Okay, so it exists. What do your favorite tech personalities, the CrunchGear team, have to say about Apple’s latest opus? Join us as we pass judgment on the device sight unseen — though of course more in-depth analysis is forthcoming.
Devin: It’s a big iPod. That much is clear — it’s not really a tablet computer. Of course, the benefits of a giant iPod are manifest: you can check email easily, movies and shows will look nice (though not full HD), and the e-books looked great. But the fact is you’re limited by Apple in every way they can limit you. It’s got all the same fetters as an iPhone and has no expandable storage or USB port. Until you hack it to run Chrome OS, you’re going to be using this thing exactly the way Apple tells you to. It’ll be nice if that’s what you want, but it’s not the universal tablet I was hoping for. Nevertheless, I see every secretary and PA carrying one of these in a month.
Matt: Sorry, Apple. I was going to buy it until I found that the iPad doesn’t have an SD card slot. You’ve failed me again.
John: It will be definitely be something I’m getting but I’m worried that it will be just “one more thing” to carry around. That I definitely DON’T need.
Doug: It looks really cool, aesthetically, but the battery life and screen can’t replace my Kindle, the lack of USB ports and expandable storage can’t replace my netbook, and I already have an iPhone 3GS. So it’d basically be $500+ for a bigger screen, a slightly faster CPU, and an external keyboard that I’d never carry around with me. I might buy one in a year or two once they’ve gone through a couple revisions.
Dave: I see the iPad as a great little device. Not as a music player, but as a portable movie player and web browser. I also use my iPod Touch to tether my DLSR when I’m taking pictures – the iPad would be ideal for this use.
Greg: I refused to let myself get hyped up about the slate, simply because we’ve seen time and time again that the rumor mill sets expectations impossibly high. Even with my expectations set rather low, however, I walked away disappointed.
I’m guessing some of the other guys will tear into Apple for not including an SD slot, so I’ll leave that topic alone; the absence of a camera, however, I can’t avoid touching on. Now, I don’t care about the camera for taking pictures, as there isn’t a single situation I can think of where I won’t have my dedicated camera or iPhone but I WILL have this big ol’ 10″ beast. The sole reason I’m disappointed: it means no augmented reality. The iPhone has proven that AR is a concept worth playing with, but it falls a bit short on that device due to screen size. The iPad could have ushered in a whole new type of gameplay, but not without a camera.
As a developer, I’m excited about it. As a consumer, not so much.
Nicholas: I mean, I already did a whole spiel on CNN (what?!) why the iPad is sorta “meh” in my eyes, but to recap: I simply don’t get it. It’s not an iPhone replacement because it’s not a phone (duh); it’s not an iPod touch replacement because it’s not portable; and I already have enough “real” computers that I don’t need a tablet. I understand I’m not Mr. Average Consumer, but the iPad seems to fill a void that I simply don’t need filled. Maybe as an e-reader, but that entirely depends upon the book selection, which isn’t clear right now. For now, though: meh.
There you have it. We’ll have hands-on video soon and of course a review once we’ve gotten our hands on one and put it through its paces. In the meantime, what are your thoughts? Apple phoning it in? True on-lap computing? Expectations too high? Sound off.
I doubt that the display can compete with the E-Ink technology…. E-Ink is much more eye-friendlier
well, e-ink is colorless but it has a huge advantage over this computer: negligible battery consumption
Since when do you need a color screen to read a book?
That’s easy.
When you’re reading textbooks. Specifically, anything that isn’t liberal arts. ie: science texts make *huge* use of color in illustrations / graphs / diagrams.
Take the periodic table for instance. Most textbooks use color to indicate the various groups, or other physical properties of the elements. Open it up on a Kindle and a lot of the meaning is lost (note: I’m not trying to slam eInk displays – I love my Sony eReader. Just not for reading professional-level texts)
So yeah, at the very least this thing is going to appeal to students. Ok, not all students. English majors won’t care. But they couldn’t afford it anyways. Too busy off writing poetry or something. ;)
Just because Crunch Gear didn’t got into the event to broadcast it, doesn’t mean you guys should bash the device.
For me, I like the Apple tablet compared to the Kindle. Yes it’s not paper, but at least I can use it even at night.
I just realized that the thick border allows your fingers to not get in the way. Which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time.
My friends were sold when they saw the video. They’re not tech pundits or trying to be one. They just liked it. Most of them are girls btw.
And I hope that before you guys share your opinion with us, at least touch the device and play with it. I know its over hyped, but you guys caused it. And I think you are setting the expectations too low this time.
Meanwhile, the camera might come in future generations, but I think Apple accessories would satisfy the niche need for the mean time. It would cost a little more but $499 is a deal breaker. The price is not just right, its the best.
It’ll definitely replace laptops for kids and students.
Like hell it’ll replace laptops for students. We don’t use out laptops to read e-textbooks. We use them to take notes, write papers, etc.
The iPad sucks at those things because:
(1) Students do a lot of typing and the iPad has no keyboard.
(2) Students love to multitask (some might even call it ADD). I don’t know about you, but I often like to flip back and forth between whatever I’m taking notes on, the PDF of today’s assignment, a chat window to ask my buddy a question about what the professor just said, and a web browser to look up things I don’t get.
To do that, I either need 4 iPads or 1 laptop. What do you think I’m getting?
For sure, Steve Jobs released one of the best Tablet as for this moment, but seeing its flaws — surely, made the impression that it really didn’t ‘beat’ its contenders (Kindle/Netbook devices) At least on this model. Maybe, if they will release a 2G model, these disadvantages will be eliminated, but then again that begs the question.. Why should we buy this half-baked tablet, if 2G will be better?
In the end, it’ll be up to your preferences and budget if you’re going to have the iPad. More Details: http://bit.ly/apple-ipad-advantages-disadvantages-details
A tablet with a PixelQi screen will have the best of both worlds!
not necessarily colorless
and crsh – it’s necessary for textbooks
Look, I’ve had an iRex, a Kindle, and now a Nook. I don’t really like the e-ink screens. They are not white, but are almost exactly equivalent to a 40% gray card if you know what that is in photography. And there is no built in light – on a fairly large device where there is room for a nice big battery. Which you really need more than on a regular paper book because the screen is so dim. The reading light I use for regular books I generally dim about halfway, for the Nook I crank it all the way on and it’s still too dim.
Frankly I would rather have a backlit LCD where you could really adjust the light level for different environments.
Not that I would really want the iPad as an e-reader. Kind of underwhelmed by it as well. But really looking forward to something like PixelXi or one of the other better new screens.
lol. i just call it that white hardware thing with the grey backgrounds, but i’m excited about eink and colour ink and all that technology because i read a lot and i also work a lot on computer screen/laptop along with watchig a lot of tv. i like the idea of ereaders. i’ll probably buy one when there’s a version i want, but not right now, but we know that reading via these typcial comp screeens are bad on the eyes. it’s unfortunate. also being able to read outside without glare/reflection is a big thing.
Given the iPad…let’s be thankful the Crunchpad gig fell through…that thing would have been a cluster-f*ck of hardware.
Be thankful Fusion Garage got greedy as that JooJoo will not make it past this calendar year.
Tell Arrington to drop the lawsuit and let Fusion keep that piece of shit.
Be thankful TC…be thankful for the blessing in disguise.
You are nuts.
The Crunchpad would’ve been a hell of a lot better. And it had HUGE demand. I’d rather have a larger screen + Android or Chrome OS. The last thing the world and developers need is more control by Apple’s apps gestapo.
Be glad the iPad is a joke. It opens the door for competition.
Hahaha!
No seriously. I’m really laughing.
The Crunchpad would’ve appealed to serious geeks, and that’s *it*. Mom & Dad wouldn’t have bought one for themselves or little Jimmy. Guaranteed.
You may hate Apple, but they cater to the “common person”. And those people are going to eat this up.
Sorry Crunchpad, you never stood a chance.
@Mike
I suppose that’s why Best Buy was so eager and lined up to offer it at a lower rate?
Keep laughing. You must be one of those people that Apple could sell a shiny rock to. Are you also in disbelief at Google tremendously growing presence in competition to the iPhone? The fact of the matter is that a Tablet competitor running an open OS (Android or Chrome) stands to sell really well — from those “moms and dads” you speak of, as well. Either way, there are millions of “geeks” who’d buy a Crunchpad. It had a large developer community and TC behind it, after all.
Anyway, I’ll wait till Google or some other company comes out with a tablet that doesn’t suck.
Oh, Mike. How little you know about ‘the common people’.
In saying that, no, the Crunchpad never stood a chance for the same reason the iPad doesn’t.
Myself, I’d rather have a somewhat smaller screen — say, a 16:9 7″ diagonal — with the iPhone’s guts and thickness.
That would fit in a tee-shirt or jacket pocket (this won’t) and would still have four times the screen area of an current iPhone, big enough to be a useful iBook reader and web browser. Best of both worlds.
I think the real innovation will be with new app store items.
1) it’s a proven ecosystem
2) larger screen can provide for richer and more immersive apps
3) increased processing power = better apps
I honestly doubt it will lead to better apps. Remember all apps for the iPad need to run on the iPhone and probably the iPod Touch. This means the developers will have to go with the lowest common denominator in development. And that likely means a matter of incremental difference between the iPad and the other systems.
Of course this means that Apple is now subjecting its third party developers to the same thing Android has – multiple units with potentially varying interfaces.
I would have liked to have seen a more open systems type of architecture, and so I’m disappointed.
You sir are a retard.
iPad Product Strategy
Offer a relatively inexpensive multimedia consumption device + Reinvent reading experience via interactive elements within the ebooks = Charge for brokering reading material (iBooks) = Own publishers as part of a 5-yr growth plan, similarly to music studios but with a HUGE profit twist: embed interactive ads in the ebooks (u cannot do that with songs) and make the money tenfold by brokering the ads yourself (recent acquisitions).
It is clear to me that Apple wants to promote “ebook consumption”. All other features are on the side, kind of side competitive advantages to give iTab an edge over generic ereaders.
No Camera
1. No interest in “making videos (Apple does not make money of amateur videos – Google does).
2. No interest in augmented reality. Too early for that, unproven business models, iPad too big to take pictures with, etc.
3. Camera would add to the cost
4. Risk of cannibalizing macbook sales by adding HW features
= Leave the camera out for now, focus on “reading material”, see how the market reacts and adjust accordingly (next gen will probably include one)
No Flash
Apple promotes its own app store + developers. Lock Adobe outside the room, let them spend more money to open the door. When they eventually get in the room, they will see the crowd and be forced out :) goodbye Adobe and nice to meeting you! Stay isolated in the “static” web. The mobile space is ours!
Memory
Enough for average readers. Heavy user? Pay more, start storing online (related apple-owned app coming soon, i would certainly believe)
Accessories
Offer some (keyboard, case, blahblah) to lock third parties out. Let Bose produce the speakers :)
Price
Great. Match the most useless competitor, crash them to the ground, forever. How did they dare launch tablets knowing we are coming?
To me, all the pieces were there. It always takes someone with charisma and talent to put them together. Apple has both. But it also has a couple of problems: Google + Google.
Nice insights you got there Stamos.
If Apple had been truly innovative it would have used this new technology:
http://www.pixelqi.com/products
Studies have shown that ordinary LCD is hard on the eyes and just doesn’t work as a paper replacement.. I had hoped Apple might pull something really special out of the hat.. a dual layer OLEAD/e-ink touch screen or even LCD/e-ink touch screen.. but a plain LCD screen.. yeah right.. Still doesn’t multitask and the lack of USB natively is insulting.. And the processor? 1Gig you’re kidding right? Oh that’s right, it doesn’t multitask so it doesn’t matter.. Every tablet currently available is 2+ gig.. People will buy this machine but I bet it starts to gether dust fairly quickly..
“Not a real tablet computer.” Enough said.
There’s a lot of people that don’t see that as a weakness, considering “table computers” have never really caught on.
People want a tablet device, but they don’t want it to be like their laptop or desktop, necessarily.
No, people don’t want a tablet device. That’s the point.
There has never been a tablet computer worth buying, actually. There’s a difference.
Acually, we all know we’re just waiting for the Apple Tablet.
And yo know what, Devin…
There still isn’t.
Er. It has a CPU. It has memory. It has a display. It has input and output capabilities. It runs software. And it’s in a tablet form factor.
By *every* definition, it *is* a tablet computer. It might not be the tablet computer that you want, and that’s fine.
But saying it’s not a tablet computer? That’s just dumb.
It’s not a mobile / couch web browser since it doesn’t have Flash. (WTF were they thinking.) Join the FB group here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=267979528314&ref=nf
It’s not particularly useful for work / class since it doesn’t support any good mechanism for note taking (ie: stylus or some new type of gesture/multi-touch).
And it fails on cool because it has no video camera.
I’m really disappointed.
There is hope. It’s called the HP Slate.
when did hope become a synonym for garbage?… o right, when obama made it his campaign slogan.
Enjoy being locked into Apple’s world, in every way they see fit.
They were thinking:
“If we put Adobe Flash on here, then we have to rely on an external company for software updates”.
and maybe a little:
“God, Flash is a pain in the ass when it comes to web standards”
mixed with:
“We hate those bastards at Adobe”
That’s pretty much what they were thinking. And they were mostly right.
I´m a big apple fan, but I would prefer to buy the newer atom double core, 12.1 inches screen netbooks that include USB ports and keyboards for 500 bucks… than this “thing”… get Itunes and be done…I´m sort of sore to see Apple so disconnected from the real market and is trying to sell idiotic gadgets to hipsters.
They are expecting (like all the ebook readers) for the e magazines and newspapers to succeed… but that industry is totally failing because of the lack of good content (good photos, good articles, etc.) and not because it is printed only :/… I really expect these ebook thing to fail miserably in a couple of years…
So how is this any different from what any number of skeptics said about the iPhone on its announcement ?
You can’t compare this to the original iPhone. People were frothing at the mouths in January in anticipation of the June release and they hadn’t even touched it yet! I think the reason the iPad is “disappointing” is because the iPhone was so amazing from Day One and the honeymoon still isn’t over yet. The iPad would’ve been amazing 3 years ago, but in a post-iPhone world, it’s simply boring.
I guess that’s fair to say for hardcore tech-geeks. But this clearly isn’t for them / us, it’s a tablet “like” device for the masses.
Actually, you can, quite easily as a matter of fact.
The iPhone had many doubters and the fact of the matter is, the iPhone didn’t reach it’s true potential until the Appstore came about a year later.
It’s way too early to write off this device, but i wouldn’t be surprised to see some very strong sales for it next holiday season.
I just wish iphone OS 4.0 and the Verizon deal were announced today.
the difference is that a cell phone has a real need (it is a cell phone and pretty much most people need a cell phone… so it is different) and I don´t see a tablet being a “need” any time soon… much less when it doesn´t offer any kind of laptop usage… it is just an overgrown Ipod touch!
Nah, the ebook thing won’t fail for one reason:
students.
It’s a market that is constantly refreshed. Where the margins on textbooks are insanely high (seriously? $250 for a Analysis of Linear Circuits textbook? Yeah. Seriously.)
A $499 price point is going to appeal to a lot of universities and schools. The color display is also going to be a big draw because science & engineering texts make *huge* use of color – something that the Kindle and Sony eInk readers can’t handle (I love my Sony, but it sucks for textbooks).
This will be a big hit with students, who have tons of disposable income these days (thanks Mom & Dad!)
Nice one Apple.
you have to think that not many people in their university years have cash to pony up for an Ipad (they already invested in a laptop or netbook that ends up being more useful for them) So I dunno about that… it could be or it couldn´t be possible.
Also in Europe the e-book madness isn´t hitting them at all… people there prefer the paper books and magazines, Latin America will be the same but for the price of the Ipad…
I dunno, I´m not seeing a great market for that thing… they could have taken over the Netbook market and they would surely would have crushed the Windows and Ubuntu netbooks with a proper tablet computer.
don´t have cash to.. sorry for the typo and double post :)
Seriously the Kindle! lol The thing works and looks like it was made in the 1990. Forget the negative comments, lets face it its cool and many are gonna buy it, without getting into it all. lol
One of the accessories is an SD card reader and USB dongle. This essentially gives you unlimited storage.
But you can only connect one or the other.
If that’s true, they wouldn’t have different versions based on HD capacity. Do you see what I’m saying.!!
Everybody would get the 16 Gs and expand the storage with an SD….It doesn’t work like that or does work like that with iPhone 8,16,32 Gs..HUH
Wake up Sam, it’s apple !!
This is just ridiculous . An adapter for USB ??? Apple is showing again his best attitude to milk their customers.
Just a few months ago Google announced their Chrome OS and everyone seemed to love it. A device that doesn’t need a full OS because the future is all on the web. And with that comes simplicity, no crashes, quick boot and virus free.
Why do you need so much storage or external storage if you run everything from the web, except your photos and songs.
For most users it is email, web browsing, photos, music and video, Check, the iPad does all of these and does them very well from the looks of things.
Not to mention comparing the Kindle to the iPad is a joke. Kindle lets your read a book, the iPad lets you interact with a book. Especially a text book, can you imagine your text book having interactive charts, graphs, video embedded etc.
For a first generation multi-touch tablet Apple did one hell of a job.
Except the lack of Flash really hurts your ability to stream music and video over the Web. The lack of multitasking also makes it a single purpose at a time device. That’s fine for a casual device, and I think this is going to sell boatloads, but it doesn’t do what I want it to.
@OhhJohnny Ummmm, first: Adobe sucks. HTML5 thank you very much. Unless you love IE in which case, you can go buy your Windows XP netbook.
See, netbooks are crappy at interacting with a full OS designed to use both a keyboard and mouse. Tablets are horrifically crappy at interacting with a full OS designed to use both a keyboard and mouse. That is why tablets suck: everyone ends up REQUIRING a USB to connect both a keyboard and mouse to it. The OS wasn’t designed to be used with a touch interface.
These devices are targeted at people wanting mobility more than their phone but don’t want to drag their laptop around. Commuters, students, sales people, etc.. Hell, walking into a boardroom and hooking this up to the computer for a presentation is sweet. Most likely I’ll be able to use my Remote App on my iPhone to control the iPad Keynote presentation. In Canada they will be able to tether an iPad to their iPhone.
I mean, what the heck would I want a NetBook for?!?!?! Mail, Internet, Chat….well now I can do that, play games better than any competing mobile gaming device, view photos, tv shows, movies, listen to music, word process, work on spreadsheet, present, and on and on. This will do most (if not all) of what everyone requires of it.
I wouldn’t be so sure. They talk about: “Or you can use the SD Card Reader to import photos and videos directly from the camera’s SD card.”
Import != store
Normally, I would assume this would be storage, but I have come to not trust Apple on this sort of thing.
Does this mean the new iPhone OS will support bluetooth keyboards? That would be nice.
dont i already own one of these? i believe its called an iphone. the only thing this does (excluding phone capabilities) over the iphone is the ibook app and the larger screen.
no doubt it looks like a nice product but its more of an easier device for couch surfing than a laptop but without the additional features that would bring that would allow it to be more useful everywhere.
i think the pricing is spot on though. i mean for the base its $499 which is half the cost of a macbook and only $300 more than the iphone. of course im not factoring in the higher storage versions or data plan. (which admittedly make a macbok look attractive for the price). but for the bog standard, out the box entry model i think they have it right.
I don’t see this device replacing anything we currently use. It seems like it does many things well, but nothing great.
Too heavy, resolution that doesn’t even fit some web pages, no camera. Basically an apple-branded, smaller-screen Crunchpad. Actually comparing their specs, Arrington beats Jobs.
I will be watching the sales of this thing very closely.
“Arrington beats Jobs.”
Except Arrington’s never shipped, right?
the joojoo will ship, regardless. and compared to the ipad it’s better equipped. now if only they made it run android, it would beat the ipad in many points. Apple has set the bar too low
Owo. It’s the exact opposite of wow. Underwhelmed, anyone?
Apple really should have looked at the Axiotron Modbook and put their own spin on the thing. Sorry, Mr. Jobs.
In all the pics I’ve seen, I’ve yet to see a headphone port. Put my worries to rest, is there one?
Overall, I think this is a big fail for us, the tech geeks. For average consumers and Apple’s usual fans it might do.
it’s on top. i noticed that too, but i eventually found it. it’s also listed on the specs page.
The lack of an SD slot is the killer for me.
The iPad looks like something I’d like to have, but I’ll pass for now,
Basically Apple getting greedy and forcing you to buy more expensive versions of the device to get more storage.
They’re also getting greedy to not include a camera or USB ports. These will all be included in next gen versions. But as I see it, I will not buy this until a) wireless broadband speeds get faster, 2) Apple stops slow rolling out the accessories we demand with devices.
Agree. I don’t understand why they did not include it other than to force you to buy the expensive version.
I think I’ll pass on this. The vaporware crunchpad could have been better, though. But….
Jaded journalism in a tech rag. While you ladies QQ I will be happily enjoying my iPad.
And everyone will be laughing at you.
Yes Mark A, everyone WILL be laughing at doofus-y old YOU
Stop crying, Dwight.
I won’t laugh at you.
Why won’t it just replace the laptop? Isn’t it a laptop replacement which will also replace the gaming handheld console devices. Isn’t that the position?
You’ve said it.
This thing is a multimedia device through and through, never meant to compete with small screen iPhone.
The iPad will be great for watching movies on the go, reading newspapers, surfing the web, all because of the larger screen size.
The netbooks compete with this device only to the extend that you use a large screen device for writing extended amounts of text.
However, you can plug an external keyboard to the iPad, for writing the novel or whatever.
Yep, all good thoughts :-)
Found this also alittle about the fact that social media will also have a better chance with this. Think it is as techcrunch predicted about consumption not about the device itself. I hate reading a tiny iPhone, on the train in the mornings, need something bigger.
Have a look here also… http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10440209-36.html
Good point James. Everyone seems obsessed with a device that replaces their laptop and iphone. There is a big market for this device. Off the top of my head… for the same price of the DVD player sytstem in my Toyota Sequoia, I can get 3 iPads and my 3 kids can watch 3 different movies at the same time or play games or read.
Absolutely no doubt this will be just the ticket for some people. They will adore it. But it’s just much more of a niche product than a lot of us were hoping for. With some extra capabilities this could really compete with a netbook and a laptop. But from what’s been left out, it’s clear Apple wants people to carry around an iPhone as well as an iPad and have a Macbook or an iMac at home as well.
The really exciting things that were done with the iPhone were about convergence. A phone plus a camera plus gps plus web browsing plus music and video plus absolute wirelessness – connecting all these devices together and putting it your pocket is really WHY the apps exploded.
The iPad however is really NOT about convergence, it’s about filling a niche. Why would this excite a developer? Without all this cool hardware connected together, what exactly are the apps for it going to be able to do that you can’t do in a web browser? Just don’t see it.
You will replace your full fledged operating system where you can install anything you want for a platform you cant?
just a question
I WANT to want it, especially at $500, a lower price point than I thought it would be released at. I would love to have that tactile experience of a hand held like this as I browse. But the issue is that it won’t display pages with Flash. Let me see my web pages on the sites I want to browse! Otherwise, it’s a no go.
Agreed. Without Flash it’s just not going to do it for me.
Agree as well. There are thousands of popular sites (like auto and retail) that use flash for interactivity. It’s not just for video and banner ads. Apple looks really childish here to block it. Adobe has reached out to them and it would work with version 10.1 and 1ghz processor — easily.
It looks sweet, but why would I need it next to my iPhone 3G3 & Macbook Pro? Well not I guess.
What really disappoints me is the software-vendor-lock just like the iPhone: I am forced to use Apple’s Mail client which I dont want to, I use Thunderbird. Same goes for the browser part: I use Firefox as default and not Safari.
I have to see & touch before a real rating can be given, but my first impression was:
it’s a big software-vendor-locked iPhone. Not for me I guess.
I wonder if apple will allow regular people to publish in the iBooks store. That would give a ton of people their book-deal they are looking for.
I think it’s great.
That, and I’m wondering if you will be able to add existing ePub eBooks from other sources via iTunes, much like how you can add AudioBooks. For a lot of writers with an own audience (read bloggers), that would create great opportunities.
I’m really proud of Crunchgear for this review. The iPad is a real meh. From the name they’ve picked, to the non-existent need, to the complete disregard of the ecosystem (SD? Flash?).
I think Apple has really blew it this time. It will unveil the mask off a company that wishes we were all just sheep. Well, I think the iPhone was pure brilliance but iPad shows Apple doesn’t really get consumers.
Every nurse, doctor and manager will carry one around.
they’ve already got XP and CE-based rugged tablets. an ipad would be really out of place in a hospital.
So would an iPhone. Until the basic medical application (epocrates) was released for the iPhone. So now doctors and nurses use them. And they’ll use this, because their medical iPhone apps will work on it as well.
Epocrates works with Windows, BB, Palm, etc. too.
Quick, jp, give me the number of iPhones vs tablets used in the frontline!
Oh you can’t?
Well shut the hell up then.
Negative on the medical field, no pen means no easy way to input when you are walking around with the device. They aren’t going to hunt and peck with one hand while they hold it and I’m pretty sure they aren’t going to lay back in a chair to prop it on their knees as they type.
now nurses and docs can surf the web during work like any one of us…..oh let me check my email while in surgury. Oh, I forgot how to do that procedure, let me google it.
“I am sorry, patient, i will have to close your life support app. I need to check my mail and my iPad does not multitask”
how dare they make a big iphone with less features? is it just me or is the ipad just useless? when would i use this thing? when i fly? when i take a shit? give me a break… isnt this thing what an iphone is for? i dont need another device that i can do already with the things that i have.
Seems to me they’re trying too hard to fill some imaginary gap between smartphones and laptops/netbooks.
So they came up with a giant iPod Touch.
Lazy and unimpressive.
I need hands on it to decide.
I honestly don’t get why you’re so disappointed. This is just what we needed for social media, surfing and watching movies in the airplane. We all enjoy being online and the IPad will definitely help me stay online. Can’t wait to buy it.
Really? So are you going to lay it flat on your tray, or hold it in front of you for that 6 hour coast-to-coast flight? Wouldn’t it be nice if it could support itself, maybe on a hinge that folds off of a keyboard – just like my laptop?
Rather unfortunate name… Maybe it’s just me.
yeah it’s just you, Doofus. It’s YOUR mind telling you to think of a MENSTRUAL PAD, you dirty git, whereas anyone with HALF A BRAIN knows that iPad not only takes its obvious cue from iPod (ding ding ding goes your brain obviously not having realised this) but also from the Newton MessagePad.
If YOU want to envision dripping pads of menstrual blood, then you must be a monumental moron, and that, buddy, is something I envision far more quickly than I do any pads beyond pads of paper and notepads and the like.
Why do you have to be so disgusting?
Maybe he was thinking of the Mad TV iPad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjU0K8QPhs
It should have had a camera and ichat. I’ll wait for the next gen
Use Meebo, or Ebuddy for chat. Though, the lack of a camera IMO is stupid. Still trying to see how easy it is to switch between apps too. Storage is another issue, but I guess you can store stuff in the cloud.
What’s your guess on The price?
If text is visible in direct sunlight I would say the iPad trumps the Kindle (DX), which retails at $489.
Essentially the Kindle is good for one thing, reading books. If the iPad just barely matches the Kindles (e-ink) readability, then I can’t imagine anyone not spending the additional $11 to get all of the additional features (email, movies, games, etc.) available on the iPad.
Did I miss it? Does this thing also have no GPS? So no camera and no GPS, thats one way they got the price down… Not a fan of the adapters for SD and USB either…
It needed to be more of a computer and less of an iPod. This is -literally- an iPod Touch with a bigger screen.
The iPad (which sounds like someone who lives on the Jersey Shore mispronounced ‘iPod’) as an e-book reader is a big fail as well. The only reason real e-book readers work is because of the e-ink, allowing an experience very close to that of a real book.
With the iPhone, Apple took a bunch of pre-existing technology and put it into one neat package: win. With the iPad, Apple took a bunch of pre-existing technology and put it into a bastard child that doesn’t have a home anywhere: fail.
Apple’s stock price was down when the iPad was on stage; its back up now. I wonder…
Loooking forward to touch it… When is release for Europe?
Was hoping to see a stylus and ability to write on it. Would have been great to sit in a meeting and take notes on a presentation.
This is much more a media player than a productivity tool.
“This is much more a media player than a productivity tool.”
Yes, thank you, those were the words I was looking for.
What’s stopping from developers from developing an app that does exactly that? The build-in Chinese handwriting will also work right out of the box, so it’s surely capable.
Guys, of course it doesn’t “replace” anything. Apple is not stupid enough to come out with a product that will compete with their other products. And yes, this is definately aimed at an average consumer (as opposed to a techie) that doesn’t have or won’t carry around a laptop.
My prediction is that within a few months of the iPad hitting the stores, you will sart seeing them all over, on the bus, at the airport, etc.
Seriously other than fan-boy d-bags, who do they think is their market?
Might have been impressive in 2006 before net books started becoming popular, but in 2010 this thing looks like a POS.
iCrap
no SD card, too big, no flash, stupid name.
I love this thing, I will buy the 3G version when it comes out and put in my car. Thank you apple.
asian driver + ipad = fatal accident waiting to happen.
We have a racist in the house
Revenge of the HP Slate:
Multitasking: Slate (yes), iPad (no)
Flash: Slate (yes), iPad (no)
Real PC Apps: Slate (yes), iPad (no)
Real OS: Slate (yes), iPad (no)
USB Port: Slate (yes), iPad (no)
Pen/stylus input: Slate (yes), iPad (no)
iPad=Fail. Microsoft=Win.
iFanboys, you may commit hara kiri now.
I agree. I’ve been using (developing on) my Windows 7 desktop with a 3M 10-finger multi-touch monitor and it’s been a great experience. The iPad could be the best thing that has ever happened to other tablet manufacturers. People will like the experience iPad offers and then ask “can I have that with a fully functional laptop”. Yeah … you can.
Usability: Slate (no), iPad (yes)
See you in one year for the respective sales number.
What’s interesting is that companies like archos have come up with similar devices (i.e. there is a 7 inch tablet like device) – not including netbooks – in the past. To be an apple consumer/fanboy is truly pathetic.
Once again, apple takes an old/tired concept, makes it “pretty” with a lot of marketing and reaps the financial rewards. I just can’t fathom what individual is dumb enough to shell out money for this.
16 gb? in 2010? please….
So, can we have background images on the iPhone now?? No jailbreak either.
It looks like Apple stole Microsoft’s stupid table top computer idea. What the heck were they thinking? Weak.
igniman – what do specs matter when the product isn’t really real nor available?
iPad looks neat (but could be much better) and I can see gamers and ebook readers buying it.
Playing games on the iPhone is all good and fun but limited in a lot of ways.
Starting at $500 isn’t too bad considering who makes it. The overall user experience will be good and straightforward, just about what regular joe can handle.
I like your controversial discussion. Time will tell. Media will love It. http://www.tom.de likes it already.
I have a laptop, I have a very capable smartphone and I’ve used netbooks. I’m a very technical guy, I’m a web developer, I know what I need from a device.
Those being said: I really like the iPad – it’s perfect for bedtime/in-house browsing/email reading/whatever and it’s perfect for travels.
I never expected the iPad to be a replacement of a notebook. But for a long time I wanted a bigger phone-like device – browsing, movie watching, games, apps, facebook etc.
The verdict: I’ll buy it. Cause it’s NOT appealing to my professional needs but to my personal needs.
So this is why I think iPad will be a real success. It address a very real need.
My 2 cents :)
I kind of agree with this. I like the fact that you can lay in bed and check email and Facebook and watch some Youtube. And not have a heavy laptop on you.
This is the future. Apple just needs to add flash, USB, SD and a camera. And 4G needs to get here. Then you have a killer app/device.
As an avid reader, I’ve been looking to buy an eBook reader. With eBooks generally a few bucks cheaper than hardcover print, I figured I could at least offset some of the cost of a Kindle or Nook. What burned me was Apple encouraging publishers to sell their eBooks at $15…wtf
Guess I’ll wait to see what other companies come out with.
I’m floored by the blase attitude. This thing looks incredible – little touches like the appropriate keyboards for different tasks make me want to see how else the gui innovates for interactions with this type of device. And it wins as an e-reader – E-ink’s inability to do color makes this screen preferable, to me at least, for reading on the go (which I do a good bit). Of course I’ll be interested to see how other upcoming tablet devices compare, but this looks miles better than netbooks and existing tablets.
As far as I can judge from videos and infos, it might have a huge ergonomic problem with the virtual keyboard. Unlike iphone or similar sized devices with virtual keyboards, you can’t thumb-type on it while holding. Which means, unless you find a convenient non-slippery, sloped surface (!) to rest this device on, you will have to painfully grip this fairy large device with one hand while typing with other. This could even work so some degree, if you had a something to grip on – like hand strap on back of conventional tablets, but here is just smooth surface with nothing on back, and small strip of smooth plastic (or glass?) on top. Try to hold a thick A4 notepad like this (with one hand on a side), and your hand will probably hurt in a few minutes.
You can use the Iphone or Ipod touch as a keyboard. There’s an app for that.
This is what is so disappointing in the tech press is the complete lack of connection with the people who actually buy the products they write about. Doesn’t have an SD slot? So what? Really, the times you’d use an SD slot are enough to not buy the device?
For me, this device is hugely exciting. As someone who sits on the sofa or in bed browsing the web, keeping up with my social networks, etc, I really don’t want to bring out a 5 pound laptop every time I want to look something up. As a business user who has a laptop on my desk, even with a dock and/or wireless technologies that make it a minimal amount of effort to bring it with me to a meeting, I’d much prefer to have a lightweight device for email reading and web browsing while sitting in a conference room than a full laptop. I for one, as a very technical person who pays attention to what people who are not want to buy, see this as a device which will define a new marketplace and a use case for a computing device that has failed repeatedly.
Right now I’m in bed with a Nokia Booklet on my belly (720p screen) and browse with Google Chrome. Way better than a tablet. I don’t know what it weights but it’s very light. Definitely not 5 pounds.
I’m not an apple fan (at all) but can applaud this for being a fine first generation device. Apple recognizes this as the future of computing and it very well might be. You didn’t slam the 1st Gen iPod for not having every feature of current iPod Touches — because Apple develops products that are evolutionary and not truly revolutionary. The only thing unique about this device is that Apple is actually trying to create a market for a device that doesn’t actually exist. All of their previous efforts (and successes) were intended to evolve a market that already existed, and they were successful at it. Will the iPad invent a new market/marketplace? Let’s let the early adopters create demand for the market and see where Apple steers it in the next 5 years. It’s a bold move for them as a company even if this particular device isn’t bold — it’s a necessary stepping stone for a future bold device and the cost of entry for them isn’t particularly high at all.
I think there is a real market for this, but it’s not techies. The market for this is Grandpa Joe and Grandma Jane. It’s for the iLuddite or the iNoob. It’s the Wii of Apple, something that ANYONE can use to get online and do some basic computing.
You’re not going to use this to run your business. This is casual computing, at least until serious apps are developed that use its form factor creatively.
Just like the first gen iPod was just portable music and didn’t do all the fancy stuff other MP3 players did, it has the potential to storm in to the lives of those who don’t already compute.
It will be great for all of those people who would have otherwise got an iPod Touch for the Apps considering most of those people don’t get it for being a portable music player.
So getting an iPad instead of getting an iPod touch makes sense.
Anyone who has an iPhone and a laptop will never see the benefit of the iPad.
This thing will thrive at the expense of laptops. The iPhone almost — almost — lets me travel without a computer; this will.
Absent the need to be portable, I’m much happier with a desktop (in my case iMac, but was a longtime PC user) than with a laptop.
iMac + iPad + Dropbox + iTunes sync has me covered just right. Even the iPhone becomes optional.
btw, re: MA’s rant w/r/t AT&T, point taken, but all of our carriers stink, and would crater under the data loads we’re seeing now. It’s not AT&T, it’s the FCC.
“It’s not particularly useful for work / class since it doesn’t support any good mechanism for note taking (ie: stylus or some new type of gesture/multi-touch).”
These are my thoughts exactly. I have been lookin’ around for a tablet for note taking, work, etc and it looks like this isn’t going to fill that void for me.
I am a sort of apple fanboy, but I am a little confused on why anyone would need such a device.
I want to know these things.
Where is the iPhone update?
Where is the Snow Leopard update?
Agreed. Where’s my next iPhone OS update??
There is this little event next month (February 9-13) called the Mac World Expo.
Maybe, just maybe Apple will announce some “new” stuff there.