Apple Announced the iPad 15 Years Ago Today

[mannyvel]

Bought one on launch day and I've had one ever since.

Moved to the IPP when they came out as well. In fact, I just sold one of my Gen 1 12.9s with 32gb of ram for $100 on eBay, which is wild.

 

[Polinsky]

I thought it was completely dumb until it got the Retina display on the third generation.

Are you seriously saying that it was a "dumb" product until it got a better display? And then it was no longer "dumb". I'm curious how a retina screen makes a product "smart" instead of "dumb"?

 

[Polinsky]

I still have mine and still works. I have one big bitch and moan about all the other later cases, the green case was made to last on the 1st one and all the others since then are garbage.

All other Apple cases are "garbage"? How so? Quite a sweeping statement that I disagree with wildly. I've had the same kind of Apple case on my ipad pro and mini, and prior ipads, and they are quite fine. You are wrong.

 

[CarAnalogy]

How do you know what Steve "intended" for it? Do you have inside information that was shared with you 15 years ago by Mr. Jobs?

I don't. That's my point. No one does. He died shortly after. Even to those he told plans to, he never got to see them through. And I haven't heard anyone commenting on private conversations they had with him about it.

My iPads fit my tablet needs perfectly; being battery operated for content consumption and light computing for when I'm riding the train or sitting my easy chair at home.

I also have a desktop computer with a large display, a keyboard with numeric pad, a mouse, and a five drive disk container for more serious stationary computing.

I believe Steve knew how a battery powered tablet would be useful for mobile computing and information/content consumption/research/etc., vs how a stationary computer is typically used.

Apple does make laptop computers for those who need more than what a tablet offers in mobile/temporary situations. I use those when I need more than a tablet.

I realize my comment came out harsher than I originally intended. I like my iPads too, and they are great for some use cases. I'm typing this on an iPad now.

I remember when it came out, and I remember the absolute panic it sent other companies into trying to either copy it, or otherwise force touch in places it didn't belong. He really shook up the industry and frankly scared the crap out of them.

And then he was gone. And the iPad didn't really advance after that. I think today it has a bit of an identity crisis. Everyone who replied to me rightly points out that it's a "third" device. But Apple doesn't seem content with that. If they truly believed that and embraced it, good.

But they seem to be trying to use it as the future model for locked down software distribution, highly controlled API access, and extremely limited user interfaces.

I don't know what Steve wanted, and I didn't assert that I did. All I said was, look at the iPad, and ask yourself if this is what he meant for it. I don't know. Does it feel right to you? I'm genuinely asking.

 

[JSRinUK]

I still have my original iPad here, and use it as a photo frame.

Oddly, though, it’s the single item that stopped me looking into the Apple ecosystem for over 10 years. I bought it as a refurb from Apple about a year after release. Almost as soon as I received it - wham, discontinued, then no more support in rapid succession (at least that’s what it felt like). I felt like I’d had my fingers burned. All that money for an abandoned tablet.

These days, of course, I’m more clued up about how Apple works but it still took until last year until I felt comfortable leaping into the Apple ecosystem with both feet.

Had I not bought that iPad1, or had it not been discontinued so rapidly, maybe I’d have been here a lot sooner.

 

[citysnaps]

I don't. That's my point. No one does. He died shortly after. Even to those he told plans to, he never got to see them through. And I haven't heard anyone commenting on private conversations they had with him about it.



I realize my comment came out harsher than I originally intended. I like my iPads too, and they are great for some use cases. I'm typing this on an iPad now.

I remember when it came out, and I remember the absolute panic it sent other companies into trying to either copy it, or otherwise force touch in places it didn't belong. He really shook up the industry and frankly scared the crap out of them.

And then he was gone. And the iPad didn't really advance after that. I think today it has a bit of an identity crisis. Everyone who replied to me rightly points out that it's a "third" device. But Apple doesn't seem content with that. If they truly believed that and embraced it, good.

But they seem to be trying to use it as the future model for locked down software distribution, highly controlled API access, and extremely limited user interfaces.

I don't know what Steve wanted, and I didn't assert that I did. All I said was, look at the iPad, and ask yourself if this is what he meant for it. I don't know. Does it feel right to you? I'm genuinely asking.

Thanks, that was an excellent response.

"Does it feel right to you? I'm genuinely asking."

It does. I have a desktop computer, two laptops, two iPads (a 2025 Mini and an older 13" Pro), and an iPhone. They all have different use scenarios for what I like to do and am doing at the time, and where I'm at (office, on the train, riding in a car, at a Starbucks, etc). Same situation with my wife.

I suspect that's why Apple offers them for sale and why people purchase them.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Thanks, that was an excellent response.

"Does it feel right to you? I'm genuinely asking."

It does. I have a desktop computer, two laptops, two iPads (a 2025 Mini and an older 13" Pro), and an iPhone. They all have different use scenarios for what I like to do (and where I'm at). Same situation with my wife.

I suspect that's why Apple offers them for sale and why people purchase them.

Ha yes I realized after I typed that, you specifically already answered that. I have the same collection, and I struggle to find a place for the iPad as much more than a TV and book reader (though I really wish the book reading apps were better.)

I will say one notable advantage is that it's more durable than the Mac in the winter, since it's rated down to 0c where the Mac is only supposed to go down to 10c.

Really all I should have said was, I would have loved to see what Steve could have done with it given more time.

 

[rainingwilliam]

This is one of the products that I sometimes like to go back to the original MacRumors articles from its release and read the comments calling it a stupid product and claiming it’ll fail.

Edit: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-tablet-new-sdk-ibooks-and-iwork-apps.854974/

Sounds familiar. ᯅ

 

[Rychiar]

Are you seriously saying that it was a "dumb" product until it got a better display? And then it was no longer "dumb". I'm curious how a retina screen makes a product "smart" instead of "dumb"?

Cause it was just a big iPhone and the screen quality was worse than the iPhone, so I didn’t want to read on it, which seemed to be its biggest purpose🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Momof2.1107]

In 2010, the only Apple product I had was the iPod touch. I was lucky to be gifted the 1st gen iPad at a Christmas party in 2010, hosted by the owner of the gym I was working at. We had a raffle and I picked the winning ticket to win the iPad. Once my family and friends saw it everyone wanted to play around with it. I was hooked since then, and purchased several more over the years with my favorite being my iPad mini 7 over my 6th gen 12.9 iPad Pro.

 

[docschulz]

Still not quite convinced of tablets.

There's nothing a tablet can do better than my MacBook. Due to iPadOS I think the iPad does things worse than my MacBook running macOS. Why would I need an iPad if I already have a MacBook? To me tablets are still missing a killer app or USP to this day. Entry-level iPads are cheaper than a MacBook, I'll give it that but if you're looking at an iPad Pro and the accessories, like the pen or the magic keyboard you're easily paying as much if not even more than for a MacBook.

Sure, the iPad is a commercial success and a lot of people love it but to me tablets still feel kinda gimmicky.
They do not solve any problem that a MacBook couldn't solve. It's just not for me then I guess...

 

[Mainsail]

Still not quite convinced of tablets.

There's nothing a tablet can do better than my MacBook. Due to iPadOS I think the iPad does things worse than my MacBook running macOS. Why would I need an iPad if I already have a MacBook? To me tablets are still missing a killer app or USP to this day. Entry-level iPads are cheaper than a MacBook, I'll give it that but if you're looking at an iPad Pro and the accessories, like the pen or the magic keyboard you're easily paying as much if not even more than for a MacBook.

Sure, the iPad is a commercial success and a lot of people love it but to me tablets still feel kinda gimmicky.
They do not solve any problem that a MacBook couldn't solve. It's just not for me then I guess...

How about sketching and drawing? Marking up documents? Taking handwritten notes with equations? Reading books and PDFs? Taking a photo and marking it up in the field? Displaying charts and maps for navigation? Obtaining written signatures on contracts?

 

[Mighuel]

I don't. That's my point. No one does. He died shortly after. Even to those he told plans to, he never got to see them through. And I haven't heard anyone commenting on private conversations they had with him about it.



I realize my comment came out harsher than I originally intended. I like my iPads too, and they are great for some use cases. I'm typing this on an iPad now.

I remember when it came out, and I remember the absolute panic it sent other companies into trying to either copy it, or otherwise force touch in places it didn't belong. He really shook up the industry and frankly scared the crap out of them.

And then he was gone. And the iPad didn't really advance after that. I think today it has a bit of an identity crisis. Everyone who replied to me rightly points out that it's a "third" device. But Apple doesn't seem content with that. If they truly believed that and embraced it, good.

But they seem to be trying to use it as the future model for locked down software distribution, highly controlled API access, and extremely limited user interfaces.

I don't know what Steve wanted, and I didn't assert that I did. All I said was, look at the iPad, and ask yourself if this is what he meant for it. I don't know. Does it feel right to you? I'm genuinely asking.

This is an interesting discussion and hopefully also discussed inside Apple. IIRC Jobs originally presented the iPad saying that it has to be far better in some key tasks compared to a phone and/or to a laptop. I don't remember exactly his examples but I remember thinking regarding some of them that is it really better? There were things like doing email. Without a keyboard I'd say a laptop is better at doing email than iPad. But other things like enjoying photos etc. I totally agree that iPad really has an edge there.

I think part of the 'problem' and 'identity crisis' of iPad is the natural progression of things. Phones got way bigger and better displays these days than in 2010. Macs have great power efficient SoCs and displays too. iPads of course have huge tandem OLEDs but I think in general they haven't improved that much in previously mentioned critical areas. Of course there are some use cases like digital paintings and drawings where iPads excel! They've also flirted a bit with more complex workflows but so far I haven't been totally convinced.

 

[svish]

iPads are wonderful devices and last long. My Air 2 is still working alright and can be used for basic tasks. The 2018/2020 iPads, even without M series chip continue to get software updates. A very happy birthday to iPad!

 

[Nuno Lopes]

I remember. I was so excited with everything Apple back then. For the 10 years afterward bought an iPad almost every year. Once I had one, my wife had one and each of my kids had one.

Today, we have one and probably will not be replaced.

There are some reasons for this. As a general purpose consumption device is great. But that is not good enough for the price for quite some time.

1. Unless one makes drawings it’s a mediocre productivity device considering the alternatives. For example, the Mac. Yes it does some tricks surprisingly well but that is not enough.

2. As an entertainment device it could have been a great gaming device, but it is not. It lacks quality games … perception is not enough. For that matter it does less then say a Mac (go figure) and it does not do more then an iPhone. For browsing and videos the form factor, yes it does some nice tricks, yet overall is nowhere better then a Mac

All in all I now believe that a macOS supporting a Tablet form factor would be way more useful. Is up to Apple to figure out how to do this instead of providing excuses.

It has nice UX tricks but that is just it. The all thing lacks consistency from top to bottom. A solution looking for a problem. This device category by itself is in our practice mostly dead given iPadOS. Unlike the iPhone or the Mac is nowhere near essential … it’s totally disposable … like some money one might have.

I think Apple should just face reality. To do actual work and study even Apple execs don’t use the iPads. So why not just make MacOS even better, more versatile? I applaud Apple for innovation in the chip space, incredible. It time for macOS to be ahead of iPad OS in Apple thoughts

 

[TechRunner]

There's nothing a tablet can do better than my MacBook.

For me, an iPad Mini 7 makes for a significantly more comfortable book reading experience than using the Kindle app on a laptop. So I'm not sure I would say "nothing" here. For most productivity tasks, I would agree with you.

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

Some of these comments are funny. Just because your use case doesn't seem to match the iPad doesn't mean it isn't an incredibly useful product for other people. I still use my old iPad Pro 9.7" from 2016 (I can watch DirecTV streams on it, YouTube, Web browse, stream music from Spotify/SoundCloud/Mixcloud/etc. - it has great little speakers) and I also love my main "daily driver" M1 iPad Pro 12.9". I also spend a lot of time in bed reading and I can't imagine doing that with a MacBook Pro 😂

Also, years ago I switched to taking the iPad on travel instead of a laptop. At first it was a bit rough because mobile Web sites weren't very good, but over the years that has mostly been addressed. I can pretty much do anything on the road using an iPad nowadays - make reservations, book excursions/tours, use maps etc. Having an iPad that slips right into the outside pocket of my camera bag (and weighs very little) has been fantastic. As the English would say it's "an essential piece of kit". Viva la iPad!

 

[Pezimak]

For me I have found the iPad both indispensable and frustrating. Even though I got a new MacBook Pro last year, I still use my iPad. My hands much prefer using an 11” touch screen then my iPhone. And I like lounging around wasting time on social media on it lol.
I’ve had 3 now, and plan to upgrade to a new M4 Pro this year.

 

[Momof2.1107]

The iPad has been wonderful for my kids, who like to read, draw, paint, view videos, play games, write notes, FaceTime family and friends, and still able to login to school apps to do homework and extra activities after work. I feel more at ease with them using their iPads than my PC. I have restrictions and screen time enabled on their iPads so I’m careful of what they are downloading and doing. It has been a godsend since 2020 when the pandemic started and they were doing school work virtual.

 

[CarAnalogy]

This is an interesting discussion and hopefully also discussed inside Apple. IIRC Jobs originally presented the iPad saying that it has to be far better in some key tasks compared to a phone and/or to a laptop. I don't remember exactly his examples but I remember thinking regarding some of them that is it really better? There were things like doing email. Without a keyboard I'd say a laptop is better at doing email than iPad. But other things like enjoying photos etc. I totally agree that iPad really has an edge there.

I think part of the 'problem' and 'identity crisis' of iPad is the natural progression of things. Phones got way bigger and better displays these days than in 2010. Macs have great power efficient SoCs and displays too. iPads of course have huge tandem OLEDs but I think in general they haven't improved that much in previously mentioned critical areas. Of course there are some use cases like digital paintings and drawings where iPads excel! They've also flirted a bit with more complex workflows but so far I haven't been totally convinced.

Exactly. iPads are quite good at displaying pictures.

I think Jobs intended it to be able to replace paper way more often than it does today. If anything, Apple should focus on making the cheap ones great rather than making ultra high end ones. If everyone bought one, it would extend the Apple ecosystem a lot and maybe bring us closer to the mythical paperless office.

But the business side got in the way. The Books app is all but abandoned. There’s not even anything like Preview on the iPad. Just a lot of squandered opportunity.

 

[Mighuel]

Exactly. iPads are quite good at displaying pictures.

I think Jobs intended it to be able to replace paper way more often than it does today. If anything, Apple should focus on making the cheap ones great rather than making ultra high end ones. If everyone bought one, it would extend the Apple ecosystem a lot and maybe bring us closer to the mythical paperless office.

But the business side got in the way. The Books app is all but abandoned. There’s not even anything like Preview on the iPad. Just a lot of squandered opportunity.

Exactly this! Apple hasn't given any meaningful upgrades for the basic iPad. It's always basically the same device as before but just with a new (but still outdated) SoC. I hope they would follow their iPhone SE strategy with the basic iPad. Give it the latest (or the second latest) SoC and other quality of life type of upgrades like better display when new model comes out and I think more people would give iPad a chance. Having said that I absolutely loved iPads. I actually got almost every single model from iPad 4 till iPad Pro M1. At that point I just felt that the cost of the device compared to what I got out of it in terms of my workflows just wasn't worth it. As a device you just pick up and read/watch something on a couch, it's perfect! But I think phones work for those use cases pretty well these days.
However as people have said in this thread there are many different workflows so surely it'll work perfectly for some

 

[Blackstick]

maybe bring us closer to the mythical paperless office.

Speaking as an elderly millennial at age 40, I entered the corporate world in 2004 at 20 years old and paper has never been part of my working world. Part of that is working at an Apple Store in college, and sure, being a systems engineer afterward, but the reality is, even my brother the attorney works in corporate compliance and nothing is printed out except for forms that must be wet signed per ancient state or federal laws. There's less every year.

 

[prospervic]

Still not quite convinced of tablets.

There's nothing a tablet can do better than my MacBook.

Nothing that YOU DO, perhaps. But for me, reading and playing sheet music in it's proper vertical orientation, viewing vertical (portrait) photos full screen, marking up PDFs, writing notes and drawing using Apple Pencil, holding the device in your hands and scrolling with your fingers -- for these tasks iPad kicks MacBook's ass.