Impressed with iPad

[discodanman45]

$499 for the iPad without having to buy into any contracts is quite the deal. As an instructor and having to fly quite a bit, I have many uses for this. This is why I am buying one, many reasons listed below.

1) Watching a movie on a plane with a laptop is a pain. The heat is one problem, but the other problem is getting a good viewing angle and having the keyboard in your lap. Using an iPad for travelling beats a laptop hands down.

2) As an instructor I check e-mail on a regular basis. However turning on a laptop is a pain and slow. Turning on the iPad will be much quicker to turn on and retrieve e-mail.

3) iWorks will be available, video output, and bluetooth keyboard. Basically having a 10" laptop that has many other functions, and much lighter then a laptop!

4) Apps!!! I am thinking of writing a test generator app for teachers right off the bat. With apps and creativity of people I see amazing things happening.

I have a use for this. To me it is not a gadget that will be fun to have, for me it will be a great multifunction device that will make travelling a whole lot easier and a whole lot more enjoyable!

[XenaWP]

I'm happy you have found a use for this new device.

Personally, to me ... stupidest. thing. ever.

Too heavy for an ebook reader. Too small a screen to watch a movie/tv show. Too big to carry around.

It's an answer in search of a question.

[Force Flow]

ho hum.

[pam123]

It will work for me.
The only deal breaker would be if I can't use Hulu (Time to start getting "creative" with this November's budget.) so I hope that NYT shot that showed a flas video was for real.

[Alaron]

No flash, no multi-tasking and an awkward keyboard make it a no-go for me. I look forward to the 'iPad killers' that will start to surface soon though.

[discodanman45]

For a laptop I hardly ever multi-task. I save that for my dual monitor display. You can get an attachable keyboard, so that is not an issue as well. Not having flash is bad, but not essential for this type of device.

The real success of the iPad is the users through apps. The users of the iPhone made it an amazing device through the creativity of apps, without apps the iPhone would be another touch screen device. Now if the users think that the iPad is a big iPhone and treat it that way, this product will fail. However, through apps, the users can mold this device into something special. I think that Apple gave as a device that can do soo much more then what we can even comprehand at this point.

[glc]

From a cost standpoint, a netbook is a much better value. The iPad is overpriced like everything else Apple makes. The $499 base price goes up sharply when you add 3g and more storage. If I had a need for this type of device, I'd wait till it has competition.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by discodanman45 For a laptop I hardly ever multi-task. I save that for my dual monitor display. You can get an attachable keyboard, so that is not an issue as well. Not having flash is bad, but not essential for this type of device. The real success of the iPad is the users through apps. The users of the iPhone made it an amazing device through the creativity of apps, without apps the iPhone would be another touch screen device. Now if the users think that the iPad is a big iPhone and treat it that way, this product will fail. However, through apps, the users can mold this device into something special. I think that Apple gave as a device that can do soo much more then what we can even comprehand at this point.

You really shouldn't have to rely on 3rd-party developers as a reason to get an overpriced device that lacks features out-of-the-box.

Honestly, I see nothing revolutionary here, and like g says, a netbook is certainly a much better value in most cases.

[pam123]

The guys over at Maximum PC explain : http://www.maximumpc.com/article/col...osed_standards

[Masaki 7-11]

I personally can't think of a use for the iPad, at least for myself. The device is too large to carry in your pocket, and too small to carry around comfortably in a container (such as a laptop bag). My experience with touch screens haven't been to great, especially once they get older the response of the screen goes down to the point where you may be required to do the same action multiple times. I also think that the lack of external memory (like SDHC) is going to be a big problem in the long run; maybe 16GB or 64GB is ok for now, but in a few years it may not be; you can already get 16GB SDHC cards for $40, if it had external memory upgrading the total storage would be easy and less expensive than getting a higher capacity version.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Force Flow Honestly, I see nothing revolutionary here, and like g says, a netbook is certainly a much better value in most cases.

You make some good points. My initial reaction to the iPad is that it's overall use falls somewhere between an iPhone and a laptop computer. It seems to have a good use, but once again, Apple has missed the mark from a marketing perspective by overpricing the device.

As I watched the news segment that introduced the iPad, my initial thought was that this device would sell for under $200. When they announced the $499 STARTING price, I was a bit surprised and disappointed, thinking this iPad was way over-priced. Apple seems to have a track record for overvaluing and over hyping their new product lines.

---pete---

[discodanman45]

I dislike the term overpriced when people discuss Apple. Apple has quality products and does not produce cheap plastic products like many companies. $500-$800 for a product that can do what that iPad can do is not overpriced. They are not requiring any contracts and will not block WiFi access without a contract. I still have no idea why I can not use my BlackBerry for web browsing without a data plan if I am using my own internet.

I treat Apple like the company Bose. You pay a bit more for the product, but I am always pleased with the high quality. I still use my old school 30 GB iPod and I am amazed at the quality of the product. It still looks brand new and I have had it for 4 years I think. I throw it in bags, have it in my pockets with keys, and never use a case with it. On the other hand my BlackBerry phone is 2 years old and is starting to fall apart. Oh yeah, and I have the BlackBerry in a case.

You pay more for Apple products because they put the research into the product. Other companies can charge less because they copy Apple.

[XenaWP]

The ergonomics of this thing are nightmarish. You can't use it one-handed. You have to hold the thing with one hand and jab at icons with the other. What's the point of this? Building up my deltoids?

If I'm going to use 2 hands, I'm going to do it with a device that has more power and function. The marketers mention the "low" price of $499. I can get a kickbutt laptop for that price with WAY more memory. Add memory to the Ipad and you're looking at serious money.

They also keep putting out the Koolaid about their product quality. Whatever. They deliberately design in obsolescence. No slot for flash expansion. No replaceable battery.

This thing sucks as a reader with the backlit IPS display, it sucks ergonomically, it looks like an Ipod on bovine growth hormone. Battery life is abysmal for a book reader ... but hey, they sure look flashy with a bright color LCD.

Here's what Apple does magnificently: they sell a renegade image. They sell cool. They sell pretty. They make very elegant products that are usually crippled for people who want or need serious power and functionality. Now, if you like their stuff, that's fine, and wonderful, and I'm glad you like it. Just don't insult me by telling me what a value and how functional it is. Because that's marketing, not reality.

[glc]

The only thing about anything from Apple that even remotely justifies the inflated price is build quality and reliability, I *WILL* give them that. However, the lack of an end user replaceable battery turns me off.

Dan, more power to you if this device is exactly what you want and you want to be an early adopter - but don't come back whining in a few months when Apple drops the price substantially because it's a slow seller. We have ALL seen that before - remember how much the iPhone cost when it first came out?

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by discodanman45 I dislike the term overpriced when people discuss Apple. Apple has quality products and does not produce cheap plastic products like many companies. $500-$800 for a product that can do what that iPad can do is not overpriced.

The problem is that I don't see it offering enough to warrant the current price, hence an unequal exchange of cash for the product, and thus the label "overpriced".

Heck, I'm wondering how the iPad does with handprints. The iPhone and iPod Touch look nasty after about 5 minutes of use with all that grease from your hands showing up.

Originally Posted by discodanman45 I treat Apple like the company Bose. You pay a bit more for the product, but I am always pleased with the high quality.

Bose is overhyped and overpriced as well. Any serious audiophile will tell you that. Denon is usually one of the top choices over Bose. Slightly better quality and reliability, however, they don't advertise to the general public much. That's probably why they can often offer a better price for a roughly comparable product.

[glc]

Bose is high quality? You could have fooled me.

I have no idea whether things are the same now, but I was in the stereo business when the Bose 901's were hot. You know what was inside those boxes? Nine 4 inch cone speakers, and they were CHEAP cones. Standard paper cones, fairly small magnets, single element. I've seen much higher quality 4 inch car speakers. The only reason they sounded good to a lot of people was the enclosure design.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by discodanman45 You pay more for Apple products because they put the research into the product. Other companies can charge less because they copy Apple.

In general there are some products where higher price corresponds to higher quality, but that is usually the case when there is much competition in the marketplace with multiple manufacturers producing the same product.

On the other hand, when a manufacturer or company has little competition, the price they charge for the product usually has very little do with the costs to produce it. They price it at the highest possible point that the market will bear. One such example is the iPhone which came to market as a brand new concept with no real competition. The price was set excessively high, but for various reasons, Apple realized the mistake and they dropped the price dramatically. I contend that the same is happening here with the iPad where the initial price is set excessively high. However, if enough people DO NOT fall for this marketing ploy we will see the iPad price drop dramatically.

---pete---

[discodanman45]

I understand for most people here the iPad will be a toy, and I understand that. I may be dreaming here, but as an instructor of 7 classes I feel that this will hit all my needs. Lugging around heavy instructor textbooks is a pain, and I hope that textbook companies will give me free iBooks of all my textbooks. I also have to call students if they miss class and I would use the address book quite often. I wonder if I could link up my BlackBerry to that address book to make calls through BlueTooth? With iWorks i would also be able to show presentations for my classes. Also my old laptop takes awhile to boot up and I would assume running the iPhone OS it would turn on much quicker then a laptop. With the additional full size keyboard, it will serve my needs as a document writer and e-mail device.

GLC, I will not be whining when the price comes down. The reason I won't is because I build computers The computer in my sig is now my wifes internet computer. Computers basically lose half of there value within a year, as with any technology product. I know if I wait I would get a refined product and at a better cost. However, they might not come out with a second version for another year. So I won't wait on buying something I want on the "what if?" statement.

[discodanman45]

I am wondering why people are comparing the price to the iPhone? This makes no sense at all. The iPhone is a phone which needed to be purchased with a contract through AT&T. The iPhone came down in price because all phones are cheaper with a contract. The iPad will come with NO CONTRACT! That means the price will not be subsidized with a contract. If the iPad does come down in price it will be because you will have to sign up for a 2 year data plan contract.

Take the iTouch for example. The iTouch starts at $200. If they charge that much for an iTouch, the iPad at $500 will not come down in price for a long time. iPods have also stayed around the same price and haven't dipped in price like the iPhone. the iPad will be $500 for at least a year and the revision will start at the same $500 when it comes out. I see no price slashing like many people here are predicting.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by discodanman45 I am wondering why people are comparing the price to the iPhone? This makes no sense at all.

Pricing trend comparison.

Originally Posted by discodanman45 Lugging around heavy instructor textbooks is a pain, and I hope that textbook companies will give me free iBooks of all my textbooks.

I think I mentioned earlier that it's not a great idea to bank on 3rd-party support. If all you want is just a textbook reader, an amazon kindle is half the price. And the eBook format is more likely to be supported, though it would be wise to check with the publisher for going either digital route. Some publishers will flat out not publish certain textbooks in electronic format.

[EzyStvy]

Originally Posted by discodanman45 I am wondering why people are comparing the price to the iPhone? This makes no sense at all. The iPhone is a phone which needed to be purchased with a contract through AT&T. The iPhone came down in price because all phones are cheaper with a contract. The iPad will come with NO CONTRACT!

I don't think people are doing that. I think they are doing this:

Originally Posted by glc From a cost standpoint, a netbook is a much better value. The iPad is overpriced like everything else Apple makes. The $499 base price goes up sharply when you add 3g and more storage. If I had a need for this type of device, I'd wait till it has competition.

[Strider]

I kind of laugh at Apple's stance on Flash, for they say they can't tweak Flash because it is a closed system. However, when someone else wants to write an application(s) for the iPhone they have to get it approval or want to use Mac OS on a non-apple PC they go after them with lawyers (the latter is understandable I guess for they are protecting their Brand). One word comes to mind - Hypocrites. I would never contemplate in buying an iPad for I'm a Flash developer and I really can't see where Apple is coming from for surely they have employees there at Apple that know how to program in Flash? Anyways, I've been a PC user a long time and I tried using a Mac, but I just feel like a fish out of water...I must be getting old.

[EzyStvy]

GOOGLE-> Hitler responds to the iPad

To see a funny yet serious overview of the iPad...

[Force Flow]

Another overview:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/11f...pad-commercial