Apple introduces the iPad

[Elie]

https://www.apple.com

What are your thoughts on this?

[dZeus]

It looks interesting. If it can do 10+ hours while browsing through wifi, then it's definitely a nice device.

My first impression was that the screen res was low, but the DPI is about the same as the 1600x1200 15" flexview thinkpads. And IPS + led backlight is definitely a big thumbs up. 500USD would actually be quite a good price for a device with such a screen.

I don't think the hardware in itself is all that revolutionary, but I suppose it's the whole Apple package that'll make it very successfull.

If another manufacturer can clone these specs (or better), provide it with ubuntu linux, and at a similar or lower pricepoint, then I'd be tempted to buy it

PS. I'm surprised that they went with a 4:3 aspect ratio (if it's 1:1 PAR); I suppose they anticipate eReader/websurfing being more popular uses for it than watching films.

Oh, and another surprise: no front camera! maybe they don't want to cannibalize macbook sales too much?
No multitasking either. CPU probably a cortex A8?

My guess: this version will do OK. Next gen will fix most of the shortcomings like front camera, all models with GPS and 3G, higher res screen, dual-core Cortex A9, more internal flash and will be a massive success.

[VJ]

Nice device... anyone who uses a smartphone to browse websites knows it often is too small...

I don't consider it a huge leap forward, but think the iPhone story will repeat itself. By that story, I mean the mere fact that there are other devices on the market that (from a hardware point of view) can offer the same functionality, but lack proper UI or software. Before the iPhone 3G, there were plenty of Windows Mobile devices (and more user friendly but less popular Symbian devices), and I have now been working on a Fujitsu Siemens P1510 tablet (8.9" display, <1 kg, convertible so built in keyboard, 60 GB harddisk, ...) for three years!
So while I don't think the hardware is so out of the ordinary, I recognize the fact that Apple knows how to create good UI to make the features easily available to people, they know how to create a market (iPod, iPhone) and they have their image that works for them. Compare 2 people with a computer in a public place: one with a regular laptop and one with an Apple. Theoretically, no real difference, but still the portrayed image is different. So while using my TabletPC in public is not really considered "cool", but more "geek"; using this will be considered "cool"...

Looks to me like a great device for in-couch use (web browsing, mail reading, book readin) or travel entertainment. And as such, it could well be a nail in the coffin for portable dvd drives and printed magazines... It may even convince some casual gamers if the games were right (opens a new generation of board games!)...
Not sure about true work use as of yet... allthough I must say I like using Windows Journal to make my handwritten notes, so there are options in that direction too...

Jörg

[Jammrock]

Two words: NO MULTITASKING



Only one app at a time, period. What genius thought that was a good idea? Puh-lease...even netbooks can multitask.

I'm actually pretty disappointed. It's just a big iPhone with a bookshelf. Nothing I would call magical or revolutionary. In a generation or two it may be, but not this one.

[Sasq]

OS 4 is rumored to have multi tasking.
they won't release it for the ipad before the iphone, as its largely the same OS.

that said, it scratches an itch, but i won't be looking to buy one until at least gen 2, probably gen 3

[paulw]

iSlate would have been a better name. Not getting one as by the time it gets down here going by Apples current pricing model it will be US$ + 120%. Apple tax..

[VJ]

Sasq: they should have also announced OS4, just to avoid confusion...

It will be a device people can take to their coffee shop and read a magazine there. Or browse the web/mail. And I do think there is a market for that. For travellers, it also serves a purpose (movie, games, books)... But still I think many people are disappointed.

I personally hoped they'd do something like the HTC Shift: this was a 7" convertible tablet that dualbooted in Windows and Windows Mobile (and used a shared outlook database!), but with iPhone OS and a slimmed down OSX... My laptop is 8.9" and has a slimmer bezel, which makes me think the size of the iSlate is a thad too big. The resolution is also too low: some websites may complain or render improperly (could be dealt with by the browser though) and it my not high be enough for text to be comfortable.

[TransformX]

http://gizmodo.com/5458510/wait-no-this-is-the-real-ipad

[TransformX]

http://gizmodo.com/5458497/lets-get-the-ipad-jokes-out-of-our-systems-cause-steve-doesnt-care

[Elie]

LOL, I see the jokes going on for at least a year.

I really hope OS 4.0 comes out sooner rather than later.

[Fluff]

Crikey after seeing this http://www.toughbook.eu/showroom/sho...preselect=cfh1 / http://www.toughbook.eu/media/Spec_S...k2_English.pdf

I want to wait for iPad ver2.

[VJ]

But then Toughbook will have their ver 2 as well...

[Sasq]

honestly as for os 4, i have a soon to expire dev license for apple, not even seen the beta's yet.
So its only rumours
it is the largest complaint though, so it is likely to be addressed at some point.
the OS itself does of course multi task, just user space itself does not

[TransformX]

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary

[Jessterw]

Been forever since I posted here...

Oh, and another surprise: no front camera! maybe they don't want to cannibalize macbook sales too much?
No multitasking either. CPU probably a cortex A8?.

There are rumors that a camera is still forthcoming, but I doubt it for this generation. Knowing Apple, I imagine the reason it isn't present has a lot to do placement and angles. With a standard notebook or computer (think iMac) camera, the lens is leveled (almost) directly at your face. In most use cases for the iPad — angled in your lap — the camera might not have the same focal point.

The A4 processor supposedly includes the Cortex-A9 MPCore, which means it could have either two or four cores.

Two words: NO MULTITASKING



Only one app at a time, period. What genius thought that was a good idea? Puh-lease...even netbooks can multitask.

I'm actually pretty disappointed. It's just a big iPhone with a bookshelf. Nothing I would call magical or revolutionary. In a generation or two it may be, but not this one.

Yes, not having multitasking sucks in many ways. The iPad likely has the same the rules regarding background processing as the iPhone: specific, built-in (stock) Apple applications can run in the background, all others (those from the App Store, including Apple's) can not.

But the comparison to netbooks (which, let's face it, is just a dainty notebook) is silly. The iPad just isn't that sort of device. That's where most of these comparisons to other tablets or netbooks go wrong. It's also why I think this might be the first successful tablet device.

I'd still like to see Apple device a way to incorporate background processing for all apps, as well as an easy way to switch between recently accessed or currently running apps. The problem of course is resource management, which, if you own an Android-based phone/device, isn't an easy thing to nail. My Android phone is constantly bogging down with only a few apps running and switching between them often causes at least one of the apps to crash (silently).

iPhone applications have gotten better about restoring the last know working state, but it's definitely not the same as "true" multitasking, especially with the restriction on background processing.