Apple announces iPad

[Dave Gray]

This is still happening now.  It's essentially a 9.7" screened iPod Touch. 

All of the apps from iPhone will work right away, and the tablet will be able to do a better job with streaming video and offering books, like a reader.

It looks pretty sweet, with fantastic quality of screen resolution and relative processing power.

The first thing that Jobs said was something like "Is there room for a space between the cell phone and the laptop?"  And I'm not sure that there is.  Everything on this tablet looks cool, but for what it will cost (not yet announced, as of my post), I don't think that it offers enough stuff that my phone or laptop doesn't. 

Sure, it would be great to stream movies to the device or view comics or magazines on it, but I think that's pretty niche.  The book application looks cool, but I imagine that the e-paper technology of the Kindle/Nook is better for that.

I am a bit skeptical of the mainstream appeal of this thing for regular use.  Thoughts?

[Dave Gray]

iPad pricing starts at $499.  That's actually MUCH more reasonable than I was thinking.

In a few years, I could see spending 200 bucks on one, maybe.

Pricing goes all the way up to $829, depending on it you're going to get it equipped with 3G and the max amount of storage space.

[fyo]

Just going by the photos, my biggest issue with it is the huge bezel area. With compact devices, I want the screen to go as far to the edge as possible. It's kind of like the Palm T3 Tungsten I bought way back when... it was really sweet at the time, but when you compare it with the almost-zero-bezel devices (PDAs and smartphones) out there today, it looks cumbersome and clunky.

[Brian Fein]

This seems to me to be Apple's answer to the netbook market.  I'm not sure that its small enough to be acceptable for full portability, and Apple's battery life has traditionally not been so great on portable devices that use Wi-Fi.

I am interested to see the reports once this thing gets going.

[Buddhagirl]

I want it. I had been debating buying a kindle for a while. Also, my laptop is dying. I do real work at my desk and just want a laptop/netbook for travel etc. This is right up my alley. But....I will wait and see how it works before I throw down my hard earned cash.

[TonyB0D]

this thing looks sweet, it's exactly what i need.

i have a very sweet, powerful macbook pro laptop, but i would rather just save it wear and tear because I do things like recording, media editing,  DJing with it.  When not doing that, it sits on my cawfee table and gets used every day.  however, when not doing "work" with it, i just browse the web, IM, and email....that's it.  for less than $500, this tablet would be perfect to just leave on the cawfee table and save my laptop for the media stuff.

[Dave Gray]

This seems to me to be Apple's answer to the netbook market.  I'm not sure that its small enough to be acceptable for full portability, and Apple's battery life has traditionally not been so great on portable devices that use Wi-Fi.

I am interested to see the reports once this thing gets going.

Those two areas don't look problematic for me.  They are claiming 10 hours of battery life + 1 month of standby time.  Even if it's only half that, I think it's still acceptable.  As for screen size, it's the same as the large kindle, which is most definitely small enough, I think.

I question the interface.  A keyboard like that is fine for quick, 1 line responses or searches, but not for word processing.

[Brian Fein]

Those two areas don't look problematic for me.  They are claiming 10 hours of battery life + 1 month of standby time.  Even if it's only half that, I think it's still acceptable.  As for screen size, it's the same as the large kindle, which is most definitely small enough, I think.

I question the interface.  A keyboard like that is fine for quick, 1 line responses or searches, but not for word processing.

if it gets that type of life with wi-fi enabled, that's impressive.  I don't think i would want it but I see a segment of people who would.  Like you, I still don't like the touchscreen typing...  I just question the portability and I can't imagine why I would need to carry something THAT big if my iPhone does all the same things...

[fyo]

I want to see how the screen compares to eInk.

[SportsChick]

I'm debating a Kindle as well, but I have to say that while the iPad (AWFUL name by the way) is cool looking, but the Kindle is half the price, and I agree with Brian, I have serious issues with the battery life on my iPod Touch WITHOUT the wifi on.

[Buddhagirl]

I'm debating a Kindle as well, but I have to say that while the iPad (AWFUL name by the way) is cool looking, but the Kindle is half the price, and I agree with Brian, I have serious issues with the battery life on my iPod Touch WITHOUT the wifi on.

That's why I'll probably wait and see. I almost got the Kindle, but just couldn't make the leap at the time and kept wondering if there would be other/better e-readers out there. The iPad (agreed that the name SUCKS) does do a lot more, though from what was shown. So, I wouldn't mind paying more.

If it truly get 10 hours battery time, then I'm probably getting one.

[SportsChick]

That's a big if, but the Kindle still has better life.

My Touch gets all of 40 minutes of music with wifi off. It sucks

[Lee]

[Tenshot13]

Here's a video link of the iPad for those who haven't seen it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFNQE_TzQNI

[BoSoxGrl]

If I were ever to by one, Iwould wait until next year when they add a bunch of features that are lacking now.
Some things I dislike about the current model:
No flash
Not enough memory
No camera
$130 extra for 3 G Capabilities

I think this product is the pioneer in the gaming market though which is good.
However, I do think that holding a 1.5 pound controller would be a little strenuous after a while.

I am not completely sold on it.