When the iPhone first launched in 2007 I was sure I wasn’t going to buy one. Then I played with one. 15 minutes later I was $600 poorer. It was arguably the best tech purchase I’ve ever made. After the Apple event today, I got a chance to play with the new iPad for quite a bit of time. My takeaway? The thing is beautiful and fast. Really fast. If you’ll excuse my hyperbole, it felt like I was holding the future. But is it a must-have? That’s a complicated question.
The quick and dirty answer is: for many people, right now, no. Unlike the iPhone, which filled an already well-established need (cellular telephone usage), there is no existing need the iPad fills. That is, unless you’re an iPhone or iPod touch user. If that’s the case, the iPad does fill a couple of needs — it’s the best way to use apps, and more importantly, the best way to browse the web in a style that is likely your preferred method: by touching it.
That’s the key that Apple only hinted at today. When it launches, the iPad’s initial target audience is iPhone and iPod touch users. Why? Because they are already very comfortable with the way you need to interact with this device. The moment I picked up the iPad today I knew exactly what to do with it. It was second-nature. It was the iPhone, only larger — and that felt good. Meanwhile, I watched some other people who said they didn’t use an iPhone regularly interact with the iPad for the first time and it was not nearly as seamless.
Towards the end of his keynote, Steve Jobs alluded to this idea when he said that the 75 million iPhones and iPod touches that have already shipped ensure that those users will already know how to use the iPad. During the hands-on demos, two different Apple employees said basically the same thing. “If you have an iPhone, you already know how to use this,” one said.
There has been much talk leading up to the iPad’s debut as to what its exact purpose would be. A lot of the buzz was that it would be a killer new way to consume print media. Apple did play that up a bit today, but not as much as you may have expected. They did devote a good amount of time to the new iBooks app and store, but if you think anyone is going to buy this thing just to be an e-reader, you’re mistaken.
In fact, a lot of the Kindle/iPad comparisons now just seem a bit odd. Comparing the iPad to the Kindle now sort of seems like comparing a computer to a typewriter. Having scrolled through a few books on the iPad today, there’s still definitely an argument to be made that the Kindle has an advantage in the one thing it does (thanks to e-ink). But the key point is that it only does the one thing (and those Kindle apps won’t help that much because the device is way too slow) — as many of us have long suspected, it’s going to be relegated to a feature of a device that does more. And that’s exactly what Apple is doing with the iPad (which we correctly translated Jobs as saying back in September when everyone else seemed to think he said he would never do anything with eBooks).
And more functionality is important because it gives Apple more ways to lure new users into this style of computing. But again, the first of those are going to be iPhone and iPod touch users because they will be the most comfortable with using the device. And as that user base keeps expanding, so too will the base of those that are interested in the iPad — many just don’t know it yet.
The thing is, as a heavy iPhone user, I immediately recognize the iPad’s appeal. If it can perform anywhere close to the promised 10 hour battery life, I’ll likely ditch carrying around a laptop most of the time and simply take an iPad with the keyboard accessory. The thing is that snappy — and, at a pound and a half and a half-inch thick, the weight and size savings will be substantial. Oh, and at $30-a-month for unlimited data (yes, sadly through AT&T), I can ditch my $60-a-month laptop 3G card.
Does it have Flash? No. But while that used to be an issue for me when the iPhone first launched, I never think about it anymore. All of YouTube is available through the YouTube app, and I’d bet that sooner or later we’ll see a Hulu app as well. So what am I really missing with Flash? Browser crashes, eaten CPU cycles, and some Facebook games? Good riddance.
What it comes down to for me is that when I don’t need to do something that’s typing-intensive (like writing), I’d much prefer to use my hands to move around applications and browse the web. The iPhone has taught me that. Meanwhile, the rapid movement of data to the cloud has taught me that I have next to no need for most desktop applications anymore. In other words, I’m perfectly primed for this device.
Most people won’t yet, but as long as Apple has its base that will buy and use the iPad, they have plenty of time for either themselves or third-party developers to create the killer uses that make the iPad a must-have product for a broader range of people. We already saw that happen with the App Store and the iPhone/iPod touch. And at $499 (for the low-end version), there will be no shortage of people willing to splurge on the device just to see what all the fuss is about. They’ll get hooked too.
The iPhone and the iPod touch have in a way served as training wheels for us to use this new type of device, the iPad. To a lesser extent, so have Apple’s multi-touch trackpads and the new multi-touch Magic Mouse. All of these devices are pointing towards what Apple obviously believes is the future of computing: touch. That is more clear now than ever before — the iPad is their biggest step yet.
Where can I find more info?
send me it here pls
awhetham@uoguelph.ca
Have a look here http://magazine.joomag.com/iPad/179
I’m firmly in the “we’re making the same Slashdot mistake again” camp.
As tech fanatics, we’re very focused on specs, but they’re not everything for the average person.
This is a completely different product, unlike anything we’ve ever seen before (hold on, don’t jump ship from my comment yet). It’s different in the way we use it – in the customer need it satisfies.
Allow me to explain using my life & computing needs as a business student:
-Microsoft Office. Mac ports are good but not perfect. OneNote is great for taking notes in class and Excel on a Mac doesn’t compare at all.
Currently my Acer Netbook serves this need. Ideally, I would also have a workstation at home (be it windows or an imac with bootcamp) for when I really want to sit down and pound things out.
-Mobile needs include phoning, ability to jot down quick notes, simple web surfing and access to media, email and text messaging. Right now I use a combo of a blackberry pearl and my iPod.
-Web surfing. When I’m not doing school work, I spend a lot of time surfing the Internet recreationally. This includes streaming video, blogs, newspaper articles, forums and general web surfing. Right now I switch between my netbook and my parent’s macbook to do this.
—>This is where the tablet comes in. For casual web surfing I would prefer form factor. Often I’m not in the most comfortable position possible because I have to twist myself towards my laptop. I need a lightweight, intuitive tablet. Of course, most of us just don’t know that yet because it hasn’t been an option.
smartphone + laptop/netbook + workstation
and now, Tablet.
They all satisfy slightly different needs. This is what Steve Jobs alluded to when he talked about product lines in his presentation. The iPad will be a success because it is sufficiently differentiated from all three.
Remember, Apple’s a consumer company. This isn’t a heavy duty tablet for engineers, architects, artists and business users. It’s for relaxing on the couch. And it does that better:
-iPod screen is too small
-Laptops keyboards are somewhat cumbersome
-And I don’t want to sit in my office
The tablet is designed with couch surfing in mind. You can read a blog, browse your pictures or poke away at the annual report without working too hard. You’re not supposed to multitask 24/7 – relax and take the time to enjoy some of the finer things in life.
In summary, No Flash. Can’t Multitask. Lame.
For sure, Steve Jobs released one of the best Tablet as for this moment, but seeing its flaws — surely, made the impression that it really didn’t ‘beat’ its contenders (Kindle/Netbook devices) At least on this model. Maybe, if they will release a 2G model, these disadvantages will be eliminated, but then again that begs the question.. Why should we buy this half-baked tablet, if 2G will be better?
In the end, it’ll be up to your preferences and budget if you’re going to have the iPad. More Details: http://bit.ly/apple-tablet-flaws
Aw man, I can’t access this page from my iPod.. It’s all in Flash! Doh.
Did you just step out of a time machine from the past? Say hello to Geocities for me.
Since I, like a lot of people, block flash on my browser; I know that flash isn’t that important for browsing the web. The main thing it blocks is ads, which won’t be missed.
Great article. New way of thinking on this. I didn’t get the inference. Basically, the iPhone/iTouch created an entire new market. We can’t do that everytime. But we now have 75 million (and climbing) people to upsell. Even if only 20% of them take us up at the cheapest version of $500…wait did we just make another $7.5 billion?
No, you didn’t. You got $7.5bn in revenues, and the low pricing on this make it look like it won’t be as profitable as, say, the iPhone.
Oh yes you did.
If you’re talking profit, don’t forget the complete revenue stream: e.g. cashback from AT&T for 3G rev, profit from the new iBook Store, the soon to be talked about “iPad Halo” effect on sales of Macs.
Cheers!
Nickie
you obviously dont know the standard conversion number of ANY industry.
1.5%
20% is not even science fiction
i can’t believe you put your uofguelph email on tc. i hope you don’t get spammed.
And what makes you think it’s *his* uofguelph email?
Agree with pretty much everything.
I don’t think its a must to have. People use computers and cell phones – the tablet replaces neither. Its a new category. The closest thing it comes to replacing is a tablet.
I can’t wait to see the educational implications the iPad will have. Imagine these in the hands of 1st graders.
Easy to use. Touch screen. Anyone can develop apps. It might not be a must to have but its still a game changer.
“Closest thing it comes to is replacing a tablet”
Meant a netbook.
as Jobs said today describing a “third category,” “netbooks aren’t better at anything”
They are better:
On your wallet…that’s big in this economy.
They’re faster to the web…and lighter to carry while still allowing you to get the full web experience and productivity of simple but important applications like email.
They are cool and fun to use.
Jobs also said Apple couldn’t make a computer for under 500 dollars that wasn’t a piece of crap and at 499.99 he was right.
Second that. Netbooks are cheaper and have more features. If anything iPad will compete with Kindle.
I find it ironic that a lot of you claiming that the iPad is crap are the same people that said you’d buy a CrunchPad for 399 that would have done nothing but surf the web.
He said under $999, not $500.
Faster to the web? The iPad is instant-on with 1 month standby.
Lighter to carry? This thing is lighter and more compact than any netbook.
Full web experience? Netbooks can’t do HD video, this can.
Cool and fun to use? Netbooks?! Now you’re really on the crack.
“Full web experience? Netbooks can’t do HD video, this can.”
HP Mini 311-1000NR, $400, 1080p (including Flash) through HDMI
Apple iPad, $500, 720p (H.264 only; MPEG4 limited to 480p) through VGA with adapter
Totally different classes of products, absolutely, but you’re behind on that claim.
Are you kidding me? If you notice in the demos you can’t rest your fingers on the ipad to type you have to hold them up in order not to confuse it. That’s going to be awkward and annoying after awhile.
The adapaters are a joke. I’m not even going to go there.
No HDMI or video output. Huh? Don’d understand this either.
The bevel is ridiculous, I get the need for it, but really, like 2 inches? I expected a sleeker look.
No Multitask. Ridiculous. So I can use iWork and not listen to music? Wow, that’s sounds like fun.
No camera. No video chat. My netbook can do that, with Skype.
4:3 screen. That’s not widescreen. The movies look like shit. Oh yeah, and I’m locked in the Apple propriety mp4 format. Awesome. Thanks guys.
The 10 hour charge while playing video. Bullshit. Show me benchmarks. Everyone inflates that number.
It’s not $499. It’s a grand. Who are you kidding. Anyone that has lost their mind and actually buys this is paying $499 + $130 for 3G Hardware + $360 for the year’s worth of 3G access.
I can go on. But seriously, anyone that buys this piece is an idiot. The cheapest mac? Negative. The cheapest mac is my Dell Mini 9 running OSX. $200 bucks. And it kicks the shit out of this POS.
I used to own a netbook (acer aspire one) that I bought for $399 some time back.
Although it had most of the features you mention, I hated it because it was jack of all trades and master of none. I barely used the camera ever. I never in the 3 months I owned it had to use to output (it was VGA though) even once. Its wifi radio was sub-par. It tiny mouse was shitty as hell (let me not even get started on the bad mouse buttons). And, it barely had 3 hrs of charge. And, even though it had flash, I could barely watch movies on HULU because it couldnt handle high-def videos.
If this tablet delivers even half the features it promises it does, it beats most of the netbooks out there.
I agree that this this thing doesn’t have a freaking camera, for reasons I cannot even think of, and that it has no multi-tasking is a turn-off.. but for $499 it is a deal much better than any notebook can offer. Especially for college students like me who get blazing fast wifi all over the campus for free.
Plus, I am hoping OS 4.0 will bring the background apps feature since they barely changed anything to the iPhone OS for the iPad.
My 2 cents.
If it’s anything like the iPod Touch, yes, you can use it to listen to music and use iWork simultaneously. Music is the only thing that can stay in the background.
Wow, you are incredibly misinformed.
- You can output video to a TV using the Apple A/V Cable — same as with an iPhone or iPod.
- iTunes will play music while you use other apps, just like an iPhone. So, yes, you can play your music and do your iWork.
- AAC / mp4 is NOT a proprietary format. It’s an open standard that was developed by Dolby and a slew of other companies.
- You complain about a 4:3 screen, but you’d have to be an idiot to want a 16:9 screen on a tablet. That’s what the black bars on the top and bottom are for.
Get real. The iPad kicks ass.
The bevel mister is for your fingers not getting away. Think! Don’t you even watch the videos?
No multitasking on non-Apple apps. Even on iPhone, you can surf the web and listen to music at the same time.
Even if AAC/MP4 isn’t Apple proprietary is that really all it plays? My movie server has a hodgepodge of formats depending on when and how I ripped my DVDs and Blu-Rays. Music server is the same.
I can barely play what I want with VLC or K.Lite on my desktop as it is. Devices that have an emphasis of being a media player should play as many formats as possible.
MP4 only? That’s a Dealbreaker.
@JB: I’m asking this out of ignorance and curiosity: why wouldn’t I want a 16:9 tablet?
So your net book has HDMI.
So your net book has 10 hour battery.
So your net book gets free 3G.
If your running OSX on your net book its not $200 unless you stole the OS.
-iPad does have video out. (optional cable 720P)
-iPad does have multi-tasking you can listen to iPod and run other apps at the same time. Mail is also running all the time in the background. It just doesn’t allow developer apps to run in multi task mode.
-iPad will run Skype and iCall even over 3G see news stories about 3.2 enabling VoIP on 3G.
I’m pretty sure you can run any app whilst listening to music. But thats not true multitasking.
They’re better than this ipad thingy. They may not be as pretty but you can do a whole lot more with a cheap netbook than you can with this.
The only reason I do not buy a netbook is because they have Microsoft. I know linux is available but I do not want to learn it. I was really hoping this would do more!
I agree this is going to be a tough buy. A built-in camera would have gone a log way on selling me (that will be in the next iteration). A built-in SD slot would have done it (I know we will never get that) and I would still get the 32gb. In no way will 16gb be suitable!
I do not care about HD output! Nothing I own does HD! If I want to watch a movie on TV I will hook up my wifes laptop.
$130 for a 3G radio? That seems really expensive! BUT I am not in the know about them.
Do we have any word on how it hooks up to projectors?
iPads are not designed to replace a laptop or a netbook or a iPhone or a desktop.
The iPad is for all those people out there that are not geek heads and just want to consume media (books, internet, email, movies, tv, messaging, facebook, twitter, podcasts, etc) and don’t care about [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] and other fine functions. It is a consumer device to use while sitting on the couch or on your family vacation.
It will be used for business purposes but the main purpose is to please the masses who are only interested in computers for the content and not for the geek fest.
The geeks are upset because they wanted a iGeek tablet instead of a media appliance.
What is this thing better at? Seriously, it is a fast ipod? That’s it. It can help you read bigger items. At least a netbook can multi-task. I think Microsoft was given the biggest blessing they have received in years today, if they can get the courier to market by the end of the year.
Ok so you’re saying that the iPad sucks because it can’t multitask and you can’t do all the stuff you can do on a netbook, but then you’re gonna say that the Courier is going to be amazing for Microsoft?
The Courier and the iPad are basically the same device, but with different user interfaces. Oh, and one of them is going to cost 3 times as much as the other because of the 2nd screen, hinge, and the need for both inductive stylus and capacitive touch sensors.
…and read this for reactions on the name ‘iPad’ http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/27/apple.ipad.reaction/
LMAO
Really, Jarin? Where are the specs and price of the Courier?
Oh that’s right, you don’t know.
I would not be surprised if iPhone 4.0 comes with multitasking, for devices with certain processors, so only the iPad and maybe the 3Gs can do it. I think we did not see more advanced multi-touch gestures because those are in 4.0. Since apple is trying to get this out before everyone buys a new e-reader it had to be pushed before 4.0. Also, pushing it early gives devs a chance to learn the new tools on the iPad side before all the new gear in 4.0 is dropped on them.
Essentially I do not think we are seeing the iPad yet. Steve did not seem to embody the “excitement” we was reported to have before the launch. As I watched him I felt like he was holding something back. I was expecting something the big the whole time. It never came. Maybe that is wishful thinking.
It doesn’t have to do more things than a desktop or a laptop to be successful. It just has to appeal to your little sister sitting on the couch and using facebook or sending emails to her friends. It will be the next must have device for anyone who wants to be cool. All the kids will want one and everyone else will want one even the geek heads but they will complain about the missing functions. (GEEK: give me [Ctrl] keys and [Alt] keys and file structures, and let me into the machine code or this thing is junk)
Netbooks are being laughed at for being unpowered and, for some, being useless. This thing is even less capable than a netbook.
Seriously, what’s all the hype about? Oh yeah, it’s pretty.
Wow… You’re sooo full of sh*t.
If the device had a Microsoft logo on it, you’d be drooling all over it.
Too bad Balmer was showing off that poor excuse for a tablet the other day.
@JB
By ‘poor excuse’ do you mean something with a better OS, that can multitask and can actually run useful applications?
Cos that’s what I saw
All I know is that Windows via RDP on my iPhone is much better then running Windows at the desktop. How sad is that? Multi-touch is amazing. Period. If the specs are correct and iPad can run any iPhone App, like RDP, sign me up. Can’t wait to use Windows and Linux on this little/big guy. Three finger scrolling, four finger wipes, two finger ‘right-clicks’. If only M$ would wake up, Win-Mobile RDP is sh*t. Its sad when an RDP client from a third-party running on am iPhone allows users to use Windows, better then Windows itself.
balmer spent about 5 minutes touting a prototype…what a joke.
It need not necessarily be a third category. It could also be a way for Apple to move more developers into the Apple developer ecosystem. Or am I wrong? Also hardcore PC users who also use Windows PCs will give Apple computers a second look. The line is getting blurred.
to be fair, the iPad isn’t better neither, its software is, a cool email client for windows and better kindle software an Viola!
But of course even if all the functionality is paired, its hard to compete with all that coolnes if you dont have an app store.
Its just sad that the iPad is targeted to the netbook/light-user and completely ignores power users, I know we are fewer but the iPhone was for both worlds. I cant see myself carrying something that does not fit my pocket if I cant do more than 1 thing simultaneously on it.
i didn’t know viola’s had anything to do with this… sorry, don’t use terms if you can’t even bother learning how to spell them correctly you might give the “average consumer” the wrong impression about the IPad.
You mean iPad right ?
But it does replace the concept of a less powerful lightweight computer that is extremely mobile.
The iPad most definitely fulfills this more than any netbook ever could. Its different.
You’re right. However it’s the same as the Archos PMPs that already exist.
How do you excuse the lack of ability to install software not from the god damn app store a great feature.
cant listen to music while i browse the web?
I want VLC damn it. to watch movies i download
I wanted a media creation device, what i got is a media consumption device.
Why congratulate a company for coming up short on its own standards, if it was a OSX based device that would have been fantastic, instead its a drone, not warrior
Get a laptop if you want a ‘media creation’ device.
To get a ‘media creation’ device in a form factor like this that would actually be useable, you would have to pay $2k. All you peeps that seem to think it’s easy to produce a mobile super computer, keep dreaming.
PS – This is an OSX based device.
MG – this doesn’t replace anything and I disagree that it’s targeted at existing iphone users, this is targeting a new category of people who want internet access without the hassle of learning to use a PC, netbook, laptop etc.
Exactly, and media-internet access without the hassle of learning to use a computer is a HUGE market. Its a media consuming device not a laptop.
You didn’t expect Apple to provide a $499 device that would ruin it’s Laptop business did you. They are in business to make money and the money right now is in media consumption. (Social media, old media, video media) They already have the premium laptop business.
what a disappointment!!!
http://shagthesebitches.com
The need this would fill for me – and I suspect many others – is saving me the experience of my laptop burning my legs while I’m sitting on the couch at home browsing, Skyping, etc.
Bullshit. There is absolutely nothing new about the iPad at all. This isn’t the future, it’s Apple’s version of an old and familiar product format.
Large format PMPs – which is what the iPad actually is – have been produced by the likes of Archos and others for years now. This bring nothign new or, indeed, innovative to the party.
If any of you seriously think this is going to replace CULVs or even mainstream laptops (and you know, that’s what it’s competign against, not the 8″ Eee Netbooks you think it is) then you’re insane.
Third category my arse.
iPhone OS 4.0 needs to have multi-tasking capabilities and a better home screen. Besides that I like the machine a lot.
i will say the thing i was most disappointed about is that the tablet cannot run multiple apps at once.
Yeah. I wonder if they could have easily added background apps without making much changes to the OS itself though — they dont seem to have done anything much to the OS itself besides replacing some pre-installed apps with the new ones and changing the home screen a bit. Of course Cocoa-Touch has been updated.
Considering the existance of “Backgrounder” on a jailbroken iPhone, a tiny little app that does exactly this, and perfectly, I’d have to say yes.
Yeah that was disappointing. But, I agree that the home screen is really ugly. I liked the home screen on mosspuppet’s iPad a lot better. :D
At least this is something that can theoretically be fixed with an update. Though, you’re right–should be there on day 1.
I have to say, not being able to Multi-task isn’t really that big of a deal. The iPhone has an amazingly high customer satisfaction rate. It’s not like the lack of multi-tasking is really making people that unhappy.
Multi-tasking destroys the battery life — as we’ve all seen with the Nexus One (see Arrington’s review). Apple knows that people are happier with longer batteries than the ability to multi task.
Not sure that argumenat about multitasking chewing battery life still holds water. Other devices seem to manager, as well as jailbroken iphones.
Maybe it has more to do with simplicity. It does make it a lot easier to not have a task manager, worry about stray apps, worry about killing apps, etc…
I can live with the trade off.
On a device the size of iPhone or iTouch, might not be that big of deal for people. However, for something the size of the iPad, I imagine quite a number of people are going to try to listen to music while running other programs and will be quite disappointed when they realize they can’t.
im pretty sure it works fine for using music with other programs. It is after all a big ipod touch! The only issue is runnings apps simultaneously other than the music
This is the iPhone OS. Listening to music in the background is the ONE thing you can do while using other apps. :)
I am sure you will be able to listen to music and use pages but will you be able to do a little online research and seamlessly flip back and forth from pages as you type new line in your article? No and that lack of multitasking is serious and that is what a net book and a laptop do this could do it, not sure how it would do it better but it could and it does not!
Have you been chatting in beejive and wanted to send a link to your friend with out (assuming you need to find it because you don’t remember a long string of text) closing/opening/closing/opening? You can’t on the iPhone/iPod (and you should be able to) and now on this device that is made to be able to do it absolutely should be able to it will not. Come on Steve we are graduating from preschool to chapter books let us do this. If you are worried we will get confused and kill our battery make a time out option and only allow three of four apps to stay open. I don’t know but a compromise needs to be made.
It’s a huge deal. Once you get beyond passive content consumption, multitasking is extremely important.
There are so many things that a device like this would be great for that just are a pain without multitasking.
Take a graphics editing program like Photoshop for example. Touchscreens are perfect for drawing! The thing is, I often like to have my web browser open at the same time when I’m using Photoshop. I might copy a texture or piece of clip art that I find online and then hop over to Photoshop to paste it. I can’t do that on the iPad.
Or let’s say I’m stuck on a bus somewhere and I receive a slide deck from a colleague who wants me to review it. Ideally, I’d like to have a text editor open for me to take notes while I’m looking at it. Or even better, I’d like to pop open a chat program and talk to him in real time while going over the materials.
I’m sure you can think of other examples. Even Apple’s recognized this. In their commercials designed to counter Verizon, one of features they tout is to ability to do other things while you’re on call — e.g. you want to check Yelp while you’re talking to someone about where to eat.
My issue has always been, well, what if you want to multitask using something other than the phone app? E.g. what if I want to IM someone as opposed to call them while I’m Yelping?
On the iPhone, I can kinda tolerate it because other phones have sucked so much. On the iPad, it’s unacceptable.
exactly. +3 ftw
my the force be with you. everyone should enhance this comment.
+10
Agreed!
I am jealous of average users who will get to use the ipad the way they use their current pc: for consumer entertainment. I am one of the unlucky ones who uses his laptop as a tool for building things. I can dream of the day tho when my apps can run on something like this… when I can do actual work on something like minorit report. Until then, alas, still trapped behing the keyboard.
Yeah it would be great to have a good code editor (or at least vim) and some kind of built-in webserver for development. Although, you can run all that stuff on jailbroken iPhones now, so it’s not impossible that you’ll be able to develop on the iPad eventually
Yeah, true but I think the interface is not mature enough to be use as a productive environment. PC successor is still to come.
Looks nice, but… I have an iPod Touch (3rd Gen), a Desktop PC (Overclocked and decked out for my games and video editing), a fair enough Asus Notebook for travel, I have my library of books in which I read one book at a time (soft and hardcover) and I have a Xbox 360… oh and I guess an HDTV with Blu-ray for my movies and a PVR for my Digital Cable. So now, someone please tell me what the hell I would want an iPad for when each and every single one of these things does what the iPad does but 10x better!
Oh but again it does look pretty…
You don’t “need” it. You don’t need anything really… other than food & oxygen. But you want it. That’s key.
A Big WiFi remote control to add to the coffee table? If you added bump tech to this, had a few of these around the poker table and they could play games with one another nicely, Nah, it will make a sleek beer coaster thought;)
ooooh, I like the coaster idea. It could sit on my coffee table and show pretty pictures. Then again, I suppose I could just buy a cheap Digital Picture Frame for that.
Where is the $499 fun it that;) ? I am sure everyone has 5 C notes sitting around to throw at the keg.
The iPad would definitely kick your Asus Notebook’s ass bigtime. That’s why you would need one.
the future is in iphone OS, using phone applications in low res, and no multitasking? interesting
anyways, ill take an HP slate with a real OS anyday over this
I’d really like to see what Google OS could do to a Tablet…
Ummm…
It could be safari.
WOOOOOOSH
the HP slate will probably sell for $1,100 and it’s still in the labs…maybe they’ll release on 12/31/2010.
Talk about pissing your money away. I hope you kids see what a silly waste of resources this was.
I already wish I could take back the hours I’ve spent reading about this thing…. Too bad I feel the need now to bitch about it and waste more of my time.
Steve Jobs is done, (or at least I hope.) If he thinks this is his greatest achievement, he must have hit his head one too many times.
Ha. I feel the same way. I hate that I wasted time today watching the live blog, but yet I can’t stop reading about it. Schadenfreude of some sort I guess.
I’m done after tonight though. I’m going to start looking into Android phones and chrome OS netbooks though if this is Apple’s vision of the future. At least they still make great computers (kinda – 27″).
+1000 – that’s all I’ve done all day. Is bitch. So much hype and this thing is a fucking piece of crap. I can’t believe people ACTUALLY are writing positive things about it.
YES, I get it. Compared to a Kindle (which I don’t want anyway – I actually like REAL books) it makes a ton more sense to buy this. But to tell me this is better than a netbook is just idiot. As idiotic as Steve Jobs thinking this is actually a sweet product.
I love my books, I love the fact that I can look at my 3 filled book shelves and know that I’ve read all of that and loved every single book, (OK maybe a few sucked.)
But I can at least say that I have read a book that my grandfather read and that my father read and know that my kid will most likely one day hold and read that same book.
I commend the Kindle for what it has done, but I love my books to much to simply trade them in for 1′s and 0′s
Agree- will be difficult for Dad or Grandma to write a note of sentiment when handing down on an iBook to pass down through the family tree.
I doubt the iPad will be the impetus for a new chapter of fahrenheit 451- But then again I still like those handwritten special notes Grandpa put on the back of pictures- I wonder how we will pass down the same sentiment.
Totally agree – I love books, I love the way they look, feel, seeing them on the bookshelf etc. I also love my Kindle – but I haven’t bought a single book on it. I get Newsweek for 1.50 per month, and the NYTimes for around 15 bucks a month – things I don’t really collect, but that I love reading anyway. For that reason alone, I carry my Kindle around in my bag everywhere.
Thats the one thing no one seems to talk about, as far as I can tell – the screen comparisons. The Kindle isn’t whizbang or multimedia, it just performs one service extremely well – the ability to get lost in the black and white words on the screen – there is no real distraction when I’m reading an article. A full colored hi res screen reminds me too much of what it’s like to read long articles on the web – sure, your eyes strain a bit, but it’s just too easy to click away to some other colorful distraction.
That being said, I scoffed today at the apparent lack of features – but I know like all the other techno geeks I’ll be getting one soon after it’s available (but no lines for me, thx). The reason just wont be for reading – more akin to insatiable technolust…
What is more important to you, the stories in those books, or the physical books themselves, because it sure sounds like you really like those physical books a whole lot more than the stories in them.
I think Courtney is afraid to embrace the future of technology. She is stuck in the 20th century with nostalgic thoughts. I’m actually wasting my time reading your posts attacking Steve Jobs. Do you have a billion dollars in Apple stock? I thought not. I see you have some faithful followers. Good for them. I’m writing this from my iPhone and that’s why I would need the iPad. I need something bigger but equally as awesome as the iPhone fr the comfort of my bed.
You are the ultimate fanboy.
also, the ultimate warrior.
Boom – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVO-S5QDRho
Like the iPhone, I’ll wait a generation or two to get the features I need on it. The thing looks really pretty though.
Also, I’m unsure how anxious Hulu is to create an iPhone app because their big media parents could be worried about the role Apple is trying to position itself as. With this device, even moreso than others, Apple is the absolute tollbooth for content that goes on it. That’s not 100% a bad thing because they’ve proven to provide a good user experience, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Yea, but MG at least looks at all the sides and then speaks (or is it writes.)
Either way, MG, thank you for your writing. You keep the geeks in the know and I always look forward to your articles. (Even the ones I disagree with)
No one who is looking at all sides can write this positively about the iPad. He didn’t have to bash it, but this is way too pro-Apple to be an objective look.
Why not? He’s looking at it from a future aspect on which he compares it to the iPhone and it’s ability to change peoples minds. The fact that most people will not see a need or even a normal use for it is not what he’s writing about here.
You need to take it (MG’s article) for what it is and not what you think it should be.
Well said.
He is looking at it from a perspective where the iPhone has changed his mind about limitations of devices. He actually likes things like no multitasking, no flash, and a closed system. He’s basically been Stockholm Syndromed into liking this device. That’s my problem with claiming he looks at this from all angles.
appreciate it.
Am I the only one that would prefer a CrunchPad over the iPad?
No. You can watch hulu on a juju pad and it doesn’t look like sh*t.
Yes, TC Fan boy
For me it’s one of those things that I don’t need, but still really want. I’m definitely waiting until I can get my hands on one, but I’m already prepared to take the plunge.
Agree with the concept that comparing it to the Kindle is pretty silly. I bought a Kindle for the screen, even though I already had a multitude of devices that could run the Kindle app. That being said – the only real appeal to me is the $30/month data plan. The inability to run applications (OS X/Windows style full applications) and the need to carry around a keyboard accessory to get “real” work done kills it for me. Uni-tasking is closer to acceptable when it’s on a small platform, but once you’ve reach something the size of the ipad, multitasking is a necessity IMO.
I think the Lenovo concept from CES where you could dock the tablet and get a full Windows 7 experience, or un-dock it and get a more iPad experience is more of what I’m looking for. Are there times that I just want to passively browse the internet -sure, but I’d also hate to carry around a device that has the same power drawbacks as my laptop in addition to my laptop (the 2 week battery life on the Kindle is one of my favorite features – it’s nearly impossible to run it dry unless you are actually trying to do just that).
I agree on the Lenovo concept- I was not expecting snap out tablet and convert to another OS- great concept. Didn’t work worth a squat, slow but is a start and believe iPad launched into new lifestyle experience- cruise the internet while laying around- reading, browsing. No multitasking? serious drawback but then need to promote that 10 hr battery life.
I also wonder if they’re downplaying books because refresh rates = eye strain. Ebook readers don’t use e-ink just for battery life. I could be totally off base here, though. Screen tech has prolly made improvements since I last looked into this.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1677617&tstart=0
Nothing changed, just look at the thread on apple forums of users trying to read a lot on the mbp screens.
I am not an Apple fanboy (the only Apple product I own is an iPod touch) but I do see a value in owning an iPad. Moreover, kudos to Apple for taking a risk and trying to push the ball forward
Long before this Apple tablet frenzy, i already knew that iPad is a path that Steve Jobs have to follow.
We can argue and complain a lot about the lack of features and so on. But what iPad stand for is basically a personal touch computing w/ cloud application. This is a field that no one ever dare to conquer. Apple had a massive advantage in touch technology, so why they have to set back to something like e-ink?
Steve Jobs couldn’t afford to risk the opportunity to be the pioneer by holding back or waiting. While iPad 1.0 maybe disappointing in some areas, I believe iPad Take 2 will clear Apple road map.
I think I’ll wait for the second generation iPad. In the mean time, being an Apple fan, time to wait for the iPhone 4G hype! ;)
yeah, i was hoping for some news about that. front facing video camera please!
WOW I hope you delete that blog post.
WOW I hope someone revokes your internet access.
Living room in my hands, why not? Sure, TV apps are yet to come, but this thing is already doing most of what I can/like to do in my living room. And , living room in my mom’s/grandma’s hands, why not? Finally she can just sit in the living room and browse websites like she really wants to without a mouse/keyboard/desk.
And how about on a train, on an airplane, on a toilet, and on my bed before sleeping? What’s the better alternative?
The biggest drawbacks I see are : Not being able to run Multiple apps, and being locked into Apple’s closed ecosystem of Itunes and Apple approved apps.
There is not much that is revolutionary in the iPad.
It wont be too long before you see a device very similar to the iPad in display size/weight/battery life, but that runs on an open source OS with open source apps that can multi-task and that doesn’t lock you in perpetually in an Apple/iTunes jail. And maybe even has an SD Slot/Webcam/USB port/HDMI connectors. Who except the most diehard Apple fan would want an iPad then ?
After you’re done designing your perfect tablet, you’ll be happy to know that it weighs 5 pounds, is an inch thick, and has a battery life of about 12 seconds. But hey, at least you’ll like it.
Apple has 30+ years of experience selling and supporting hardware. People like to be able to talk to a human being and know that their issues will be taken care of. When you buy an Android Tablet (or any other open source tablet), you’ll likely get a discussion forum as your only level of customer support. Good luck with that. Most people will gravitate to Apple instead.
Sounds familiar to the smartphone ecosystem today… And then however….
Personally this is one of the poorest product that Apple created along with Apple TV. It just needs better features and investments in the device to sell a good amount. At least create a powerful OS or bring in the Mac OS.
I’m surprised at some of the criticism I’ve read today such as this post. Not because there aren’t aspects
to criticise but the direction of them. A more powerful OS? SD card? More ports? To me, at least, I don’t want it replace my laptop – it’s fine as is – I want it to do all the things that I use my laptop and iPhone for forwhich they are poorly suited. (Posting on TC using a phone is one.) I spend a large number of hours a week at the computer, so I will be very happy to be able to read and browse without a keyboard and mouse around and to not have to carry a bunch of (heavy) dead tree media on the plane with me anymore.
The future can apparently run one app at a time and basically a giant version of the past.
Exactly,
At this rate, Apple’s next product will require us to use punch cards.
This is the best article I have read thus far on Techcrunch. It’s balanced, clear, and convincing. I may buy this after all; I pooh-poohed it when I was reading the liveblog, but thinking about it in terms of an evolution of my iPod Touch lets me see it in a different light. Thanks!
Just like, you know, you might want to take a look at some (all) of MGs obsequious articles the past half year and reconsider. Consider for example the one he wrote a month ago that pilloried people who suspected this device might not be a revolutionary product. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/02/apple-tablet-future-tech/)
I was really disappointed with what was released today, although I suppose a lot of it was because of the hype.
I was hoping for more of a creation device instead of a consumption device. I think being able to use some type of stylus with this thing and using it as a better Wacom tablet would have been amazing.
No multitasking is immediately a dealbreaker for anyone who cares about the ROI of their purchase. I don’t think listening to Pandora while browsing is too much to ask. I also think Flash is a bigger issue than you made it to be because of the size. As the device gets closer to a “true” computer, people are going to expect a truer computing experience.
I don’t miss Flash on my Nexus One but you’re damn right I’d miss it on my netbook.
Another issue is the fact that I can only install apps form the app store. I get why Apple did it, but I think it’s a huge hindrance to it’s future success, especially as tablets find their way into unexpected industries.
It’s not a good ebook reader because of the screen. It’s not a better netbook because of a million reasons. It’s not a better iPhone. It’s not a better anything from my initial impression.
But I suppose there’s a reason Steve Jobs is running Apple and I’m not.
Relying on the app store is actually not a hindrance to future success. The app store model has already proven that the general masses find it easier and a better experience than having to troll the web looking for applications. It may not be the option that us geeks want, but 8 out of the 10 people that will buy this device, don’t think twice about apple’s rules/regulations on the app store. It may be sad, but it’s true.
Great post, definitely captures what I would expect to be consumer reaction to the iPad.
I’ll definitely be ordering one as soon as it becomes available.
Something I need to start looking into is programming / design applications, refactoring code or adjusting uml diagrams on the go looks like it would work out pretty well.
Looks like MAD TV beat Apple on the naming game long ago:
No webcam, no camera and no Verizon – delays buying decision by 6 months. And I think the size is a little on the bigger side. The entire device should have been only as much as the screen dimension.
I really enjoyed reading this MG. Very nice post: thoughtful, emotionally engaged, well written.
Screw this, I want a JooJoo!
the joojoo is a piece of crap…it’s thicker and heavier…shorter battery life…only 4 gb…
Agree with Randy Jensen. Totally disappointed with this ipad, so many people imaged this ipad before,so i thought Steve jobs must do alot things better than this.
Considering the main group who will initially buy this are exsisting Apple users and the likelyhood these users already have an iPhone – they just got a big F You very much with the lack of being able to tether their iPhone for a data connection. This could be at&t here but who in their right mind is going to pay for their iPhone data plan AND another $30 for the iPad? (Let’s face it the 250mb is a joke)
No expansion via MicroSD / USB. This is now the ultimate closed system for Apple. 64gb is pathetic. My netbook has 160gb and at home I’m over 4TB.
Cost is not as cheap as I’m sure every little accessories you get nickel and dimed over will add up.
- dock
- keyboard
- “connectors”
- Projector cable
- Cover/Bag
Maybe next version will fix some glaring holes. Software is only going to improve so much.
Hey Techies, people will buy it. It looks cool. $500 will go to waste somehow. Ultimate Birthday gift and Christmas gift for 2010.
That’s an excellent point. I’m willing to bet if you pitched this “business plan” to a bunch of investors, you’d be in for a treat!