iPad or not.

[RichardMannion]

As per Pete, would be a great coffee table device for the quick browse of the Internet at home - and great for travel given its size.

quote:Originally posted by Pete
David; I expect the cost will be about 375 over here, give or take. Bear in mind that US prices are always ex-Taxes, and vendors are legally obliged to price inc-VAT on consumer items in the UK; so $499 equals roughly 310, but add on another 55 and 'retail rounding', and it'll be in the mid-to-high end of the 300's. If it's significantly more than that, I'm buying in the US! ;-)

Daywalker - Battery life is touted to be 10 hours constant usage, one month standby. Apparently the LED technology they're using means the viewing angle is huge, and there's a dock if you want to plonk it on a table to watch a movie rather than keep it in your lap. It's not a notebook replacement, and if you want multitasking, etc, then you need a laptop or netbook, not an iPad. It's an oversized iPod Touch, which means you're probably going to use it at home most of the time, or on long haul journeys when you don't fancy watching full movies on your phone. It's worth saying again; this is not a notebook replacement - Apple were very clear at the launch that this is a new category of product. It's an entertainment device, like an iPod.

Billy - One of the videos I saw about the iPad stated whilst there isn't a phone app on it as standard, just like the iPod Touch, it will run applications like Skype, and you can be pretty sure that a hundred developers will rush to write a phone app for 3G-enabled iPads (although this is one area where I think, why bother? - that's what the iPhone is for).

I still think at $499, this is an absolute steal. Amazon are flogging their 16-greyscale one-trick Kindle for $489, and no one is slagging that off, yet for $10 more you get 16-billion colour touch-sensitive display which has an eBook application that beautifully animates as you flip through pages which alone makes Kindle look crappy and overpriced before you even scratch all the other things it can do.


Thanks for the info Pete, as I say, I hadn't looked into it properly so [y]

[honey lamb]

I don't think Hitler likes it [:o)]

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
I don't think Hitler likes it [:o)]


Hitler pretty much summed it up though, this could of been a netbook killer, but it won't be and we were talking about these at work last night, I was asked if Apple had a stylus and is it called the I-Tampon [:p]

As my mini lappy at home as just packed up this will be a perfect replacement for the bit of surfing I do on the settee at night. [y]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
I don't think Hitler likes it [:o)]



[y][y][y][y][y]

much lollage !

Hemmm, was thinking about buying a netbook, reasons being

1)weight (less than a laptop and fits in the handbag)
2)skyp
3)surfing
4)booking hotels at internet prices whilst on the move.
5)Facebook, V-flyer, etc.

Then I read about the IPad and started to get a bit confused, but know have gone back to my original plan, I think.

Although I read, and read, and read, I find the physical presence of a book quite comforting so don't need the ebook facility.
But is there anything like the tripitapp for a netbook?

[Scrooge]

Is it just me, or have they taken the basic hardware of the I-Touch/Phone, put it in a larger case, with a larger screen and battery and said 'Here you go' ?

News of the iPad Nano

[:p][:p]

quote:Originally posted by honey lamb
I don't think Hitler likes it [:o)]

Hitler doesn't like airline cuts either.
Even comments about VS!

I think it's awesome and at the same time disappointing. Yet if I look back at the week I have just had in the US, accompanied by an iPhone, and iPod Touch and a laptop - I can easily see it replacing the iPod and laptop since basically I needed those for music and videos (16GB iPhone being to small) and email and document reviewing.

All models have WiFi so connecting to the office / hotel / airport networks for email and content is fine ... as long as I can review presentations and documents, that's fine, and for videos, books and news it'll be fantastic. I don't care about a camera. All things that fit my travelling lifestyle ...

So yes fantastic. But ... it should have a USB hole so I could for example plug in my AT&T 3G card, and I should be able to view a document and play solitaire at the same time. Additionally, I don't see why they've put iWorks on it if you can't present something you've worked on through a projector ... I hope these things come with the first software upgrade yet am very surprised Apple didn't fix it now.

Hence I will get one and the only decision I have is what size - will probably go for the largest.

Eek, double post sorry [:I].

This page has a great run through of the specs in the first release.

The lack of USB and SD card interfaces is remedied by the camera connection kit - but is that simply a way to charge more?
I agree - they are needed so should have been supplied as standard.

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
Is it just me, or have they taken the basic hardware of the I-Touch/Phone, put it in a larger case, with a larger screen and battery and said 'Here you go' ?


No, it's not just you.

It's a complete non event.

I've taken on board what Pete had to say and finally had a proper look into it myself.

I can't see how it fits in anywhere but there's always those who'll fall for the marketing despite it's shortcomings. It's got nothing over a netbook with a 3G dongle as far as I can see apart from touch screen and to be frank, given the size of the thing that doesn't look like the most convenient thing to use, hold it in one hand and operate with the other?

As I've already said, there's just too much missing to make this a viable purchase, typical of apple that whilst some things are great they ignore the basics and it's those basics that can make a huge difference.

Leaving it on the coffee table and just picking it up when you want to browse the internet? Do me a favour, I could be upstairs and back down within 20 seconds with my netbook or laptop if I was that desperate. So, the iPad is a 'coffee table accessory' [ii] with hardly any storage space, I just don't get it I'm afraid. I've got money to burn but I'm not stupid enough to fall for this bit of marketing [y] The fact it's 'apple' will be reeling them in though without a doubt.

I agree with this.

Well thats me reeled in I want one.

Just to add, with a bit more storage and flash compatibility when browsing it may have more appeal, crikey, I'd forgotten about the flash issue when I had my earlier moan.
[:D]

My first impression of the iPad was that it's painstakingly similar to a device that I proposed for an assignment when I was in college for an all-in-one home entertainment control pad! About those royalties Mr Jobs...[}:)]

Anyway, I think Pete's analysis is pretty comprehensive and is sort of in line with my thoughts. Apple no doubt had to be careful with what to put into the spec as it's a double edged sword. They wouldn't want to release a new product which would literally be an oversized iPod Touch, but at the same time they don't want to be making it at potential netbook/small laptop killer when you consider the fact that Apple compete in this with the 13' MacBook and MacBook Air. Both of which Apple would be leaving themselves wide open for criticism (though in hindsight, any product receives its fair share of criticism) So on those grounds the iPad fills the gap in Apple's product line rather nicely.

As for slinky's and daywalker's comments regarding useful items missing - I put this down to Apple's form: Release a product with a few obvious omissions, raise popularity and then address these in the 2G releases. I remember when the iPhone was brought out and the 1G version lacking 3G, and the 1G iPod Touch being very small on storage for the price. Later releases addressed these issues (eventually).

Nonetheless, I shall reserve judgement until I've seen one in the flesh. I'll probably not buy one myself for the time being as I can't think of a use for it personally (and student finances would stop me anyway!), but that's not to say I won't buy one in the future once it's settled in to the market and the spec improves, and I can see how this will meet the needs of others very well.

quote:Originally posted by VS075
...an all-in-one home entertainment control pad! ...

All it needs is an IR LED......
Control my Sky box at home and away!

Funny enough Bill, that was exactly what one of the things my device I had to design was meant to do! Inspired by this thread I've been looking through the work I did for that little project, there are quite a few similarities.

[Scrooge]

BTW folks, I have just found out, the Notion Ink that I linked to earlier in this thread, though shipping with a version of Android, can run Snow Leopard.

So if you want a tablet that has UB ports, SD ports, a better screen but still has Apple software, you may want to wait.

[preiffer]

Got my hands on one. (Albeit temporarily)



Aaaaaand... I have to say, I WON'T be getting one. I have a MBP, and an iPhone, along with MANY iPods,etc - so I'm an 'Apple Fan'. That said, it feels like a big iphone, same interface (including its frustrations). To show a portfolio, great. To browse the web, SH!TE. To access email, so-so. Slow, clunky, only one app at a time. Having played with one now, NO, not for me.

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
Got my hands on one. (Albeit temporarily)



Aaaaaand... I have to say, I WON'T be getting one. I have a MBP, and an iPhone, along with MANY iPods,etc - so I'm an 'Apple Fan'. That said, it feels like a big iphone, same interface (including its frustrations). To show a portfolio, great. To browse the web, SH!TE. To access email, so-so. Slow, clunky, only one app at a time. Having played with one now, NO, not for me.


This really doesn't surprise me [y]

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
Got my hands on one. (Albeit temporarily)



Aaaaaand... I have to say, I WON'T be getting one. I have a MBP, and an iPhone, along with MANY iPods,etc - so I'm an 'Apple Fan'. That said, it feels like a big iphone, same interface (including its frustrations). To show a portfolio, great. To browse the web, SH!TE. To access email, so-so. Slow, clunky, only one app at a time. Having played with one now, NO, not for me.


Paul, do you think it's the custom A4 silicon holding it back, or the software? As one is easier to fix than the other....

[buns]

Well, has anyone got one yet?

I would be surprised if a V-flyer somewhere did not want to be the leader of the pack

buns