game design) never could because of it's lack of flash support. And I'd never be able to pull up my site on it because of that either.

Dark side? You mean the side of light.
Seriously, the flash issue is minor to me, yet annoying. For some reason I think the lack of flash must be a legal issue or money thing. It wouldn't surprise me if they could fix that very easily. And may in the future. But if your site is flash based I understand not wanting to get one yet. BTW this is the first time I've ever bought an item on it's launch date. I've always waited at least 6 months. But this thing is just too fun.

 

[photo_chick]

No... as a former Apple devotee I'm pretty set in my beleif that they're evil. But I can make you a great deal on a Power Computing machine if you like. Or a Performa? G3? G4? Apple IIe? Newton anyone? A first gen iPod? I've got a closet full of Apple products that really do need homes.

Seriously, the iPad is the iPod Touch on steriods. And I think it's only a matter of time before we start seeing similar android and Windows based products. But the non-Apple products will do more and cost less.

But again, it has it's uses. Right now it's the only thing out there with it's portability that can read any e-book format, thanks to the apps form Nook and Kindle, as well as ADE. But don't expect that to last... Apple will soon kill it off with a mandatory firmware update that will render those apps useless thereby forcing users to purchase e-books only from the iTunes store.

 

[MassJester]

I dunno.

Looks pretty cool to me.

I've been hearing of Apple's imminent downfall since the late 1980's. iPhone seems to be doing fine in the face of the competition--should do even better with a Verizon option.

I'd wager iPad isn't quite doomed.

 

[alan]

The iPad is Apple's copy of the HP Slate, isn't it?

Seriously, I do offer congratulations to the OP on finding a use for it, because I totally failed to think of any reason I would want one.

I carry a phone around because I need to. And I can see that the iPhone is a thing of beauty. That's fine.

But I don't want to carry around something as big as the iPad. I don't carry a Kindle because I can read ebooks on my phone, and I do have that everywhere I go. If I wanted something as bulky as the Kindle or iPad, I might as well carry around a small laptop - it does a lot more.

I'm going to watch the market with some interest, but so far it just seems to be a rather beautiful piece of entirely impractical technology in search of a market. And of course, there's the already mentioned Apple lock-in and lack of flash to make the product look even less attractive.

My prediction for 2010: the Slate / iPad market is doomed.

regards,
/alan

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Dark side? You mean the side of light.
Seriously, the flash issue is minor to me, yet annoying. For some reason I think the lack of flash must be a legal issue or money thing. It wouldn't surprise me if they could fix that very easily. And may in the future. But if your site is flash based I understand not wanting to get one yet. BTW this is the first time I've ever bought an item on it's launch date. I've always waited at least 6 months. But this thing is just too fun.

This goes right to the heart of why, despite thinking that it's really cool, I couldn't stomach buying one. Apple could have flash on the iPad and iPhone in a heartbeat. Adobe would love to write a version for those devices. Apple won't let them.

The problem for Apple is that supporting flash would allow people to bypass the iTunes store and use flash based applications. It's the same reason why you cannot get Firefox as a browser for the iPhone/iPad. Apple doesn't want you to bypass their browser because they want control.

In the Windows/Mac/Linux PC world, you own your computer and you could put whatever you want on it. They are open platforms. Once you buy one, you decide what you want to put on it. With the iPhone/iPad, you lose that control and can only run those things that work with Apple's business model.

Someone needs to remake Apple's 1984 commercial.

Today, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created for the first time in all history, a garden of pure ideology. Where each worker may bloom secure from the pests of contradictory and confusing truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!

With the iPhone/iPad, Apple is becoming that which they once mocked. It's a shame, because it looks like it could have been a good product.

 

[ssanders79]

I agree no flash was the deal killer for me (for now). The iPad was introduced as a way to browse the internet which fell in that small gab between netbooks/ebook readers/laptops. Well without flash that is going to be tough. That is the only thing that really annoys me about my iphone is the inability to display flash content.

I wanted an iPad and may still get one down the road maybe version 2 or 3. I waited for the 3g iphone, I can wait a little longer for the iPad.

 

[handicap18]

We will be getting an iPad probably when the 2nd generations comes out. Mostly for my wife. She doesn't do lot of editing or big document projects. Mostly email, facebook, reading books, showing off some pics and a few videos and hates carrying around a laptop. She is the target market for the iPad.

We've already found a spot for it in the house. We both have iPhones and have the mobileMe calendar shared between our phones. This can also be shared on the iPad and we'll eventually have it kept on the fridge so that other people in the house (my father in law, sister in law and the kids) can see exactly what is planned and can add their own stuff to the calendars and it will automatically update our phones as well. $500 worth, not just for that, but its one of the things we like.

As for a portfolio. Absolutely!! I use smugmug and have the the Smugmug Wallet app for my phone, as does my wife on hers. I can log on to my smugmug gallery and choose which galleries I want to keep on my phone and can access it without having to connect to the internet via Wi-Fi or 3G. GREAT APP!! And it is very fast. Using this app on the iPad would be HUGE! Especially with the great screen.

I believe flickr has something similar, but haven't used it.

I can read books on my phone too, but its just to small IMO. The iPad makes a huge leap in this regard. Its not as good as the Kindle, but it is a better way to read newspapers, magazines and books on the go, especially if your a public transportation commuter (I would have LOVED to have one of these when I used to ride the T in Boston to work everyday).

How many movies that are set in the future have been made that shows people commuting to work on public transportation with some sort of tablet computer reading the newspaper, books or magazines.

I agree with the Flash Player. I've gotten frustrated a few times about not being able to view some video's on-line on my phone because the iphone doesn't support Flash Player. grrrrrr

Other than that, I love it. DW is looking forward to when she can get the iPad, though we'll probably get the Macbook first.

 

[Code]

I've been following the tweets of a bunch of local pro photogs that all got the iPad yesterday, and they were talking about the portfolio aspect of it also. I have to give it that.. it is a very professional, very sleek photo/video viewer.

I see a lot of cool little uses for the device, but the sum of those uses does not add up to $500+.

Also I'm with Mark. I can't stand the idea of locking myself into the App Store.
Also it runs the iPhone OS, so the only multitasking it does is music playing.
Also, I had a Tablet PC when I was in college and it was PERFECT for taking notes in class, and the iPad would be a great evolution of that concept, if only it had a stylus, but no, finger input only (and a giant touchscreen keyboard = ugh)

 

[ukcatfan]

Well that would only work if you like windows. I am an Apple faithful. Have been for 26 years. Besides, I think you're thinking of the iPad as something it's not. It's not a a tablet computer. It's a tablet media consumption device. And that's taking the iPod to a whole new level. As for this thing not being big enough to bring your catalog of work-I don't get that. It's not to work from, but to share from. Hence why I suggest it's the ultimate portfolio. And for that I don't need full size raw files. Just appropriately sized jpegs. And I can put thousands of those on here.

And I think it's only a matter of time before we start seeing similar android and Windows based products. But the non-Apple products will do more and cost less.

My point exactly. When the Windows machines come to the market, they are going to do more, have more options, and be compatible with some of your existing software. I like the idea of the iPad, but they have yet to go really go head to head with Microsoft on a consumer portable. I see Microsoft winning.

 

[mrcricket]

With the iPhone/iPad, Apple is becoming that which they once mocked. It's a shame, because it looks like it could have been a good product.

Mark this is where we disagree. It is good product. And I dare to say almost great. Your reasoning for not liking Apple products is truly a philosophical one. You want a machine that you can load with any operating system you want--the Windows model. The problem I see with this model is that software and hardware are designed separately. They don't mesh together as well as the apple model which design hardware and software to fit together hand and glove. To do this certain restrictions must be in place so not to interfere with this extremely close relationship. The end result is an intuitive experience that allows the user to do what they want without being a techie or fighting multiple patches, plugins and hardware/software issues common to the Windows world. I'll take the beauty of simplicity over the ability to tinker under the hood any day.

 

[Chikabowa]

I was reading your thread in another forum re: the iPad.

I think it's cool and I plan on getting one. I think there are a LOT of interesting things you can do with it in terms of photography. Honestly, I'm amazed at what many photographers have done with both the iPhone and the iTouch, so I think the iPad will be the bigger and better thing here into the future. I can think of about 100 different applications in which I can use it for photography and promotion... and I haven't even touched the machine at this point to figure out the true capabilities. I think there is a lot of promise

A lot of photographers I know, though, have their websites completely flashed based. So I can see how this could be an issue. But it's not like you go meet a client to show them your website, KWIM? You show them other things that they haven't seen. And I'm sure that the apps available will help show work and present work really nicely.

 

[YesDear]

I remember in when I first heard of this new device, the ipod, back in 2001. Why would anyone spend $400 on something that would hold 1000 songs. We had cassettes and cd's to play. The idea of making my own playlist was foreign to me except for that I could spend a great deal of time to record my own cassette or burn a cd of songs. 10-12 tops at a time.

Well that was 9 years ago. I now, sadly own three ipods, an itouch and an iphone. I cannot imagine using another phone other than my iphone! All of my cd's have now been converted to lossless digital files on my computer and stored in several places. I have earphones with specially made earpieces so that I can hear music in a way I have never heard before. I can use my laptop to play endless playlists through my stereo. I burn movies and convert them to ipod versions so I can watch when I travel. I think I have 12,000 songs in my library.

I cannot imagine doing the 1/2 marathon I did, without training to my workout playlist of motivational songs. And yes I admit, tears came to my eyes when a particular song came on. It was not the song, but I knew I had made it!

Am I racing out to purchase an ipad today? No! I agree with some of the shortcomings and will probably wait for version 2. I do believe it is another game changer. Not maybe for those of us gadget geeks but for those that are not as computer savvy. It just works! It works well. IT IS NOT A LAPTOP. It was not meant to be. It is a leisure device. I believe it will be the device of choice very quickly on planes, trains and automobiles. Yes you can do the same things on a laptop but for many they are heavy and cumbersome.

My DIL to be has a kindle. She reads 2-3 books a week and is so glad not to have all those books around!

Congratulations to apple for pushing the envelope. So far they have changed our lives whether you like a mac or not!

 

[photo_chick]

The problem for Apple is that supporting flash would allow people to bypass the iTunes store and use flash based applications. It's the same reason why you cannot get Firefox as a browser for the iPhone/iPad. Apple doesn't want you to bypass their browser because they want control.

Exactly. But I don't think they don't want control, they want money.

If they allow flash it will kill the app games because there are already a ton of flash based casual games on the web (yes, many are available to buy as iPhone apps, but those same games are free as flash games). And it will hurt the iTunes store video sales because people will be able to watch free video from many sites that require flash to run.

But hey, it's all cool because it's Apple, right? Now if it were Microsoft we'd all be outraged like we were when MS tried to force everyone to use IE in the 90's.


Edited to add..... for the record I am an early adopter. I got my first mp3 player in '98, well before the iPod came out. And IMO the iPod was so successful simply because Apple just had the better marketing campaign. It wasn't innovative and neither is the iPhone or iPad... they just have good marketing in a slick package.

One more note to address (I know, I'm droning on here) Apple has licensed out their OS before, following the Windows model, so to speak. Anyone remember Power Computing? They built Macs that ran better and cost less than Apple in that brief year the OS was licensed out. Apple didn't renew the licenses because their hardware sales dropped proportionately that year.

 

[WDWFigment]

Exactly. But I don't think they don't want control, they want money.

If they allow flash it will kill the app games because there are already a ton of flash based casual games on the web (yes, many are available to buy as iPhone apps, but those same games are free as flash games). And it will hurt the iTunes store video sales because people will be able to watch free video from many sites that require flash to run.

But hey, it's all cool because it's Apple, right? Now if it were Microsoft we'd all be outraged like we were when MS tried to force everyone to use IE in the 90's.


Edited to add..... for the record I am an early adopter. I got my first mp3 player in '98, well before the iPod came out. And IMO the iPod was so successful simply because Apple just had the better marketing campaign. It wasn't innovative and neither is the iPhone or iPad... they just have good marketing in a slick package.

One more note to address (I know, I'm droning on here) Apple has licensed out their OS before, following the Windows model, so to speak. Anyone remember Power Computing? They built Macs that ran better and cost less than Apple in that brief year the OS was licensed out. Apple didn't renew the licenses because their hardware sales dropped proportionately that year.

I think the bolded describes the success of Apple to a tee. While Apple has come out with some striking products that had features superior to competitors, it is not this revolutionary company that so many regard it to be.

It truly has two great strengths beyond the substance: industrial design and marketing. I would say these are the most vital aspects of the Apple brand. I am not saying this as a negative, as those things have made the company wildly successful, but I think those strengths, the substance doesn't always matter. Thanks to those two aspects, Apple has become chic while Microsoft has become vapid and evil.

But hey, who am I to judge. I am a rabidly loyal Disney devotee. Obviously I am drinking the Kool-Aid for another brand...

 

[ukcatfan]

But hey, who am I to judge. I am a rabidly loyal Disney devotee. Obviously I am drinking the Kool-Aid for another brand...

Don't forget that Steve Jobs is on the Disney board...