Apple iPad released - Whats your take?

[Shardie]

Well its finally released, watched the video and Keynote. To me its just a huge iPod Touch. WHATS YOUR TAKE?

[cerebus]

It's not a bigger itouch because it is totally useless as an ipod lol.

I dunno I think it has a potential market though once people understand what it's meant to be - a media consumption device first and foremost. If you had a daily subscription to online magazines (who could tailor their content like NYT has) + ebooks + tv shows + your regular news surfing, it would be a very useful gadget to have. I wish they hadn't crippled it quite so astonishingly badly though - lack of USB and flash is painfully anachronistic - maybe acceptable on an iphone but not on a pseudo-netbook replacement.

[bwana]

It's not a bigger itouch because it is totally useless as an ipod lol.

I dunno I think it has a potential market though once people understand what it's meant to be - a media consumption device first and foremost. If you had a daily subscription to online magazines (who could tailor their content like NYT has) + ebooks + tv shows + your regular news surfing, it would be a very useful gadget to have. I wish they hadn't crippled it quite so astonishingly badly though - lack of USB and flash is painfully anachronistic - maybe acceptable on an iphone but not on a pseudo-netbook replacement.What would you do with USB?

I hope there is going to be some sort of print functionality enabled - preferably wirelessly.

That external card reader and keyboard will come in very handy for me.

Not having flash means I wont have to buy one for my missus - no farmville :D

I'm sure we'll be able to use the iPhone tethered to it (bluetooth? wifi?) so I wont have to wait for the 3g model.

[Antybubbs]

It also comes with an external USB adapter

[cerebus]

Well syncing your camera to your device would be a good start.

Oh external usb adapter - ok i guess that works.

[Rate My ISP]

Well its finally released, watched the video and Keynote. To me its just a huge iPod Touch. WHATS YOUR TAKE?

Much ado about not much. I was seriously expecting a defining moment in the computer industry, like the way the iPhone shook up the smarphone industry but got an "inbetween" device. Ultimately the hype was bigger than the product.

[bwana]

Well syncing your camera to your device would be a good start.

Oh external usb adapter - ok i guess that works.They've got the whole iPad Camera Connection Kit for that. It would be really nice if that ends up being compatible with the iPhone too! :)

[Grimspoon]

Its a giant iPhone. *shrug*

[cerebus]

Well look...it's nice all these accessories but I don't see why I should pay extra for something that is taken for granted in any other pc.

[Keeper]

i love it - just sucks that its not a full, proper OS.

[bwana]

Well look...it's nice all these accessories but I don't see why I should pay extra for something that is taken for granted in any other pc.
Would you be happier if they put it internally and charged more?

[Aqua_lung]

I hate the design, someone at apple took a stock itouch and enlarged it in photoshop and said voila!.. does not look practical to me, should be wide screen by default too.

[cerebus]

The keyboard and cover is one thing - but I kind of expect even in a cheapo R4k netbook I'm going to get those basic adapters. There is no reason to charge more.


one thing about widescreen is it's a compromise shape because it's 1: a reading/internet device and 2: a tv/movie viewer. I think even the movie watching is secondary because memory is so poor. But i like the smartfit function on the iphone so something like that would work.

Look this is something that geeks aren't really going to get because they (we) want functionality all the way and this device is poor on that. But Jobs is right it's a LOT sexier than a netbook and perfectly suited for most of the same functions.

[Pegasus]

Would you be happier if they put it internally and charged more?

It is odd that people lambast Apple for NOT giving them "choice", and then they lambast Apple for giving them "choice".

[Aqua_lung]

To me it looks like Apple taking the piss with an overgrown ipod touch, kinda like they're going to launch the real tablet this was just for the lols.

[Jola]

But Jobs is right it's a LOT sexier than a netbook and perfectly suited for most of the same functions.

Really ? I run Photoshp CS4 on my netbook. Also have a Blu-ray writer attached to it. Etc.

I realise that you said "most", but the iPad just doesn't cut it. Better to stick to iPhone and get something else for this purpose.

[bwana]

To me it looks like Apple taking the piss with an overgrown ipod touch, kinda like they're going to launch the real tablet this was just for the lols.Just exactly what form factor did you expect apple to launch? A banana shaped device with a stylus? :confused:
Really ? I run Photoshp CS4 on my netbook. Also have a Blu-ray writer attached to it. Etc.

I realise that you said "most", but the iPad just doesn't cut it. Better to stick to iPhone and get something else for this purpose.I have to wonder if a touch screen is going to be accurate enough for something like PS anyway.

I also run demanding apps on a netbook but they leave a lot to be desired. Photo editing is an exercise in futility.

[cerebus]

Really ? I run Photoshp CS4 on my netbook. Also have a Blu-ray writer attached to it. Etc.

I realise that you said "most", but the iPad just doesn't cut it. Better to stick to iPhone and get something else for this purpose.


I'd say you're an abnormal netbook user and tbh I'm surprised that you are able to do image editing at all on a >12" screen. Most people use their netbooks for - as the name implies - surfing the internet on the go and watching movies. It's what they're designed to do.

[subxero]

Watched the video on youtube. Noticed this in the "Recommended for you" section afterwards....

absorbent sanitary pad advertise...
absorbent sanitary pad advertisement
This is an advertisement on how absorbent a pad can be.. haha.. WARNING: THI...
1 year ago 8,697 views

Because you watched
Apple I-Pad

[PhreakBoy]

Its a giant iPhone. *shrug*

That can't phone...

[Aqua_lung]

Just exactly what form factor did you expect apple to launch? A banana shaped device with a stylus? :confused:

Everything is scaled up this does not mean it will be ergonomic, like the home button does not seem practical there for such a huge device, on the iphone/itouch it makes sense but they should have had the buttons all reachable with one hand rather than exactly the same as the itouch but now miles apart.

just my opinion I would not interested in a tablet anyway.

[Keeper]

i like this one a bit more:

http://www.axiotron.com/uploads/pics/Silver_Right-W_01.jpg


not as thin as a iPad but runs the complete Mac OS, or even windows - that means Full control - do whatever you want to!

its not a normal touch screen - the screen is one giant wacom pad!

Got better specs too - bigger HDD, and Dual Core 2 GHZ, not single core 1Ghz.

http://www.axiotron.com/uploads/pics/118_mb_art6b_01.jpg

Hello Photoshop :)

http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook

[cerebus]

I like this myself (http://gizmodo.com/5444232/notion-ink-adam-pixel-qi-tabletereader-hands-on-your-screen-is-obsolete)

[Jola]

I also run demanding apps on a netbook but they leave a lot to be desired. Photo editing is an exercise in futility.

It's not great for PS, but it's OK for when you need it. I find the performance is OK. Although I mainly do PS on it when in remote locations.

I have a 320GB 7200rpm drive, 2GB RAM, and clock the N280 at 2GHz. But you get better netbooks than mine now.

[bwana]

It's not great for PS, but it's OK for when you need it. I find the performance is OK. Although I mainly do PS when in remote locations.

I have a 320GB 7200rpm drive, 2GB RAM, and clock the N280 at 2GHz. But you get better netbooks than mine now.I have a 17" Macbook Pro that does PS surprising well for when I'm in the field. :)

However - when I go to a prospective client I'd love for my portfolio to be on one of these iPads. Horses for courses. :)

[cerebus]

Mind you I suppose if you were buying that sort of form factor functionality wouldn't really be an issue anyway.

[dslzephyr]

I am such a gadget fan boy... so, I've already started the countdown to April! I want an iPad!!!!

M

[SlinkyMike]

I really want to want one but I just can't figure out what it's for.:-/

I am certain that people will find a use but it's not immediately evident that this is something awesome.
I am very confused by certain choices made in the interface, no multitasking seems crazy and almost immediately nullifies any netbook comparisons - that one thing makes me almost agree with the 'giant iPod' set.

Two things I do not like:

1.) Stupid stupid stupid curved backplate... WHY??? I hate it on the iPhone 3G and wish more than anything that they'd go back to the flawless piece of industrial design that is the 1st gen iPhone. The only thing that I can figure this curvature does is create a faux 'drop shadow' on whatever surface the thing is lying on which looks cool to other people but if you are the dick that has to handle the thing it is annoying.

2.) There will most likely be a slew of 3rd party cases and covers but that thing looks very slippery (as in off you lap/couch/whatever) it could so with some sort of rubberisation strategy.

Whats my take?
I'd have an iPad over a Kindle given the option but really: I don't want either of them.

[SlinkyMike]

I really want to want one but I just can't figure out what it's for.:-/

I am certain that people will find a use but it's not immediately evident that this is something awesome.
I am very confused by certain choices made in the interface, no multitasking seems crazy and almost immediately nullifies any netbook comparisons - that one thing makes me almost agree with the 'giant iPod' set.

Two things I do not like:

1.) Stupid stupid stupid curved backplate... WHY??? I hate it on the iPhone 3G and wish more than anything that they'd go back to the flawless piece of industrial design that is the 1st gen iPhone. The only thing that I can figure this curvature does is create a faux 'drop shadow' on whatever surface the thing is lying on which looks cool to other people but if you are the dick that has to handle the thing it is annoying.

2.) There will most likely be a slew of 3rd party cases and covers but that thing looks very slippery (as in off you lap/couch/whatever) it could so with some sort of rubberisation strategy.

Whats my take?
I'd have an iPad over a Kindle given the option but really: I don't want either of them.

[PeterCH]

I really want to want one but I just can't figure out what it's for.:-/

EXACTLY. It's a convergence device aimed to be a jack of all trades but master of none. It works out if you can buy music on iTunes, buy video/TV shows there, but apps at the store, buy books from their content partners and read the NYT in their special browser. In SA you can only buy apps and in many countries you can't even do that. Also with an HSDPA subscription of unlimited INTERNET for $30 pm (R200) it make sense to download and view video on that thing ON THE GO. Do note that it doesn't do flash but it will do this new HTML5 video standard.


I am certain that people will find a use but it's not immediately evident that this is something awesome.
I am very confused by certain choices made in the interface, no multitasking seems crazy and almost immediately nullifies any netbook comparisons - that one thing makes me almost agree with the 'giant iPod' set.

They prevented multitasking in order for you to still need a Macbook. Had they dumped that, you could in theory, not need a notebook - chances are you'd buy this instead of a Macbook. If all you do is browse www sites and send emails/IM on your notebook, why buy one?


Two things I do not like:

1.) Stupid stupid stupid curved backplate... WHY??? I hate it on the iPhone 3G and wish more than anything that they'd go back to the flawless piece of industrial design that is the 1st gen iPhone. The only thing that I can figure this curvature does is create a faux 'drop shadow' on whatever surface the thing is lying on which looks cool to other people but if you are the dick that has to handle the thing it is annoying.

2.) There will most likely be a slew of 3rd party cases and covers but that thing looks very slippery (as in off you lap/couch/whatever) it could so with some sort of rubberisation strategy.

It's a fragile device.


Whats my take?
I'd have an iPad over a Kindle given the option but really: I don't want either of them.

For me, reading journals and textbooks would work out better on an e-ink device. The Kindle sucks because it has a tiny screen. However, reading text on an LCD for hours on end is way worse. This thing looks nice but they could have made it tougher,
made it have a FINDER, made it easier to copy docs (and other files) back and forth, made it multi-task, made the screen larger - but keep the same overall size, increase the resolution more and make it transflective. USB connectivity would have been great too.

It's a nice device for coffee shops or sitting on the couch and reading some websites but typing is still better on a tactile feedback keyboard. It's good for small things. It's a great way for Apple to make money on both H/W and music/app/video sales :).

[PeterCH]

Really ? I run Photoshp CS4 on my netbook. Also have a Blu-ray writer attached to it. Etc.

I realise that you said "most", but the iPad just doesn't cut it. Better to stick to iPhone and get something else for this purpose.

I agree. I own a 720g netbook (weight of this device with 3G), it has a higher res screen, also 64GB of SSD and plays open 720p video in h264. Sadly I need to install Win 7 to get it to play 1080p without a CPU hit but yeah and if I drop it from the couch or sit on it or hit someone unconscious with it, it won't be damaged either. I'm disappointed by the iPad. I was one of the first guys in SA to buy an iPod - long before Core sold them, one of the first to buy a Mac Pro but this disappoints. What I'd have bought was a Macbook type machine in tablet format. Not an iPhone in tablet format.

[Shardie]

i love it - just sucks that its not a full, proper OS.

I totally agree. Cant load Adobe CS4 or Final Cut etc etc, guess it wasnt meant for that hey, before i get the "GET A MACBOOK PRO !!!"

[VertigoZA]

I'm I the only one who sees the potential here?

[PaulMark]

I'm I the only one who sees the potential here?

Nope you're not the only one. Just wait until the developers come up with iPad specific to the iPad. We are going to see some amazing apps for this device!

Have a read through this thread on macrumors from when the original iPod was released in 2001. Remind you of anything?

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500

[Zyzzyva]

I'm I the only one who sees the potential here?

Stephen fry said the following regarding the critics.


could they not see that this device was gorgeous, beautifully made, very powerful and capable of development into something extraordinary? I see those qualities in the iPad. Like the first iPhone, iPad 1.0 is a John the Baptist preparing the way of what is to come, but also like iPhone 1.0 (and Jokanaan himself too come to that) iPad 1.0 is still fantastic enough in its own right to be classed as a stunningly exciting object, one that you will want NOW and one that will not be matched this year by any company. In the future, when it has two cameras for fully featured video conferencing, GPS and who knows what else built in (1080 HD TV reception and recording and nano projection, for example) and when the iBook store has recorded its 100 millionth download and the thousands of accessories and peripherals that have invented uses for iPad that we simply can’t now imagine – when that has happened it will all have seemed so natural and inevitable that today’s nay-sayers and sceptics will have forgotten that they ever doubted its potential.

Agree or disagree, he then goes onto make an important point.


There are many issues you could have with the iPad. No multitasking, still no Flash. No camera, no GPS. They all fall away the minute you use it. I cannot emphasise enough this point: “Hold your judgment until you’ve spent five minutes with it”. No YouTube film, no promotional video, no keynote address, no list of features can even hint at the extraordinary feeling you get from actually using and interacting with one of these magical objects. You know how everyone who has ever done Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? always says, “It’s not the same when you’re actually here. So different from when you’re sitting at home watching.”? You know how often you’ve heard that? Well, you’ll hear the same from anyone who’s handled an iPad. The moment you experience it in your hands you know this is class. This is a different order of experience. The speed, the responsiveness, the smooth glide of it, the richness and detail of the display, the heft in your hand, the rightness of the actions and gestures that you employ, untutored and instinctively, it’s not just a scaled up iPhone or a scaled-down multitouch enhanced laptop – it is a whole new kind of device. And it will change so much. Newspapers, magazines, literature, academic text books, brochures, fliers and pamphlets are going to be transformed (poor Kindle). Specific dedicated apps and enhancements will amaze us. You will see characters in movies use the iPad. Jack Bauer will want to return for another season of 24 just so he can download schematics and track vehicles on it. Bond will have one. Jason Bourne will have one. Some character, in a Tron like way, might even be trapped in one.

lol, you have to love Stephen Fry, fanboy nature and all.

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

[Synaesthesia]

Agreed I think a lot of "tech people" are criticizing it, especially on a sort of checkpoint basis. No multitasking. No Flash.

Seen from the point of view of an ordinary person, or a developer, and the situation changes.

I agree with John Gruber, the iPad (and similar devices) will soon become most people's regular computer, and our PC's will become the domain of specialists, and developers.

[Dave123]

The iPad is just too big, if it was a little smaller (perhaps a 7" screen) it would be almost pocketable, at least in a jacket pocket and would be usable on the go for browsing, reading, videos etc. Better than my iPhone for all those functions and still able to carry without the need for a bag. Unfortunately the iPad as it is will be too big even for a large jacket pocket so whats the point?

If I'm going to carry a bag I may as well carry a netbook with all the extra funtionality, or even a sub-notebook (as the iPad is going to cost more than the average netbook).

[cerebus]

I think people are seeing this in terms of a stripped down netbook which it isn't... I agree with synaesthesia, it just isn't that sort of device. It isn't really classifiable as a computer. Apple is very focused on exactly the type of device they want it to be and they're ruthlessly trimming the fat by neglecting to include obvious computer functionality.

[Synaesthesia]

People say it's too big, but it's the same size as my netbook. Actually smaller and thinner with better battery life, better gaming performance, easier to use...

Daring Fireball has a good summary in my opinion.

[cerebus]

So does Gizmodo http://gizmodo.com/5458531/the-ipad-is-the-gadget-we-never-knew-we-needed?skyline=true&s=i

[Shardie]

Hitlers learns about the iPad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4

[Keeper]

Hitlers learns about the iPad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4

LOL - brilliant!!!

[Jola]

LOL - brilliant!!!

+1

[Zyzzyva]

This does sum it up quite well.

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/4/2010/01/3ffcaeee14c42d4882125fff70422d7d/original.jpg

[Moonglum]

Will you be able to tether it with your iphone cause then im going for the normal wifi one.

[Shardie]

Will you be able to tether it with your iphone cause then im going for the normal wifi one.

The biggest modem in the world : iModem

[adsl3g]

Will you be able to tether it with your iphone cause then im going for the normal wifi one.

You won't be able to use it here on 3g due to the micro sim..

[Wag]

Last night on Sky or CNN News they said something about Iflop, but I missed the story.

[bwana]

Will you be able to tether it with your iphone cause then im going for the normal wifi one.I hope so.


This does sum it up quite well. I'm not convinced it belongs in either one.


You won't be able to use it here on 3g due to the micro sim..And Vodacom/MTN wont bring out micro sim here?


Last night on Sky or CNN News they said something about Iflop, but I missed the story.You also missed what channel it was on?

[Madman88]

You won't be able to use it here on 3g due to the micro sim..

Of course you will. A Micro sim is just an embedded sim. Thats all. You just give the details of the sim to VC or whoever (but probly vc) and they load it onto their system.

[bwana]

Of course you will. A Micro sim is just an embedded sim. Thats all. You just give the details of the sim to VC or whoever (but probly vc) and they load it onto their system.Is it? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-SIM

[VonPickle]

Like we needed sims to get any damn smaller. Do we know why Apple decided to go for the Micro Sim?

[PeterCH]

Nope you're not the only one. Just wait until the developers come up with iPad specific to the iPad. We are going to see some amazing apps for this device!

Have a read through this thread on macrumors from when the original iPod was released in 2001. Remind you of anything?

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=500

Yep, I was one of the first people in SA to own an iPod. Way before Core even sold them.

While the iPhone was a dedicated music device and easily allowed you to load any music on your player (with a 3rd party app you had full explorer integration and drag/drop) this is a very locked down, device which allows you to only run apps which apple allows and very specific video types. Without an itunes store in SA this will not be the glamorous device Starbucks patrons in the US will experience. The iPad is basically a marketing platform for Apple software and music. Now there's nothing inherently wrong with that but for those of us who wanted an OSX computer in tablet form, this is not IT. This is just a BIG iPHONE (without the phone) and had I wanted such a device, I would have owned an iPhone from day one.

[Zyzzyva]

The iPad has Adobe's Flash on Apple's video


You saw it here first, folks. In Apple's official video the iPad, they show the New York Times being used. Looks pretty nice right? Well, unless the Times has a special iPad version of the site that switches HTML5 out when it detects Apple mobile products (btw, check current iPhone version of the Times below), THE IPAD HAS FLASH.

http://9to5mac.com/apple-flash-ipad-3954934055

[PaulMark]

For what its worth I've posted my detailed thoughts on the iPad here http://appleza.co.za

[bwana]

Yep, I was one of the first people in SA to own an iPod. Way before Core even sold them.

While the iPhone was a dedicated music device and easily allowed you to load any music on your player (with a 3rd party app you had full explorer integration and drag/drop) this is a very locked down, device which allows you to only run apps which apple allows and very specific video types. Without an itunes store in SA this will not be the glamorous device Starbucks patrons in the US will experience. The iPad is basically a marketing platform for Apple software and music. Now there's nothing inherently wrong with that but for those of us who wanted an OSX computer in tablet form, this is not IT. This is just a BIG iPHONE (without the phone) and had I wanted such a device, I would have owned an iPhone from day one.How do you know this is a very locked down device?

There was no way this was going to be your macbook in tablet form. By now you should have known that Apple doesn't like to cannibalise their product line and to think otherwise shows a certain lack of understanding about apple.

[Dave123]

Will you be able to tether it with your iphone cause then im going for the normal wifi one.

you could always get a Huawei E5830 MiFi modem, not sure if they have hit SA yet, but there are unlocked one's on Ebay. Takes a normal sim and sets up a mini Wifi hotspot.

http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi (http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi_plus_iPod_bundle)

[Shardie]

After all that i think Apple could have done better in giving us the standard OSX to load other apps on as well.

[PeterCH]

How do you know this is a very locked down device?

Because it uses the iPhone OS which is itself fully locked down. It's nothing like OSX on Mac PCs. Secondly, it uses the app store and finally - it is an outlet for more Apple sales. It's a device, meant to create sales for apple's other products - music, apps, subs.
It's more of an appliance except this appliance does not have the specs a proper appliance like that should have for $829.


There was no way this was going to be your macbook in tablet form. By now you should have known that Apple doesn't like to cannibalise their product line and to think otherwise shows a certain lack of understanding about apple.

Why not? What you're saying is that there is no way this was going to be a macbook in tablet form because Apple sells Macbooks and MacBook Pros. That's akin to saying - they won't sell Macbooks because those would cannibalise the sales of their Macbook Pros or they won't sell 13 inch Macbook Pros because then no-one will buy a 17 inch MBP. Also what about the Macbook Air?

What makes computers great is that they're general purpose devices. What makes them also great is that they can run a number of things at the same time and you can purchase software from various vendors OR use OSS. The Pad is a cute appliance and Apple will punt it - or rather the ecosystem of integrated services - to make it successful but it's not a computer.

This is great for some, but for others who like computers and not customised solutions to deliver content Apple gets a royalty cut, this is just a big conflict of interest device - UNLIKE the MB/MBP/MP/iMac.

Also I don't think Job's dissing of Netbooks was great. He only chastised them because they don't run HIS content. Jobs is forgetting the 12 inch Powerbooks notebooks he used to sell. Those were powerful yet tiny devices. Some of us want THAT, small, gwerful, good quality and ability to run OSX. That's why netbooks are popular - they're TINY and reasonably light. They should all be 700g and thin but those are expensive but even the cheapo ones are not that bad.

[PeterCH]

After all that i think Apple could have done better in giving us the standard OSX to load other apps on as well.

They will do that one day. However this device will be a newspaper/ebook/applet/iTunes movie/music end use platform.

[cerebus]

Some people - a lot of people on this forum - will just have no use for the iPad. It is a closed ecosystem, it is not a netbook etc etc. I think though that there is a large market that is looking for precisely this kind of device, and I do foresee it becoming very successful. If you want a small notebook with a full-fledged OS there are already a ton of vendors who will provide it for you, no problem. If you want a tablet to also have a full OS, HP and Microsoft have you served. I think it was wise for Apple to create something that wouldn't fit into those paradigms. iPad has a totally different potential userbase, and I think a much larger one. For everyone who loves a hierarchical filing system, there are 20 for whom it is anathema.

[arf9999]

Much disappointment out there:
(don't know if this has already been posted... don't care enough about the iPad to read the whole thread)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnT0zp8Ya4&feature=player_embedded

[froot]

Really, what the iPad just needs to actually make it worth its while...
a) cardRead + USB
b) GPS!!!!! (it will make for an awesome GPS)
c) camera ..... maybe.
d) MULTITASKING <== without this it's utterly useless
e) Better screen - it's only 1024x768 pixels. Steve Jobs said it's a "high resolution display". BS.

[KillaByte]

Adobe poking fun at the iPad.
They're making a fun of a Steve Jobs' quote "The iPad provides the ultimate browsing experience"
http://theflashblog.com/?p=1703
Lol

[3G4me]

I think those who are so disappointed with the ipad were expecting a fully fledged netbook. There are already so many on the market, one more from apple would just have slid into the bottom/middle somewhere and stolen from their macbook market.

For me, the ipad is a great concept. When I travel, I have my iphone to make calls, and my laptop to surf and do banking/emails/etc (iphone screen just too small for those), and 2 or 3 books for downtime, maybe a couple magazines too. This device can cover all except the phone. And it is the size and weight of one magazine. Imagine my carry on bag being that much emptier and lighter.

I also think that Apple's main aim with this launch was their ibooks app. It's a money spinner for them second to none and could really see the ebook market taking off, with the ease of use and convenience, as long as they stock it like they stock itunes. I mean imagine downloading a book in 10 minutes as opposed to ordering from kalahari.net and waiting 7-14 days for your paperback to arrive. Not having to have bookshelves storing all these books, the trees saved because there is no paper... This is apart from all the other cool features, like being able to lay in bed and read it, or watch a movie.

There is definitely a strong market for the ipad, it's just not the netbook market...

[adsl3g]

You won't be able to use it here on 3g due to the micro sim..

Aparently you can trim your existing sim - its just the plastic around it thats smaller the sim is the same

[Ou grote]

Adobe poking fun at the iPad.
They're making a fun of a Steve Jobs' quote "The iPad provides the ultimate browsing experience"
http://theflashblog.com/?p=1703
Lol

Not sure why Adobe are laughing, its bad news for them, not Apple.

[cerebus]

Adobe is just insulted - but tbh flash is not the future of the web anyway. Html5 is about to render it obsolete. It simply takes too much resources.

[arf9999]

Adobe is just insulted - but tbh flash is not the future of the web anyway. Html5 is about to render it obsolete. It simply takes too much resources.Maybe so... but that's not Apple's reason for not including it. It's more about lock-in to services that Apple can charge for. Apple doesn't want their devices to be able to display content from Hulu or work with flash games because it competes with iTunes and their app store. For me, no flash on the iPhone was no biggie... on the iPad it seems a bit silly.

[cerebus]

Yeah but it's still a 1st gen device. Content providers will work out a way to bring flash to the device, multitasking has been available on the iPhone to anyone with a bit of effort. Power users will figure out a way to bring those things across. There is already a flash app on the iPhone.

[arf9999]

Yeah but it's still a 1st gen device. Content providers will work out a way to bring flash to the device, multitasking has been available on the iPhone to anyone with a bit of effort. Power users will figure out a way to bring those things across. There is already a flash app on the iPhone.

I think the reason for the negative comments is mostly to do with disappointment. Apple have a great OS in OSX, they have the most intuitive UI, they have great technology and interface in "multi touch". And still, they managed to cripple the device. The processor exists that would allow them to run OSX with similar power requirements to the ARM 1GHz that they're using. Using the atom platform would allow a full OSX experience with multitasking, full web functionality.

That would be the ultimate tablet device.

[cerebus]

No that would be a keyboard-less computer. That isn't what Apple intended to produce at all. I think if you put that device into the lap of my wife she wouldn't have a clue what to do with it. And my wife is exactly the kind of audience they're trying to get with this iPad. You might not get it but I promise you she does - when we watched the videos she just got it. It's a massmarket device like the iPod and the iPhone. The OS has to be as transparent as possible. iPhone OS was the right base to upscale from, not downwards from OSX.

[arf9999]

No that would be a keyboard-less computer. That isn't what Apple intended to produce at all. I think if you put that device into the lap of my wife she wouldn't have a clue what to do with it. And my wife is exactly the kind of audience they're trying to get with this iPad. You might not get it but I promise you she does - when we watched the videos she just got it. It's a massmarket device like the iPod and the iPhone. The OS has to be as transparent as possible. iPhone OS was the right base to upscale from, not downwards from OSX.

I think we'll have to agree to differ. I don't think it necessary to cripple functionality in order to make it user friendly. Apple have demonstrated this in their computer range. But that's just my opinion.

[PeterCH]

The keyboard and cover is one thing - but I kind of expect even in a cheapo R4k netbook I'm going to get those basic adapters. There is no reason to charge more.



one thing about widescreen is it's a compromise shape because it's 1: a reading/internet device and 2: a tv/movie viewer. I think even the movie watching is secondary because memory is so poor. But i like the smartfit function on the iphone so something like that would work.

There is left over space for a larger screen. The bezel is large enough to accommodate a wider device. I guess they just wanted it to look prettier by having the same edge on each side.


Look this is something that geeks aren't really going to get because they (we) want functionality all the way and this device is poor on that. But Jobs is right it's a LOT sexier than a netbook and perfectly suited for most of the same functions

I'm sorry but this isn't about GEEKS. This has nothing to do with geeks. This is about everyone who uses a small portable computer. What do they use it for? An HD tablet PC running OSX could do all the things JOBS spoke about - iTunes movies, music as well as games. They could also include the same iPhone apps by way of an emulator. It works very easily and transparently in OSX. In addition people could run the apps they run on their desktop/laptop. Enjoy movies in DV format?
Sure no problem. Enjoy movies in H.264 Advanced Profile - sure no problem. Enjoy 3rd party Mac OSX games. Enjoy IM? Run IM applets.

Then they take iPhone OS and put iWork in it. Why put iWork in Mr Jobs? If this is a consumer tablet for Apple royalty content WHY have iWork?

[cerebus]

I think we'll have to agree to differ. I don't think it necessary to cripple functionality in order to make it user friendly. Apple have demonstrated this in their computer range. But that's just my opinion.

But by the same measure it isn't necessary to have full OSX functionality in a limited scope device. iPhone OS destroyed Winmo (which I was an ardent fan of until I held an iPhone) by stripping out the backend of the OS. It wasn't so easy to tweak but after a bit of usage it doesn't matter because the functionality that does exist is actually just what you need. eg I actually do know where my files are stored on the iTouch but I really don't care.

Look it may be that iPad is actually a failure - but I want to wait and see when it comes out. I somehow think that when it filters out and iteratively fixes the 1st gen complaints, it's going to be a breathtaking piece of kit. As for the complaint about resolution - actually the original iPhone had a weak resolution even for the time - my Dell Axim X51v has full VGA. But the quality of the iPhone screen outweighed the lower resolution.



I'm sorry but this isn't about GEEKS. This has nothing to do with geeks. This is about everyone who uses a small portable computer. What do they use it for? An HD tablet PC running OSX could do all the things JOBS spoke about - iTunes movies, music as well as games. They could also include the same iPhone apps by way of an emulator. It works very easily and transparently in OSX. In addition people could run the apps they run on their desktop/laptop. Enjoy movies in DV format?
Sure no problem. Enjoy movies in H.264 Advanced Profile - sure no problem. Enjoy 3rd party Mac OSX games. Enjoy IM? Run IM applets.

No this is totally about geeks. Do you really think OSX is EASY to use for the average person? Why, because it has a dock? OSX is very intimidating - I still have a difficult time coming to grips with it. Then if you dumbed it down the geeks - you - would be up in arms - why not this, why not that? You would put off people with a full-featured OS because then ipso facto it becomes reshuffled to the small PC category.

This isn't even in the same category as a small portable computer. If you commute to work, have your Starbucks in the morning and check your netbook for the news/feeds...read Conde Naste magazine online and just want it to come in an easily digestible format.... or in a pinch produce a work document, check email etc. You may also not want to play on a Nintendo Wii - but there are a whole slew of hitherto unserved customers who happened to want just that kind of a device.

iPad will also be served by the app store dont forget - who I'm sure will step in to fill what was lacking in Apple's vision for the hardcore contingent.

[Ou grote]

There is left over space for a larger screen. The bezel is large enough to accommodate a wider device. I guess they just wanted it to look prettier by having the same edge on each side.



I'm sorry but this isn't about GEEKS. This has nothing to do with geeks. This is about everyone who uses a small portable computer. What do they use it for? An HD tablet PC running OSX could do all the things JOBS spoke about - iTunes movies, music as well as games. They could also include the same iPhone apps by way of an emulator. It works very easily and transparently in OSX. In addition people could run the apps they run on their desktop/laptop. Enjoy movies in DV format?
Sure no problem. Enjoy movies in H.264 Advanced Profile - sure no problem. Enjoy 3rd party Mac OSX games. Enjoy IM? Run IM applets.

Then they take iPhone OS and put iWork in it. Why put iWork in Mr Jobs? If this is a consumer tablet for Apple royalty content WHY have iWork?

I believe that the device you and the geeks were expecting is called the Macbook Air.

[PeterCH]

I believe that the device you and the geeks were expecting is called the Macbook Air.

I already have a lighter device (with a DVD burner and a higher res screen) than the Macbook Air - it's called a Panasonic Toughbook. It doesn't run OSX but I have a Xeon based Mac Pro for that. No biggie.

Alf, there is a major difference between notebooks / netbooks and tablets - in interface terms.

Apple let me down. And I was always punting their stuff - well I was only punting their PCs and OSX - not the other stuff for which I have no use. Not that it matters too much, the competition may be stirred into releasing a better device instead. A new multitouch VersaPro Tablet - maybe?. Sadly it won't have Apple's build quality - it will be superior - but hey at least there won't be any tablets running OSX this year.

Steve Jobs is a chop.

[arf9999]

But by the same measure it isn't necessary to have full OSX functionality in a limited scope device. iPhone OS destroyed Winmo (which I was an ardent fan of until I held an iPhone) by stripping out the backend of the OS. It wasn't so easy to tweak but after a bit of usage it doesn't matter because the functionality that does exist is actually just what you need. eg I actually do know where my files are stored on the iTouch but I really don't care.

Look it may be that iPad is actually a failure - but I want to wait and see when it comes out. I somehow think that when it filters out and iteratively fixes the 1st gen complaints, it's going to be a breathtaking piece of kit. As for the complaint about resolution - actually the original iPhone had a weak resolution even for the time - my Dell Axim X51v has full VGA. But the quality of the iPhone screen outweighed the lower resolution.

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting a tablet version of an MBpro. However, I think that a simplified interface could be built without removing functionality. I have no issues with the interface, merely the functionality. I wasn't expecting a big iPod Touch.

[PeterCH]

But by the same measure it isn't necessary to have full OSX functionality in a limited scope device. iPhone OS destroyed Winmo (which I was an ardent fan of until I held an iPhone) by stripping out the backend of the OS. It wasn't so easy to tweak but after a bit of usage it doesn't matter because the functionality that does exist is actually just what you need. eg I actually do know where my files are stored on the iTouch but I really don't care.

[QUOTE]Look it may be that iPad is actually a failure - but I want to wait and see when it comes out. I somehow think that when it filters out and iteratively fixes the 1st gen complaints, it's going to be a breathtaking piece of kit. As for the complaint about resolution - actually the original iPhone had a weak resolution even for the time - my Dell Axim X51v has full VGA. But the quality of the iPhone screen outweighed the lower resolution.

The thing is when I put a Sharp WX-T92 (2008 model) next to an iPhone - 854x480 vs 480x320 with the Sharp beating the iPhone in colour reproduction and contrast, I just don't know. Yes the iPhone is more functional than a Japanese non-smartphone (>90% of the users there don't use smartphones) but I can't stand to wonder how nicer it would be of Apple to use a Sharp ASV LCD for their phone - with 1024x480 or even 854x480 and 16.7 mil high contrast colour. In terms of MP3/Video players, my Cowon A3 has an 800x480 16.7 mil screen with high viewing angle and no ghosting/smearing and plays more file formats (including H.264 formats which the iPods can't play). You know - you've put it well - for consumers, Apple is releasing media consumption devices - after all you don't need better resolution for their iTMS.




No this is totally about geeks. Do you really think OSX is EASY to use for the average person? Why, because it has a dock? OSX is very intimidating - I still have a difficult time coming to grips with it. Then if you dumbed it down the geeks - you - would be up in arms - why not this, why not that? You would put off people with a full-featured OS because then ipso facto it becomes reshuffled to the small PC category.

YES it is. I'm sorry but the average person can muster Windows - OSX is much easier. I have an 87 yr old grandfather who has no problems with WinXP and he would find OSX much easier. Windows is hard to use but not impossible. OSX is easier. OSX has been punted by Windows as the OS for the masses of less technologically literate people for ages. You ever watch any of these Justin Long Mac ads?


This isn't even in the same category as a small portable computer. If you commute to work, have your Starbucks in the morning and check your netbook for the news/feeds...read Conde Naste magazine online and just want it to come in an easily digestible format.... or in a pinch produce a work document, check email etc. You may also not want to play on a Nintendo Wii - but there are a whole slew of hitherto unserved customers who happened to want just that kind of a device.

Apple had a choice. The one option was to release a tablet PC you could do everything that your Mac does and they could have sold it for the price of the Macbook. The other option was to make another half-baked Kindle/half baked PMP/half baked netbook. They made the latter.


iPad will also be served by the app store dont forget - who I'm sure will step in to fill what was lacking in Apple's vision for the hardcore contingent

Exactly. It will make them money that way. That is cute and all, but "DO NOT WANT" and many Apple fans are saying the same. You see at present time there is no need in the market for an internet appliance like the iPad. Jobs is creating the need. He is saying that people need to dump their 10+ hour Macbooks (or PCs) for another device. Another piece of junk to just browse the web and read The Village Voice or HuffingPost. Most people were using their macbooks for that purpose already. So now they're increasing the carbon footprint because the iPad won't replace a full computer and if you have an iPhone/iPodTouch you can already do the other things a Macbook can't - like access those 140K of apps without which life is somehow impossible. So now, buy an iPad, buy an iPhone and buy a Macbook. Nice, except - 1. The carbon footprint is increasing - THANK YOU APPLE, 2. Who has the space in their tiny East Side Pad to keep all that junk. 3. An iPhone fits in your pocket, the iPad takes almost as much space as a Macbook and has 1/10th of the functionality. So it's take the one or the other or better yet - be a real idiot can carry both.

[cerebus]

You're really complaining about a lot of very irrelevant stuff. Increasing carbon footprint? Creating pointless devices? You're the master of extraneous hardware. If you don't like it then don't buy - but I foresee a large market demand. You know what - I have no use for a Macbook, I can give 1000 reasons why it doesn't suit my requirements - but it's still a very sexy and well made piece of kit. The iPad has a massive potential userbase - maybe it isn't you but do you think Steve Jobs cares? You are the type of person who will research into codec support, viewing angles and so forth - whereas what the average consumer cares about is slick, sexy interfaces, ease of use (and sorry I have to assert that you're wrong about OSX - it wouldn't work as a massmarket tablet).

The person who buys an iPad will not buy a macbook - they may have another laptop but they won't use it for the same purposes. iPad is all about media consumption. A normal notebook won't serve for ebook reading, episodic tv content, etc.

[iAfrica]

I think the expectations for this device before launch were so high there was no way they could have ticked off the list of things people wanted/expected from the iPad.

Last night we watched the Keynote and the wife and I saw a couple of the possibilities:
1. Reading eBooks to the kids + iTunes audio books.
2. Interactive magazines and newspaper.
3. We are big Scrabble bunch so multiplayer on a big screen is welcomed.
4. All the HD Pixer’s, Miley Cyrus, Jonas Bros + Wizards of Waverly Place… on our Apple TV can be transferred to the iPad when need be like when they have friends around.

It can somaar replace the aging MacBook since the Mac mini does the PC functions, I wonder how much SA is going to pay for the iPad, I skeem a lot.

[PeterCH]

You're really complaining about a lot of very irrelevant stuff.
Irrelevant to you but disposing of all that trash is serious in the develped world.



Increasing carbon footprint? Creating pointless devices? You're the master of extraneous hardware. If you don't like it then don't buy - but I foresee a large market demand. You know what - I have no use for a Macbook, I can give 1000 reasons why it doesn't suit my requirements - but it's still a very sexy and well made piece of kit.

That is one reason to buy it - 'sexy' but it is hardly a sensible reason.


The iPad has a massive potential userbase - maybe it isn't you but do you think Steve Jobs cares?

Why do you think I care what Steve Jobs cares? Steve Jobs NO 1 Job is to make profit for Apple. They started by making decent computers. Now they're making gimmicks. If it sells, it's a profit to Apple. I don't own shares in Apple.


You are the type of person who will research into codec support, viewing angles and so forth - whereas what the average consumer cares about is slick, sexy interfaces, ease of use (and sorry I have to assert that you're wrong about OSX - it wouldn't work as a massmarket tablet).

Of course. When an average user buys a car, something most people don't consider a gimmick they want to know these things - fuel consumption, service plans, cost of service, reliability etc. Few people just buy a car because it looks 'pretty'. I mean I know some do, but most people - don't.


The person who buys an iPad will not buy a macbook - they may have another laptop but they won't use it for the same purposes.

$829. Almost the price of a Macbook but 1/10 of the function. Why shouldn't it have the function of a Macbook?


iPad is all about media consumption.

Exactly. It is a tailor made device to get people to spend money on something they don't need, for the purpose of making $$$ for Apple from secondary content sales. It should be given away for free with subscriptions to iTunes/etc. That I'd understand.


A normal notebook won't serve for ebook reading, episodic tv content, etc.

Which is why iTunes content doesn't play on Macs. (Sarcasm)

[Keeper]

What I find scary is the amount of apple fanbois breaking down steve and/or the ipad - it's shocking

I quite like it - especially the portability of it.

[cerebus]

Irrelevant to you but disposing of all that trash is serious in the develped world.
And what about the trash from all the Archos PMPs you carry around and tote endlessly? Nobody should develop anything...





That is one reason to buy it - 'sexy' but it is hardly a sensible reason.

How about 'does exactly what I've been looking for all this time'.






Of course. When an average user buys a car, something most people don't consider a gimmick they want to know these things - fuel consumption, service plans, cost of service, reliability etc. Few people just buy a car because it looks 'pretty'. I mean I know some do, but most people - don't.

Ok how about: fastest mobile cpu on the planet, 10 hour battery life on full use, heavily multitouch-oriented and fully developed mobile-centric operating system with 140,000 already existing apps - all in a 1st gen device? I'd say that's a pretty impressive list. You're complaining about what was left out but they have time to fix it iteratively - as Apple has always done.



$829. Almost the price of a Macbook but 1/10 of the function. Why shouldn't it have the function of a Macbook?

$500 - why do you have to quote the highest model? At $500 it's barely higher than a kindle dx with 10x the functionality.




Exactly. It is a tailor made device to get people to spend money on something they don't need, for the purpose of making $$$ for Apple from secondary content sales.

How about for serving people with content they have hitherto been unable to get easy access to? You can make the same argument about any entertainment-focused device. It's such a trivial and generic argument. So what if it's frivolous? What if a law or medical student uses it as an all-inclusive study aid? What if serious journals are able to monetise it to provide injections of needed revenue? An iPod is far more trivial but somehow more justifiable by you.



Which is why iTunes content doesn't play on Macs. (Sarcasm)

Who uses their netbooks for the same purposes that the iPad will serve, honestly? As an ebook reader it's awkward, as a content viewer it's unsexy. You want to force someone - a non-techie - to wrestle with osx on a 9.7" touchscreen? It sounds like a complete nightmare to me.


http://stevenf.com/pages/tc1100/ for you :D

[PeterCH]

And what about the trash from all the Archos PMPs you carry around and tote endlessly? Nobody should develop anything...

Er I don't own an Archos. Secondly why should another company not develop a superior spec'ed product. Thirdly yes, every bit helps and not making extra gadgets to confuse shoppers is a big bonus.



How about 'does exactly what I've been looking for all this time'.

So you have an Itunes subscription in SA and can view their videos or do you plan on being satisfied with Apple Trailers only? Because Apple does not support DVD or Bluray ripping.



Ok how about: fastest mobile cpu on the planet, 10 hour battery life on full use, heavily multitouch-oriented and fully developed mobile-centric operating system with 140,000 already existing apps - all in a 1st gen device? I'd say that's a pretty impressive list. You're complaining about what was left out but they have time to fix it iteratively - as Apple has always done.

First of all it's not the fastest mobile CPU on the market, it is a ARM processor at 1GHz. The fastest CPUs would be ULV Core2Duos and the upcoming Nehalem based CPUs - i3 or i5. Those would be the fastest mainstream mobile CPUs. Or do you mean mobile as in 'mobile phone'? You know they could have put in a Core i3 into that thing to do some serious business.

And who died and made you a god to say that I shouldn't complain.



$500 - why do you have to quote the highest model? At $500 it's barely higher than a kindle dx with 10x the functionality.


Yeah with 3G and with decent storage. You know those iTunes 720p movies and music take up space unless you only plan to have a little bit with you. My 3rd Gen iPod from 2003 has 40GB of space and this piece of junk sells with 16GB and 32GB? Come on.
64GB is definately too little.


How about for serving people with content they have hitherto been unable to get easy access to? You can make the same argument about any entertainment-focused device. It's such a trivial and generic argument. So what if it's frivolous? What if a law or medical student uses it as an all-inclusive study aid? What if serious journals are able to monetise it to provide injections of needed revenue? An iPod is far more trivial but somehow more justifiable by you.

What content might that be? Will they open up the iTunes store for South Africans to buy movies, videos and songs? Remember Apple only allows you to rip CDs legitimately.

My argument is that had this been a more open device - you could still do all your iTunes stuff and do more. I want more and $829 is a lot of moolah to spend on a tablet you can't even legitimately buy MOVIES and MUSIC for. You can't legitimately RIP DVDs as iTunes does not allow that. You can only rip CDS and for that an iPad is pointless.

An iPod is a music playing device, tiny and light and fits in your pocket. This is a big thing which doesn't fit anywhere - unless you're wearing a trench-coat and runs tiny iPhone apps in little windows - one at a time. For so much money and the fact that it is an outlet device much like an XBOX360 or Amazon Kindle - they could have subsidized it more or put in a better screen with more functionality. Those who don't want the functionality can get the LITE model or can just NOT USE IT until they find a need to.

You know I wouldn't be harping on this so much except Steve Jobs went on how this thing is better than a netbook - even a notebook.



Who uses their netbooks for the same purposes that the iPad will serve, honestly? As an ebook reader it's awkward, as a content viewer it's unsexy. You want to force someone - a non-techie - to wrestle with osx on a 9.7" touchscreen? It sounds like a complete nightmare to me.


A netbook can view any video. For one, I don't have to convert my video to QuickTime MOV H.264 Basic Profile L3 in some low bitrate. I can play any video -WMV, RMVB, RM, MP2, MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI etc. I can run the full version of an Office Suite. I can run the same browsers I enjoy on my desktop. I can run many things at the same time. I can install proprietary software. I have full control. And what do you mean UNSEXY? Jessica Alba is sexy. Aya Ueto is sexy. A piece of metal is not sexy.

You see unlike many Apple pundits, I didn't buy a Mac Pro because it looks 'sexy'. I did not buy an Apple Cinema Display because it was inferior to the 30 inch I bought instead. I didn't sit and wait and put a Intel SSD into my MP. I got the machine and softs because it works and it allows me to customise it the same way that I can customise a Windows box. I used to own an iPod but when the Video iPod came out the 320 by 400 display was not good enough. I purchased a player which had 800 by 400 - 2 years ago, in brilliant full colour which can play more advanced H.264 video than the iPhone/iPod plus DivX, xVid, MP2, MP4, MJPEG and supports AVI to MKV containers. I buy what's most functional and best and IMO Apple has some good stuff but also some lame stuff with substandard specs - and part of that is the CONFLICT OF INTEREST Apple (and SONY) has (have) in delivering hardware tailor made to play (preferentially) their CONTENT.

I don't fall for the hype. I didn't buy a Magic Mouse because it is a gimmick. I didn't buy a Time Capsule because I think the same thing. Apple is not perfect and among their good products - their PCs and OS as well as productivity software - they have many gimmicky products which still sell well - the way that sites like Twitter/Facebook sell to millions of users. But at the end, they could have been so much better- sadly they're not.

[PeterCH]

What I find scary is the amount of apple fanbois breaking down steve and/or the ipad - it's shocking

I quite like it - especially the portability of it.

I think you're a fanboy.

[bwana]

What I find scary is the amount of apple fanbois breaking down steve and/or the ipad - it's shockingI believe its commonly called a crisis of faith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_faith). The whole Jobs, why has thou forsaken me thing.


I quite like it - especially the portability of it.I think what concerns me more is that we actually agree on something mac related. :eek: :)

Some people are so obsessed with trying to pigeon hole it into a preconceived idea of what it should have been that they're missing out what an elegant product it is.

[BobJones]

I'm thinking that instead of replacing my MBP with a unibody, I'm going to get a 64GB iPad instead (maybe wait for the 2G version).
It covers basically everything I use my MBP for:

Web
Email
NetNewsWire
Calendar
Contacts
iTunes
Photos
iWork
Twitter
Skype
Facebook
Bloomberg
Bento
Remote
Delicious Library

Carrying something with the size, resolution and battery life of the iPad will make things a lot easier for me... not to mention the instant on ability.

[undesign]

I wouldn't mind taking a closer look at the iPad (gadget addiction drool in action :p), but not being able to play divx/xvid is a deal-breaker.

[Keeper]

if they jailbreak it will that mean you will be able to install apps that CAN play Xvid?

I want to be able to load my own Movies, Music and PDF books onto it, bypassing the apple stores....can one do that?
if it can do that, and sells in SA for an acceptable price I will definitely buy one!

the fact that $99 iPhones sell for serious moolah here, means that $500 is gonna break the bank though... core is gonna murder us with the price!

[cerebus]

http://modmyi.com/forums/iphone-news/182421-vlc-iphone.html

[bwana]

I wouldn't mind taking a closer look at the iPad (gadget addiction drool in action :p), but not being able to play divx/xvid is a deal-breaker.I have an app installed on my iphone that lets you stream content from your PC to the handset in most video formats. It will also, at the push of a button, convert files to sync later.


if they jailbreak it will that mean you will be able to install apps that CAN play Xvid?

I want to be able to load my own Movies, Music and PDF books onto it, bypassing the apple stores....can one do that?
if it can do that, and sells in SA for an acceptable price I will definitely buy one!

the fact that $99 iPhones sell for serious moolah here, means that $500 is gonna break the bank though... core is gonna murder us with the price!you can already do that.

Remember that $99 iPhone is the old 3g model that is heavily subsidised by ATT. Its normally $499 for the 8gb model without that subsidy.

[cerebus]

I never use iTunes to get the content I put on the iTouch - ever. iTunes syncs whatever I convert over - but I use apps for reading all my books.

[PeterCH]

I believe its commonly called a crisis of faith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_of_faith). The whole Jobs, why has thou forsaken me thing.

You know, some of us who use Apple products, couldn't care less if Jobs remains at Apple or not.

I think what concerns me more is that we actually agree on something mac related. :eek: :)


Some people are so obsessed with trying to pigeon hole it into a preconceived idea of what it should have been that they're missing out what an elegant product it is

And some people genuinely like something because they find it useful, while others drink the Steve Jobs Kool-Aid, and rubbish other peoples' opinions. I think you should just run an "I love Steve Jobs" forum here, bwana because that opinion is the only opinion that counts.

[PeterCH]

I'm thinking that instead of replacing my MBP with a unibody, I'm going to get a 64GB iPad instead (maybe wait for the 2G version).
It covers basically everything I use my MBP for:

Web
Email
NetNewsWire
Calendar
Contacts
iTunes
Photos
iWork
Twitter
Skype
Facebook
Bloomberg
Bento
Remote
Delicious Library

Carrying something with the size, resolution and battery life of the iPad will make things a lot easier for me... not to mention the instant on ability.

You can only run 1 at a time though and no it boots slower than my netbook - at 15s.

[PeterCH]

I never use iTunes to get the content I put on the iTouch - ever. iTunes syncs whatever I convert over - but I use apps for reading all my books.

So you don't use iTunes but you use iTunes.

If it works for you -- great! But don't assume it works for everyone and that everyone likes it. Don't be a 6 year old and force your views on others. iTunes btw is one of the worst pieces of software ever written - honestly - I hardly use it. Back in 2003 I used a different app to drag/drop files and playlists to my iPod.

[BobJones]

I reckon I can live with that... I only really do one thing at a time anyway.

[PeterCH]

if they jailbreak it will that mean you will be able to install apps that CAN play Xvid?

Jailbreaking is not sanctioned by Apple.


I want to be able to load my own Movies, Music and PDF books onto it, bypassing the apple stores....can one do that?
if it can do that, and sells in SA for an acceptable price I will definitely buy one!

The magic of the iPad lies in that you can buy stuff from iTunes. In SA we get no iTunes Store. You can load other files - eg video - but you will have to convert your DIVX, H264, etc to the specific subtype of H.264 the 1GHz Apple processor and chipset is optimised to play.


the fact that $99 iPhones sell for serious moolah here, means that $500 is gonna break the bank though... core is gonna murder us with the price!

Judging by Core pricing, it should be R6-7K for the $500 device. Of course 32GB is very little for movies, which means, you will need 64GB at least and with 3G to enjoy full functionality. The built in 3G will however be made obsolete by the upcoming 21mbps 3G or whatever it will be called.

[PeterCH]

I reckon I can live with that... I only really do one thing at a time anyway.

Yes but that's an artificial limitation. On the iPhone with the tiny screen it makes more sense to run 1 app at a time. Here with that 9.7 inch screen you won't be able to have your IM session while browsing for example.

Now that's cool if you're happy by that, but you're being limited. Apple could have made a much better product by not having that limitation or priced a $1200 model which runs full OSX functionality. I'd have bought one for sure.

[cerebus]

So you don't use iTunes but you use iTunes.

If it works for you -- great! But don't assume it works for everyone and that everyone likes it. Don't be a 6 year old and force your views on others. iTunes btw is one of the worst pieces of software ever written - honestly - I hardly use it. Back in 2003 I used a different app to drag/drop files and playlists to my iPod.

I'm not forcing my views on anyone - why would you think that? You're allowed to not like it, but I'm not even sure what your point is. You seem to dislike it because it's purely a gadget when you wanted a full OS in a tablet - which is naive at best. The iPhone OS makes a LOT more sense from Apple's point of view and from the viewpoint of the end user who values simplicity over technical functionality. I'm not defending iTunes either, I only use it as to sync with. Otherwise I never have to use Apple's ecosystem despite getting full use out of my iTouch. That's what I'm getting at.

From my side, having OSX on a slate would be a nightmare - do I want to use Photoshop, Time Machine, Bootstrapper? OSX is designed as a full featured desktop/notebook OS. I suppose Apple could release a slate, or you could hackintosh one for yourself, but I think you'd find it cripplingly difficult to use with a multitouch tablet form factor. And I think the potential end market for it would be multiples less than the iPad - which Apple's ability to monetize doesn't seem to bother you as they should simply create devices to suit your checklists.

[BobJones]

Yes but that's an artificial limitation. On the iPhone with the tiny screen it makes more sense to run 1 app at a time. Here with that 9.7 inch screen you won't be able to have your IM session while browsing for example.
How so? You make multi-tasking sound like some inalienable right.

Now that's cool if you're happy by that, but you're being limited. Apple could have made a much better product by not having that limitation or priced a $1200 model which runs full OSX functionality. I'd have bought one for sure.
Why? because of IM? For $1200 ur in MacBook, MBP territory. Who says that sticking with the laptop paradigm really is better?

[PeterCH]

How so? You make multi-tasking sound like some inalienable right.

Because most people do it on their computers. They watch a video in the window while checking twitter or listening to music while watching an rss feed or using IM or some game or IRC or even opening the calculator to do some calculations. The h/w is capable and Apple has shown that they can program a great BSD/NeXT based OS - called OSX. Also $829 is not cheap for a limited device. For a full featured machine priced in Tablet form - it's great - even at $1200.


Why? because of IM? For $1200 ur in MacBook, MBP territory. Who says that sticking with the laptop paradigm really is better?

Don't multitask if you don't want, but don't be limited because someone says you should only buy content from him. Remember it was Jobs who said that the iPad is a netbook killer.

Also I never suggested they should charge $1200 for multitasking. I said that if they made full featured OSX machine in high res tablet form, it could easily sell for $1200 and they'd still make money on iTunes content and book subs. They could put multitasking on this thing and prolly will in Rev B.

[PeterCH]

I'm not forcing my views on anyone - why would you think that? You're allowed to not like it, but I'm not even sure what your point is. You seem to dislike it because it's purely a gadget when you wanted a full OS in a tablet - which is naive at best.

Why is it naive?


The iPhone OS makes a LOT more sense from Apple's point of view and from the viewpoint of the end user who values simplicity over technical functionality.

OSX is just as simple to use. Until now OSX has been punted as just that in Mac vs PC ads.


I'm not defending iTunes either, I only use it as to sync with. Otherwise I never have to use Apple's ecosystem despite getting full use out of my iTouch. That's what I'm getting at.

So you see Apple could have been nicer to you and allowed you an alternative.


From my side, having OSX on a slate would be a nightmare - do I want to use Photoshop, Time Machine, Bootstrapper? OSX is designed as a full featured desktop/notebook OS.

Let's not kid ourselves here. To really use PS you need a high end MBP or Mac Pro. You need lots of RAM and a fast GPU/CPU. However, to suggest that OSX is too complex is bizarre. It's easier to use than Windows and millions use Windows every day - most people who use PCs use Windows. We're also in 2010, we've had personal computers since the late 80s. We've had affordable PCs at home since the 90s.



I suppose Apple could release a slate, or you could hackintosh one for yourself, but I think you'd find it cripplingly difficult to use with a multitouch tablet form factor.

I have two main gripes. 1 is that as a Portable Media Player - the iPad could have been better by playing more open formats and having a better resolution screen with possibly an SD slot/USB port. The second gripe is that for $829 (3G and 64GB) that is almost as much as a Macbook and they could have made it a Tablet based Macbook - Macbooks have 8-10 hr battery lives already. It was Jobs himself who said that this will be a netbook killer.


And I think the potential end market for it would be multiples less than the iPad - which Apple's ability to monetize doesn't seem to bother you as they should simply create devices to suit your checklists.

Why should I be concerned about Apple's ability to monetize? I use a R45K Mac Pro. You could say that Apple is not making profits on these either - they need to R&D them and the h/w costs almost as much as from HP/Dell. They still churn these out.

I bolded your two statements which contradict each other.

[cerebus]

Sorry what contradicts what now? The second was my appraisal of your(rather petulant) views, not my own stance. From my viewpoint Apple should be allowed to go squarely after the profit within reason, and if it means alienating some fringe hardcore contingent it's their right as a conglomerate.

And we continually back and forth on this but I just have to reiterate that I don't want to use a Windows-based tablet and I certainly don't want to use an OSX based one either, and I would be willing to bet that I am in the majority in feeling so. I like iPhone OS, it has a brilliant already-existing app-store foundation so Apple doesn't have to splinter its marketplace, and it is designed around multitouch, not with multitouch as an experimental afterthought as it exists on OSX. Your view is naive precisely for these reasons. Apple would be out of their minds to use OSX - they would destroy their sales potential. OSX isn't too complex on a full notebook for business purpose, but as a media device yes it is far far too rich for most people's needs. Or should they have included OSX in the iPhone as well?



So you see Apple could have been nicer to you and allowed you an alternative.

They did - it's called the App Store.

[BobJones]

Funny how some posters can suck the life out of a thread!

[bwana]

The magic of the iPad lies in that you can buy stuff from iTunes. In SA we get no iTunes Store. You can load other files - eg video - but you will have to convert your DIVX, H264, etc to the specific subtype of H.264 the 1GHz Apple processor and chipset is optimised to play.
I'm not sure I would classify the iPad as magical myself but, as people who have used the iPhone or iPod Touch can attest to, loading the device with content from other sources is hardly a chore.

[cerebus]

Transcoding video is pretty commonplace - I have done it with every movie player I've owned. This is also a fairly petty issue.

[Synaesthesia]

Yeah but it's very time-consuming. Apple could be better WRT video file support.

[cerebus]

I suppose they could on one level - on the other hand it's nice to have iPhone's format universally accepted by pretty much every transcoder out there - format->iPhone/iTouch, bang off you go. VLC is being ported over as well for power users... http://www.zodttd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1994

[PeterCH]

I suppose they could on one level - on the other hand it's nice to have iPhone's format universally accepted by pretty much every transcoder out there - format->iPhone/iTouch, bang off you go. VLC is being ported over as well for power users... http://www.zodttd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1994

It takes long to transcode files and you need a computer. Besides why should you have to? Why can't the iPad be more open and play more formats if cheap players can? Well the reason is that Apple won't do it because it's in Apple's best interest to push iTunes purchased content rather than some video someone downloaded from the web (legally or not) or ripped themselves or made on their own camera.

As for VLC, it is not the best player for handling MKV files and secondly I wonder how well the Apple processor will handle software only decode - without chipset hardware acceleration - will battery life be also also good?

Hey if VLC works well and MKV, DV, other codecs work well I will be happy. Maybe I'll even buy an iPad or two myself (imported of course).

[PeterCH]

I'm not sure I would classify the iPad as magical myself but, as people who have used the iPhone or iPod Touch can attest to, loading the device with content from other sources is hardly a chore.

The allure of the iPad as typified in Steve Job's Keynote. You can get lots of content from Apple on a custom Apple device.

[bwana]

Yeah but it's very time-consuming. Apple could be better WRT video file support.
Not so time consuming. I press a button on my iphone, the file is added to the queue and less than 15 minutes later a 48min episode of whatever is converted. My hardware is pretty elderly so YMMV.

[PeterCH]

Not so time consuming. I press a button on my iphone, the file is added to the queue and less than 15 minutes later a 48min episode of whatever is converted. My hardware is pretty elderly so YMMV.

You must be running a new Mac Pro because my Mac Pro takes quite a while.

[bwana]

You must be running a new Mac Pro because my Mac Pro takes quite a while.No - desktop mac's are a waste of time for me.

The test I did this afternoon was on a 3yr old MBP. I'm running the same test now (and my apologies it was a 43 min episode and not 48 as I stated earlier) on an even older 1.6ghz core duo mini and it's a 20 minute exercise.

[BobJones]

Great find by Gruber and a great read for these power users that just don't "get" the iPad. (http://northtemple.com/2010/02/01/on-ipads-grandmas-and-gam):D

[cerebus]

I don't know many open codec handheld devices. Everything I've owned has required some kind of fairly prescriptive transcoding to play video if only because of the multitude of resolutions on the marketplace. If a user can drag a video file into iTunes (for instance) and have it encode on the fly invisibly to one standard format, I would hazard a guess that this would be exactly what the majority of users, myself included, would be content with. I foresee alternative video players on the same device allowing the freedom for open codecs like divx but from Apple's pov it's far more intuitive to make their inbuilt video player single standard.

[PeterCH]

I don't know many open codec handheld devices. Everything I've owned has required some kind of fairly prescriptive transcoding to play video if only because of the multitude of resolutions on the marketplace. If a user can drag a video file into iTunes (for instance) and have it encode on the fly invisibly to one standard format, I would hazard a guess that this would be exactly what the majority of users, myself included, would be content with. I foresee alternative video players on the same device allowing the freedom for open codecs like divx but from Apple's pov it's far more intuitive to make their inbuilt video player single standard.

I own the 640x480 Creative Zen Vision 64GB - it can play all DivX, xVid, MP4, MP2, etc content without transcoding. Max res of 640x480 - however it is a 3-4 yr old device. My current Cowon A3 (2 yr old device) with
16.7 mil colour (not TN based but PVA or IPS based LCD) at 800 x 480 can play H.264 (higher profiles than iPod), DivX, xViD, MP4, MP2, MJPEG, etc at up to 720p (1280x720). It definately outputs 720p via component too. It has 80GB storage. Plays MKV, AVI, OGG, MP4 etc containers. Subtitle support.

The newer Archos players play even more formats.

So no, I didn't have to transcode stuff.

Apple just wants to push iTunes, that's all. You can get DivX, XVid, x264, etc encoders for the Mac, you can produce content, just not use Apple Apps to do it.

[cerebus]

The Zen Vision can handle that amount of formats? Odd I couldn't do more than basic AVI on the Zen. And it still needed transcoding to fit to the resolution size. But yeah...other vendors have always offered more flexibility than Apple even with the iPod vs everyone story - that's why I always went with everyone else - Apple always seemed too restrictive. But with the iTouch in the end it turns out the restrictions really don't matter all that much. The Cowons and Archos's are great and all but they are niche players for a reason. There will be tablets that will offer far more flexibility than the iPad - there already are in the works: check out the Notion Adam (pixelqi ftw) - I may even prefer one of those to the iPad. But you're missing what the iPad represents to the average user - who simply doesn't give a flying monkey's about codec wrappers. Apple isn't just being restrictive, they're aggressively simplifying the end experience. Drag, drop, play - transcode behind the surface if necessary.

[PeterCH]

The Zen Vision can handle that amount of formats? Odd I couldn't do more than basic AVI on the Zen.


It maxes out at 640 x 480 but four years ago, that was the best there was in terms of video resolution. 720p video only started coming fashionable about 2 yrs back.


And it still needed transcoding to fit to the resolution size. But yeah...other vendors have always offered more flexibility than Apple even with the iPod vs everyone story - that's why I always went with everyone else - Apple always seemed too restrictive. But with the iTouch in the end it turns out the restrictions really don't matter all that much. The Cowons and Archos's are great and all but they are niche players for a reason.

Have you tried to purchase an A3 at Makro or Musica? I got mine from B&H Photo Video NYC.


There will be tablets that will offer far more flexibility than the iPad - there already are in the works: check out the Notion Adam (pixelqi ftw) - I may even prefer one of those to the iPad.

Those screens are great for daylight viewing.


But you're missing what the iPad represents to the average user - who simply doesn't give a flying monkey's about codec wrappers.

ONLY if he buys his video from Apple or has an iMac and converts all his cam footage to Apple iPod MOV. If he buys from other sites, uses other formats, etc - he will need to transcode. So all your Crunchyroll and Hulu videos, need that too.



Apple isn't just being restrictive, they're aggressively simplifying the end experience. Drag, drop, play - transcode behind the surface if necessary.

I don't think so. For one iTunes does not natively handle MKV and AVI containers. You'll need to transcode with 3rd party apps - on a Mac/PC.

The iPod is great because it is so easy to use and so ubiquitous but the video support on it sucks. In the US (UK, Japan, etc) they have the iTunes Store and can buy videos, TV series, music directly - we can only rip CDs. Apple doesn't even officially let you rip DVDs.

My point is that because the iPad is so dependent on the iTunes Store which we don't have, it is not the magical device Jobs makes it out to be. A more general player/computer is more worthwhile for users w/o iTunes shop access.

[bwana]

Apple doesn't even officially let you rip DVDs.Why would they intentionally violate the DMCA? :confused:

[cerebus]

Have you tried to purchase an A3 at Makro or Musica? I got mine from B&H Photo Video NYC.

Well what's your point? They're niche devices therefore you can't buy them at Musica? I have no problem finding Sansa players in shops here and I can find Cowons and Archos's online.


Those screens are great for daylight viewing.
Very promising, I had hopes Jobs would use this technology in iPad.



ONLY if he buys his video from Apple or has an iMac and converts all his cam footage to Apple iPod MOV. If he buys from other sites, uses other formats, etc - he will need to transcode. So all your Crunchyroll and Hulu videos, need that too.

I don't think so. For one iTunes does not natively handle MKV and AVI containers. You'll need to transcode with 3rd party apps - on a Mac/PC.

The iPod is great because it is so easy to use and so ubiquitous but the video support on it sucks. In the US (UK, Japan, etc) they have the iTunes Store and can buy videos, TV series, music directly - we can only rip CDs. Apple doesn't even officially let you rip DVDs.

Ok Apple could do more on the video side I agree with you. I don't find it particularly onerous to transcode over to iTouch because every application supports it as a single button - Handbrake, Espresso et al. But it may be that the average user does, and it's a step removed from drag-drop. They have such a philosophy of strict control that I don't see them opening it up but I do foresee other developers moving to fill up the field in their absence.


My point is that because the iPad is so dependent on the iTunes Store which we don't have, it is not the magical device Jobs makes it out to be. A more general player/computer is more worthwhile for users w/o iTunes shop access.

The magic of iPad is its ability to overhaul personal computing. iTunes store access is something that would be available for a majority of its Euro-US-Asian buyers (we are very much a fringe market). It is not that much of a big deal. And while there will be imitative tablet devices and iPad's execution lacks a number of elements esp to fundis, Apple's vision here is extraordinary.

[zippy]

Yeah but it's very time-consuming. Apple could be better WRT video file support.

Maybe this has been discussed before, but why isnt the iTunes Store available in SA ?

Anyway, why would Apple do this for the relatively small number in SA ? Doesnt make business sense to them, I would guess. And they arent a charity :D

[PeterCH]

Maybe this has been discussed before, but why isnt the iTunes Store available in SA ?

The same reason it's not available in Brazil, Greece, Russia etc.


Anyway, why would Apple do this for the relatively small number in SA ? Doesnt make business sense to them, I would guess. And they arent a charity :D

What a bizarre thing to say. To be a charity Apple would have to be giving stuff for free, not selling at a profit. By the way, the iTunes store is only available in a select small number of countries and each store is different and sells different music.

[PeterCH]

Well what's your point? They're niche devices therefore you can't buy them at Musica? I have no problem finding Sansa players in shops here and I can find Cowons and Archos's online.

Apple iPods are ubiquitous. They're easy to find and get. Sure you can get Sansa but it's not much better than an iPod or maybe even worse. And why should you say they are niche devices?


Very promising, I had hopes Jobs would use this technology in iPad.





Ok Apple could do more on the video side I agree with you. I don't find it particularly onerous to transcode over to iTouch because every application supports it as a single button - Handbrake, Espresso et al. But it may be that the average user does, and it's a step removed from drag-drop. They have such a philosophy of strict control that I don't see them opening it up but I do foresee other developers moving to fill up the field in their absence.


It's not about strict control. OSX is able to run Handbrake and other programs. It's that they have a conflict of interest. They would prefer to not make it easy or convenient to use other media. That's one of the reasons why I don't like the iPad in its present form while I like OSX and Mac computers. Apple allows you to install 3rd party drives (I plonked an Intel X25M and have Hitachi, Samsung, WD drives in my Mac Pro -- not one is Apple branded), memory, PCI-EX cards, printers, scanners, mice, keyboards, monitors, modems, change CPUs, graphic cards, etc. Secondly if you don't like Apple softs, you can buy from Adobe or Intuit or Microsoft or Roxio etc. There's also lots of free ware, OSS and some good shareware. However Apple still has control over other aspects.



The magic of iPad is its ability to overhaul personal computing.

The iPad is not a fully fledged computer. It can do the basics, but even now it can't multitask. It can't do more complicated things. It has a weak CPU etc. If it had the power of a Macbook (pro) it would then be overhauling personal computing.

i
Tunes store access is something that would be available for a majority of its Euro-US-Asian buyers (we are very much a fringe market). It is not that much of a big deal. And while there will be imitative tablet devices and iPad's execution lacks a number of elements esp to fundis, Apple's vision here is extraordinary

I think in Asia you only find iTunes Japan and iTunes Hong Kong. You don't get iTunes Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, etc.

Why do you say Apple's vision is extraordinary? Apple is not the first to make a music/etc download store for physical devices. There is nothing extraordinary about it.

[Synaesthesia]

No, the A4 is fast, and it makes possible such a small thin device with 10 hours battery. That would have not been possible with Core 2 Duo, or even Atom. I've got OS X running on Atom, it's not so great.

Obviously this thing is not gonna replace your Mac, you can't encode video and perform very complex tasks with it. But you perform simple tasks, on the go. And iPhone OS is perfect for the form factor. Another important factor in the iPad is it's got a very successful App Store, huge developer support. Basically the thing which will make iPad a huge success is the Apps. There's so much potential with this hardware, it's got really fast 3d graphics, a high quality screen ...

Oh, and it does multitask. The iPhone multitasks, although only the Apple Core apps. This makes sense as memory and battery are limited. With the iPad I predict they will enable multitasking with 4.0 like they did with Copy/Paste in 3.0.

[cerebus]

You're defining personal computing according to your very technical requirements - which is the classical view of personal computing. The overhauling of that paradigm is in taking it from a power-user focus to an anti-technical userbase. You can only see it in terms of how it underperforms relative to a Macbook Pro - even as a standalone you would only really want it to play movies on, in which case something like JooJoo would be more tailored to you. The iPad is focused very strongly on attracting non-core users, of which there are multitudes. I suspect that is the extent of Apple's vision, and from that perspective it is extraordinary (not itunes lol). We'll see if they succeed though.

[Shardie]

Maybe this has been discussed before, but why isnt the iTunes Store available in SA ?

Anyway, why would Apple do this for the relatively small number in SA ? Doesnt make business sense to them, I would guess. And they arent a charity :D

These guys sell itunes gift vouchers... http://megagraphix.co.za/store/mac/mac-accessories/itunes-gift-cards.html

[PeterCH]

No, the A4 is fast, and it makes possible such a small thin device with 10 hours battery. That would have not been possible with Core 2 Duo, or even Atom. I've got OS X running on Atom, it's not so great.

Current Macbook Pros can get up to 10 hr battery life - those use a hard drive, a larger screen and a mobo with a fan. The ARM processors are fast but they don't run x86 code like Atom or Intel C2D/i3 etc.
Intel CULV processors - C2D are faster than ARM.


Obviously this thing is not gonna replace your Mac, you can't encode video and perform very complex tasks with it. But you perform simple tasks, on the go. And iPhone OS is perfect for the form factor. Another important factor in the iPad is it's got a very successful App Store, huge developer support. Basically the thing which will make iPad a huge success is the Apps. There's so much potential with this hardware, it's got really fast 3d graphics, a high quality screen ...

The screen isn't very good quality - it is low res and it is poor in daylight. Secondly the A4 can run code optimsed for it, I don't know how well this thing would tackle H264 out of spec (eg different profile) or other video codecs. A4 etc are processors which are optimised for very few specific tasks. However you're locked into those few tasks.


Oh, and it does multitask. The iPhone multitasks, although only the Apple Core apps. This makes sense as memory and battery are limited. With the iPad I predict they will enable multitasking with 4.0 like they did with Copy/Paste in 3.0.

Well it doesn't multitask. It doesn't even multitask like Windows 3.0 did.

[PeterCH]

These guys sell itunes gift vouchers... http://megagraphix.co.za/store/mac/mac-accessories/itunes-gift-cards.html

It is unofficial and not sanctioned by Apple. You need to use various tricks to buy on iTunes using those and if Apple found out, they'd cancel your voucher.

You contradict yourself. On the one hand you like the iPad because it is so easy and convenient on the other hand to be functional you need to play tricks and buy vouchers Apple could cancel at any time with no recourse on your part - hardly easy.

[bwana]

Current Macbook Pros can get up to 10 hr battery life - those use a hard drive, a larger screen and a mobo with a fan. The ARM processors are fast but they don't run x86 code like Atom or Intel C2D/i3 etc.
Intel CULV processors - C2D are faster than ARM.
Thats quite a bit longer than even Apple claims and they're usually pretty accurate with their estimates.

[cerebus]

http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=3580&p=1

the $2499 17" model goes to 8hrs.

[PeterCH]

Thats quite a bit longer than even Apple claims and they're usually pretty accurate with their estimates.

Ok it's 8 hours - but using a faster CPU, using a HDD, using a larger screen with fan. If you scaled it all down, you would probably have 10hr on a C2D 1.4GHz with 160GB SSD etc.

Panasonic Long Run batteries power 2.53 GHz Toughbooks for up to 16hrs. This is Panasonic which does laptops for the US military and the CIA.

[cerebus]

Ugh you cannot compare a $2500 machine to a $500 one. 10 hours is very good performance.

[PeterCH]

Ugh you cannot compare a $2500 machine to a $500 one. 10 hours is very good performance.

Cerebus, I'm not sure why you said that.

Synaesthesia mentioned that Apple wouldn't be able to make a general, table form computer in the shape and form of the iPad and make it last 10 hrs. Look back a few posts.

I then responded that the Apple MacBook Pros already do a good 8hrs. These machines have non-ULV 2.53 and up GHz C2D processors, fans, HDDs, bigger screens and so on --all components which suck more power. They cost more, because such a CPU, mobo, screen etc all cost more and Apple probably enjoys a higher profit margin on its pro hardware vs the basic entry level consumer h/w - the way that MB makes more profit on a CLK500 vs an A180.

However, the energy supply possibilities are there - it would be possible for Apple to take a C2D ULV processor or an i3, pair it up with an NVIDIA chipset, an SSD and higher res screen and come up with a 10h iPad Mac OSX machine which would run everything. Perhaps it would be a bit more expensive but when you look at the 3G iPad with 64GB of flash for $829 you see that that is already a lot of money for a TOY (mobile internet device with limited usage - and not a general computer -and dependence of apps Apple approves from both techincal, corporate and moral POVs). The $499 iPad is a joke - no 3G, 16GB of storage (for 720p content that is very little, especially without a way to plug in a MicroSD card).

As for classical computing - I don't know what you mean. The multi-touch on-screen technology developed for the iPhone could be used in Mac OSX machines. It would give you gorilla arm to use it vertically (as current laptops have angled vertical screens) - it makes more sense to do it on the table or on your lap or while standing - all locations where tablet PCs could be used easily and where notebooks are cumbersome for multitouch.

There are companies which convert Macbook (pros) into tablets right now - however these are still the same old HEAVY Macbook Pros. Instead a 700g tablet with a high res screen, general use CPU, gpu core, SSD for at least 160GB and 3G etc
would be something really worthwhile to take along. You could still do everything the iPad does, but you could do more.

That's my take. I like Apple h/w - their computers and haven't been inspired by their gadgets. The iPod was great in the day but better players have come out. To draw a car analogy - you can buy an expensive Mercedes Benz where you must pay extra for leather, extra for retractable mirrors, etc or you could buy a cheaper Luxury Lexus or BMW where these things are included as standard. Apple chooses to be the MB here except sadly they don't even offer these as upgrades. Which means that if I want leather, I can't buy MB - if MB did not offer it and I would really want it.

[cerebus]

Ok I get your take on it - but your analogy isn't so great. The cheaper iPad isn't luxury priced for what it offers - not by any stretch. The JooJoo Crunchpad costs $500 and offers 4gb ssd storage. The iPhone with 4gb debuted at $500+ onerous AT&T contract. You can't see the iPad except in the rather myopic perspective of what it lacks for you - but perversely you'd pay $400 on top of the highest listed price if they'd only throw in additional luxury add-ons such as full OS+dual core cpu - putting it WAY out of the league of the average consumer.

You consider it a toy but in actuality it provides a solid alternative to the great majority of things that most people use their PC's solely to do. So I can't help it if you're blinkered by tech-snobbery but it's far from a toy.