iFixIt was pretty definitive in the 512MB analysis-- based on chip markings that showed 256 per die, and Xrays that showed two dies. So I'm not sure I'd want to take the (apparently somewhat erratic) diagnostics of some dude on MacRumors over that.
"Lots of images" doesn't really accurately describe the "example" web site, either, since it has more images than 99% of the sites anyone would visit.
Even more to the point, it doesn't make one damn bit of difference. The spec hounds want us to believe that it can't possibly work properly. Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
Even more to the point, it doesn't make one damn bit of difference. The spec hounds want us to believe that it can't possibly work properly. Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
I believe the quote is: "are you gonna believe me, or your lying eyes ?!" , and is attributed to the Duke, but I can't recall just which movie.
iFixIt was pretty definitive in the 512MB analysis-- based on chip markings that showed 256 per die, and Xrays that showed two dies. So I'm not sure I'd want to take the (apparently somewhat erratic) diagnostics of some dude on MacRumors over that.
"Decoding the part number shows there is 2Gb of memory inside. This translates into ~128MB of memory per die, for 256 MB total. (NOT 512MB, as we previously reported.)"
Pretty definitive IMO. But there's also the following in case some dude at ifixit's diagnostics are too erratic:
It won't matter so long as Apple's multi-tasking implementation doesn't mean that web pages have to download again after a little while or that it flushes all the hibernated apps when browsing. 512MB would have been a much safer bet for more fully fledged apps and the possibility of apps that couldn't possibly run on the iPhone.
Steve Jobs manipulates people,, not produce or engineer innovative products.
phase one was to establish a user base and brainwash them. people would buy a betamax VCR tomorrow if it had an apple logo on it, such is the inexplicable hysteria amongst the apple crowd.
Steve Jobs manipulates people,, not produce or engineer innovative products.
phase one was to establish a user base and brainwash them. people would buy a betamax VCR tomorrow if it had an apple logo on it, such is the inexplicable hysteria amongst the apple crowd.
Well...
Apple made the Mac and changed everything for everybody, even if they never buy a Mac.
The Mac was innovative.
Apple made the iPod and changed everything for everybody, even if they never buy an iPod.
The iPod and iTunes were innovative.
Apple made the iPhone and changed everything for everybody, even if they never buy an iPhone.
The iPhone was innovative.
That's an interesting pattern of achievement. Of course, not everything they have made has changed everything for everybody: the Apple TV didn't quite do what they hoped it would.
So, batting .750, Apple releases the iPad, which seems pretty innovative. Chances are it will be a home run and will change things for everybody, even if they never buy one.
Is Apple perfect? Far from it. Is any company perfect?
One thing is certain: Ultimately, everybody's life has been changed in many ways by Apple, even if they have never purchased anything made by Apple and badmouth the company at every opportunity, and Apple will continue changing our lives for a long time to come.
Some people like to feel that they are a part of that change.
Bottom line: It's a toy for people who like to be in the "in" crowd.
I don't agree. My iPhone is a productive tool that I have used on many occasions to get work done. The iPad will make it even easier to get more stuff done.
And it doesn't hurt to turn a few heads along the way.
phase one was to establish a user base and brainwash them. people would buy a betamax VCR tomorrow if it had an apple logo on it, such is the inexplicable hysteria amongst the apple crowd.
You can say that about most companies though.
Microsoft sell Windows 7 to Vista users under a different marketing approach.
NVidia even manage to sell the exact same boards to people with a different label.
What Apple did here with the iPad was take the iPod internals, reworked the CPU, added a large battery and IPS display to make a new product line. While it's certainly not the quad core, 2GB RAM powerhouse that some were expecting and others (including me) were hoping for, the iPod Touch hasn't stopped being a great product and the iPad still has that quality in a different form factor.
So it's not like selling an obsolete betamax as new, it's like selling a 35 million-strong iPod to a different audience. Time will tell who that audience is. Doctors, architects, lawyers or even everyday people might be crying out for exactly this type of thing and that could end up being huge.
Product introductions are tricky as you can never tell precisely what people want given that people generally don't know what they want and change it on a whim. The iPad isn't hugely different from the Newton weighing up spec to intro date:
1994:
20MHz ARM
640k RAM
336 x 240 monochrome screen
0.9lbs
7.25" x 4.5" x 0.75"
$500
2010:
1GHz ARM
256MB RAM
1024 x 768 color IPS screen
1.5lbs
9.56" x 7.47" × 0.5"
$500
The Newton obviously didn't take off but people change over time and one product failure in one era doesn't mean failure in another. If Apple made a cube now for example, it wouldn't be a flop because loads of people buy mini-towers now. Computers have reached a point where the spec that ran businesses 10 years ago can fit in the palm of your hand so you just can't tell what the outcome is going to be. If you design stuff nicely, market it well with a reasonable price and offer a good experience then you can have some assurance of success. It's not guaranteed as the iPhone launch in China showed but if you don't make crazy decisions like leaving out wifi then you can at least tell it won't be a flop.
A lot of my friends and families are going nuts about i p a d. What they don't realize is that this hardware is going to be so outdated soon. I recommend waiting for the 2nd or even 3rd generation of ipad. Here are the reasons why.
1. No USB 3.0 support. I am surprised that no one is talking about this. This is actually important. It takes about 5-10 minutes to back up my iphone on itunes. How long will ipad take? Oh, that's right. The files are bigger on ipad because the apps are bigger. Go take a nap. Shit, it's still not done!
2. Price. Apple says 499 dollars is cheap. Really? I disagree with that. I am 99% sure that apple will announce Wifi+3G model for 499 dollars around fall of 2010. Either that, apple will cut the prices on all models by 50-100 dollars. Also, if iphone is coming to Verizon, then we are definitely going to see this on Verizon as well. Are we going to see some crying babies this fall like we did with original iphone in 2007? History repeats itself.
3. No camera. It's 2010. Someone forgot to include something. It's not 1910. Next one will have this for sure. When it does, then not all the apps are going to be compatible.
4. No flash. Sure, maybe we can live without flash. We can live with HTML 5. But, most of websites still use flash. Why buy this now? Let the websites convert to HTML 5 first. Apple shows about 10 websites that will convert to HTML 5. Well, I am sorry, but I go more than these 10 websites. I go more like hundreds...
5. What the hell is it? Seriously, what the hell is this thing and what am I going to use it for?
1) So tell me, what Macintosh computer line have USB 3 ports ? How about the Wintel computers? You see, you are nit picking and incredibly stupid. Apple won't release a product that cannot connect to 99% of Windows PC and 100% of Apple's own computer hardware.
2) Price. First generation tech products are generally expensive for several reasons. A) Companies especially Apple like to see how their products would sell and how the consumer would react to it . when competition starts brewing up, Apple or any other company can then compare their prices to other slate manufacturers and they can make adjustment on their prices but not to the point where they will be forced to race to the bottom where not only the prices are cheap, but the materials and manufactured product is markedly inferior to companies who decide not to compromise their bottom line for market share.
3) Camera. Dude, get over it. The iPad will have a camera in it's next iteration or so. But you have to remember this, the iPad might be used in ways where having a camera on it would proved to be a no no in places like a) hospitals b) military installations c) tech corporations d) financial markets e) companies that have dealings with the military e) diplomatic missions and others as well.
I have the iPad right know and a camera is a nice to have, but not really necessary in my opinion and most of the buyers as well.
4) No flash, no problem . Two things I care about the iPad and the iPhone and Touch when I browse the internet. Stability and battery life. Adobe's Flash is well known to be battery unfriendly and not very stable on mobile devices and is not an open web standard, it's a defacto standard owned by Adobe.
5)So it's not for you. Congratulations. For me, I'm a nurse, I could use it for health teaching, as an amateur photographer, I can check my shots in the iPad and reshoot before I download to my computer at home. At home, I can go to the web without opening my computer or do some work as well. Do you know what I hate the most about techies and tech geeks. Their arrogance to think that tech companies especially Apple should bow to their whims and caprices on how to make their products to meet the techies and tech geeks needs and not the average consumer which by the way outnumber them 1 to 200,000.
I don't agree. My iPhone is a productive tool that I have used on many occasions to get work done. The iPad will make it even easier to get more stuff done.
And it doesn't hurt to turn a few heads along the way.
I do have an iTouch, but only because a PDA device was required for the uni program I'm in.
Can't really see a use for the iPad, even if I had an extra $600 sitting around.
The single reason I wouldn't recommend people I know to get one would be the dependence on a master device....Imagine the following scenario:
Mum comes home.....
<snip>
For the sake of the kids, make the iPad a master device.
Apple did what they did and if the reports are right the iPad displays a "need cooling warning" over 95º F / 35º C from direct sunlight, goes to show they reached the technical limit as well without battery draining cooling assistance like in MacBook Pro's.
The iPad has to at least have the ability to play HD video and game, people expect that.
The solution I see is a wireless syncing solution from a master device.
If Daddy wants to pull up his porn collection, it won't physically be on the device unless Daddy gives is password to sync it from a computer in the other room. Then it's deleted once he logs out of the app.
Ditto for moms and whoever logs into their assigned apps/users on the device.
Also Apple needs to create a Apple Remote Desktop version for iPads, so teachers can load up or trouble shoot a room full of iPads without physically touching them.
You can't carry it on your hip like a phone, so it presents the same portability issues as any laptop - you'll need a case of some sort to protect it and carry the power cable. Even around the house, there's no simple way to carry the iPad. It's too thin, heavy, slippery and expensive to put under your arm. Several of our testers were seen carrying it like a dinner tray, as a butler would, to go from the kitchen table to the couch. Portability, shmortability.
It's heavy
To be sure, at 1.5 pounds and with all this functionality, the iPad is an impressive feat of engineering. But it's simply not light enough (a Kindle ebook reader is about 10 ounces) and that heft adds to the awkwardness. Holding the iPad in one hand for more than a few minutes to watch a movie or read an ebook results in tired wrists. Even holding it with two hands to read an ebook is tiring. Reading an ebook on a smartphone is ergonomically much more practical.
It's slippery
We might ignore the awkward size and weight, but the iPad is also slippery, and its aluminum back is ever-so-slightly slightly concave. You feel as though it'd slip right out if you try to hold it under your arm. And on the kitchen counter, it slides and twirls as you try to type or swipe the screen (required for navigating). It needs rubber feet, but of course then it won't be near as cool.
The screen has too much glare
The iPad has the same glossy screen as Apple's Macbook Pro laptops and iMac desktops. Unless you're reading in a very dim room, the glare will be noticeable and can be distracting. Outdoors, even in the shade, the glare is really annoying.
Forget reading in the sun
If you thought to take your iPad along for an outing in Central Park or at the beach, forget about it. While bright and contrasty indoors, the iPad's screen looks washed out and is almost impossible to view in bright sunlight. The Kindle's non-glossy e-ink display fares much better outdoors than the iPad's screen.
Fingerprints are annoying
Once you've used the iPad for a few minutes, among the most glaring shortcomings (besides the screen glare) are the fingerprints on the screen. With a smartphone, you can wipe the screen on your shirt or pants. The iPad is too big for that. We're wondering what exactly to clean it with and where we'll keep the cleaning supplies.
It does not multitask
The iPad runs the same operating system as the iPhone, and as a result has all of the iPhone's limitations. The most obvious of these is the inability to multitask - or do multiple things simultaneously. The iPad can't run more than one app at a time (with the exception of a few Apple apps, such as iPod, the iPad's music playing app). While this is may be acceptable in a smartphone, it's a major handicap in a device that Apple expects people to spend hours at a time on. (11 iPhone Tips That Also Work on the iPad )
The browser is limited
The iPad also uses the same limited Safari browser that's found on the iPhone. While much fuss has been made about the iPad's inability to play Flash video, there are other things it can't do as well. For example, Safari on iPad can't be used to create Google Documents, only to view them.
The virtual keyboard stinks
While the virtual keyboard on the iPad is much larger than the iPhone, it's still awkward to type on glass. Even those who've used tiny, cramped netbook keyboards will be disappointed by the lack of real keys and likely reduced to one-finger typing. The iPad can be paired with a physical keyboard, but even this is awkward, because the actions normally done with a mouse or a trackpad on a desktop or laptop have to be done with your finger on the iPad.
There's no USB port
The lack of even one USB port - the universal means of connecting just about everything these days - means you can't connect the device to a printer or other computer peripherals, such as an external hard drive. The iPad can be connected to cameras, but it requires the purchase of a separate accessory from Apple.
iPhone-only apps look horrible
Apple boasts that many of the 150,000 apps already available on the iPhone will also work on the iPad. What the company doesn't tell you is that when enlarged to fit on the iPad's screen, these iPhone apps look horrible, with images and text very pixelated. For this reason, many people will opt to buy apps that are made specifically for the iPad, which tend to be more expensive than their iPhone counterparts.
The price is just too high
$499 is just the beginning, a low-memory model that will fill up too quickly for anyone with a big music library and/or an appetite for video. Toss in ample memory and a 2-year, $280 "we'll replace it even if you drop it" warranty at Best Buy, and you're out $1,000. Given the iPad's weight, awkwardness and slipperiness, we think the warranty is smart.
It doesn't replace anything
The iPad will not replace your smartphone. Unless you can't type, it won't replace your laptop. If you love books, you could argue it's a great e-book reader, but let's see what your wrists say after a few days. The Kindle is a better e-reader. Frankly, we're not sure what need the iPad fills, other than the desire to be cool by owning a device that is in a class all its own.
My Mum has a computer, an iPod (cheapest one - the shuffle) and a phone and she has no idea how to sync them up. She also hates using the computer and doesn't get the concepts of overlapping windows, docks, trackpads and makes so many mistakes clicking stuff. The iPad is a big improvement but paying double the price of her laptop for one when she has to keep the laptop is not going to happen. Plus she needs Flash for online TV shows for now but ask her what Flash is and she won't be able to tell you.
I'm not against the iPad concept, I think it's great but until it becomes a master device, it's only going to fit a certain smaller group of people. Being a master device means it can satisfy that group and people without a computer and people who hate the computer as it is and want to replace it with something simpler.
The only time anyone REALLY have to use the computer is when you first turn on the iPad. Put all your music on it and you're good. After that, you rarely need to sync it unless there is a major OS release. Most other stuff can be purchased directly on the device.
it feels totally natural to me. holding it in the crook of my arm, sitting on my lap or sitting on my desk at work.
Quote:
It's heavy:
see above. usually when I read a book (a real one), it's cradled in my lap or lying in front of my face in bed while I lay on my stomach. The iPad works perfectly well in both situations, so extended unsupported holding is not necessary.
Quote:
It's slippery:
get a case. the case that apple makes for it works amazingly well for me. it keeps it flat or tilted at great angle for typing in landscape mode. Or I having it standing up on the kitchen counter streaming a netflix movie while I cook.
Quote:
The screen has too much glare:
I'll give you that, but it's not unbearable. Mostly not noticeable when you are doing something on it.
Quote:
Forget reading in the sun:
I haven't tested this one yet, you're probably right. but it doesn't really matter to me too much as I do very little outside reading.
Quote:
Fingerprints are annoying:
The fingerprints are only really noticeable when the screen is off, otherwise you don't see them. I usually just take a tissue once or twice throughout the day and use my breath to clean it.
Quote:
It does not multitask:
it will.
Quote:
The browser is limited:
I don't create too many documents in my free time and I have found that not being subjected to flash ads is actually quite nice. I have faith that all the streaming sites I love will either make an app or switch to HTML5. Just waiting on Hulu. Netflix and ABC are amazing.
Quote:
The virtual keyboard stinks:
I LOVE the virtual keyboard, but only in landscape. I can type on it almost as fast as on a real keyboard, it just takes a day or two of getting used to, and you need to keep your nails short.
Quote:
There's no USB port:
good point. but this is apple we're talking about. do you really expect them to give you the means to expand storage when they want you to buy a bigger, more expensive version of the device? absolutely not. so this is by no means a surprise.
Quote:
iPhone-only apps look horrible:
only text based apps like facebook and twitter apps look horrible. All of my graphic intensive apps look almost as good upscaled as they do in normal ipod size.
Quote:
The price is just too high:
I didn't buy the protection plan, I bought a good quality case. It will do just as well and not cost half as much as the device itself.
Quote:
It doesn't replace anything:
I haven't touched my macbook since I got it except to do the initial sync and to do some experimentation with creating my own ebooks. It has for the most part replaced all of my day to day personal computer use.
Expand your horizons and realize the potential this device has. Not everyone is a mass producer of information. Most people don't need a home computer that can do all of those things. For most people who want stuff that just works and works simply, the iPad will be the answer. I plan on getting one for my mother as well. She can't kill an iPad the way she has managed to inadvertantly kill every computer she's ever owned.
You can't carry it on your hip like a phone, so it presents the same portability issues as any laptop - you'll need a case of some sort to protect it and carry the power cable. Even around the house, there's no simple way to carry the iPad. It's too thin, heavy, slippery and expensive to put under your arm. Several of our testers were seen carrying it like a dinner tray, as a butler would, to go from the kitchen table to the couch. Portability, shmortability.
It's heavy
To be sure, at 1.5 pounds and with all this functionality, the iPad is an impressive feat of engineering. But it's simply not light enough (a Kindle ebook reader is about 10 ounces) and that heft adds to the awkwardness. Holding the iPad in one hand for more than a few minutes to watch a movie or read an ebook results in tired wrists. Even holding it with two hands to read an ebook is tiring. Reading an ebook on a smartphone is ergonomically much more practical.
It's slippery
We might ignore the awkward size and weight, but the iPad is also slippery, and its aluminum back is ever-so-slightly slightly concave. You feel as though it'd slip right out if you try to hold it under your arm. And on the kitchen counter, it slides and twirls as you try to type or swipe the screen (required for navigating). It needs rubber feet, but of course then it won't be near as cool.
The screen has too much glare
The iPad has the same glossy screen as Apple's Macbook Pro laptops and iMac desktops. Unless you're reading in a very dim room, the glare will be noticeable and can be distracting. Outdoors, even in the shade, the glare is really annoying.
Forget reading in the sun
If you thought to take your iPad along for an outing in Central Park or at the beach, forget about it. While bright and contrasty indoors, the iPad's screen looks washed out and is almost impossible to view in bright sunlight. The Kindle's non-glossy e-ink display fares much better outdoors than the iPad's screen.
Fingerprints are annoying
Once you've used the iPad for a few minutes, among the most glaring shortcomings (besides the screen glare) are the fingerprints on the screen. With a smartphone, you can wipe the screen on your shirt or pants. The iPad is too big for that. We're wondering what exactly to clean it with and where we'll keep the cleaning supplies.
It does not multitask
The iPad runs the same operating system as the iPhone, and as a result has all of the iPhone's limitations. The most obvious of these is the inability to multitask - or do multiple things simultaneously. The iPad can't run more than one app at a time (with the exception of a few Apple apps, such as iPod, the iPad's music playing app). While this is may be acceptable in a smartphone, it's a major handicap in a device that Apple expects people to spend hours at a time on. (11 iPhone Tips That Also Work on the iPad )
The browser is limited
The iPad also uses the same limited Safari browser that's found on the iPhone. While much fuss has been made about the iPad's inability to play Flash video, there are other things it can't do as well. For example, Safari on iPad can't be used to create Google Documents, only to view them.
The virtual keyboard stinks
While the virtual keyboard on the iPad is much larger than the iPhone, it's still awkward to type on glass. Even those who've used tiny, cramped netbook keyboards will be disappointed by the lack of real keys and likely reduced to one-finger typing. The iPad can be paired with a physical keyboard, but even this is awkward, because the actions normally done with a mouse or a trackpad on a desktop or laptop have to be done with your finger on the iPad.
There's no USB port
The lack of even one USB port - the universal means of connecting just about everything these days - means you can't connect the device to a printer or other computer peripherals, such as an external hard drive. The iPad can be connected to cameras, but it requires the purchase of a separate accessory from Apple.
iPhone-only apps look horrible
Apple boasts that many of the 150,000 apps already available on the iPhone will also work on the iPad. What the company doesn't tell you is that when enlarged to fit on the iPad's screen, these iPhone apps look horrible, with images and text very pixelated. For this reason, many people will opt to buy apps that are made specifically for the iPad, which tend to be more expensive than their iPhone counterparts.
The price is just too high
$499 is just the beginning, a low-memory model that will fill up too quickly for anyone with a big music library and/or an appetite for video. Toss in ample memory and a 2-year, $280 "we'll replace it even if you drop it" warranty at Best Buy, and you're out $1,000. Given the iPad's weight, awkwardness and slipperiness, we think the warranty is smart.
It doesn't replace anything
The iPad will not replace your smartphone. Unless you can't type, it won't replace your laptop. If you love books, you could argue it's a great e-book reader, but let's see what your wrists say after a few days. The Kindle is a better e-reader. Frankly, we're not sure what need the iPad fills, other than the desire to be cool by owning a device that is in a class all its own.
It is ironic how some people are falling all over themselves to proclaim how crappy the iPad is. Instead of writing reviews with normal, non-click-bait headlines, they're purposefully slinging insults.
The irony is that this almost always portends a product that will be wildly successful and heralded as revolutionary in the history books. If that weren't the case, the iPad would be getting the normal, non-emotionally vindictive reviews.
But the reviews are still entertaining and I enjoy reading them. Keep them coming! Why do I like them? Who knows. Why do I also like movies like Saw and Hostel? The reviews aren't drilling holes through knee caps in cinematically creative ways, but they still get the blood boiling somehow. I'm not personally the target of either. But they're both confrontational and push the heart rate up... ahhh the exhilaration.
Software related for the most part which means that a fix may or may not be imminent. I know from chatting with Mac developers that there's a chasm between the text handling tools of all iPhone OS version and what they routinely deploy on Macs with Core Text and other API. Thursday will be big for ascertaining what new stuff makes it in and then we'll have to see how long it takes to get critical mass of iPhone OS 4 users.
Comments
iFixIt was pretty definitive in the 512MB analysis-- based on chip markings that showed 256 per die, and Xrays that showed two dies. So I'm not sure I'd want to take the (apparently somewhat erratic) diagnostics of some dude on MacRumors over that.
"Lots of images" doesn't really accurately describe the "example" web site, either, since it has more images than 99% of the sites anyone would visit.
Even more to the point, it doesn't make one damn bit of difference. The spec hounds want us to believe that it can't possibly work properly. Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
How's this for viewing with my own eyes?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKFyrYfbYFY
Ouch. Overall a nice device, but seeing checkerboards all over the internet, in addition to blue legos, well, that's quite a letdown.
So much for Steve Jobs' claims of "The best browsing experience ever", eh?
Even more to the point, it doesn't make one damn bit of difference. The spec hounds want us to believe that it can't possibly work properly. Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?
I believe the quote is: "are you gonna believe me, or your lying eyes ?!" , and is attributed to the Duke, but I can't recall just which movie.
iFixIt was pretty definitive in the 512MB analysis-- based on chip markings that showed 256 per die, and Xrays that showed two dies. So I'm not sure I'd want to take the (apparently somewhat erratic) diagnostics of some dude on MacRumors over that.
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad-Teardown/2183/2
"Decoding the part number shows there is 2Gb of memory inside. This translates into ~128MB of memory per die, for 256 MB total. (NOT 512MB, as we previously reported.)"
Pretty definitive IMO. But there's also the following in case some dude at ifixit's diagnostics are too erratic:
http://www.9to5mac.com/ipad-256mb-ra...sor-4493093592
http://news.iphoneworld.ca/inews/iPa...core+processor
It won't matter so long as Apple's multi-tasking implementation doesn't mean that web pages have to download again after a little while or that it flushes all the hibernated apps when browsing. 512MB would have been a much safer bet for more fully fledged apps and the possibility of apps that couldn't possibly run on the iPhone.
Steve Jobs manipulates people,, not produce or engineer innovative products.
phase one was to establish a user base and brainwash them. people would buy a betamax VCR tomorrow if it had an apple logo on it, such is the inexplicable hysteria amongst the apple crowd.
5. What the hell is it? Seriously, what the hell is this thing and what am I going to use it for?
Bottom line: It's a toy for people who like to be in the "in" crowd.
the iPad will sell handsomely.
Steve Jobs manipulates people,, not produce or engineer innovative products.
phase one was to establish a user base and brainwash them. people would buy a betamax VCR tomorrow if it had an apple logo on it, such is the inexplicable hysteria amongst the apple crowd.
Well...
Apple made the Mac and changed everything for everybody, even if they never buy a Mac.
The Mac was innovative.
Apple made the iPod and changed everything for everybody, even if they never buy an iPod.
The iPod and iTunes were innovative.
Apple made the iPhone and changed everything for everybody, even if they never buy an iPhone.
The iPhone was innovative.
That's an interesting pattern of achievement. Of course, not everything they have made has changed everything for everybody: the Apple TV didn't quite do what they hoped it would.
So, batting .750, Apple releases the iPad, which seems pretty innovative. Chances are it will be a home run and will change things for everybody, even if they never buy one.
Is Apple perfect? Far from it. Is any company perfect?
One thing is certain: Ultimately, everybody's life has been changed in many ways by Apple, even if they have never purchased anything made by Apple and badmouth the company at every opportunity, and Apple will continue changing our lives for a long time to come.
Some people like to feel that they are a part of that change.
Bottom line: It's a toy for people who like to be in the "in" crowd.
I don't agree. My iPhone is a productive tool that I have used on many occasions to get work done. The iPad will make it even easier to get more stuff done.
And it doesn't hurt to turn a few heads along the way.
phase one was to establish a user base and brainwash them. people would buy a betamax VCR tomorrow if it had an apple logo on it, such is the inexplicable hysteria amongst the apple crowd.
You can say that about most companies though.
Microsoft sell Windows 7 to Vista users under a different marketing approach.
NVidia even manage to sell the exact same boards to people with a different label.
What Apple did here with the iPad was take the iPod internals, reworked the CPU, added a large battery and IPS display to make a new product line. While it's certainly not the quad core, 2GB RAM powerhouse that some were expecting and others (including me) were hoping for, the iPod Touch hasn't stopped being a great product and the iPad still has that quality in a different form factor.
So it's not like selling an obsolete betamax as new, it's like selling a 35 million-strong iPod to a different audience. Time will tell who that audience is. Doctors, architects, lawyers or even everyday people might be crying out for exactly this type of thing and that could end up being huge.
Product introductions are tricky as you can never tell precisely what people want given that people generally don't know what they want and change it on a whim. The iPad isn't hugely different from the Newton weighing up spec to intro date:
1994:
20MHz ARM
640k RAM
336 x 240 monochrome screen
0.9lbs
7.25" x 4.5" x 0.75"
$500
2010:
1GHz ARM
256MB RAM
1024 x 768 color IPS screen
1.5lbs
9.56" x 7.47" × 0.5"
$500
The Newton obviously didn't take off but people change over time and one product failure in one era doesn't mean failure in another. If Apple made a cube now for example, it wouldn't be a flop because loads of people buy mini-towers now. Computers have reached a point where the spec that ran businesses 10 years ago can fit in the palm of your hand so you just can't tell what the outcome is going to be. If you design stuff nicely, market it well with a reasonable price and offer a good experience then you can have some assurance of success. It's not guaranteed as the iPhone launch in China showed but if you don't make crazy decisions like leaving out wifi then you can at least tell it won't be a flop.
A lot of my friends and families are going nuts about i p a d. What they don't realize is that this hardware is going to be so outdated soon. I recommend waiting for the 2nd or even 3rd generation of ipad. Here are the reasons why.
1. No USB 3.0 support. I am surprised that no one is talking about this. This is actually important. It takes about 5-10 minutes to back up my iphone on itunes. How long will ipad take? Oh, that's right. The files are bigger on ipad because the apps are bigger. Go take a nap. Shit, it's still not done!
2. Price. Apple says 499 dollars is cheap. Really? I disagree with that. I am 99% sure that apple will announce Wifi+3G model for 499 dollars around fall of 2010. Either that, apple will cut the prices on all models by 50-100 dollars. Also, if iphone is coming to Verizon, then we are definitely going to see this on Verizon as well. Are we going to see some crying babies this fall like we did with original iphone in 2007? History repeats itself.
3. No camera. It's 2010. Someone forgot to include something. It's not 1910. Next one will have this for sure. When it does, then not all the apps are going to be compatible.
4. No flash. Sure, maybe we can live without flash. We can live with HTML 5. But, most of websites still use flash. Why buy this now? Let the websites convert to HTML 5 first. Apple shows about 10 websites that will convert to HTML 5. Well, I am sorry, but I go more than these 10 websites. I go more like hundreds...
5. What the hell is it? Seriously, what the hell is this thing and what am I going to use it for?
1) So tell me, what Macintosh computer line have USB 3 ports ? How about the Wintel computers? You see, you are nit picking and incredibly stupid. Apple won't release a product that cannot connect to 99% of Windows PC and 100% of Apple's own computer hardware.
2) Price. First generation tech products are generally expensive for several reasons. A) Companies especially Apple like to see how their products would sell and how the consumer would react to it .
3) Camera. Dude, get over it. The iPad will have a camera in it's next iteration or so. But you have to remember this, the iPad might be used in ways where having a camera on it would proved to be a no no in places like a) hospitals b) military installations c) tech corporations d) financial markets e) companies that have dealings with the military e) diplomatic missions and others as well.
I have the iPad right know and a camera is a nice to have, but not really necessary in my opinion and most of the buyers as well.
4) No flash, no problem . Two things I care about the iPad and the iPhone and Touch when I browse the internet. Stability and battery life. Adobe's Flash is well known to be battery unfriendly and not very stable on mobile devices and is not an open web standard, it's a defacto standard owned by Adobe.
5)So it's not for you. Congratulations. For me, I'm a nurse, I could use it for health teaching, as an amateur photographer, I can check my shots in the iPad and reshoot before I download to my computer at home. At home, I can go to the web without opening my computer or do some work as well. Do you know what I hate the most about techies and tech geeks. Their arrogance to think that tech companies especially Apple should bow to their whims and caprices on how to make their products to meet the techies and tech geeks needs and not the average consumer which by the way outnumber them 1 to 200,000.
I don't agree. My iPhone is a productive tool that I have used on many occasions to get work done. The iPad will make it even easier to get more stuff done.
And it doesn't hurt to turn a few heads along the way.
I do have an iTouch, but only because a PDA device was required for the uni program I'm in.
Can't really see a use for the iPad, even if I had an extra $600 sitting around.
The single reason I wouldn't recommend people I know to get one would be the dependence on a master device....Imagine the following scenario:
Mum comes home.....
<snip>
For the sake of the kids, make the iPad a master device.
Apple did what they did and if the reports are right the iPad displays a "need cooling warning" over 95º F / 35º C from direct sunlight, goes to show they reached the technical limit as well without battery draining cooling assistance like in MacBook Pro's.
The iPad has to at least have the ability to play HD video and game, people expect that.
The solution I see is a wireless syncing solution from a master device.
If Daddy wants to pull up his porn collection, it won't physically be on the device unless Daddy gives is password to sync it from a computer in the other room. Then it's deleted once he logs out of the app.
Ditto for moms and whoever logs into their assigned apps/users on the device.
Also Apple needs to create a Apple Remote Desktop version for iPads, so teachers can load up or trouble shoot a room full of iPads without physically touching them.
It's Awkward
You can't carry it on your hip like a phone, so it presents the same portability issues as any laptop - you'll need a case of some sort to protect it and carry the power cable. Even around the house, there's no simple way to carry the iPad. It's too thin, heavy, slippery and expensive to put under your arm. Several of our testers were seen carrying it like a dinner tray, as a butler would, to go from the kitchen table to the couch. Portability, shmortability.
It's heavy
To be sure, at 1.5 pounds and with all this functionality, the iPad is an impressive feat of engineering. But it's simply not light enough (a Kindle ebook reader is about 10 ounces) and that heft adds to the awkwardness. Holding the iPad in one hand for more than a few minutes to watch a movie or read an ebook results in tired wrists. Even holding it with two hands to read an ebook is tiring. Reading an ebook on a smartphone is ergonomically much more practical.
It's slippery
We might ignore the awkward size and weight, but the iPad is also slippery, and its aluminum back is ever-so-slightly slightly concave. You feel as though it'd slip right out if you try to hold it under your arm. And on the kitchen counter, it slides and twirls as you try to type or swipe the screen (required for navigating). It needs rubber feet, but of course then it won't be near as cool.
The screen has too much glare
The iPad has the same glossy screen as Apple's Macbook Pro laptops and iMac desktops. Unless you're reading in a very dim room, the glare will be noticeable and can be distracting. Outdoors, even in the shade, the glare is really annoying.
Forget reading in the sun
If you thought to take your iPad along for an outing in Central Park or at the beach, forget about it. While bright and contrasty indoors, the iPad's screen looks washed out and is almost impossible to view in bright sunlight. The Kindle's non-glossy e-ink display fares much better outdoors than the iPad's screen.
Fingerprints are annoying
Once you've used the iPad for a few minutes, among the most glaring shortcomings (besides the screen glare) are the fingerprints on the screen. With a smartphone, you can wipe the screen on your shirt or pants. The iPad is too big for that. We're wondering what exactly to clean it with and where we'll keep the cleaning supplies.
It does not multitask
The iPad runs the same operating system as the iPhone, and as a result has all of the iPhone's limitations. The most obvious of these is the inability to multitask - or do multiple things simultaneously. The iPad can't run more than one app at a time (with the exception of a few Apple apps, such as iPod, the iPad's music playing app). While this is may be acceptable in a smartphone, it's a major handicap in a device that Apple expects people to spend hours at a time on. (11 iPhone Tips That Also Work on the iPad )
The browser is limited
The iPad also uses the same limited Safari browser that's found on the iPhone. While much fuss has been made about the iPad's inability to play Flash video, there are other things it can't do as well. For example, Safari on iPad can't be used to create Google Documents, only to view them.
The virtual keyboard stinks
While the virtual keyboard on the iPad is much larger than the iPhone, it's still awkward to type on glass. Even those who've used tiny, cramped netbook keyboards will be disappointed by the lack of real keys and likely reduced to one-finger typing. The iPad can be paired with a physical keyboard, but even this is awkward, because the actions normally done with a mouse or a trackpad on a desktop or laptop have to be done with your finger on the iPad.
There's no USB port
The lack of even one USB port - the universal means of connecting just about everything these days - means you can't connect the device to a printer or other computer peripherals, such as an external hard drive. The iPad can be connected to cameras, but it requires the purchase of a separate accessory from Apple.
iPhone-only apps look horrible
Apple boasts that many of the 150,000 apps already available on the iPhone will also work on the iPad. What the company doesn't tell you is that when enlarged to fit on the iPad's screen, these iPhone apps look horrible, with images and text very pixelated. For this reason, many people will opt to buy apps that are made specifically for the iPad, which tend to be more expensive than their iPhone counterparts.
The price is just too high
$499 is just the beginning, a low-memory model that will fill up too quickly for anyone with a big music library and/or an appetite for video. Toss in ample memory and a 2-year, $280 "we'll replace it even if you drop it" warranty at Best Buy, and you're out $1,000. Given the iPad's weight, awkwardness and slipperiness, we think the warranty is smart.
It doesn't replace anything
The iPad will not replace your smartphone. Unless you can't type, it won't replace your laptop. If you love books, you could argue it's a great e-book reader, but let's see what your wrists say after a few days. The Kindle is a better e-reader. Frankly, we're not sure what need the iPad fills, other than the desire to be cool by owning a device that is in a class all its own.
My Mum has a computer, an iPod (cheapest one - the shuffle) and a phone and she has no idea how to sync them up. She also hates using the computer and doesn't get the concepts of overlapping windows, docks, trackpads and makes so many mistakes clicking stuff. The iPad is a big improvement but paying double the price of her laptop for one when she has to keep the laptop is not going to happen. Plus she needs Flash for online TV shows for now but ask her what Flash is and she won't be able to tell you.
I'm not against the iPad concept, I think it's great but until it becomes a master device, it's only going to fit a certain smaller group of people. Being a master device means it can satisfy that group and people without a computer and people who hate the computer as it is and want to replace it with something simpler.
The only time anyone REALLY have to use the computer is when you first turn on the iPad. Put all your music on it and you're good. After that, you rarely need to sync it unless there is a major OS release. Most other stuff can be purchased directly on the device.
From 13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings
It's Awkward:
it feels totally natural to me. holding it in the crook of my arm, sitting on my lap or sitting on my desk at work.
It's heavy:
see above. usually when I read a book (a real one), it's cradled in my lap or lying in front of my face in bed while I lay on my stomach. The iPad works perfectly well in both situations, so extended unsupported holding is not necessary.
It's slippery:
get a case. the case that apple makes for it works amazingly well for me. it keeps it flat or tilted at great angle for typing in landscape mode. Or I having it standing up on the kitchen counter streaming a netflix movie while I cook.
The screen has too much glare:
I'll give you that, but it's not unbearable. Mostly not noticeable when you are doing something on it.
Forget reading in the sun:
I haven't tested this one yet, you're probably right. but it doesn't really matter to me too much as I do very little outside reading.
Fingerprints are annoying:
The fingerprints are only really noticeable when the screen is off, otherwise you don't see them. I usually just take a tissue once or twice throughout the day and use my breath to clean it.
It does not multitask:
it will.
The browser is limited:
I don't create too many documents in my free time and I have found that not being subjected to flash ads is actually quite nice. I have faith that all the streaming sites I love will either make an app or switch to HTML5. Just waiting on Hulu. Netflix and ABC are amazing.
The virtual keyboard stinks:
I LOVE the virtual keyboard, but only in landscape. I can type on it almost as fast as on a real keyboard, it just takes a day or two of getting used to, and you need to keep your nails short.
There's no USB port:
good point. but this is apple we're talking about. do you really expect them to give you the means to expand storage when they want you to buy a bigger, more expensive version of the device? absolutely not. so this is by no means a surprise.
iPhone-only apps look horrible:
only text based apps like facebook and twitter apps look horrible. All of my graphic intensive apps look almost as good upscaled as they do in normal ipod size.
The price is just too high:
I didn't buy the protection plan, I bought a good quality case. It will do just as well and not cost half as much as the device itself.
It doesn't replace anything:
I haven't touched my macbook since I got it except to do the initial sync and to do some experimentation with creating my own ebooks. It has for the most part replaced all of my day to day personal computer use.
Expand your horizons and realize the potential this device has. Not everyone is a mass producer of information. Most people don't need a home computer that can do all of those things. For most people who want stuff that just works and works simply, the iPad will be the answer. I plan on getting one for my mother as well. She can't kill an iPad the way she has managed to inadvertantly kill every computer she's ever owned.
From 13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings
It's Awkward
You can't carry it on your hip like a phone, so it presents the same portability issues as any laptop - you'll need a case of some sort to protect it and carry the power cable. Even around the house, there's no simple way to carry the iPad. It's too thin, heavy, slippery and expensive to put under your arm. Several of our testers were seen carrying it like a dinner tray, as a butler would, to go from the kitchen table to the couch. Portability, shmortability.
It's heavy
To be sure, at 1.5 pounds and with all this functionality, the iPad is an impressive feat of engineering. But it's simply not light enough (a Kindle ebook reader is about 10 ounces) and that heft adds to the awkwardness. Holding the iPad in one hand for more than a few minutes to watch a movie or read an ebook results in tired wrists. Even holding it with two hands to read an ebook is tiring. Reading an ebook on a smartphone is ergonomically much more practical.
It's slippery
We might ignore the awkward size and weight, but the iPad is also slippery, and its aluminum back is ever-so-slightly slightly concave. You feel as though it'd slip right out if you try to hold it under your arm. And on the kitchen counter, it slides and twirls as you try to type or swipe the screen (required for navigating). It needs rubber feet, but of course then it won't be near as cool.
The screen has too much glare
The iPad has the same glossy screen as Apple's Macbook Pro laptops and iMac desktops. Unless you're reading in a very dim room, the glare will be noticeable and can be distracting. Outdoors, even in the shade, the glare is really annoying.
Forget reading in the sun
If you thought to take your iPad along for an outing in Central Park or at the beach, forget about it. While bright and contrasty indoors, the iPad's screen looks washed out and is almost impossible to view in bright sunlight. The Kindle's non-glossy e-ink display fares much better outdoors than the iPad's screen.
Fingerprints are annoying
Once you've used the iPad for a few minutes, among the most glaring shortcomings (besides the screen glare) are the fingerprints on the screen. With a smartphone, you can wipe the screen on your shirt or pants. The iPad is too big for that. We're wondering what exactly to clean it with and where we'll keep the cleaning supplies.
It does not multitask
The iPad runs the same operating system as the iPhone, and as a result has all of the iPhone's limitations. The most obvious of these is the inability to multitask - or do multiple things simultaneously. The iPad can't run more than one app at a time (with the exception of a few Apple apps, such as iPod, the iPad's music playing app). While this is may be acceptable in a smartphone, it's a major handicap in a device that Apple expects people to spend hours at a time on. (11 iPhone Tips That Also Work on the iPad )
The browser is limited
The iPad also uses the same limited Safari browser that's found on the iPhone. While much fuss has been made about the iPad's inability to play Flash video, there are other things it can't do as well. For example, Safari on iPad can't be used to create Google Documents, only to view them.
The virtual keyboard stinks
While the virtual keyboard on the iPad is much larger than the iPhone, it's still awkward to type on glass. Even those who've used tiny, cramped netbook keyboards will be disappointed by the lack of real keys and likely reduced to one-finger typing. The iPad can be paired with a physical keyboard, but even this is awkward, because the actions normally done with a mouse or a trackpad on a desktop or laptop have to be done with your finger on the iPad.
There's no USB port
The lack of even one USB port - the universal means of connecting just about everything these days - means you can't connect the device to a printer or other computer peripherals, such as an external hard drive. The iPad can be connected to cameras, but it requires the purchase of a separate accessory from Apple.
iPhone-only apps look horrible
Apple boasts that many of the 150,000 apps already available on the iPhone will also work on the iPad. What the company doesn't tell you is that when enlarged to fit on the iPad's screen, these iPhone apps look horrible, with images and text very pixelated. For this reason, many people will opt to buy apps that are made specifically for the iPad, which tend to be more expensive than their iPhone counterparts.
The price is just too high
$499 is just the beginning, a low-memory model that will fill up too quickly for anyone with a big music library and/or an appetite for video. Toss in ample memory and a 2-year, $280 "we'll replace it even if you drop it" warranty at Best Buy, and you're out $1,000. Given the iPad's weight, awkwardness and slipperiness, we think the warranty is smart.
It doesn't replace anything
The iPad will not replace your smartphone. Unless you can't type, it won't replace your laptop. If you love books, you could argue it's a great e-book reader, but let's see what your wrists say after a few days. The Kindle is a better e-reader. Frankly, we're not sure what need the iPad fills, other than the desire to be cool by owning a device that is in a class all its own.
It is ironic how some people are falling all over themselves to proclaim how crappy the iPad is. Instead of writing reviews with normal, non-click-bait headlines, they're purposefully slinging insults.
The irony is that this almost always portends a product that will be wildly successful and heralded as revolutionary in the history books. If that weren't the case, the iPad would be getting the normal, non-emotionally vindictive reviews.
But the reviews are still entertaining and I enjoy reading them. Keep them coming! Why do I like them? Who knows. Why do I also like movies like Saw and Hostel? The reviews aren't drilling holes through knee caps in cinematically creative ways, but they still get the blood boiling somehow. I'm not personally the target of either. But they're both confrontational and push the heart rate up... ahhh the exhilaration.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread....readID=2387133
The killer appears to be this ipad limitation:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread....readID=2387133
Software related for the most part which means that a fix may or may not be imminent. I know from chatting with Mac developers that there's a chasm between the text handling tools of all iPhone OS version and what they routinely deploy on Macs with Core Text and other API. Thursday will be big for ascertaining what new stuff makes it in and then we'll have to see how long it takes to get critical mass of iPhone OS 4 users.