iPad Arrives April 3 — You Might Need to Hold It First
If you believe in magic and live in the U.S., you can pre-order it on March 12 in the form an Apple iPad. It is, after all, “magical and revolutionary,” says Apple. Either the Wi-Fi or the Wi-Fi 3G models can be pre-ordered, but only the Wi-Fi model will be appearing on April 3. Late April is the target for the 3G devices and for delivery of either model in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
So while there’s no specific updates to the iPad features, specs or functionality, the availability and pre-order dates beg the question of who’s buying. Over at GigaOm, we’re running a poll on that topic, but I’ve added it here for our readers. As much as I agree with the “it’s just a big iPod Touch” sentiment, I think there’s still an unknown and that’s the experience brought by the form factor. This might be a device that you have to hold and use before making a purchase decision. I expect to do just that on April 3 before I decide. The iPad is already under consideration for my retooled mobile toolkit, especially now that I’ve dumped my iPhone. If I can get my daily work done in the the browser, it just might work for me and would let me use the iPhone apps I’ve already invested in. Since I now have a MiFi in my gadget bag, I’d be opting for a Wi-Fi model and simply use my existing Verizon plan for web connectivity as needed.
Related research on GigaOM Pro (sub req’d):
I would possibly buy one if it was 7″, but 10″ is just too big to carry around, might as well have a small laptop or netbook.
I really think the iPad is a letdown, it could be so much more. However, I do use Safari Books Online a lot and an iPad might be the right tool for that, and if both Logmein and Air Video works with it, and if it’s also able to jailbreak I might still buy it.
My own feeling is that when people get their hands on the iPad, they’ll realize that most of the complaints about how the device is inadequate or unnecessary missed the point, and sales of the iPad will rise rapidly.
Spot on prediction. As Tim Cook has said, once you see the iPad, you will buy it because of the magic, but not the capabilities. Seems, black magic is also patented now.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/190134/apple_ipad_will_beat_netbooks_with_magic.html
UK market is already waiting in anticipation and here the advertisement from one of the major broadcasters (E4) regarding the device:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayx2mzm1QVw&feature=related
Well, magic (patented or not) has its limits. Remember the Macbook Air? Nobody seems to think as I do that this is a much more similar device to iPad than the iphone/ipod touch devices. Both target netbook buyers offering the “Apple magic” to them.
Considering how it is to be used, most scenarios are like those advertised for the Air. Of course the OS comes from the iphone but that is not what matters IMHO. What matters is that it is more locked down but far cheaper than the Air (for those that need a keyboard/mouse I suspect third parties will fix that soon). But you don’t need them if you are just consuming content.
I am surpised noone sees the similarities in the target market between the Air and the iPad. Maybe if it flops they will…
I’m thinking the same and that’s why I want to hold / use it before deciding. Instead of whining about what it can’t do, it’s more a question of what CAN it do. And without the small screen limitation, it’s only limited by the apps that aren’t yet created for it. ;)
“it’s just a big iPod Touch”
yeah, but that’s exactly what I’ve been wishing for since the iPhone/iPTouch came out.
Yep, exactly.
Why not forget about doing all of your work in the browser or with iPhone apps – just buy one of the RDP clients and leave all of your stuff at home? This already works well on the iPhone with screen size being the only drawback.
That’s a great solution for many, one that we’ve touched up on with Citrix and LogMeIn in the past: http://jkontherun.com/2010/02/10/iphone-informer-touching-the-iphone-this-week-15/
But it’s not a solution for me. All of my work is done in the browser, so tunneling back to a desktop browser doesn’t offer much benefit for the way I work. I also try to be very aware of my energy usage at home and would rather keep devices powered down when I’m not there to use them. Approaches like that as well as equipping my home office with smart power strips has reduced our househould electricity demand by roughly 30% from the prior year.
Kevin,
You are a genius! I had been wondering whether to get an iPad and if so whether to get the wifi only or the wifi+3g version, wanting to always have connectivity. I had completely forgotten about the mifi tucked away in my bag.
You could have just saved me a couple of hundred quid (depending on when and if Apple ever set the prices for the UK).
Thanks
Neil
I guess the word is out!! iPad is an EPIC FAIL!
…..meanwhile, Apple stock up 7 points so far today…..
How is it a fail????
He’s being facetious.
I heard that once you pickup and stare at the iPad screen that the Black Magic will make you buy it whether you need it or not. ;)So Kevin I would be careful if I was you. :) Now I am about 50/50 on the iPad. After seeing all those slate tablets announced at CeBIT 2010.
I am eagerly waiting for the iPad 3G because as a frequent traveler I consider it an ideal computer to take with me. The 3G connectivity is simply awesome considering how expensive it is to use the international rate for Verizon MIFI or AT&T iPhone data service.
I’m holding out for awhile longer and waiting for the first blush of awesomeness and Black Magic to pass by. I don’t really need one – as my netbook does all I want and more – and suspect the iPad will mostly just be a device for wasting time playing apps and such.
wasting time? You call playing around wasting time? :)
Depends if you get paid for it! ;)
Now, I’m not an Apple-hater or anything. I prefer Windows PCs to Macs, and I’ve just never liked the iPhone other than its VERY impressive apps.
That being said, I still don’t see what the actual need for this is. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to sell tons. But I still see absolutely no purpose for the existence of this device other than that. Sure, some people want a larger iPod Touch and have since before this was announced. But for most people, I just don’t see how this is going to be useful for them.
I guess what I’m saying is that I just don’t really see a killer app for this yet. Most people I know hate reading on any computer screen, so I’m not sure that books will be quite as popular as with the Kindle. People have said this will be great for textbooks, but honestly if they’re interested in textbooks, get the right tool for the job, and either stick with paper ones, or at least get something with PDF annotation capabilities like a Windows tablet. And are there really that many people who would regularly browse from their couch?
I guess this just sounds to me like something that a lot of people will buy, and then it’ll just end up collecting dust in the corner once they realize that they don’t need it as much as they thought they would. (Not including the more technical users out there, but just the general public).
Not to seem biased or anything, but on the other hand, when I look at Courier, I can immediately see a lot of uses for it. I think Apple needs to figure out what that similar use is for this device fast, because otherwise, I’m not sure how well the platform itself does in the future.
And I was initially very impressed by not so much the device, but the technical specs, when it was rumored to have a Cortex A9. But now, it seems that even that is no longer the case, according to Ars Technica.
A sample of one (me) and a tip of the hat to Kevin and James’ consistent note that one size (or tool) does not fit all. My two cents:
I browse on my smartphone constantly. Even at home with a laptop within reach. Much of that browsing is news (reading text). And yes, I have read eBooks on my smartphone several times. I imagine that I’d be thrilled with the iPad experience and would reach for it instead of my smartphone due to size, weight, etc…
I also travel frequently for work – normally with a 13″ MacBook Pro. That said, many of my trips do not require the laptop as I only utilize it for email, some light document review/editing and browsing. Cutting four/five pounds, over an inch of bulk, and several yards of power cords from my bag is HUGELY attractive to me.
Will I buy an iPad? Not sure yet. But I will absolutely give it a solid look.
So, just out of curiosity, why the iPad over a Kindle then, if you read mostly news and ebooks, and I assume can do your light email, document editing, and browsing from your smartphone?
But I guess a better way of putting it, is that yeah, I can see uses that this thing could be pigeonholed into, but no big thing that would call out “I have to have this”. As an example, with the iPhone, despite the limitations at launch that largely have disappeared, people bought it for the promise of combining a iPod and a phone because to many that fit the killer app definition. I just don’t think they’ve found anything even close to that for this yet.
The killer app is the screen. Bright, vibrant colors, touch sensitive, quick on, instant page turning without delay or flashing, web and video realistically — instead of gray — rendering. Not a Kindle because it really only does one thing very well and nothing else sort of well. Not a laptop because most people use a laptop as a desktop replacement, and a phone for web and email away from the desk.
Looking at the Kindle, nook, Sony Ebook, etc., this is the one I think my 72 year old mother could work without crashing or confusion about what screen she’s looking at. She’s been using computers for twenty years like everyone else, but she’s not computer savvy, and there’s nothing more intuitive on the market. She doesn’t want to use a phone screen for the things eighteen year olds use it for.
I don’t want it because I want handwriting recognition, Word and OneNote, and multitasking.
I want to hold it too — when I open the box after I pre-order it on March 12. :)
After seeing Microsofts Courier appear on the radar again, I’m going to wait on this one, the Courier project looks amazing!
Are you kidding? There have been rumors for almost 10 years and it’s finally almost here. Damn straight I’m getting one.
It’s not going to replace anything. I just bought a HP TM2 and that has become my main mobile device now.
I imagine using the iPad for couch surfing, multimedia, eBook reading, and gaming.
I’m interested in the iPad, but buying the first generation when the Courier is due for potential release by the end of the year (we’ll see) makes the idea of jumping on the iPad a little tough.
No gadget is ever the last one I’m going to own. I might as well get on it.
iPad will be a huge success imo, i will dismiss the Apple haters and people that don’t understand what an ingenious device this really is. Nothing like this device at this price point has ever reached the masses like it will this April.
The month of April will bring showers of Apple goodness upon all the tech geeks who truly understand what mobile computing is all about. The rest of you can take a back seat and learn while the rest of us show you what you are missing.
You are all invited to my iPad Unboxing Party over at YT, see you on April Three !
iPAD FTW
I think there’s huge potential for this device still, but i’m less likely to buy it in its current incarnation, not just for perceived shortfalls, but also because of the Microsoft Courier – which while available later in the year, looks decidedly interesting and a few extra months to let the software available for the ipad won’t hurt either I think.
With that out of the way, the things I’d like to use it for are casual web browsing and some work on my documents, as well as ideally a little bit of design work, just for my quick mockups and sketches. Both of the latter scenarios would have, I think, been aided with stylus support/handwriting recognition. It doesn’t have to be something everyone uses, but having it there would be nice. In the case of the former, lots of my random internet usage is online video. Much through youtube but a significant portion not through it and in the case of many sites, there is no HTML5 video plugin available.
I also think a touchscreen device would be something i’d enjoy using in how I make music. Perhaps as a midi controller or to run actual synth software from. In this case too, the ipad probably needs a little more in the way of external outputs. Even a regular USB port would probably do.
I find this device very interesting though, because I think it simultaneously appeals to and kind of irritates a certain geeky portion of the coummunity (myself certainly included). I know I am a little irritated by some of the features I perceive lacking – but I also wonder how widespread these concerns really are. This being said though I also know I love the idea of a casual usage device I can leave on my coffee table or in the lounge room, but I can’t help wondering whether this kind of usage really appeals to a wide portion of the community or not.
In some ways I think we’re a little far away from the point in time where lots of people realise what kind of potential uses there really are for devices such as this.
There’s certainly nowhere near the buzz for the ipad that there was the iphone, at least offline. For the iphone, I had many non-geek friends who were very excited about it. The ipad however, hasn’t even been mentioned to me offline by anyone other than a few geeky friends.
So i’m guessing it will sell fairly well. It won’t be an apple TV, but it won’t sell like the iphone or ipod. Myself, i’ll probably be waiting for gen 2 when I think about it.
I like the near instant-on feature of the iPad. I can see myself turning this beauty on, checking email, browsing web, checking online prices, getting map directions, etc. BEFORE an atom-based windows tablet has even booted up ! Now that would be schweeet !
:-P Instant ON….Instant OFF :-P
Me don’t need to hold the iPad to decide to purchase. I have full faith in Apple Engineering, it’s that simple. They don’t make junk in Cupertino. The iPad will educate the masses on the proper use of slates, something that Microsoft failed miserably at.
// Take following code, stuff in pipe, and smoke it !
(PC != Politically_Correct) == true
(PC == Piece-o-Crap) == true
(iPad > PC) == true
i need to know if the ipad can be docked then used on a high res monitor. i just want a mobile phone and one otyer machine that can be portable and used on a big high res screen for photoshop/dual page offce etf. at tye moment its the vaiop
My question is why not put 3G in all of them? Put it in all of them and meet me half way between the two price points. I guess my opinion is for not. The only way I buy this thing is if one of my kids wants an iPod Touch and I decide to spend more money and never let them walk out of the house with it.