Watch out for direct Europeans. There’s more of them here. I’ll take the ‘Gartner’ comment as a compliment although i’m not sure why you think that!

OK i’m off to listen and learn. As I said i’ve already got some notes written about the iPod/touch browser that i’m happy to post. I’ll put James’ thoughts and mine together so that people can see what we think. Feel free to get some discussion going. Its always worthwhile ;-)

S.

Sorry Steve, it sounded more like you were writing a white paper for Gartner rather than having a conversation. ;) Anyway, I think James covered what you’re looking for in the iPod Touch overview video he did on 11/16. The last five minutes of the video explains why he likes it.

Kevin. Don’t you start on me too. What is this? Kill Chippy day. ;-)

I have no problem with James personal opinion. Its clear from my questions surely.

This is simply a query and a good opportunity to expand on ‘why’ James thought it was his best mobile browsing experience. I wanted to hear the context. We can all learn from it.

I happen to think the iPhone is the best consumer internet browsing device ever and i’m happy to explain why but James, come on. I thinks its interesting. You think its interesting. Many other people think its interesting and many other people would probably love to hear WHY YOU think its interesting.

“isn’t it up to consumers to decide what’s best for them? ” Yes, but they look to people like James for feedback. Me too. There’s lots to learn in this segment.

“I don’t need an 800 x 480 screen on a pocketable device that I carry everywhere. In fact, I use the web on my iPhone more hours per day than on any other device I carry.” Thats more like it. Thats exactly the sort of feedback I was looking for.

Shall we start from the top again James?

James – why do you think its the best mobile browsing device ever?

Steve.

Chippy, chill out dude. Kevin said what I’ve been trying to say and done so quite well. The iPod Touch browsing works well for me and I don’t see any need to defend it. The features you mentioned that the iPod Touch lacks are obviously important to you but not to me since I stand by my statement that the browsing experience I get on the iPod Touch is the best mobile browsing experience on any device. For me. My opinion. I just don’t see I need to defend that opinion as I’ve said more than once why I feel that way.

Steve, I think you’re inadvertently missing something here. As you quoted from James he said the iPod Touch provides him with “The best browsing experience i’ve ever had on a mobile device. Of any kind”.

That’s his opinion based on his personal experience. While I agree with some of your criticisms, note that he’s not individually critiquing each hardware or software feature as you’ve done. He’s talking about “the browsing experience” in his usage. It’s not the perfect solution for everyone but it’s an excellent one for him and neither you, nor I could say that he’s unequivocally wrong. It would be far too presumptuous of us (or any site really) to tell people what’s best for them by providing a list of what we think is missing as you’ve done.

No qualms about the list as it’s factually correct, but isn’t it up to consumers to decide what’s best for them? Example, in your list: “Needs to be 800 x 480″. For who and why? I don’t need an 800 x 480 screen on a pocketable device that I carry everywhere. In fact, I use the web on my iPhone more hours per day than on any other device I carry. Does that make me “wrong”? Of course not. By the same token, I’d never suggest that someone abandon their personal user requirements and buy a device that suits mine.

With all due respect, let’s focus on what was said here in terms of one person’s opinion while realizing that’s what it is: one person’s opinion.

Wow James. I didnt expect that response from you.
I was just asking for clarification and not attacking your opinion as I said in my previous post.
Looks like this conversation has ended.

Steve.

Steve, my statement is my opinion and is not intended to replace anyone else’s so a discussion is pointless. We always make it clear here on jkOTR that everyone’s needs and desires are individual and I would never try to convince you that my favorite solution is better than yours. I have stated more than once why I like the mobile browsing experience of the iPod Touch and since it’s my opinion I feel no desire to defend it.

No i’m not really trying to split hairs. I’m not trying to challenge your opinion either. I’m just trying to quality what you broadcast.

‘Best mobile browsing device ever’ is a bold claim and I wanted to see why you thought so.

I think there’s a lot of factors to take into consideration based on speed, size, mobility, capability. I wanted to learn exactly what angle you were coming from.

I like the ipod touch (actually i’ve only used the iphone browser but I think the iPod is a better consumer device) and I think it fits perfectly with many consumer requirements but for advanced use, it falls over very quickly.
I have already noted down a number of issues with the browser that advanced users should consider.

- No mobile connectivity. (3G)
- Locked filesystem. I couldn’t even save an image. I couldn’t bluetooth and image. I couldn’t connect via USB and transfer an image. This is a new definition of walled-garden!
- Its faster than many smartphones but not the N800. Still fasr slower than handtop pcs.
- Zooming in and out with fingers is tiresome and inneficient. The screen size is simply too small. Needs to be 800×480.
- Keyboard input is slow. (i couldn’t get a landscape keyboard either. Not sure if thats me doing something wrong tho.)
- Cut and paste. Forget it.
- Having to go to alternative apps for some parts of the Internet. (maps, youtube) slows down the experience (but improves it in some respects admittedly)
- No plugins.
- No flash.

If you have time i’d love to see a post from you about it. I’m happy to follow up so we get a nice discussion going. I think its important. I will be writing something about the browser in Carrypad soon anyway as I have a couple of videos I want to post.

Regards
Stevge.

Steve, to me if it offers the best mobile browsing experience then it is the best mobile browsing device. You are trying to split hairs here.

So it is not the best mobile browser device? Its just the most usable?. I agree if thats the case.

Maybe you should make it clear to people what you mean by the ‘best mobile browsing device’

S.