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How 1st Gen. is the iPad?

jbg95

jbg95

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 6, 2010
62
21
Since many consider the iPad to be a BIG iPod Touch, I have to ask if it feels like a 1st gen product to folks who have used one? Do you consider the iPad to be a 1st Generation product? I haven't had the chance to even see one in person yet, but am curious about people's impressions specifically as a 1st generation product?

Recall the 1st Gen. iPod was showed the potential of the product and was rough around the edges (especially in hindsight)...but then it took several generations to evolve to the more refined iPod Touch and iPhone.

Does the iPad feel like a new, unrefined product, or is it the expansion and enhancement of the existing iPod/iPhone product line?

I realize future generations will address specific issues like possibly wifi and technical bug fixes, as well as the benefits that Moore's Law puts into motion (more, faster, lighter, smaller...or in this case larger...no pun intended). And not counting software, I consider the software to be following the path software seems to take.

Thank you for the thoughts and experiences.
 
I think the iPad isn't a true first gen product. That's because the iPhone/iPod Touch were essentially the preview products for the iPad. They had those devices to learn from, and this feels like a very complete product to me.

For example, the first iPhone had a weak processor that was kinda laggy when doing certain tasks. They corrected all of that with the iPhone 3GS. The iPad shipped day one with a very speedy processor, and apps load and close very fast. Overall the experience is quite polished.

Of course like any product the future versions will improve on some things, but I certainly can't think of much that I would change right now.
 
Personally, I think the hardware is pretty solid.

It probably should have 512MB of RAM instead of 256MB (currently, it's the same as the iPhone 3GS), but it's entirely possible OS 4 will be more efficient in how it's handled.

Some people are having wifi issues, though i have not had any trouble so far. Not sure if that's a hardware issue or simply software (I would presume the latter).

No vibrate function when on mute. Some people are bothered by this.

Other than that, I think it's pretty well put together.
 
xraydoc said:
Personally, I think the hardware is pretty solid.

It probably should have 512MB of RAM instead of 256MB (currently, it's the same as the iPhone 3GS), but it's entirely possible OS 4 will be more efficient in how it's handled.
Click to expand...

In my opinion that is the device's only true weakness.
 
BruiserBear said:
I think the iPad isn't a true first gen product. That's because the iPhone/iPod Touch were essentially the preview products for the iPad. They had those devices to learn from, and this feels like a very complete product to me.

For example, the first iPhone had a weak processor that was kinds laggy when doing certain tasks. They corrected all of that with the iPhone 3GS. The iPad shipped day one with a very speedy processor, and apps load and close very fast. Overall the experience is quite polished.

Of course like any product the future versions will improve on some things, but I certainly can't think of much that I would change right now.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's what I was curious about and suspected. We've been debating the "do we get a 1st Gen product" and I questioned whether that applied here. I have a 1st Gen Mac Pro for that matter and it's still the house workhorse (for what we use it for anyhow) and a great machine.

I agree that camera(s) would be of value to some users. But I wonder about that for my use/workflow. Any real pictures we want to take we use the good DSLR. If I'm on the road and need to catch some random shot, I use the iPhone...not sure that I'd opt to whip out the iPad for a quick/cheap photo op. I don't video chat often (and if I do I have plenty of other cameras in the house...that don't get used much). I can't imagine wielding an iPad out to take inferior shots to what the DSLR does. I haven't seen the camera become a must have necessity in life yet. More storage OTOH.... :)
 
The point is moot. Even if we were on 3rd gen iPads, gen 4 would be better. Things always get better over time. If something does 80% of what you want it to then buy it!
 
jbg95 said:
Thanks, that's what I was curious about and suspected. We've been debating the "do we get a 1st Gen product" and I questioned whether that applied here. I have a 1st Gen Mac Pro for that matter and it's still the house workhorse (for what we use it for anyhow) and a great machine.

I agree that camera(s) would be of value to some users. But I wonder about that for my use/workflow. Any real pictures we want to take we use the good DSLR. If I'm on the road and need to catch some random shot, I use the iPhone...not sure that I'd opt to whip out the iPad for a quick/cheap photo op. I don't video chat often (and if I do I have plenty of other cameras in the house...that don't get used much). I can't imagine wielding an iPad out to take inferior shots to what the DSLR does. I haven't seen the camera become a must have necessity in life yet. More storage OTOH.... :)
Click to expand...

You sound like a prime candidate for the current iPad to me. I too found the lack of a camera meaningless.
 
avaloncourt said:
I'm guessing you never had the pleasure of using Windows Me. :)
Click to expand...

Or Microsoft Bob, which was targeted at the same demographic as a portion of the expected iPad market...ie, my computer-phobic mother.
 
Nash Bridges said:
The point is moot. Even if we were on 3rd gen iPads, gen 4 would be better. Things always get better over time. If something does 80% of what you want it to then buy it!
Click to expand...

It seemed to me it does 100% of what I want...a big screen iPod with 3G. I'd been holding out on an iPod for a while just wanted a big-screen one. I was just curious about 1st Gen. showstopper issues.

Thanks!

---
apple ][+, Laser 128, apple ][gs, NeXTStation Color 68040 w/21" display, NeXT Cube 68040, HP Gecko with NeXTSTEP, Epson PC with NeXTSTEP 3.2, AT&T Globalyst PC with NeXTSTEP 3.3, NeXT Cube 68040 with color card, PC with NeXTSTEP 4.1, PC with NeXTSTEP 4.2, PC with NeXTSTEP 4.2, Powerbook (1998), PowerMac G3, Powerbook (2003), iMac G5, iPod 2nd Gen 20 Gig, Mac Pro, iPod Nano, iPod Classic 160 Gig, MacBook Pro, AppleTV, iPhone 3G
 
jbg95 said:
It seemed to me it does 100% of what I want...a big screen iPod with 3G. I'd been holding out on an iPod for a while just wanted a big-screen one. I was just curious about 1st Gen. showstopper issues.

Oh please, tell me more about why +3g.:confused:
Click to expand...
 
nyxgr said:
jbg95 said:
It seemed to me it does 100% of what I want...a big screen iPod with 3G. I'd been holding out on an iPod for a while just wanted a big-screen one. I was just curious about 1st Gen. showstopper issues.

Oh please, tell me more about why +3g.:confused:
Click to expand...

Because I can't tether it to my iPhone? :) Actually, I'll tell you after I've used one for a while, but my assumption is that I'd occasionally want to surf the web when out of wifi range. Or do timesheets/expenses at the airport without using Boingo or other paid service.
Click to expand...
 
I haven't had 1 issue with it yet, it has been running flawless for a week straight ;)
 
Since it is the first one out, that pretty much makes it a first gen device. Just sayin'
 
I have not had any issues whatsoever so far. From hardware perspective, Apple has put in a lot of thought before deciding on the Shape, Size, Weight, etc. I would say they have nailed it.

Since the OS has been a proven one and a benchmark for three years now, it makes the whole device shine like none other. All in all, I am one happy iPad user :D
 
Hardware wise, the original iPhone was very mature. Other than 3G, GPS, and form factor changes, it is identical to second generation model.

iPad, too, is pretty mature for 1st generation product. I suspect second generation iPad will get:
  • Very likely: 3G standard across the board (no WiFi-only models). 32 GB iPad at $499, 64 GB for $599, 128 GB for $699.
  • Very likely: Front side camera.
  • Likely: 512 MB RAM standard.
  • Likely: faster processor (and/or dual core design).
  • I wish: HDMI output, higher resolution screen.
 
avaloncourt said:
Absolutely not. Windows Me was the butt of jokes for years. Windows 98SE was rock solid. Me was a crash factory. It even made PC Magazine's the 25 Worst Tech Products back in the day.
Click to expand...

I used it for 2 years without a problem. Don't take too much stock in publication reviews. On the other hand I would agree that it was a pointless release with Windows 2000 being out.
 
Nash Bridges said:
I used it for 2 years without a problem. Don't take too much stock in publication reviews. On the other hand I would agree that it was a pointless release with Windows 2000 being out.
Click to expand...

Buddy, I had a PC that came with it that I had to reformat and go back to 98SE because it would blue screen multiple times a day. You don't need reviews. It was a well known fact.

Google "horrible Windows ME" and the first hit will be:

Windows ME: Worst Operating System Ever!
Click to expand...

You can Google with all kinds of adjectives and you'll see plenty of comments about how good of an OS it was.
 
It reminds me of the 1st gen iPod touch. Missing core apps that the iPhone had and really bare bones, in a way. Still an amazing product, but I hate Apple since all these missing features just seems like they're intentionally giving themselves room for improvement in the future. (i.e. it has 256GB of RAM right now, 2nd gen will have 512 or 1GB of RAM and they can say "4x faster!!")
 
California King said:
It reminds me of the 1st gen iPod touch. Missing core apps that the iPhone had and really bare bones, in a way. Still an amazing product, but I hate Apple since all these missing features just seems like they're intentionally giving themselves room for improvement in the future. (i.e. it has 256GB of RAM right now, 2nd gen will have 512 or 1GB of RAM and they can say "4x faster!!")
Click to expand...

Yeah, I expect this...along with keeping cost down so they can sell more. Apple needs to create/maintain a healthy economy for the platform (ie...lots of recurring up-sales to new hardware, new sales, various demand creation tactics, demand through exclusivity, etc). It'll be a fine line to balance all of the various market forces at once while keeping developers loyal, etc.
 
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