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...
Wouldn't adobe have to write a version of flash for the i-products first? and so would VLC. I don't see that happening. Also, read the specs for the ipad media support specifics, it plays AVI files already. (Obviously specific specs apply)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woohoo!
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.
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.
You're worried people think you are gay because you use Apple computers? You have some serious issues. Also I've been using a friends kindle for a bit now and we both have come to the conclusion that e-ink is still difficult to read in certain situations without backlight. So, damned if you do, Damned if you don't. Nothing is perfect and I'd rather have a multimedia device than just a reader if I'm going to have to compromise the reading experience.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hillstones
Care to give some examples, or are you just talking out of your ass like a typical fanboi?
I will. As you guys have seen me say before. Telepromter ($400 value), Illuminated film slate (value $1,500 admittingly waiting for an update to the software to make it perfect, but it's still very usable as a script super's tool), Pro-tools controller in live situations ($500+ value), camera focus/ Iris remote ($ unknown value; just being fair the app I am referring to is Iris only, but updates to both remote and cameras are coming soon enough and may even provide capabilities that I have chided others for saying could be a reality), script writing (not much value added here, but scriptwriting software has gotten antiquated and overpriced, competition has opened up on the ap store and I'd rather have the freedom to compose when inspiration strikes without lugging around a laptop. If you need more let me know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LTMP
The 3G doesn't require a commitment. You can start and cancel your service as you please without an activation charge.
I've seen a few people mention this and I had assumed the same thing. However others have said that there is no official information on activation fees. I looked into it (even posted on at&t's forum and still waiting for an answer). Is there any documentation to support that there won't be activation/ termination fees? I got a wifi ipad pre-ordered, but I'd like to have a 3g pad as well, but not if there are going to be cancelation fees of any sort. If I use 3G for 6 months out of the year, tuning the service on and off could be another $100+ and that's just not for me since I already pay AT&T for a data plan every month.
Quote:
Originally Posted by benny-boy
The other factor for me is what apple does with their REMOTE app, which would be the killer app for me.
I agree the remote is one of many unsuspecting "killer aps" for the ipad. I'd love to use it as a touch interface with cover flow etc for the Apple TV, games on the ATV and game controller (maybe better on an ipod), interactive media on your TV etc all sounds good to me.
BTW here's a link to an IR remote adapter. Not the one I was thinking of, but this one's cheap (and ugly). So there will be ways of controlling legacy gear as well, but this makes me wonder how long it will be before wifi/ BT starts to be integrated into other devices. I recently saw there was an initiative to integrate BT controllers into cameras for devices like the Ipod to act as controllers.
I am totally excited over the iPad? not only will it make a great entertainment device, but it can TOTALLY be used for business purposes, especially in a virtualization environment.
Anyone heard of Cloud Computing?? Hello! This is where the IT industry is going right? Well how about running XenApp and/or XenDesktop on the iPad. It is available for the iPhone now, so therefore it will totally run on the iPad. Yes printing will become an issue but it is just a hurdle at this point.
I plan on getting a 16GB WiFi and a portal WiFi router like the Sprint 4G MiFi which I am sure (as an iPhone AT&T owner), the WiFi experience will totally rock over AT&T?s crappy 3G network.
Music / Movie / Games / e-Books/ Internet / Business Apps over Virtual Technologies? what more can you ask for...?
Not many I bet. The iBooks store is a US exclusive, so the iPad abroad is an ereader with no ebooks.
Apple aren't, understandably, publicising the lack of books abroad. I wonder how many returns they'll get on day two when people find out about this somewhat deal breaking oversight.
Explain how you are going to take photos from your digital camera and put them on your iPad so you can view them on that big screen that people are bragging about. That's right, you CAN'T! Apple puts an SD slot on the Macs and MacBooks, but they leave it off the iPad, yet claim it is great for viewing photos! You need another accessory or your Mac/PC to transfer photos into an iPad. Most people take their laptop with them because it does what they want it to do. So you will be lugging around a bunch of crap to make the iPad justified when your laptop does more.
Big surprise. The fanbois ordered an iPad, and then the pre-orders plummet while the rest of the world realizes they don't need a $500 iPod Touch when they already own a laptop. The PowerBook G4 12" would outsell an iPad.
doesn't seem like a bunch of crap to lug around to me, just a little dongle. sucks that it isn't built in or in the box... but the option exists and it is trivial to use.
iPad Camera Connection Kit
The iPad Camera Connection Kit gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera: using your camera’s USB cable or directly from an SD card. iPad supports standard photo formats, including JPEG and RAW.
Jim Cramer once said that Apple stock is one of the easiest to manipulate. I think he's right on this one.
1. Short the stock.
2. Put out a story that iPad sales dropped off after the intial pre-order rush. Apple fan sites and hate sites run with it like a celebrity porn video.
You're Apple. You developed a platform for the ages. It shines on any user experience metrics. Fast, sensuous, intimate, ubiquitous, quintessentially convenient. Or so you presume, after all you make it your business to break new grounds, and break the competition in the process. I happen to share the enthusiasm. I'll buy two of them little buggers.
You don't need spin for a successful launch. Seed a few thousand units across the Land and let the potential users angle their way close to them for a moment. Cynical Pundits are just no match for the lure of an organ transplant.
I'm not so sure about the complaints about this thing. I think the iPad will be that real start of cloud computing. I just installed an app on my iPhone that lets me watch my entire video collection from anywhere in the world.
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.
you do realize that retailers markup items anywhere from 35%-500% depending on the quality and type of good it is.
But since apple has its own stores to directly sell the items, retailers can not markup the apple's products otherwise consumers will just get it from apple directly...
Are you really going to regularly consume more than 16GB of media between syncs? What's that, 30 hours of videos? Games don't have to be huge. If it's a desert island situation, then fine, but I don't carry the kitchen sink with me all the time. What I put on my iPhone only expands to fill the unit. If I need more space, I have my smart playlist sync fewer music tracks.
Gross margin doesn't mean much in itself. Are you going to rag on Microsoft for having an 80% gross margin?
FWIW, Apple has an overall 10% net margin, and I don't see why that's so outrageous. If their net margin was 50% then I would agree.
Well for me I could also see myself using the new multi touch iWorks a good bit. I use Keynote alot already so I would use both Pages and Keynote on a regular basis. Also I could see myself gaming alot more on an iPad then I do on a Touch because the extra screen size would make gaming really nice.
Also with my job I have to read alot of manuals so reading in my spare time isn't all that much fun for me but I do like to listen to audio books so I have a good bit of them.
I am not saying I need 128GB or even 64GB for that matter but I think 32GB is just about perfect for this device.
I thought Apple had about a 24% net margin on hardware but I could be wrong on that, I could have them mixed up with Microsoft which I believe they have close to a 24% margin on software.
I understand gross margin doesn't mean alot but we all know Apple makes the lions share of their profits on hardware not software.
While I agree with you 16GB isn't awful I just feel like 32GB gives you the room to meet pretty much any demand you might have for the iPad.
you do realize that retailers markup items anywhere from 35%-500% depending on the quality and type of good it is.
Yes, I wonder what the gross profit margin is on say, toothpaste. According to one report I found Colgate's gross profit margin is higher than Apple's:
Quote:
[Colgate's] gross profit margin as reported increased to 58.8% in second quarter 2009 from 56.5% in the year ago period. Excluding restructuring charges in 2008, gross profit margin increased 200 basis points to 58.8% in second quarter 2009 from 56.8% in second quarter 2008, reflecting the benefits of increased pricing and cost-savings programs, which more than offset the impact of negative foreign exchange.
Why aren't people picketing their local drug store over this outrage!
AT&T has a USB laptop connection card which along with the USB to iPad adapter and the matching AT&T app in the App Store could allow wifi iPad versions to have 3G later.
If enough sell this might be a option later. But would likely cost more than the monthly plan on the 3G iPads.
Your right, seasoned users know with time comes more data, features and larger OS updates which require more storage space. One can make their devices last considerably longer buying the device with the largest storage possible to begin with.
For instance on my 3 year old MacBook Pro I've upgraded the hard drive twice and Apple hasn't come out with a substantially more powerful MacBook Pro since. With the iPad does Apple honestly expect us to buy new devices every time we need more storage?
I've owned several iPods of various sizes, my music collection outgrew them, so now the only one I now use is the iPod Classic as it holds all my music and more if I ever should get anymore, plus I can use anything I have anywhere, unlike the smaller capacity versions.
Meanwhile I regret the loss I took on all those previous iPods, selling them used. I won't repeat that mistake with iPads costing several hundred dollars.
As far as the ATT option while a third party could come up with an option like you mentioned that was kind of my point in the long run its most likely going to cost more. I kind of look at it this way if I am going to keep this iPad for 2-3 years an extra 130.00 to have the option available to me isn't really that much extra. But for someone that knows for sure they aren't interested in 3G then certainly spend the money somewhere else.
As far as my iPods I still have ones that are 4GB and for just music that is more then enough. But like I posted to JeffDM I also plan to use iWorks on this, I would like to store a good bit of Keynote and Pages files not to mention I think this would be great for gaming compared to the Touch because of the screen size and I believe more complex games will be available on the iPad overtime. So like you I want to make sure I have the room to expand without having to buy another device in less then a year.
Yes, I wonder what the gross profit margin is on say, toothpaste. According to one report I found Colgate's gross profit margin is higher than Apple's:
Why aren't people picketing their local drug store over this outrage!
The average company is lucky to get 3-5% net profit on there product and many are thrilled to get that. I believe both Apple and Microsoft net between 20-24% which is well above the average. If I could find the link I was saw something about Apples 2009 net margin being about 21.59%
Lets face it they haven't grown this fast over the last few years with a 5-10% profit margin.
The average company is lucky to get 3-5% net profit on there product and many are thrilled to get that. I believe both Apple and Microsoft net between 20-24% which is well above the average. If I could find the link I was saw something about Apples 2009 net margin being about 21.59%
Lets face it they haven't grown this fast over the last few years with a 5-10% profit margin.
The iPad is not a replacement for a notebook. It is better than any notebook at many things.
Really, like what? Reading ebooks is the only thing that comes to mind.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jnjnjnjn
It's more like, use - an iPad - as a laptop. So you replace the laptop with a much smaller and lighter and brighter iPad.
Why, so I can type on a virtual keyboard? Fun times. As for the screen, it's a much lower resolution. It's smaller than a laptop. I doubt it's much brighter than my mid 2009 MBP.
Quote:
For me the most important use of the iPad will be at home. Within WiFi range it is unbeatable in ease of use and quality.
Have you used one?
Quote:
And this is because the screen is better than all MacBooks (including the pro) except the latest ones with led back-lighting
Highly debatable as to which screen is better. I'd put my MBP up against it.
Quote:
... and much easier to use without the lid and weight and extremely intuitive with the new software and touchscreen.
It will be a joy to use, from day one.
J.
Here again...easier to use for whom? Not for me. What tasks would it assume? I don't travel much. When I do, I'm driving---or flying a few times a year, where my iPhone is more portable and has the same storage. It also makes calls and takes pictures. No extra item to bring. When I'm at home, I watch movies on one of my three HDTVs. Or, I surf the internet/e-mail/burn CDs/DVDs/work from my laptop. Beyond e-books, I can't think of a SINGLE thing an iPad would do better.
Again though, I'm not bashing. If I worked in an environment where I had to go constant meetings, carry files, travel, etc...the iPad would be ideal. To me, the biggest appeal is to people that travel a lot. Watching movies and reading on an iPad makes a lot of sense in that case, where you wouldn't want a full laptop for space and weight reasons.
I think that it makes sense that the pre-orders for the Wi-Fi only models would exceed the 3G models since buying the 3G requires a commitment for service. When the iPad becomes available on April 3rd, sales of the 3G's will most like increase.
Comments
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...
Wouldn't adobe have to write a version of flash for the i-products first? and so would VLC. I don't see that happening. Also, read the specs for the ipad media support specifics, it plays AVI files already. (Obviously specific specs apply)
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.
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.
You're worried people think you are gay because you use Apple computers? You have some serious issues. Also I've been using a friends kindle for a bit now and we both have come to the conclusion that e-ink is still difficult to read in certain situations without backlight. So, damned if you do, Damned if you don't. Nothing is perfect and I'd rather have a multimedia device than just a reader if I'm going to have to compromise the reading experience.
Care to give some examples, or are you just talking out of your ass like a typical fanboi?
I will. As you guys have seen me say before. Telepromter ($400 value), Illuminated film slate (value $1,500 admittingly waiting for an update to the software to make it perfect, but it's still very usable as a script super's tool), Pro-tools controller in live situations ($500+ value), camera focus/ Iris remote ($ unknown value; just being fair the app I am referring to is Iris only, but updates to both remote and cameras are coming soon enough and may even provide capabilities that I have chided others for saying could be a reality), script writing (not much value added here, but scriptwriting software has gotten antiquated and overpriced, competition has opened up on the ap store and I'd rather have the freedom to compose when inspiration strikes without lugging around a laptop. If you need more let me know.
The 3G doesn't require a commitment. You can start and cancel your service as you please without an activation charge.
I've seen a few people mention this and I had assumed the same thing. However others have said that there is no official information on activation fees. I looked into it (even posted on at&t's forum and still waiting for an answer). Is there any documentation to support that there won't be activation/ termination fees? I got a wifi ipad pre-ordered, but I'd like to have a 3g pad as well, but not if there are going to be cancelation fees of any sort. If I use 3G for 6 months out of the year, tuning the service on and off could be another $100+ and that's just not for me since I already pay AT&T for a data plan every month.
The other factor for me is what apple does with their REMOTE app, which would be the killer app for me.
I agree the remote is one of many unsuspecting "killer aps" for the ipad. I'd love to use it as a touch interface with cover flow etc for the Apple TV, games on the ATV and game controller (maybe better on an ipod), interactive media on your TV etc all sounds good to me.
BTW here's a link to an IR remote adapter. Not the one I was thinking of, but this one's cheap (and ugly). So there will be ways of controlling legacy gear as well, but this makes me wonder how long it will be before wifi/ BT starts to be integrated into other devices. I recently saw there was an initiative to integrate BT controllers into cameras for devices like the Ipod to act as controllers.
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/01/08/ce...ne-ipod-touch/
Anyone heard of Cloud Computing?? Hello! This is where the IT industry is going right? Well how about running XenApp and/or XenDesktop on the iPad. It is available for the iPhone now, so therefore it will totally run on the iPad. Yes printing will become an issue but it is just a hurdle at this point.
I plan on getting a 16GB WiFi and a portal WiFi router like the Sprint 4G MiFi which I am sure (as an iPhone AT&T owner), the WiFi experience will totally rock over AT&T?s crappy 3G network.
Music / Movie / Games / e-Books/ Internet / Business Apps over Virtual Technologies? what more can you ask for...?
Not many I bet. The iBooks store is a US exclusive, so the iPad abroad is an ereader with no ebooks.
Apple aren't, understandably, publicising the lack of books abroad. I wonder how many returns they'll get on day two when people find out about this somewhat deal breaking oversight.
you will lose that bet.
Explain how you are going to take photos from your digital camera and put them on your iPad so you can view them on that big screen that people are bragging about. That's right, you CAN'T! Apple puts an SD slot on the Macs and MacBooks, but they leave it off the iPad, yet claim it is great for viewing photos! You need another accessory or your Mac/PC to transfer photos into an iPad. Most people take their laptop with them because it does what they want it to do. So you will be lugging around a bunch of crap to make the iPad justified when your laptop does more.
Big surprise. The fanbois ordered an iPad, and then the pre-orders plummet while the rest of the world realizes they don't need a $500 iPod Touch when they already own a laptop. The PowerBook G4 12" would outsell an iPad.
doesn't seem like a bunch of crap to lug around to me, just a little dongle. sucks that it isn't built in or in the box... but the option exists and it is trivial to use.
iPad Camera Connection Kit
The iPad Camera Connection Kit gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera: using your camera’s USB cable or directly from an SD card. iPad supports standard photo formats, including JPEG and RAW.
Jim Cramer once said that Apple stock is one of the easiest to manipulate. I think he's right on this one.
1. Short the stock.
2. Put out a story that iPad sales dropped off after the intial pre-order rush. Apple fan sites and hate sites run with it like a celebrity porn video.
3. Stock drops $3 on Monday morning.
4. Make a killing on the move.
5. Repeat.
It's like shooting fish in a tank, apparently.
i think that just about wraps it up.
You don't need spin for a successful launch. Seed a few thousand units across the Land and let the potential users angle their way close to them for a moment. Cynical Pundits are just no match for the lure of an organ transplant.
Why would you be complaining about 50% or 150% or whatever? Is someone is forcing you to buy the product against your free will?
Sheesh.....
So, you're whining about my "whining"? Hasn't this gotten too meta? I think you had the flame thrower pointed at the wrong person here.
Incidentally, Apple's actual net profit margins are more like 20%, not 10%.
I didn't realize that.
It is much more intimate than any laptop.
and much easier to clean!
I'm not so sure about the complaints about this thing. I think the iPad will be that real start of cloud computing. I just installed an app on my iPhone that lets me watch my entire video collection from anywhere in the world.
Cool - what app (really I'd like to know)?
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/
you do realize that retailers markup items anywhere from 35%-500% depending on the quality and type of good it is.
But since apple has its own stores to directly sell the items, retailers can not markup the apple's products otherwise consumers will just get it from apple directly...
So, you're whining about my "whining"? Hasn't this gotten too meta? I think you had the flame thrower pointed at the wrong person here.
Nobody is whining -- not you, not me. I am simply amazed by and put off by the negativity in this thread. That's all.
Are you really going to regularly consume more than 16GB of media between syncs? What's that, 30 hours of videos? Games don't have to be huge. If it's a desert island situation, then fine, but I don't carry the kitchen sink with me all the time. What I put on my iPhone only expands to fill the unit. If I need more space, I have my smart playlist sync fewer music tracks.
Gross margin doesn't mean much in itself. Are you going to rag on Microsoft for having an 80% gross margin?
FWIW, Apple has an overall 10% net margin, and I don't see why that's so outrageous. If their net margin was 50% then I would agree.
Well for me I could also see myself using the new multi touch iWorks a good bit. I use Keynote alot already so I would use both Pages and Keynote on a regular basis. Also I could see myself gaming alot more on an iPad then I do on a Touch because the extra screen size would make gaming really nice.
Also with my job I have to read alot of manuals so reading in my spare time isn't all that much fun for me but I do like to listen to audio books so I have a good bit of them.
I am not saying I need 128GB or even 64GB for that matter but I think 32GB is just about perfect for this device.
I thought Apple had about a 24% net margin on hardware but I could be wrong on that, I could have them mixed up with Microsoft which I believe they have close to a 24% margin on software.
I understand gross margin doesn't mean alot but we all know Apple makes the lions share of their profits on hardware not software.
While I agree with you 16GB isn't awful I just feel like 32GB gives you the room to meet pretty much any demand you might have for the iPad.
Nobody is whining -- not you, not me. I am simply amazed by and put off by the negativity in this thread. That's all.
This thread seems rather civil compared to many on this forum.
you do realize that retailers markup items anywhere from 35%-500% depending on the quality and type of good it is.
Yes, I wonder what the gross profit margin is on say, toothpaste. According to one report I found Colgate's gross profit margin is higher than Apple's:
[Colgate's] gross profit margin as reported increased to 58.8% in second quarter 2009 from 56.5% in the year ago period. Excluding restructuring charges in 2008, gross profit margin increased 200 basis points to 58.8% in second quarter 2009 from 56.8% in second quarter 2008, reflecting the benefits of increased pricing and cost-savings programs, which more than offset the impact of negative foreign exchange.
Why aren't people picketing their local drug store over this outrage!
AT&T has a USB laptop connection card which along with the USB to iPad adapter and the matching AT&T app in the App Store could allow wifi iPad versions to have 3G later.
If enough sell this might be a option later. But would likely cost more than the monthly plan on the 3G iPads.
Your right, seasoned users know with time comes more data, features and larger OS updates which require more storage space. One can make their devices last considerably longer buying the device with the largest storage possible to begin with.
For instance on my 3 year old MacBook Pro I've upgraded the hard drive twice and Apple hasn't come out with a substantially more powerful MacBook Pro since. With the iPad does Apple honestly expect us to buy new devices every time we need more storage?
I've owned several iPods of various sizes, my music collection outgrew them, so now the only one I now use is the iPod Classic as it holds all my music and more if I ever should get anymore, plus I can use anything I have anywhere, unlike the smaller capacity versions.
Meanwhile I regret the loss I took on all those previous iPods, selling them used. I won't repeat that mistake with iPads costing several hundred dollars.
As far as the ATT option while a third party could come up with an option like you mentioned that was kind of my point in the long run its most likely going to cost more. I kind of look at it this way if I am going to keep this iPad for 2-3 years an extra 130.00 to have the option available to me isn't really that much extra. But for someone that knows for sure they aren't interested in 3G then certainly spend the money somewhere else.
As far as my iPods I still have ones that are 4GB and for just music that is more then enough. But like I posted to JeffDM I also plan to use iWorks on this, I would like to store a good bit of Keynote and Pages files not to mention I think this would be great for gaming compared to the Touch because of the screen size and I believe more complex games will be available on the iPad overtime. So like you I want to make sure I have the room to expand without having to buy another device in less then a year.
Yes, I wonder what the gross profit margin is on say, toothpaste. According to one report I found Colgate's gross profit margin is higher than Apple's:
Why aren't people picketing their local drug store over this outrage!
The average company is lucky to get 3-5% net profit on there product and many are thrilled to get that. I believe both Apple and Microsoft net between 20-24% which is well above the average. If I could find the link I was saw something about Apples 2009 net margin being about 21.59%
Lets face it they haven't grown this fast over the last few years with a 5-10% profit margin.
The average company is lucky to get 3-5% net profit on there product and many are thrilled to get that. I believe both Apple and Microsoft net between 20-24% which is well above the average. If I could find the link I was saw something about Apples 2009 net margin being about 21.59%
Lets face it they haven't grown this fast over the last few years with a 5-10% profit margin.
Well, yes, so what?
The iPad is not a replacement for a notebook. It is better than any notebook at many things.
Really, like what? Reading ebooks is the only thing that comes to mind.
It's more like, use - an iPad - as a laptop. So you replace the laptop with a much smaller and lighter and brighter iPad.
Why, so I can type on a virtual keyboard? Fun times. As for the screen, it's a much lower resolution. It's smaller than a laptop. I doubt it's much brighter than my mid 2009 MBP.
For me the most important use of the iPad will be at home. Within WiFi range it is unbeatable in ease of use and quality.
Have you used one?
And this is because the screen is better than all MacBooks (including the pro) except the latest ones with led back-lighting
Highly debatable as to which screen is better. I'd put my MBP up against it.
... and much easier to use without the lid and weight and extremely intuitive with the new software and touchscreen.
It will be a joy to use, from day one.
J.
Here again...easier to use for whom? Not for me. What tasks would it assume? I don't travel much. When I do, I'm driving---or flying a few times a year, where my iPhone is more portable and has the same storage. It also makes calls and takes pictures. No extra item to bring. When I'm at home, I watch movies on one of my three HDTVs. Or, I surf the internet/e-mail/burn CDs/DVDs/work from my laptop. Beyond e-books, I can't think of a SINGLE thing an iPad would do better.
Again though, I'm not bashing. If I worked in an environment where I had to go constant meetings, carry files, travel, etc...the iPad would be ideal. To me, the biggest appeal is to people that travel a lot. Watching movies and reading on an iPad makes a lot of sense in that case, where you wouldn't want a full laptop for space and weight reasons.
I think that it makes sense that the pre-orders for the Wi-Fi only models would exceed the 3G models since buying the 3G requires a commitment for service. When the iPad becomes available on April 3rd, sales of the 3G's will most like increase.
No...No it most certainly Does Not -