Hands-On Impressions of Apple's New iPad

[charliehustle]

The number of people who don't have a MacBook Air, iPhone and iMac dwarf (exponentially) the number who do. Seems the iPad may be more mainstream than niche after all.

agree with you a 100%.

I'm really curious to see how many people who already own a relatively new apple laptop would be in for getting an ipad.

personally, I like how the bottom of my laptop acts as a stand in bed or when I'm watching movies, and when I need, I can type just as fast as on my desk top.

 

[LagunaSol]

personally, I like how the bottom of my laptop acts as a stand in bed or when I'm watching movies

And a legwarmer too!

 

[str1f3]

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...

I haven't used it so it's hard to make an accurate judgement but there wasn't any lag or splash loading screens when apps were launched like on my 3G. From people who have used it like Leo Laporte, John Gruber, Andy Ihnatko & Stephen Frye they all thought it was incredibly fast.

I'm not really interested in the iPad but I welcome this processor on the next-gen iPhone. It should give it some great battery life.

 

[cawesjmu]

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.

Thank you. I didn't mean it to be a challenge or to prove any kind of point. On an iPad with it's 9.7 inch screen I could see several of those activities being feasible. I hadn't thought of those with the iPod touch since the screen is so small you can't see more than 1 thing anyway. I guess the things like 1 or 4 are an argument, but the apps are so fast to close and start you're not losing much time, and you're not reading two things at the same time, so I can see the appeal, but I guess the lack of multitasking is not a deal breaker for me personally.

 

[little.pm]

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.

You are right, however, out there do live some more DAUs than GEEKs, so to whom do you think you could sell more "gadgets"?

 

[50548]

Game-changer. Period. End of story.

Developers will cream themselves over this. Apps will be much more powerful, intuitive, and capable.

It's missing a couple of things. Like every hit Apple product. Butt that's not what sells it. It's the overall experience.

We're looking at the future here. It's getting rave reviews from the industry. And the price is right, and not only that, these will be even cheaper in due course, a la iPhone.

Tablet-makers, start your photocopiers. Apple just hit another one out of the park.

Exactly, buddy...this is a REVOLUTIONARY product even when the usual "pundits" fail to see it...my credit card is READY TO GO, especially knowing that iWork is fully ported, a keyboard dock will be available and my old iBook G3 needs replacement.

Camera missing? Yeah, but not a deal breaker.
Multitasking? Can come later.
"Low" resolution for video output? Who cares about it when every projection out there is made on less-than-HD displays for less-than-HD content?

Having just watched the keynote, I can only say again:

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL PRODUCT, SJ! AND AT $500, IT'S SIMPLY A MASSACRE TO THE COPYCATS.

MS IS DEAD. AND SO IS DELL.

 

[overminer]

Nice potential

Wow! this iPad has some nice potential. First of, I currently own in the home 2 mac mini's, one MacBook, three iPhones, multiple iPods and an Apple TV. This iPad has a place in my home. I am not rich be any means but I do enjoy a fun home tech lifestyle. Here's where I see the potential in the iPad:

Reading nice screen size and color make reading material other than just text a whole lot simpler. Anyone try to read a full magazine on an iPhone or Touch could probably agree. I read quite often on the iPhone both in plain text and on the internet. I read on the couch while watching tv and away from home. Many times while I'm reading I'll look info up on the internet; it's a cinch with a web browser on the iPad. Reading is definitely not that comfortable on the couch with the MacBook.

New apps are going to be fun on the iPad. An expanded new Remote to control Mac and Apple TV or other electronics around the house. The app developers are probably drooling. There an app to do most things on the desktop and laptop. If you're really thinking about full on media (photoshop/video editing) or any other power user app this may not be the device you need.

Streaming iTunes media from the Mac to the iPad anywhere in the house. Yes this has not been developed yet but it's not too far of a stretch of the imagination. It's like an extension of what the Apple TV does.

The price point is great because we don't need another laptop in the home.

Finally having an iPhone for view docs and email is great when out and about but at least once a week I wished the screen size were bigger for reading a editing simple docs and emails. The iPad fits the bill. Yes I could carry the MacBook around but I believe it's overkill sometimes.

Yes some may call me an Apple fanboy but I consider myself a simple technology user.

 

[puppyflightclub]

Wow! this iPad has some nice potential. First of, I currently own in the home 2 mac mini's, one MacBook, three iPhones, multiple iPods and an Apple TV. This iPad has a place in my home. I am not rich be any means but I do enjoy a fun home tech lifestyle. Here's where I see the potential in the iPad:

Reading nice screen size and color make reading material other than just text a whole lot simpler. Anyone try to read a full magazine on an iPhone or Touch could probably agree. I read quite often on the iPhone both in plain text and on the internet. I read on the couch while watching tv and away from home. Many times while I'm reading I'll look info up on the internet; it's a cinch with a web browser on the iPad. Reading is definitely not that comfortable on the couch with the MacBook.

New apps are going to be fun on the iPad. An expanded new Remote to control Mac and Apple TV or other electronics around the house. The app developers are probably drooling. There an app to do most things on the desktop and laptop. If you're really thinking about full on media (photoshop/video editing) or any other power user app this may not be the device you need.

Streaming iTunes media from the Mac to the iPad anywhere in the house. Yes this has not been developed yet but it's not too far of a stretch of the imagination. It's like an extension of what the Apple TV does.

The price point is great because we don't need another laptop in the home.

Finally having an iPhone for view docs and email is great when out and about but at least once a week I wished the screen size were bigger for reading a editing simple docs and emails. The iPad fits the bill. Yes I could carry the MacBook around but I believe it's overkill sometimes.

Yes some may call me an Apple fanboy but I consider myself a simple technology user.

I agree 100%!

 

[lilo777]

Thank you. I didn't mean it to be a challenge or to prove any kind of point. On an iPad with it's 9.7 inch screen I could see several of those activities being feasible. I hadn't thought of those with the iPod touch since the screen is so small you can't see more than 1 thing anyway. I guess the things like 1 or 4 are an argument, but the apps are so fast to close and start you're not losing much time, and you're not reading two things at the same time, so I can see the appeal, but I guess the lack of multitasking is not a deal breaker for me personally.

And there is another problem related to multitasking. iPad only allows you to display one application at a time (even if they run simultaneously). That is fine for multitasking, say, Rapsody. But if you want to have, say, IM application running in the corner while you are doing something else - no lack there. This is where iPad using phone OS blows.

 

[blybug]

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.

I get what you and others are saying about this, but you can't read an email and an eBook at the same time, or look at a map or video while still reading the website, or take a photo while simultaneously playing a game. All of these activities, even on a multitasking computer, require that you bring a certain application to the front and focus your attention on that application, while momentarily ignoring the other. If the apps close and reopen instantly alá the iPhone with the Home button, and resume right where you last left off (Kindle, Maps, Safari, Mail all behave this way) then what's the difference if they were still "running" in the background or not?

The music playing in the background business remains to be seen. I generally stick with my own music synced from iTunes, mostly because it really is my own personal Pandora, but also admittedly because of the fact that I can't stream the real Pandora in the background. I have to believe the iPad will at least allow for iTunes to play behind other apps, just like the iPhone does. Allowing audio streams from 3rd party apps across the platform would be a nice addition.

 

[50548]

I get what you and others are saying about this, but you can't read an email and an eBook at the same time, or look at a map or video while still reading the website, or take a photo while simultaneously playing a game. All of these activities, even on a multitasking computer, require that you bring a certain application to the front and focus your attention on that application, while momentarily ignoring the other. If the apps close and reopen instantly alá the iPhone with the Home button, and resume right where you last left off (Kindle, Maps, Safari, Mail all behave this way) then what's the difference if they were still "running" in the background or not?

The music playing in the background business remains to be seen. I generally stick with my own music synced from iTunes, mostly because it really is my own personal Pandora, but also admittedly because of the fact that I can't stream the real Pandora in the background. I have to believe the iPad will at least allow for iTunes to play behind other apps, just like the iPhone does. Allowing audio streams from 3rd party apps across the platform would be a nice addition.

Fully agreed. Multitasking is DEFINITELY NOT a priority or necessity on the iPad in its role in-between smartphones and laptops, especially given the UI paradigms that maintain it as an iPhone OS device...Apple got it right again, without prejudice to the possibility of adding multitasking or other features once it feels a real need for it at a later stage.

 

[pr5owner]

Exactly, buddy...this is a REVOLUTIONARY product even when the usual "pundits" fail to see it...my credit card is READY TO GO, especially knowing that iWork is fully ported, a keyboard dock will be available and my old iBook G3 needs replacement.

Camera missing? Yeah, but not a deal breaker.
Multitasking? Can come later.
"Low" resolution for video output? Who cares about it when every projection out there is made on less-than-HD displays for less-than-HD content?

Having just watched the keynote, I can only say again:

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL PRODUCT, SJ! AND AT $500, IT'S SIMPLY A MASSACRE TO THE COPYCATS.

MS IS DEAD. AND SO IS DELL.

well its great you like something so much in life. but until apple pulls their head out of their ass, ill stick with my Ass 1201N, at least i can watch 1080p movies via HDMI

 

[Eidorian]

well its great you like something so much in life. but until apple pulls their head out of their ass, ill stick with my Ass 1201N, at least i can watch 1080p movies via HDMI

I still wonder why the iPad is currently limited to VGA output in the age of digital.

HDMI or hell even Mini-DisplayPort would have made more sense.

 

[rhett7660]

I haven't used it so it's hard to make an accurate judgement but there wasn't any lag or splash loading screens when apps were launched like on my 3G. From people who have used it like Leo Laporte, John Gruber, Andy Ihnatko & Stephen Frye they all thought it was incredibly fast.

I'm not really interested in the iPad but I welcome this processor on the next-gen iPhone. It should give it some great battery life.

Exactly.... I can't wait to have it in my hands. I will reserve my judgement till then... But for some strange reason once my wife gets it in her hands she is going to want one, more so then a laptop!

 

[cawesjmu]

And there is another problem related to multitasking. iPad only allows you to display one application at a time (even if they run simultaneously). That is fine for multitasking, say, Rapsody. But if you want to have, say, IM application running in the corner while you are doing something else - no lack there. This is where iPad using phone OS blows.

Right, I started to think about this too, where the iPad/touch/phone uses full screen apps, so even if you had something running in the background you wouldn't see it and most apps require some sort of visual. So what people really want is multitasking AND non-full screen apps. But on a 9.7 inch screen, if you take up 1/4 of it with IM, I don't think you're going to get the same enjoyment or ease of use on, let's say the New York Times app, or any web browsing, or movie watching. And if you try and watch a movie and IM, wouldn't the virtual keyboard be in the way? So I do see your point, but at the moment, I'm thinking this is still the best option.

 

[localoid]

I still wonder why the iPad is currently limited to VGA output in the age of digital.

HDMI or hell even Mini-DisplayPort would have made more sense.

VGA was "revolutionary"... in 1987.

 

[50548]

well its great you like something so much in life. but until apple pulls their head out of their ass, ill stick with my Ass 1201N, at least i can watch 1080p movies via HDMI

Again, your comment is irrelevant. The iPad is already HD-capable with 720p resolution; heck, even my widescreen Bravia is limited to that, so what's the fuss?

Another point: 4:3 aspect ratio makes PERFECT sense in a device that does NOT exist only for videos.

What about the soon-to-be-dead Flash crap? I for one am absolutely GLAD Flash is NOT supported on the iPad; the more people and companies ignore it, the sooner it dies in benefit of really open standards such as HTML5 and x.264.

Apple has finally found the perfect niche between phone and laptop, without the stupid compromises or wishful thinking of netbooks.

The iPad is what it is: a light device for those on the go, with great media capabilities, reasonable productivity needs and the best Internet UI that exists today. I am getting one the moment it starts shipping.

Edit: and I don't need to buy a new keyboard to type on it...the Apple BT keyboards will work fine on it!

 

[tomacwhite]

I'd love one of these, they look and sound great.

The only thing for me is that last year I bought both a Unibody Macbook and an iPhone 3GS, so I don't really need one. However, if I had bought an iMac (as originally intended, doh!) last year, I'd definitely get an iPad.

 

[Bubba Satori]

I still wonder why the iPad is currently limited to VGA output in the age of digital.

HDMI or hell even Mini-DisplayPort would have made more sense.

The iPad Pro.

It will have it's own "magical" event at the end of the year featuring the new Micro-DisplayPort with SVGA output, a 1mp camera, multitasking two apps at a time and a GPS that can locate all Apple stores.

 

[Anijake]

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.

I to was thinking of getting this for my mom, she has a hard time using her PC. Put she also likes to print articles and emails. I think they missed the boat by not having some wireless printing setup, that is a killer for people like that. How cool would that be to be able to be sitting in the living room and be able to print to the printer in the den on one of these.

 

[Eidorian]

The iPad Pro.

It will have it's own "magical" event at the end of the year featuring the new Micro-DisplayPort with SVGA output, a 1mp camera, multitasking two apps at a time and a GPS that can locate all Apple stores.

Early adopter is turning into "sucker". That really hurts.

 

[50548]

Early adopter is turning into "sucker". That really hurts.

You only suck when you want to suck. Unless you are a newborn baby, I am pretty sure you will be able to make up your mind on whether to buy it or not, based on your own needs and preferences...don't throw the responsibility of a personal choice to the company producing the device...that's why we have something called supply and demand.

 

[localoid]

Again, your comment is irrelevant. The iPad is already HD-capable with 720p resolution; heck, even my widescreen Bravia is limited to that, so what's the fuss? ...

Um, 720p? Not quite...

The specs page claims "Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite Cable."

From: Will the iPad Connect to Anything?

 

[DMann]

I to was thinking of getting this for my mom, she has a hard time using her PC. Put she also likes to print articles and emails. I think they missed the boat by not having some wireless printing setup, that is a killer for people like that. How cool would that be to be able to be sitting in the living room and be able to print to the printer in the den on one of these.

There are already several apps for that.

The iPad Pro.

It will have it's own "magical" event at the end of the year featuring the new Micro-DisplayPort with SVGA output, a 1mp camera, multitasking two apps at a time and a GPS that can locate all Apple stores.

Being that the 3G model already comes equipped with GPS, you must be speaking of the newly designed 'in house' GPS chip, designed specifically to lead users to the locations of Apple's Stores, exclusively.

 

[50548]

Um, 720p? Not quite...

The specs page claims "Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite Cable."

From: Will the iPad Connect to Anything?

I mean playback...couldn't care less about HD output, especially when I already have a TV and an Apple TV...the iPad IS meant for playback on its own, after all.