Seriously why do you need a....

[bsblvnv]

...camera on the iPad? I mean what is it really good for. Do you want to sit there and take pictures of yourself all day? The only real reason I could see the need is video conferencing. But since I last checked IMO wouldn't using your MB be so much better. That way you have access to all your files and can do multitasking. I mean if you are in a video conference with someone and you need to send them an email to show them what you are talking about then you are going to have to break out your laptop or go to your desktop anyways, so really people what is the use of having a camera on this thing. I think Apple did a good thing but not putting one on it. Also think of yourself trying to take a picture with a rear mounted camera like the one on the iPhone, the thing is just to big and bulky for it. IMHO.

So people please tell me why this thing needs a camera.

 

[ss957916]

...descriptive thread title?

 

[bsblvnv]

...descriptive thread title?

Sorry I was going to make it say a ________ then add a few different things, and after I posted it I don't know how to edit the title. So I just left it at the camera. But I think most people get the idea.

 

[ntrigue]

Personally, I'd use this as coffee shop / living room browser. Having friends and parents overseas, there is a great value in a front-facing camera and VoIP.

 

[Hmac]

Video conferencing. Skype has been a great application for me and it would be nice to have it on the iPad.

Sure, I could do it on my MBP instead, but the point of the iPad is that it's easier to take out, easier to hold. I expect to use it in places and in ways that the MBP just isn't convenient.

 

[seong]

Well, there is a GOOD on actually...

...which is to use it as face recognition.
You know how ugly it looks like on the iPad when people demonstrated the keypad to unlock?
It's same as the old one, just ported over!
If you hate it, then you can unlock it first, put it in front of your face, and it will log in automatically.
But I don't know how good that will go.

 

[melman101]

Honestly, it's not a deal breaker. I never use the cam on my Macbook Pro, however, if I was going away and my wife was home and I had the iPad and she had her computer, we wouldn't be able to video. Even though that wouldn't generally happen, it would be nice to just take the iPad for video conferencing to your family.

That being said, I would probably never use it, and if I did it would just be for video conferencing once every few years. It's not like I'd snap pictures with it.
When I'm at home and have my Macbook Pro 13", I can always video conference. It's when I'm traveling and don't want to take the MBP 13" and just take the iPad.

 

[smetvid]

The one thing that just occurred to me about the camera thing is how well it would handle somebody hand holding the device. A laptop is usually pretty study and solid but an Ipad which will usually be hand held should shake all over the place making the viewer on the other side think there is an earthquake where you are. Now it could have a motion stabilizer to compensate for slight movement but that would make it much more expensive then a typical Isight camera. Maybe that is why it was pulled at the last minute assuming it really was pulled at the last minute.

I could see the viewer on the other end of the chat actually getting very annoyed with how jerky the video would be.

With that said I do think a camera would be pretty cool if they could figure out a way to stabilize it. If this is a mini computer sometimes users like to video chat with other people on other computers. I would actually consider buying an Ipad as my wife's new laptop and being able to chat with her when we are away on business or whatever would be very nice. Since we do video chat like this now the Ipad isn't really an option right now and I may have to buy here a new laptop instead. I think she would prefer the simplicity of the Ipad but the lack of video chat is definitely a deal breaker for her. I on the other hand already have an Imac so it doesn't bother me as much.

 

[maflynn]

I agree with the OP, I fail to see the advantage of having a camera front or back on the iPad.

Many people seem to get hung up on some features without fully justifying the need. Its like they see others complain and then jump on the band wagon.

 

[bsblvnv]

...which is to use it as face recognition.
You know how ugly it looks like on the iPad when people demonstrated the keypad to unlock?
It's same as the old one, just ported over!
If you hate it, then you can unlock it first, put it in front of your face, and it will log in automatically.
But I don't know how good that will go.

By far the best idea I have heard yet, I kinda want one now lol. Actually I am glad to hear that it is not that big of a deal to some people. But wouldn't it be cool if you could log in with your face ( sounds worse than it probably would be ), I know they have faces in Aperture and iPhoto, but is the technology in place to do something like this and make it work 100%?

 

[GoCubsGo]

To take pics of myself and upload them to facebook because the only thing I want an iPad for is to play farmville.

 

[Spankey]

Not a deal breaker right now, but if these take off and there is more than one in the household, I could see videoconferencing with family being something i would use...Otherwise..hardly ever use the webcam on my Mac either.

 

[bossxii]

Overall their are people that actually use say iChat, Skype or some form of video calls etc.. The number is probably fairly small against the overall Mac user base but it happens. However I'm not one of them, just stating it for general purpose.

The front facing camera and the whole face recognition... I think that's a stretch, if that was easy to implement and something Apple already has, we would see it on our iMac's and MBP's as they have had iSight cams for several years. Like it or not, we will likely see a camera at some point in the iPad once Apple figures out a way to make it "revolutionary" for it's use on the iPad.

They have done this so many times with the iPhone I lost track. iPad Rev B, C, D etc... will be no different.

 

[dxp4acu]

I would like a camera to read in bar codes.

There would be some cool kitchen-type apps that would read in the food's bar codes, tell you what you have on hand, and give you recipe ideas for what you got.

Then you can read in bar codes for dvds, games, books, etc. to add to your library. There are apps out there for that that just use a camera.

Then any skype type of things.

 

[smetvid]

Personally I don't think webcams took off as well as some hoped they would. They have been around for a very long time now and they still are not considered a must have item for most PC users unless you have family all over the planet like I do. Then things like Skype really start to make sense. A lot of young people today don't even want to make voice phone calls from their cell phones let alone add video into the mix. They would much rather text or communicate via facebook and twitter. I think the webcam thing is still a niche market.

 

[EssentialParado]

Personally I don't think webcams took off as well as some hoped they would. They have been around for a very long time now and they still are not considered a must have item for most PC users unless you have family all over the planet like I do. Then things like Skype really start to make sense. A lot of young people today don't even want to make voice phone calls from their cell phones let alone add video into the mix. They would much rather text or communicate via facebook and twitter. I think the webcam thing is still a niche market.

I agree. It does appear that people are moving toward impersonal forms of communication, even though everyone expected us to move toward more personal forms, and that we'd all be using video to communicate by now. It's a strange twist of the future.

So when Apple does include a camera in the iPad, are they going to include it in the front or in the back? I think that's an interesting debate…

 

[Bytor65]

I think video conferencing with friends/family is a novelty. I have been using personal computers since 1982. I have never had or wanted a webcam.

No objection making it an option for those who do, but I don't want to pay for something included when I have no use for it, so I am actually happy there isn't a web cam.

It also seems like it should be fairly easy to add a webcam if you really want one. Likely more flexible because if external it won't have to face the same way as the screen.

 

[maflynn]

I think video conferencing with friends/family is a novelty. I have been using personal computers since 1982. I have never had or wanted a webcam.

Agreed, and this has been really the only reason people have tried to justify having the camera. I've seen some who mentioned businesses would want it, but businesses that need video conferencing already have it setup and what they setup is more robust then running iPads over voip also.

 

[thejakill]

have 2 laptops with cameras and i never use them.

not an issue.

 

[vertigo235]

I have no need for a camera on the iPad.

 

[azdunerat]

My money is that apple will offer a fully rotatable camera adapter for the 30 pin connector. To me that would be much more useful than either a static front or rear facing camera.

 

[cjrulli]

Personally I don't think webcams took off as well as some hoped they would. They have been around for a very long time now and they still are not considered a must have item for most PC users unless you have family all over the planet like I do. Then things like Skype really start to make sense. A lot of young people today don't even want to make voice phone calls from their cell phones let alone add video into the mix. They would much rather text or communicate via facebook and twitter. I think the webcam thing is still a niche market.

I respectfully disagree, being a 19 year old in college and having many friends that go to different schools, living it different cities/states there is almost not a day that goes by I don't video chat with someone. Even video chat with friends across campus, it can be more than social networking. Me and my lab partner, do our labs together and what not over video, so we can show each other equations, formulas etc.

However, I may easily be one of the odd cases, but I know A LOT of kids video chat now a days. You see skype and ooVoo statues on facebook ALL the time.

To the OP I think many people would benefit from a camera, the iPad would be a comfortable alternative to use while laying in bed, or hanging out on the couch in your dorm.

A better question yet is, why not have it? Price? already charging you $100 plus for 3G componets that are no where near that price. I'm all in favor of more features and options.

 

[mrsir2009]

Lol well Apple have stuck cameras on all their other computers... So they're not going to stop with the iPad!

 

[macduke]

The iPad doesn't have a front-facing camera so that people will buy the new iPhone! You heard it here first! Well actually you didn't since it has been rumored for about two years. But whatever.

I'll take both, actually.

 

[bsblvnv]

To the OP I think many people would benefit from a camera, the iPad would be a comfortable alternative to use while laying in bed, or hanging out on the couch in your dorm.

A better question yet is, why not have it? Price? already charging you $100 plus for 3G componets that are no where near that price. I'm all in favor of more features and options.

Well the camera would cost Apple about 7 dollars maybe less. The 3g is only like 15 (both estimations) if it is another 130 for 3g I would hate to have to pay another, 60 for a camera, that probably wouldn't be near as good as the one on my macbook and would get used even less. The only time I have used my camera, is to take my login picture when I first got it.

And I believe you are in the minority, I am young as well, and I have used a webcam one time in my life and that was about three years ago when I couldn't make it home for Christmas.