Apple Releases iPad Tablet, New SDK, iBooks and iWork Apps

[br0adband]

How about an apples to apples comparison?

What's the best tablet out there (or even announced) right now?

And how does the iPad stack up at this price?

You'd be comparing a quad-iPod touch (since the iPad is effectively that) against a real full blown computer which doesn't make it a fair comparison.

The iPad is no match for even a $250 Netbook in terms of actual computing usage at this precise moment in time. The Netbook does more, with more functionality, expandability, upgradability, real USB ports, potentially a larger higher resolution screen, etc...

Simple.

And yes I know you're comparing it to a Tablet PC, so... the 7+ year old Toshiba M205 Tablet PC I'm dictating this reply on (yes, dictating it) is more useful and powerful and capable than the iPad, and I paid $700 for it.

 

[chicagdan]

A Kindle killer has to have eInk.

People who use the Kindle and other ebook readers don't use it because they want a high tech gadget with lots of options, they use one because the eink technology allows for easy reading. You could buy and read ebooks on the iPad but the glossy and backlit display will be far worse on your eyes.

People who want color, video and so on don't buy a Kindle, people who are avid readers do.

I don't know -- I have a Kindle and I agree that the e-ink is great, but I'm willing to give the iPad a shot. First of all, I will be able to use all of my purchased Kindle books by using the Amazon Kindle iPhone app, which I assume they'll update for iPad. Assuming that Apple allows the Kindle and BN iPhone apps to be updated and ported, there will be real price competition on the device. Second, e-ink has some disadvantages beyond color ... it's horribly slow ... plus the Kindle is extremely flimsy, I've had to replace three of them over two generations. Drop it once and the e-ink slowly bleeds over the entire screen eventually. Now, the iPad is going to be a nightmare for drops as well, so there may be no advantage there, all I'm saying is that Apple could be in the ballgame with this device.

 

[xraydoc]

At 21+ pages, I doubt anyone will see my post. But...

Since there's the iWork suite on the thing, I wonder if there will be some kind of file system that will be accessible. Will we be able to receive iWork docs as email attachments, save them and edit them? How about exporting iWork docs as PDFs?

I'd really want the ability to save a library of PDFs to read on this thing (medical journal articles comes to mind. They suck on the Kindle due to it's awful PDF viewer).

I'm also disappointed by the (apparent) lack of multitasking on it. Sigh. Come on Apple - this is supposed to be a 21st century device!

Needs a way to save/manage email attachments. Needs to run more than one app at once unless it has a really good way of pausing an app and picking up where it left off.

However, the ability to run Keynote presentations off this thing with the VGA dock really intrigues me.

So - which is better... a MacBook Air or an iPad??

 

[ss957916]

I'm put off by Apple right now.

I am begining to learn that it's a company that think's it too good for everybody else and is overly confident.

For the benefit of the consumer, I really hope this flops. They need a wakeup call and to be dropped down a level or two.

TOTALLY agree. I think this iPad is a real cop-out. I REALLY want a new toy (I have just over £3,200 in my "fun stuff" savings account) but, as someone who has an iPhone and a MBP (like a large number of Apple users), I just don't see when I'd want this. The iPhone is more portable and the MBP does things better.

No multitasking, no flash... well, all the things that people are no doubt moaning about all over these forums, make this - very unfortunately - a no buy for me.

 

[xiovoix]

So what ! They developed, designed and manufactured a bigger, ugly ipod/iphone. 15 years for that ! Holy sh*t ! Sure I have just invented the Jaffa cake by adding more chocolate and extra orange jelly! Well you get my drift! Pathetic Steveo!

 

[cualexander]

For all people who want everything...

You can't do it all at a $499 pricepoint. Seriously. They made compromises. Will this replace a laptop? Not entirely. Does the exclusion of flash suck? Most definitely. But let's face it, Hulu competes with iTunes video store. Why buy the latest episode of <insert TV show here> from iTunes if you can stream it free from Hulu? Answer, you wouldn't.

You people whine too much! Don't like it? Don't buy it. Apple is in business to make money, not cater to every individual user's whim. When the iPod came out I laughed at it because my Creative MP3 player had 20gigs and it only had 5gigs. I thought it was a joke. 250million units later, they own the market place.

Is iPod the most technically superior MP3 player? No. Does everyone own one? Yes.

Apple!=technically superior. They are all about end-user experience. Non-geeks don't care about tech specs. If you want great tech specs, look to another company. This has almost always been the case for years. This is a consumer level product, not a computer science major level product. It still is useful, but quit the complaining.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

is a micro sim the same as the one in the iphone so if it is i could just put it in the ipad and not get a contract or like everyone els is saying i could use tethering

 

[Nepenthe]

For $30/month I would rather buy a nice bottle of wine and a book to read out on my patio. The last thing i need is yet *another* internet-related bill.
-t

 

[edtorious]

I'll pass

ok so

no camera
no video
no multi tasking
no flash
Not even SMS app!
plus you need iTunes and connect to another computer to update this! Why cant it update itself!

Sorry but I'll pass. I'll just wait for the new Macbook Pro.

 

[alexf]

I said I'd eat my shoe if it was called the iPad. I'm a man of my word, now how the hell am I going to eat a shoe?

Preheat the oven to 400º F for 10 minutes. Lightly brush the shoe with olive oil, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, then bake the shoe for approximately 40-50 minutes (the longer you bake it, the more the oil will soak into the leather and the shoe will become more tender). Remove from oven and allow to cool for 3-5 minutes. Serve warm with seasoned rice or potatoes.

Bon appétit!

 

[chuckles:)]

Developers are gonna wow us with the apps they can write for this thing. Virtual stylus stuff, the ability to use it as a slave device for a mac, sweet games, etc. Just like any platform, its the SOFTWARE that will make it worthwhile.

 

[samcraig]

I too was a bit shell shocked like the rest of you, but if you consider a Kindle DX global wireless is near $500, then maybe this isn't a bad deal. After all, he did show the Kindle at the beginning. So as a book and news reader, it looks good and has a good user interface. All other items like mail, contact, games, pictures and videos are icing on the cake compared to the DX. I compare it to the DX because of the screen size.

Also, as a netbook competitor, it's not bad either (EXCEPT for the dang camera, wtf mate). Aside from the lack of built in camera, this thing does what a netbook does only in a more elegant fashion. It certainly nicer to carry around the house vs a netbook and kindle or book or magazine.

Just a thought...

Ya - I hear ya. But a netbook has some better specs (at least storage) + the ability to run business programs. IE - you can get iLife for the iPad - but businesses (most) use excel. And word. And Powerpoint. So unless they're going to offer those on an iPad too - the netbook still has "some" advanages.

I don't think the iPad is "bad" or useless. It's' just not (I know I'm writing this a lot today) Revolutionary. It's evolutionary at best.

 

[steve-p]

A Kindle killer has to have eInk.

People who use the Kindle and other ebook readers don't use it because they want a high tech gadget with lots of options, they use one because the eink technology allows for easy reading. You could buy and read ebooks on the iPad but the glossy and backlit display will be far worse on your eyes.

People who want color, video and so on don't buy a Kindle, people who are avid readers do.

And not forgetting the long, long battery life which saves having to dig out the power adapter all the time when travelling. 10 hours is not even enough for most of the long haul flights I do. I was hoping the iPad would be much more compelling - I guess I'll be getting a Kindle instead.

 

[foodle]

I'm not buying one.
I have £1000 sitting in my bank account waiting to see what I will buy to compliment my 2008 Mac Pro and that thing will be a 13" MBP for sure now.

Given your apparent needs, it should have been obvious that a notebook would be more appropriate than the iPad, even before today's announcement.

Also, assuming the CPU is an ARM 1Ghz equivalent to the Snapdragon in the Nexus one, this is an underpowered machine for any of the things i mentioned above.

Hard to say how much application specific accelerator hardware PA Semi stuffed onto the chip. Just because the core CPU can't handle the task doesn't mean something on the die can't.

... and i had crazy dreams of using Pixelmator or photoshop on this.. I must be mad.

Yes, you are. You need a notebook.

 

[MacU]

iPoo

TOTALLY agree. I think this iPad is a real cop-out. I REALLY want a new toy (I have just over £3,200 in my "fun stuff" savings account) but, as someone who has an iPhone and a MBP (like a large number of Apple users), I just don't see when I'd want this. The iPhone is more portable and the MBP does things better.

No multitasking, no flash... well, all the things that people are no doubt moaning about all over these forums, make this - very unfortunately - a no buy for me.

Can't agree more. Waste of talent developing this thing. I''l just wait for the MBP update with touchscreen, blue ray, and 4G. I HOPE!!!!!

 

[ct2k7]

iPad or HP Slate? I dislike this decision, I don't want to make it, but I will have to...

 

[milo]

HP2730P. Runs full Windows Seven Tablet edition. Handwriting recognition is amazing! Can do all the functions of the iKotex.

Thanks for that. But it looks like that's at least twice the price of the iPad. Is there anything competitive in the same price range?

 

[sishaw]

Some like flash, that's fine. Some don't like flash, that's fine. I think having the ABILITY to have it available and make it as an option to turn off and on would be nice. There are many sites I visit that use flash and regardless of anyones position on the issue it is still not viewable lol!

Sometimes you just don't have a choice. I don't particularly like Flash, but some web sites require it. That's just a fact. Apple is really taking an odd position on this. I can understand for something with a tiny screen, but this iPad is going to be used as a real Web browser. Some non-tech savvy users are going to be mighty disappointed when they see the "missing plug-in" symbol, and then---can't get the plug-in!

 

[technotica]

I don't know -- I have a Kindle and I agree that the e-ink is great, but I'm willing to give the iPad a shot. First of all, I will be able to use all of my purchased Kindle books by using the Amazon Kindle iPhone app, which I assume they'll update for iPad. Assuming that Apple allows the Kindle and BN iPhone apps to be updated and ported, there will be real price competition on the device. Second, e-ink has some disadvantages beyond color ... it's horribly slow ... plus the Kindle is extremely flimsy, I've had to replace three of them over two generations. Drop it once and the e-ink slowly bleeds over the entire screen eventually. Now, the iPad is going to be a nightmare for drops as well, so there may be no advantage there, all I'm saying is that Apple could be in the ballgame with this device.

Well, maybe I am wrong.

But I think most people who bought an ereader did it because of eink, a tech savy person who doesn't mind a bit of eyestrain would probably as likely use the iPad.

But I think the mainstream user will stay on an ereader with eink because of the focus on reading books and not a focus on tech.

Also I believe eink will improve, in some years we'll have color eink capable of displaying motion.


Now imagine iPad v3 with eink full color motion capable screen, that would be awesome.
Imagine watching a movie on a reflective none backlit screen, almost like having movies on paper.

 

[tkermit]

I am an academic, so unless I can download and view pdf documents (i.e. scholarly articles in pdf format from major journals) the iPad is useless to me. Is there a way to download and view pdf documents, or can I only view them in safari?

I'd really want the ability to save a library of PDFs to read on this thing (medical journal articles comes to mind. They suck on the Kindle due to it's awful PDF viewer).

That's what 3rd party apps are for.

 

[cualexander]

And not forgetting the long, long battery life which saves having to dig out the power adapter all the time when travelling. 10 hours is not even enough for most of the long haul flights I do. I was hoping the iPad would be much more compelling - I guess I'll be getting a Kindle instead.

Don't most all international flights have power ports on the airplane anyhow? What device on the market does more than 10 hours of video. Please tell me.

 

[whiteboytrash]

Who said there is no GPS, the maps app is there, so GPS should be there!

It has GPS. Read the spec sheet: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

 

[jdmachogg]

LOL
saw this on apples website under iPad specs:
Input and Output

* Dock connector
* 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
* Built-in speakers
* Microphone
* SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

OOPS

I wonder when this will make it to NZ? Not to bad for approximately $1200NZD

EDIT: o and this under location:

# Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

Certainly a little confusing

 

[sishaw]

Thanks for that. But it looks like that's at least twice the price of the iPad. Is there anything competitive in the same price range?

Yeah, the Viliv, which comes with WinXP but Win7 can be added to it. It is just a tiny Windows computer.

http://www.amazon.com/Viliv-Promoti...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264627977&sr=8-1

 

[MacHiavelli]

There's an iPad case . . . . which essentially makes it look like a black MB

Looks a bit fiddly to hold all the time - one hand to hold and one to type?

Odd size to carry around: too big for a pocket . . . if you have to carry a bag for it, might as well have a MB/MBP with the full OS. With a 3G dongle you've got more than the iPad offers.

Are people going to carry this and an iPhone? Why not allow the iPad to make calls and have an iChat camera.

Looks nice, but seems to be a prototype . . . . future version will surely offer more.