So it is the iPad

[timmac]

While I think the device is nice/interesting/neat in its own right, there's no way I'm buying one. I have a laptop that functions just fine, and an iPhone that works just fine. There's no need for something in the middle.

In full disclosure, I'll say I've never been an apple fanboy by any means, though they have won me over with the iPhone. That in mind, I watched the endogadget blog excitedly hoping for the "big reveal" (I think the price point was supposed to be the highlight), which in my mind never really came.

The iPad seems less portable than an iPhone, and onlly barely more convenient than a conventional laptop, with added limitations.

I totally respect everyone who is interested and will get one right away, but for myself, and I think for a lot of people, it's hard to justify the need, or even much of the want for it.

 

[Revan]

Love the discussion and I find it fascinating how talk of this has invaded everywhere - if nothing else it has created more press than the State of the Union address.

A couple of thoughts:

Regarding Flash and Multitouch, these capabilities could easily be turned on when the new version of the OS is released, or left off. It's a shame and really needed.

Ebook reader -
imagine this, the ability to read a cookbook, in color with drop down video segments showing the recipe being made. May not be exciting to some, but Food Network has shown that there is a huge audience of people interested in cooking and recipe shows.
A true comic book reader, with electronic delivery of comics; again not everyone's cup of tea - but there is a huge market for this. Kid's picture books too.
None of these can be reproduced on E-ink.

Laptop v. iPad - I think this device would really appeal to the large segment of people that use their laptops almost exclusively to surf the web, update facebook, and send e-mail. Let's face it, laptops and their corresponding OSes are incredibly complicated and easy to mess up. I'm the go to IT guy in my family and there are people that I know who would get 100% of their needs met with this.

Outside of the box thinking - it's funny how everyone is only thinking of this machine in the narrowly defined way it was presented. When the iPhone was first introduced, no one thought we would be able to use it as our external brain (Evernote), a bargain finder / barcode scanner (RedLaser) or augmented reality machine (Layar, et al.) Wouldn't it be cool if your Doctor walked into your appointment with one of these, having your complete medical file at hand and able to shoot off prescriptions, etc.

 

[SoScary'09]

Too huge and inconvenient. It'd have to do something way super fantastic for me to even be remotely interested ^^; There's these things called books and laptops, apple. They're not totally out of fashion just yetXD

 

[Cap.Steamboat Willie]

I'm not one for the first generation of the products. Revision #2 is always better, but it is on my radar.

The price will go down fast just like the iphone initial price dropped. I figure that they would have to slash the price in half in order to kill the Kindle.

It is nice looking though...

 

[Stitchmistress]

I'm a big Apple fan, and have been for 20 plus years. However, I can't rationalize getting one of these. If I traveled more, maybe. But at home and at work I have WiFi, and my laptop is just fine. I also have an ipod touch, and use the Kindle app (which does not need WIFI all the time), and other apps when I want a hand held device. I don't see a need of a bigger screen, the Touch is big enough for me. I also would not want to pay the 3G price with ATT no less, which is spotty in my area. So while I think it is cool, and I think lots of people will find uses for it and love it, it is not for me at this time.

 

[pandapants77]

if u have a facebook and don't like the whole ipad idea join this group http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-iPad-It-only-does-nothing/270744841667?v=wall&ref=ts

 

[G66]

Big Apple fan here, but add me to the iDon't get it crowd. I'm willing to concede that it may evolve into something more over time, but as it stands now I'll pass.

Very happy I didn't wait to buy my Kindle.

 

[OKW Lover]

I guess I'm in the same camp as those who want one, but don't know what to do with it. Its not like I need it. We've got 3 laptops at home (one for me, one for Val and the third is a back-up/mass storage server) so I don't need another device to surf the web at home. We've also both got iPhones, so I'd rather not spend even more money with AT&T to get the 3G version if I did get one just for the wow factor.

Maybe by the time the iPad comes out, AT&T will finally offer tethering on the iPhone so I could get by with the wifi only version. Then I could see bringing the iPad with me on trips (with the iPhone) rather than having to bring a laptop for casual browsing.

Sigh. Decisions. Decisions.

 

[mshoo1]

I like what I see so far. Granted, I'm a prototypical early adopter that tends to run out to the store immediately after a new tech gadet is released--particularly anything by Apple.

I think the success of this device will ultimately depend on the quality of the apps designed for it. The powerful processor in this device will allow developers to design apps for the iPad that simply are not possible on an iPhone or iPod Touch.

From a Disney perspective, the folks at Disney Digital Books have to be literally salivating over this device. I would love to have access to several hundred interactive Disney books for a small monthly fee. It would be like a Leapfrog Tag on steroids. I could actually use this thing to read stories to my daughter before she goes to bed at night. My Kindle--which I love--is literally useless for kids books.

 

[safetymom]

I am an early adopter also. I like the iPad so I wouldn't have to drag my laptop with me on trips. I think the iPhone is great but the screen is too small is you are going to use it for something like reading a book or looking at photos.

 

[chirurgeon]

Well, the rumor at work is we are still getting the iPhone (I work for Verizon, not the wireless division.) I want to like the iPad. But I said before the AT&T connection for the 3G is holding me back. I think it would be great if/when we get the iPhone, that they come up with a version of the iPad that could work through us and be able to be considered part of the monthly data fee for the phone. I can dream.

I don't remember, how well was the iPod received? I seem to remember it was much more expensive than it is now. Same with the iPhone. I am thinking the next iterations of the iPad will come down in price.

Kim

 

[G66]

I am an early adopter also. I like the iPad so I wouldn't have to drag my laptop with me on trips.

I question how durable it will be for the road. That 10" glass screen looks awful fragile. Add an adequately protective case you are nearing netbook weight.

I wish Steve had put out a 10" MB Air.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Ebook reader -
imagine this, the ability to read a cookbook, in color with drop down video segments showing the recipe being made. May not be exciting to some, but Food Network has shown that there is a huge audience of people interested in cooking and recipe shows.
A true comic book reader, with electronic delivery of comics; again not everyone's cup of tea - but there is a huge market for this. Kid's picture books too. None of these can be reproduced on E-ink.

I think you might have lost me here.

I can see the use of an online cookbook with drop down video segments. I really can. But...as I'm usually at home cooking, I dont see the need for a special device as I have a 13 inch Macbook which only needs an additional 3 inches of space.

My MacBook was $999. The 64g iPad is going to be $799 and then a monthly fee of $30. The MacBook does more and is a better value.

I am also not sure I see the need for an ereader for comic books or kids books. Now...I will grant you the fact that I dont read either, so maybe I'm wrong here.

My reasons for buying an ereader have been well documented. I need bigger font, ebooks are easier to store, ebooks are much easier when traveling, ebooks are cheaper.

Is there a comic book audience who will be willing to drop $500 (and up) for the chance to read them in e-form? I'm not sure....maybe there is. Do they make large print comic books?

I guess I would ask the same questions in regards to kids books.

As I've said......I really want to like and want this thing. So far...no one has presented anything to get me to part with my money.

Dont get me wrong......I might find out tomorrow that it does something that I didnt know about and now cant live without. If that happens, you will see Pete and I in tents in front of the Apple store.

As of right now.....my spot in line is available.

 

[PeterPan09]

Dont get me wrong......I might find out tomorrow that it does something that I didnt know about and now cant live without. If that happens, you will see Pete and I in tents in front of the Apple store.

That gives me this image of you and Pete pushing each other and fighting to get through the Best Buy door first the day it comes out!

I agree though, there's nothing I've learned about this thing so far that makes me long for one. I'm still crossing my fingers that Verizon does get the iPhone because I do long for that. As for the e-reader, I'm happy I went ahead and got the Kindle instead of waiting for this. I don't need color for the novels I read and I think that glossy screen would bug me trying to read.

 

[safetymom]

Can Pete and Kevin hold a spot in line for me at Best Buy or is that considered line cutting?

 

[denise]

At first I wanted this but the more I read....I will pass.

Last month I purchased a cute little pink netbook for myself for Christmas for just $299.00. (Costco) I heard about the possibility of a tablet but that the price would be about $1,000.00. I didn't want to pay that so I got the netbook. My netbook has everything that people want in the ipad ( I agree dumb name), lots of memory, webcam, slot for my sd camera card...and more...

I have a 32G touch and love it but I really want an iphone. I can upgrade to anything but an iphone now but ATT is making me wait the full 2 years to get the best price on the iphone. (April 18th). But when I do then I will have to add a data plan and that is another $30 a month...I love it when there is free wifi available. So I hope to get one in April and if not I will still be ok.

So I will pass and as Kevin said....
My place in line is available!

 

[Revan]

I think you might have lost me here.

I can see the use of an online cookbook with drop down video segments. I really can. But...as I'm usually at home cooking, I dont see the need for a special device as I have a 13 inch Macbook which only needs an additional 3 inches of space.

Well - sure- but it's cooler

Seriously though - I think the interesting thing is that it will be an ebook reader and a whole lot more.

I ran across a 2001 forum post talking about the new Apple iPod announcement - one of the funnier posts
"I still can't believe this! All this hype for something so ridiculous! Who cares about an MP3 player?"

Check out the link - (work/family safe) - macrumors ipod announcement thread

 

[DisneyKevin]

Well - sure- but it's cooler

Seriously though - I think the interesting thing is that it will be an ebook reader and a whole lot more.

I ran across a 2001 forum post talking about the new Apple iPod announcement - one of the funnier posts
"I still can't believe this! All this hype for something so ridiculous! Who cares about an MP3 player?"

Check out the link - (work/family safe) - macrumors ipod announcement thread

The difference being that in 2001 I didnt know Apple was making an announcement and yesterday...I was obsessively jumping from website to website to see who was showing the best live stream from SF.

I couldnt wait the hour for the full thing to be posted on the Apple site.

I read something today that makes sense to me. I'd like to credit the original source, but I've read so much that I cant find it.

The person wrote that when the iPhone was released, we were told that this was going to be the ultimate web experience and it was going to fit in your pocket. The web was now truly portable and that we could access it anywhere. Smaller was the best thing ever. The iPhone revolutionized things.

Jump ahead to yesterday and Steve says "this is the best web experience anywhere". Bigger is better. This is going to revolutionize everything.

I dont know if I'm ready for another revolution. Is bigger better than smaller (keep your minds on the subject)? What to do....

I keep reading that the iPad is going to kill the Kindle and the netbook and the nook and laptops.

I'm not sure I believe any of that. I think the iPad is in direct competition with the iPhone and the iPod Touch and that might be Apple's mistake.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

Well, the rumor at work is we are still getting the iPhone (I work for Verizon, not the wireless division.) I want to like the iPad. But I said before the AT&T connection for the 3G is holding me back. I think it would be great if/when we get the iPhone, that they come up with a version of the iPad that could work through us and be able to be considered part of the monthly data fee for the phone. I can dream.

I don't remember, how well was the iPod received? I seem to remember it was much more expensive than it is now. Same with the iPhone. I am thinking the next iterations of the iPad will come down in price.

Kim

As a loyal Verizon Wireless customer , I hope and pray that Verizon gets the iphone

 

[alamode]

First of all, it is NOT a good ebook reader. The Kindle, the nook and the sony readers user e-ink, which vastly reduces eye strain, when compared to the glossy finish of the iPad's display. Secondly, 10 hour battery life verses 2 weeks. It might be good for periodicals and newspapers (although many use flash), so there's a no go for an e-book.

No background processes means you cant play music and read or play a game at the same time. Heck, my Zune can even do that.

The iPad is basically a large iTouch, or a fancy digital picture frame. Add another $30 to $50 for data access on top of your phone and home data plans,and it gets to be a very expensive fancy picture frame.