Who Wants an iPad?

[vangogh]

I'm sure you've all heard or seen something about the iPad by now. I'm just curious about who here might be interested in getting one and if so why. If you have no interest in the iPad why might that be.

I watched the Steve Jobs Keynote last weekend on the Apple site and have been reading lots of articles both pro and con about the device ever since.

The iPad was hyped so much in the last few months it set so many expectations for people including myself. I think much of the criticism I've seen is based on it not living up to the expectations people developed.

Like many I was hoping for a laptop with the touch interface of an iPhone or iPod touch. We didn't quite get that. At first I wasn't sure how I felt, but it didn't take long for me to know I would eventually by an iPad.

It seems to me that it's meant to be a media consumption device more than anything. An easy way to surf the web, check email, watch video, read books and magazines and a few other similar things. For the majority of people that's probably all they do with a computer.

The extra room means a lot more ways to interact with the system via touch and when I watched the demos of some of the apps that will be coming as well as the reworked iWorks (Apple's version of Office) I was excited. I'm looking forward to seeing how apps evolve for the device.

One thing I personally will find useful is the sketching and drawing programs. I can see where the iPad would eliminate the need for me to keep buying notebooks and sketchbooks and probably make it easier to get sketches of designs onto my laptop.

Anyway those are some quick thoughts from me. Just thought I'd see what others are thinking and whether or not you think you'll find uses for an iPad and buy one.

[Steve B]

All I know about it came from Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live last week (or perhaps the week before). They made fun of it - basically saying it's a device that allows you to do things you can already do on your other stuff.

It's not the kind of thing that excites me - so I won't be getting one anytime soon.

I got a bit excited about a netbook around Christmas time, but for another hundred bucks I got a laptop instead.

[eborg9]

- basically saying it's a device that allows you to do things you can already do on your other stuff.

That's what I'm thinking. It definitely looks cool and all, but I already have an iPod Touch, a Blackberry, and a Netbook..they all play music, surf the web, run apps and games, get email, play video and a bunch of other stuff that I don't even use.
And I actually like getting a physical magazine in the mail.

Although I love gadgets...I'm just wondering if I'd ever really use it.

[vangogh]

I already have an iPod Touch, a Blackberry, and a Netbook

So you bought three things that all do the same stuff? Sounds like you wasted money on two of them given you don't think you should buy things that do similar stuff to what you already own.

I'm kidding of course, but I've seen the same criticism. Why buy a laptop since it already does the same thing a desktop does? Why buy a netbook since it already does what a laptop does? I find it interesting that no one makes the same criticism of other gadgets that only do the same thing as something else we already have.

For me the iPad is more portable than my laptop and will be capable of doing more than my iPhone. I have a hunch despite what some are saying it will sell and sell well and in a year or two many people will be wondering how they ever did without (whether it's an iPad or one of the other tablets that will be coming in the near future). People criticized the iPhone when it came out for a lot of the same reasons they seem to be criticizing the iPad, yet it tuned out to completely revolutionize the smart phone market.

I'm not saying everyone needs to rush out and get one or ever get one for that matter, but I think it's going to be able to do a lot more than most people realize. Even if all it turns out to be is a large iPod Touch the extra room alone allows so many more ways to interact with the device through touch.

I was asking myself why would I need or want one too so I imagined I had one in addition to my phone and laptop. Then I thought about different scenarios and which of the three I would choose to use. In many situations an iPad would be my choice.

When they're officially here and for sale I'll head over to the Apple store and play with one for awhile and see what I think. My gut tells me I'll end up getting one whether it's right away or a second generation.

[eborg9]

After i responded to this post, I went to the Apple site and watched the video Apple - iPad - The best way to experience the web, email, and photos.
It definitely looks cool.

I'm not saying I don't want one, like I said, I love new gadgets, but I can probably wait until the price gets under $400, or the second generation models come out.

[rezzy]

Looks like neat eye candy, but hardly anything Ill buy.

And thats the idea Im getting from everyone I ask.

[vangogh]

Harold I watched the entire keynote. All one and a half hours. Midway through they had some developers speak who'd been allowed to develop for the iPad for a couple of weeks and you can see there's a lot of potential to do more with it. I think some of the things people are complaining about will go away in a few months as apps are developed specifically for it.

I'm wondering if the price is going to come down all that much. Apple priced this a lot lower than expected. I think part of the criticism about what's lacking were decisions made to keep the cost down. I can actually see where down the line we see more expensive versions that do more things.

Bryan from what I see most of the complaints are coming from people who are anti-Apple and want to see it fail and people who were expecting the iPad would be more laptop than iPod Touch. I think it's going to be a lot more than eye candy.

I've always been someone who carries something to read with me wherever I go. I also like carrying pen and paper. It's not uncommon for me to leave the house with a backpack filled with a couple of books, a notebook, and even a gadget or two. I can see where an iPad would let me leave quite a few of those things at home. I wouldn't take it everywhere, but I would probably have it with me most of the time.

Where I think it's going to do best is with the average person. Most people using computers only want to do a few things like surf and email and show off their images. This is going to be a great device for the average user. Most of the reviews though are being written by the very tech savvy who wanted more. Hence the negative reviews. There are a lot of positive reviews as well. I've been seeing a 50/50 mix so far.

I got a bit excited about a netbook around Christmas time, but for another hundred bucks I got a laptop instead.

Steve I won't suggest you made a bad purchase, because I don't think you did. However I'd bet that 99% of the time you're using your laptop you'll be doing something that you could do on an iPad. That's not to say you should get one. Just that like most people most of what you do on any computer you'll be able to do on an iPad. The difference is the iPad will be more portable and easier to use.

I'm looking forward to using one. The more I think about the iPad the more ways I think I'll be able to use it.

[eborg9]

When I first saw it, it immediately reminded me of Star Trek...they used almost an exact device for reading materials, and orders from Star Fleet (just showed my inner geek).

If it were in the $300 range, I'd be chomping at the bit, but $500 will make me think about it for a while before I actually pull the trigger.

[vangogh]

When I first saw it, it immediately reminded me of Star Trek

Funny. I thought the exact same thing. If you noticed I also started a post about Avatar and when I saw the 3D in that movie I also thought Star Trek. I was thinking how we may not be all that far away from Holodecks.

$500 is pricey, but when you consider that's probably what your phone would cost without the contract it's not out of line. I think Apple wanted to keep these contract free. You can sign up for 3G directly through the iPad whenever you want and then cancel whenever you want. No contract means no discount though.

Part of me says to wait on version 2, but then the impulsive side of me says why wait. In my favor is the fact that my birthday is around the time the iPad is getting released so I'm putting out some hints to family members. The sketching and drawing programs are some of the ones I'm most excited about though I realize not everyone will care about them. I think I'll be able to get a fair amount of work done on an iPad in addition to all the media consumption.

[eborg9]

I have to check out how the internet is going to work with them...obviously it will be Wifi equipped, just like the ipod Touch, but if I could..for instance..add it as an additional line to my wireless account, that would make me sway a little closer to the check out stand...but if they do it like the iPhone and give A.T.& T the exclusive on internet service...that will really piss me off.