How will this work for students?

[TraceyS/FL]

Being a university student, I felt like this device would be perfect for me till I realized the fact that it cannot multi-task. I need to be able to have a e-book, PDF, or Keynote/PowerPoint presentation open ALONG WITH the Pages app for example to take notes with. I also may need to have Safari AND Pages open to do the same. I hope Apple has multi-tasking planned and they will have me sold.

One last feature I wish they may at some point include is "push" documents. For example, through a MobileMe account, I want the ability to type up notes in a lecture at school, have it automatically saved up into the "cloud" and right there for me to access at home without any syncing. That would be great.

Either way, I'll probably just end up buying one anyway.

I'm actually hoping the SDK will allow for some "awesome" split screen kind of apps to perform some of these educational tasks.

I'm willing to beta test one that will play lectures from your video library and give you a nice notetaking area below.... I have visions of great things to come in this area actually. Handouts that you can write on while watching the class.... I just hope there is a developer ready to try it!

 

[craigc_]

I'm actually hoping the SDK will allow for some "awesome" split screen kind of apps to perform some of these educational tasks.

That would be a very nice addition but I just think that having the ability to run the native Apple iPad apps side by side would be so much better. They spent a lot of time and effort designing beautiful and useful iPad app versions of iWork but not allowing them to run simultaneously with other apps is a bit of a pain. I suppose with limited screen real-estate this may be somewhat of an issue but a simple "slide up" note window or ability to watch a keynote presentation on part of the screen would be very handy.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

That would be a very nice addition but I just think that having the ability to run the native Apple iPad apps side by side would be so much better. They spent a lot of time and effort designing beautiful and useful iPad app versions of iWork but not allowing them to run simultaneously with other apps is a bit of a pain. I suppose with limited screen real-estate this may be somewhat of an issue but a simple "slide up" note window or ability to watch a keynote presentation on part of the screen would be very handy.

Pages doesn't work well for taking notes during algebra class - and probably not many sciences. An app aimed at the actual note taking process (letting a person use a Pogo if they want, on a drawing area) is what is really missing.

I have no fear we will get there - but my personal needs extend to needed to view a video class, take notes, OR fill in an outline/worksheets. Which even multi-tasking with pages couldn't accomplish right now.

Now we just need to get Apple & the other Developers to step up to the challenges and give us some awesome solutions!

 

[imacdaddy]

No way I'd take notes in a lecture class by tapping away at virtual keys.

And no I'm not lugging a dock and KB around. Defeats the "OMG tablet" purpose.

Give me Wacom and I'll jump. Outside of that, I'll continue with my X200 tablet.

i'm pretty certain current apps like FastFinga for hand writing on iPhone/Touch will support the iPad. Be silly if they don't.