"[the iPad] has no reason for being" -Steve Jobs

[Cinemagic]

"In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks," Jobs said. "Otherwise it has no reason for being."

"they're going to have to be far better at doing some really important things; better than the laptop, and better than the smartphone."

what kind of tasks? he asks..

browsing the web FAIL - no flash!
doing email
enjoying and sharing photos FAIL - no camera!
video - watching videos FAIL - no flash and no disc drive!
enjoying your music collection FAIL - no space!
playing games FAIL - no way!
reading ebooks


again,

"if there's gonna be a third category of device, it's gonna have to be better at these kinds of tasks than a laptop or a smartphone, other wise it has no reason for being. some people have thought: that's a netbook. the problem is, netbooks aren't better at anything."

and the iPad isn't either!


discuss.

You are dead on CORRECT.

Flash is necessary for a complete web experience. People who think Flash is just for video and porn have no idea how prevalent Flash is on the Internet. Flash is often used for simple things like navigation buttons. No Flash means that you cannot navigate from one page to the next on these sites. And don't say that the web developers should re-write everything. They're not going to for 1% of the browsers.

And what's with the no camera? That means no iChat, which would be perfect for this device.

It is currently unknown if you can use the USB adapter to plug in a USB device loaded with a movie and watch it. Apple does say that their USB or SD card adapter is for pictures and video. You'd have to re-code a movie, but if it will play from a USB stick through their adapter, I'd be both happy and surprised.

Music, the memory is on the shy side, but should be good enough to sync a couple of playlists. I could live with that myself.

While the netbook isn't better at anything, the iPad is worse for viewing the Internet (due to lack of Flash). But it is a sexy looking device. Sexy enough for some people to buy it.

 

[cjmillsnun]

I'm actually seriously looking at an iPad for work.

I work in GIS and need something that runs ArcPad (currently WinMo {eeeeew}) or a full blown laptop to run ArcGIS desktop (again Windows) and a Netbook isn't up to the job.

ESRI announced last July that they were working on a version of ArcPad for the iPhone - Due Q2 '10. But the form factor of the iPhone is too small. I think you see where this is going..... It's absolutely perfect for my needs. Something that runs office productivity apps (check), runs ArcPad (check), has 3g data (check), has a good size screen (check), can send/receive emails (check), can connect to Exchange (check - as long as they have the same connectivity options as iPhone), can accept pictures from a camera (check).

yup... I think this could work, and best of all a 16GB 3G version is perfect for me.

 

[RazHyena]

Without getting into a huge debate with a troll... this is almost certainly going to be the best small video player available. The tablet form factor is more flexible than a laptop and the screen is much larger/higher res/higher quality than an iPod/Zune/PMP. Who cares about disc drives? What a useless idea that would be on an ultra portable device. And flash is hardly a benchmark for watching video. It's just a convenient way to watch a short clip. I'm talking about movies and TV episodes... this will be an excellent video platform without a doubt.

Sure, I agree actually. Watching movies will be a blast on the iPad. Browsing the internet will be fun and email is going to be great on it.

....and that's pretty much where things start to really fall apart and all of a sudden a $499 pricetag seems too much for something this under featured.

I STILL can't get over the lack of a camera. What the heck was the reasoning behind THAT? Something for Revision B? Here's to hoping an accessory camera device will be available for this thing.

 

[CrackedButter]

Yeah, too bad. Looks like you got screwed.

Best reply ever.

 

[hugodrax]

Cant upgrade videocard FAIL
Cannot install Linux on this thing FAIL

 

[ubercool]

I think you're being unfair too. He meant no "outbound" photo and video sharing, which is true.

 

[Ca$hflow]

"In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks," Jobs said. "Otherwise it has no reason for being."

"they're going to have to be far better at doing some really important things; better than the laptop, and better than the smartphone."

what kind of tasks? he asks..

browsing the web FAIL - no flash!
doing email
enjoying and sharing photos FAIL - no camera!
video - watching videos FAIL - no flash and no disc drive!
enjoying your music collection FAIL - no space!
playing games FAIL - no way!
reading ebooks


again,

"if there's gonna be a third category of device, it's gonna have to be better at these kinds of tasks than a laptop or a smartphone, other wise it has no reason for being. some people have thought: that's a netbook. the problem is, netbooks aren't better at anything."

and the iPad isn't either!


discuss.

Whoooooooooooooooooo CARES!!!

 

[eezing]

I agree... Steve Jobs said "BETTER" than a Mac or iPhone.

Email - Fail! Can't zip a file then attach.

iPad is a ebook reader on steroids... enough said.