Apple iPhones it in with iPad

[admin]

Apple's iPad announcement has been met with disappointment among tech-press. The biggest disappointment with iPad, besides its unfortunate name, is not just about features but that Apple failed to bring its User Interface magic to the tablet form-factor. Apple's new upsized iPhone seems symptomatic of a ground-breaking tech company coasting on past success.


Discuss "Apple iPhones it in with iPad" here. Read the article.

[ljaggers]

I had initially hoped it was going to have more of an actual OS than an iPod interface. However, in response to all of the *****ing and moaning, (no offense) either buy it or don't. You have to admit, even for an overpriced, functionally crippled device, it's still pretty awesome. For what I do personally in terms of computing (which is mostly browsing) it would be perfect. I'm one of those folks who is OK with paying a premium for intriguing design & a cool experience.

[Ben_in_COSpring]

You have to admit, it IS disappointing to see so much potential go down the toilet.

Apple obviously was not looking at what consumers want when they developed this thing. I would have paid double for a device like this that actually caters to my desires and needs, and not those of Apple and Big Media.

Fortunately, other manufacturers have better offerings on the horizon that don't suffer from the same degree of lock-in and lock-down as the iPad.

[roshi]

I wouldn't consider $499 a premium for this piece of equipment. Yes it's more expensive than a netbook, but netbook's don't have an awesome multitouch interface or a battery than works for 10+ hours.
I was kind of bummed that it won't support flash, since hulu is a deciding factor for me. Also a camera would have been sweet.... These are my two cents.

[ljaggers]

You have to admit, it IS disappointing to see so much potential go down the toilet.

Apple obviously was not looking at what consumers want when they developed this thing. I would have paid double for a device like this that actually caters to my desires and needs, and not those of Apple and Big Media.

Fortunately, other manufacturers have better offerings on the horizon that don't suffer from the same degree of lock-in and lock-down as the iPad.

The biggest surprise to me was that they weren't the first to release a device like this. They always seem to be first to the plate with products that give us features we didn't even know we wanted!

[skizzerflake]

I don't know...jury's still out. On the one hand, I get about 15 e mailed IT publications per day at work and they all have about 2 or 3 Ipad articles each day, so the thing already has a critical mass of attention. Also, being billed as a reader on steroids will make Amazon shake. Today Amazon announced that it will RAISE book prices in response to the fact that Apple will charge more than Amazon (go figure). Apparently both want all publishers to ship to them and Amazon's been squeezing them for cheap prices, but now the competition is sorta perversely reverse.

On the other hand, the thing just looks and sounds like a big IPhone that won't fit in your pocket and won't make phone calls. I have and love my IPhone, but one of the things I like is that it does so many things AND fits in my pocket. If you made it dinner plate sized, it wouldn't be so appealing. Why would I pay all that money for something that is less convenient and does less? It still doesn't handle Flash (apparently it's processor intense and completely blows the battery) but I haven't heard about Java. Upshot is that it can wait for a while; I'm willing to let the early adopters be the test bed.

[zildjian]

The iPad is a very niche product. Apple addressed that from it's very debut. They stated it's not a laptop nor a pocket pc/phone... It's something different. Those to whom it will appeal, may love it, but it's not for everyone. The same can be said for PC's or Mac's in general. Each are a specific tool. If that's what you need, great. If you need a Philips head screw driver... then use a Philips head screw driver... Those needing a laptop, need a laptop not an iPad. For the iPad specifically, I think it will come down to what software is developed to take advantage of it. If that is done well, then the product will be a success. If not, then not... It's WAY too early to say one way or the other right now whether or not this product will fail or succeed.
-Brad

[Wayde Robson]

The iPad is a very niche product. Apple addressed that from it's very debut.

Agreed Brad.

The tablet has been around a long time and it is just a niche product. But it's a deep-deep niche product that has never found a market. Perhaps we put too much expectation on Apple, but...

The smartphone had been around. But you gotta admit, despite its problems (lack of flash and removable battery) it's a great product that brought the Smartphone to millions many of whom would never had considered a Smartphone.

The Apple Tablet OTOH, did nothing but ride the coat-tails of its iPhone sucess, IMHO. Apple's strength if anything is the ability to find a slick interface and a niche for its products.

But yes, I agree, the jury is still out. Perhaps there is a market for an iPhone for Forrest Gump - as Gene tells it

[Kai]

It is just too large for me to consider as a carry around device.
I'd think it is going to be beaten by other tablets that will be appearing soon.
The $499 model is so watered down it is actually very expensive for what they offer.
Too bad I was hoping for a net book type device that was tablet styled to use as a wifi hotspot device, ereader, video/audio device, etc.

[MidnightSensi]

Looks like they are closing out the AppleTV's now, wonder if that will be the next thing they do.

I guess I just don't 'get' the product.

Also, where would I keep it? I barely have enough room for my keys, Blackberry and wallet. If I wanted to carry it around, I'd expect it to at least be like a "portable" Wacom, with the paper-like feel and so forth.