So it is the iPad

[kaligal]

On the fence.

 

[PeterPan09]

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.

and I didn't think the iTouch was worth the money when I already had an iPod that holds my entire music collection.

Sure, you can use Skype or Vonage on the thing, but like the NY Times said this morning-aren't you going to feel a little funny holding this giant clipboard to your ear? And how much battery life would Skype suck off it?

I'm sure there are folks that will buy it the first day (Hi Pete!) and love it. I just don't think it's going to be another game changer like the iPhone or the iPod.

 

[alamode]

and the name, iPad?? Guess they won't be doing a project red version.

 

[PeterPan09]

and the name, iPad?? Guess they won't be doing a project red version.

 

[Revan]

I dont know if I'm ready for another revolution.

Very true! - the speed of innovations is increasing at an incredible rate - when you combine that with incredible savvy marketing, creating a customer "want" that feels like a "need".

The reality is that it's perfectly acceptable to sit on the fence and wait 6 months or so (not everyone is an early adopter - another marketing created word that was designed to infer that someone is a step above/ahead of the masses by the way), you won't miss a thing.

The perception is that we need to make a hard and fast decision and have an unwavering point of view immediately, with limited information and no actual hands on experience.

I think Apple has done an amazing job creating this marketing engine and subsequent polarizing effect.

 

[rotlex]

and the name, iPad?? Guess they won't be doing a project red version.

I hate to admit it, but that got a nice Friday morning chuckle out of me.

 

[I<3EvilQueen]

and the name, iPad?? Guess they won't be doing a project red version.

*spews soda on screen



Oh I soooo needed that.

 

[SFBayDon]

Undecided until version 2.0 come out.
Don

 

[SueM in MN]

Wow, what a complete let down. Was really hoping for a REAL tablet computer, running OS X, not a giant iPhone, LOL.

My older DD was an artist and was hoping for a REAL Mac tablet computer - she was hoping to be able to use full version of Photoshop. So she's not happy.

My younger DD is using a program called Proloquo2Go on an iPod touch to communicate. For her, the iPod is too small and the iPad would be perfect. The iPad will be able to run all the current iPod/iPhone apps (except those that use features that you need phone connection for.
So, there are a lot of people using this one little app who are very happy that the iPad turned out to be a giant iPod touch.

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.

And, things like comics and children's books DO look really nice (although really tiny) on the iPod touch.

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.

I think that is true. There are people who are not looking for anything besides that.

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.

I just bought something at the Apple store today and the whole transaction was done on an iPod touch. My credit card was taken on the iPod; if I had wanted a printed receipt, the clerk would have sent the info wirelessly to a printer. I agreed to an email receipt, so it was sent right from the iPod to my email.
If someone had told me when iPhones first came out that this would be possible, I'm not sure I would have believed them.
And, there are quite a few medical apps that allow doctors to do things like look at xrays, CAT scans.

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?

There are already quite a few comic book apps available. They look nice on the small screen, but would be even better on the large screen. And you would be able to expand the picture to see details.

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.

That's not correct.
It would work the same as the current iPod touch and iPhones. You can't use 2 APPs at the same time, but you can play music and do other things at the same time.
I can listen to music and be on the internet.
I can listen to music and read.
I can listen to music while I use any of the apps that came with the ipod (things like the calendar, notes, maps, etc.)
Some of the apps you can download from the iTunes app store have music or sound effects as part of the app. Most of them have settings that allow choosing to listen to the game music/soundtrack or your own music. Some are more sophisticated and I can listen to music, but still use the sound effects.
So, I can definately play a game and listen to my own music.

 

[KimDis]

Originally Posted by Revan
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.

Here's the difference, at least to me...

When I got my iPhone it did the 3 things I really needed it to do right off the bat. Calls, email, SMS. And I was very happy with just this. But I fell in love (life changing, transforming, pry from my dead cold hands, love) with my iPhone because it did all the other amazing things you wrote about.

That said, unlike the iPhone, the iPad doesn't do the basic things I want to be able to do on it. There is no way I'm going to spend that kind of money and not be able to play my flash games. I'm disappointed that the media options are weak. Since I'm on the road a lot I often miss my favorite shows - I was soo excited when I thought I could watch maybe tv on it. I can't fully Skype on it cuz guess what - no camera. No netbook killer here.

Maybe since I have bad eyes this eyestrain thing bothers me more than most but reading using Kindle is much easier on the actual device than the app. I can't imagine that would get better with a larger screen. My Kindle's battery is so good that I'm about to take without the charger across country and back next week. Can't do that with an iPad. No Kindle killer here.

So far it's not only completely UN-revolutionary, it doesn't even cover the bases. That's the problem with it right now. These are smart people though, they have time to fix it. Like I said, I'll wait.

 

[alamode]

A friend at work today asked me what all the hype was about "this iPad thing". i did my best to explain both the positives and negatives. Her responmse was priceless.

"Not much memory, no flash, and can only do one thing at a time? Sounds like my husband".

 

[doconeill]

A friend at work today asked me what all the hype was about "this iPad thing". i did my best to explain both the positives and negatives. Her responmse was priceless.

"Not much memory, no flash, and can only do one thing at a time? Sounds like my husband".

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

That's not correct.
It would work the same as the current iPod touch and iPhones. You can't use 2 APPs at the same time, but you can play music and do other things at the same time.
I can listen to music and be on the internet.
I can listen to music and read.
I can listen to music while I use any of the apps that came with the ipod (things like the calendar, notes, maps, etc.)
Some of the apps you can download from the iTunes app store have music or sound effects as part of the app. Most of them have settings that allow choosing to listen to the game music/soundtrack or your own music. Some are more sophisticated and I can listen to music, but still use the sound effects.
So, I can definately play a game and listen to my own music

What people are talking about in the media is not being able to play Pandora or Live 365 as a multitask. They are not generaly talking about their paid for mp3s

 

[alamode]

I'm not really in the market for another gadget right now, but looking at the iPad competition, I think the Archos 9 tablet is what most people really wanted Apple to make.

http://www.archos.com/products/nb/archos_9/index.html?country=ca&lang=en

I've owned Archos products in the past. Great quality, no advertising budget. If Apple evolves the iPad into something like this, they'd have a winner on their hands.

 

[alamode]

Also, another great iPad review: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f7a03edbd7/pee-wee-gets-an-ipad

 

[SueM in MN]

What people are talking about in the media is not being able to play Pandora or Live 365 as a multitask. They are not generaly talking about their paid for mp3s

that may be what they meant, but is not what they wrote.
What I wrote is correct and since I deal with a lot of new iPod touch users who have just gotten iPods/iPhones to use as communication devices I know many people would not know that there are other ways to play besides songs downloaded into the device, as the other poster apparently meant.

I do have The Pandora radio app on my iPod touch, so I know how it works and that you can't multitask when using it.
I do wish that Apple would allow use of Flash on the iPods and iPhones. It is very annoying to be able to go to actual web pages (not mobile versions) and not be able to use the Flash content because Apple has chosen not to allow Flash. I think the iPad might be the trigger that makes Apple change ( at least hope) since users will not be too happy to not be able to use content on the web pages they are going to. I can't really do Farmville or other social games on the iPod touch, but would really want to be able to do that if I had the iPad.

 

[disneyholic family]

that may be what they meant, but is not what they wrote.
What I wrote is correct and since I deal with a lot of new iPod touch users who have just gotten iPods/iPhones to use as communication devices I know many people would not know that there are other ways to play besides songs downloaded into the device, as the other poster apparently meant.

I do have The Pandora radio app on my iPod touch, so I know how it works and that you can't multitask when using it.
I do wish that Apple would allow use of Flash on the iPods and iPhones. It is very annoying to be able to go to actual web pages (not mobile versions) and not be able to use the Flash content because Apple has chosen not to allow Flash. I think the iPad might be the trigger that makes Apple change ( at least hope) since users will not be too happy to not be able to use content on the web pages they are going to. I can't really do Farmville or other social games on the iPod touch, but would really want to be able to do that if I had the iPad.

not having Flash on the iPad is a dealbreaker for me...
i can live with it on my iPhone, since i use my iphone for email/calendar/phone/camera/simple web/etc......

but on the iPad? a device that's being described (by Jobs) as the greatest web browsing experience ever?
how is that possible without Flash???????????????????

nope...not possible.....so no iPad for me....unless Apple sees the error of its ways...

by the way, i haven't read through this entire thread....has anyone posted the very funny Washington Post article about the iPad's name?

 

[SueM in MN]

by the way, i haven't read through this entire thread....has anyone posted the very funny Washington Post article about the iPad's name?

not sure which page, but I think someone did.

 

[disneyholic family]

not sure which page, but I think someone did.

i looked - they posted other funny bits about the name, but i didn't see the wash. post article...
so here it is:

With a name like iPad, can Apple's new device possibly have wings?

By Monica Hesse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 28, 2010

After months of speculation over what Apple would call its latest sacred touch-screen device (iSlate? iTablet?), the company revealed Tuesday that it had opted to go with iPad.

Boyfriends everywhere promptly refuse to purchase it unless they could simultaneously buy some really manly products, like shaving cream and batteries.

Business Insider declared the name "terrible," with one columnist writing that he'd heard rumors of the name "but dismissed it immediately," thinking that Apple would have the foresight to predict a landslide of menstruation mockery. (Did they not see "MADtv's" iPad parody in 2007?)

Meanwhile, the blogosphere found the name debate totally absorbing -- "How will it stand up to other tablets if I pour a test tube full of blue water on it?" one Lemondrop blogger wondered -- and a heavy flow of iPad-related Twitter traffic led "iTampon" to become a top trending topic.

"Are there NO women in the Marketing or Biz Dev department of Mac?" wrote one user, speculating that "iPad" would pass muster only with a man. No women were present on Apple's panel at the San Francisco announcement.

Apple, for its part, heralded the iPad as "a magical and revolutionary device" on its Web site, and did not return a phone call for comment.

This is not the first time that a widely anticipated product launch was met with ridicule. Nintendo's Wii was referred to as "Wee" by disparaging gamers who could not get stoked about a console that sounded like a potty-training term. The Wii went on to break retail records, selling 600,000 units in its first eight days.

However, Apple has yet to address what women everywhere anticipate will obviously be the iPad's biggest problem: You can't use one while swimming.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/27/AR2010012704268.html

 

[Justin Jett]

My younger DD is using a program called Proloquo2Go on an iPod touch to communicate. For her, the iPod is too small and the iPad would be perfect. The iPad will be able to run all the current iPod/iPhone apps (except those that use features that you need phone connection for.
So, there are a lot of people using this one little app who are very happy that the iPad turned out to be a giant iPod touch.

A problem that I see with the iPod Touch would be the small touchscreen. Someone with Ataxia may have touching a desired icon/key on the small touchscreen. This is where the iPad could be of help. The 9.7" of touchscreen real estate, larger icons, and 1000 multitouch sensors could benefit many disabled people.

The iPad utilizes the iPhone Operating System. Both the Dynavox Vmax and the iPad have bluetooth and Wifi. Many text to speech and environmental control apps are already available for the iPhone Operating System. Someone is even developing an iPhone App to control power wheelchairs. These give the iPad the same functionality as the Vmax. The one exception would be the Eyetracking technology that is available for the Vmax. While the iPad touchscreen is 2.7" smaller than the Dynavox devices, I see some possible advantages that the iPad may have over the Dynavox Vmax and similar AAC devices.

The iPad is much thinner and also 1/3 the weight of the Vmax. The iPad could be mounted on a wheelchair using the same type of mounting hardware as the Vmax. I've attached a photo to show you the Vmax mount that I have seen. Because the iPad is so light that it may not need such a "heavy-duty" mount. Plus, the iPad is light enough to be placed on a basic wheelchair tray. Also, the form factor may be easier for some disabled people to grip and hold.

The biggest advantages I see for the iPad over the Vmax are availability and price point. The things that annoyed me when I went out on my own to design my wheelchair were: the "red tape" involved and also the inflated price of medical equipment. The iPad will be readily available. Also, the $499 price point would be more affordable to parents and schools/organizations than the $8000 Dynavox Vmax.