So, It’s Called Apple iPad
It’s a quite large (when thinking of the footprint) surfboard and entertainment (video, music, photos, light gaming) device. It’s a large iPod touch.
Apple iPad is 0.5″ (1.2 cm) thick and weighs 1.5 pounds (680 g). It has 9.7″ IPS multi touch display and 1 GHz Apple processor. It will be available with 16-64GB flash storage. There are built-in Bluetooth and Wifi n, accolometer and compass (does that mean GPS, no?). iPad has speakers, microphone and 30-pin connector (for what, video output?). The battery life will be 10 hours (or one month stand by). Apple iPad runs iPhone applications out of the box without conversions or modifications. And of course Apple iPad is green.
The specifications sound great but I’m not convinced that it’ll give anything extra to personal computing. What one does with a large mobile device that is not capable anything heavier than video, music, light gaming and finger painting? You cannot replace a small laptop (MacBook Air for instance) with it if you intend to work and to replace your smart phone with it is just unrealistic as iPad is not a phone and it’s two or three times larger. Okay, it would be a handy entertainment unit while traveling or on the sofa, but laptops (standard size or netbooks) do all that too. If the device does not have GPS (they didn’t mention it, just “compass”), an internet connection is required for maps and navigation. And because they didn’t mention that 3G option is available, internet connection on the road (in a car) is impossible. What point there is to have a digital map and navigator that cannot be used? Please explain.
// Update at 9:25pm: There will be 3G available as an option. The starting price is $499 but 3G option will cost $130 extra. The best piece of news is that Apple iPad will not be sold SIM locked. The device will be available internationally in June/July. The only remaining question is: which carriers will have micro-SIM cards available by June?
Steve Jobs presenting a thin Apple iPad
Apple iPad on-screen keyboard
Apple iPad iTunes
Apple iPad playing video
Apple iPad prices in US
Credits: Photos by gdgt.com.
You were too hasty in posting this. Couldn’t wait until the keynote was over? :)
3G models also available.
But I agree, I can’t find many concrete everyday uses for this machine.
Still pondering what to do, of course I want to test this thing live, but not going to buy it right now.
@ mrkvsl – Ha! I couldn’t wait because I’m not seeing the benefits of this device at this time. And, not all models will have 3G. I’m guessing only the high-end models (with largest storage and biggest price tag) will have 3G. The fact that it’s not going to be SIM locked is a good thing.
Sorry, iPad was imo total fail.
Pros:
Software: iBookStore, New iTunes
10h of battery (Jobs said 10h of video playback)
Fast
Not too big for carry it around in bag.
GPS (it can be used for navigation!)
Cons:
iPhone OS
Rounded backside (try type at flat surface with it!)
MiniSIM
16-32Gb HDD only. (well, 32 is okey but 16 is too little.. for movies..)
No Flash
Its just big iPhone/iPod Touch
No Multitasking
Quote heavy on hand (via Gizmondo’s hand-on) or something like that
Cant say:
Design
Oh, i forgot totally, Pricing is good. maybe best thing in whole iPad.
For 499 its quote nice Navigator and ebook reader! plus it works nicely as web browser.
@ Aukusti – I agree with you there. iPad was a fail. I’m disappointed that they couldn’t bring anything more than just a big iPod touch. Of course it would be a nice toy, a light weight surfboard. And all those fingerpainting features etc. looked nice but who really needs something like that? One big plus would have been a stulys so that the iPad could have been used as a digital notepad, but no… And about the prices: the $499 model does not work as a navigator because it requires an internet connection and on the road the only option usually is 3G which costs $130 extra. Apple’s site mentions that storage will be flash storage, not HDD?
Sorry for my typo, ofcourse its Flash – not HDD (2 am is not best time to write xD)
Maybe there will be app that will make iPhone work as wifi hotspot and provide iPad with internet that way. Because I belive most users that buy iPad already own iPhone.
I’ll wait HP’s “Slate” that come later this year, or if i have enought “Squirrelhides” maybe Elitebook 2740p could be best option… new model coming on that one too.