Apple iPad

Apple released the iPad today. I'm a little underwhelmed by it, but there's no doubt some people will love it.

What are your thoughts on it? Personally, if I wanted a portable device to surf the web and watch video, I'd be quite happy with a laptop or a netbook.

I imagine the iPad was designed to become the dominant player in the eBook reader realm. I understand the coolness of having tons of ebooks on one device, but so far, I still prefer paper and can't imagine that I'd be able to finish a book if I had dozens on a portable reader.

I'm buying shares in Apple

I wish I had years ago.

It's not really a viable alternative to a real e reader as long as it has an lcd display. No doubt they'll sell tons of ebooks through itunes to people who buy one of these things but i wouldn't replace a true reader with one.

I don't really see the point of this thing. Too big to be portable, no multi tasking, terrible display for reading, no real OS or programs only apps? Any decent netbook makes a hell of a lot more sense tethered to my existing data plan.

Portability?

When will newspapers be available for download to eBooks and netpads etc.???

grumpy old man wrote:Portability?

Compared to a smart phone. It's no better than a netbook size wise and a whole lot less usefull. I just don't get the target market for this and I love gadgets.

I would never use this as a replacement for a decent smartphone and netbook combo. As for reading, it's flawed in that regard as well.

About the only thing I see it being really good for is as a media player. But so is a laptop.

The first thought that I had was around the need for this device. What's the point of it? Is it to replace the laptop? (Good luck with that.)

I'm thinking this is a dud product, but those guys are smarter then me eh.

It's a neat toy...but that's all it is. I personally like the Lenovo U1 Hybrid that was shown at CES a whole lot better....a tablet and a real laptop all in one.

http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4975897

The only drawback is the proposed price...$1000 OUCH!!! Still very cool device and not neutered like the iPad. Why would you want a 10" tablet running the iPhone OS?

cant imagine how odd it looks to hold this thing up to your head and hold a phone coversation.

It's not a phone Deank...just a jumbo iPod Touch.

well that seems pretty damn stupid then.

I think it's a first-release...and plans to expand functionality for the future.

Odds are, there's either accessories coming (keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc.) to make it more laptopish, or a new version will be released in 2 years making it more of a tablet computer than a pad.

That...and according to the release, the Apple Store just got a bunch of licenses to sell ebooks...and they needed something to sell them on, as most people won't read books on their tiny phones.

With the ebook market expanding rapidly...it's probably a decent move...short-term.

The suggested price though starts as low as $300...not $1k...but apparently there's versions of it (probably bigger storage) that increases the prices.

I'm not going out to grab one...I'd buy a macbook first...but there is a market...maybe just not for everyone.

Its an interesting concept.. After seeing what apple did with the iPhone i would never buy the first gen. However I can see the iPad being really handy for long boring flights, and for browsing the web.

The iPad is for the casual user, just like the Wii is for the casual gamer.