" CheapyD from CAG tweeted "iPass" on this subject. Strange thing is, this tablet makes me want to buy an iPhone. I have a T-Mobile family account though..hm... "

I'll just stick with my laptop, that has flash and a camera lol.

iTampon is the correct term

The iPad will be Apple's Virtual Boy.  I'm calling it now.

The bezel is so fucking huge.

" @Apathylad said:

" CheapyD from CAG tweeted "iPass" on this subject. Strange thing is, this tablet makes me want to buy an iPhone. I have a T-Mobile family account though..hm... "

I suggest Nexus One. "

I mean this literally seems like just a larger ipod touch, with 3G if you want to stop eating for a month.

" @moelarrycurly said:

" The iPad will be Apple's Virtual Boy.  I'm calling it now. "

Considering most people were pretty adamant that the iPod would fail, I think any predictions are better off not made. "

I was thinking this might replace my kindle in 2 or more years, but from the looks of it, that is not going to happen. Just a big screen ipod touch.

But... its new and from apple, BUY BUY BUY BUY!!!! 
 
J/k looks like someone with an ipod/mac book is already covered

" @Babble said:

" @moelarrycurly said:

" The iPad will be Apple's Virtual Boy.  I'm calling it now. "

Considering most people were pretty adamant that the iPod would fail, I think any predictions are better off not made. "

Yeah, I'm genuinely surprised to think that the general consensus about the iPad is negative, but even taking that into account,  I'm still not willing to put out any sort of predictions on how popular it will be. It's still grabbed the attention of the mainstream media more than most tech devices do. "

" oduct to come out.  But I think we can all agree that it isn't a gaming platform, and trying to market it as one just won't work. "
Mandatory? Sure i don't live in the US and have no idea how it works there but there sure as hell isn't a mandatory contract with a 3G carrier to get a netbook here in Finland and i bet you can get one in the US too without any contracts. Here you go samsung n120 (~$399) a netbook that is $100 cheaper and does what the iPad does and much more that's just the first one that came to mind i'm sure there are even better alternatives. Also keep in mind the $499 iPad is only the 16GB  version with WiFi and no 3G, going all the way up to $829 for 64GB and 3G.
"

" @Addfwyn said:

"...Also the incredibly cheap price point for the device is gonna be a huge boon for it. "

Are you actually serious? Apple fanboys never cease to amaze me.. The device is way overpriced. You get more powerful netbooks/laptops for a price lower than the iPad.

let's talk about the price. 500 bucks? for real? I could get a laptop that does everything that thing does and more for that price, in fact last year i did. of course no touch screen but i prefer a mouse anyways

I honestly don't understand people complaining about a device that costs $500 when every analyst was predicting $999. 
 
It's half the price everyone expected, and you're still complaining?  I'm not sure exactly what you wanted then, $99?  $199?  The device would have been utterly useless at those pricepoints, it's packing a lot of value into a $500 package right now.

So who is this thing aimed at?  Perhaps it will sell on name alone, but I'm not sure who actually benefits from buying this (beside Apple of course).

You summed up my feelings on it quite well.   Actually as far as gaming I didn't really have any expections, I like controllers and not casual games.   But I was figuring that if it was the most important thing Steve Jobs had ever done it was obviously going to be way more than a big iPod.   And, oh look, its a big iPod.   
 
As a business person I have to have my Blackberry and laptop with me no matter what.  The iPad does nothing unique or in a unique matter that would make me want to use it.   I think it will be a must-have accessory for tweens and college kids......actually if I was a person with no computer or internet access,  getting a ipad with 30 month data plan could be a great deal.  But how many people do you know who fall into that category (luddite-esque) and would be willing to pay 650 on a unit without a physical keyboard standard?  

I still don't get why people are comparing it to all sorts of crap they already have. Why compare it to a netbook? They are pretty much useless (to me, as are laptops). You can use them to browse the web and read mail, that's pretty much it. Any application just slows it to a crawl. There's no software written especially for them, which they kinda need, seeing as they have the computing power of a graphing calculator. And the screens, for the most part, are so rubbish that 20 minutes is pretty much all i can handle. Still, they get the job done and that's all cool. If what you "need" an iPad for is just the stuff you do on the devices you already have, then pffs, what? Use what you have.   

Again.. It's not supposed to replace laptops or phones or ipods. .. If anything, it's closest competitor would be the new e-book readers that have been popping up lately with support for video and web browsing and stuff like that. 
   
Tablets have been around forever, but right now is really the time to launch a strong tablet device, and apple knew it. And so did everyone else, if CES is anything to go by. The only computer manufacturers that didn't launch a tablet this year were the ones who held out to see what apple was going to release. Go diss them instead, cause they are way more likely to fail.  
 
App store is key.

iPad makes me think of customizable menstruation.

" I still don't get why people are comparing it to all sorts of crap they already have. Why compare it to a netbook? They are pretty much useless (to me, as are laptops). You can use them to browse the web and read mail, that's pretty much it. Any application just slows it to a crawl. There's no software written especially for them, which they kinda need, seeing as they have the computing power of a graphing calculator. And the screens, for the most part, are so rubbish that 20 minutes is pretty much all i can handle. Still, they get the job done and that's all cool. If what you "need" an iPad for is just the stuff you do on the devices you already have, then pffs, what? Use what you have.   Again.. It's not supposed to replace laptops or phones or ipods. .. If anything, it's closest competitor would be the new e-book readers that have been popping up lately with support for video and web browsing and stuff like that.    Tablets have been around forever, but right now is really the time to launch a strong tablet device, and apple knew it. And so did everyone else, if CES is anything to go by. The only computer manufacturers that didn't launch a tablet this year were the ones who held out to see what apple was going to release. Go diss them instead, cause they are way more likely to fail.   App store is key. "

" @cassus said:

" I still don't get why people are comparing it to all sorts of crap they already have. Why compare it to a netbook? They are pretty much useless (to me, as are laptops). You can use them to browse the web and read mail, that's pretty much it. Any application just slows it to a crawl. There's no software written especially for them, which they kinda need, seeing as they have the computing power of a graphing calculator. And the screens, for the most part, are so rubbish that 20 minutes is pretty much all i can handle. Still, they get the job done and that's all cool. If what you "need" an iPad for is just the stuff you do on the devices you already have, then pffs, what? Use what you have.   Again.. It's not supposed to replace laptops or phones or ipods. .. If anything, it's closest competitor would be the new e-book readers that have been popping up lately with support for video and web browsing and stuff like that.    Tablets have been around forever, but right now is really the time to launch a strong tablet device, and apple knew it. And so did everyone else, if CES is anything to go by. The only computer manufacturers that didn't launch a tablet this year were the ones who held out to see what apple was going to release. Go diss them instead, cause they are way more likely to fail.   App store is key. "

Exactly, I couldn't have said it better.  It's not a netbook, it's a device that can have products specifically written for it, and the app store is where that will come forth and cause the device to succeed (or fail, honestly).  You're right in the closest competitors being the specialized ebook readers, but even then I think it's not quite in the same niche.  I think the biggest problem is people are trying to label it in one of the niches they are used to, and it is its own new device.  It's not a laptop, a smartphone, an ebook reader, or a netbook.  It's a tablet computer, maybe 'personal tablet' being a good name for the niche it creates.  Don't expect it to be the only one in that category either, even if it is the first. "

" @Addfwyn: It's not that it costs so much. I would gladly pay 650 for a tablet PC that had more functionality. However, Apple's offering is so piss-poor and holds no promise that it will never justify (to me) it's price. What do I want a giant Iphone for? "

what is this thing for?
an dim really getting tired of apples naming convention.

I'll stick with my Newton thank you very much.

I can think of more reasons not to buy one than to buy one, on the specs alone, but the fact is I've never been an early adopter of Apple.  My first iPod was a mini, my iTouch is second gen, no computer of mine has ever been the first model. Hardware and software are, in hindsight, undercooked at v1.0.
 
Speaking as someone who has taken a university-level course in iPhone programming, I know we can expect some amazing things out of this device once some truly creative people get a hold of it.  Keynote for ten bucks?  They had to do that for launch.  Wait until someone figures out how to pair a Dualshock 3 to this thing.  And my god, I can't wait to see what Ben Heck comes up with.

" @Getz said:

" @Addfwyn: It's not that it costs so much. I would gladly pay 650 for a tablet PC that had more functionality. However, Apple's offering is so piss-poor and holds no promise that it will never justify (to me) it's price. What do I want a giant Iphone for? "

You do know that software is what ultimately defines what your tablet does? Not the actual device itself? And that there will be a myriad of apps for it? Many of which will do stuff you've never even thought of? "

This device is just abysmal.  You can't blow up an Iphone and expect people to call it a tablet.  This is NOT a tablet.

" @Getz:   @orionw:  Because you can do things with the iPad you can't do on a netbook and would not be terribly feasible on an iPod Touch.   Yet again, it is NOT a netbook, it is a separate device.  Stop comparing it to one.   Example:  Listening to some people discuss it, one guy mentioned the use in aviation.  Laptops, even a netbook, aren't a comfortable fit anywhere in the cockpit of a personal aircraft.  iPod Touch has aviation maps, but it's relatively hard to see that thing sitting in your lap.  Voila, iPad solves both problems, especially with a mount.    Example 2: Educational services.  Why have a textbook when you have a device that not only is an excellent book reader (specifically better than a Kindle here because it's color and can be scanned quickly, whereas Kindle is better for linear reading like novels) that you can take notes on as well.    Example 3: Medical services, walk around with your iPad, make notes on patients that are uploaded to the central hospital database immediately.  No need for charts that have to be entered in manually by overworked nurses.  (having worked in a hospital, I can attest to how big that one is). Games?  Yeah, you have your laptops and desktops for that, this isn't for that I feel.  Maybe they'll prove me wrong, but I don't see it really making a great gamingd evice.   "

 Great, now I have that damned Ke$ha song stuck in my head again.

I am genuinely disappointed. No multitasking or flash just breaks this for me. They should have based the tech off of Mac OS X not the iphone OS.

If this had a native magazine app with great publisher support as imagined in this video: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntyXvLnxyXk  
 
then I might be interested. I like magazines, but I don't like the whole actual paper part.

No matter what Apple announced today, there was no way it could live up the hype people put upon it. As a game device, if you already own an iPhone/iPod Touch, DS, or PSP there is NO reason you should get this thing. Everyone thought that  iPad (danm that is a stupid name) would legitimize tablets or be the replacement for netbooks. I'm my opinion it's not.  The iPad is clearly going after e-readers like Amazon's Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook. If you look at that market, the iPad can do for e-readers what the iPod did in terms of the MP3 market and be the dominant player.  
 
The iPad makes all the e-readers that was announced at  CES look like nothing. If you was in market for an e-reader (which I'm not) no question I would pick the iPad. With a color screen now we can get a device that really can replace newspapers, magazine, comics, manga, etc. For it to be successful though it has to down in price to a simple Kindle level and quickly make deals with publishers for a fair price without feel like they are ripping up off.  If Apple can do that, I feel they have another big money maker on theirs. The key will be will the content and eventually a lower price of the device. 

hmmmmmm........ very interesting.. the funny thing is apple could make something soooo much more spectacular... but guess what? THEY WONT
they will wait and waiiiittttt... and upgrade their products step by step, dollar by dollar and what happens??? $$$$$$$$$$ tons of money in their pockets because our idiotic human beings actually pay attention to those SILLY Mac vs. PC commercials... :S amaizing isnt it? well it seems to be working well for apple... but for me.. i will avoid every chance i get to touch that stupid 10 inch box  :-/

" @Addfwyn said:

" @cassus said:

" I still don't get why people are comparing it to all sorts of crap they already have. Why compare it to a netbook? They are pretty much useless (to me, as are laptops). You can use them to browse the web and read mail, that's pretty much it. Any application just slows it to a crawl. There's no software written especially for them, which they kinda need, seeing as they have the computing power of a graphing calculator. And the screens, for the most part, are so rubbish that 20 minutes is pretty much all i can handle. Still, they get the job done and that's all cool. If what you "need" an iPad for is just the stuff you do on the devices you already have, then pffs, what? Use what you have.   Again.. It's not supposed to replace laptops or phones or ipods. .. If anything, it's closest competitor would be the new e-book readers that have been popping up lately with support for video and web browsing and stuff like that.    Tablets have been around forever, but right now is really the time to launch a strong tablet device, and apple knew it. And so did everyone else, if CES is anything to go by. The only computer manufacturers that didn't launch a tablet this year were the ones who held out to see what apple was going to release. Go diss them instead, cause they are way more likely to fail.   App store is key. "

Exactly, I couldn't have said it better.  It's not a netbook, it's a device that can have products specifically written for it, and the app store is where that will come forth and cause the device to succeed (or fail, honestly).  You're right in the closest competitors being the specialized ebook readers, but even then I think it's not quite in the same niche.  I think the biggest problem is people are trying to label it in one of the niches they are used to, and it is its own new device.  It's not a laptop, a smartphone, an ebook reader, or a netbook.  It's a tablet computer, maybe 'personal tablet' being a good name for the niche it creates.  Don't expect it to be the only one in that category either, even if it is the first. "

People with no vision compare stuff to what they know. Why would we need cheese? We already have milk. "

Has anyone else here seen the MadTV iPad skit?

 @SeriouslyNow:  
 
Oh, you've got an iPad and have seen the apps it will be using in the future already?  Sorry, I didn't realize you were a time traveller.  I imagine the iPad will indeed be useful on many levels, whether or not they are levels that you will need or not is another matter.  For kids who just are looking for a game platform, look elsewhere cause it just won't succeed there.  If you're looking for something for some more specialized purposes, it may meet your needs there. 
 
Look at the iPhone before the app store, it was a sufficient but limited device (much like the iPad is a sufficient media player, but limited).  Look at it after the app store, revolutionized the market.  Imagine what a larger scale more powerful version of that can do. 
 
or you can keep thinking up dumb names that make you feel clever.  That's fine too.  

Jeff, nuff said.

"  @SeriouslyNow:   Oh, you've got an iPad and have seen the apps it will be using in the future already?  Sorry, I didn't realize you were a time traveller.  I imagine the iPad will indeed be useful on many levels, whether or not they are levels that you will need or not is another matter.  For kids who just are looking for a game platform, look elsewhere cause it just won't succeed there.  If you're looking for something for some more specialized purposes, it may meet your needs there.  Look at the iPhone before the app store, it was a sufficient but limited device (much like the iPad is a sufficient media player, but limited).  Look at it after the app store, revolutionized the market.  Imagine what a larger scale more powerful version of that can do.  or you can keep thinking up dumb names that make you feel clever.  That's fine too.   "