Preorders for Apple iPad slow after 120K first-day rush - Page 2

I'm not sure it would fall into that catagory seeing it doesn't run an a desktop OS. Its running a mobile OS which lacks many of the features of a desktop OS.

The troll is baaaaack......! Hi, how're you doing, kotatsu?

All people who really wanted the iPad got it on the first day. Not that many apple fanboys...

Will see how this device is accepted and if (possible) slow sales will force Jobs to announce Flash support for "the best browsing experience"

If he did say that, then he's not to be trusted, because it isn't true at all.

Come point out the flaws in my 4gb iPhone from iDay 07? I can't seem to find them.

Neither can I find anything wrong with my 7,1 iMac, first aluminum model on the market, still runs beautifully. Not one problem.

I've also had day one iPhone 3G, and day one iPhone 3GS. Not one has ever had a problem. The entire don't buy Rev A concept is a fraud by anyone who promotes it.

Just hope Apple isn't trying to get those of us who are waiting for upgraded Macbooks and Macbook Pros to cough up dough for an iPad. If they're thinking that, they're being silly.

I like the iPad - but it's not for me right now.

Agreed, should have been made available world wide as pre-order, but then the decision wasn't mine to make. Probably anticipated sales and the numbers that would be available by April 3rd required a limit of sales to the US only so would not be any a back order problem on the release date.

Oh yes, EVERYONE who really wants one got it already. Even the people who would never buy some thing sight unseen, that will likely buy one in a store during the months of April, or May...

they all bought it too.

We'll have to actually wait and see, won't we. These are all estimates, with a wide margin of error.

We'll know soon enough, when Apple announces quarterly results.

Come back and crow -- or eat crow -- then.

(Oops... this was meant to be a response to Brainless #43 above; forgot to quote his post.)

Yeah I know that. But that's not going to stop 3rd party e-reader apps that currently exist for the iPhone/iPod Touch to appear on the iPad as well. I for one, have tons of PDFs, CHMs that I want to dump on that thing, and not necessarily get books off of iBooks.

Also, the iPad is not just for reading books. It's really a device/console that runs embedded applications on a slate form factor.

No, the iPad is a multimedia tablet with access to hundreds of thousands of apps, millions of songs/videos/movies etc. minus the iBookstore abroad. Presumably, some of the other ereader apps will work.

I agree with You!

Its compatible with any ebook store using epub. That being said, I don't the iPad will be the next big thing, at least the current version. It needs a cpu a little more potent than the A4 and something a little bit more full featured than the current iPhone OS.

Wish I could say the same.

First iPhone had no 3G, no GPS and AT&T edge coverage. Not defects but certainly features that would have been nice the first time around. 4GB of storage for that price point? Not too good. And lets not forget the price drop debacle.

iPhone 3G had issues switching from edge to 3G and back until the update came out.

First aluminum iMac didn't have the brightness to overcome glare and colors changed when looking at it from angles. New iMacs have (had?) issues with yellowing.

Leopard had issues that were resolved. Most felt Leopard was really Tiger fulfilled with boolean search, etc. I'm still having issues with Snow Leopard with crashing, download folder vanishing, can't empty trash half the time. Waiting for an update on this before I downgrade to Leopard. What about iMovie 08? Isn't it better now? And the new Aperture? What a mess. I hope it's fixed now.

I think there is much to be said for waiting for version two. I have an iMac, Macbook Pro and an iPhone. Do I need to rush out and buy an iPad to surf part of the web without flash on my couch? I don't. And it's worthless on the road if I am forced to use AT&T who doesn't have good coverage in my area.

That still adds up to an ongoing additional expense and while a percentage of iPad buyers will consider it worthwhile. I suspect the majority of iPad buyers will be perfectly happy to own an iPad that is WiFi only. Also, not all iPad buyers will reside in the US. Here in Canada we will be gouged by whatever plans Rogers and the others conjure up. It's the way it's done up here.

What I see is a device that will get extensive use minus 3G capability. And I don't think it's a smart move to even acquire the model with 3G included because once the capability is there, the temptation to get it operational will be great, whether you need it or not. We're not talking a few dollars here or there. We're talking hundreds, potentially thousands of dollars looked at over an extended period. Rogers is already taking a big chunk out of my paycheque. Personally I just don't have any more to give. I have other uses for my money. Planning for my retirement. Ongoing house maintenance. Owning and operating an automobile. Food. Apple products. You know, the basics.

Why would you pay an extra $130 only not to use it. People opting for the Wi-Fi only iPads already planned to use it as an Wi-Fi only device. If you want the 3G, I would think that it would be better to see the device first. Ultimately which of the options will outsell the other will be determined when both are available.

Answered--see post below.

No...

Firstly, there'll be plenty of people wanting an iPad regardless of the iBook Store.

Secondly, there's no reason why the iBook Reader won't be available for non-US users to use with the hundreds (thousands? Millions?) of DRM free ePub books out there.

Thirdly, as with all other content from the iTunes Stores, it will fairly quickly become available outside of the US (well, Canada and the UK at least -- I don't really know about other territories).

I'm in the UK, but could easily pre-order one from the US and get it sent to one of my employer's US offices. Internal post to the UK, and hopefully skip the VAT! Hopefully customs duty is 0% on the iPad as it comes under the heading of wireless devices. Thanks EU.

But, there are a couple of things holding me back. Firstly, no UK prices yet. For some things (Apple TV 160GB) the UK to US price difference is huge (both my ATVs are from the US), but others barely different at all (most iPods). Secondly, I still can't quite decide on whether to get the 3G one or not. I'd only really use the 3G data when on holiday (it still amazes me how many holiday cottages and villas don't come with wifi). In the UK I can use my spare PAYG O2 SIM that gives me free data for a month so long as I top up with £10 (~$15). Not too bad. OTOH, I can jailbreak my iPhone and install something like MyWi to turn my iPhone into a 3G wireless hotspot. It kills the battery, and will probably be a bit more of a hassle than the built in 3G; but, realistically, how often am I likely to use it?

Decisions, decisions. Maybe I'll just wait for some reviews to come out (or sneakily try the MyWi thing in the Regent St. Apple Store!)

I travel a lot and don't always get WIFI or have access. I think the fact that I won't be locked into a contract is great. Turn it on as needed, I think a $100 extra for the 3G card is worth it cause once you purchase the iPad you can't upgrade it.

If Apple wants there customers too have the best user experience, they will ban all the ebook apps except iBookstore.

Apple has a better track record than most competitors when it comes to bringing well-designed products to market right from the start. On the other hand, I'm one of those people planning on buying the iPad when the revised version hits the streets likely by this time next year.

My expectation is that we'll see a modest price reduction, double the memory, a faster processor, and an improved OS.

I work for a retailer (hence have an employee discount) likely to be selling the iPad several months after it comes to market, so chances are it would be fall before I could even look at buying one. Once it drags out that much, what's a few more months for all of the above upgrades?

Meanwhile, though, I hope lots of people buy the thing - so they'll keep making them - yet competitors come up with some good stuff to pressure Apple to lower the price.

Click bait.

Almost. When I travel I currently have to carry 2 laptops because I'm not allowed to do anything personal (including check personal email) with my company laptop. I could imagine 1 laptop + 1 iPad being absolutely PERFECT except that an absolute requirement is being able to video-chat with the kids back home when I need to. A forward-facing camera and this thing would be every traveling businessperson's dream.

I'm leaning against getting a iPad right now, I think the reflective screen is going to be a big issue to make it a acceptable e-reader, the only thing I can think of using the device for over my MacBook Pro.

And I really don't want to be holding up the device or adopting weird sitting positions to use it.

The GUI is corny and doesn't meet my more mature computing needs. It's hard enough as it is dealing with the PC crowd who thinks Mac's are just for babies or gays.

I got 5 other operating systems running in VM just to show how bad ass a Mac really is.

sorry Apple.

I mean, its this really a true 1st gen product? The only thing new in this thing is the processor and considering how often the processors change and nothing is updated w/ the software I'd have to imagine it's not that big of a deal. I'd liken this more to the 3G or the 3Gs than the 2G iPhone. They've already got the hardware, they're on V 3.2 of the software and everything else is just bigger. There might be some bugs w/ Mail and other iPad specific apps but I really don't see it being a true 1st gen product.

Personally I'm waiting until they hack it so I can put 1) Flash (if I'm going to carry this around instead of my laptop I want flash to play my facebook games amongst other things) and 2) play AVI's and other things via VLC or something like that. Those are the only 2 things keeping me from pre-ordering...

Nope....thats why it ships April 3rd and not in March. Apple is already well ahead of their numbers for this quarter and they wanted to bump this nice little saftey margin of revenue out a quarter. They dont charge/count the sales until it ships.

Here's what I think of the iPad as a longtime Apple user and fan: It's cool, but it's not for me right now. First, I don't really have the cash to spend on it. But, if I did...I'm still not sure I'd buy one. My suspicion is a lot of people feel like this.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a complaint about the product. It just doesn't fit my lifestyle. For a corporate person, someone in medical, someone who travels by plane or train a lot (etc) I think it would be great. However, I'm a teacher and I travel only a few times per year. I wouldn't use it in school more than a laptop.

For travel, my iPhone is smaller and has nearly the same capabilities. Of course, it also makes calls and takes photos. For me, I have to consider myself lugging the iPad around. Where do I put it? In a man-purse carrying case? With my iPhone, it goes in my pocket. Here again, with a corporate person, someone in sales, etc...I think it could replace a large appointment book/sales book with ease.

Anyone else feel like this?

... there's no monthly. there's no contract for 3g, it's essentially pay as you go.. or pre-pay. $15 for 250MB, $30 for unlimited /per month. you can enable/disable right from the device.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/3g/

"In the United States, 3G service is available through a breakthrough deal with AT&T. You choose the amount of data per month you want to buy 250MB or unlimited. If you choose the 250MB plan, youll receive onscreen messages as you get close to your monthly data limit so you can decide whether to turn off 3G or upgrade to the unlimited plan. Best of all, theres no contract. So if you have a business trip or vacation approaching, just sign up for the month youll be traveling and cancel when you get back. You dont need to visit a store to get 3G service. You can sign up, check your data usage, manage your account, or cancel your service all from your iPad."

..or it's devs who need the hardware to test on.

on what grounds? duplicating existing funcitonality? hard case to make since Kindle/Stanza/Classics are there, yet apple's solution isn't

i don't think they're going to cull the existing readers.

For me iBooks isn't part of the reason to buy an iPad. So, no deal-breaker there.
But I suspect iBooks will be available in the Netherlands after a while; sorting out the deals with book publishers locally will take Apple some time.
Lots of other iPad book readers are (currently) available (even with books in ePub format), so if I wanted to I could use the iPad as an e-reader.

Looking at the current specs, it appears that you'll be able to some AVIs. I don't have any AVI files (everything I have is ripped from my original DVD into H.264 m4v by Handbrake, or is 'borrowed' from the BBC iPlayer, again in H.264). This seems more designed to cope with video from digitial cameras as part of the camera accessory deal. Unfortunately, my camera either does out of range MJPEG, or (and the only way I've used it) 720p at 60fps or 1080p at 30fps AVCHD. Oh well, hopefully I'll be able to offload the video to the cloud somewhere while on holiday.

In other news, the sky is blue and water is wet.


I have major doubts about the validity of these estimates. They don't seem to have a good sampling system that I can tell.


I assume you mean flash as in a solid state drive. If they made one, I doubt that Apple would sell one of those for less than $1500.


16GB would suit me just fine. I don't have to have my entire library with me.


I would doubt that. The only question is whether they will ban iPad-only book apps.


It looks like books will probably roll out to other countries quicker.


That would look more like a dick move than a push for better UX. Have you actually used the other ebook software for the iOS? The UX doesn't look to be any worse than what Apple showed at their presentation. Stanza looks & feels like it could have been an Apple first party app.

"Face it, Apple is doomed"

-iGenius (pre-quote quote)

If you know for sure you're not going to need or use it then no its not worth paying 130.00, I was simply saying for those that are unsure there is no commitment for activation.

why do you need to see it? the only significant difference is the strip of plastic on the back for the 3g antenna. it's not like there's a WiFi only and 3g only versions.

i think a good percentage of the preorders are going to developers who need the hardware for testing.

The iPad is not a replacement for a notebook. It is better than any notebook at many things.

Translating:
Translation complete.

Result:
"My drinking buddy, who once had a job stocking shelves at my local Apple store before being fired for gross incompetence, used to hate opening day when Apple had something new."

Is there a reason why a solution to allow 3G to be added to the iPad externally can't be developed? Right now there is no market for such a device because anyone interested in 3G would obviously buy the 3G version. But down the road, perhaps, there will be a significant number of WiFi-only iPad owners looking to add 3G.

By the way, 16GB is adequate considering you are going to be using the iPad likely as a companion to a full-feature computer. It's not intended to be a replacement for a fully-functioning laptop or desktop. You put specific content on it at a given point in time and then swap it out as required. On the other hand, a 32G base unit is inevitable though I suspect expecting such an upgrade by September is unrealistic. Early 2011 is much more probable. In other words, more memory will be part of iPad Version 2. In the meantime, lots of folks will have little trouble enjoying their 16GB versions. With that much memory there's plenty of room for apps, photos, ebooks, music files, and several movies. It's not like you have to carry your entire media libary with you wherever you go. For many of us, 64GB wouldn't even come close to being enough for that. By that reasoning, one would be best to wait for the 1T iPad ilkely to be available by 2015.

Well for me when you are talking about books, movies, music and games even not loading my entire library 16GB is still fairly low by todays standards.

I also find it interesting if we are talking storage alone its only 100.00 more to had four times the memory to your iPod Touch but the same price for double the memory on the iPad.

Also I have posted several times before there is about a 51% gross margin on the iPad so clearly Apple is yet again getting well on the hardware.

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderd...rgins-on-ipad/