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The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

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Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#91

Post by ryandvm »

ericd wrote: post #78
ryandvm wrote: post #19

Yeah - it's a big iPod. yawn As an instant-on, full-page web browser, it's far more useful than a netbook, but it's pretty underwhelming for everything else. With shorter battery life, greater cost, and more eyestrain than the Kindle, I doubt it will have much impact on the e-reader market.

How many do you think are going to look at the Kindle at $250-500 and then the iPad at $500 and choose the single-purpose-does-one-thing-somewhat-better device? If Amazon dropped the price to sub-$100, I think they'd sell them by the boatload, but at current price points... nah.

At 24 ounces, the iPad is a brick. There's no way you can comfortably hold that thing like a book for more than 30 minutes. No wonder Ives has arms like a prison guard.

Like I said, it's a fine netbook killer (though I think the segment was killing itself). But there is no way this thing is taking market share from the e-books.

Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#92

Post by nollidge »

swannodette wrote: post #70
varenc wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can have root on a netbook...

How many of your average computers users really care about that? If I can access a shell and write some code on this thing, I'm sold. The battery life alone is worth it. Edit: Sadly reading this thread is like reading Slashdot about the announcement of the iPod.

It doesn't have a multi-application UI, doesn't have USB ports, and can only install programs from the App Store.

It's not a small PC, it's a big PDA. I'd be surprised if you could have a shell or write code on it.

Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#93

Post by ericd »

borism wrote: post #86
ericd wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many do you think are going to look at the Kindle at $250-500 and then the iPad at $500 and choose the single-purpose-does-one-thing-somewhat-better device? If Amazon dropped the price to sub-$100, I think they'd sell them by the boatload, but at current price points... nah.

$500 is still twice $250, and at twice the weight of e-reader... I'm not compelled, especially with iPhone OS and App store limitations.

$250 is still a big chunk of change for a lot of people I know, and they're not that compelled by something that just handles books. Yes, many big readers will still choose the dedicated device. My argument is that this steals a big part of its thunder.

And the majority of the general populace doesn't give two hoots about iPhone OS and App store limitations. You and I might, but I wasn't talking about technophiles - my mom has no idea that the restrictions even exist. She's just pleased as punch about how easy it is to use.

Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#94

Post by ericd »

ryandvm wrote: post #91
ericd wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many do you think are going to look at the Kindle at $250-500 and then the iPad at $500 and choose the single-purpose-does-one-thing-somewhat-better device? If Amazon dropped the price to sub-$100, I think they'd sell them by the boatload, but at current price points... nah.

At 24 ounces, the iPad is a brick. There's no way you can comfortably hold that thing like a book for more than 30 minutes. No wonder Ives has arms like a prison guard. Like I said, it's a fine netbook killer (though I think the segment was killing itself). But there is no way this thing is taking market share from the e-books.

I don't think it's going to impact the decision of people who care more about reading than anything else, but I think this will steal a large portion of more casual readers that would have gotten the kindle.

It's a bit heavier than the average book, but it's by no means a brick. This claims that it puts it at roughly the 75th percentile of books in terms of weight: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_1_book_weigh

Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#95

Post by pmorici »

elblanco wrote: post #88
wvenable wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My netbook was $279 with a 6 cell battery and a 160GB harddrive. That's throw away money! But at $499 for 16GB that's not really in the same market.

You also forgot that you can run office and other productivity software on it, photoshop, use it for live performance music mixing, composing, play real games, don't need to dock it to have a real keyboard and mouse and can plug in a DVD burner to watch more movies, etc. etc. etc. etc.

iPad will have the Apple iWork apps available.

Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#96

Post by paydro »

tortilla wrote: post #64
fretlessjazz wrote: post #59

The target demographic for this device may not be current iPhone, iPod or MacBook users. Consider the many people that want MacBooks but can't afford them. The iPad + keyboard dock is a lower-cost alternative, especially with iWork applications for $10 a pop. I see this product as doing nothing but growing Apple's customer base.

I can see getting this for my mom. All she needs is email and some light web browsing.

Would also be great for her if there were a camera for video conferencing!

Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#98

Post by xsmasher »

fretlessjazz wrote: post #59

The target demographic for this device may not be current iPhone, iPod or MacBook users. Consider the many people that want MacBooks but can't afford them. The iPad + keyboard dock is a lower-cost alternative, especially with iWork applications for $10 a pop. I see this product as doing nothing but growing Apple's customer base.

Exactly. The iPhone put a smartphone into the hands of people who were not gadget freaks. If this device gets moms and grandmas surfing the web from the couch, then it'll outsell any netbook. There's still lots of blue ocean there.

Re: The Apple Tablet Is Here, And It's Called the iPad

#99

Post by tcskeptic »

holdenk wrote: post #69
DrJokepu wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

however, all model are shipped as GSM unlocked so there's nothing stopping anyone from signing up with another GSM provider.

But do we know which 3G bands it supports? i.e. for American users will it work on t-mobile 3G?

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

Wi-Fi + 3G model UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)

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