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[Future]

After having just seen this:
http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-first-details-of-microsofts-secret-tablet

I can't really see the point of getting an iPad. I mean I can see how a lot of people would prefer the iPad because they want a simple web browser, but the Microsoft tablet seems a lot more revolutionary.

I know Microsoft would probably fuck it up, but thats definitely along the lines of what I wanted. The ability to write on it, with an interface designed around your hand. Oh, and an internet browser that isnt gimped

I think its gonna look and feel great though. I'll check it out when it gets jailbroken or updated with more functionality. I didnt think the iPhone was much either till it got GPS and the app store

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

MT, how does the flash work on your cell? We keep hearing Apple folks scream that flash would be horrible for the iPhone/any cell because of quality, have you experienced this? Does it run crappy?

 

[Flo_Evans]

Sure if you want to spend twice or three times as much money and not have 3G.

Fuck I forgot how much those things cost! :lol

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

For me, the Ipod touch is crap, If I want to pause/back/forward/volume I need to take out of my pocket, and look at the screen... crap!

Or use the controls on the headphones or buy a headphones controls adapter?

 

[jts]

Sure if you want to spend twice or three times as much money and not have 3G.

I agree on the money issue, but 3G is pretty easy to get on the Air. That's the beauty of USB. (and there's also 3G over wifi).

Anyway, I just wanna say that the iPad's official case is absolutely delicious. First Apple product I'd rather have in a case than naked. It's a must.

3rd parties have it rough this time in what comes to cases :lol

 

[Material541]

all the haters remind me of the early iphone threads

"to expensive"
"worse than a palm"
"look at the specs"
"only because its apple"

look now, nearly everyone of them owns a iphone/ ipod.

Peoble who are complaining about the ipad beeing just a "explodet" iphone dont get it. Thats why its awesome.

Part of that is due to how the iPhone evolved over time. It's hard to image that it didn't even launch with an app store.

While I am disappointed with today's announcement, I image further models will be much improved and will address its "shortcomings" (perhaps a camera, multitasking, other OS improvements, etc). When that happens, I'll likely buy one.

 

[Hawkian]

whoa bans I'm outtie

 

[MThanded]

MT, how does the flash work on your cell? We keep hearing Apple folks scream that flash would be horrible for the iPhone/any cell because of quality, have you experienced this? Does it run crappy?

Its ok but I would put it closer to crappy than good.

 

[mrklaw]

The more I study what this device is and what it does the more I like it. It's really a perfect middle ground for me when I travel. I usually have to decide between making do with my iPhone (super portable but fiddly sometimes for email, web posting and useless for any real productivity) or take my MBP (full functionality but I hate lugging it around). This is right what I wanted in the middle, super thin and portable but good enough to actually get real things done on it, especially with the stand/case and keyboard dock.

Will purchase 64gb 3G version Day #1.

I'd have thought being a writer, you'd have gone with an air? Full size keyboard being the killer feature over a netbook.

Not sure I'd use this out and about, more thinking of this as the perfect sofa web browser. long life, browsing the web with your fingers is just perfect - either on ipod touch or MBP with trackpad and two fingers.

Either day one, or will hold out for OS4.0 and see if multitasking comes in. Although I could probably live with very limited multitasking. Maybe one app in the background (eg spotify/pandora) + notifications (for IM/twitter etc) + instant resume/storing of states (so I can quit one app straight into IM and come back and the state is instantly restored). Effectively multitasking in terms of what you experience, but without the heavy lifting required by the processor.

 

[Gary Whitta]

Wait... 3G models don't ship until April? FFFFUUUUUUUUUU

 

[H_Prestige]

Sensible perhaps but I'm one of those people who is seduced by the pure sexiness of the form factor and I love the idea of a computer you hold and interact with this way. Your mileage may vary but this is exactly what I want.

And yeah, you can't just make price not an issue. If price weren't an issue I'd have bought an Air ages ago. But it is, so I didn't.

I'm taking price out of the equation because I want to find out what the intrinsic merits are for both devices.

I just don't see how this is more comfortable to use than an Air if you're just lounging around at home browsing the web, typing email, instant messaging, or chatting on forum. I think any Macbook, laptop, or even netbook would be easier to use than iPad.

 

[MThanded]

whoa bans I'm outtie

Why even come in here to post this :lol

 

[mrkgoo]

Wait... 3G models don't ship until April? FFFFUUUUUUUUUU

I'm not sure I can wait that long myself as I'm possibly leaving the country before then. I may have to settle for a non 3g version. Maybe be get the inevitable 4g ipad version 2.0

 

[Gary Whitta]

I'd have thought being a writer, you'd have gone with an air? Full size keyboard being the killer feature over a netbook.

I've come close to getting the Air a couple of times but always balked at the price. The keyboard dock accessory or the small Apple bluetooth keyboard will more than suffice for me. I really don't need this to do all that much - surf the web, email, music, video and some basic word processing via Pages... this will do all that easily.

 

[ElyrionX]

I just woke up. No release date announced at all? Is it going to be simultaneous worldwide release?

EDIT: Why is there so little info in the OP?

 

[sprsk]

So basically for a huge portion of people, this thing is going to replace the home computer.

 

[Marty Chinn]

I just woke up. No release date announced at all? Is it going to be simultaneous worldwide release?

60 days from today for WiFi version, 90 days for WiFi + 3G version.

So basically for a huge portion of people, this thing is going to replace the home computer.

Except it's not and that's the issue.

 

[MThanded]

So basically for a huge portion of people, this thing is going to replace the home computer.

?

 

[Tobor]

Apparently the GPS is only on the 3G model. Not sure if that matters to anyone.

 

[kaching]

Downplaying the merit of multitasking would make more sense if this was a device focused strictly on casual/lounging use, aka primarily a media player. But they dedicated a significant portion of the onstage time to a demo of iWork, and when you get into document editing, there's a major case for multitasking so you can switch between multiple documents quickly, search the web for data, fire off emails, etc.

 

[Gallbaro]

So basically for a huge portion of people, this thing is going to replace the home computer.

:lol

 

[mrkgoo]

I'm taking price out of the equation because I want to find out what the intrinsic merits are for both devices.

I just don't see how this is more comfortable to use than an Air if you're just lounging around at home browsing the web, typing email, instant messaging, or chatting on forum. I think any Macbook, laptop, or even netbook would be easier to use than iPad.

Have you use an iPhone? I sometimes prefer it to a laptop sometimes.

It's not so mug about ease as I is convenience and fun. Bein able to interact directly with what you are doing is a different experience. Sure, sometimes worse, but often a lot more fun.

 

[Duane Cunningham]

I'm choosing to call the 64GB+3G version "MAX iPad"

 

[Hari Seldon]

I was hoping more along the lines of the MS Courier video, but I'll probably just get both. The iRag for screwing around and playing games, and the courier for productivity.

 

[mrklaw]

What? The second I saw the iPhone unveiled I was hyped, fell in love and it was painful for me to wait out the first year because I wanted one so badly. I saw it, I understood it, and I wanted it. It has been one of the most life changing devices I've ever owned and certainly one of the top two devices I've bought in the last two years (the other being an HP Mediasmart Server which is godly).
.

The iphone was groundbreaking. Do you not think this would have been groundbreaking if they'd announced this instead of the iphone at the time? Is the issue perhaps that - as groundbreaking as iphone was - its become 'hygiene' now, its the baseline from which you measure a smartphone/touch device. So almost no matter what they did, it would have been difficult to 'wow' people.

I hope that the wow come from using it, spending time with it, and more importantly, seeing how app developers differentiate the iPad from the iPod touch and leverage its benefits. I can see (potentially) the larger real estate being hugely significant in the experiences you will have with the device.

At least, I have my fingers crossed.

I'm taking price out of the equation because I want to find out what the intrinsic merits are for both devices.

I just don't see how this is more comfortable to use than an Air if you're just lounging around at home browsing the web, typing email, instant messaging, or chatting on forum. I think any Macbook, laptop, or even netbook would be easier to use than iPad.

Thats a very typing heavy list of things to do. So perhaps a macbook air, netbook or laptop would be better.

I'm a bit worried about using it with a bluetooth keyboard - I can see a bunch of 3rd party 'beanbag' accessories to prop this thing up so you can meaningfully type on it...

 

[Vic]

So basically for a huge portion of people, this thing is going to replace the home computer.

If the price was $199, sure.

 

[Tobor]

Downplaying the merit of multitasking would make more sense if this was a device focused strictly on casual/lounging use, aka primarily a media player. But they dedicated a significant portion of the onstage time to a demo of iWork, and when you get into document editing, there's a major case for multitasking so you can switch between multiple documents quickly, search the web for data, fire off emails, etc.

I really think multitasking just isn't ready yet. They're going to want it to work well before they introduce it. No "Advanced Task Killer" in the app store, please.

 

[MThanded]

I was hoping more along the lines of the MS Courier video, but I'll probably just get both. The iRag for screwing around and playing games, and the courier for productivity.

has there been any recent talk of the courier? I am interested in that too

 

[Hari Seldon]

I've come close to getting the Air a couple of times but always balked at the price. The keyboard dock accessory or the small Apple bluetooth keyboard will more than suffice for me. I really don't need this to do all that much - surf the web, email, music, video and some basic word processing via Pages... this will do all that easily.

The problem with word processing on the ipad is that you cannot multitask. I dunno about you, but when I write documents I like to have a web browser open for pulling up info, maybe a pdf or two open to get info from, etc. I don't think the iPad will be very good for word processing, but that is just my opinion.

 

[mrkgoo]

Downplaying the merit of multitasking would make more sense if this was a device focused strictly on casual/lounging use, aka primarily a media player. But they dedicated a significant portion of the onstage time to a demo of iWork, and when you get into document editing, there's a major case for multitasking so you can switch between multiple documents quickly, search the web for data, fire off emails, etc.

Assumingthe processor is optimized for it, the is allows for that already. Right now, I can type this message and at any time just close it open another app do want I need to there and come back.

I the speed of the device is fast enough, then it's practically imperceptile. I'm thinking it will have more ram allowig things to load very quickly and keep things like safari running with multiple pages cached.

 

[Fireblend]

So basically for a huge portion of people, this thing is going to replace the home computer.

perfect :lol

 

[kaskade]

The more I'm thinking about it the more I don't want it. Sure it's going to be fucking cool, but I'm going to wait for at least the 2nd generation device.

 

[Hari Seldon]

has there been any recent talk of the courier? I am interested in that too

No, just the HP one that was announced, but that isn't the same as what was in that video. The courier is probably a ways off I bet. If it was coming sooner, I'm sure MS would have announced it by now.

 

[PhoncipleBone]

Only if i was making garry whitta money :-/ . I am a poor phd student will be getting the 16gb wifi version lol

I am going for the wifi only one. I dont travel enough to warrant using 3G. I work in a store with free wifi so web browsing on breaks is covered. I am also poor and dont want to spend the extra $130 for the 3G. And the extra cost per month for data would hurt too. I am, however, thinking of going for the 32GB model though, just for the extra storage. Perhaps on a later version I will drop for the 3G.

Another big reason for deciding on the wifi version over 3G: I am impatient. I dont want to wait an additional 30 days for the 3G model

 

[sprsk]

By the way, we are NOT these people.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Has there been any info about a real showing/release for the courier? If they're close enough together I'll wait to see what both have.

 

[Gary Whitta]

The problem with word processing on the ipad is that you cannot multitask. I dunno about you, but when I write documents I like to have a web browser open for pulling up info, maybe a pdf or two open to get info from, etc. I don't think the iPad will be very good for word processing, but that is just my opinion.

Ha, I'm the opposite, forcing me into single-tasking where I'm not procrastinating by switching over to surf the web every five minutes is actually a bonus for me! :lol

 

[user_nat]

So it supports all iPhone apps, but does it have it's own apps that don't work on the iPhone also?

Or are they all shared between the 2 devices.

 

[MThanded]

The problem with word processing on the ipad is that you cannot multitask. I dunno about you, but when I write documents I like to have a web browser open for pulling up info, maybe a pdf or two open to get info from, etc. I don't think the iPad will be very good for word processing, but that is just my opinion.

Yeah as long as the applications hold state and you can copy and paste it would be ok. Or having all applications have a half screen mode.

 

[Piano]

Eh, I am underwhelmed by the announcement. It certainly looks cool and slick, but I just can't come up with any reason to purchase this over a similarly priced (or even cheaper) netbook. The main sticking points for me is the lack of multi-tasking and flash player (I know, there are reasons behind it, but still - it means a lot of pages I frequent and would want to casually surf to wouldn't work). I just can't figure out who this product is aimed at...people who love their iPhone but want to surf the internet on it more often with a bigger screen?

The battery life is roughly equivilant to a netbook, the price is higher, and it's more limited...what's the point? Not trolling, just genuinely curious what the appeal they're going for here. One of my teachers today made a good point: "Apple is always good at showing me why I need their latest product...but I didn't get any of that from the iPad."

 

[mrkgoo]

The problem with word processing on the ipad is that you cannot multitask. I dunno about you, but when I write documents I like to have a web browser open for pulling up info, maybe a pdf or two open to get info from, etc. I don't think the iPad will be very good for word processing, but that is just my opinion.

It certainly won't replace a proper processor with a true keyboard if you're hardcore researching. But you should be able to seamlessly move between browser and document (I hope).

Really though, the iWork suite on te ipad is probably for on the go editing, or those times you just don't want your primary computer with you.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

why is it that half the posters in this thread behave as if they've never used the superb browser of the iph/ipt and wished they had a bigger screen?

I have an iPod Touch and I am not a fan of the browser. I prefer the Google mobile browswer, but even still, on a device this size/cost, I expect better than either of those.

 

[RobotChant]

People have the audacity to say this current device may not get everything right but it's a good start, yet they shit on netbooks. They look forward to future versions of the ipad, but netbooks are also in its infancy. There's still a lot of room to grow and get it right with better hardware and software.

As for the UI, how easy it is to use for non computer literate folks compared to a full OS is overblown. Ipods are inelegant with it's need for Itunes, installing and syncing, charging, yet people figured it out. People were so successful at figuring it out they made Ipod one of the most successful devices ever. These same people are not going to have trouble using a full OS on a tablet doing the equivalent Ipad stuff like movie, music, pictures and browsing.

I see the physical keyboard and kickstand case as just confirmation of how flawed the designs are for devices like these.

 

[Technosteve]

Just got home from work, did steam figure out who had the closes predictions from the previous thread?

 

[mrkgoo]

So it supports all iPhone apps, but does it have it's own apps that don't work on the iPhone also?

Or are they all shared between the 2 devices.

It will obviously have it's own apps. There will be apps that will simply not run on iPhone. The iWork suite, I imagine won't work for iPhone. But there will also be universal apps that contain versions optimized for both devices.

 

[Marty Chinn]

The iphone was groundbreaking. Do you not think this would have been groundbreaking if they'd announced this instead of the iphone at the time? Is the issue perhaps that - as groundbreaking as iphone was - its become 'hygiene' now, its the baseline from which you measure a smartphone/touch device. So almost no matter what they did, it would have been difficult to 'wow' people.

I hope that the wow come from using it, spending time with it, and more importantly, seeing how app developers differentiate the iPad from the iPod touch and leverage its benefits. I can see (potentially) the larger real estate being hugely significant in the experiences you will have with the device.

At least, I have my fingers crossed.

Ya it might have felt groundbreaking then, but then again, I think a lot of people would have balked that it was a mobile internet device and not a phone. I think in that scenario, the iPhone is a better device launching then than an iPad would have been.

Even factoring that in, there's no reason why this couldn't have been much more groundbreaking than it was. There's no reason it had to look simply like a large screen iPod Touch. They could have made something that was a lot more in the middle between the two devices.

Realistically speaking, is there something it does that an iPhone can't outside of having a larger screen? What new functionality does it bring?

I can imagine a device that let you use a bluetooth keyboard when you're at home, or at the office, or at a hotel which would let you do documents, email and other stuff, but then you leave that behind and could use a finger touch interface or stylus interface when you're on the go. Imagine them announcing text books and then showing it on the kindle how you have to move a tiny joystick around to get to where you want and then the complexities of the UI that is involved with that, then they switch to the iPad and the person is jotting down notes on top of his eTextBook and drawing diagrams as a lecture is going. It would be a night and day difference in functionality and something that would show off the merits of a tablet. That's just one small avenue that they could have done but didn't.

 

[SnakeXs]

So it supports all iPhone apps, but does it have it's own apps that don't work on the iPhone also?

Or are they all shared between the 2 devices.

Yes, there are some and there will be exclusive apps later.

What I'm wondering is if an app has versions for both if you can buy 1 app and get them both or if you'll have to decide to go with the "better" iPad version, or getting support for both devices but dealing with an upscaled version for the iPad.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Ipods are inelegant with it's need for Itunes, installing and syncing, charging, yet people figured it out.

Actually that's insanely elegant for most people. You plug it in and it does all of that automatically. I've seen people that didn't even know it did a "sync" or that they had options. They just knew when they plugged it in, a minute later everything they have is on it.

These same people are not going to have trouble using a full OS on a tablet doing the equivalent Ipad stuff like movie, music, pictures and browsing.

Definitely written like someone who has never had to explain left and right click and single and double click and when it's appropriate to use each of the combinations. Or had to explain how the Internet got deleted when the blue e was missing from the desktop.

 

[loosus]

I guess this is neat and all, but at least for me, I don't see it having much of a place. There is a device that already does all these functions better...and you can already get them from Apple even.

 

[electristan]

Slighty dissapointed, not really what i was hoping for (same form factor but with a full OS). Sure it will sell loads though.

Reminds be of the Palm Foleo, if anyone else remembers that "revolutionary device."

edit: actually im sure it will be a great device, just after its jailbroken and we have terminal access.