Apple iSlate is upon us?

[Brent]

I love it when future tech in SCIFI becomes reality

One thing I like about this is how thin it is, I've heard it is heavier than it looks, but wow is it thin, compared to even the HP Slate

 

[Data Holmes]

You think that apple will let JJ use them in the next trek film.

 

[FordSVT]

The price points are definitely a good thing. I'm very impressed they managed to get it out at prices that don't scream "rape me in the ass" like most new products (certainly not limited to Apple either).

The fact that the device follows the iPhone model of being a closed development system and can't multitask are major failings. I'm not sure why they chose to emulate the iPhone and not the Mac in both of these cases.

Because they don't want people to stop paying a thousand dollars for a low-end Macbook, period.

 

[Data Holmes]

The price points are definitely a good thing. I'm very impressed they managed to get it out at prices that don't scream "rape me in the ass" like most new products (certainly not limited to Apple either).

The fact that the device follows the iPhone model of being a closed development system and can't multitask are major failings. I'm not sure why they chose to emulate the iPhone and not the Mac in both of these cases.

Because they don't want people to stop paying a thousand dollars for a low-end Macbook, period.

It's smart. From a tech level and a market level it's smart.

 

[Samurai8472]

You think that apple will let JJ use them in the next trek film.

Starts the thread for Trek XII titled

"New Tricorder looks like Ipad!"

 

[Data Holmes]

I'm interested in the number of people who just don't understand this product. Watching the thread about it in TNZ... The sheer number of people who are going on and on about how laptops are better, how it's just a larger iPod Touch, that it's a failure, a "big toy" and such.

This is the opening salvo into a new market. One the "netbook" line was suposed to be going after with the first Eee PC back in 07 but failed and shifted to the mini-laptop idea it's running with now.

This is what the "netbook" should have been from the start really. A little more functionality in the iPad OS and you are there.

 

[Campe]

I don't like it.

1.) It's an overblown iPod Touch with a few other nice features.

2.) It's competing in the eBook market and I think that the majority of people will be disappointed with it in that regard. Why? Price point for the device. Price point for the books. (They were showing $14.99 for a new release, which is $5 more expensive than the other major eBook sellers.) Plus, the backlit screen will cause tremendous eyestrain for focusing on words. I like the fact that its color, but since its not eInk (which I truly believe color will come to one day) its going to cause a lot of strain on eyes. Plus, I own a nook and I love it and can read it all day long without problem.

3.) In general, I can't get behind a $500 price point for 16GB of storage and to add $15-30 a month for data plans. 64GB is the lowest I would want on a device such as this and the price point for that is a lot more than I would want to spend on it. If the 64GB model were $500, sure. Why not?

I love Apple. I adore my iPhone but why would I want this right now? It is a slick device, and it may sell millions, but I think like the iPhone, the real show will be in the second generation.

 

[Brent]

I'm interested in the number of people who just don't understand this product. Watching the thread about it in TNZ... The sheer number of people who are going on and on about how laptops are better, how it's just a larger iPod Touch, that it's a failure, a "big toy" and such.

This is the opening salvo into a new market. One the "netbook" line was suposed to be going after with the first Eee PC back in 07 but failed and shifted to the mini-laptop idea it's running with now.

This is what the "netbook" should have been from the start really. A little more functionality in the iPad OS and you are there.

Indeed, for a first gen product of a new market Apple is taping into, its not bad, but it could certainly benefit from more features. As more products are available in this market, and competition grows, this is going to be one interesting area in technology to keep an eye on IMO. I definitely think these types of products in this market has the potential to compete with and replace netbooks, if the features and price are right. Give it time and I think people will be running around with these Pad type devices instead of netbooks.

 

[Data Holmes]

I'm interested in the number of people who just don't understand this product. Watching the thread about it in TNZ... The sheer number of people who are going on and on about how laptops are better, how it's just a larger iPod Touch, that it's a failure, a "big toy" and such.

This is the opening salvo into a new market. One the "netbook" line was suposed to be going after with the first Eee PC back in 07 but failed and shifted to the mini-laptop idea it's running with now.

This is what the "netbook" should have been from the start really. A little more functionality in the iPad OS and you are there.

Indeed, for a first gen product of a new market Apple is taping into, its not bad, but it could certainly benefit from more features. As more products are available in this market, and competition grows, this is going to be one interesting area in technology to keep an eye on IMO. I definitely think these types of products in this market has the potential to compete with and replace netbooks, if the features and price are right. Give it time and I think people will be running around with these Pad type devices instead of netbooks.

Jobs sees apple as not introducing what you want/need now, but what you will want/need tomorrow... He said as such at the end of the 07 mac expo when he said "There's an old Wayne Gretzky quote that I love. 'I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.' And we've always tried to do that at Apple. Since the very very beginning. And we always will."

He's had apple sitting on this design since at least late '07 which means he sees the market for such devices being not that far off...

Look at the iPod, introduced in oct 01, market leader in mp3's by oct 04 it was the majority market share product in the field...

 

[Flavius]

The iPad confirms how truely revolutionary the first iPhone was.

Apple has clearly learned from the success of the iPhone and the failures of many tablets.

- the iPhone OS is excellent and safe
- iPhone OS interaction paradigms are de facto industry standard for handhelds now
- the app store may just be the most important of all the killer features
- traditional desktop apps must not be 'touched'

So, it's quite logical what Apple is offering. Remember what people say about the iPhone? It was the first true mobile computer. The iPad is another iteration, mostly for use at home and travel, not so much at work.

It's zero maintenance, and it does multitask alright, just not third-party apps. So you will be able to browse the web while listening to music etc.

I would have liked a camera and iChat support. I'm probably going to get one of the two smaller ones, with AT&T and the 250MB plan for $15.

 

[Data Holmes]

My only issue with apple right now is their sticking with AT&T. I wish they had switched to a partnership with sprint. I hate AT&T. That is the only reason that I will not get an iPhone.

 

[Flavius]

At home I get a couple bars when I immobilize my iPhone in the charger, as soon as I move the phone to take a call for example, I lose a bar and the call. I used to have Verizon which gave me one more bar which made all the difference. However, that's a well-known problem in the town I live in - the lack of cell-phone towers.

 

[BolianAuthor]

I'm interested in the number of people who just don't understand this product. Watching the thread about it in TNZ... The sheer number of people who are going on and on about how laptops are better, how it's just a larger iPod Touch, that it's a failure, a "big toy" and such.

This is the opening salvo into a new market. One the "netbook" line was suposed to be going after with the first Eee PC back in 07 but failed and shifted to the mini-laptop idea it's running with now.

This is what the "netbook" should have been from the start really. A little more functionality in the iPad OS and you are there.

I wholly agree with this analysis... the iPad is cool, but it really is nothing more than an overgrown iPod Touch. That being said, if I were to purchase one, it would be as a replacement to my netbook and current iPod Touch, not as an actual tablet PC purchase. I agree that the iPad is probably a good and cheap introduction to owning an Apple computer, but it is still quite limited. It's a fancy iPod/eReader, and not a substitute for an MacBook or iMac.

 

[Data Holmes]

I'm interested in the number of people who just don't understand this product. Watching the thread about it in TNZ... The sheer number of people who are going on and on about how laptops are better, how it's just a larger iPod Touch, that it's a failure, a "big toy" and such.

This is the opening salvo into a new market. One the "netbook" line was suposed to be going after with the first Eee PC back in 07 but failed and shifted to the mini-laptop idea it's running with now.

This is what the "netbook" should have been from the start really. A little more functionality in the iPad OS and you are there.

I wholly agree with this analysis... the iPad is cool, but it really is nothing more than an overgrown iPod Touch. That being said, if I were to purchase one, it would be as a replacement to my netbook and current iPod Touch, not as an actual tablet PC purchase. I agree that the iPad is probably a good and cheap introduction to owning an Apple computer, but it is still quite limited. It's a fancy iPod/eReader, and not a substitute for an MacBook or iMac.

Indeed, but I don't think it really fully replaces the iPod/ereader devices so much as complements them, filling a gap. Here was one of my posts in the TNZ thread:

But it really isn't an extension of the PC market so much as it is an extension of the mp3 and smartphone market. That is why the "tablet" and UMPC field has traditionally been so hampered in sales. This is not really meant to be full functioning PC. This is really, in the trekian sense, a Personal Access Device for multi-media entertainment. Music, TV, Movies, Books, Web. That's it's field. Does this over lap with the Personal Computer field, yes. Does this overlap with single media and some multi-media capable smartphone devices, sure.

But it's tapping into this new field. One where the single media mp3/ebook and early multi-media PMP have really only broken out in the last few years.

Tablet and UMPC's are heavy, power hungry, overly featured, and very expensive, thus have never sold that well. This new class of tablet offers the multi-media field without the overburden of traditional PC requirements which are not need in such a device. It's not meant to replace a PC, be it a laptop or a desk top. It's not meant to replace small media devices like the mp3 players or multi-media capable smartphones, but to complement those two by filling the "snack gap" between them.

And if apple was smart they would grab onto the pad in iPad being an acronym for Personal Access Device. It is a great marketing bit.

The iPod gave you a touch, now the iPad grants you full access.

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

It kills me that they didn't spell it PADD. Kills me.

 

[Klingon Empire]

You know, As muc as I love the look of this thing (PADDS ALL AROUND), I must digress, Overblown IPod Touch or not, I want to atleast try one.

I may just get an Ipod Touch though, as that may be more worth it.

 

[Flavius]

"Steve, the iPad is not doing well. What do we do?"
"Our margin is about 40%, right?"
"Yes"
"Lower the price by 150"
"That will do it!"

 

[Klingon Empire]

Then I'll buy it. But only if it comes down by that price or more.

 

[Data Holmes]

so, in other apple news, the iPad as well as iphone will now allow voip use over the 3g network.

 

[Flavius]

Yes, you don't want to make the mistake and buy the wi-fi only version.