Defending the iPad...

[benlee]

I'll admit, during the presentation I was very underwhelmed by the tablet. I still am underwhelmed. Part of my distress was that there was not going to be a MBP update. The next was the name.

But, last night, before the event ever happened. I saw Apple's vision of the Tablet. It will succeed. I was on my iPhone on my couch surfing the web and wanted an iPad. I don't have the money to buy one b/c I'm going to buy a MBP, but I assure you I will buy rev. B.

The problem with the iPad is it didn't live up to expectations and that is only partly Apple's fault.

This tablet will be the future. Whether we like it or not. It is obviously missing a defining feature and is not new and exciting enough for the our expectations and dreams b/c it is too similar to an iPhone.

They made some mistakes and things I don't like about it, but it will succeed because Apple will build on it and the rest of the industry will try to catch up.

No one can replicate Apple's interface though and that is the main appeal.

 

[Warbrain]

I had no expectations going in and really hoped for something that would make sense and this makes no sense at all. iPad is a device without a problem to solve.

 

[mathcolo]

I had no expectations going in and really hoped for something that would make sense and this makes no sense at all. iPad is a device without a problem to solve.

How is it a device without a problem to solve? With its near full-size keyboard, it perfectly fits the realm in between iPod touch and MacBook. I don't know if you've ever tried, but reading anything on an iPod touch or an iPhone is also a chore.

 

[dmr727]

It solves my problem. So I'll buy one, and probably one for my wife as well.

 

[Looon]

The only reason most people are complaining right now (myself included) is the lack of flash.

 

[gibbz]

The only reason most people are complaining right now (myself included) is the lack of flash.

Same thing happened on the iPhone/iPod touch and that didn't stop record sales.

 

[mathcolo]

The only reason most people are complaining right now (myself included) is the lack of flash.

Why do you need Flash? Other than hulu? YouTube has an app. I cannot think of anything else that would suffer without Flash on an iPad.

 

[scrapple]

The only reason most people are complaining right now (myself included) is the lack of flash.

you obviously havent read this:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/editorial-engadget-on-the-ipad/

tons of issues

 

[Warbrain]

How is it a device without a problem to solve? With its near full-size keyboard, it perfectly fits the realm in between iPod touch and MacBook. I don't know if you've ever tried, but reading anything on an iPod touch or an iPhone is also a chore.

Are you kidding me? Reading anything on my iPhone is much better than reading it on most devices. Most people don't need a larger screen.

 

[FunkyCold24]

Totally agree with MathColo. Look, it would be nice to have flash, but that's not stopping anyone from buying an iPod Touch or an iPhone. We deal with it, just we deal with the iPhone not having a camera flash, or video conferencing.

And we see this every time a new Apple product comes out. Nobody is ever satisfied. Believe me, people, it will only get better!!

And if it wasn't only getting better, why is it that everyone has went from an iPhone 2G, to an iPhone 3G and eventually an iPhone 3Gs?

Be patient!! The iPad hasn't even been released yet!!!!

FunkyCold24

 

[Cinemagic]

The only reason most people are complaining right now (myself included) is the lack of flash.

And the lack of a USB port. Either pay Apple more money for more memory or do without. It would be really nice to be able to put a movie on a USB stick, plug it into the iPad and watch it. Sadly, Apple wants you to go to the iTunes store and pay them for the movie. So no USB for you.

 

[Big Dave]

I was kind of down on the iPad just after following the keynote "blog style."
I have since watched the Keynote and I now get it and think it is a good product.
I began to think about what the iPad is instead of what I wished it would be.
Here are a few things I consider make the iPad pretty cool.
- As a book reader it is superior to all.
- In addition to being a book reader you can surf the internet and do email.
- You can watch movies on it and listen to music while you read.
- In a pinch, you can edit work type files with iWork.
- There are going to be tons of good apps for it.
- Showing photos to family etc is much better on the iPad than a Macbook

Bottom line is for what the iPad does do it is really awesome.

Do I have to have one? No because I have an iPhone and an iMac and can get by. If I did have one, I can see how it would be useful.

The iPad is going to revolutionize the way we read books. Think about all the Barnes and Nobles stores that will take a beating because of the iPad.

Plus, this is just the first version of this thing. It will become more capable with new releases. Someday, it may have that camera, multitasking, and yes even FLASH!

 

[benlee]

The only reason most people are complaining right now (myself included) is the lack of flash.

I think this is actually on the bottom of the list of complaints. It doesn't have a "gotta have it feature," but I bet it is fun and useful.

Its not amazing. But think about a whole new realm of apps for the display. This isn't about hardware for Apple. Its about the App Store

 

[jajohns8]

I can think of a million custom uses for this thing. At my company, we could write a custom inventory app for this thing, which the user could hold in their hands, with more real estate than an iPhone and yet lighter than a laptop/netbook. Price point looks attractive too.
I think an enhanced remote app(s) that could control Itunes/Apple Tv/Boxee etc, yet with much more than the small version you see on the iPhone would be cool. A native app for monitoring security camera feeds? Mobile officer could carry on rounds. Much smaller form factor, better than laptop. I am very excited by the potential for apps this thing provides. There are definitely a million opportunities where you need this middle ground between laptop and smartphone. I would not underestimate this. Developers with vision will come up with some amazing apps in the coming months.

 

[alt]

It just seems so cheap that it has the same interface as the iPhone. iPhones are boring now. I am still in shock that its running iPhone os and not REAL osx. App store pisses me off with its restrictions. I want native OSX applications as well as a lot of other people do. Just seems shocking to me that they would release something like this heh. Maybe if they would have released this BEFORE the iPhone....it would make more sense. Just my 2 cents...I could care less. Just so weird to me that they would release this heh. I was REALLY hoping for a laptop replacement.

 

[marksman]

Do people not know that netbooks suck and pretty much everyone who has gotten one at one point or another has gone WTF did I buy this for?

There is a gap between laptops and handhelds. The netbook was the first attempt to fill that gap.

This is the second.

Netbooks are taking a laptop, something you like and giving you less of it.

An iPad is taking an iPhone/touch, something you like and giving you more of it.

It is not hard to see why people ultimately will have a better experience taking something they enjoy and use and expanding on it and making it more useful and bigger instead of taking something they like and making it less useful and smaller.

Yet both attempts are going at the same hole in the middle.

Anyone who claims netbooks are awesome or a realistic fill for this hole are full of it.

 

[renewed]

Do people not know that netbooks suck and pretty much everyone who has gotten one at one point or another has gone WTF did I buy this for?

There is a gap between laptops and handhelds. The netbook was the first attempt to fill that gap.

This is the second.

Netbooks are taking a laptop, something you like and giving you less of it.

An iPad is taking an iPhone/touch, something you like and giving you more of it.

It is not hard to see why people ultimately will have a better experience taking something they enjoy and use and expanding on it and making it more useful and bigger instead of taking something they like and making it less useful and smaller.

Yet both attempts are going at the same hole in the middle.

Anyone who claims netbooks are awesome or a realistic fill for this hole are full of it.

Bravo. This post makes the best point I have seen all day.

 

[Mike Macintosh]

I said this on another thread but I will say it again, this has great potential, especially in the world of education.

I believe the iPad will be the one device that will eventually kill textbooks, who wants to lug around 30+ textbooks, I know I don't.

and unlike the Kindle, you can listen to music while you play, if you need the net to look something up it's right their, and if you want to take a break from reading, then watch a movie.

The iPad has great potential if Apple plays the cards right.

 

[marksman]

And the lack of a USB port. Either pay Apple more money for more memory or do without. It would be really nice to be able to put a movie on a USB stick, plug it into the iPad and watch it. Sadly, Apple wants you to go to the iTunes store and pay them for the movie. So no USB for you.

You understand why your point is both illogical and incorrect right? I don't need to explain it?

 

[bossxii]

I'll admit, during the presentation I was very underwhelmed by the tablet. I still am underwhelmed. Part of my distress was that there was not going to be a MBP update. The next was the name.

But, last night, before the event ever happened. I saw Apple's vision of the Tablet. It will succeed. I was on my iPhone on my couch surfing the web and wanted an iPad. I don't have the money to buy one b/c I'm going to buy a MBP, but I assure you I will buy rev. B.

The problem with the iPad is it didn't live up to expectations and that is only partly Apple's fault.

This tablet will be the future. Whether we like it or not. It is obviously missing a defining feature and is not new and exciting enough for the our expectations and dreams b/c it is too similar to an iPhone.

They made some mistakes and things I don't like about it, but it will succeed because Apple will build on it and the rest of the industry will try to catch up.

No one can replicate Apple's interface though and that is the main appeal.

Exactly how is any of this Apple's fault in living up the frothing at the mouth fanboy's expectations?

I find it funny as hell people are trying to judge the device before they have used it and the fact it's always a failure because it didnt' have some list of features a mile long. These type of people will never be happy and always be clueless.

Apple could have put a camera in it, then people would cry it has no mini USB or SD reader.

Apple can add Flash, and people would bitch about battery life and sluggish web sites.

Apple can add any given feature out of a dozen people want and whatever is missing would still have people calling it a failure.

While I'm not thinking this is a "Magic and revolutionary device" I will enjoy the hell out of using it. I think it will be very cool to run apps like Slingbox, most games and the MLB app is very cool. Things like the MLB app and the demo of the Sports Illustrated magazine in digital form (not from todays keynote) are 100% why I will buy this product. Zinio app for iphone has plenty of popular magazines that while it's simply to small a screen to enjoy my emags, the iPad will give me a great platform to read these on. I've used Zinio for a couple of years but never really used it away from my iMac as the screens were to small (iPhone) or tough to read on (netbook).

I went thru all the apps I currently have and just though what the possibilites would be on a larger screen with more room. Games imo will be great, from the basic card games to the FPS or stategy games. I think we will see some console quality games for the iPad very soon. I honestly haven't found an app on my iPhone that I can honestly say "this would suck on a larger screen".

If you find one please explain how and why... iPad for me makes everything I do on my iPhone just that much better.

The trade off portability. One I'm willing to make for the added benefits I already can see coming.

 

[63dot]

I will defend it saying it's a pretty good product like Apple TV and the Cube. But like those, it's not destined to be the next iPhone or iPod which changed the world.

I can see Apple keeping this product alive even if sales are less than spectacular. I think there will be a few Apple fans who will come out in force and buy this thing in its first few months spiking sales, and then the hype will drop off.

People will more likely use their money for iMacs, Macbooks/Macbook Pros, iPhones, iPods, Mac minis, Mac Pros, and songs from the iTunes store.

It fills a niche, though a very small one, but I will defend it in saying nobody else has the same product so that alone should justify its existence.

 

[samcraig]

Netbooks are taking a laptop, something you like and giving you less of it.

An iPad is taking an iPhone/touch, something you like and giving you more of it.

The problem with that logic is that the reason some/many people buy netbooks is because they want something smaller and have no need for something more powerful. How much memory/speed do you need if ALL you do is email, surf the net and occasionally work on some documents.

I would argue that we live in an economy where people buy into the notion they have to have the latest and most powerful versions of a product.

If all you do is share photos on facebook or print out 4x6 images - you don't REALLY need anything greater than a good 3 megapixel camera. That doesn't stop people from having to get the 12-15 megapixel cameras. OVERKILL

A lot of households just surf the net, email and use office. That doesn't stop them from buying machines that are hardcore gaming or video editing machines. Again - overkill.

I'm in Marketing. I have been for over 20 years. Trust me when I say that as much as I like Apple products and watching keynotes. It's marketing and spin. Netbooks don't solve/do anything? That's exactly what Steve Jobs and Apple wants you to think. It's a great one liner. Very quotable. His role is to position his product as the solution you need.

The iPad, as presented - is not new or magical. No matter how many times Steve says it. But it's great hype. As you, yourself say - the iPad is the iPod touch but "more" of it. That's not revolutionary - just evolutionary.

I do think there's a place for the iPad. And I think it's a great content delivery system - which is what it was designed to be.

 

[SimonMW]

I am still in shock that its running iPhone os and not REAL osx.

Urr right. You want it to run an OS that hasn't been designed for touch screen operation? Sorry, but most of the complaints I see on these forums about the iPad are truly pathetic and miss the entire point of the device.

 

[canyonblue737]

Look, it would be nice to have flash, but that's not stopping anyone from buying an iPod Touch or an iPhone. We deal with it, just we deal with the iPhone not having a camera flash, or video conferencing.

We "deal with it" because of the devices tiny, tiny size and other feature set which includes oh... a phone. The iPad is supposed to be the ultimate browsing device, BETTER THAN AN IPHONE OR LAPTOP (Steve Jobs *exact* words) but without flash it leaves 10% of webpages with broken parts... heck, Steve Job's first website he showed on the iPad, The New York Times, had a 20% portion that was replaced by a broken plugin icon!

Yeah, so much better.

iPad is the future... but an iPad with flash, multitasking, and a webcam.

 

[costabunny]

Ok its a 1st gen device (one that defines a new type of device imho) and will have limitations (to me it seems that its limitations are based on it using the iphone OS) - I am sure in time it will only get better (flash etc).

For me (and many other people I am certain) it fits the spot that I have been waiting for. I am mobile in my work and this is truly the device I have been waiting for. Proper emailing, web, books and videos on a lovely physical platform.

The only thing that saddens me is its use of the (apparently) iphone keyboard - a number row on the top would have been awesome. maybe it has a mode or there will be an update with this as the 9.7 screen has room unlike the iPhone.

My advice to people complaining is this: If it fits your needs go buy one, if not don't! - whining about its failings solves nothing and happens with every new apple product. nothing in this world is perfect so just live with it.

/rant over

Now I am just gonna sit here refreshing the apple uk store until it arrives (my fingers may bleed after a few weeks)