iPad - Who is going to get one?

[Ron99]

I can see the addition of a camera in the near future but not slots. That's not Apple's way. Multitasking will just be a software update.

[pinhead]

A lot of hype but not exactly the revolutionary device that Jobs suggested. It seems like a lot of people are underwhelmed with it because Apple's stock has dropped close to $20 since it spiked hours after Wednesdays announcement.

If you are waiting for iPad v2.0 to come out and add a camera, multitasking, usb etc. you may not have heard of a device that I would wait for before I put money into an iPad - the courier.

Have a look at the 2 videos http://gizmodo.com/5365299
especially the one on the right sidebar.

Projected cost $600 and release mid-year.

[Ron99]

Microsoft will never release anything as good as what the Courier concept video looks like. And certainly not by mid year. Sorry, they are incapable. Any Microsoft tablet will be based on Windows and will not work anywhere near as well as Apple's. I think the iPad will prove to be revolutionary as it is the first large screen touch interface mobile computing device like the ones that used to be science fiction. Apple's multitouch is much better then any other available right now and they have put alot of thought into the interface. And there are already 140,000 touch apps available for it. Granted the scaled up graphics won't look as beautiful but they do appear to be usable and decent. And just wait for iPad specific apps to start showing up to really show what it will do. If the iPad iWork is any indication then this will be one of the most intuitive and easy to use computer platforms ever.

I know it sounds like I am a raving iFan but I'm not a blind follower. Yes it should have multitasking but I am fairly certain that is an OS 4.0 feature we will see this summer. A camera should probably have been included but they probably omitted it to meet the aggressive price points. That was probably a bit of a mistake as they could have included it and upped the price $50. Otherwise I don't really see anything missing or wrong with it. You have to put a bit of thought into what the potential of the device is and the potential uses. it is not meant to replace a full on laptop if you need that horsepower or you need to do alot of keyboard input. But for the vast majority of people it will have more than enough capability to let them easily and intuitively do what they want to in a lightweight and portable package. It think it blows any netbook away as most netbook users buy them to surf the net, check email etc. on the go. All things I think the iPad will do as well or better than a netbook.

You have to put on your thinking cap and imagine the potential usefulness of this and some of the yet to be introduced apps and features and then I think you will see the potential for another revolution in mobile computing. I think Steve Jobs, despite his quirks, has a very clear vision of how to make technology work well and be accessible to the masses. He is a perfectionist who fixates over every detail. Just look at what the iPod/iTunes store did for music and what the iPhone did for mobile phones. They have a pretty good track record so far.