Apple’s stock always falls (or at least a lot of the time) after their announcements, though; that’s not unique to the iPad announcement.
I think the idea has potential, I guess, but not how they’re rolling it out. And I’m tempted to get a non iPhone when my contract is up in April just so I can freak out the fanboys by GOING AWAY FROM AN IPHONE. I’m seriously tempted to get rid of my Apple devices just because of how goddamned annoying the fanboys are and how there is no single flaw in any apple device EVER and if you point out one, well, it’s not important and no one needs it anyway.
From cnet news -
Ten Things Netbooks still do better than an iPad. Thing doesn’t even have a USB port.
Couldn’t disagree more (IMHO). I love my netbook for surfing, and it’s the bees knees for reading a book. If I want a real mouse, I’ve got one of the cordless mini mice. But both my Wife and I have become so proficient with the track pad, that we don’t bother.
8 Things That Suck About the iPad, now expanded to 11 things, not least of which is the Apps, controlled completely by Apple.
Sorry the Actual Toughbook already has that covered with the CF-19 series and the new U1. that thing would not last a day at my machine shop where we use Cf-18’s and 19’s. Plus they run an actual os xp tablet and have tons of connectivity options. I don’t see industry dropping all their legacy software for this.
I had told my wife about my idea for a household ‘appliance’ a couple of years ago as the prices for LCD screens dropped. It involved a screen mounted in an easily accessible location in a kitchen or living room with a hidden keyboard. I figured it could be used as a music player/photo frame with internet capabilities to be able to casually look up stuff on the fly. Bring up the news/weather in the morning, or play music during the day and look up recipes before supper. Of course, I never did anything with the idea, but this seems to fill that dusty corner of my mind. I suspect that people who would use it this way probably already have a computer nearby that could be used like this anyways.
I won’t be getting one, as it is still too expensive and doesn’t fill any need that I have.
I suspect that it will be used by commuters. It would be very handy with a cellular connection for someone who has an hour or 2 of down time on a regular basis.
My wife and I have iPhones and one of the AT&T family plans; we end up paying about $130/month for these. The thing is – the iPhone’s primary value to us isn’t as a phone: we’re near Seattle, and at least a third of 5-bar AT&T cellular calls here get dropped anyway. It’s as a use-anywhere web browser, navigation aid, and phone number looker-upper (for businesses and such, not existing contacts). And really, with that small screen, it’s only moderately good at that.
Hence, I see myself getting one of these iPads with the 3G, and dumping the iPhones for cheap pre-paid cells on some better network. Should have a net improvement in everything (better screen for on-the-go internet, better cell calling), for about 1/3 the monthly price (minus the initial investment, of course). I suspect we’ll see a lot of people doing that: I’m pretty sure iPhones aren’t selling on their call quality, at least not in large metro areas.
Seems to me that carrying the iPad around would be a bit of a pain though. Hopefully Apple will include a nice leather flip-case with it.
I wouldn’t buy one, two big reasons:
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It is a tablet computer, I’ve owned them before and there is, in my opinion, a good reason they’ve never caught on. They’re bulky enough that if you’re carrying one, you could easily be carrying a laptop, and they never have the features of a notebook (even a small real notebook, in the 13" range will always have far more features and utility than a tablet.)
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I have an e-Reader and I’d never consider the iPad for an eReader. Why? The absolute key reason is the screen. The iPad, as a device designed to allow basic computing uses a screen typical of computers: an LCD (in this case an LED-backlit IPS LCD, high quality but still an LCD.) LCD screens are fundamentally very different from the e-INK display used by e-Readers. The reason I bought an e-Reader is because the e-INK display is not an LCD screen, it isn’t backlit, it is very, very close to the effect of reading paper. Why did I want that? Because I’ve tried reading books on my LCD screens back before e-Readers became popular, it just wasn’t enjoyable. When any book I wanted was 2 days shipping away through Amazon, until the introduction of e-Readers there was just no reason to subject my eyes to the experience of reading a full length book on an LCD screen. With eINK e-Readers you get all the advantage of having a book on a computer-type device, without the big disadvantage (the discomfort of reading on an LCD screen.) For anyone who regularly reads full length books on their computer monitor and doesn’t mind it, something like the iPad could be a good combination device of e-Reader + iPad Touch.
I can’t carry and actual Toughbook around the lab, and I can’t be opening and closing it and putting it down to write on all the time. If there is an actual Windows tablet, then that may work as well. You can whine and bitch about Apple all you like, I’m just pointing out there are areas where something like this would be useful. I’ve certainly never seen a Windows based tablet, though I’m sure one is coming. Certainly Microsoft sees that this is a useful product.
A lot of the comments on this thing (specially the complaints) are missing the point. The iPad, just as every other Apple product is an appliance. You cannot condemn an appliance on what it doesn’t do. It is meant to do one thing and do it well.
The iPad is about carrying your media around the house. You can take your internet or your music or your video with you to whatever corner of the house you want to go.
It doesn’t do a lot things. It is not meant to.
In due time, it will change a few things. It will change the way you interact with your online content (once someone starts making content geared for it). New apps will come that will give it sense.
Look at the iPod touch. Who would have guessed it would turn into the success it did. It doesn’t make phone calls, it has no keyboard, it is too big for a music player. Yet there it is, sold by the millions.
I predict it will do well enough to get a second generation and that the second generation will be a smash hit once the first generation uncovers exactly what is it that this thing really does.
http://www.linuxjournal.com/images/placeholders/Emperor_WaspC-19.jpg
http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2009/6/panasonic-cf-u1.JPG
the Cf-19 is convertible from tablet to notebook. the new U1 is all tablet with onscreen keyboard the older model has an actual keyboard
just to clarify that cf-19 is running linux that someone installed. I just grabbed the first pic off of google. They usually come installed with XP or XP tablet your choice, Vista is available but most business opt for the XP downgrade. I would hate to buy the special cable to connect to my CNC’s from apple. One other things lots of production lines still use rs323 connections. I think toughbooks are one of the few still including it in their laptops and tablets. We use it for programming the CNC’s.
Oh and I was not the one whining and bitchin’. Just pointing out that Apple will have a hard time knocking Panasonic in industrial,govt, etc. where it is firmly entrenched.
I just don’t see it, I am sorry. The iPod had a very specific use and purpose, easily understood and importantly easy to use, making people’s lives easier. I do not see this doing that at all…
It’s not entrenched in chemistry research. ChemDraw was originally a Mac application, and chemists that I’ve seen are about 50/50. Anyway, the point isn’t to have a full computer for notes, the notes you take can be transferred to an actual computer later via wifi or Bluetooth. Software shouldn’t be a problem since it’s not meant as a full computer, there is no reason to switch your software at all. You would just have to buy new software for the iPad. I agree that the Cf-19 looks pretty good. I suspect the iPad will work faster since it is all flash memory, but this may not be an issue.
I don’t think people are looking at this right.
What you saw yesterday was a 0.8 beta. Parts just seem…sparse. Like there’s room for more. I could easily see a Camera showing up in 60 days…or in the 2nd version.
The problem is that to minimize what they have shown is to miss what they managed to do, which is completely develop a new hardware platform, rewrite an OS, and develop some pretty hefty new software, and do it fairly rapidly. It doesn’t WOW because they’re still filling in the gaps. It’s like looking at a luxury Hotel in the framing stages…you get a general idea of what it’s going to look like, but you can’t tell if the walls will be marble, or hammered copper.
What will this be good for?
Have you noticed all the schools that purchase or require a $1000 MacBook?
Dija notice this thing has a 10 hour battery life?
Notice it has art, wordprocessing, and presentation software?
No moving parts?
I think this will make a stellar student computer. Kid brings it home at night to type up homework, and uses it at school for notes, books, etc. The non 3g version is roughly half the price of the MacBook. Probably including the keyboard dock, once discounts and bulk purchasing applies.
Where else would a light, stiff, bright, easy to write for, thing like this work well? Hospitals, perhaps? Having a device that didn’t have a camera is a benefit there. Having that device be the older, cheaper, iPad purchased in bulk, is a pretty good idea, too.
Having a school computer that can’t be an accomplice in video sexting?
The current pad is a niche product for my needs, but what I HAVE noticed from observing the past is that the folks who critique something like this because it’s missing a widget, or doesn’t have the storage of a competitor, is the REST of the picture. (“No WiFi, less storage than a nomad: lame!” http://ejschmidt.com/blog/tag/ipod/ )
I think back to the humber of times my Laptop’s fans are running full blast, only to find Flash has crossed it’s eyes, then think how there’s no concept of ‘killing a process’ on my iPhone, and I think I know why it doesn’t have flash.
Disappointed in how it looks? Well, once you define a minimal design language…it’s hard to get any MORE minimal. That’s a two edged sword. The new hotness won’t look like new hotness, but by the same token, the design gets out of the way for the important stuff, and there’s no plastic chrome to flake.
New software=added expense. how will it handle that first accidental drop? both kinds liquid and onto the floor? running low on battery? with the toughbooks just switch it out and your up and running. How is apple on warranty Panasonics is 3yrs no questions asked, but chances are you will never need it Most industries use their own custom apps that run only on windows. This is a consumer product mainly. Last time I went to the hospital with my mother they all had Panasonics. Phone companies around here use Panasonics. Warehouses Panasonics. You get my drift.
Yes, but the iPod Touch was a lousy iPod and it took off on its own direction. I will not be surprised to see the iPad do something similar. It might be a lousy iPod Touch, or a lousy MacBook but will find its own direction and go.
LOL
Many moons ago…I worked ona project for a client that was a competitor of Wii…before Wii came out.
They wanted to know about the possible impact of Wii, as well as a couple more things.
My company did the study and passed me the data for statistical analysis. I worked on it and made a report of the results. I’ve done this a million times before…
I get a call from the Research manager (the person mainly in contact for the client) and the client is questioning the results. We set up a meeting and I am flayed alive. You see, my projection for the success of the Wii was too high. WAY too high. I am obviously a moron and made a mistake.
I go back and go over everything with a fine tooth comb. Nope…can’t find any mistake. I then compile a list in defense and present it.
The demand that I fly out so they can flay me alive in person (well they didn’t say that at the time). I fly out and realize I am in a hornets nest. Most uncomfortable 2 hours of my life. I stick to my guns and they essentially fire us/me as a provider.
My company is not happy with me. What could I do.
Wii comes out…after first year my projection was actually a little lower than reality (but pretty damn close IMO! 
)
Did I get an apology? Did I get a contact from the client saying…“DAMN, you had that right…we should go with you from here on?”
Nothing. They still are not one of our clients to this day.
I might get one eventually… as a development machine.
On the other hand, loading the Ontario Building Code and my other reference books onto this thing instead of lugging around a box and a half of paper is… tempting.