...That's it? The iPad. - by Fafhrd
TTK12G3 on 28/1/2010 at 03:58
That screen better be made out of the most smudge-resistant stuff in the world.
TheCapedPillager on 28/1/2010 at 06:08
The web browsing experience would seem to be the best feature of this device, but given that everything else is inferior, I don't see how this beats a laptop + iPhone/iPod touch combination.
Games: Too big to be the pocketable 'take it everywhere' device you need (get a iPod touch/iPhone/DS instead)
eBooks: Inferior screen for long term reading, inferior battery life (get a Kindle etc instead)
Productivity: Missing functionality and multi-tasking (get a laptop instead)
The keyboard dock that they will offer is a brilliant idea, but useless when paired with such a restricted device. If this had been a capable desktop replacement (when combined with the keyboard dock), then it would have been something I would have considered.
Nuth on 28/1/2010 at 08:18
I think it will be the ultimate device for playing chess online. I like my iPod Touch and use it quite a bit around the house to access the internet but am always wishing for a larger screen--web browsing is just too inconvenient with such a little screen and playing chess on it is more error prone than it should be due to imprecision of touch on that small of a screen. Other than that, I don't see the iPad really being a big improvement over other types of computers. I don't see it taking the place of a desktop or laptop. I'm leaning toward buying an iPad just because it's a bigger version of the iPod Touch.
David on 28/1/2010 at 10:23
This is only the first iteration, much like the iPhone.
The iPhone was released with no 3G, no Apps and was not great, yet it sold in droves. The next version had 3G and an App Store and was a much more complete device.
It wouldn't surprise me to see a 2nd gen device at the beginning of next year with multi-tasking functionality and whatnot.
jay pettitt on 28/1/2010 at 10:53
Can I quickly coin the phrase 'coffee-table computer.'
Ostriig on 28/1/2010 at 10:56
It looks like an iPhone humped a picture frame.
On a serious note, it's quite underwhelming. No multitasking, no stylus input, no call/videoconferencing ability - way to miss the point. But with the marketing video focusing so much on "fun" and "experience", it's unsurprising that "useful" is more of a side-effect. And yes, yes, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool PC goon, but I was genuinely curious on what Apple would do in the slate department, I didn't come in with a set goal to have something to criticise. At the very least, there are some suggesting that multitasking may come with a new iPhone OS iteration, in both the phone and the slate, so maybe that'll take a turn for the better. And in the meantime, we'll have to see what direction Microsoft take with Courier.
Ultimately, this is Apple's attempt to take a chomp from the netbook market, and another from the ebook reader side one - net and media capability, very limited office application, and, duh, ebooks. But, while not surprising nor even entirely conedmnable, it's disappointing to see Apple deliberately not develop a product to its full potential for fear of possibly scratching their own other markets. But, yeah, it will likely sell.
Matthew on 28/1/2010 at 11:48
Sounds interesting so far. A bigger-sized iPhone? Yes please.
Chimpy Chompy on 28/1/2010 at 13:53
Not seeing a whole lot of use really? Looks like it's in a weird no-man's land between pocket media\fun\communications devices and a laptop. Maybe if later revisions give more functionality like David suggests I'll have another look.
