Apple Introduces The Game-Changing iPad Discussion

Today Apple announced the iPad, a new tablet device aimed to fill the gap between a mobile phone and notebook. The iPad offers a similar interface to the iPod and iPhone, but blown up to take advantage of the increased size and screen resolution. Priced at $499, is this the netbook replacement we have all been waiting for? We're going out on a limb and saying, YES.

Read the full content of this Article: Apple Introduces The Game-Changing iPad

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I think the MacBook Air is safe for right now. It still remains to be seen how easy or hard it will be to use the new 'mobile' version of iWork......

 

What's the point of a computer without a keyboard?

 

Whats the point of a laptop without a trackball

 

Well It looks really good ... stylish ... decent price ..... probably very good netbook alternative with lots of apps available .... BUT ..... LACK OF MULTITASKING KILLING THIS !!!! OMFG this is more one of the most important stuff when running somethning between PC and Mobile phone. Darn!

 

I agree, the lack of multi-tasking is a serious hindrance to its status as "netbook killer."

 

no multi tasking and no adobe for this = fail

 

*Meh*. Just don't see the point.

 

You can pay extra for the accessories (Keyboard dock)

However this is iFail to me.....

No Multitasking (I need at least(limited) support for two background apps)
No Front Camera
3G Only for browsing & Youtube nothing for IM users(Video conferencing/voice)
No Flash...WT#?

 

I wouldn't call portable a device with a big, unprotected screen.

And if you need a rigid case to turn it into a device which is actually usable, you might as well put a true keyboard in it, not a pseudo keyboard eating half the screen space.
see: http://www.apple.com/ipad/design/ at the bottom

 

So Notebookreview reviews iPods now?

This isn't a computer. The dock connector on the bottom shows that this was designed from the ground up to be AN ACCESSORY. This can't even replace a netbook. The most this can replace is your iPod and not even that, because this lacks portability.

 

It will be interesting to watch how the market responds. It's a war between a new mobile IT device (e.g. iPad) vs. desktop experience extended to the mobile arena (e.g. tablet PC & netbooks). I think these two markets will co-exist as they satisfy two different needs for a while. So I think iPad will not affect the existing tablet & netbook market much...it may take potential iPhone buyers away. We'll see.

 

Just as i thought Big iphone/touch for the win?

N900 for the win!

 

I like how they cripple it then make you thank them for offering accessories to make it mildly manageable

 

Yeah, its quite a vulnerable device, i'd like to see one in front of my before i speculate further, maybe its better then it looks.

Nothing on the GPU?

 

HUUUUGE iphone!!

HUUUUGE disappointment!!

And no multitasking....

Cant agree more

N900 Rulez....Maemo (Linux) + Multitasking

 

It's as relevant for NBR to review this as it is for us to review netbooks, smartbooks or the numerous upcoming slate tablet PCs (such as the HP Slate).

There are many, many people who argue that netbooks, smartbooks, and the various slate tablet PCs that are coming out are nothing more than "companion devices" ... but the reality is that there are a lot of people who look at these devices as replacements for their current computers.

While most of our regular forum members would NEVER consider using a netbook as a full-time notebook replacement there are many average consumers out there who just need to browse the web, check email, or type a short document and think a netbook is fine.

Similarly, our editorial team thinks there will be plenty of people who see the iPad as a genuine alternative to a netbook or a smartbook.

As for the comment that "this isn't a computer" ... How exactly do you define a computer? The iPad has a CPU, video out, runs applications (including office productivity applications) and has networking capability. That describes a "computer" as far as I'm concerned.

 

I'm glad others here echo my "HUGE iFAIL" sentiment. This is too expensive for what it can do and too limited period. It is just a giant, crippled iPod Touch/iPhone, with all the same limitations to the operating system and more. It is less powerful than a netbook and more expensive. I certainly can't change the operating system upon it. The "good versions" with larger SSDs and 3G cost more, of course. There's no camera. There's no multitasking. The only bright point I can see here is the name "iPad" for all the feminine hygiene jokes it will spawn (I'm glad they didn't go with iSlate, a much cooler name for such a horrid device). I was hoping for something that would be considered a true "netbook" at very, very least and at best an actual gamechanging ultraportable with power AND style. iPhone OS4 flushes all that right down the toilet.

Sadly, I know this will sell like hotcakes to the "regular" people and the "Apple Faithful". At least I can look forward to other companies making enhanced versions in the future

 

Can't forget native flash either (with 10/10 beta hopefully on the way for even further support.)

I suppose the device is relevant in a sense, although i am definately a bit unhappy they went for iphone OS, i would have thought a nice optimised edition of snow would be fairly good on a device like this?

I suppose when comparing the device to computers, it really comes down to task, it'd run nicely as an entertainment device but for work oriented tasks im not so sure, prehaps it will?

We can't really define computer at the moment, as the n900 can do exactly the things stated, thats more of a phone/tablet.

Read the other aticle, SDK has been released for the device, i think that'l make this device much more special!

 

All I can say is: Thanks, Apple, somehow you made Sony VAIO X's pricing sound reasonable.

 

My serious disappointment is lack of web cam & multitasking.

They might tweak the OS before the release it to the public. (Keyboard is too big for the screen)

Like jerry said some people might like it, but for me it's iFAIL(I have iPhone, so if they can introduce bigger resolution screen with next version i can use it as a book reader which is the only new thing with iPAD)

 

I wonder how many iPhone users thought "Gee, if only my iPhone was HUGE, that'd be the ticket." If the answer is the majority, then this thing is going to be a hit.

 

Well said. I bought the Zune HD because my iPod Touch was too big for my liking... With that being said I'm glad I wasn't looking forward to this ground-breaking gift from the technological gods....

 

I've always regarded Apple products as fashion accessories for posers.

I wish with all my heart apple had stayed where they were 10 years ago. These days everything has to be white, as small as technologically possible (regardless of practicality) and have an Apple logo on it in a place where every stranger can see it. So they know you have something made by Apple, y'know?

I appreciate that there is a strong market for their products and I think its that market that I disagree with, not the products themselves.

So, great! Another toy for all the trendies that simply must have the full set. In white.

 

looks like apple is still raping their customers, and the peolpe just keep buying it up.

This is a major letdown, I hope microsoft does well on the courier tablet thing.

 

In all practicality, Apple could create something like an "iSlate", a true tablet computer, and run with a dual core Atom and Nvidia Ion for performance. They could truly run Snow Leopard with that. But I can't help but wondering if it would cannibalize sales of the macbook too much, and so we might not see something like this for quite some time.
But really admins, "Game changing"???? How is this not-so-usefull device supposed to be game changing?

 

Nothing game changing about it. Would take a netbook over this.

 

The game has changed: sell giant phones! To Apple competitors: make a smartbook sans keyboard. However, I suppose though the thin form factor is nice and the iPhone does have a lot of applications. But I'm only interested in the architecture (and later benchmarks) of the Apple A4 processor, is there any more information available? I wonder how the A4 compares to the Cortex A8 or A9...

 

Game changing? I don't see that in its current iteration.

 

Heh, when I saw the couple of Apple posts on the frontpage...they just seemed a bit too friendly to the idea of a giant iTouch. I mean to call it game changing, I just don't know how you can even say that?

 

@ gdansk "The game has changed: sell giant phones!"

LOL That's too funny.

 

i know this is a privately owned site, you do whatever you want, but it's hard to not be confused when there is a sister site called tabletpcreview.com

 

Sure it's a computer. It computes, accepts input from the user, but I think what most are saying is, it's not a computer in the full sense of the term, that you can run OS X or windows on it, and do what most computers (even netbooks) can do. I personally don't consider it a computer in the true sense, more as a mobile companion device.
I just don't see how this can replace the functionality of even my $300 netbook. I can do all things a full sized computer can do (albeit slower ), I can watch movies (with an external optical drive), play old games, browse the web (like NBR ), etc.

 

True tian, but to be honest there was alot of hype about this, even among the NBR community, i suppose this is something we did want to see regardless of which site its on.

Its hard to say what "It" is at the moment, we'l just have to give it a chance i suppose, it may prove better then expected.

 

It runs with an IPS screen and costs less than $1000?


I should hope that the improved viewing angles and clarity on this screen shames all other notebook manufacturers to use decent screens for a change.

 

Well I found some speculation on the processor, but it is just that. Performance seems quite good and battery life claims seems phenomenal.

 

"Quite good" compared to what?

 

Here, I'll quote it for you...

 

Ah, so it's "quite good" compared to an iphone... I see.

 

this doesn't look very impressive, nothing that we have not expected.

Lenovo Ideapad U1 looks far better and should also offer more feature than the iPad.

When is Apple going to support Adobe Acrobat Reader straight from the box?

 

HA!

Anyways, I can't see this making much of a dent in...any market. Its not a phone, its not a netbook (in my interpretation). Phones are useful, netbooks are useful, somehow this meets the gray area in between to become not useful. I just cant see myself using this for anything, it would be so annoying to type documents in excel or word etc. Imagine putting the screen of your laptop flat!

 

"Game-changing", Really?

 

Game changing or an attempt to copy a 7 year old computer?

 

The hardware isn't too bad (just about netbook level), but the software is what holds it back. I really don't see the need to run mobile apps on a bigger screen.

 

Think of it as a Big Print iPod for the elderly and extremely nearsighted.

 

hey! I'm really nearsighted... and i don't even want the iPad!

 

So today Apple introduced a product I already have 2 of. The original iPad, and an the iPad 3G. Though, my iPads make calls, have a camera, and fit in my pocket.

 

The only thing i hope that comes out of this... is a similar design for the 4th gen iphone. A 4 inch version of this (aluminum enclosure) would be awesome.

 

Important thing in here is Apple's official entrance to microprocessor market.

Apple Qualcomm nVIDIA...Hmmm! Let the battle begin..