What do you mean Trevor? It was never and will never be marketed as a fully-fledged "computer" as such - so this is not a failing. It's a wireless networking device - something which it excels at. There are no need for USB ports. IF you do that you may as well stick a monitor port in as well. Oh..and then a ...
I'm not sure that I'm catching the point of your observation.
To me it's only half a computer we've got netbooks, laptops, tablets etc which will do all of what it's offering and more.
Personally I can't see the point in having a device solely to be used for wireless networking it's just another gimmicky toy and I for one won't be wasting my money on it because it doesn't fulfill what I require from a portable device.
Additionally, because Apple has a need to appease their mobile network partners Apple has not implemented technology (webcam) that would allow iPad to iPad Skype, for example.
Yes, it is a well designed little package but you'd expect this from Apple, but unfortunately it forces people to buy ALL content for it from Apple.
It appears to be a rushed product without the full range of slick features Apple normally has. Either that, or they are planning on cashing in big on the second generation and hoping all the Apple die hards buy the first gen.
This could have been revolutionary, running OSX or a cut down version. It could have replaced the netbook - completely. But instead it sits in a tiny niche that will only expand because of Apple product hype and not product quality and usefulness
It's aimed squarely at the exploding E-book reader market with Apple having their own i-book store.Thats about it.
It will be great for running some of the useful Iphone apps on a big screen and an absolute pleasure for internet browser. When Ipad specific apps start hitting the market it will be awesome.
I don't really buy into this argument that it doesn't take the place of an Iphone as well as a netbook etc. The average household of the furture will have a number of different devices that do specific things really well and the Ipad will be another of them. Would like to have one some time , because I just love touch screen tablet type computing. I love my Ipod Touch to bits .
It will add to my 2 PC's , notebook, netbook and Ipod Touch
Not sure of that Simon. I bought a Kindle because of one overwhelming feature not shared with the LCD-based iPad, and that's e-Ink. The Kindle e-Ink display is far more readable for periods of time than LCD - or any other backlit technology. Apart from that it is designed to be a book - nothing more, and this is something it does brilliantly. It doesn't purport to be anything else, and doesn't even have a touchscreen or anything else unnecessary. Colour isn't required at all as it's trying to emulate a paperback.
I'd have both devices, but the Kindle is an electronic book first and foremost. The iPad isn't, it's just another feature and therefore slightly compromised. I'd not put the Kindle away because I had an iPad.
*nods*
You make good sense. Stop being right all the time *wink*
Not meaning to get off topic but do you get a decent battery life from your Kindle?
The trouble is, what everyone has been asking for has been around for a while: http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook
- camera, 4GB RAM, 2.13 GHz C2D CPU, USB ports, OSX, iChat/Skype, the lot.
If you want one, you can buy one. The trouble is they don't sell well, which is an example of a motto of mine: "what the masses think they want is often wrong".
The iPhone users understand the iPad (self included). The "internet appliance" concept is what makes it work.
There is one other thing - being an original mac user from 1984 - I suggest you hunt down Apple's video of the "Knowledge Navigator" (various versions are on the net). In some respects the iPad is quite close to the Knowledge Navigator concept - and it is remarkable that here we are 20 years later and such a device STILL does not exist.
IMHO the iPad will sell like quite well, but to niche buyers who understand and have a real use for it, plus a few for whom it will be a status symbol like the MacBook Air.
1) With 3G radio enabled (i.e: permanently online to Amazon): 3-4 days
2) With 3G radio disabled (i.e: offline): 9-10 days
And that's reading maybe 200 pages a day before bed.
Impressive
Was talking to my brother in-law about the iPad as he was asking me my thoughts about it being useful for reading sheet music and I pretty much said to him what Chris said about the Kindle. He agreed that the Kindle would most likely be the better solution in that situation. He was also impressed with the iPad overall and said he could see it being a useful tool in many situations, even saying something like the "Pick to Light" systems places like Amazon/EzyDVD use in their warehouses could be really benefit from the iPad.
As for the Kindle i have one and love it. You can also put the kindle on the i phone and computer now.
Phil
Yep - I have it on all my devices - laptops, desktops and phone. They all synchronise so that you can pick up your phone and read a few pages - and then later your Kindle - and turn-on to the same page you left off on your other device. "WhisperNet", the system that looks after all this is brilliant. Although you can read the books on these other devices, they just don't give you the E-Ink experience like the Kindle does. Love it!!!
Was talking to my brother in-law about the iPad as he was asking me my thoughts about it being useful for reading sheet music and I pretty much said to him what Chris said about the Kindle. He agreed that the Kindle would most likely be the better solution in that situation.
Omaroo, yeah I agree with you. I reckon Apple thought long and hard to decide what the tablet was going to be and what it will do, and IMHO they have come up with a very elegant machine for its desired goals. Sure, it could have been a Mac OSX interface but that operating system really doesn't suit touch input, which is why PC tablets haven't been all the rage; ie. Windows XP is not suited for touch either.
I'll get one, because it seems to be the device I've been waiting for. I've always wanted some type of laptop, but I've never bought a laptop because I think they are too big, whilst Netbooks are not Mac-based. The iPad form factor really appeals to me, and the idea of running an iPad optimised StarMap Pro and Carina Voyager, wow!
