Apple iPad

[Mac]

So what's people's thoughts on this then? There's a lot of venom out for Apple in terms of new products, and people banging on about the 'Apple Tax' etc. but I'm curious to see what people think.

Personally a 'jumbo' iPhone or touch wasn't really selling me - until two things happened. First, was a keyboard dock, and second was the natural inclusion of iWork. iWork is roughly Apple's version of Microsoft Office - and it's not bad either.

I don't use it much as all my stuff *has* to be in MS format but it's powerful. All of a sudden the idea of a 10" pad that I can use for reference material for work, typing notes etc. on the move, doing my photos/videos etc. when I'm holiday.... my word they appear to have come up with a natural progressor to the Psion 5Mx - a device I miss completely.

I'll have my hands on one tomorrow apparently, so it will be interesting to see if it's as good as it sounds.

US Pricing

[CarMad]

For me if it had an SD slot or similar to get photos on it whilst on holiday it might work for me, but I'm still not sold.

Yes the price is a little more aggressive than many thought, its a shame that OLED wasn't quite cheap enough to be included and they couldn't make it in the volumes that are needed either.

I'm sitting here writing this on my laptop typing fairly quickly, but I don't think that stand would work on the knee again another downside for my use.

It good but not normal Apple great IMO.

My thoughts on what it might have brought a posted a while ago here and its turned out to be roughly correct bar the price. > GumpDump Blog Archive So what is the Apple iPad going to offer us?

[Mac]

What about a direct link though? USB class-link to the device via it's docking port? That would work. Would work for me anyways.

[CarMad]

Yep that would work.

Its not a no for me to get one but a wait and see. I've got a free kindle on the way so will see what thats like. I can always sell it and fund and iPad.

[Mac]

I didn't get on with the Kindle. It was *really* restrictive on what you could do.

I'm still not completely sold on the iPad (name! WTF!) but the idea sounds most excellent.

We'll see

Seems the pricing has shut the Apple tax nuts up though.

Mind you, as somebody point out on Twitter earlier, Apple could give away 7 million of the units for free and still have plenty of cash in the bank

[Cameo]

I think the most insightful pre-release hype I read was here:
Why The Tablet Will Finally Be Steve Jobs’ “Computer For the Rest of Us” | Cult of Mac

and the iPad looks like it delivers exactly that. The majority of domestic users just want a computer they can web-browse, email, view/share photos etc. They want something that won't crash or corrupt and if the iPad performs these task it should succeed. I reckon that even my Mum could use one (and my 3 year old can already use my iPhone and access films etc).

The only draw back is it needs multi-tasking and support for mass storage devices. I'd be interested to see what the UK prices and data carrier charges will be.

It will be interesting to see what other developers, particularly Microsoft, respond with.

[CarMad]

Apparently you will be able to by a camera connection kit to read SD etc. or direct with the camera.

Will have a look at one first but there are other gadgets / kit I want before this.

[m4ttm4son]

A giant iPhone that's a super netbook. I like the idea, but I imagine the iTax will be high and you could get a good laptop for the same money. Does it come with a hard case to protect that screen do you think?

[Mac]

[mikemod]

Bit of a dissapointment really

• No Camera
• 3G data only so no texting
• Still the same OS so no Multitasking
• No support for Flash for web browsing
• No memory card support
• Stuck with the Apps that Apple say you can run

Think I'll stick to a Netbook and Windows 7