iPad

[Daniel]

I have an i7 pc, a netbook for travel/bedside, and an iPhone for carrying. I want this device. At that price why not?

Edited January 27, 2010 by Daniel

[G27]

NPR said stock rose.

It has.

[jtluttrell]

Just saying, this isn't meant to replace a laptop, but rather carve out a new product space.

I'm all for new gadgets but I'm typically more interested in consolidating these gadgets.

The next gadget I want to buy is a fully functioning smart-phone sized pc with holo-screen and keyboard standard and the ability to connect to any standard pc peripheral. I'm gonna start saving my pennies:2cents:.

[memphismason]

I am not at all excited. It is an over sized ipod touch.

I love my iphone but there is no way I could see any reasoning for myself to purchase this thing.

I can not see the practicality of this device. Because:

At home: I have a HDTV LCD TV with a wii and PS3 for gaming and blu-ray, plus a computer

At work: I actually work, but also have a computer for doodle time

Traveling abroad: I have a laptop and an iphone

just more mindless garbage to me, but I am just a simple person....i guess.

The above statement are my own opinion, and do not reflect others that I may be associated with.

[Guest c.a.s.]

No flash.

No multitasking.

Same software keyboard.

Big, ugly adapters for any industry standard inputs and outputs.

STILL locked into apple.

It's a scaled-up Ipod Touch. There's not much more to say about it. A Netbook, while not being a tablet, can really do more.

[Guest c.a.s.]

I'm all for new gadgets but I'm typically more interested in consolidating these gadgets.

The next gadget I want to buy is a fully functioning smart-phone sized pc with holo-screen and keyboard standard and the ability to connect to any standard pc peripheral. I'm gonna start saving my pennies:2cents:.

Other than the holo screen, their working on peripheral compatiblity with the Nokia N900. I have an N810, the purely mobile-internet-tablet (has no phone in it at all), it's several years old, and there is support for plenty of peripherals with a MicroUSB to USB converter. Full-sized keyboards, several different USB-to-VGA adapters, flash drives, and they never got past the alpha stage with mice (since Maemo doesn't really have a mouse in the GUI, being built entirely for a touch screen). It supports pretty much ANYTHING that can connect through bluetooth, and it can even act as a Windows Sideshow device (which gives you a bunch of small-sized applications such as a remote for Media Player, or a feed reader, or even just computer information)

[Daniel]

[Kelemvor]

I just love seeing what new iTrend the new year brings. Seriously, how much can you love spending money on a name?

"Hey guys, check out my new Ferrari! It does 0.9g on the skidpad and 0-60 in 5 seconds FLAT."

"That's pretty cool. How much was it?"

"$300k."

"Wtf."

[Guest CK1]

Personally, I can't wait to get one of the iPads (and must confess that I've been Mac only since the 90's and look down on the less enlightened PCers out there... My 2 year old MacBook Pro still is more stable, fast and as powerful as the latest and most expensive Windows Sony Viao for my profession)!

My wife and I have noticed that over the last year or so we end up doing most of our web surfing in-home or otherwise on our iPhones (I'm posting on it now), and use the laptop a lot less for surfing/media/photos/games/etc...

I use my main computer for my living so getting an iPad will allow me to keep my more serious computer more lean and mean, and while it'll be hard to let go of my trusty MacBook Pro, moving to a more focused desktop like a MacPro might be on the horizon for work use, either way the less serious business for around the house can be handled on the iPad... And the price is a shocker, I expected at least double!

[memphismason]

Personally, I can't wait to get one of the iPads (and must confess that I've been Mac only since the 90's and look down on the less enlightened PCers out there.

Statements like that turn my stomach.

[Guest CK1]

Statements like that turn my stomach.

Settle down, no need to get overly serious.

[lowbud]

Where would we be without all this crap?

[G27]

Statements like that turn my stomach.

Hahaha, seriously?

[Daniel]

Where would we be without all this crap?

The 40s

[Hippy]

It's a huge iPod Touch that offers nothing new except 3G connectivity.

I'm disappointed that it not only doesn't have a forward facing camera for video chats, but no camera at all!

The larger display is the only advantage I see over the iPod Touch or iPhone.

"Assisted GPS" (only available on Wi-Fi + 3G model). Is this a fully functional GPS like in the newer iPhones or does it use tower tri-angulation like the original iPhone?

Even tho disappointed with it's lack of new features, I will still be getting one to enjoy running most of my iPhone apps & games on it in the larger format as well as new apps that are designed for it. Guess they will get it right about the 3rd or 4th generation iPad.

[Wrangler]

I so want one. I could use that for work instead of a laptop. If/when there is a citrix app then who needs to travel with a computer?

[TGO David]

I so want one. I could use that for work instead of a laptop. If/when there is a citrix app then who needs to travel with a computer?

There is already a Citrix app for the iPhone OS.

I'm completely onboard with this thing. I've held trying to even think about a Kindle or Nook or Sony reader because I knew it was coming. Now it's here, I'm sold.

[Daniel]

I dont need 3g as I dont plan to walk around with it. I have wifi at the house. I want the 16gb one.

[Guest mustangdave]

I work on MAC's all day every day...have an iPod Shuffle that's FUBAR...thats all the I can handle...

[StPatrick]

I'm not going to buy it. My iPhone does almost everything it does, and my PC does all the rest.

Pro vs. netbooks (who I assume are the target here): battery life, USB support, keyboard on the docking station, good support, same size screen, partnership with Amazon for e-books

Cons: restrictive OS that requires software to come via app store in iTunes, no game-changing features, AT&T sucks so 3G is a investment, keyboard only on the docking station, as big as a laptop yet not as capable, necessitates a bag or man-purse, does not eliminate the need for another device from your daily life.

If this thing had a full-blown OS that allowed the installation of commercial software, I'd consider it. As it is, it's a $500+ browser that plays music and surfs where there's WiFi, unless you pay AT&T for access.

Can you save your own personal files, not music or video, to this thing? I'm still unclear on that.

[G27]

AT&T sucks so 3G is a investment,

As it is, it's a $500+ browser that plays music and surfs where there's WiFi, unless you pay AT&T for access.

I keep seeing people say this and it makes me wonder if you guys even paid attention to what was said - all 3G iPads will ship unlocked. You can use whichever carrier you want.

[StPatrick]

Apple has made themselves the victim of high expectations - the iPad is a good niche product that will sell well, but anyone expecting a paradigm shift based on their past history has to be disappointed.

[Guest mosinon]

Apple has made themselves the victim of high expectations - the iPad is a good niche product that will sell well, but anyone expecting a paradigm shift based on their past history has to be disappointed.

I think that is partly right. Apple is a victim of its own success so nothing the company rolls out is ever seen as meeting the expectations.

On the other hand calling a paradigm shift is tricky. The iPod created a paradigm shift and when I first that I feel the same way the haters do about the iPad. Honestly, I still feel the same way, never got into the whole iPod thing.

So I think it is premature to say no paradigm shift with the iPad. I don't see it happening but I'm often wrong so...

But a bunch of tech types talking about a new device is different than regular consumers. I've written books about Apple stuff and I can tell from my email that the average user isn't worried about the lack of ports or so forth, they just want to browse the net and send annoyingly formatted mail. The iPad can fit most users needs easily. And if it is easy enough to use, well, it'll sell a ton.

[StPatrick]

On the other hand calling a paradigm shift is tricky. The iPod created a paradigm shift ...

Calling a paradigm shift isn't that hard - it's a two step process: 1) have we ever seen anything like this?, and 2) does a wide swath of the general public, that are not already Apple loyalists, want it?

With the iPod and iPhone, Apple answered "No" to question 1, and "Yes", to question 2.

With the iPad, the answer to question 1 is "yes, only smaller, but with a couple less features", and to number 2, wait and see. I doubt many people will feel a need to have one, and with consumer spending at the level it is at currently, impulse and iWant purchases may be quite low.

That being said, these will sell just fine. It's not Apple's fault they can't redefine an entire class of hardware devices every time they come out with something new.

I'm not in, but I can see why others would buy one.

[Guest c.a.s.]

I keep seeing people say this and it makes me wonder if you guys even paid attention to what was said - all 3G iPads will ship unlocked. You can use whichever carrier you want.

Only GSM.