So you're going to buy an iPad, but... why?

[ss957916]

I've been reading the iPad forums with interest - so many people heavily against and so many for.

Personally, I, like many, am incredibly disappointed. I desperately wanted a new toy to get my teeth into, but with my iPhone in my pocket and my MBP in my bag, I just don't see the point of the iPad.

So why are you going to buy one? I want to be convinced and would love to hear other people's reasons.

 

[kroeks]

there are more of these topics, use search

 

[wolfpackfan]

Well not everyone has an MB. All I have is a Mac mini. But I've been needing a portable device that is more than an iPhone for a long time now. The iPad will be perfect for me. I just have no wish to spend $1000 for an MB or more for MBP. I have been amazed at all the negative postings. It looks to me like the iPad is a great device at a great price. I think there are many, many people out there who have been thinking about getting a netbook but will now look at the iPad. I plan on ordering one just as soon as it is available.

 

[Hmac]

As usual, Apple became a victim of the hype. People were expecting something out of Star Trek, but instead got a media device with some net surfing and computing ability.

You're right...if you're satisfied with your iPhone/iPod Touch for media, and your MacBook for computing, then this device wasn't aimed at you and you shouldn't get it.

Me.... the iPad addresses all the stumbling blocks that keep me from optimally using my iPod Touch as a media device (mainly screen size), plus it allows me to do real work with iWork as well as interface with XGA projectors. I consider those things to be a bonus. The device itself and the content paradigm that will go with it, as well as the price, meet my expectations. But I apparently wasn't expecting, or wanting, as much as you were. I don't think it's unreasonable to be disappointed that Apple doesn't make the computer you want -- a lot of people have been complaining about that for years. In fact, they complain about that here on MacRumors many times a day -- but the fact that you are "incredibly disappointed" that the iPad isn't it means that your expectations for this device were probably unrealistic.

Anyway, it's not about the device itself, it's about the content. This opens a new horizon for convenient media access, and likely a whole new subscription paradigm. I have no interest in reading the New York Times or Sports Illustrated, print or online, but there are a lot of people who do, and they'll pay. Me, I wanted primarily a book reader and a casual net surfer.

My only regrets are lack of front camera for video conferencing and the fact that it can't use CDMA data services (Verizon). My only decision relative to buying the thing is whether to buy it with or without data plan. Had they provided a Verizon option, it wouldn't have been a question. Now I have to evaluate whether the ATT option is worth the $130 to me. The "no-commitment" policy makes it easier for me, and I'll probably go for it.

 

[Hmac]

I have been amazed at all the negative postings.

Heh heh, you must be new here . It's absolutely routine for the average MR poster to get themselves all worked up about a new product release, then spew their anger here because it hasn't met their expectations. It as predictable as it can be.

It will pass. People will rant for awhile, then fade away and they'll go back to posting about "should I wait for the next MP/MBP/MB refresh ?" and "how do I screw AppleCare into replacing the MacBook I dropped in the toilet?".

 

[BobHail]

Well not everyone has an MB. All I have is a Mac mini. But I've been needing a portable device that is more than an iPhone for a long time now. The iPad will be perfect for me. I just have no wish to spend $1000 for an MB or more for MBP. I have been amazed at all the negative postings. It looks to me like the iPad is a great device at a great price. I think there are many, many people out there who have been thinking about getting a netbook but will now look at the iPad. I plan on ordering one just as soon as it is available.

You think iPad is more portable than iPhone? REALLY!?!?! What have you been drinking?

You think iPad is "more" than iPhone? REALLY!?!?!? iPhone is much more portable and has much more to offer! Fits in the pocket, camera, videocamera anyone remember these? And a PHONE for gods sake! SMS... you name it!

Drink some more of that kool-aid!

p.s. And I´m a Apple Fanboy, but this product is a fail!

 

[Hmac]

You think iPad is more portable than iPhone? REALLY!?!?! What have you been drinking?

You think iPad is "more" than iPhone? REALLY!?!?!? iPhone is much more portable and has much more to offer! Fits in the pocket, camera, videocamera anyone remember these? And a PHONE for gods sake! SMS... you name it!

Drink some more of that kool-aid!

p.s. And I´m a Apple Fanboy, but this product is a fail!

Why is it Kool Aid? Many of us couldn't care less about putting the thing in a pocket. For many, probably most, the advantage of the larger and actually usable screen size more than makes up for lack of shirt-pocketability.

Anyway, as to "product fail"...you're just expressing the usual "I'm a fan-boy, and Apple owes me the computer that I dream about" sentiment. Otherwise, you you should proably just shut up about such predictions, because the "fail or no-fail" question will ultimately be answered objectively, as opposed to your subjective disappointment-rant.

 

[Diet Pepsi]

I think the problem is that the 20 somethings wanted a new toy.

I am a 50s something and this ipod is a hit. I know it isn't a computer. I have 3 of those. My friends and I love our Touches and this will give us a better avenue for e-books and newspapers.

I am stoked.

 

[Revelation78]

I think the problem is that the 20 somethings wanted a new toy.

I am a 50s something and this ipod is a hit. I know it isn't a computer. I have 3 of those. My friends and I love our Touches and this will give us a better avenue for e-books and newspapers.

I am stoked.

I agree with Diet, I see great potential with this device. Sure I would have loved to have a front-facing camera, but that's not required. The device itself hit on all the key things that I needed, everything else that people are crying about would have just been a bonus.

It's all about not reading too much into rumors. No Apple device has ever come out with "everything" in its first revision. To expect anything other than what Apple did deliver says a great deal about your lack of understanding on Apple's business approach.

If Apple would have put in all of the so-called "must have" items; the iPad would have started at a price in excess of $1,000 USD. For the price Apple is delivering the iPad at, I think it exceeds my expectations.

Would I have paid more for more features, sure, why not.

 

[MacModMachine]

for me this is a godsend

sure and ipod touch / i phone can already do this and that...personally i dont care what it can do...it does not have a 10" screen, and dont tell me i can get a netbook cheaper....netbooks dont have touchscreens and DO NOT weigh 1.5lbs

this will help me with my iwork financial spreadsheets so i can monitor finances easily, i can use it on road trips , planes , hotel rooms with ease.

it will provide me with a easy way to view larger amounts of data on the nice screen.

of course many people on here bash it, but they also dont back up any of the reasons they bash it for, but provide ill informed reasons.

this device for me has clear advantages for my already macbook air / i phone combo.

who ever does not like it...all i have to say is...more for me !

 

[Scorpio12345]

of course many people on here bash it, but they also dont back up any of the reasons they bash it for, but provide ill informed reasons.

Then allow me to simplify the reasons why people are rightfully bashing it..

- No multi-tasking. Yes, the iPhone didn't have it either, but that's still forgiveable as the iPhone only has a 3.5" screen (though even Palm somehow managed it on a smaller screen..), but on a 10" screen? Having to quite Pages each time to use Safari or any other app is just stupid....

- No Flash. Sure, Flash is an annoyance on many websites, but it is essential on many others. Like many have said, even the NYT website that Jobs demoed had crippled flash on it.. A simple flash "on/off" slider wouldn't kill them, rather than them deciding that one wouldn't want it...

- No Webcam. This isn't a huge deal, but its a bit of a strange omission as having one would make absolute sense in every possible way.. But the fact that they still won't make an iChat iPhone app sort of speaks for the omission of this feature really....

- No Full OS X. These apps could easily have been apps made for full-on OS X a la FrontRow or Plex.. The processor should be more than capable of handling it (it has similar specs to the nVidia Tegra 2 platform) and really Apple is restricting the potential of this new processor by simply releasing a tweaked iPhone OS. They were working on this for years and all they came up with was a skinned iPhone OS? Please...

- HD on a non-HD screen. Touting Youtube HD or HD H264 video playback as a feature on a screen with a non-HD resolution makes no sense.

- eBooks. While its great they are including an eBook store, you cannot honestly compare an IPS screen to an E-ink screen for a better reading experience. It'll be good, but Jobs seems to think he has revolutionised it somehow......

There are others, but these are the main reasons... Steve Jobs saying that this is some sort of Netbook killer is just incredibly short-sighted on his part. Netbooks can multi-task (hell even Windows 7 starter edition allows 3 apps at a time!), netbooks have far larger hard drives, netbooks can now run 1080p video, let alone 720p, and netbooks allow for faster productivity. A physical keyboard will always best a software keyboard. All this for a cheaper package...

Believe me, I really dug the design, and while watching the keynote, I was impressed with some of its functionality, but if you look beyond your clouded fanboyism, you'll notice that this really isn't best at anything....

 

[ajbrehm]

I've been reading the iPad forums with interest - so many people heavily against and so many for.

Personally, I, like many, am incredibly disappointed. I desperately wanted a new toy to get my teeth into, but with my iPhone in my pocket and my MBP in my bag, I just don't see the point of the iPad.

So why are you going to buy one? I want to be convinced and would love to hear other people's reasons.

If it is locked down like the iPhone, I am not interested. I don't see why Apple should be in control of _my_ computer. I remember how people screamed bloody murder when Microsoft spoke of "trusted computing".

But if this device is open and I can install whatever software I want and it can run sshd and VNC, I'll get one.

In fact, if this device is locked down and this is where Apple want to go, I will consider switching away from Apple when I buy my next computer.

 

[maflynn]

Maybe its my fanboy-ism (I didn't think I was a real dyed in the wool fanboy) but I'm warming to the iPad.

I can see it being useful for surfing the web or doing like email/documents at home. At times grabbing my laptop may not be feasible and this could fit the bill.

 

[PhoneI]

I want one because I was going to get a Kindle DX. Now I will get this for almost the same price and it does so much more.

Before somebody start screaming about eyestrain and e-ink. I read books all the time on my Kindle iPhone app. My eyes survived.

 

[Drag'nGT]

You think iPad is more portable than iPhone? REALLY!?!?! What have you been drinking?

You think iPad is "more" than iPhone? REALLY!?!?!? iPhone is much more portable and has much more to offer! Fits in the pocket, camera, videocamera anyone remember these? And a PHONE for gods sake! SMS... you name it!

Drink some more of that kool-aid!

p.s. And I´m a Apple Fanboy, but this product is a fail!

You gotta read slower. He didn't say that the iPad is more portable he said it is more than an iPhone and better than a netbook.

I plan to ditch the iPhone and get an SE C905a as my phone and the iPad as my internet and email device. I wanted to get a MB Air or netbook but I held off to see if the slate rumors would come to fruition.

Apple set up the iPad to keep people from doing what I'm doing, ditching the iPhone. But I can't help it. I've had better phones than the iPhone in the past and it's hard for me to say it but I miss the features. 3 years ago I already sported a cell phone with xenon flash and 3.2mp autofocus camera with video. Now I get to sport a phone that has an 8.1mp camera with autofocus and xenon flash that will still geotag my photos. Then I have my iPad to use that is much easier to read from than the iPhone. Even better, the battery life on the devices will be SOOOO much better since I can split the tasks between them.

 

[BobHail]

Why is it Kool Aid? Many of us couldn't care less about putting the thing in a pocket. For many, probably most, the advantage of the larger and actually usable screen size more than makes up for lack of shirt-pocketability.

Anyway, as to "product fail"...you're just expressing the usual "I'm a fan-boy, and Apple owes me the computer that I dream about" sentiment. Otherwise, you you should proably just shut up about such predictions, because the "fail or no-fail" question will ultimately be answered objectively, as opposed to your subjective disappointment-rant.

Nope. Apple could have invested all this time to research and make something that would be actually usefull. iPad is not. It´s just a bigger iPod Touch, which also is nowdays pretty much a useless product.

Face it, it´s a toy and Apple took the easy way out.

It has no mobility, no PHONE/SMS, no camera/videocamera and most of all, can´t do anything serious that MacBook Pro with full OS X can. Who would carry this thing around? Seriously. I would be embarrased to pull this toy out on public place. This is expensice device for 10 year olds to play Appstore games with lousy graphics.

iPhone is revolutionary. iPad is just FAIL!

 

[rayward]

I was going to buy a Macbook Air for coffee table surfing. SJ just saved me a thousand bucks.

 

[Artofilm]

Honestly, I work on computers all the time at work. The last thing I want to do is come home and then go on yet another computer for my personal use. This will help me define the line between work and personal, I don't always want to use a full-featured computer, sometime I just want the device to do things without me having to think about it.

 

[Hmac]

Nope. Apple could have invested all this time to research and make something that would be actually usefull. iPad is not. It´s just a bigger iPod Touch, which also is nowdays pretty much a useless product.

Face it, it´s a toy and Apple took the easy way out.

It has no mobility, no PHONE/SMS, no camera/videocamera and most of all, can´t do anything serious that MacBook Pro with full OS X can. Who would carry this thing around? Seriously. I would be embarrased to pull this toy out on public place. This is expensice device for 10 year olds to play Appstore games with lousy graphics.

iPhone is revolutionary. iPad is just FAIL!

Wow. You make it all seem so obvious. Now I'm embarassed that the rest of us can't see it all as clearly as you.

Apple wouldn't be in the dire financial straits that they're in now if only they had a marketing genius like you working for them.

 

[macjock]

I'm not sure whether I will have a use for this device or not though i'm afraid yesterday left me disappointed.

I was waiting on something to open my eyes and it didn't come.

If you forget comparisons, this device is amazing, the appearance, the touch screen, the apps, the browser etc etc.....

The problem is, none of this is new. I was totally amazed when I first saw an iphone demo. Everything I saw yesterday was just this supersized.

When Steve was applauded for showing us how to find a sushi bar on google maps, I couldn't believe my ears. WTF, we have been carrying out this kind of task on iphone since its inception.

During the keynote he listed things that it has to do better than iphone or a mac. Browsing was on that list. How can browsing be better when the device will not give you access to the full content of the internet???? My old trusty ibook allows me to view every website on the www, the ipad does not so it fails on that section.

In terms of e mail I still would prefer a full keyboard. This may be personal preference so I couldn't day its a fail for everyone but it is for me. I know I can get a keyboard dock, but then that is why I have an ibook.

Viewing photos - No it's not better, it is just bigger

Viewing video - As above.

I think you get the point. Perhaps we are being spoiled because the iphone and ipod touch were so ahead of the game, we expect everything else to follow suit.

The girl from the NYT talking us through how we can just touch on a story or view slide shows etc No **** sherlock, I already do that every day on my iphone.

As stated above I think the product is good I just think it is being marketed incorrectly. It is not revolutionary, it is simply a bigger version of something we already have with iwork now included. I think if apple had given a bigger nod to that fact there would be less criticism. Think about it, how many of you learned anything from Steves demo?. He even said it himself, you already know how to work it so why are they also telling us it is revolutionary??

There is no doubt a market exists for this I just fear for apple that that market does not include anyone who already owns an iphone, ipod touch or a mac.

 

[BobHail]

Wow. You make it all seem so obvious. Now I'm embarassed that the rest of us can't see it all as clearly as you.

Apple wouldn't be in the dire financial straits that they're in now if only they had a marketing genius like you working for them.

Well I sure would have slapped the Apple executives around and not make a useless device like this! They really took the easy and lazy way out.

So why don´t you say what´s so positive about it?

 

[GorillaPaws]

I'm going to use this thing for browsing the web (I'm happy there's no flash), and reading 100+ page technical pdfs and e-books. I just hope there will be a way for .pdf's to be treated as first class citizens when it comes to how e-books are handled.

I'm pretty skeptical about the iPad iWork apps, but I do think this platform will open up a new classes of application for doing real on-the-go work. Things like managing tasks/resources in the field, or richer mobile e-commerce stuff for vendors at trade shows, or sales people carrying them around to provide instant access to product inventory etc (e.g. "do you have this shoe in a size 12?" ...instead of a 15 minute wait while they search the storeroom, they can let you know instantly).

There are 2 major disappointments I have with the iPad:
-no stylus (for artists and note-taking/quick diagraming)
-there should be a standard game controller accessory with a standard programatic interface for game designers. I'm thinking like a jacket that slips onto the device and into it's dock connecter and provides buttons and joysticks that can be accessed from either portrait or landscape views.

As it is now, it's a great device for strategic gaming, but games that involve "twitch" control will never work as well without tactile feedback. The sad part about it is that it wouldn't be that hard to design/produce, but I don't think a non-Apple solution would cut it, since it would be difficult to come up with a universally accepted design.

 

[iWoz]

Why?? Because I can

 

[ajbrehm]

I'm going to use this thing for browsing the web (I'm happy there's no flash), and reading 100+ page technical pdfs and e-books. I just hope there will be a way for .pdf's to be treated as first class citizens when it comes to how e-books are handled.

I too won't miss Flash and don't understand what the problem is. Most Web sites I visit don't use Flash and those that do usually offer games that would be unplayable on the tablet anyway. I never missed Flash on my iPhone.

Reading technical PDFs is a somewhat interesting market. I often find myself reading a long technical PDF or Web page on my computer screen wishing I could continue reading this same document on my sofa. My netbook offers that service but takes up too much space with parts that I don't need for reading, like the keyboard.

 

[Hmac]

Well I sure would have slapped the Apple executives around and not make a useless device like this! They really took the easy and lazy way out.

So why don´t you say what´s so positive about it?

I have, but I'll say it again just for you...

The larger screen makes it more useful to me for casual web browsing, reading books, and online content than my iPod Touch. With its microphone, I can use it with Skype.The bigger keyboard makes it more useful to me for email. The larger screen makes it better for me for watching movies and TV. FOR ME, the advantages of the iPad more than offsets lack of ability to put it in my shirt pocket. I have lousy ATT reception where I work, so iPhone isn't an option for me and I already have a Verizon Blackberry in my shirt pocket. With iPad, I can use it over wifi at work, and get a nice $30 no-contract data plan with ATT for the times on the road when I need it. Can't do any of those things with my iPod Touch, even if I found the screen size of the Touch to my liking for those things.

iWork (especially with the bigger screen) and the ability to use it with XGA projectors are a bonus for me, not to mention the liklihood of enhanced content, whether it be iBooks, or better media subscriptions, or whatever else this new paradigm morphs into. Those are bonuses for me. The larger size for books, movies, TV and the ability to browse the internet, write letters, email, and make Keynote presentations would be enough for me to drop the $$$.

THOSE are some of the things that are positive about it FOR ME. They may not be positives for you, but that's not my problem. I'm just going to accept the fact that, from a marketing perspective, you are apparently not in Apple's target market. I apparently am. I hope you have better luck with their next new product.