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Hands-On Impressions of Apple's New iPad

Will I buy one? Most likely. Am I dissappointed? Somewhat. Sure there are a littany of things that we would like to have seen on this device out the gate. However, for me I really would like to have seen the ability to tether this thing with the iPhone - not the $30/month cancel anytime deal with AT&T we were given today.

The developer community will push this device forward immensely. I suspect the multi-tasking will be resolved when it ships or not too long after. As far as the ability to store files on it - certainly a concern for most buyers but not so much a problem in my case because of my MobileMe subscription. I'm sure uploading and retrieving files will be a breeze via the iDisk app or the me.com website.

What this device will do in our household is replace the 5 year old Gateway laptop that sits on the island bar in our kitchen. In much the same manner we use that computer, 90% of the time the iPad will be used for the Mrs. and I to browse the web, do the email and facebook thing and 10% of the time be used as media device for movies when we travel.

The pricing is spot on and I'm leaning toward the $499 16GB (wifi only) with the hopes of iPhone tethering capability in the near or not to distant future. Throw in the dock and keyboard that was shown today as well and I'm a happy camper.:D
 
Me: It's a netbook!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a book reader!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a drawing device!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a web surfing device!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a gaming system!
Apple: No!

Me: It's an iPod!
Apple: No!

Me: It's an iTouch!
Apple: No!

Me: ok...I give up...what is this thing?
Apple: It's a mish mosh of everything you mentioned!...but everything is stripped down so we can moosh it all together.


Me: So as a representative of millions of Americans who own an iPhone and/or recent iPod and/or netbook and/or laptop and/or iTouch...why should I buy this?
Apple: Because!


The only consumers who will buy this (other than Apple enthusiasts and people with $500 to blow during a recession) will be people who do not own a single Apple product and more importantly, do not already own a netbook or laptop.

Apple Product Marketing has failed big time on creating a use case (they actually just put too much stuff into this). Shoulda just released an iBook or iSurf and leave all the gaming, videos, music outta the picture...and sell the thing for $299.

-Eric
 
iDUD ???

I'm disappointed...

No iSight camera
No GPS
No iPhoto

Maybe next year's 2.0 version will be more palatable.... let's wait and see.

-- Bill --
 
One more thing: the MacBook iScreen

What I silently expected to see today: the MacBook iScreen

It's 10.8" detachable screen has a camera on one side and the connector at the other one, and the dock is nothing less then a MacBook Pro...
The device will simply let you decide to use it as a powerful computer with keyboard and everything, or as a tablet with touchscreen keyboard, by simply picking up the screen. Hell, it'll even let you continue to use your MacBook wirelessly so nothing is lost.
Taking only the iScreen with you out of the building will leave your MacBook waiting for you to return, and the iScreen will turn into a self-supporting tablet. GPS, 3G networking and a car-mount are all included.
Docked into your MacBook you can simply close the lid as you expect and cary the device safely with you. The iScreen will be charged and synced automatically even then.

to bad... I'd say a missed opportunity to really shake things up?
 
milo said:
Serious. Feel free to disagree.
Click to expand...

People with 18 months left on an existing cell phone contract.
People who watched video on their iPod "Classic" 5G
People who wanted mobile Internet.
People who wanted mobile email.
People who don't have 3805873289235 CD's.

Just off the top of my head.

Disclaimer: I sold mine on eBay this weekend.
 
Deadly Mistake On Ipad Design!!!

One DEAD spot: bad on-screen keyboard design!!!

How are you going to place your palm and finger when typing on ipad, it's going to be really painful when writing long email or long document!!!
 
ericinboston said:
Me: It's a netbook!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a book reader!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a drawing device!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a web surfing device!
Apple: No!

Me: It's a gaming system!
Apple: No!

Me: It's an iPod!
Apple: No!

Me: It's an iTouch!
Apple: No!

Me: ok...I give up...what is this thing?
Apple: It's a mish mosh of everything you mentioned!...but everything is stripped down so we can moosh it all together.


Me: So as a representative of millions of Americans who own an iPhone and/or recent iPod and/or netbook and/or laptop and/or iTouch...why should I buy this?
Apple: Because!


The only consumers who will buy this (other than Apple enthusiasts and people with $500 to blow during a recession) will be people who do not own a single Apple product and more importantly, do not already own a netbook or laptop.

Apple Product Marketing has failed big time on creating a use case (they actually just put too much stuff into this). Shoulda just released an iBook or iSurf and leave all the gaming, videos, music outta the picture...and sell the thing for $299.

-Eric
Click to expand...
You sir earn my post of the day. I just wish I had been wrong about this product's placement.
 
Camera

thaprofessor33 said:
No flash and front facing camera is a let down. I could see some video meetings going on with a front facing camera. It seems large enough to add one considering they have one in the iPhone. I guess they can't give us everything now.
Click to expand...

That's probably true. The absence of a camera made me balk at purchasing it. I'm sure they'll get enough e-mail that they'll put it in during a future upgrade.

I thought some kind of a handle would be cool, too...
 
I feel extremely sorry for all the saps that go blow their hard earned money on this thing.
 
Why there isn't a camera and flash support is beyond me. I mean really, flash? Still not available in iPod touch or iPhone either? I don't get it.

Still, the iPad looks very cool and I would love to have one. But I'm getting tired of the "we've got something new to show you" but fall short of simple things that (camera, flash, etc...) that could make it spectacular.

But then again, we don't know the details on what it took to get this to fruition.
 
Why do you post here?

I guess I just don't get it. Why come here and complain and say you are not going to buy one. So good for you. Who cares? Do you go on Lexus and say I am not buying one, or to NBC and say I am not watching. If you have some information to share that is one thing. But just complaining about no camera or some other thing that is not going to be there is juvenile. These comments remind me so much of the iPhone when it was announced. Just bitch after bitch, probably by people who couldn't afford one in the first place. It is what it is. If you think it is just a big Touch and you don't want a big Touch then just forget the whole thing. I don't see folks going to a car show and then spending all their energy yapping about the cars they don't want. My guess is the iPad is going to do very well for Apple. It may not surpass the iPhone but it sure as heck will outsell the Kindle and other readers, and that is the target I would assume. Will make a nice profit for Apple and as a shareholder that is what I care about most.
 
‘You’ll Rule the World’
Alan Kay, regarding his reaction to the iPhone in January 2007:

When the Mac first came out, Newsweek asked me what I [thought] of it. I said: Well, it’s the first personal computer worth criticizing. So at the end of the presentation, Steve came up to me and said: Is the iPhone worth criticizing? And I said: Make the screen five inches by eight inches, and you’ll rule the world.

★
Daring Fireball 10-01-27 11:52 AM John Gruber http://daringfireball.net/
 
MrCubes said:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/design/ - end of the section headed "wireless"
Click to expand...

Great news, thanks for the confirmation of that. So all those whining about the keyboard dock have a solution.

ShiftyPig said:
People with 18 months left on an existing cell phone contract.
People who watched video on their iPod "Classic" 5G
People who wanted mobile Internet.
People who wanted mobile email.
People who don't have 3805873289235 CD's.

Just off the top of my head.

Disclaimer: I sold mine on eBay this weekend.
Click to expand...

Sure. And much of that list still applies to potential iPad buyers. I don't buy that there are tons of people out there who want a touch but hardly anyone who wants a bigger version.
 
Like many here, I'm a bit underwhelmed by the iPad. A fullscreen display? That's really lame. A videocam would have been nice, but it's not a total deal-breaker for me.

Sorry if this has been said in other posts, but I by the time I got to this thread there were already 11 pages. But what really gets me is...

... no apps running in the background and no flash. WTF?

I'm hoping that iPhone OS 4 will allow for background apps, and I think this is probably going to happen. But if so, it would have been in Apple's best interest to either hold off on the iPad announcement until then or to announce OS 4 today.

I'll withhold my full verdict until I see this thing for myself. But so far, it's not looking very revolutionary to me.
 
demodave said:
2) No Flash. Software update, can be fixed.
Click to expand...
No need. YouTube and Vimeo are transitioning to H.264 video. The rest will follow.

demodave said:
People ask, "why display it now, when it's so unpolished?" (paraphrase).

3) Release SDK.
Click to expand...
Exactly. This gives the iPhone developer community time to rethink their apps to support both iPhone/Touch and the iPad. Though calling them Universal apps seemed weird, since Universal means PowerPC + Intel support to virtually every Mac user alive today...
 
CupertinoBob, first, I am sure the people at Apple value the feedback from the people that buy and use their products. They refer to sites like macrumors and others to help develop their products. So what you call bitching, is free marketing data for there benefit and eventually keeps shareholders happy.

And yes, people share their opinions on Lexus and NBC forums everywhere. Welcome to the 2010 social platforms :)
 
You know something's not right when it doesn't feel right and the iPad doesn't feel right.

It too restricted to be a laptop replacement (no Office for those execs), too restricted for users to use as a IM client (no camera, no multitasking for skype etc). Almost as if it was designed by committee to keep operators and everyone content owner happy but forget about the real customer.

To be honest, if I'm sat on my sofa then:
a) I'll watch movies on the large screen with the AV amp running..
b) I'll listen to music on my amp with floorstanding speakers
c) If I want to write a letter or do work then I'll do it on the MBP.
d) If I want to browse the web on a whim I'll have a quick look on the iPhone.
e) If I want to read an eBook then I'll use my Sony PRS (although having Sony integration with iBooks would be a boon).

So in my opinion the iPad and Apple TV are the dogs in the apple product ranges - 1080p please Apple - and the Mini attached to the TV offers more.
 
Originally Posted by milo
Quote:
BT keyboards are supported

Link?

http://www.apple.com/ipad/design/

"Accessories"
There are lots of great accessories that have been specifically designed for iPad. The Keyboard Dock, for instance, is a dock with a full-size keyboard. There’s also a standalone Dock.And because iPad has built-in Bluetooth 2.1, it’ll work with an Apple Wireless Keyboard, too. There’s also a Camera Connection Kit that lets you import photos from a camera or SD card. There’s even an iPad Case that not only protects it, it also allows you to use iPad in various positions, to make it easy to type, look at photos, or watch movies. And through a range of accessories, iPad can output to TVs, projectors and displays. Learn more about iPad accessories in Tech Specs"

As others have said, "Over And Over" it’ll work with an Apple Wireless Keyboard, too.

END.
 
Ryanalogy said:
With something like this, I want a big enough bezel where I can very firmly hold it. iPhone's are small enough to hold onto both edges with one hand without dropping it. This, you can only hold it by one side while walking with it, potentially. But, with the bigger bezel, you can actually grasp on to it without worrying about dropping it or accidently trigging something on the screen because your thumb is having to hold it.
Click to expand...

In that case they should have done something a bit more innovative. Perhaps having the screen black out the edges for holding on some applications while other applications would be the entire screen (watching movies, looking at pictures etc.).
 
ipad can it use external hd

I might get if could use with passport ext hd, memory seems to be the problem with this ipad and oh yeah, no camera.
 
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