The Apple iPad: It's just ahead of its time

CNET ^ | January 28, 2010 | Molly Rants

[Reaganesque]

But it is only version 1.0. It will get better.

[mnehring]

If it was actually like what those images portray, it would be great, but alas, it is just a touch on steroids with crappy att service.

If you really want a real Mac pad, get a Modbook.

A little pricey but it has everything the iMaxiPad doesn't.

[antiRepublicrat]

I’d almost get one but I’ll wait for the 1600x900 IPS display, more storage, and the iPhone OS 4.0, which is supposed to get true multitasking ability.

The OS can already multitask. It's UNIX, of course it can. The only question is whether Apple allows multiple user apps to multitask. So far Apple doesn't allow that, mainly out of battery life and performance concerns. Rumor is that around the 4.0 time, Apple will consider the hardware powerful and energy-efficient enough to allow multitasking.

[mnehring]

..and no flash, and no decent software, just apps.

[dangerdoc]

Coming from someone that uses some of the best voice recognition technology available on a daily basis:

Voice recognition sucks!

I am using the product in a closed room with a noise cancelling headset. Trying to use voice recognition with a standard mic in an airport or car would be an exercise in frustration.

[stainlessbanner]

Cost seems high when compared with functionality. Don’t forget the data plans and accessories to really make this thing usable (USB, SD, keyboard, data transfer).

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

[MrsEmmaPeel]

no USB ports
no camera
no user replaceable battery
no applications outside the Apple Store
no thanks.

[paulycy]

no thanks.

Exactly.

[antiRepublicrat]

This nearly defeats the entire purpose of having a web browser.

OTOH, Flash nearly defeats the entire purpose of the WWW. Apple is just being purist. I'm on the fence on this one -- I'd like to see Flash fade away, but then it is still here. For example, I can't get one of these and let my kids use it, since they love their Flash-based kids game sites. I don't know why Jobs didn't just include it, and sandbox it.

[mnehring]

When I see a real computer in this form factor, with this kind of display and battery life, I'll probably buy two.

Ping # 42

[sheikdetailfeather]

http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2010/01/27/f_tm_apple_ipad.fortune/

More info from Apple:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/design/

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

http://www.apple.com/ipad/pricing/

[AFreeBird]

Ummm, yeah ... you can use a stylus. A pressure sensitive pad doesn't care if you use your finger or a stylus. You don't NEED to use a stylus, but if that's you thing, poke away with your plastic stick.

iPhone & iPad are capacitive touchscreens. Pressure and traditional stylus' won't work. I had a problem since it's winter, got a call, was wearing gloves and couldn't slide the unlock with the gloves on. Solution: I swiped it with my nose! LOL

They do make special gloves that will work but that's just for the most basic use, like answering a call. I could see another kind of stylus, a fine felt tip (sans ink of course) embedded with the right material that could work with such screens.

[AF_Blue]

Is that made by Tample or Appax?

[AnnaZ]

I was talking about the MS Courier.

=)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

MS Courier.

Damn...that's sweet.

Time to market will be the key if this thing is to make a splash. And it had best have all the features missing from the iPad. Hard to imagine it won't, given the initial reviews the past few days.

[rwfromkansas]

It’s kind of cool, but basically just a bigger iPod with the same limitations...no multitaskingn etc.

For an actual tablet, I would have figured Apple would have actually removed crap like that, but I guess not.

It’s ridiculous to have to hack your computer (which, let’s face it, this is) to break such insane restrictions. This is not 1992.

HOWEVER, I am impressed they are at least trying here and the device could be useful in some situations.

In particular, I really like the fact you can get 3G on it but NOT under contract. That’s a step toward removing restrictions to AT&T altogether.

Also, you can still add a USB port through an accessory pack.

IF....AND THIS IS UNKNOWN....you could hook up a USB 3G dongle, you could technically use this with any network.

But, I don’t know if you can and haven’t found any for sure answers anywhere.

The USB add-on may be limited to photo use only, and if so wouldn’t help much.

But, if I could hook up my Alltel USB 3G modem, I might consider getting this instead of another Mac product. With the USB, I could get the cheaper version.

[rpierce]

FYI, you can buy gloves that work with the iPhone (dotgloves.com), or even make your own.

[rwfromkansas]

I forgot to mention though that no flash is a real deal-killer, so that would really give me pause EVEN IF I could use my 3G USB device with the USB attachment.

Much of the annoyances of the web are gone without it, but much of the good things are as well.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

WOW! I want one.
I so want one.
No, I want two. Mr. Peel will only take mine!