Apple iPad

[Gish]

I am failing to see how this is different than other tablets...

You're paying for the software, basically. There are a few hardware differences. IPS screen, A4 "system on a chip" processing unit, form factor, 3g wireless, etcetera. The user experience is what Apple focuses on, maintaining consistency. As I said before, though, the lack of multitasking makes me want to kick injection molded babies.

 

[The_Liquid_Laser]

If they half the price, then I'd be interested.

 

[Eric B]

Does this thing still have the OLED screen proposed for it? (Instead of LCD).
Probably not, if the price is now below $1000, right?

 

[Gish]

Yeah, No OLED screen, just IPS with LED backlighting.

 

[OrangeAppled]

This seems like the sort of product where, it seems like the best thing ever before you buy it. But once you do, you realize you have two other gadgets that do the same thing in either a faster or more portable manner.

That's what I was thinking...if you have a nice laptop, and a touch screen phone, then what do you need this for? It looks cool, but that's not enough to drop hundreds of dollars for.

I was thinking it seems like a laptop for people who just want to use their laptop for internet browsing, music/book downloading, photo/movie/video viewing, and other entertainment. I could see my mom or sister loving this, since they don't do a lot of real work on their home computers. They might not even need a personal computer if they had a device like this. If you need to do real work or make a phone call, you will still need your other devices though.

Oh, and the name is awful.

It's funny, because some years ago, a co-worker and I talked about printed materials becoming obsolete (we were print graphic designers), and being replaced by thin hand held devices that you could read magazines and what not on. I still mourn paper, and real books, with their sweet, musty smells and grainy textures .

 

[wolfy]

Depends on what the OS is like...if it's more like the iTouch, no multitasking, no flash support [though HTML5 hopefully will be picking up steam by then], the 4:3 aspect ratio pretty much blows for entertainment purposes...it's a little more than an e-reader but not as good as a netbook.

Very conflicted, personally.

There is no flash support. I don't think it looks like much of an alternative to other stuff already on the market. Doesn't seem best suited to any one thing. Who knows.

 

[lost verses]

It looks kind of like it'd be awkward to hold. Or uncomfortable to hold I mean. It looks interesting though.

 

[BlueSprout]

EDIT2: the name makes it sound like an electronic feminine product...

You aren't the only one, apparently:

Women mock the iPad, calling it iTampon | Technology | Los Angeles Times

And MadTV had a skit about it years ago - glad I remembered it for such an occasion.

MadTV: iPad

 

[Mad Hatter]

I'd never trade my ebook reader for that (the more so after all the trouble I had getting it) since I think luminescent screens aren't really comfortable for prolonged reading.
Apart from that, the design is really unimaginative.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

luminescent screens aren't really comfortable for prolonged reading

QFT

 

[highlander]

no flash? no multitasking?

one question - does it have a keyboard? i have an iphone and it's great for the Internet, but yearn for my blackberry back (too many mistakes)

 

[TickTock]

Yeah, I don't see when it would ever be useful, considering what most people own already. It is only a matter of time before all screens are touch screen, this just seems like a link in the chain and not an actual consumerist product.

And call me old school but I like the feel of keys being pressed over a touch screen keyboard.

 

[d@v3]

They didn't have one at the store I went to. To tell you the truth though, I think the device is an epic fail just by looking at the infomercials about it on the Apple website.

Someone is going to end up with scoliosis trying to sit down and read that thing like a laptop in a comfortable position.

 

[d@v3]

no flash? no multitasking?

one question - does it have a keyboard? i have an iphone and it's great for the Internet, but yearn for my blackberry back (too many mistakes)

It's a digital keyboard, basically a larger version of the iPod Touch/iPhone on-screen keyboard.

 

[Falcarius]

The iPad seems pointless to Falcarius, it lacks the advantages of a phone and is eclipsed by netbooks and laptops.

If Falcarius' understanding is correct: having few USB ports, no Skype, Firefox, Microsoft Office, multitasking, and Flash would be more than absurd. To make matter worse it has a stupid glossy bright display which rules out reading eBooks.

Also, Falcarius does not know if it is him but he finds anything with a on-screen keyboard annoying as hell (The iPad does have some cheap looking iPad Keyboard Dock, but sill on-screen keyboard as the main feature ). Anyone tried surfing the net on an iPhone for more than a few hours without wanting to toss it out of the nearest window?

 

[Kra]

It's funny, because some years ago, a co-worker and I talked about printed materials becoming obsolete (we were print graphic designers), and being replaced by thin hand held devices that you could read magazines and what not on. I still mourn paper, and real books, with their sweet, musty smells and grainy textures .

I guess, despite being a technology supporter, I'm still an analog fan myself. Sure, digital has a lot of fancy features, but there's still nothing quite like the feel of a real page, tone of a tube amplifier, or warmth of a vinyl record. There's also great fun in collecting them, whereas most of my digital stuff just gets recycled when I have no more use for it.

Jeez. I sound old for a 24 year old.

Concerning the iPad though, I basically gathered that it's a Nook with an mp3 player. Then again, I'm not usually impressed by Apple.

 

[Halla74]

If Falcarius' understanding is correct: having few USB ports, no Skype, Firefox, Microsoft Office, multitasking, and Flash would be more than absurd. To make matter worse it has a stupid glossy bright display which rules out reading eBooks.

This is the deal killer for me. If this is accurate, then it is a piece of shite.

Now I have to find a different toy to buy!

 

[Falcarius]

This is the deal killer for me. If this is accurate, then it is a piece of shite.

Now I have to find a different toy to buy!

No Flash and multitasking is certainly true, as is having the glossy display. Whether there are USB ports is not clear none are listed on the list of input and output unless it has some on the iPad Dock. The software support for the iPad in regards to Skype, Firefox, Microsoft Office ect. one would have to look into.

 

[aeon]

The Apple iPad will be fantastic as a real-time controller for audio apps such as Ableton Live - especially at the price-points.

It may not be for everyone, but synthesists and electronic music producers will be all over this thing.


cheers,
Ian

 

[INTPLady]

iPad is more than what it is not

The thing about the iPad is it is so much more than what it is not. It is first and foremost not meant to be a computer replacement. Nor is it meant to replace your cellphone/smartphone.

It will be great at some stuff and very good at others. So it will be able to be used in lieu of a number of other gadgets like e-readers, digital picture frames, portable DVD players etc. As to what it is it is a portal to the cloud, it is an electronic notebook, it is a relatively unique gaming platform.

It is also relatively easy, low learning curve, to write programs for so if developers like it they will write for it. From that perspective it is full of potential.