I'm trying to figure out why everyone is acting so "underwhelmed" and surprised by all of this. From all the (realistic) rumors, this is exactly what we should have been expecting. Which is pretty cool, but I want to know, those of you who are "underwhelmed" or "expected more"...what exactly DID you expect? Realistically, that is? (not talking about all the rumors of "completely different inputs by wheeling your thumbs in a way that makes sense only to some random dude on the internet" or "it will be free for schoolkids" or whatever whack [bleep!])
"Marcelo, sometimes, your cruelty is delicious." - Frankyboy
-
Want to help save the lives of homeless dogs and cats in Chicago? Support my attempt at running an 8K race - http://mattstratton.com/PAWS2010
The whole putting an "i" in front of everything has gotten BEYOND tiresome now.
What's with the huge black wasted space around the entire thing?
Can we stick to the 16x9 format... PLEASE?!?
What, still no flash?
Okay price, but why does adding 3G add $130 to the price tag?!?
64GB is nice, but would it kill them to have a SD card slot that I could stick an SD card with most of my Swing music on and in turn DJ from?
Overall, interesting device... I could see making use of it... especially if a quality DJing program ([bleep!] THE TERM APP!) gets written for it. But like Apple's phone, I'll be waiting for v2.
Very interested to test it out... but there are still lots of unanswered questions.
I wish this had been announced before I spent $500 on a laptop for my wife that she only uses for web surfing...and that she hates. This would be good for her. She loves her iPhone.
"Marcelo, sometimes, your cruelty is delicious." - Frankyboy
-
Want to help save the lives of homeless dogs and cats in Chicago? Support my attempt at running an 8K race - http://mattstratton.com/PAWS2010
I guess that I'm underwhelmed because I expected more than a big iPod Touch? Apple has taken a gamble that people will figure out what this is good for and how to use it.
I see your point though Mugsy, if all you want is a netbook, then this might be an attractive solution.
I'm actually in the market for an eBook, and the low-end model price is competetive, but I don't really want to read a book off of an LED screen.
Then again, as someone posted on another forum that I frequent:
"Now you spent like $600 for a 1ghz laptop with 16 gb of storage space, an OS designed for a phone, no camera, a small screen, and you're a completely captive audience for the app store.
But it's got a touch screen and a nifty slideshow app."
Also, this thing does iWork + Email + Web + Calendaring and it costs $499 and acts basically like an appliance and less like a computer.
There is probably to hit the audience of folks who like the simplicity of a Mac but don't like the price-point. These people currently own crappy Windows boxes that they have to call their children to administer every other day. This device could really play well for this audience.
Basically, this seems like one way for Apple to invade the low-end below even the Mac-mini that PC's tend to dominate in because of their low price.
Though, to be clear, I don't think this is the sole audience Apple is aiming at, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of their targets.
I admire it very much. I get what they're saying about it being a gamechanger. Right now it's a big iPod touch because they have a ton of apps already and they want to get it into people's hands. But 5-10 years from now it's possible this will be what the original apple powerbook was, the first of what eventually became the standard format for mobile computing.
I wasn't underwhelmed because for me it wasn't about what this device is now, it's about what this device has the potential to be in a few years.
Now personally I'm not in the market for one. I don't lust for it. But I think it has some serious potential.
I can't wait to get one. I rarely get gen 1 of anything but I did for the ipod and iphone and I'm happy as a clam with this announcement. $499 for me is fine, I don't need 3gs, just wifi in the house. I love my iphone but I'm mostly home and screen is too small for the apps I want, this is perfect. Cooks illustrated recipes in the kitchen.
Once I heard rumors about it, and then saw the dell tablet shown at CES, realized the tablet idea makes so much sense, something between the smart phone and a labtop. I love it.
Black band around the outside, yeah was first think I noticed, wonder if that was because of the tech of creating such a large sensitive, touch screen, or maybe more pratical, to give you an edge to grab it without clicking something on the screen. All vids show people grabbing that edge. But hey, you gotta start somewhere and this is a great place.
Looks like there's an SD reader attachment thru the dock connector. So that's better than nothing.
Considering how elegantly Apple threw an SD reader onto the iMacs and Macbook lines I'm a little surprised by the lack of SD support here. Maybe it's to prevent you from sharing all those newly purchased ebooks or something.
What marcelo said. Ten bucks says you get this thing in yoru hands and use it and you won't be underwelmed (same thing people said about the Kindle).
This device is about all those scifi movies/shows where they're walking around looking at and interacting with a thin sheet of plastic, ala STNG. And about an iTunes like store that helps save the media industry (video, newspapers, books, magazines).
I seriously doubt this will save the media industry. In fact, I think it will hasten its demise.
The reason is because people can just as easily read blogs on it as they can magazines and newspapers. Apple just took away the one thing magazines and papers had over blogs - real portability - by creating a device that can perfectly render the blog on the go, exactly as it should be read. No amount of NYTimes apps or Conde Nast magazines custom made for iPhone will change that. The media industry is going haywire not because there's nowhere for people to read their content, but because a bunch of amateurs are making better content that's free to access. Why on earth would I buy the Cosmo e-magazine subscription when I can just read Defamer or GFY or any of the other myriad websites about similar things on the exact same device, anytime I want, looking better than ever, and in any space?
Some major institutions like NYTimes will do fine in this space, but there's a reason Steve didn't talk much about magazines. There's no market for them anymore. The death of magazines also has as much to do with their own corporate structures and bad management anyways. I doubt a bunch of print-loving dinosaurs are going to really "get" this transition, all they see is a way to provide content no one wants at a price point that is underbid by free blogs.
One other space where I definitely see a market is comic books. But I think that's a VERY small market.
yeah, I guess that's better than nothing. you just won't be able to use an sd card while the pad is docked. which still seems like a hugely un-necessary limitation...
Here it is folks, the Apple iPad. The screen is gorgeous, tilting is responsive, and the thing is super thin. Still, if you've used the iPhone before -- and you can see the two devices side-by-side here -- there's not a lot of surprises here so far. Here are some initial thoughts on the iPad:
It's not light. It feels pretty weighty in your hand.
The screen is stunning, and it's 1024 x 768. Feels just like a huge iPhone in your hands.
The speed of the CPU is something to be marveled at. It is blazingly fast from what we can tell. Webpages loaded up super fast, and scrolling was without a hiccup. Moving into and out of apps was a breeze. Everything flew.
There's no multitasking at all. It's a real disappointment. All this power and very little you can do with it at once. No multitasking means no streaming Pandora when you're working in Pages... you can figure it out. It's a real setback for this device.
The ebook implementation is about as close as you can get to reading without a stack of bound paper in your hand. The visual stuff really helps flesh out the experience. It may be just for show, but it counts here.
No camera. None, nada. Zip. No video conferencing here folks. Hell, it doesn't have an SMS app!
It's running iPhone OS 3.2.
The keyboard is good, not great. Not quite as responsive as it looked in the demos.
I agree with those who are underwhelmed, though I agree with Marcelo that this is just the beginning of what could be an interesting category.
Main disappointments:
- No Flash support, so no Hulu, Netflix, and other webapps. I understand that they probably left it out to protect their App Store business. They don't want competition from flash-based apps. But this does take away from the web browsing experience.
- No multitasking - Can't listen to streaming audio while doing other things. I was hoping that with added screen space, Apple would allow you to run two Apps side by side. That would have been cool.
- No webcam - Could have been a cool Skype videoconferencing device.
- I actually wish it were just a tiny bit smaller and lighter. Something more the form factor of the Kindle with an 8 inch screen. I wonder if it will get tiring to hold and use it for a long period.
- Why not support a bluetooth keyboard and/or one that works with the device in landscape.
- No VOIP out of the box, but I'm thinking it will probably be possible using Skype and bluetooth headset.
The price is decent, at only $200 above an iTouch for the base Wifi version. So, they'll sell a bunch of them.
wrt ereading, I got a nook for Christmas and I'm still stoked about it. I get that the iPad is pretty slick for this sort of thing, but I can't sit and look at a backlit LED screen for 6-8 hours at a time. It kills me. the e-ink screen has one unbeatable advantage in that it's so damn easy on the eyes. It really is just like paper.
So while I definitely see the iPad being used for books, I don't think it's going to catch on with the dedicated reader set. I don't think people are going to buy it instead of ereaders. If they're dedicated book fans they'll get ereaders. If someone's not a dedicated book fan they may not buy an ereader now and instead buy this and occasionally read a book on it.
For short form stuff like articles and papers this is definitely better than the subscription stuff on kindle or whatever. And pdf support is probably miles better too. But longform reading is still e-ink's game.
Apple's IPad Tablet Announcement?
Wexie
It should be today. I'm really curious.
Here is a leaked video of it.
First Apple Tablet Review
Get Live Updates Here
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Air
Will it cook bacon?
Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?
GuruReuben
My MacBookPro does.
Reuben Brown
www.JiveJunction.com
Southern California
Swifty
I hope that when they come out with a bigger version they call it the maxiPad.
4^(1/2) = Rainbows
zeno
Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard
Ogden
I feel like it hit me with a resounding "meh".
Some Guy
It looks decent, and I would probably enjoy surfing on the couch or coffee shop with it... but not for $650 (if that's the price point)
Mugsy Malone
I'm trying to figure out why everyone is acting so "underwhelmed" and surprised by all of this. From all the (realistic) rumors, this is exactly what we should have been expecting. Which is pretty cool, but I want to know, those of you who are "underwhelmed" or "expected more"...what exactly DID you expect? Realistically, that is? (not talking about all the rumors of "completely different inputs by wheeling your thumbs in a way that makes sense only to some random dude on the internet" or "it will be free for schoolkids" or whatever whack [bleep!])
"Marcelo, sometimes, your cruelty is delicious." - Frankyboy
-
Want to help save the lives of homeless dogs and cats in Chicago? Support my attempt at running an 8K race - http://mattstratton.com/PAWS2010
toniwbusch
I've heard price quotes from $600-$1,000. Are there any official numbers?
Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
PitStopPete
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_zI21XEo0Q
I'm waiting for a pressure sensitive tablet that I can use in place of a sketchbook.
This thing to me is a huge ipod touch+.
toniwbusch
Nevermind. I just heard $499. That seems about right when you can buy an iPod for $300 and a decent netbook for $400.
Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
Wexie
Pictures and info
Pricing:
GuruReuben
The whole putting an "i" in front of everything has gotten BEYOND tiresome now.
What's with the huge black wasted space around the entire thing?
Can we stick to the 16x9 format... PLEASE?!?
What, still no flash?
Okay price, but why does adding 3G add $130 to the price tag?!?
64GB is nice, but would it kill them to have a SD card slot that I could stick an SD card with most of my Swing music on and in turn DJ from?
Overall, interesting device... I could see making use of it... especially if a quality DJing program ([bleep!] THE TERM APP!) gets written for it. But like Apple's phone, I'll be waiting for v2.
Very interested to test it out... but there are still lots of unanswered questions.
Reuben Brown
www.JiveJunction.com
Southern California
Mugsy Malone
I wish this had been announced before I spent $500 on a laptop for my wife that she only uses for web surfing...and that she hates. This would be good for her. She loves her iPhone.
"Marcelo, sometimes, your cruelty is delicious." - Frankyboy
-
Want to help save the lives of homeless dogs and cats in Chicago? Support my attempt at running an 8K race - http://mattstratton.com/PAWS2010
Wexie
"We will be shipping these in 60 days. 3G models will ship in 90 days."
GuruReuben
And why is it STILL called "iTunes."
Change the name already. "iMedia" is more applicable, even as much as I now hate the "i."
Reuben Brown
www.JiveJunction.com
Southern California
mrz
I could see a lot of potential audiences that would like this device. But, yeah, I'm curious what v2-v3 of this device looks like.
Also, I guess this is one of the big reasons why Apple bought PA-Semiconductor.
Ogden
I guess that I'm underwhelmed because I expected more than a big iPod Touch? Apple has taken a gamble that people will figure out what this is good for and how to use it.
I see your point though Mugsy, if all you want is a netbook, then this might be an attractive solution.
I'm actually in the market for an eBook, and the low-end model price is competetive, but I don't really want to read a book off of an LED screen.
Then again, as someone posted on another forum that I frequent:
"Now you spent like $600 for a 1ghz laptop with 16 gb of storage space, an OS designed for a phone, no camera, a small screen, and you're a completely captive audience for the app store.
But it's got a touch screen and a nifty slideshow app."
mrz
Also, this thing does iWork + Email + Web + Calendaring and it costs $499 and acts basically like an appliance and less like a computer.
There is probably to hit the audience of folks who like the simplicity of a Mac but don't like the price-point. These people currently own crappy Windows boxes that they have to call their children to administer every other day. This device could really play well for this audience.
Basically, this seems like one way for Apple to invade the low-end below even the Mac-mini that PC's tend to dominate in because of their low price.
Though, to be clear, I don't think this is the sole audience Apple is aiming at, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of their targets.
Some Guy
no flash, no sd slot, no multitasking, no camera, no gps, no phone...
you'll be in for about $900 after taxes for the 64gb 3G...
Zev
http://www.thedoghousediaries.com/
David Pogue:
"Style is originality; fashion is fascism.The two are eternally and unalterably opposed." - Lester Bangs
Ogden
Edited because I'm going to stop dogging it now.
Apple is going to sell a billion of these.
And then a billion more to the folks that already bought gen 1 once they revise it and bring out gen 2 next year.
Wait for gen 2, or even gen 3. You won't have to wait long.
Marcelo
I admire it very much. I get what they're saying about it being a gamechanger. Right now it's a big iPod touch because they have a ton of apps already and they want to get it into people's hands. But 5-10 years from now it's possible this will be what the original apple powerbook was, the first of what eventually became the standard format for mobile computing.
I wasn't underwhelmed because for me it wasn't about what this device is now, it's about what this device has the potential to be in a few years.
Now personally I'm not in the market for one. I don't lust for it. But I think it has some serious potential.
frankyboy
I can't wait to get one. I rarely get gen 1 of anything but I did for the ipod and iphone and I'm happy as a clam with this announcement. $499 for me is fine, I don't need 3gs, just wifi in the house. I love my iphone but I'm mostly home and screen is too small for the apps I want, this is perfect. Cooks illustrated recipes in the kitchen.
Once I heard rumors about it, and then saw the dell tablet shown at CES, realized the tablet idea makes so much sense, something between the smart phone and a labtop. I love it.
Black band around the outside, yeah was first think I noticed, wonder if that was because of the tech of creating such a large sensitive, touch screen, or maybe more pratical, to give you an edge to grab it without clicking something on the screen. All vids show people grabbing that edge. But hey, you gotta start somewhere and this is a great place.
Marcelo
Looks like there's an SD reader attachment thru the dock connector. So that's better than nothing.
Considering how elegantly Apple threw an SD reader onto the iMacs and Macbook lines I'm a little surprised by the lack of SD support here. Maybe it's to prevent you from sharing all those newly purchased ebooks or something.
frankyboy
What marcelo said. Ten bucks says you get this thing in yoru hands and use it and you won't be underwelmed (same thing people said about the Kindle).
This device is about all those scifi movies/shows where they're walking around looking at and interacting with a thin sheet of plastic, ala STNG. And about an iTunes like store that helps save the media industry (video, newspapers, books, magazines).
stng tablet wired article aug 2009
I'm friggin excited, I want one now!!! and ten bugs one has an app that looks like that stng screen.
Marcelo
I seriously doubt this will save the media industry. In fact, I think it will hasten its demise.
The reason is because people can just as easily read blogs on it as they can magazines and newspapers. Apple just took away the one thing magazines and papers had over blogs - real portability - by creating a device that can perfectly render the blog on the go, exactly as it should be read. No amount of NYTimes apps or Conde Nast magazines custom made for iPhone will change that. The media industry is going haywire not because there's nowhere for people to read their content, but because a bunch of amateurs are making better content that's free to access. Why on earth would I buy the Cosmo e-magazine subscription when I can just read Defamer or GFY or any of the other myriad websites about similar things on the exact same device, anytime I want, looking better than ever, and in any space?
Some major institutions like NYTimes will do fine in this space, but there's a reason Steve didn't talk much about magazines. There's no market for them anymore. The death of magazines also has as much to do with their own corporate structures and bad management anyways. I doubt a bunch of print-loving dinosaurs are going to really "get" this transition, all they see is a way to provide content no one wants at a price point that is underbid by free blogs.
One other space where I definitely see a market is comic books. But I think that's a VERY small market.
Some Guy
yeah, I guess that's better than nothing. you just won't be able to use an sd card while the pad is docked. which still seems like a hugely un-necessary limitation...
Ogden
Fron endgadget.com (images not included)
Here it is folks, the Apple iPad. The screen is gorgeous, tilting is responsive, and the thing is super thin. Still, if you've used the iPhone before -- and you can see the two devices side-by-side here -- there's not a lot of surprises here so far. Here are some initial thoughts on the iPad:
It's not light. It feels pretty weighty in your hand.
The screen is stunning, and it's 1024 x 768. Feels just like a huge iPhone in your hands.
The speed of the CPU is something to be marveled at. It is blazingly fast from what we can tell. Webpages loaded up super fast, and scrolling was without a hiccup. Moving into and out of apps was a breeze. Everything flew.
There's no multitasking at all. It's a real disappointment. All this power and very little you can do with it at once. No multitasking means no streaming Pandora when you're working in Pages... you can figure it out. It's a real setback for this device.
The ebook implementation is about as close as you can get to reading without a stack of bound paper in your hand. The visual stuff really helps flesh out the experience. It may be just for show, but it counts here.
No camera. None, nada. Zip. No video conferencing here folks. Hell, it doesn't have an SMS app!
It's running iPhone OS 3.2.
The keyboard is good, not great. Not quite as responsive as it looked in the demos.
catlike
I agree with those who are underwhelmed, though I agree with Marcelo that this is just the beginning of what could be an interesting category.
Main disappointments:
- No Flash support, so no Hulu, Netflix, and other webapps. I understand that they probably left it out to protect their App Store business. They don't want competition from flash-based apps. But this does take away from the web browsing experience.
- No multitasking - Can't listen to streaming audio while doing other things. I was hoping that with added screen space, Apple would allow you to run two Apps side by side. That would have been cool.
- No webcam - Could have been a cool Skype videoconferencing device.
- I actually wish it were just a tiny bit smaller and lighter. Something more the form factor of the Kindle with an 8 inch screen. I wonder if it will get tiring to hold and use it for a long period.
- Why not support a bluetooth keyboard and/or one that works with the device in landscape.
- No VOIP out of the box, but I'm thinking it will probably be possible using Skype and bluetooth headset.
The price is decent, at only $200 above an iTouch for the base Wifi version. So, they'll sell a bunch of them.
Marcelo
wrt ereading, I got a nook for Christmas and I'm still stoked about it. I get that the iPad is pretty slick for this sort of thing, but I can't sit and look at a backlit LED screen for 6-8 hours at a time. It kills me. the e-ink screen has one unbeatable advantage in that it's so damn easy on the eyes. It really is just like paper.
So while I definitely see the iPad being used for books, I don't think it's going to catch on with the dedicated reader set. I don't think people are going to buy it instead of ereaders. If they're dedicated book fans they'll get ereaders. If someone's not a dedicated book fan they may not buy an ereader now and instead buy this and occasionally read a book on it.
For short form stuff like articles and papers this is definitely better than the subscription stuff on kindle or whatever. And pdf support is probably miles better too. But longform reading is still e-ink's game.
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