iPad, Quick Review and things to know if buying from the US. (now with pics)

Leiva · 07-04-2010 02:50PM

cornbb wrote: »

they can't make up their collective mind about what it all means.

Suppose ..the iPad is the bastard child of a iPhone & Netbook , thats gonna be hard to work out alright , but something tells me that Apple have got it right with this device .
The posts and forums are similar to when the iPod got released , with comments like "why do i need this " etc etc , look at what avenues the iPod has opened up since its release .

I really think the iPad will be revolutionary , maybe not in its current form but something it has started .(or has the iPhone done that already?

)

M.

Jax Teller · 07-04-2010 03:01PM

I want one Even though I don't need one

cornbb · 07-04-2010 03:09PM

mixednuts wrote: »

Suppose ..the iPad is the bastard child of a iPhone & Netbook , thats gonna be hard to work out alright , but something tells me that Apple have got it right with this device .
The posts and forums are similar to when the iPod got released , with comments like "why do i need this " etc etc , look at what avenues the iPod has opened up since its release .

I really think the iPad will be revolutionary , maybe not in its current form but something it has started .(or has the iPhone done that already? )

M.

I don't see the iPad as being any sort of offspring of netbooks. It will appeal to some users in the way that netbooks do, but I believe Apple set out specifically to design not-a-netbook. The most significant difference is that it is a "nice thing" that people will like to own and use, it's glossy with clean lines and feels well-designed and well-built by all accounts, whereas many netbooks are designed and built on a budget, with sub-par screens.

It has definitely been built on the shoulders of the iPhone though - in terms of hardware, OS, interaction design, industrial design, not to mention the hugely-important community of developers and 3rd-party apps. The iPad could never have been born without the successes of the iPhone and App Store.

I think we'll only find out if it is actually revolutionary after a number of years. Apple will inevitably add many of the features that people are crying out for such as camera and multitasking (but never Flash

). 3rd party apps will also play a huge part in it's success.

Graham · 07-04-2010 03:15PM

cornbb wrote: »

3rd party apps will also play a huge part in it's success.

That's where I think you hit the nail on the head, it's the Apps that haven't yet thought up that have the potential to make the iPad a revolutionary device. It's already challenging developers to rethink how users interact with software.

maggy_thatcher · 07-04-2010 03:37PM

Graham wrote: »

That's where I think you hit the nail on the head, it's the Apps that haven't yet thought up that have the potential to make the iPad a revolutionary device. It's already challenging developers to rethink how users interact with software.

Unfortunately the walled garden approach that Apple have chosen to use with the iPad is going to hamper developers -- as long as there is an illusion that it the iPad is a computer rather than a device this is going to alienate a lot of people. As an example:

If you want to live in the creative universe where anyone with a cool idea can make it and give it to you to run on your hardware, the iPad isn't for you.

If you want to live in the fair world where you get to keep (or give away) the stuff you buy, the iPad isn't for you.

If you want to write code for a platform where the only thing that determines whether you're going to succeed with it is whether your audience loves it, the iPad isn't for you.

There are many others with opinions like this.

Tom Dunne · 07-04-2010 03:46PM

maggy_thatcher wrote: »

Unfortunately the walled garden approach that Apple have chosen to use with the iPad is going to hamper developers

Just like that approach hampered the developers for the iPhone and the iPod Touch?

keane2097 · 07-04-2010 03:47PM

maggy_thatcher wrote: »

Unfortunately the walled garden approach that Apple have chosen to use with the iPad is going to hamper developers -- as long as there is an illusion that it the iPad is a computer rather than a device this is going to alienate a lot of people. As an example:

There are many others with opinions like this.

What does it mean by the "keep or give away the stuff you buy" bit?

120_Minutes · 07-04-2010 03:54PM

keysersoze_88 wrote: »

I want one Even though I don't need one

and that my friend is what apples marketing dept want you to think.

maggy_thatcher · 07-04-2010 03:57PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Just like that approach hampered the developers for the iPhone and the iPod Touch?

That's why I said as long as there was an assumption that the iPad was a computer and not a special purpose device. The closed-garden approach to the iPhone/iPod Touch is one of the reasons why Android is slowly gaining ground against them (it's too early to say whether or not that'll continue).

keane2097 wrote: »

What does it mean by the "keep or give away the stuff you buy" bit?

DRM. If you buy a regular book and then finish reading it, you can take it to various second-hand book sellers, or give it to a friend etc. With ebooks and DRM you can't do that...there's no physical way of transferring ownership of the item.

redout · 07-04-2010 07:12PM

This just hit the net

An internal HP memo which compares the upcoming Slate to Apple’s iPad has been leaked, and it shows not just the specifications of the Hewlett Packard tablet, but also the price. The comparison table even highlights “advantages” and “threats” in green and red.

The Slate will come in two sizes: a 32-GB model for $550 and a $600, 64-GB version. This compares favorably to the iPad, which costs $600 for 32 GB. On the “advantages” side, the HP lists an SD card reader, a USB port, HDMI-out, a VGA webcam, a 3-megapixel camera and a “conventional” SIM-card tray (the iPad uses the new micro-SIM).

Inexplicably, the 1.6-GHz Atom Z530 is also counted as an “advantage,” presumably due to the familiarity of the name rather than its actual performance. The Slate will also contain 1 GB RAM, weigh the same 1.5 pounds as the iPad and sport a widescreen 1024 x 600 display. This is, despite the name and capacitive touchscreen, a netbook with the keyboard removed.

So, what are the “threats” listed by HP? The iPad’s 10-hour battery life (the Slate claims just five, and will surely be shorter), 802.11n Wi-Fi (the Slate has just g), the bigger screen and the entry-level price of just $550. And that’s it. If there is any proof that HP doesn’t get the whole tablet PC shtick, it is this focus on hardware. The whole point of the iPad is its software, the fact that it is conceived to work as a touch device. HP’s Slate may well be a nice piece of hardware, and it certainly has all the marketing checkboxes filled, but it runs Windows 7. And last time we looked, even a skinned version of Windows 7 is not designed for touch. Nice try, though, HP. Better luck next time.

HP Slate to cost $549, have 1.6GHz Atom Z530, 5 hour battery?

Wired

cornbb · 07-04-2010 07:18PM

It will be good for the iPad to have some competitors. But I think an "iPad killer" will take years, if it ever comes. We still haven't seen an iPhone killer after years. I agree that HP are somewhat missing the point by comparing specs, user experience will be all that counts.

OctavarIan · 07-04-2010 07:48PM

I agree with the article, HP are completely missing the whole point of a tablet pc. 'Up to five hours' on a machine that runs Windows 7, I think we all know how that really goes down.

This thing will be bought by power users because of the specs. Give a power user a Windows device running on battery and it's safe to say that thing will be hooked up to the mains most of the time.

Graham · 07-04-2010 10:14PM

There's a phrase that springs to mind with the H.P. Windows tablet.

"if you always do what you've always done, you always get what you've always got".

In this case that would be a compromised user experience. A windows, icon, mouse pointer O/S bastardised to give a barely usable finger/stylus interface.

Microsoft already realized this mistake with Windows Mobile, you can't repurpose a windows O/S for a brand new type of user interface. Time for more slash and burn as in Windows 7 for mobile phone.

Graham · 07-04-2010 11:25PM

Well after an evenings heavy use I've com to realise a few things, some good, some not so good.

The commute home:
The iPad works a treat with a MiFi router, a few occasional disconnects but nothing to severe.
You really do need the iPad case to limit glare and find the most comfortable viewing angle.
You can't be shy, an iPad garners much attention however side-glanced.

Couch surfing:
Wow, I'm stunned. The on-lap, in front of the Telly surfing experience is unrivalled. I've not been tempted to my main PC all night. It's fast, comfortable and ohhhh so slick and did I mention blazingly fast. Again, the iPad case is a must for finding the most comfortable working position/angle.

The browser:
Quick, quick, quick, pinch to zoom in and out is so responsive and on my decidedly average Internet connection over wifi, pages load still surprisingly quick.

The virtual keyboard:
I was asked earlier could it be used to type up essays and I said no, I take it back. I'm now achieving speeds and accuracy almost on a par with a full size real keyboard, I am really shocked by this. Over the weekend I'm hoping to catch some video of this in use.

More as I think of it, although not during the day as I'm back at work now. Posting today meant skipping lunch to make up the time I spent answering questions so please be patient with any future questions.

BrianD · 07-04-2010 11:52PM

cornbb wrote: »

It will be good for the iPad to have some competitors. But I think an "iPad killer" will take years, if it ever comes. We still haven't seen an iPhone killer after years. I agree that HP are somewhat missing the point by comparing specs, user experience will be all that counts.

What do you mean by an iPhone killer? These are already on the market. Android in North America is already up to 27% (apple at 54%) share of the Smartphone market. 60,000 Android handsets being shipped per day. The one thing that Apple has in its favour is that it is a single device (as opposed to many different android handsets and manufacturers) and the fact that it is currently light years ahead of the competition by virtue of iTunes.

To me it is hard to get phones right. An Ipad killer is only months away, if that.

Graham · 08-04-2010 12:16AM

Based on the likes of the HP slate I can't agree at all, an iPad killer is light years away.

My future mother in law (ffmil) has tried taking 'PC' lessons but still is uncomfortable using windows XP, the iPad is her future computer. It's only beginning to dawn on me where the iPad fits, it's a computer for people that don't do computers.

I just can't believe that a tablet based on Windows can even come close in terms of user experience for a non-PC user unless/until Microsoft wipe the slate clean (pun intended) and start again.

I just can't imagine the pain of having to teach ffmil about antivirus antispyware etc etc etc.. She just wants something to browse and email without fear.

If your computer literate, I'm afraid you're likely to be missing the point. This product isn't targeted at you, even if it fits your lifestyle at some level.

Eircom, take note. The iPad could massively increase your market share if you market this alongside a broadband package. A high speed Internet computer for people that don't do computers.

cornbb · 08-04-2010 12:41AM

BrianD wrote: »

What do you mean by an iPhone killer? These are already on the market. Android in North America is already up to 27% (apple at 54%) share of the Smartphone market. 60,000 Android handsets being shipped per day. The one thing that Apple has in its favour is that it is a single device (as opposed to many different android handsets and manufacturers) and the fact that it is currently light years ahead of the competition by virtue of iTunes.

To me it is hard to get phones right. An Ipad killer is only months away, if that.

What is this iPhone killer? It has been promised by many, but iPhone OS is still the one to beat. There are plenty of other good phones out there, but they are following, not leading. Android and iPhone have emerged as the biggest players in the smartphone wars and Android still has a lot of ground to gain. The Palm Pre, Nexus One and Droid were all touted as iPhone killers but they have neither sold anywhere near the number of unitsthe iPhone has nor been embraced by users/developers to the same extent.

And how is an ipad killer only months away? The HP slate is only beginning to materialise now, and the best that Google and Microsoft have managed are rendered mockups.

54kroc · 08-04-2010 01:02AM

cornbb wrote: »

And how is an ipad killer only months away? The HP slate is only beginning to materialise now, and the best that Google and Microsoft have managed are rendered mockups.

What about the ICD Gemini

cornbb · 08-04-2010 01:29AM

cork45 wrote: »

What about the ICD Gemini

It looks interesting, I'm looking forward to seeing what android can do on a tablet. but I'd never heard of it and I'm betting the millions of people around the world who've seen the ipad in news headlines everywhere haven't either.

The ipad will probably sell a million units by the end of it's first month. To say the competition are slow out if the traps is a massive understatement. They already have many miles of catching up to do.

andrewshawire · 08-04-2010 02:20AM

Hi guys.
I am in no way pointing this out as an ipad killer but I was shocked at the price of it. It has the same price tag as the ipad but with verry little in the way of features. It's calked the joojoo . And I put this here for the guys who can't live without flash (sorry for bribing up th "F" word) but it does do flash, and from what I cansee that's all it has going fo it.
Www.thejoojoo.com
search engadget for some vids .

J-blk · 08-04-2010 08:52AM

andrewshawire wrote: »

search engadget for some vids .

And while you're at it, search Engadget for a review of it as well - the Joojoo hardware may be nice on paper, but the screen responsiveness and the software is apparently sh*te:

There are just so many things we wish Fusion Garage did differently with the JooJoo. Even putting aside the fact that Apple's $499 iPad brings more to the table than just web browsing, the JooJoo is less portable, has a worse (if larger) screen, is unintuitive to use, and ships with half-baked software. We commend the start-up on its nice piece of hardware design, but until the software is given some much-needed love and the price is seriously reevaluated we simply cannot recommend this tablet. To add insult to injury, Apple's entry level iPad provides a much more seamless and feature-packed experience, and there are plenty of $199-ish ARM-based tablets just around the corner. We told you it was terrible timing. The one shining light we can see is that Fusion Garage has actually managed to finish and build this thing, which is a lot more than can be said for the dozens of ARM / Tegra / Fairy dust-powered, Android / Linux / CE-based tablet prototypes we've seen in the wild.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/05/fusion-garage-joojoo-review/

BrianD · 08-04-2010 03:54PM

the Ipad has a little brother or sister on the way with a 5-7inch screen.

http://ow.ly/1w2VP

Leiva · 08-04-2010 04:11PM

BrianD wrote: »

the Ipad has a little brother or sister on the way with a 5-7inch screen.

http://ow.ly/1w2VP

Ah FFS ...it never stops !

BrianD · 08-04-2010 04:19PM

...when I glanced at the article first I thought it was a 57inch screen. Ideal e-book reader for those with bad eyesight!

Graham · 08-04-2010 04:27PM

Imagine trying to wipe the fingerprints off that :eek:

i71jskz5xu42pb · 08-04-2010 04:47PM

BrianD wrote: »

...when I glanced at the article first I thought it was a 57inch screen. Ideal e-book reader for those with bad eyesight!

Here's your target market for the 57inch screen

silvine · 08-04-2010 06:03PM

Bloody hell you wouldn't want to be checking out naughty images on that monster at work.

Leiva · 08-04-2010 07:19PM

GeoHot has just basically blown the iPad wide open and posted some keys on his blog for Devs .

http://iphonejtag.blogspot.com/

Elessar · 08-04-2010 07:29PM

mixednuts wrote: »

GeoHot has just basically blown the iPad wide open and posted some keys on his blog for Devs .

http://iphonejtag.blogspot.com/

Saw that, but what does it mean exactly? iPad was already jailbroken by musclenerd.

Stuxnet · 08-04-2010 07:34PM

Elessar wrote: »

Saw that, but what does it mean exactly? iPad was already jailbroken by musclenerd.

not my words but in a nutshell ..... This is the big news. These are the first keys that allow for the decrypting of the iPad ipsw files and allow us to look inside of them for exploits and codings.

iPad, Quick Review and things to know if buying from the US. (now with pics)

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