A lot of people don't need a notebook, this is what they need...a device that is portable, easy to use, and not expensive. Netbooks are crap, hobbled notebooks fitted into a smaller form. I can't see getting an iPad myself, because I need a full functioning notebook, but I know many people who this device would be perfect for.
Most visitors to this site really like technology and use it at a higher level, most computer users do not. They don't care what browser or OS they use, they just want something that is easy to use and easy to maintain...well here it is. Whether or not is crap is a personal choice, it depends on what you're looking for.
Yeah i completely agree. Remember when the iPhone first came out? The comments in the threads very closely mirrored this thread. And I think the results will be about the same. The detractors will quiet, buy one, and will soon be extolling its virtues. Or not. Who knows. But really, its not for the guy who lives on his laptop. Its for the casual users like my parents, or my kids around the house, or me when I got to visit relatives for a week or two.
Part of it is a demographics gap. The tech-savvy complainers are either 1. demanding a full computer (ala netbook, which will last an average of 8 months before is all kludged and bogged down.) with which to do photoshop, make music, write TPS reports, etc. or 2. A Kindle reader that will last 10 days, have e-ink and umm... that's pretty much it.
The iPad (I really hate the name... that is the one thing that could keep me from buying) is really only for those who are going to consume a wide variety of content, not for a musician to create the next "Free Bird" or photoshop your latest montage of gorilla porn. On the other hand, it will be interesting to see the kinds of applications are possible with SDK. Why do all the heavy lifting of developing these when an app developer can do it and Apple get 30% of the proceeds in the process. Not a bad deal for the dev or for apple.
Oh and the whole, "doesn't have a web cam" thing? ATT can barely handle data and voice traffic as it is now. Video conferencing would bring down the whole system causing hate and discontent all directed at Apple. Once ATT has upgraded their system I could see webcam capabilities being added. Until then, why would Apple add something that would only work sometimes. Its only going to set them up for criticism of how poorly they implemented it. For now, the onus is on ATT to get their network up to par. Also, do you really want to take a picture with this thing? A camera makes sense on the iPhone since its about the same dimensions as a real camera. But the ergonomics would seriously suck with the iPad (gaaah, I hate even typing the name).
People always forget that that secret to Apple's successes with the iPod and the iPhone is that they have built in, no hassle, dead simple way to connect people to their content. (It also helps that Steve is one HELL of a salesman). Even though the specs of their products usually don't hold up to their competitors, the fact that there is a one-stop portal to their own content, to applications, new music, movies, TV, now books, magazines, podcasts, etc. makes it a no-brainer for people to get this. What competitors and the tech-savvy don't understand is that the hardware features are secondary to ease of use. If you have a difficult time accessing the capabilities of those features because the process is unintuitive, its pretty worthless.
I was disappointed by the lack of OS4 coverage and was really hoping for some Apple TV coverage. I expect that there will be another event in the next month or so to highlight OS4, iLife, and new macbooks. And I hate iPad. Seriously. Whoever brainstormed that idea should be smacked around with a box of Tampex.
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