Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Notice there is a completely blank key on the iPad's keyboard/dock. Probably for Dashboard.

ipad-20100221-095930.png

Na thats just as likely the dock release key surely.

Just look its lower than the rest and maybe a litttle smalller.
 
Why would someone preorder. Aint that giving Apple free money they can earn interest while you wait.

Makes more sense not to preorder and you earn the interest on cash not apple.
What kind of interest do you think you're gonna get on $499 for 30 days? :rolleyes:
 
College kids: They need to be able to install software for their courses, save files, install a C compiler. They aren't gonna spend $699 for an iPad that's just an itouch jacked up.

Custom software example: Doctor's office software: My docs office uses laptops.
Why would that software company make a version for the iPad which means 30% profit sharing and they can't install the software directly?? It also means all updates/patches have to go through ATC which means Apple controls their software, not them.

Most college kids aren't installing C compilers. Most college kids outside of CS (and maybe engineering) aren't installing custom software, from what I see in my university job - and for that subgroup I doubt the iPad is replacing their computer anyway, any more than their iPhones do. "Saving files"... can't see why you apparently think that's going to be a problem. Remember, Apple already demoed iWork for the device - saving files is not going to be an issue.

I also wouldn't be enormously surprised to see custom software like Matlab end up on the iPhone. Won't hold my breath for CAD stuff though. :D

My wife and her doctor/employer both use e-pocrates (might be mangling the spelling) on the iPhone/Touch, and both rave about it. My wife's a diabetes educator, and there is custom software for the platform even in that niche. Those developers don't seem to see the "problem" you do, even without the iPad.

An "iTouch jacked up" is a very useful and versatile device, as is my existing Touch - as I (and many others) have posted before.
 
For those getting excited over the iWork demo-- gimme a break. That was tech demo that they displayed at the keynote. No information was given on how to input images. Which brings me to another issue-- no SD card slot. This would be been easy to implement and made inputing images straight from a camera much easier. Instead we need another dongle.
You need to understand that the vast majority of people, not just people at MR, don't give a fat rat's arse about SD cards. They don't know what they are and they don't use them. Nothing personal, but for the life of me I wish people would understand this.

As far as iWork and the iPad goes...tell me you're not serious.
 
If AT&T ever allows tehering I wonder if yiu will need to have a 3G ipad? My guess is that wifi ipad could be thethered as well since laptops have this functionality without 3G. Anyhow that would make the 3G ipad basically worthless since you always have your phone with you.

AT&T would still charge for tethering...
 
You need to understand that the vast majority of people, not just people at MR, don't give a fat rat's arse about SD cards. They don't know what they are and they don't use them. Nothing personal, but for the life of me I wish people would understand this.

im sorry but i dont know what world you are living in....90% of people who use gadgets, especially camera's have and use SD cards...they are naturally becoming the standard for a reason...
 
Call me overly dramatic, but I really think one way or another, this is going to be an historic release. Not necessarily for quantities or crazy lines or people jacking up prices on ebay, but because it's really a rare and unique case for a tech device to essentially release into (and therefore create) a brand new space. The iPod, while obviously a major tech milestone, is/was still initially a portable musical device, replacing conventional Sony Walkman and clones. It had a clearly defined space. Likewise the iPhone entered the smartphone market; it certainly re-defined the space, but it was a clear market that consumers understood.

The iPad has a much more difficult task at hand, as there's really no true definable precedent. This is why you hear so many people question the "need" for it or say they are confused or skeptical about where it fits in the scheme of things if they already have a laptop and an iPhone, or a desktop and a netbook, or whatever combo. Of the many people I've spoken to who are aware of the device, including multiple Apple fans, only 1 is interested in buying it, and even he is probably waiting for a second gen. Clearly Apple has its work cut out for it.

So in terms of pre-orders and release, my personal feeling is that it's in Apple's best interest to not play any games with inventory or do Apple stores only to try to create lines and hype. The last thing they need is any backlash or anti-hype when they are trying to define this new space. They should IMHO get as many as these out to as many people who want them as quickly as possible, through whatever the easiest venues are (including Best Buy, Amazon, Target, pre-orders, etc). And release some top notch TV commercials at or around release. Ultimately it's going to take a strong wave of early adopters and true believers to show the naysayers what the possibilities are, and to convince the confused people on the fence to take the plunge. With 6 different models in the first month of release, they should really be taking pre-orders as soon as possible if only to see what the interest is like, and which are the most popular models.

Whatever approach Apple takes with the iPad release, I'm sure it will be interesting, as it should pretty much be unlike anything tech lovers have encountered before.
 
Same thing with video on an iPod. "Nobody would want to watch video on a small screen!" What was the next feature added to the iPod? Video of course.

Wanting to do it and having the option to do it are two different things. I don't *want* to watch video on a standard iPod classic, but it is nice to have the option.
 
Bluetooth anyone?

im sorry but i dont know what world you are living in....90% of people who use gadgets, especially camera's have and use SD cards...they are naturally becoming the standard for a reason...

Read the specs... Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology. EDR=Enhanced Data Rate Bluetooth, and supports theoretical data transfer speeds of up to 3 Mbits.

Haven't been here in a week or so. Nice to see the cries of "it's a flop because..." has not diminished (kidding). Buying one as soon as it comes out. Hoping it will have a front facing camera and a few other surprises, but even if it doesn't I'll bite.

Camera synching, either by cable or Bluetooth, is a pretty desirable function. There are a lot of folks who would love to get a better look at their images on a shoot without squinting at a tiny crappy preview screen. Anyone ever notice that a lot of higher end professional cameras have awful preview screens?

Don't care a whit about smart card slots being built in (or not), and actually would love something to come along and cut the cord/card....
 
Maybe Apple will be really generous and offer, for a small fee that is, a touch friendly version of SL that is able to run you favorite Apple software. At least that is what I am hoping for.

Not going to happen, so don't get your hopes up too much.

To elaborate, the Ipad does not have an Intel x64 CPU, so even with a new
version of Apple OSX it will not be able to run your "favorite"
Apple OSX software.
 
My toy-box fund is a lot smaller these days, so my purchase is contingent on my tax-refund.
This looks like the camera-companion I have wanted for a long time tho.

Z
 
Notice there is a completely blank key on the iPad's keyboard/dock. Probably for Dashboard.

Probably the spot where you sell your soul or your first born to Apple. lol :rolleyes:

I'm quite sure L*T*D and LagunaSol already have.

The PP who called this the next Apple TV is spot-on. Fail.
 

Attachments

  • ipad_faillllllllllllllllllllllll.JPG
    ipad_faillllllllllllllllllllllll.JPG
    359.2 KB · Views: 62
College Kids as a market?

Here's my humble take....
College kids: They need to be able to install software for their courses, save files, install a C compiler. They aren't gonna spend $699 for an iPad that's just an itouch jacked up....

This isn't going to flop, trust me. Especially not because it "can't install software for their courses" or a "C compiler". Also, it isn't $699, it starts at $499 if you don't need the 3g.

Even if it WAS $699 it would be worth it. Just on the cheaper rate for the 3g data plan too (unlimited BTW), if you saved $30 a month you end up saving $720 in data charges over two years.

The annual costs for college textbooks is between $1500-2500 (depending on your field of study). I am willing to bet there will be a substantial discount for the e-book versions, but lets say it is only 25%. Your annual savings would run $375-$625, also just about paying for the device right there. Not to mention instead of lugging around hundreds of pounds of oversized textbooks you have a 2.5 pound device the size of a small folder.

Even with a docked or bluetoothed keyboard, I am not sure if it will REPLACE your main computer, or even your laptops. My laptop does not have 3g access, and I can't get an iPhone (Verizon). I looked into a 3g card or MIFI (which BTW only runs for about 4 hours on battery) The MIFI unlimited plan costs $60 a month on a two year contract... so the NO-PLAN deal from ATT is a steal. I run Aperture, Quark, etc. on my laptop, and am not upset I can't run it on the Pad (I can't run them on my Touch either, and I sleep at night just fine).

For a student this thing is killer device. Many lectures are also released as Podcasts, and I am sure there will students that will record their lectures for reference. Plus, all your textbooks at your fingertips.... it is a good deal even now. I can only imagine what will be in store for them in 2 years time...
 
I Think im gonna wait for the 3g model , though im gonna get burned waiting lol :p

but do you guys know if the 3g model will be supported worldwide or its gonna be locked :(


thank you
 
A historic, not an historic.

You don't live in an house and cowboys don't ride an horse.

Not a big fan of the Internet Grammar Police but especially not keen to the Grammar Police when they make a false arrest.

While "a historic" is preferred and technically the correct usage in the U.S., "an historic" is acceptable, especially in England. It is the exception to the rule that "an" is used only when the h is silent.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.