Unfortunately (maybe?) we're in a stage where technology is moving at such a fast pace that things do get updated (or outdated) at a much faster pace then previously. I think it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation really. I'm sure I may get argued at with my next point,…but this is my feeling (and opinion) on some of it. We as consumers ask for our devices to do more or be faster or want more features out of our software. So software companies make them better and faster. Then they won't run on our computers. So we upgrade,..and find we want it to work better, so we ask them (the developers) to make it better…so they do,..and we have to upgrade. And so on and so. (Yes I've simplified it down there a little). But I'm sure they're at fault, and we are a little as well. (I'm not blaming anyone,..I'm just giving my view). And technology firms have to keep up with others or face the risk of falling behind,.and then being left WELL behind. And then it gets worse. And I don't think Apple are alone on this one unfortunately. Now, more then ever though, they are looked at to expand and increase and better what they "make". To try and stay ahead out of the rest. It wasn't that long ago that Apple used to have to play "catch up" with the others. (PowerPC days, when the first PPC G5 "SuperComputer" came out. Steve Jobs announced it and said it would get to a specific spec within a year (I think it was). i.e., something like,..hey we've released this "SuperComputer" and in a year we'll have it at Quad Core 3.1GHz Processors. Then IBM dropped the ball and Apple was left with egg on their face. And they were left playing catch up for a good two years I think it was from that date. And then then moved to Intel (sorry IBM, you let us down, we're outta here). Since then, they've been able to keep up with the "Windows world" quite nicely. ANd the Mac gear is on par almost with what is out there for Windows to run on hardware wise. Then came the iPad etc. And they kept on trying to stay out of the others and outpacing them so as to keep their market share.
Sure, we don't always need to upgrade, and we can try and stay on a product as long as possible. The iPad was a great device of it's time (given that it was first introduced Jan 2010), so yeh it's now over two years). It was discontinued in March 2011. And it's been through some major changes through then. And unfortunately (sorry Tim), but yes there were quite a few hardware requirements that the iPad 1 just couldn't cope with for iOS6. And if you've ever compared an iPad1 to an iPad2,..there's a massive speed difference. Apple also look at this and think, sure, we *may* be able to run iOS6 on it,..but it might be dog slow that we're just get hammered by people saying how bad it is on this device. So they draw a line in the sand. Now, going back to iPad2 in the school. (Sorry I went off a little there). As Tim has mentioned, your best course of action is probably to ask them to clarify why this is. I don't know what they want to run or why or what it requires, but I think the point made is "we want it to run as long as possible from the time it was bought" I suppose they could look at it as, for those people that don't' have an iPad, they want them to have the more up to date version so it lasts the whole term. Rather then someone buying one version now, then having to buy another model in a year in two. So in effect costing them twice as much having to both it twice. Perhaps it could be, and I'm sure you could put this to them. Look, my iPad2 will run iOS6 fine. I would like to run this now with what ever things you need it to do at school. if it then needs to be upgraded, I'm prepared to do that at a later time. if it's not as fast though, or doesn't handle something that a new iPad does, does that mean they get "left behind"?? That could be a worry as well. And I suppose (and again not knowing all the facts here for it), it may be easier for them to "support" one model of iPad then having to know how to support a lot of different models. (Yeh, I know, that's not a great example..as it's an iPad. There's not much to it really. If it doesn't work. Reboot it. If it doesn't play well reset it. If it doesn't play well after that - restore it. Easy!!). But perhaps they just look at it and don't read into it fully. (I'm' using a lot of "if's here…..lol). So again, as Tim mentioned. Perhaps it should be ,..your iPad (if you own one already) NEEDS to run iOS6. If and when an upgrade comes out, and and our Apps/software/setup/whatever needs to be upgraded, if your older iPad doesn't handle it, then unfortunately you'll need to upgrade. Oh, I suppose the other thing is that when they design and test it, they will only be wanting to pay to test it for one "Set" of iPads as I would imagine. (not that testing it for others should add to much of the cost I would imagine),…but that would be something else they will be looking at. Hey, we know it runs on an iPad Gen4 ok, as that is what it was designed around and tested on. If yours doesn't run it, I'm afraid you'll have to upgrade or your child/ren will get "left behind" I could way off the mark and completely wrong. Thankfully I don't have to worry about that (yet), though Andrew does love his iPad1 and and is more then happy with the apps on it. (one of which he is an App tester with,…LOL. Thankfully he hasn't asked for commission for app testing yet,…lol). That's just some thoughts that spring to mind. Hope some of that helps. (and doesn't offend, as it's not meant to). Oh side note,.Tim , when you do upgrade to a newer iPad then first thing you'll notice is the massive speed increase. I remember when I had an iPad1 and was setting up the (then) new iPad2 for a client I was like wow, this thing is so much faster! :o) I wanted one!! Unfortunately my budget kept me inline and wouldn't allow me to get it. (damn that money factor! lol) ;o) Enjoy! Kind regards Daniel --- Daniel Kerr MacWizardry Phone: 0414 795 960 Email: <daniel AT macwizardry.com.au> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> **For everything Apple** On 04/11/2012, at 8:39 PM, Tim Law <t...@peoplehelp.com.au> wrote: > Number of issues here Matt, > > I have an iPad 1. I cannot upgrade to iOS6. > Does it gripe me that Apple have stopped supporting a machine that is less > than two years old? Yes it does. > Am I markedly worse off as a user for sticking to iOS5? Probably not, at > least my Maps app work!! :-) > > Is there a consumer backlash? Well, yes, but we just grumble and put up with > 'this is the way Apple is'. The truth is that this is the way Apple has > always been - bringing on new hardware and software that after not very long > does not run on the older machines. Not long after I bought my Mac Plus in > 1987, I needed to look to the upgrades available. Many Many machines later I > am resigned to this being the price we pay, again and again. :-( > > Is the school reasonable in their dictum? > Schools like things to be kept simple and easy. Take the school booklist. > "Okay, open your book to page 34". Oh, but Miss, my copy it's page 45, we > bought it cheap at Woolies and not off the school booklist. "Miss I can't > use these in my folder, we bought three ring folders". Schools like things > simple and consistent. I imagine they think they are trying to be helpful in > dictating iPad4, so your daughters aren't made out to be different in class. > Is this reasonable? Obviously from the schools perspective it is. Could it be > different? Sure. > > I've no idea what apps the school is suggesting the iPads use for in class. > Facebook works on iOS5 just as well as iOS6.... Are there other apps > teenagers use??? :-) A bad example perhaps. > > The school would be sensible to have a more flexible policy and say for > example, "your iPad needs to run iOS 6. Into the future, this standard may > be upgraded at which time another device may need to be purchased if any > device but an iPad4 is used". > > I'm thinking comment and feedback to the school council is in order, asking > for a revision or at least more technically sound explanation of this dictum. > Whether it's a private school or not, you've got a right to ask for a better > explanation and to lodge your disagreement with the policy. > > My 2c worth. > > Tim > > > > > On 04/11/2012, at 7:49 PM, Matt Falvey <mmfal...@bigpond.net.au> wrote: > >> Hi, I am wondering if I and many others are being told a load of rubbish by >> some people at my daughter's schools IT department. The problem is that >> every pupil in entire school has to have an iPad 4, 32 Gb for next year. Now >> my daughter's, both have iPads, an iPad 2 16Gb and an iPad 2 32GB, but the >> school has said in a Dear Parents instruction letter : >> Can I get an iPad2 or iPad3? >> >> a. No. With the release of the iPad 4, this becomes the NEW iPad. Because >> students will be using them for two ‐ three years they will want the most up >> to date version to 'last the distance', especially if Apple continues to >> release frequent updates, as has happened recently. Also, Apple often only >> supports software updates for the more recent versions. For example, the >> last iOS update was not available for the iPad 1. >> >> I will be honest and say I know absolutely nothing about the iPads, but it >> seems a bit of stretch to say that Apple would not be supporting updates for >> an iPad that was only introduced in the last couple of years, without an >> almighty consumer backlash. And from the little that I have read, am I >> correct in thinking that apart from the retina screen, the new chip, and the >> new plug, there was very little difference between the iPad 3 and the 4? >> >> I am just concerned that I might be spending in excess of $1500, plus >> insurance for two new iPad's that are not really required, if the existing >> iPad 2's work and the people in IT department are windoz trained and >> learning Mac's at my expense. >> >> Anyone have any thoughts on this or is aware on Apples policy regarding >> software support for iPads? >> >> Thanks. >> >> Take care. >> >> Matt Falvey. >> -------------- next part -------------- >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> URL: >> http://lists.wamug.org.au/pipermail/wamug.org.au-wamug/attachments/20121104/4b7f95fa/attachment.htm >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Settings & Unsubscribe - >> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Settings & Unsubscribe - <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
