The Apple iPad

Thespis721 · 01-27-2010, 04:00 PM

Okay. They finally released a tablet and to be quite honest, I don't think it's all that bad. All the forums and internet and commenters are flipping out about how it doesn't have this and it doesn't have that, but I think everyone is missing the point.

The iPad is the FIRST STEP towards something that could be great.

Would I buy it now? Heck no! I try not to buy first generation devices, but I understand it's missing:

Flash
Multi-tasking
Camera
External storage
Removable batteries
e-ink technologies
Etc

Sure it doesn't have stylus pen capabilities yet, sure it's limited to the closed system that is Apple's iPhone OS 3.2, and sure it's aesthetics are premature. But you gotta take a first step first. How Apple develops the device will depend on how great it'll be. People complained how the iPhone was a horrid smartphone but could see the potential. Same with Android.

Compare iPhone 3GS to the original iPhone
Compare the Droid or Nexus One to the G1

If Apple sticks with it and doesn't drop support, listen to their fans, and impliment them properly, then this could be an astounding change in how do things. This could even change education (if they can implement writing styles into it).

That's my 2 cents. I'm waiting for iPad 2.0

Fox 6 · 01-27-2010, 04:01 PM

The $499 price kinda surprised me.

manasecret · 01-27-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox 6

The $499 price kinda surprised me.

LOL I had the same reaction.

Everything is typical Apple. Take a regular tablet, remove most of the features but make it sleek and look sexy, and then call it "magical" and overcharge for it. So it has everything of their typical product except the overcharging.

Which to me is my biggest complaint of Apple products. I don't care if you take away features from a product, but don't then turn around and charge even more for something with less.

EDIT: Then again, as far as price, compared to the Kindle and Nook this is much more expensive. So I take it back -- this is exactly another typical Apple product. I'm sure it will sell billions.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid, on the other hand, looks like everything the iPad should be.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/l...d-impressions/

But I'm sure it won't sell nearly as much.

Vampyr · 01-27-2010, 04:54 PM

This is also much better than the Nook and the Kindle.

It's basically a large iphone, and it's cheaper than the iphone, which is logical since smaller technologies are more costly to produce.

I'm not saying it isn't over priced, but it's not as overpriced as some are making it out to be.

manasecret · 01-27-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vampyr

This is also much better than the Nook and the Kindle.

It's basically a large iphone, and it's cheaper than the iphone, which is logical is cheaper technologies are more costly to produce.

I'm not saying it isn't over priced, but it's not as overpriced as some are making it out to be.

I assume you meant smaller technologies.

And I revert my opinion once again. You're right, the price for how much it can do vs. the price for a Nook or Kindle and what they can do is very fair. I think it being "much better" is too subjective of a meaning, but it can certainly do more.

And since it seems to be sans Apple Tax, this looks like it might be the first Apple product I consider buying.

Typhoid · 01-27-2010, 05:43 PM

So it's just a large iphone minus being able to call people, then?

Vampyr · 01-27-2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manasecret

I assume you meant smaller technologies.

And I revert my opinion once again. You're right, the price for how much it can do vs. the price for a Nook or Kindle and what they can do is very fair. I think it being "much better" is too subjective of a meaning, but it can certainly do more.

And since it seems to be sans Apple Tax, this looks like it might be the first Apple product I consider buying.

Yeah, I meant smaller.

Some of the guys I work with and I were talking about it today - I'm not sure why anyone would want the 3G, or be concerned with having another device with a camera. It seems silly to pay for another 3G dataplan when you probably will not be carrying this thing around outside your home. And if you're going on a trip, load it up before you leave.

Also I'm pretty sure it connects to your computer, so there's your expandable storage.

I'm not sure why I'm defending it, though, since I probably won't get one. I just feel like it's getting a bad rap for no reason.

dropCGCF · 01-27-2010, 07:50 PM

$499 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi ONLY version.

No expandable storage?
No Flash?
No camera?

NO THANKS.

Zen · 01-28-2010, 02:08 AM

The only thing I would like this for is reading books, so im interested in this ibook store thing, ive wanted a kindle for the longest time now. I would also use it for music but I would feel akward as hell lugging that thing around with me :P

thatmariolover · 01-28-2010, 10:22 AM

For all of its limitations this thing is more functional than most netbooks. Particularly when you see the productivity apps available for it and consider the hardware inside.

The iWork suite has been split into three apps, Pages (Word Processor), Numbers (Spreadsheets), and Keynote (Interactive Presentations). Each of them have gotten a multitouch rewrite that actually look more functional than their desktop counterparts. $10 apiece, down from the $99 Mac OS suite.

The only reason the hardware is so cheap (and relatively, it's dirt cheap) is because Apple is manufacturing all of the components themselves. They bought a chip manufacturing plant and designed their own mobile processor, A4 as they've dubbed it. They designed the battery. They designed the OS. It's insanely snappy, has an incredible library of apps already available, and has the iTunes store in your pocket on a 10" LED IPS screen.

Also, I can see the iPad exploding in various businesses. But none moreso than the medical industry. This is the tablet that they've been waiting for. It has the speed they need, the display they need, an SDK so they can develop the apps that they need, and more importantly, it's reasonably priced.

I really don't think this is going to be a flop. It's just going to take a little time for us to really figure out everything we can do with this device.

Fox 6 · 01-28-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatmariolover

For all of its limitations this thing is more functional than most netbooks. Particularly when you see the productivity apps available for it and consider the hardware inside.

The iWork suite has been split into three apps, Pages (Word Processor), Numbers (Spreadsheets), and Keynote (Interactive Presentations). Each of them have gotten a multitouch rewrite that actually look more functional than their desktop counterparts. $10 apiece, down from the $99 Mac OS suite.

The only reason the hardware is so cheap (and relatively, it's dirt cheap) is because Apple is manufacturing all of the components themselves. They bought a chip manufacturing plant and designed their own mobile processor, A4 as they've dubbed it. They designed the battery. They designed the OS. It's insanely snappy, has an incredible library of apps already available, and has the iTunes store in your pocket on a 10" LED IPS screen.

Also, I can see the iPad exploding in various businesses. But none moreso than the medical industry. This is the tablet that they've been waiting for. It has the speed they need, the display they need, an SDK so they can develop the apps that they need, and more importantly, it's reasonably priced.

I really don't think this is going to be a flop. It's just going to take a little time for us to really figure out everything we can do with this device.

Now that so mention it, it makes perfect sense for medical uses. My family doctor already uses a kind of tablet to check info and to write and print prescriptions.

thatmariolover · 01-28-2010, 04:36 PM

No, 10 hours is realistic for basic music listening and whatnot. Particularly if you're not constantly using your wifi/3g. For what it does it actually has really good battery life. Namely because Apple built both the battery and the super efficient A4 processor that they put in it.

Thespis721 · 01-28-2010, 09:40 PM

Again. I think you can make calls via VoIP with a bluetooth headset. But regarding the Flash and calling issues, I think that'll be corrected soon. Adobe is a little pissed they haven't been included yet, however, the only phone I've seen with Flash has been the Pre, and it's not released yet, and it SUCKS. I think Apple is waiting till the technology is a little more refined.

Even still, this is a GREAT read. Really captures my point of view that while this iPad may not be for you, the iPad is the first step towards a lot of potential.

http://www.stephenfry.com/2010/01/28/ipad-about/

Angrist · 01-29-2010, 08:15 AM

This thread needs more pictures. I've yet to see this 'iPad'.

Also, I don't get it. I've had a Sony iPad for ages!

http://img352.yfrog.com/i/478z.jpg/

thatmariolover · 01-29-2010, 08:46 AM

Flash isn't on iPad for the same reason it isn't on the iPhone.

The single leading source of application crashes on Mac OS X is Flash - a component that Apple can’t fix. And ignoring crashes, it takes a much more powerful Mac to play HD flash videos than on a PC - all because of Adobe's bad programming.

Flash has widereaching capabilities, and would have to be able to access the memory of any app in order to display something in them. Imagine if your favorite apps were suddenly slower and crashed more often just because Apple introduced a poorly written implementation of Flash. It doesn't make sense. Adobe needs to get their stuff together and prove that they can develop a version of Flash that Apple is willing to use.

Edit:
According to Tom's Hardware, the iPad can handle 10 hours of HD video without a recharge.