Today, like many Tech aficionados, I was eagerly following the posts about Apple’s new iPad. And I must say that I’m quite interested in the device.
First let me say that I was a little taken aback when I looked over at Yahoo’s Tech Blog, and those guys panned it. They pointed out all the things that the rumor mill said it would do that it didn’t. Sorry dudes, there is only so much tech you can cram into a device this size without blowing a massive whole in your unit cost.
Would a Flash plug-in be nice to have? How about a camera? Multiple processes running? Sure, all of these would be nice, but they aren’t really make or break, are they? Besides, the software stuff can be added later on, if necessary. No one else is producing anything like this. Although I’m sure they’ll be trying to copy it soon.
Ben Patterson seemed to be missing the point the most. This is NOT an oversized iPhone, without the phone. But if you start thinking of this as an eBook reader, or as a media pad, it’s easy to see why this device is so interesting.
You might say that this is an oversized iPod Touch. I personally have never understood the point of the Touch, when you could just get the iPhone, but apparently millions of people disagree with me.
But the iPad, I GET!!!
As I talked about a couple of weeks ago, I’m really quite interested in getting an eBook reader. Apple’s new iPad just buried that market. Why on earth would anyone be interested in a Que or a Kindle DX, when they could get this device for the same price, with so much more capability? Sure it may not look great on the beach in the sun, but it plays videos and games, does email, and has a real web browser.
I completely don’t get people who try to read books on the little screen that is on the Touch or the iPhone. I never understood it on my old Compaq iPaq, and I certainly don’t understand it now. Nor do I really want to have to peer past a keyboard when I’m trying to read a book, so Netbooks are out. But give me this nice 9.7″ screen, and I’ll be buying most of my books either through iTunes or through Barnes & Noble’s eBookstore. With any luck we’ll be able to buy an eBook through the BN eBookstore and drag it onto our iTunes library, since they both use the ePub format. If not, Barnes & Noble’s eReader app will certainly be on the iPad.
Also this device seems like a total win for college students. You’ll be able to take all your books to class on one device, plus jam out a few notes if you like.
My second major use case for this device is when you’re in your living room watching TV. There are many times, when I’m watching The History Channel or The Discovery Channel, in which I want to go look up something on the web. Right now I do that on my iPhone, but I can’t say that’s an optimal experience. With the iPad, this would be a lot more convenient. Same thing goes if I want to play one of my games. Whipping out my phone works, but this will be a much better experience on the iPad.
Now a few words about what the iPad is not. It’s not a full-blown computer. I will not create websites or write up blog posts on this thing. Nor would I want to compose long emails on it, any more than I’d do that on my iPhone. Those things are what a laptop is for.
But if you take the iPad for what it is, it’s a damn interesting device, and pretty reasonably priced. I think Apple will sell quite a few of these.
Will I be one of them this year? No. I tend to prefer to wait until hardware version 2, before I jump into this. Better to let them work out some of the kinks. But still….I’m very interested in heading down to the Apple store and playing with one of these in the coming months.
Just my two cents.
[Update] For a list of things missing, but with a good analysis of why they’re not there, check out Charlie Sorrel’s post over at Wired.com.
The Apple Ipad is so great. I have already talked to my spouse about my next birthday gift. I travel a good deal (mostly plane and train) and so this could be a amazing device for catching up on reading as well as e-mail and yes, also those movies from this past year which i wanted to watch.
Absolutely. I don’t think I’d have much opportunity to travel with this thing, but if I had commute to work on the train, I’d definitely want the 3G version of the iPad. The $15/month for 250 MB of data would more than cover my needs. Pretty reasonable really.
i like it! XD
Steve Job’s groovy iPad will soon blow up after the over-hype period during it’s unveiling. The touch screen and Mac’s potential to fix issues will help to make the product a success in the futuire.
Within the iPad v. Kindle scenario, this gives the publishers one thing of a negotiating lever
Yes, as we’ve already seen last week, the publishers are already swooping in and forcing prices to go up. It’s a little disappointing really, because the prices they’re looking to charge have no relation to the cost of production. Instead they’re just trying to gouge the consumer, just like the music and movie industry have done. In this case, they’re going to either kill the e-book movement before it starts, or it will just spawn e-book piracy. Too bad really.
I’ve enjoyed Apple for sometime, they produce products that is visually beautiful while working like a everytime I use it. Alot of companies aren’t able to say that, it’s typically one or the other. Tech companies don’t usually take aesthetics seriously like Apple. With that being said I’ve got to say that I’m very excited about the upcoming iSlate. One thing I question though, is it too soon? I’m afraid that this may be ahead of our time. What do you think?
The problem with tablets in the past is that they’ve offered slower processors and smaller hard drives than laptops, but wanted to charge 50% more for the small benefit of a touch screen.
The iPad, is priced cheaper than any of Apple’s notebooks, but more than it’s iPod Touch. It also provides a commensurate amount of functionality, somewhere in between, so I see this as a real positive. I think it’s Apple’s answer to the netbook, which I also have never gotten the point of. I think the iPad is far superior to any netbook, due to it’s touch UI.
As for is it time? For some yes. For me, I’m waiting to see what version 2 will have.
Excellent blog.
What do you think of the iPad Touch?
Man was I let down this thing could have been insane instead they settled for a cheap device.
It could have been insane? Sure it could have. Apple could have put together a tablet style device, full OS X, multi-threaded monster. It also could have cost $3000.
The number one complaint that I hear from non-Apple people is “They’re SOOOOOO EXPENSIVE”. So now they come out with a device that sets perfectly between the Touch and a MacBook, and they’re getting totally criticized. If you compare the iPad to a Kindle DX, which costs basically the same, the iPad has so much more functionality.
Should Apple be criticized for the hype around the device? Maybe, I’m sure they had something to do with it. But people on the web have been hyping an Apple tablet for at least 5 yrs, probably longer. I don’t think there’s anything Apple could have done that would satisfy all the hardcore techies. But I’m sure they’re going to sell quite a few iPads, and the App developers are going to produce some stuff that makes the iPad blow away all the competition. And in the end, that’s all that matters.
im loving the ipad personally. what do you think of it now? was it upto your standards?
I haven’t bought one. I generally don’t like to go in for first generation devices. Look at the original iPhone. It wasn’t nearly as capable as the iPhone 3G.
Very informative website. I was thinking about getting an iPad and now i definitely will!