iPad... Revolution or just another gadget?

I have mixed feeling

Pros :-
1) amazon kindle with color
2) better processor
3) nice handheld gaming device

cons -
1) not able to replace notebooks - for apps like office
2) missing webcam - could have been a wonderful addition for live chatting on the go and video -conf for business
3) small memory

lets wait for the price

$499 for a basic model (16G + WiFi - 3G)

I am happy with my iphone and macbook

it's an enlarged ipod touch....nice, but not revoluntionary....

I agree with theDreamChaser. It would be better if it has a built-in camera and mic.

saw this posted in another forum...hilarious that they got it right 3 years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eF0y0IfpPU
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No multi-tasking
No flash support
iPod touch soft (I mean, I'll just hack the damn thing, and install Linux kernel on it, so it's not totally worthless piece of glass and aluminum)
No usb. (apple pin connector? give me a break)
No hardware upgrade possibility


oh, what a disappointment. I mean, sorry Steve, you didn't do your homework, net books are far better.

A tablet version of mac-book air with customized OS X for $600 - that would be a revolution!

And of course the famous Apple MacBook Wheel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA
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This one is the master of all spoofs. The Chinese claim to have released their version of the ipad before Apple did. Its called the P88

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=technology&xfile=data/technology/2010/january/technology_january119.xml

it's technology moving backwards...Apple is supposed to be the innovator, instead this is a clunky looking gadget with less functionality than people expect. No flash? No multitasking? No thanks.

I think it may finally sell me on e-books.

I've been following the evolution of eReaders for some time because I love to read but hate dragging my growing library from apartment to apartment. Kindle doesn't do it for me. Grey and boring-looking. Now, the iPad, where I can also at any point go online and check my email or whatever, that's another story...

Got my iPad. I will post later my thoughts.

I agree with you - I have started to like the idea of a Kindle/Ipad device - transaction costs of keeping books are extremely high in terms of time energy moving around from place to place and keeping them organized. I rather be operationally lean in my bookstore department.

Good night/morning

found this to be very insightful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luj263H_56A

Seems like an almost useless gadget IMO

I think it's a mistake to buy it now.

I've been following the tablet growth for several months now. First of all, the iPad will not be the only tablet out there. Heck, even with this first version, you're essentially buying a beta or trial version of the iPad. New hardware and software for the iPad IS going to be coming out next year. $500 is way too much for a one year beta version.

Plus, you have to wait for competitors to develop and release their products. Companies like dell, HP, notion ink, and countless others will be offering their own versions in the next coming months. Why limit yourself to just Apple?

Apple's iPad is basically just a portable media player and gaming device. It's a little too heavy to be reading with (anyone else afraid of it dropping when you doze off?) and the LCD screen -- beautiful for videos -- is not optimized for hardcore reading. (1-3 hours of constant novel reading)

Flash is also important. More than 60% of web content (of videos and games) uses Flash. You may think that's not important but one of my classes uses Flash paper so you never know when you might need to use it. Flash isn't great but it definitely is more capable than HTML5. This exclusion of Flash, no matter what Apple fanboiz might say, is purely a business decision by Apple.

When Apple fixes these problems, flash and multitasking in particular, then it might be worth while.

I Think its a revolution of ipod but its more useful and easy to use.

Sure it provides some genuine usefulness, but I wouldn't say it's worth taking the plunge for just yet. And it's definitely not revolutionary either -- it's far too similar to other their other products. Just another gadget for Apple fanatics to hawk over.

just another gadget

In five years, I think the Ipad, or tablets in general, are going to become devices that become every day items.

The laptop will become the new desktop. The smartphone will be ubitiquous. And the ipad/tablet pc will become the in-between device for travel/on-the go. This is not farfetched as in five years, prices will likely drop to the $200 range on the low end.

Here's to the future!
Aveek Guha, President, www.mbadaycamp.com