But what I am trying to get across is ... would YOU buy this? How many newspaper purchases and shuffling of to the computer desk to look up info would you rather endure rather than getting a larger screen cell phone? Because that's what this is short of making phone calls. Doesn't your iPhone or HTC do the same things the iPad does?

I must be missing something but I think this is purely a novelty device.

I don't own a smartphone and I don't want an iphone because of AT&T contracts. I left them and don't want to go back just because of a piece of hardware. I'm not a mac fanboi, and only have a mac in my house for video editing and I don't use it at all, the wife does. It was bought for 100% video editing.

I can tell you that it's annoying to schlep over to the desktop behind the sofa when watching TV and wanting to look something up, send a quick email, etc. My laptop was conveniently placed by the sofa, but it was cumbersome to open, turn on, and then put back. Why put back? Because I'd always inadvertently get distracted and move onto something else. Also, my full desktop screams work or play video games.

What an iPhone or an HTC does not have is screen real estate. Now understand this, a young college or fresh out of college person doesn't have ALL the things that a household does. Many things do multifunctions because of the space limitations of a dorm room.

A household does not have that limitation, and it also usually doesn't have the crucial and most critical limitation, disposable income.

actually, now I think about it,

this would be kinda cool in the kitchen..

but other than that-- it's still fail for me. That's just me. I see how it could work for some people (i.e. our producers) but for me personally, I don't want one right now. There are some of the other ones that are rumored that look a lot better for functionality. If google and HTC develop the last one in the picture post, it's game over for apple unless they release a 3g verizon setup.

Currently, I drag my macbook into the kitchen when cooking, I drag my macbook to the couch to read the news and read TFP. It follows me around everywhere. I would take it more places if it was an iPad.

That was a great review Redlemon... thank for posting it.

Okay, you better not be posting from the thundermug like Jazz does... that's just too much.

Hey, get the right screen protector, you can chop your veggies on it!

That may, or may not be happening...

Hmm..

maybe Apple can develop a thundermug with usb ports and power outlets that allow for the iPad and Macbook Pros. It would help in those "gotta go NOW!" moments. No more wasting time plugging up to the outlet before you sit down.

oh..and a toilet paper app.

^^ It wouldn't be called the iLoo, that's not classy enough for apple... it would be called the iBidet ...







I didn't know how to spell bidet, I thought it was "badea" but then google turned up this ...
/toilet humor

Threads will only die unless I will them to die. You HEAR ME!!

>>LINK<<

Apple pre-sold around 50k units when they went on sale on the web yesterday. Their average hardware sales on their website is around 15k a day, to give you a sense of the scale of this thing.

Pundits expecting iPad to flop are going to be disappointed.

As someone who loves books and who works in publishing, I chortle with delight.

Also, it's good to see someone giving Amazon a run for their money.

One thing though: I'm still not sure I'd want this as my primary e-book reader. The screen isn't the best suited for reading a lot of text. I'd still prefer the Sony Reader in this respect.

But, still, as a multifunctional, Web/media-oriented device, the iPad looks like a winner.

If Patrick Henry were alive, he'd proudly proclaim "Give me tactile input or give me death!"

Fuck touch screen. I want to be able to FEEL my buttons. The reason muscle memory works so well is because of standardization of button placement. I'm having a hard time picturing myself typing as fast as I do now when every input device will have its own version of keyboard layout.

I used to think that too, LoganSnake. But I don't see this as primarily a productivity device. If I ever get the iPad, I'm going to be doing very little typing on it.

I envision it to be a lean back experience as opposed to a lean forward one.

I was mostly referencing the frameless laptops that were posted above.

Ah! My bad...!

More speculation, buzz, and expectation:
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/...OSKH4ATMY32JVN

It would be incredible if iPad sales outstrip that of iPhone three months after release. I remember the hype surrounding that. And we know how many of those have been sold, especially with subsequent releases of new models.

What's more talk of the town is the wheeling and dealing between Apple and content providers such as television producers and book and magazine publishers. Content providers are putting a lot of stake into this device, and as with both the iPod and the iPhone, what truly matters is the marriage of device and content.

Also leaked today, Jobs told Apple employees at a "town hall meeting" a week ago that the next iPhone refresh will be "an A+ upgrade". Don't know what that means, but I'm holding onto my old 3G with the cracked screen until June, looks like.

The A+ upgrade will be an iPhone on Verizon 3g. Apple's contract with AT&T is over in the summer and if they're smart they'll go over to Verizon and sell a fuck load of iPhones.

Even if they do go to Verizon, I won't be purchasing one. I sill like my blackberry better than the iPhone.

It's coming....
 

Anyone getting one this weekend?

And here's an interesting indicator of market adoption:
And an iPad in Every Backpack - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

The chatter now includes a double-resolution screen, support for wireless-N, and a front-facing camera. Also it's expected to be based on the same Apple-designed chipset the iPad rocks. Word is that a CDMA-based iPhone might be coming later this summer, which would be available on Verizon and Sprint.

This is all rumor, of course--hard to know what's true and what's pure speculation, in the run-up to an Apple release.

Mine shipped out from CN a couple of days ago...
Yep. Supposed to be here by Saturday.
We'll see.

Wow, nice, ART.

I'd like to hear your initial impressions. Will you write us up a review?

Flash will probably not be added to the iPad any time soon. Apple has issues with Adobe. That said, html5 is supposed to be the next big thing and the iPad does support that.


I hear T-mobile is definitely getting the iPhone. I've also heard Verizon is as well but I find that a little harder to believe seeing as it requires them to change hardware. It seems like the most likely scenario is that the iPhone will become unlocked so that you can use it on any carrier.

Now as far as the iPad is concerned: I can't wait! :)
I figure, if it can surf the web, watch movies, and view photos from my camera, I can definitely use it. I recently sold my Apple laptop because it was just too big and bulky. All I really did on it was surf the internet and take it on the occasional plane ride. I also just replaced my iPhone, (it was great although At&t was terrible) but the screen was just too small to sit on the couch and browse the internet. I've been an Apple person for a long time so I've learned that with Apple products it kind of goes like this: it may not do everything but what it does, it does very well.

I will be standing in line at my local Best Buy when they open. I figure I have a better shot there then at an Apple store and it's a little late now to preorder.

Oh and Gizmodo has a nice summary of some reviews here: First iPad Reviews Are In - Apple ipad review - Gizmodo

Baraka_Guru...for whatever it's worth, sure, I'll type out a few impressions from my minimally relevant point of view.

I had a dream last night that I really really wanted an iPad.

Then I woke up and realized.... I DO really really want an iPad.

Consumers aren't the only ones whipped up into a frenzy....
 

It appears that the run-up to the release of the iPad tomorrow has caused excitable consumers and media companies alike.

Media players set to climb atop iPad's platform - The Globe and Mail

Television, newspapers, and magazines are realigning their business models and distribution channels in response to the iPad. It isn't entirely new; they've been thinking about online content and content for mobile devices for years.

However, some critics and analysts are saying the iPad will be a game-changer, bringing the best of all worlds.

Some highlights from the article:

• CBS and ABC have worked out deals to make their shows available for free on the iPad.
• The New York Times is one of the first newspapers to have an app for daily publishing, plus an iPad-coded website.
• Five of the biggest magazine publishers in the States are collaborating on a project called Next Issue Media to create a “digital storefront.”

it's chindogu - got the whole wide web in my hands
 

First feel of the iPad here in my hands.

Slippery...a whole new thing to get used to holding in my hand.

More later...

Nice. For some reason I have more scale with you standing with it. I think that's a mental image.

Very nice. Let us know how TFP looks on it. :)

It is chindōgu, but I mean that in a good way!

Don't drop it!

Apparently this uses a non-standard USB port which only lets the iPad charge via the all adapter (sold by Apple) or a mac. It won't charge on your PC....

Once again apple is trying to lock their customers into their products. I don't think I will ever by an apple product, they have become incredibly evil and anti-competitive.

According to Apple, it uses USB 2.0, and is compatible with Mac OS X and Windows. It would be kinda silly of them to not make this compatible with PCs, considering the size of the market.

Also, I don't understand the connection to being proprietary and being anti-competitive. It's not a new concept.

Handles like a dream. Much faster than the iPod Touch/iPhone. Apps are highly responsive, and iBooks is outstanding (built-in dictionary ftw). Seems to work just as well as Safari on my Mac, actually. TFP looks great.

Posted from the iPad.

Being 2.0 complaint only means it can communicate over 2.0, it doesn't mean it will charge over it:

Apple iPad charging woes: USB hubs, non-Macs and weak ports not rejuvenating -- Engadget

---------- Post added at 12:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 AM ----------

Some people on mac's are reporting theirs won't charge either, in particular if they are running windows on their mac...

Ah, apparently it was designed to be charged using a wall plug. It comes with a 10W USB Power Adapter.

And the battery must be a beast compared to the iPod Classic, if you compare the stats (6 hours of video playback for the iPod vs. 10 hours for the iPad).

---------- Post added at 08:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:47 PM ----------

Nice. How do you find the keyed input?

The keypad most certainly is a step up from the iPhone/iTouch. I didn't realize how much the size effected accuracy and speed. It's performance seems to be faster, too, but that could just be my happier fingers.

You guys are killing me. I'm a technophile and I don't want one of this. I don't even own an apple product.