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Hands-On Impressions of Apple's New iPad

Stephen Fry on the iPad
Stephen Fry:

You know how everyone who has ever done Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? always says, “It’s not the same when you’re actually here. So different from when you’re sitting at home watching.”? You know how often you’ve heard that? Well, you’ll hear the same from anyone who’s handled an iPad. The moment you experience it in your hands you know this is class. This is a different order of experience. The speed, the responsiveness, the smooth glide of it, the richness and detail of the display, the heft in your hand, the rightness of the actions and gestures that you employ, untutored and instinctively, it’s not just a scaled up iPhone or a scaled-down multitouch enhanced laptop – it is a whole new kind of device.

I found myself nodding my head in agreement from start to finish.

★
Daring Fireball 10-01-28 11:51 AM John Gruber http://daringfireball.net/
 
*LTD* said:
Stephen Fry on the iPad
Stephen Fry:

You know how everyone who has ever done Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? always says, “It’s not the same when you’re actually here. So different from when you’re sitting at home watching.”? You know how often you’ve heard that? Well, you’ll hear the same from anyone who’s handled an iPad. The moment you experience it in your hands you know this is class. This is a different order of experience. The speed, the responsiveness, the smooth glide of it, the richness and detail of the display, the heft in your hand, the rightness of the actions and gestures that you employ, untutored and instinctively, it’s not just a scaled up iPhone or a scaled-down multitouch enhanced laptop – it is a whole new kind of device.

I found myself nodding my head in agreement from start to finish.

★
Daring Fireball 10-01-28 11:51 AM John Gruber http://daringfireball.net/
Click to expand...
Is speed the only thing they're going to keep rehashing? :rolleyes:
 
*LTD* said:
Stephen Fry on the iPad
Stephen Fry:

You know how everyone who has ever done Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? always says, “It’s not the same when you’re actually here. So different from when you’re sitting at home watching.”? You know how often you’ve heard that? Well, you’ll hear the same from anyone who’s handled an iPad. The moment you experience it in your hands you know this is class. This is a different order of experience. The speed, the responsiveness, the smooth glide of it, the richness and detail of the display, the heft in your hand, the rightness of the actions and gestures that you employ, untutored and instinctively, it’s not just a scaled up iPhone or a scaled-down multitouch enhanced laptop – it is a whole new kind of device.

I found myself nodding my head in agreement from start to finish.

★
Daring Fireball 10-01-28 11:51 AM John Gruber http://daringfireball.net/
Click to expand...

Check out his blog for more iPad insight. :)
 
I think this device will be great for computer noobs / newbies. The lack of multi-tasking is actually a benefit for people like my mother-in-law who get very, very confused when multiple applications are running at the same time on her notebook. In her case she doesn't seem to be able to discern between the foremost application and others which are floating behind no matter how many times I try to explain.

In my opinion Apple was right on with limiting the purpose of this device without succumbing to the standard computer industry response of the check list (SD, USB, HDMI, etc) as this just confuses/scares most users.

You have to put this product in context and consider who it is intended for - obviously first release is not for the geek community.

I would have liked to have seen the forward facing camera though. :mad:
 
I'm 5 ft 8 said:
All hype, no substance.
Can't play games that aren't goofy apps. Can't use it for my camera, can't use it for design, doesn't fit in your pocket and you can''t make calls with it. Itunes and Ibooks can both jump in a lake, and anyone willing to spend a 1000$ on this thing are complete suckers.
Click to expand...

Where was there any listing for the device at $1000? :confused::confused:
 
A4 is underpowered compared to Tegra2

*LTD* said:
Stephen Fry on the iPad
Stephen Fry:

You know how everyone who has ever done Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? always says, “It’s not the same when you’re actually here. So different from when you’re sitting at home watching.”? You know how often you’ve heard that? Well, you’ll hear the same from anyone who’s handled an iPad. The moment you experience it in your hands you know this is class. This is a different order of experience. The speed, the responsiveness, the smooth glide of it, the richness and detail of the display, the heft in your hand, the rightness of the actions and gestures that you employ, untutored and instinctively, it’s not just a scaled up iPhone or a scaled-down multitouch enhanced laptop – it is a whole new kind of device.

I found myself nodding my head in agreement from start to finish.

★
Daring Fireball 10-01-28 11:51 AM John Gruber http://daringfireball.net/
Click to expand...

As has been reported today by multiple sources, A4 is nothing more than ARM IP-based SOC system. It uses the same A9 coreCPU (s) at the same frequency as NVIDIA's Tegra2 chip. However, Tegra2 obviously has better GPU than the ARM's Mali (which A4 uses). So it looks like iPad is doomed to be underpowered compared to upcoming Tegra2-based Andoid tablets (not to mention Atom-based ones)
 
iLame

Jobs will do anything to leverage the appstore/itunes... even it means an $800 ipod touch.

Shares will trade at 170 by the end of this quarter.

Fools.
 
NT1440 said:
Where was there any listing for the device at $1000? :confused::confused:
Click to expand...

Have you studies math? Just try to add the cost of all the accessories:

* keyboard dock
* the case (which you have to buy or you will not be able to type anything on your iPad because it's back is not flat, it's a rocker not a tablet)
* USB connector
* camera connector
* etc.

Apple is trying to cheat the consumers buy setting a base price relatively low but removing critical parts from the device (which come in a base configuration of any other device on the market)
 
Wo27t.jpg


couldn't say it better myself :)
 
Apple's non geek focus

People, not everyone is like you, knows what you know, is as intelligent as you, or likes what you like. Apple knows this is true, therefore:

Apple is not interested in giving you what you want. It is interested in making you want what they give you.

The iPad, as many other Apple products, is designed so anyone can use it, not just us geeks. That is the way Apple (or rather Steve Jobs) has always envisioned itself: A company that sells computing devices to everyone.

The learning curve on the iPad is virtually NONEXISTENT. Therefore, it competes with NOTHING out there. It IS a large Touch, but such a device did not exist before. It is in that fact where the genius of it lies. For example, just because there is a 13" laptop doesn't mean we can't have a 15" or 17". The iPad makes the Touch idea way more usable, for some situations when the Touch was being used as a laptop replacement. Apple has created a spot for this thing.

For those that wanted the iPad to be a MBPro replacement (like me), it sucks to be you. Apple does not make redundant devices. The iPad is meant to complement a desktop (or desktop replacement). It fits perfectly in a slot where you don't need the horsepower of a full computer ( or laptop), and a Touch or iPhone is just too small.

My (utterly non-geek) wife flat out wants me to sell the MBPro she has and get her this instead. She also has an iPod Touch, but the Touch and ipad would serve different roles, just as desktops and laptops do. It does not replace anything you already have. That is why they said it is a new kind of device.My mother (to whom I gave my macbook) called as I typed this and begged me to take the macbook back and get her the iPad instead. She saw the iPad video on the Apple site and said: "That is all I need a computer for". Apple is brilliant.

I am retiring my G5 and getting this setup:
Top of the Line 27" iMac (horsepower, dual boot Windows when forced by school/work, kids)
2 iPads (me,wife, 3 kids) for school, light travel, and leisure (1.5 lbs!!!!)

I've had to reconsider getting a laptop. Why do I need it? What do I use it for? I will always want a desktop's power. The iPad is an extension of this. If you want a tablet computer that runs OSX, I believe OWC (Axiotron) makes one. For me, going to Windows outside of work is NOT AN OPTION. For those of you that it is an option, the iPad is not for you.

PD: For those of you who feel Apple fans are rich and Apple products are expensive, I say this: I'm not rich, I save my money to get what I want. I refuse to settle for something else. To me, it is worth it!
That does not make me superior (or inferior) to anyone. I've worked hard all my life (born poor, 15 years in the military), so stop stereotyping Apple fans or consumers as elitist sheep. I have nothing against people using any other operating system, hardware, etc., and I certainly don't agree with every decision Apple makes with their products (MBPro expresscard removal:mad:). I just like Apple's style. That's it. So please, keep your hostility, and enjoy your system(s), whatever it may be.
 
sOwL said:
couldn't say it better myself :)
Click to expand...

And now you tell us, that YOU want to pay $5469 for that device then?

Let me repeat, you want Mac Pro Power, probably 4GB RAM (IPad might use 512MB as does the IPod touch), then you want ,let me guess, 256GB SSD and a 13" touch display, and a camera on front and one on the back, still you need a blue-ray-dvd-combo drive inside, fire wire 400/800, at least 2 USB 2/3 ports), A/V IO, extension slot, extension slot, extension slot and so on ... and so on .. and so on..

Did you really expect that to happen for $1K ???
All that wouldn't even fit into a double deep 17" MacBook Pro body using even the best tech currently in production.

Boy, what do you smoke? ;-)

The next one will suggest to take the IMac 24" off off its stand as a tablet. :confused:
 
kwarren said:
Try something called a Hackintosh, then.
Click to expand...
So far my experiences with hackintoshes have been bad.
They have been like worst from both the worlds.
You'll get hardware that does not function fluently together and OS that does not support them.
There's always something that does not work.
And configuring takes all the time I would need to do the work with the computer.

But if you can point me a laptop with at least 1440x matte screen or macMini equivalent that has blu-ray, express card, eSata, wifi, fw, bt & usb3 all that works in OsX, I'll go and buy it right away.

And one thing also on topic; one big competitor for iPad will be Lenovo's U1.
It has bigger screen, real HD and you get a laptop with it. Just "the real" OS is...

little.pm said:
Besides, "Hackintosh" solutions might look nice, but running any Mac OS on non Apple Hardware is not allowed by the Software license. So finally You end up with an illegal installation of MacOs.

Mac's and Mac OS where always and will be for people to do some stuff with software but not with screwdrivers.
Click to expand...

EULA has no meaning for consumers in EU (because you can't read it before purchase), so using hackintosh or installing OsX to it is not illegal in EU.

And there's no need for screwdrivers (although I have used them with my macPro & my father's iMac).
If they just added express card slot to all macs. (You used to have ability to connect about 100 different connections to your 15" MBP with EC and now you have only SD card.)
And made hdd's easily replaceable.
Maybe even GPU could be replaceable.
And that damn firewire back to macbook.
Little a bit more BTO options (matte screen!) and so on...

kwarren said:
As for Apple's ecological impact, um, they do a pretty damn good job with keeping their products as green as possible.
Click to expand...
What they have done is pretty damn good advertising.
Like adding glass to a product makes it somehow more ecological than if the glass was never added.
All CE companies are making pretty badly on ecological side, because they are all the time trying to shorten the life of the product, so you'd have to buy more more often.
Apple could be wiser, but recently they have just taken away features from their new models "for simplicity" which will make them less upgradeable and so less ecological.

Btw, just saw old very cheap Acer at my relatives, that has both pc card and express card on top of each other. It also had double the amount of connectors than any macbook. But the OS...
 
lilo777 said:
As has been reported today by multiple sources, A4 is nothing more than ARM IP-based SOC system. It uses the same A9 coreCPU (s) at the same frequency as NVIDIA's Tegra2 chip. However, Tegra2 obviously has better GPU than the ARM's Mali (which A4 uses). So it looks like iPad is doomed to be underpowered compared to upcoming Tegra2-based Andoid tablets (not to mention Atom-based ones)
Click to expand...

I don't think the term underpowered carries any relevance. It is about the experience and by every report the iPad is blazing fast. I think Apple was going more for power efficiency than just pure power. From what I understand the Mali is the most power efficient GPU out. Considering multitasking may be coming in 4.0 and Apple has previously cited battery life as the reason for the lack of it, one can see why they took this route. The only real benefit of the GPU on this kind of device is gaming which Android/Chrome OS pales in comparison to the App Store.
 
little.pm said:
And now you tell us, that YOU want to pay $5469 for that device then?

Let me repeat, you want Mac Pro Power, probably 4GB RAM (IPad might use 512MB as does the IPod touch), then you want ,let me guess, 256GB SSD and a 13" touch display, and a camera on front and one on the back, still you need a blue-ray-dvd-combo drive inside, fire wire 400/800, at least 2 USB 2/3 ports), A/V IO, extension slot, extension slot, extension slot and so on ... and so on .. and so on..

Did you really expect that to happen for $1K ???
All that wouldn't even fit into a double deep 17" MacBook Pro body using even the best tech currently in production.

Boy, what do you smoke? ;-)

The next one will suggest to take the IMac 24" off off its stand as a tablet. :confused:
Click to expand...

First off, what i smoke is none of your business :D Secondly, no man i'm not dreaming. Im just thinking, even with the current hardware on this iPad they could fit OSX in it. Maybe some streamlined version of it. As one previous post of mine said, i DO understand how such a product will be loved by people like my mom, or my sister. My point is, they could make it do more than just what an ipod touch with a bigger screen and better hardware specs could. So what if they recoded the apps for it? Of course they would, its a bigger screen and it can fit much more stuff in it. But well, then how would they get money off appstore and now the iBook store? How could they sell to non-geeks? That's why they made it that way, oh and because iphone sold so much, their too afraid of abandoning the concept. Otherwise how could you persuade windows fanboys to buy something with OSX in it? They would go eugh this sucks (but then they bought every single apple gadget and propably will buy this one). I dont hate iPad, nor i don't like it, i just think that they should have made a propper tablet running OSX before launching such a toy

ps: the whole cutting the keyboard off a mac air is supposed to be metaphoric, also, the iPod has only 128mb of ram... why would it need 512mb that would be enormous for such a device


edit2: does the HP slate cost that mucn at all? it looks jsut like the iPad and it runs windows 7. If Hp can do it then apple definitelly can
 
melendezest said:
People, not everyone is like you, knows what you know, is as intelligent as you, or likes what you like. Apple knows this is true, therefore:

Apple is not interested in giving you what you want. It is interested in making you want what they give you.

The iPad, as many other Apple products, is designed so anyone can use it, not just us geeks. That is the way Apple (or rather Steve Jobs) has always envisioned itself: A company that sells computing devices to everyone.

The learning curve on the iPad is virtually NONEXISTENT. Therefore, it competes with NOTHING out there. It IS a large Touch, but such a device did not exist before. It is in that fact where the genius of it lies. For example, just because there is a 13" laptop doesn't mean we can't have a 15" or 17". The iPad makes the Touch idea way more usable, for some situations when the Touch was being used as a laptop replacement. Apple has created a spot for this thing.

For those that wanted the iPad to be a MBPro replacement (like me), it sucks to be you. Apple does not make redundant devices. The iPad is meant to complement a desktop (or desktop replacement). It fits perfectly in a slot where you don't need the horsepower of a full computer ( or laptop), and a Touch or iPhone is just too small.

My (utterly non-geek) wife flat out wants me to sell the MBPro she has and get her this instead. She also has an iPod Touch, but the Touch and ipad would serve different roles, just as desktops and laptops do. It does not replace anything you already have. That is why they said it is a new kind of device.My mother (to whom I gave my macbook) called as I typed this and begged me to take the macbook back and get her the iPad instead. She saw the iPad video on the Apple site and said: "That is all I need a computer for". Apple is brilliant.

I am retiring my G5 and getting this setup:
Top of the Line 27" iMac (horsepower, dual boot Windows when forced by school/work, kids)
2 iPads (me,wife, 3 kids) for school, light travel, and leisure (1.5 lbs!!!!)

I've had to reconsider getting a laptop. Why do I need it? What do I use it for? I will always want a desktop's power. The iPad is an extension of this. If you want a tablet computer that runs OSX, I believe OWC (Axiotron) makes one. For me, going to Windows outside of work is NOT AN OPTION. For those of you that it is an option, the iPad is not for you.
Click to expand...

You hit some really good points. The first thing my mom said, I can read books on it and I can check email and get on the internet. Wow.... that is all I do and the screen looks nice. And I can take it with me around the house! Wow.

I don't think this is going to replace your laptop this isn't going to replace your iPhone/iTouch. I want to hold one in my hands and use it so I can experience it first hand before I make a snap judgment on it.
 
cawesjmu said:
Really? Not even one little example? IM gets notifications, and on an iPod touch, or iPad without 3G, I really don't get it. Seriously, just 1 or 2 examples and I'll probably agree with you.
Click to expand...

I'll bite ...

1. Check email without having to close your browser or e-book.
2. See something interesting about a place on the web, look it up in the maps app without having to close a browser.
3. Listen to Pandora or Slacker or MLB audio or streaming audio with ooTunes and do *anything* else.
4. Check an embedded link to a web site or video in an email without having to close the email app.
5. Take a picture without having to quit whatever I was doing before.
 
melendezest said:
People, not everyone is like you, knows what you know, is as intelligent as you, or likes what you like. Apple knows this is true, therefore:

Apple is not interested in giving you what you want. It is interested in making you want what they give you.

The iPad, as many other Apple products, is designed so anyone can use it, not just us geeks. That is the way Apple (or rather Steve Jobs) has always envisioned itself: A company that sells computing devices to everyone.

The learning curve on the iPad is virtually NONEXISTENT. Therefore, it competes with NOTHING out there. It IS a large Touch, but such a device did not exist before. It is in that fact where the genius of it lies. For example, just because there is a 13" laptop doesn't mean we can't have a 15" or 17". The iPad makes the Touch idea way more usable, for some situations when the Touch was being used as a laptop replacement. Apple has created a spot for this thing.

For those that wanted the iPad to be a MBPro replacement (like me), it sucks to be you. Apple does not make redundant devices. The iPad is meant to complement a desktop (or desktop replacement). It fits perfectly in a slot where you don't need the horsepower of a full computer ( or laptop), and a Touch or iPhone is just too small.

My (utterly non-geek) wife flat out wants me to sell the MBPro she has and get her this instead. She also has an iPod Touch, but the Touch and ipad would serve different roles, just as desktops and laptops do. It does not replace anything you already have. That is why they said it is a new kind of device.My mother (to whom I gave my macbook) called as I typed this and begged me to take the macbook back and get her the iPad instead. She saw the iPad video on the Apple site and said: "That is all I need a computer for". Apple is brilliant.

I am retiring my G5 and getting this setup:
Top of the Line 27" iMac (horsepower, dual boot Windows when forced by school/work, kids)
2 iPads (me,wife, 3 kids) for school, light travel, and leisure (1.5 lbs!!!!)

I've had to reconsider getting a laptop. Why do I need it? What do I use it for? I will always want a desktop's power. The iPad is an extension of this. If you want a tablet computer that runs OSX, I believe OWC (Axiotron) makes one. For me, going to Windows outside of work is NOT AN OPTION. For those of you that it is an option, the iPad is not for you.

PD: For those of you who feel Apple fans are rich and Apple products are expensive, I say this: I'm not rich, I save my money to get what I want. I refuse to settle for something else. To me, it is worth it!
That does not make me superior (or inferior) to anyone. I've worked hard all my life (born poor, 15 years in the military), so stop stereotyping Apple fans or consumers as elitist sheep. I have nothing against people using any other operating system, hardware, etc., and I certainly don't agree with every decision Apple makes with their products (MBPro expresscard removal:mad:). I just like Apple's style. That's it. So please, keep your hostility, and enjoy your system(s), whatever it may be.
Click to expand...

Very good post.
I am also tiring of my laptop mainly because it stays in the same place on my desk and needs an extra HD attached so I can access my large iTunes library and home movies I edit.
The next gen iMac with touch screen (hopefully) will be my new main machine.
The iPad is not quite there for me as it is missing some important features. But I know that the second version will put this one in the shade so I'm quite willing to wait.
Your post has put this new machine into perspective for me and I look forward to seeing how it develops into a very important and capable new way of computing.
 
sOwL said:
First off, what i smoke is none of your business :D Secondly, no man i'm not dreaming. Im just thinking, even with the current hardware on this iPad they could fit OSX in it. Maybe some streamlined version of it. As one previous post of mine said, i DO understand how such a product will be loved by people like my mom, or my sister. My point is, they could make it do more than just what an ipod touch with a bigger screen and better hardware specs could. So what if they recoded the apps for it? Of course they would, its a bigger screen and it can fit much more stuff in it. But well, then how would they get money off appstore and now the iBook store? How could they sell to non-geeks? That's why they made it that way, oh and because iphone sold so much, their too afraid of abandoning the concept. Otherwise how could you persuade windows fanboys to buy something with OSX in it? They would go eugh this sucks (but then they bought every single apple gadget and propably will buy this one). I dont hate iPad, nor i don't like it, i just think that they should have made a propper tablet running OSX before launching such a toy

ps: the whole cutting the keyboard off a mac air is supposed to be metaphoric, also, the iPod has only 128mb of ram... why would it need 512mb that would be enormous for such a device


edit2: does the HP slate cost that mucn at all? it looks jsut like the iPad and it runs windows 7. If Hp can do it then apple definitelly can
Click to expand...

The problem with apple is that it seems they've run out of innovative things to make. Obviously, the iPhone was a huge success, and they're trying to just lie to the people and say they've made something "revolutionary" in order to get more traffic to their "stores"

this is just one more medium for apple to sell their content. Will it make apple lots of money? yes.
is it a crappy giant ipod touch? yes.

I have a macbook air, iphone, and an imac, this is the last apple product on earth that I would buy.
 
milo said:
How high do resolutions go on a ten inch screen? This is 132 pixels per inch, how much smaller than that is readable?
Click to expand...
If the screen had a ppi of 1,000 text would still be readable - insanely readable, in fact - they'd just have to be rendered at a different size than devices with lower ppi. 132ppi is OK, but Apple should have at least made the size 1280x720 so you could watch HD movies. The sad thing is that they've chosen a ratio (4:3) for their new device (cheaper to get screens that way), so unless they decide to tell app makers to completely overhaul their apps next go around (highly unlikely), this is what we're going to be stuck with for a long time. Really dissapointing.
 
Frankly, Apple half ass'd the product:

1) Should have had a couple USB ports
2) Should have a SD Card reader
3) Should have flash enabled (don't call it the ultimate web experience cuz it's not)
4) Should have double the flash memory at those price points so I can actually put a bunch of media on it and not have to cherry pick my content.
5) Multi-tasking. Shoot me if you want, but the OS should have this by now. Unacceptable.
6) Should have a webcam.


This isn't like the iPhone where you can tack on "features" little by little to sell more phones (features that other phones been having for years). This should have been a full blown product. If Steve Jobs couldn't sense something was wrong when the audience was silent and ended with less than enthusiastic applause, then he's been out of touch for a while.
 
str1f3 said:
I don't think the term underpowered carries any relevance. It is about the experience and by every report the iPad is blazing fast. I think Apple was going more for power efficiency than just pure power. From what I understand the Mali is the most power efficient GPU out. Considering multitasking may be coming in 4.0 and Apple has previously cited battery life as the reason for the lack of it, one can see why they took this route. The only real benefit of the GPU on this kind of device is gaming which Android/Chrome OS pales in comparison to the App Store.
Click to expand...
Just watched the video stream of the event and is it just me, but it didn't look like "blazing fast" for me?
The whole event seemed really slow Steve sitting and surfing and typing in silence...
 
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