Apple iPad Pre-Orders to Begin February 25th? Speculation about Other Features?

[demodave]

The "+" means "with"

OHHH yes you are correct... we assumed Wi-Fi + 3G model meant both the WiFi and the 3G models... whereas apple refers to the one that coes with 3G as the "Wi-Fi + 3G model"

I think if you read the "+" as "with", the situation becomes more clear. The fact that Apple had to specify that elsewhere on the specs page and people were still confused implies that this might not have been Apple's clearest webpage ever. Specs is specs, they should be made as simple and clear as possible. So simple that even a grandma (er, caveman?) can do it!

DD

 

[skinnylegs]

NOT. GOING. TO. HAPPEN.

Mobile devices don't run on x86, and don't have a mouse and a keyboard, thus rendering your desktop apps 1. Unable to run at all 2. With a UI that makes no sense for touch input (particularly finger input)

What I do expect is a gradual expansion of integration with the desktop, more access to docs (there's already an iWork for iPad, expect Office etc to follow), and new versions of desktop apps for the iPad/iPhone OS, which will address most of your concerns.

What you will never see (and would make no sense!!!!?!?!) is to run OS X desktop apps on touchscreen ARM devices. Trying to provide that would lead to baroque complexity and horrible interfaces - not an Apple trademark. Better to move over to windows mobile if that's the sort of thing you're looking for (seriously, they will be targeting that sort of use-case better, in spite of the noises about a new UI for WP7).

Perhaps in a few years desktop OS X will be superseded by some version which uses APIs very similar to Touch OS X. The SDK certainly reads as a clean-up and trim of older OS X APIs - cutting it down to the essentials. As far as Steve is concerned I suspect windows-like interfaces, desktops, trash cans, and the Finder etc are history. They've been around a long time, and as the iPhone shows, most of that furniture just isn't required for a functional interface.

Slow down there, big guy. It already *is* happening. Yeah, there's an app for that!

I'm running Jaadu (www.jaaduvnc.com) on my iPhone and by way of a VNC client, it allows full access (I'm talking viewing, creating or modify) stuff within OS X. Seems weird. I know...but it works. I'll be the first to admit that it is a bit wonky on an iPhone because of the size of the screen but on an iPad it will be a completely different experience.

BTW, I do *not* work for Jaadu. I simply stumbled across the app and was duly impressed.

 

[demodave]

Say hello to the new Apple TV. Only Mac fan-boys will buy

Either that, or think of the iPad as the monitor that the Apple TV currently does not have. It can stream content at WiFi-N speeds, which is good enough for HD content. I foresee as AppleTV app for the iPad that changes the AppleTV "hobby" into a fully useable product line.

I own the stock, so I've already placed my bet on that.

DD

 

[batmccoy]

Camera analogy

Because I would like to be able to run my existing desktop applications and access my existing data.

With the iPad SDK one can run iP apps on the Mac. This will soon get integrated into iTunes and then perhaps the MacOS fully such that Apps will run on the Mac.

Similarly the iPOS could have an advanced mode where full MacOSX is available for the users who want it.

Similarly the MacOS on laptops and desktops could have a simplified mode where it acts more like the iPad/iPhone/iPodTouch iPOS.

Together these would give the advantage of a unified operating system over which all data and applications could be accessed provided the hardware is there. Simplicity from the user experience point of view.

Apple tried this before in a manner of speaking back before OSX. They may again try for a beginner/advanced mode. Many cameras have this and it is wonderful. My wife turns the little knob on my camera to the red selection and then the camera takes care of all the settings for her. I turn it to manual and choose my shutter speed, aperature, ISO, white, focus, etc. Everybody's happy and it only takes one piece of hardware.

Think of the iPad as a Nikon Coolpix and a laptop as Nikon D3. The iPad is the simplified version of OS X you are asking for. Together they are the unified OS. You don't have to be able to do everything on every device (although I bet, like the iPhone, there will be many things we want to do on the iPad that we don't like on other computers). The iPad is an addition to a computer lineup not a replacement—and it's priced as such.

If the core apps for the iPhone are "Phone" and "maps", then the core apps for the iPad are Photos and iBooks. Even if you only think of the iPad as an expensive, wireless, digital picture frame, it's still a deal—because with file sharing and the app store, it's not a closed environment and will be so much more.

 

[propynyl]

ipad with widgets

If they put widgets on the iPad, it would change the game! I want widgets on my iPad!

 

[demodave]

If this is true, then I guess the bigger question is, what the hell have developers been doing for the past year and a half?

Developers were waiting for the SDK ... which is why Apple had to release it and release it *before* it released the iPad hardware. With any luck (and probably, given Apple's marketing genius), there will be a bunch of native apps to announce on Day One of orders/preorders.

DD

 

[CQd44]

If they put widgets on the iPad, it would change the game! I want widgets on my iPad!

Widgets are so useful. They make my G1 experience so much better

 

[turbineseaplane]

LMAO.

I think I'll be waiting to see what actually gets released and how the initial reviews of the shipping product come out.

Anyone really "rushing" to just plunk down cash for an entirely new product in a new product category (for Apple at least) without even seeing what will actually be released and how it fares when put to use by real customers?

 

[demodave]

I kinda wish Apple included a 3.5mm Line-in jack for audio. The iPad would make a great portable tool for recording audio given that some cool apps come out for it. An Audacity app for the iPad would be amazing IMO. What do you guys think?

Another interesting app might be a KAOSS pad emulator.

http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=269

For lack or real buttons and knobs, it might not work *as well*, but it could still be really cool

DD

 

[cumanzor]

If they put widgets on the iPad, it would change the game! I want widgets on my iPad!

Guess we'll have to wait for a jailbroken iPad

 

[ShiftyPig]

We should start an over/under competition for the term "game changer" on these over-the-weekend, no-other-news iPad threads.

If Steve Jobs is on a one-man mission against "lazy" Flash, I'm on a one-man mission against a lazy phrase.

 

[demodave]

You guys that are calling the iPad revolutionary and a game changer are seriously deluded by the RDF.

Pardon my ignorance, but WTF is the RDF?

DD

 

[MacGuffin]

I want a table but won't be deciding on one until it's definitively known just how open or locked-down the iPad really is.

There's very good reason to suspect Apple in its lust for control has lost the plot this time round. Sorry, but I won't be yoked into being its content revenue stream. And I really, really don't need a bunch of smarmy paternalistic Californian Boomer-geezer-greedsters telling me which apps they "approve" for my usage. Why should our state-of-the-art technology take us back to the top-down cultural model of the Year of Our Lawd 1953?

Either it's going to be easy to get content you want onto the iPad and use it as you want, or it won't. If the latter, cya Apple.

 

[brendu]

yes i love technology.... and I want an iPad you see...

...always and forever.....

 

[WyoMac]

Education Pricing

I wonder what the level of discount there may be for students and educators. Computers are typically discounted about 10% but there are no discounts for iPods and iPhones. It would make sense for Apple to want to get these in as many teachers' hands as possible as we are pretty visible users.

 

[50548]

Pardon my ignorance, but WTF is the RDF?

DD

Reality Distortion Field.

 

[voidptr]

Pardon my ignorance, but WTF is the RDF?

DD

Reality Distortion Field

 

[Chupa Chupa]

yes i love technology.... and I want an iPad you see...

...always and forever.....

Honestly, if we are talking stereotypes, that guy looks more like the type of person gnashing his teeth because the iPad doesn't run OS X, doesn't run Flash, doesn't have OLED, doesn't have an SD card slot, doesn't have a camera, and isn't open source. Netbooks 4EVR!

Totally anecdotal, of course, but from what I've observed the people most attracted to the iPad are those that are not really impressed by computers and see them as another appliance like a vacuum cleaner.

 

[Cyberguard]

yes i love technology.... and I want an iPad you see...

...always and forever.....

I can't help but look at that picture... weird...

Anyway : February 25th ? Perfect ! One day after my birthday !

Only question is : pre-order or buy on site at the Apple Store in the US in the end of March

 

[qtx43]

Lol. Minimum wage for 2 weeks? You could maybe buy half of one after taxes and FICA, etc.

Since you take my little joke seriously, I shall give you a serious answer by citing dictionary.com:

But the inexactitude of a couple of may serve a useful purpose, suggesting that the writer is indifferent to the precise number of items involved.

Ha! So there!

 

[feflower]

For those who are asking for a iPad that is smaller than 10" and larger than a touch: I hear you!

I hope Jobs does.

I want something I can pull out on the subway or bus without being to conspicuous or pretentious like my MBP and be able to read documents, type a few notes (please also add an effective voice dictation app!).

And yes, something like this would make a great field recorder for interviews, song sketches, demos, etc.

10" will have a market; but something larger than the touch I think will have another market--something you can put in a handbag, take for fieldwork, presentations, etc.

 

[qtx43]

10" will have a market; but something larger than the touch I think will have another market--something you can put in a handbag, take for fieldwork, presentations, etc.

It's overkill to make a mockup, but you can easily take a regular 8.5x11 sheet of paper, and fold the sides to make 7.5x9.5. The real thing might be smaller than you think.

 

[SandynJosh]

Another quote to frame. You'll see. People who are heavily involved in the previous era rarely perceive when that era is about to fade.

And just to be clear, I don't mean PCs will disappear. I mean, there are still mainframes in use today, but it's hardly the mainframe era. So too will PCs continue to be heavily used in the work environment, but the PC era is about to end.

Whoa! A new Era!

 

[Niko03]

The question is if you have a MBP and an iPhone/Touch what gap is the iPad really filling? Do you want to deal with a 3rd device?

The iPad will sell some from being cool, to some niches, and to people who may not be on the iPhone/Touch train yet. The iPad does very little beyond a iPhone/Touch except have a bigger screen, which when it comes to portability is a negative instead of a positive.

I have a laptop and an iPhone. I used to bring my laptop to the living room
and surf and watch tv with my wife. For me surfing with a laptop in that circumstance was awkward. Since I got an iPhone, I never bring out the laptop anymore. The only problem with the iPhone is the screen size. For lazing around the house the ipad would be perfect. I plan on picking one up.

For all those who complain that the ipad is just a big iPod touch, well... the iPod touch is an amazing piece of kit. Hugely versatile. The ipad could be much worse. I agree with the sentiment that the iPhone OS is a more perfect match for the hardware than OSX would be.

 

[skinnylegs]

Anyone really "rushing" to just plunk down cash for an entirely new product in a new product category (for Apple at least) without even seeing what will actually be released and how it fares when put to use by real customers?

Yes. BTW...I was also an early adopter of the microwave oven.