Support NeoGAF

[Haunted]

:lol

 

[shantyman]

:lol

Yes, thank you altruistic apple overlords, your refusal to allow anyone to do anything that might circumvent your control over software distribution is a truly a just and noble act for which we are all very grateful.

Actually, they want control of their platform, not just distribution. Which is what they should want.

 

[DECK'ARD]

It does just enough to find an audience I think, and it does look a lot nicer than I thought it would. No real urge to bite yet though, although I have a feeling that could change after playing with one in person ...

It would have seemed a more compelling and capable a device with a front-facing camera though, annoying they left that off.

Now the wait for iPhone OS4.0. One good thing about them being so similar is they should atleast be updated at the same time. If the leaks are true then it wouldn't just add multitasking, but the UI gets a new look as well. Now that would be interesting so soon after this come out!

 

[ThatObviousUser]

- It doesn't run flash for a reason. The web is moving to HTML5, and with YouTube making the jump, it'll probably be sooner than later.

It doesn't run Flash, but that's definitely not the reason.

 

[jts]

:lol at people defending the lack of flash support, flash "might" be going away, but it's certainly not happening anytime soon.

This is a lazy effort plain and simple.

How lazy is it really to not allow Adobe to design a flash plug-in for mobile Safari?

It would represent near 0 work for Apple.

So no, it's not about being lazy. It's about wanting Adobe's flash to GTFO.

Also, it will go away faster as more devices don't support it, so if it's not happening anytime soon, it would happen even later if iPhone OS started supporting it.

 

[Complex Shadow]

Posted in different thread but then didn't see it here:

Steve Jobs Introduces new iPad

:lol :lol :lol :lol thats the first thing i thought of when i saw the ipad!! =P

 

[neorej]

So it doesn't support Flash, but does it support Silverlight?

 

[shantyman]

So it doesn't support Flash, but does it support Silverlight?

no.

 

[jts]

No I don't, I never said I wanted. In fact, I said: if it's not a phone and it's not a laptop then what is it?

In which someone replied:

"You can VOIP"

and I said:

"That's not a phone"



simple as that.

No. I replied that you can VOIP with it when you said that you couldn't phone with it - as in, making a telephone call.

 

[SnakeXs]

So it doesn't support Flash, but does it support Silverlight?

No, but it's being worked on.

 

[Complex Shadow]

no.

then what dose it support ??

 

[jts]

then what dose it support ??

Web standards.

 

[Complex Shadow]

Web standards.

WHAT NOT WAY!!@!@ OMG THATS ORGASMIC!

 

[ToxicAdam]

This device is just weird. Sure, I'm not the biggest Apple fan, so I expected to not be impressed but the tablet. But really, I just don't understand the target audience that would but this, what gap does this super-sized iPhone is intended to fill?

I think people are sleeping on the fact that the Ipod Touch is an amazing "hands on" product. It's something you don't think you would need or want, until you pick one up and start playing with it for a few minutes. Then it's pretty easy to imagine yourself using it on a daily basis. Recent sales show how popular this product is once more people became acquainted with it (a lower price point helped too)

I think the same thing will happen with this product. The challenge for Apple is to get this product in the hands of people who may buy it. People who think of a hand-held device as too small for their computing needs, but still want a very easy UI for their portable device. I think it can be a success, but it will be a slow grower. It's not like the Iphone or Ipod where you will see it out and about in everyones hand the first few months of release. Word of mouth will be a lot slower for this one.

 

[jts]

WHAT NOT WAY!!@!@ OMG THATS ORGASMIC!

It shouldn't be, but it really is, seeing how even the most used web browser in the world doesn't support them properly.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I think people are sleeping on the fact that the Ipod Touch is an amazing "hands on" product. It's something you don't think you would need or want, until you pick one up and start playing with it for a few minutes. Then it's pretty easy to imagine yourself using it on a daily basis. Recent sales show how popular this product is once more people became acquainted with it (a lower price point helped too)

I think the same thing will happen with this product. The challenge for Apple is to get this product in the hands of people who may buy it. People who think of a hand-held device as too small for their computing needs, but still want a very easy UI for their portable device. I think it can be a success, but it will be a slow grower. It's not like the Iphone or Ipod where you will see it out and about in everyones hand the first few months of release. Word of mouth will be a lot slower for this one.

I agree, but the only problem with that plan is the tablet market is much more crowded than the cool hand-held market was when the Touch and iPhone launched. Especially with all of the coolness seen at CES, and also netbooks thrown into the mix. And even possibly a MS Courier announcement before the iPad ships (they would be smart to).

 

[SnakeXs]

I think people are sleeping on the fact that the Ipod Touch is an amazing "hands on" product. It's something you don't think you would need or want, until you pick one up and start playing with it for a few minutes. Then it's pretty easy to imagine yourself using it on a daily basis. Recent sales show how popular this product is once more people became acquainted with it (a lower price point helped too)

I think the same thing will happen with this product. The challenge for Apple is to get this product in the hands of people who may buy it. People who think of a hand-held device as too small for their computing needs, but still want a very easy UI for their portable device. I think it can be a success, but it will be a slow grower. It's not like the Iphone or Ipod where you will see it out and about in everyones hand the first few months of release. Word of mouth will be a lot slower for this one.

Bingo. The gap in reaction from people who merely read about it, and who've seen it in motion is big enough, and I take it the gap when you hold one will be even bigger. Will that convince people who are dead set on netbooks and who can't accept the concessions, no, but I definitely feel it's going to get more impressive with time.

 

[kaching]

This is the question I've been positing for a while, and aside from streaming music and instant messaging, or some obscure little program they need Windows for, I haven't heard a single solid reply. Just NETBOOKS = MORE FOR LESS and little more. And Flash, but that one is blown entirely out of proportion, if you ask me. Youtube is what most people really care about, and it's covered.

And this is all before the launch, the possibilities of 4.0, and one thing I've also brought up a bunch of times to no avail, the App Store. At the end of the day its core functionality could very well deliver, but Apps are going to make it shine.

If you're satisfied with the value proposition of the iPad on its own merits, you shouldn't need to engage in this much downplay of the competition's merits. A netbook is "just" more for less, like that alone isn't a significant factor to a lot of people? Windows programs are "obscure" now? What about some basic onboard connectivity options like a USB port or two, and a built-in flash card reader rather than another inelegant dongle? Multitasking?

You're adhering to Steve's playbook well, I'll give you that. Crystallize the threat as the netbook, play to notion that netbooks aren't really good at anything and ra ra ra iPad! But the thing is the competition isn't sticking to just conventional netbooks, they're doing a variety of very intriguing things in this area of secondary/supplementary computing devices. Apple just didn't do enough with the iPad to put it far enough ahead of the competitive curve like it did with the iPhone where it gave itself a comfortable 1-2 yr lead on the competition in some key areas. The iPhone took other smartphones to school with its intuitive, multitouch interface, fully standard web browsing experience and then followed that up with introduction of the App Store which had no equivalent in the smartphone space at the time.

What is the big competitive advantage that the iPad would command over its direct competitors, that it would hold for a year or more like the iPhone did over its smartphone comp?

 

[ToxicAdam]

What is the big competitive advantage that the iPad would command over its direct competitors, that it would hold for a year or more like the iPhone did over its smartphone comp?

That's why it's success will be determined by it's marketing, not the overwhelming merits of the product itself. If they can make this the ubiquitous choice for people who are not computer saavy, it can be a huge seller. But that's a large chasm to cross.

I just don't see the "gadget guys" lining up for this. They will play the wait and see approach.

 

[dude]

I think people are sleeping on the fact that the Ipod Touch is an amazing "hands on" product. It's something you don't think you would need or want, until you pick one up and start playing with it for a few minutes. Then it's pretty easy to imagine yourself using it on a daily basis. Recent sales show how popular this product is once more people became acquainted with it (a lower price point helped too)

I think the same thing will happen with this product. The challenge for Apple is to get this product in the hands of people who may buy it. People who think of a hand-held device as too small for their computing needs, but still want a very easy UI for their portable device. I think it can be a success, but it will be a slow grower. It's not like the Iphone or Ipod where you will see it out and about in everyones hand the first few months of release. Word of mouth will be a lot slower for this one.

I played with the iPod touch and iPhone and wasn't all that impressed. It was cool to play around with, sure, but I wouldn't spend money on that thing.
This looks like it'll be too closed and limiting to replace a netbook. The only people I can see being content with this as a netbook replacement are people who spend very little time on a computer, and only want the option to quickly check google once in a while. It wouldn't be a very good E-Reader, either. Battery life (and possibly the screen) will make it a little useless, not to mention you could get a e-Ink device for cheaper. If we agree this can't compete with the netbook, then I fail to see the gap between the phone and netbook this is going to try and fill, I don't think people really want another device to walk around with.
I guess their strategy is to target the crowd that doesn't care all that much about tech and just wants a device for a quick and easy access to the internet on the go. For those people this may be a sufficient netbook replacement, but I still doubt it. People can get netbooks for a similar price with a lot more functionality. Also, they can get most basic network functionality on their phone.

 

[ChoklitReign]

I can't believe there are people here who are dissatisfied with netbooks but are perfectly fine with an iPad. The cult of Mac grows.

 

[SmokyDave]

I can't believe there are people here who are dissatisfied with netbooks but are perfectly fine with an iPad. The cult of Mac grows.

Whaaaaat? I'm a PC man, always have been. Never owned a Mac, never used a Mac. I bought an Ipod Touch after using one and thoroughly preferring it to my Creative Zen. After using the ITouch for a while I found myself wishing for one with a much bigger screen for casual browsing. Here it is. I don't want or need a netbook because anything apart from browsing and maybe casual gaming I'd much rather do on my beastly, high spec (Windows) laptop.

Where did 'The Cult Of Mac' fit in? Did they get me while I slept? Or is it that people make products that aren't aimed at you and you don't understand that?

 

[rezuth]

I can't believe there are people here who are dissatisfied with netbooks but are perfectly fine with an iPad. The cult of Mac grows.

So its really that unbelievable that people could be dissatisfied with the form factor and software of a netbook?

 

[Vennt]

A netbook is just entirely the wrong form factor for me, I'd consider another tablet but it would have to be silent (no fans whatsoever), as light as the iPad (1.5lbs) and offer similar battery performance.

I was really interested in the CrunchPad, the Notion Ink Adam and similar, but so far the Android interface on the Adam just looks ugly as sin, the CrunchPad is dead, and for me having iPhone app compatibility outweighs things in favour of the iPad.

Being told a Netbook is "better for me", when honestly, it just isn't, irks me somewhat, If a netbook filled the gap, I'd own an ION based one already.

I can't believe there are people here who are dissatisfied with netbooks but are perfectly fine with an iPad. The cult of Mac grows.

You better give me 10 good reasons for me not to ban you, you have 5 minutes to comply.

 

[SnakeXs]

If you're satisfied with the value proposition of the iPad on its own merits, you shouldn't need to engage in this much downplay of the competition's merits. A netbook is "just" more for less, like that alone isn't a significant factor to a lot of people? Windows programs are "obscure" now? What about some basic onboard connectivity options like a USB port or two, and a built-in flash card reader rather than another inelegant dongle? Multitasking?

I've said there's concessions. Some big, some small, some niche. If you can't make those concessions or simply don't care about ease of use, hey the iPad's not for you. I just haven't heard any convincing arguments for netbooks for the mass public. It does what many people spend most of their time doing, and it does it in a more elegant (to stay away from the term "better") manner. That's what it wants to do, nothing more.

You're adhering to Steve's playbook well, I'll give you that. Crystallize the threat as the netbook, play to notion that netbooks aren't really good at anything and ra ra ra iPad! But the thing is the competition isn't sticking to just conventional netbooks, they're doing a variety of very intriguing things in this area of secondary/supplementary computing devices. Apple just didn't do enough with the iPad to put it far enough ahead of the competitive curve like it did with the iPhone where it gave itself a comfortable 1-2 yr lead on the competition in some key areas. The iPhone took other smartphones to school with its intuitive, multitouch interface, fully standard web browsing experience and then followed that up with introduction of the App Store which had no equivalent in the smartphone space at the time.[/quote]

I'm not disagreeing, but I also see this is not going after netbooks so much as being a lateral move. If you've followed me at all you'd know I don't plan on getting one, unless a few things change, and in many ways it was a let down. I have, however, warmed to it immensely after seeing it in motion more, and seeing the Apps possibilities. It's an App delivery platform, period, and the sky's the limit for what can be done on it.
As for being ahead of the curve, that's debatable if only because the netbook curve is stagnant. iPhone tech in barely 3 years old, and is still a leader in ease of use and consumer happiness. Expecting Apple to throw it all away was kind of hoping for a bit much. And your iPhone connection applies to the iPad. The iPad does things more elegantly than netbooks, just like the iPhone with smartphones, and just like now people complained about the iPhone being limited and whatnot.

What is the big competitive advantage that the iPad would command over its direct competitors, that it would hold for a year or more like the iPhone did over its smartphone comp?

What was the big competitive advantage iPod had? Or iPhone? Not that I'm expecting this to be those levels of success, I'm just saying.

UI, ease of use, UI, App Store, battery life, great hardware. That said, who is it competing with? It's not taking on netbooks. It CAN replace netbooks for some, but Apple didn't release this thing to target a tiny, tiny market like netbooks. I see it as altering web consumption.

Beyond that it's easy to not take a step back and look at everything it does and see the sum of all the parts. Yes mobile Safari looks like iPhone but bigger, yes eBooks are better on an eReader, yes games are "better" on PSP/DS, and yes I could make connections to every single thing iPad does, but it does them all.

 

[Mr. Dobalina]

Whaaaaat? I'm a PC man, always have been. Never owned a Mac, never used a Mac. I bought an Ipod Touch after using one and thoroughly preferring it to my Creative Zen. After using the ITouch for a while I found myself wishing for one with a much bigger screen for casual browsing. Here it is. I don't want or need a netbook because anything apart from browsing and maybe casual gaming I'd much rather do on my beastly, high spec (Windows) laptop.

Where did 'The Cult Of Mac' fit in? Did they get me while I slept? Or is it that people make products that aren't aimed at you and you don't understand that?

Same here (althought I have a 27" iMac :lol )

I think the thing most "preferring" a netbook are refusing to look at is what they are actually using a netbook for. For everyone I know that has a netbook, they use it to take on the go to browse the internet, get email, and maybe do some word processing. If you need to write War and Peace, yeah, the on screen keyboard isn't going to cut it. If you're just typing up a quick email here and there, and the bulk of your time is surfing the net, reading books, etc. I can't see how someone can argue that the iPad isn't vastly superior.

My only question is, if you ARE creating some documents, how do you get them off/on to the device?

 

[Starchasing]

I guess their strategy is to target the crowd that doesn't care all that much about tech and just wants a device for a quick and easy access to the internet.

you mean the majority of people out there?

Those are the same that made Wii so wildly popular, those who dont care about tech and just want a device for a quick and easy to access game...

 

[Fuzz Rez]

I'm finally on board with this. Only thing that's bothers me is lack of USB port but I guess I'll get over it with time.

you mean the majority of people out there?

Those are the same that made Wii so wildly popular, those who dont care about tech and just want a device for a quick and easy to access game...

Not really. Wii was cheap when it came out and it actually had games for casual players.

 

[Dragon]

you mean the majority of people out there?

Those are the same that made Wii so wildly popular, those who dont care about tech and just want a device for a quick and easy to access game...

There are also a lot more people available to pay 250 dollars rather than 500 for a gimped version of this unit.

I kinda wish Apple had done a better version of the Touch Book. http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/home/index.htm

 

[Starchasing]

There are also a lot more people available to pay 250 dollars rather than 500 for a gimped version of this unit.

I kinda wish Apple had done a better version of the Touch Book. http://www.alwaysinnovating.com/home/index.htm

where you see gimped most people see easyness of use.

where you see lack of options most people see easyness of use.

same goes for multitasking

My only question is, if you ARE creating some documents, how do you get them off/on to the device?

File Sharing. A shared file directory is provided that will mount on your Mac or PC. This is presumably how files such as iWork documents will be transferred to and from the iPad. iPad applications will be able to access this shared directory.

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/27...-display-file-sharing-system-no-multitasking/

 

[dude]

you mean the majority of people out there?

Those are the same that made Wii so wildly popular, those who dont care about tech and just want a device for a quick and easy to access game...

Yeah, but as I said. Most of this people will probably buy a EEE for cheaper (and get a full OS), or they wouldn't care enough about the extra stuff and stick to their iPhones.
But I don't think this is comparable to the Wii.

 

[SnakeXs]

Same here (althought I have a 27" iMac :lol )

I think the thing most "preferring" a netbook are refusing to look at is what they are actually using a netbook for. For everyone I know that has a netbook, they use it to take on the go to browse the internet, get email, and maybe do some word processing. If you need to write War and Peace, yeah, the on screen keyboard isn't going to cut it. If you're just typing up a quick email here and there, and the bulk of your time is surfing the net, reading books, etc. I can't see how someone can argue that the iPad isn't vastly superior.

My only question is, if you ARE creating some documents, how do you get them off/on to the device?

It creates a directory you have access to when you connect to a master computer. I'm sure you'll be able to email/access them through the OS similar to how you access pictures and videos now, though.

 

[kaching]

That's why it's success will be determined by it's marketing, not the overwhelming merits of the product itself. If they can make this the ubiquitous choice for people who are not computer saavy, it can be a huge seller. But that's a large chasm to cross.

Absolutely agree. I'm not saying the iPad can't lead the market for this kind of device, but it really will come down to marketing. Certainly the iPhone tie-in will help too.

 

[Sqrt_minus_one]

You better give me 10 good reasons for me not to ban you, you have 5 minutes to comply.

Over reaction???

 

[Vennt]

Over reaction???

No, this may be though, someone didn't know what a Nazi I can be, obviously, daft move.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

I can't for the life of me figure out why people want to keep supporting Flash. It's poor from a system resources point of view, it's proprietary (so is h.264, so Apple's not exactly turning this into an advantage), and the biggest video sharing service on the Internet, YouTube, wants to and has started to phase it out (as has the highest-quality video sharing service, Vimeo).

Why do you feel the need to prop this crappy plug-in up? Shouldn't we be done with plug-ins et al?

 

[Mr. Dobalina]

UI, ease of use, UI, App Store, battery life, great hardware. That said, who is it competing with? It's not taking on netbooks. It CAN replace netbooks for some, but Apple didn't release this thing to target a tiny, tiny market like netbooks. I see it as altering web consumption.

Beyond that it's easy to not take a step back and look at everything it does and see the sum of all the parts. Yes mobile Safari looks like iPhone but bigger, yes eBooks are better on an eReader, yes games are "better" on PSP/DS, and yes I could make connections to every single thing iPad does, but it does them all.

It's really carving a new niche and I view it more as an appliance than a computer.

Apple, while they make computers and nice software, is really in the content delivery business now. Sure, they make a nice profit on their hardware, but their content delivery - first off music, then movies and TV shows and now books is where their growth is coming from - and it's almost 100% profit for them.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

As a netbook owner, I absolutely see the appeal of the iPad. As I've said before in this thread, I'll be getting rid of my netbook for one of these. I don't have anything against netbooks, but they are not the amazing devices that some would lead you to believe, but I like the fact that the iPad will do everything that I need (note, I said that I need) and offer an e-book reader, which I was looking for, as well as a great interface and access to all of my media on the go. It's a great solution for myself personally, and I can see why others would prefer something else. But why waste your time in this thread going on ad nauseam about it?

 

[ChoklitReign]

You better give me 10 good reasons for me not to ban you, you have 5 minutes to comply.

WHOA, take it easy. It's been past 5 minutes, jeez. I was talking about the people who were thinking about buying an iPad for casual internet browsing when an iPhone and a netbook can do that just as well. It's just my opinion.

 

[Starchasing]

Yeah, but as I said. Most of this people will probably buy a EEE for cheaper (and get a full OS), or they wouldn't care enough about the extra stuff and stick to their iPhones.
But I don't think this is comparable to the Wii.

This is the iPod discussion all over again... of course you can find cheaper products with better specs ... but it seems like people dont care for specs, they care more for the experience... and thats what wii, ipods, iphone and ipad have in common

 

[NomarTyme]

The more I see it, the more I want it! 2nd gen better be worth the wait.

 

[m0dus]

Vennt, as someone who is in a very similar position to yours, can I weigh in?

The ipad makes too many compromises. I'm actually holding off this time, and I'm a gadget freak (and certainly not hurting for apple hardware--2 Iphone 3Gs's one iphone 3g, an imac, and TWO axiotron modbooks.). There were better, more capable products shown at CES that have a similar form-factor, without so many sins-by-design. And I don't just mean android tablets. Fully functioning OS's, broad connectivity options, and slick interfaces.

 

[gcubed]

thinking about it last night, i'd actually be interested in getting one if it could multi-task and run flash.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

So another question I guess this brings up is will the iWork programs run on iPhone or is it one of the first apps that will be iPad exclusive?

 

[Vennt]

WHOA, take it easy. It's been past 5 minutes, jeez. I was talking about the people who were thinking about buying an iPad for casual internet browsing when an iPhone and a netbook can do that just as well. I just don't think that's logical.

So maybe next time don't make assumptions that some who do see a niche for this in their tech arsenal are just "Cult of Mac" victims, such generalisations are stupid, and just lead to arguments that are highly un-necessary.

Vennt, as someone who is in a very similar position to yours, can I weigh in?

The ipad makes too many compromises. I'm actually holding off this time, and I'm a gadget freak (and certainly not hurting for apple hardware--2 Iphone 3Gs's one iphone 3g, an imac, and TWO axiotron modbooks.). There were better, more capable products shown at CES that have a similar form-factor, without so many sins-by-design. And I don't just mean android tablets. Fully functioning OS's, broad connectivity options, and slick interfaces.

Good to know, it's a market that has wide appeal.

Out of interest can you link any that meet my earlier requirements?:

8-10 hour battery life, lightweight (less than 2lbs), instant-on, handle near HD video? 811n & 3G.

I'd be more interested in seeing the devices this should be competing with, rather than seeing endless arguments over ones that frankly, despite Steve Jobs insistence, it won't compete with. (Netbooks etc.).

Of course as I said before, it's hard to compare with just specs alone, the App Store means that this device will see a growing collection of apps tailored towards it, can the same be said for it's competition in the same way?

 

[Starchasing]

It's really carving a new niche and I view it more as an appliance than a computer.

Apple, while they make computers and nice software, is really in the content delivery business now. Sure, they make a nice profit on their hardware, but their content delivery - first off music, then movies and TV shows and now books is where their growth is coming from - and it's almost 100% profit for them.

not really

http://img.applesfera.com/2010/01/gananapple.jpg

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

I can't for the life of me figure out why people want to keep supporting Flash. It's poor from a system resources point of view, it's proprietary (so is h.264, so Apple's not exactly turning this into an advantage), and the biggest video sharing service on the Internet, YouTube, wants to and has started to phase it out (as has the highest-quality video sharing service, Vimeo).

Why do you feel the need to prop this crappy plug-in up? Shouldn't we be done with plug-ins et al?

What's not to understand? No one is "supporting" this plugin but don't tell me this thing ever at surfing the web when I can't even watch videos on websites because it uses like almost every site, java. No one gives a shit whether it's harder to use or anything else, they just want to watch content on their device like other devices that they claim are inferior to surfing the web.

 

[jett]

Vennt, as someone who is in a very similar position to yours, can I weigh in?

The ipad makes too many compromises. I'm actually holding off this time, and I'm a gadget freak (and certainly not hurting for apple hardware--2 Iphone 3Gs's one iphone 3g, an imac, and TWO axiotron modbooks.). There were better, more capable products shown at CES that have a similar form-factor, without so many sins-by-design. And I don't just mean android tablets. Fully functioning OS's, broad connectivity options, and slick interfaces.

Could you point me to those tablets?

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

What's not to understand? No one is "supporting" this plugin but don't tell me this thing ever at surfing the web when I can't even watch videos on websites because it uses like almost every site, java. No one gives a shit whether it's harder to use or anything else, they just want to watch content on their device like other devices that they claim are inferior to surfing the web.

Actually, most sites have begun moving away from Flash. YouTube whent HTML5 last week, Vimeo works fine without Flash these days. Hulu is one of the only major holdouts still, and who knows what the future of that site is once NBC's sale is finalized. Netflix does use Silverlight of course, and they have mentioned that they have been researching an App for instant view for some time. Seems like a natural for the tablet. I'd love that!

I guess that leaves the porn sites huh?

 

[bionic77]

My Dad (who is 65 and doesn't know how to use a mouse) really liked the Apple promo video. I don't think he is going to buy it, but I wonder what other non-tech people are thinking of the product.

Whether it supports flash or has a USB slot, you gotta admit that the iPad looks slick in motion. It looks like someone that Jean Luc Picard would be using on TNG.