The iPad

Bryancd · January 28, 2010, 05:31:57 AM

Quote from: Rico on January 28, 2010, 05:17:03 AM
I'm really wondering how people already with iPhones and paying for those already will take to this. Seems like a duplication of many things for them. I think the product looks pretty neat and I'm tempted right now since I don't have an iPhone - plus Lynn has wanted some type of eBook reader. Maybe I'll get her one and surprise her (shush - don't tell). ;)

An iPhone is a different market. It's a phone first and then a small media player, web browser, game platform. BUT those secondary features have a very limited experience. The screen is way too small to really have the kind of content experience people want. I never bought the iPod touch as the screen was too small to really surf the web and watch stuff in a format I wanted. Now the iPad removes the voice feature and purely provides a richer content platform.

Oh, and now we can add Chris to the :thumbsup crew. :)

Bromptonboy · January 28, 2010, 06:04:59 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on January 28, 2010, 05:04:58 AM
Well, let's see, just in our little discussion here, Rick, Kenny, and myself all want one. King thinks it's cool, my 20 year old brother called me last night and he likes it and he is a total tech head and a buddy who doesn't get into gadgets at all called me as well and he wants one. Doesn't sound very meh to me. Already this morning, research analysts are rasing estimates for Apple earnings and modeling for up to 5 million unit sales this year.

Yes, but we are all techy-geeky guys - I have been waiting to buy a netbook / mini for almost 8 months, and I have been holding out to see what Apple produced. At my office (all techhie guys) we watched breathlessly for the device to be introduced - and after our euphoria chilled - we started asking questions about the practicality.
Like I said, I think it will have a market, but I am thinking it will be more akin to the MacBook Air in sales - rather than other 'must have' items that Apple has produced.

Bryancd · January 28, 2010, 06:08:14 AM

MacBook Air never came close to 5 million units, it's price point was too high. And I am NOT a techie by any stretch of the imagination! It's the non-tech crowd that have not adopted to the smart phone model and for whom a laptop is overkill that will buy this. Again Look at e-rreader sales and net book sales, there's a market for these streamed down devices and the iPad cna do both at a competitive price point.

Meds · January 28, 2010, 06:21:53 AM

I like it, it looks good but I have a iPhone and I will buy a new laptop soon I don't see any need for ME to have something in between.
Oh and for the record I hate ebooks with a passion. ;)

Bromptonboy · January 28, 2010, 06:37:03 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on January 28, 2010, 06:08:14 AM
MacBook Air never came close to 5 million units, it's price point was too high. And I am NOT a techie by any stretch of the imagination! It's the non-tech crowd that have not adopted to the smart phone model and for whom a laptop is overkill that will buy this. Again Look at e-rreader sales and net book sales, there's a market for these streamed down devices and the iPad cna do both at a competitive price point.

:) by virtue of being a sci-fi geek, I make you an honorary Techie - arise sir Bryan, and be thou a gallant geek!

((Does Amazon disclose Kindle sales figures?))

Feathers · January 28, 2010, 07:05:45 AM

Quote from: Bryancd on January 28, 2010, 05:31:57 AM
An iPhone is a different market.

Hey! I get to disagree with Bryan! ;)

I don't think they are a completely different market and using the informal polling here, the iPhone crowd so far (me, Bromptonboy and Meds) have all said it's OK but doesn't fill a vacancy that we have at the minute.

As I said before, if I didn't already have the iPhone then I'd be falling on this like a rabid dog but having both? No.

Of course, I could sell the iPhone and get a PADD (drop the i!) but then I'd have portability issues.

Bromptonboy · January 28, 2010, 07:24:48 AM

Quote from: Feathers on January 28, 2010, 07:05:45 AM
Quote from: Bryancd on January 28, 2010, 05:31:57 AM
An iPhone is a different market.

Hey! I get to disagree with Bryan! ;)

I don't think they are a completely different market and using the informal polling here, the iPhone crowd so far (me, Bromptonboy and Meds) have all said it's OK but doesn't fill a vacancy that we have at the minute.

As I said before, if I didn't already have the iPhone then I'd be falling on this like a rabid dog but having both? No.

Of course, I could sell the iPhone and get a PADD (drop the i!) but then I'd have portability issues.

Me and the Brits....Oh my God...I think I have become a Tory!!
;)

Give this a fold around keyboard - and make it into a convertible net book \ tablet - I would be all over it.

Jobydrone · January 28, 2010, 08:17:51 AM

I love the look of it and think it is so cool. It totally reminds me of the Star Trek Padd as well, so neat.

But I am torn. I know I would use it for the CBR/CBZ comic book reader. I have a huge digital comic collection and they would look awesomely amazing on that thing. Web browsing on the go with the Ipad looks gorgeous. Movies would look awesome too but I assume we'd still be stuck with the H264 format. Gaming would be cool as well but so far the Ipod/Iphone games havent exactly blown me away. Dragon's Lair and Space Ace would look fantastic on this device.

I can't think of what else I would really use it for though. It's also a drag that they make you pay extra for a USB port. That makes no sense at all. I have my Ipod touch for portable music so I doubt I would transfer any music to this device. The Ipad would be crippled if you use it without 3G, and that bumps up the cost as well as requiring ANOTHER monthly fee. I don't see myself using WiFi only because if I am home I could always just go to my computer.

I really do want one of these but I think the price is just too high. They are so mean using the new Star Trek movie in the keynote, it's like they are trying to TORTURE me into buying one of these! :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao

Bryancd · January 28, 2010, 08:34:00 AM

Kindle business is in the range of 1 million units per year right now. When I say the iPad is a very different market than the phone has everything to do with the screen size. You just can't watch any content on an iPhone and have it be satisying. Viewing content, web browsing, media, movies, TV, are much better on the iPad. I mean, who sits around watching maovies on their iPhone and can say that's a great visual experience?

Jobydrone · January 28, 2010, 08:50:06 AM

I've watched tons of content on my Ipod touch and been completely satisfied. That's not to say the Ipad wouldn't be a much better viewing experience with the larger screen, but there's alot to be said for pulling the Ipod out of your pocket and firing up a movie or TV show. I don't always want to carry my backpack around with me wherever I go.

Rico · January 28, 2010, 09:53:04 AM

I'm just going to wait until the price drops and they tweak it to make it even better and cooler. I predict about a year from launch this will be a great deal! I'm not early adopting again - certainly not from Apple. The iPod got better and cheaper, same with the iMac, iPhone, etc. I can wait.

Bryancd · January 28, 2010, 10:00:36 AM

Quote from: Rico on January 28, 2010, 09:53:04 AM
I'm just going to wait until the price drops and they tweak it to make it even better and cooler. I predict about a year from launch this will be a great deal! I'm not early adopting again - certainly not from Apple. The iPod got better and cheaper, same with the iMac, iPhone, etc. I can wait.

The way I see it, there are a few issue's to early adoption. No camera is a big one, it could use more ports to expand it's functionality, and some people are likely to wait and see if Apple opens up their wireless network to include Verizon.

Darkmolerman · January 28, 2010, 10:09:26 AM

I am not the biggest fan of macs but a Tablet PC would be great, but what is with the 1 ghz processor? I am not knowledgeable on apple tech but I am pretty sure that is even slow for a giant Iphone

billybob476 · January 28, 2010, 10:48:35 AM

Clock rates are no longer a very reliable measure of performance. Actually, to me, the A4 processor in the iPad is the real enws here. Apple bought a small CPU design firm (can't recall the name, Bryan?) and designed the CPU in-house.

THAT could very well be the game-changer here.

Edit: The company is PA Semiconductor.

Feathers · January 28, 2010, 12:19:45 PM

Yeah, one of the engineers at work was saying the processor was the key to te deal here. I don't know that much about it but performance next to the iPhone is supposed to be a significant improvement.

As an aside, considering what we're working on at the minute, a ruggedised version of this thing would be just what the customer needs!