Why the iPad WILL succeed

[drummerlondonw3]

the ipad is like the iphone when it was first released - lots of people didn understand why it would be so great ( i was the only person I knew with an original iphone for soooo long) and crucially when the original OS was on it it was great but not outstanding.

I predict the same for the ipad it will be revolutionised by the software like the iphone has turning it from a great device to the most must have device probably ever made. Now everyone I know has an iphone

 

[MacVDS]

the ipad is like the iphone when it was first released - lots of people didn understand why it would be so great ( i was the only person I knew with an original iphone for soooo long) and crucially when the original OS was on it it was great but not outstanding.

I predict the same for the ipad it will be revolutionised by the software like the iphone has turning it from a great device to the most must have device probably ever made. Now everyone I know has an iphone

Well the nice thing is the iPad has the advantage of a higher level starting point in hardware and software due to building on the improvements made over the years to the iPhone/iTouch. I imagine it will only get better from there, if history is any indication. I guess if you like the way the iTouch works, most will just love the iPad despite all the grousing.
I tend to look at the iPad for what it does more than what it doesn't, since I really enjoy my iTouch (1g). It's just my eyes are getting weaker and my fingers are getting fatter.

 

[Night Spring]

And I wonder - without the keyboard accessory - how "easy" will typing really be when you're holding it or propping it on your lap. With a curved back, it's not going to sit flush when flat on a table - so again, how "easy" or comfortable will it be for typing - say an email...

I'm wondering the exact same thing. Though I do plan to get the Apple case, which would hopefully help by propping it at an angle for typing. Still, even if the keyboard isn't so easy to use, the iPad would be a very nice ebook reader / web browser to use on the sofa or in bed. What with the olympics going on, I've been spending too much time perched on my sofa in front of the TV, and the iPad would allow me to read MacRumors during commercials, or to look up info on various atheletes and sports. If it turns out that the virtual keyboard is useful enough for light editing of work documents on the bus during my commute, it would be an extra bonus. If not, I expect I would be catching up on my TV show and movies while on the bus. There are just so many ways I see the iPad fitting into my life. Yes, I know people who have no use for it, and I know people who like me can hardly wait for it, and I know people who are "wait and see." But for me at least the iPad is a device I've been waiting for. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's a huge step in the right direction for portable computing.