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0 pointswongarsu5y ago0 comments

I think it's the solid, flat grey-metallic border that gives it the iPad look. It's clearly distinct from e.g. the Surface (also grey border, but either slanted or with grove) or the Galaxy Tab (rounded towards the rear) or the Lenovo Tab (black, rounded in all directions).

Though really there are only so many variations on "flat rectangle with screen" you can do, it's hard to come up with an obvious design that isn't in use by someone.

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3 comments · 1 top-level

tomxor5y ago· 2 in thread

sold? flat? grey?

> really there are only so many variations on "flat rectangle with screen" you can do

Exactly, and of those variation only a subset are widely palatable. In other words solid, grey rectangles are kinda inevitable for what is essentially a consumer hand held computer display... It's like someone calling the concept of a loop a ripoff from C - no.

wongarsuOP5y ago

Well, all while and for loops are ripoffs of Algol.

It is kind of notably how the JingPad looks like an iPad, but doesn't look like a Surface or Galaxy Tab or Lenovo Tab or Amazon Fire HD.

tomxor5y ago

> Well, all while and for loops are ripoffs of Algol.

That is my point, C didn't "invent" for loops just like Apple didn't "invent" a near featureless rectangle.

But nether did Algol, for loops are the obvious next step for a conditional jump with a counter. In my analogy arguing about people copying Apple's iPad is like saying "look the syntax is more Algol-like than C-like", who cares, really... making simple and inevitable decisions doesn't mean people can own them and call it design, that's the child version of copyright "I have it so you can't have it".

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