Ipad is awesome

[soonfl]

http://www.apple.com/ipad/ipad-video/#large

[faithfulfrank]

I dumped windoze and have been totally Apple for about 10 years now, and have long awaited the "tablet".

I'm impressed so far, but noticed that it is missing a few things that might have been expected. It is absolutely the "Kindle killer" it was hinted to be. Next to this new ipad, a kindle looks like an etch a sketch. I knew it was going to, and said as much weeks ago in the "Kindle" thread here.

Time will tell. The price is very good. Has a great wow factor. For wifi, web surfing and e-mail, ebooks, photos, it is incredible. Apple aways WOWS. Apple innovates, all others imitate.

In my home we have an older but beautiful G4 imac, and a new macbook Pro. When we move to our Florida home, I doubt the imac will come with us. There are times I find the wife on my laptop, and I see a tablet being a great second computer to check e-mail, surf, etc.


Frank

[tony]

Frank,

What do you think it is missing?

[mitchbr47]

Frank,

What do you think it is missing?

I think it looks awesome. Missing is a microphone and camera. The ports look like USB ports to connect an optional keyboard.
Another weakness is whether it can play Flash on a webpage.
MSNBC had a snide remark that the name reminded her of a feminine hygiene product.

[Pturner]

It's very impressive. Given how much better the iPhone G3S is vs. the G3, I'll probably wait for the second iteration. :)

[BogeyBoy]

I think it looks awesome. Missing is a microphone and camera. The ports look like USB ports to connect an optional keyboard.
Another weakness is whether it can play Flash on a webpage.
MSNBC had a snide remark that the name reminded her of a feminine hygiene product.

As much as I like Apple every time I look at the name iPad I think I'm in a Thai restaurant.

[Regor]

Can it multi-task? Nope!
Can you add your own programs? Nope!
What can it do that the iPhone and a decent net book can't?
Looks like a $900 toy to me. $900 because you will want all the bells and whistles and that extra key pad. I had a UMPC and typing on a touch screen sucks!
I think it will end up like Apple TV did....dead!

[faithfulfrank]

Tony,
It is impressive, but like others said I think the second version will add the things that this one does not have. I would have liked to see a camera on it, like all the other macs have for chatting, etc. Also an SD card port. I'd also like to be able to write on it. I see it does not do Flash......this is probably Apples attempt to put pressure on Adobe.

I disagree with the last poster. no, it does not yet multitask, but I'm sure that will come soon.
Can you add your own programs? With tens of thousands of apps, more then any other company I do not see this as a problem. It as it stands now does more and does it better then anything else like it.

$900 bucks? I don't think so. Entry level is $499. It is yet to be seen weather the educational discount will apply. Even with every add on you do not come close to $900.

To the folks who are complaining about the supposed lack of features for ONLY $500........go buy a joojoo.........they cost $500.00 and you get 4 gig of storage.....or a Kindle....hahahaha.

You can't please everybody. If they did include everything everyone seems to want, it would cost more, then those folks would complain about the price.
Come on, it's a tablet.......some folks want it to do everything short of washing your car.

As to the comment about the Apple TV, I have every confidence that it will improve and develop to something more folks will want. I have a friend of mine who really likes his, but he is into that kind of stuff. NO ONE, including apple has yet to make that holy grail item that has successfully merged the computer/TV thing and made it mainstream. It will be done soon, and it would not surprise me at all if the appleTV develops to be the first one there.

Some people just have a bias against Apple stuff. That's fine...there is plenty of windoze stuff for you to "enjoy".........

What can it do that an iphone and netbook can't? Well, as nice as the iphone is, (And remember that the 2nd and 3rd generation iphones were much improved), the iphone screen is too small to really enjoy the net. A netbook cannot really be a good ebook reader. So, the ipad is the first GOOD attempt to do these things.

Also remember that with a lot of apple stuff, many times it is having it in your hands and using it that brings the full measure of being impressed. no one here yet has used one yet......so we all might be a bit too quick to judge.

Frank

[Donna2]

Can it multi-task? Nope!
Can you add your own programs? Nope!
What can it do that the iPhone and a decent net book can't?
Looks like a $900 toy to me. $900 because you will want all the bells and whistles and that extra key pad. I had a UMPC and typing on a touch screen sucks!
I think it will end up like Apple TV did....dead!

Another toy that nobody really needs? I seen a young man walk into a parked car today. Someone said he was "texting"?.

[Regor]

$839 with 3g and 64 Gig. Keyboard = ??. Probably at least $50. That adds up to $889 in my book. Darn close to $900. All programs have to be approved by Apple then purchased through iTunes. It is a pain doing that with the iPhone. There are tons of good programs that never meet the approval of Apple. Of course I'm sure there will be 'jailbreak' programs out there that will allow you to use it the way you want.

Discounts? They sure discount the iPhone, don't they?

My iPhone fits in my pocket and can do everything that the iPad can, plus I can make a phone call!

My little netbook with a 10" screen (larger than the iPad) with 4 gig mem and 250 gig HD can be booted up with a choice of OSx (Mac), Vista or Win7 cost me a whopping $350 and came with a keyboard!

Having a giant iPhone that doesn't make calls, might be awesome for some people but I personally think it is just a toy headed for obscurity like all the other tablet computers have done in the past 5-8 years.

[memason]

Having a giant iPhone that doesn't make calls, might be awesome for some people but I personally think it is just a toy headed for obscurity like all the other tablet computers have done in the past 5-8 years.

Wow.... I REALLY wanted to like the Apple iPad! But, I have to agree with Regor. I have an iPhone and a Macbook Pro. There isn't anything the new iPad will do that I can't do [maybe better] on the 2 devices I already have.

I think Apple was attempting to balance the cost of the new device (less than $500) with the functionality. Obviously, adding the camera, USB and/or SB ports, etc. would have pushed the cost above the $500 threshold. In the end, the device might appeal to a niche market of those purchasing the Kindle or Nook for eBooks. For a little more, you can have a lot more than just an eBook reader, in the iPad. I'm still working, so I could use the iPad more as a note taking device, although that is not native to the OS; There's an App for that! However, once I retire [very soon], I can't imagine I'd need that functionlity. I did consider that I could use the iPad, in the Villages, on my golf cart for GPS on the golf course. There's an App for downloading courses and tracking your game..even though I have a SkyCaddie, I like the visuals of the GPS; especially using the satellite view.

I have a little different opinion of the App Store and their approval process. I like that Apple has tested the App to work with the hardward and OS, before I test it. As a general rule, I [personally] have no hesitation downloading and installing Apps on my iPhone...I trust them. Perhaps I shouldn't but I do. Apple is all about the User Experience and I love both of my Apple products.

Lastly, I'm not a big fan of AT&T, which is the 3G provider Apple has elected to use again. I'm currently living in Germany and my iPhone contract is through T-Mobile. While not so big in the US, they are fantastic in Europe and I have good (3G) reception almost everywhere I go...Even into some remote areas of Norway, Denmark. In my travels around Europe, I've not had any connection issues with T-Mobile. This is the best part. I paid 1 Euro ($1.40) for my 8GB iPhone with a 2 year contract. Unlimited talk-time and unlimited data plan for about $70/month...can't get much better than that!

I'd be interested to learn how others might be planning to use the iPad. I might have to change my mind and just get one.. :D

Cheers...

[Pturner]

I usually love Apple products, too. I don't know whether I would like the iPad as my ereader though. To me, it's very hard to read for very long from a computer screen. I can read from my ereader for hours, just like reading a book. I haven't seen an iPad in person though, so maybe it will be as easy to read from as an electronic-ink ereader is.

[RVRoadie]

I can see the iPad as a nice bridge device between the iPhone/iTouch and computer for use in the home. For $499 you get a very portable device to add to your wifi network. It will have a much better browsing experience than the iPhone, it will be handy for use in the kitchen or while watching TV. I can go for that.

It will be interesting to see if an App shows up to use the iPad as a remote screen for your home computer. That would be a big winner.

[Donna2]

I read reports on why the stock market tanked again yesterday. The disappointment with i pad being a major reason.
That is what I read.