Cult of Mac: a blog about the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone - and the people who love them

71 comments

From my blog: http://www.3dot5.net similar story:

So after years of rumors, Apple has finally done it, the iPad is out.

First impressions from the Keynote is that once again, Apple has released an amazingly sleek piece of technology with terrific ergonomics and subtle beauty.

But what is the iPad? In the PC world, a tablet is a PC with a touch screen and as such runs the standard OS and applications exactly like a desktop or laptop computer would. In their “Think Different” strategy, Apple have of course created something different and decided to use the iPhone OS rather than Mac OS.

As such, the iPad is not so much a tablet computer but mainly a larger iPhone. When parading my iPhone, most people say “nice piece of kit but slightly to big for a phone”, I always replied “well it is a smartphone…”. Secretly, I wished that Apple did come up with a smaller version of the iPhone that would fit in a pocket and had hopes of an iPhone nano back in the days. Now I got used to the size and most people did as well. With the iPad, I am not quite certain what the audience is. It is to big to be a phone obviously, and not flexible enough to be a computer… Is it just a better designed and more desirable Kindle? Maybe, time will tell…

Of course, iWork for iPad gives it some use as a temporary laptop replacement while sitting on a sofa but the iPad will never replace my MacBook in my computer bag. It will be hard for me to justify this one

The bigger news was in my opinion the launch of the Apple CPU for mobile devices (again not laptops). The CPU seems to be extremely performant and I am already looking forward to the iPhone 4GS.

In other news, while people are drooling on the iPad, some of us were slightly disappointed not to hear about iPhone OS 4.0 and maybe even new laptops making use of the latest Intel portable CPUs. Where was the usual “One more thing…”?

Patrice Arnera, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:21 pm

OP loves sniffing jobs’ farts. I own three macs and an iphone, won’t be buying this thing.

blobbs, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:22 pm

No I won’t …. Not all of us are cool aid drinking sheep.

Alex, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:22 pm

leander is right. the geeks hate this because it’s a closed system. and the non-geeks will love it for exactly the same reason. the non-geeks don’t want to see the system, they don’t even want to know there IS a system. they just want the damn thing to work.

Giles Turnbull, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:30 pm

I might be gifting this to my totally computer illiterate sister.

Sayam Aggarwal, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:35 pm

It’s not for me, but I will buy one from my mother. It’s perfect for her and I don’t have to worry about doing long distance tech support

Paul, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

I loved the silence when it showed up on screen the first time (after the initial cheer with the announcement). Wow. Emperor’s new clothes circa 2010.

You could tell even Steve felt it and knew he had lost a lot ofl the ‘geeks’ and ‘early adopters’ as you call them.

nice photo frame though

alan, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:40 pm

Even though “geeks” (of which, I’m one) will focus on the hardware facts and bitch about them, the iPad will be a huge success.

The iPad doesn’t fail to wow…Steve failed to wow. I analyze his failure on my latest post:

http://www.successinexcess.com/2010/01/where-steve-jobs-failed-todayand-what.html

Cliff Alexander, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:40 pm

It is a disappointment… you must admit. It is everything everyone expected but nothing some expected… the missing camera, no multi-tasking (although I assume they will put that in later)…

This is what ppl expected and that is disappointing… Apple didn’t WOW…

TG, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:43 pm

I agree.

Apple knows its audience better than anyone – and its audience isn’t tech bloggers. Apple’s primary goal was to deliver an amazing product under $500. For all the hype we’ve seen about other tablets, they’re all vaporware below $500. Crunchpad, etc.

The typical Apple fanboy reaction is always disappointment over lack of certain features and price point. Here the features reflect a best in class price.

Drew Caster, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:48 pm

For those that hate the name, Apple may have some legal trouble with keeping the trademark:

http://www.macnn.com/articles/10/01/20/multiple.deadline.extensions.requested/

Matthew, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:49 pm

It’s dissapointing if you compare it with an iphone or laptop…

I’m getting more exited by the minute if I think about it. It offers a new space to think whitin, like the iphone did.

We’re using the computer more and more in daily life..for ex. in the kitchen for recipes, to simply chat or email w. friends, on the couch to read the news during breakfast, to play films in bed…etc. With the internet we created an amazing amount of information, hardware and services over the past decade and this all changed our life and way of sharing and getting information. Now it was time to re-think the device itself and shape it to our lifes..instead of shaping our lifes to a piece of hardware. Apple simplified the idea of a laptop into something new, a new category….I believe Apple took a big step in the right direction with this device. They’re not there, but it’s a step in the right direction…now it’s on developers and app-makers to step in this new thinking-box and create relevant content…

Diepebas, on January 27th, 2010 at 6:52 pm

You know, Leander, I lead the train against the whole iPad / iPhone OS thing… and even I’m kind’a backing off that position. Apple really surprised me with the price.

$499 is a great value for what this device offers, the user experience couldn’t be matched at twice the price.

Most disappointing for me, is the lack of expandable memory. An SD or CF card slot would have been killer and made the device scalable with the times. Apple of course has a very sound strategy for NOT wanting to do this (built in antiquity), but still.

What will be most interesting is how long it takes for a copy-cat device. Any bets on when Google will release an Android powered pad?**

Leigh.

**Nook is android powered, yes. but it ain’t no iPad, nor even in the same sport, let alone league.

Leigh McMullen, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:02 pm

This may be the computer for non-geeks, but they will notice when there is no flash (or flash video) on their favorite websites. If flash worked, I would say this would be a pretty great machine for someone who knows nothing about computers and just wants something to work for them.

Flash is not going anywhere, so I’m not sure why Apple won’t support it. I wonder about this often.

A camera for video chat would be nice for them as well. And a choice of wireless carrier so they don’t have to set up wi-fi or be forced into AT&T. This “may or may not work” idea on other carriers is silly. That goes against the “it just works” idea of this thing.

Keith Homel, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:04 pm

Anyone who is a commuter, anywhere in the world knows how popular the ipod and iphone are with commuters. We also know how hard it is to read a traditional full sized newspaper on a crowded bus. Let alone surf the net, watch a movie or Tv show. This product will be huge amongst the millions of commuters. They will all still have their full featured computer at home and and the office. The iPad will fill the gap in between, as for the geeks, they will continue to complain, for the world is remain mundane… Poor souls must be tough being so boring….

Mike, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:04 pm

Two words: Apple Newton

This ain’t a “computer” (personal variety). It’s a PDA. It’s the PDA we’ve been dreaming of for about 15 years. It’s what the Newton might have been. Or perhaps like the PowerMac and the NeXT, it’s what the Newton has become.

I’m still going to buy a MacBook over this. And I’d buy a touch first, too. I make monster databases, intricate spreadsheets, 20-page reports, and I listen to music on the train and walking the dogs. But if it turns out that all I want away from my desk is a lightweight word processor with email and internet, this is a great machine at a great price.

To all those geeks, I understand part of what you say: this isn’t for you. You want to build your own system in your mother’s basement and load the most arcane version of Linux ever made. Just like I get value from discrete machines to do my work, to listen to music, and to take photographs. But I also told my broker to see if he could get me more Apple stock, exactly because the iPad ISN’T made for you.

imajoebob, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:10 pm

The price is surprisingly low enough…. I might consider buying one eventually, maybe the 2nd-generation iPad model, which will likely include some of the ‘missing features’ that was expected (i.e. built-in video conferencing camera, card slot, etc).

Mattzook, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:16 pm

imajoebob: ok what is your problem with linux users? what is this thing about living in our mothers’ basements? do you believe that all mac users are metrosexual too?

nabil2199, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:20 pm

My first reaction was similar to the ‘geeks’. I was thinking, just what we need, another e-reader. But after reading this article and thinking about it, it is something you would get your mother and feel safe she will be able to use it and not leave on a shelf to gather dust. Besides the geeks will figure out a way to have one, they will hack it somehow. I will probably get one once it get to second generation and have time to get used to it.

My two cents.

Rob.

Rob, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:22 pm

“The iPad is not for geeks. It’s for ordinary people who want a lightweight computer and are sick of computer headaches. This is a machine you’d buy for your grandmother and not have to worry about tech-support.

Yeah, you relinquish some control — which is something PC fans have always hated about Macs — but most ordinary people are grateful not to think about file systems, software installers and virus definitions.

The iPad is the first computer for people who are completely computer illiterate — and there’s millions of them.”

Amen.
This is the best analysis and description I’ve read about the iPad. Kudos for Mr. Kahney, you are absolutely right.

I guess it sucks to be a Geek today, huh?

Me, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:25 pm

I’m a geek, and I’m buying one. Unless by geek, you mean something like Linux geek.

Joseph, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:26 pm

The tech community always forgets they are not the target audience. Most of the complaints you see are the same ones levied against the iPhone.

Geeks who want the device will hack it to add the functionality they want while the average consumer won’t even notice all the features they’re supposed to be pissed off at not having.

Ethan, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:29 pm

Let’s first wait to see some of the fantastic software that will be developed for this size multi-touch screen, and then let’s ask the naysayers again. Some people really just have no imagination. And last time I checked ‘geek’ wasn’t a label restricted to people who like to build their own PCs, which seems to be the sense it is used in this post. I mean, this guy certainly won’t be buying one, if that’s what you mean: http://richard.stallman.usesthis.com/

Joseph, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:37 pm

I love the vision of the iPad as a “computer for the rest of us”. The only problem with this argument is, Don’t you need a computer at home to sync the thing up with? according to the apple website, you still need a PC or Mac to set the thing up. Too bad it can’t actually function independent of another desktop or notebook.

Mark Peterson, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:38 pm

Of course you’re right.
When I first introduced an apple computer (they all were called pc’s in those days, even the macintosh) at a University in Holland in 1987. The profs and all other, oh so intelligent and educated, scientific people, asked me why they would need a mouse? They coped very well with their computers up till then with a keyboard and without mouse. A mouse could only serve for some silly houswives, who anyway, should take there fingers of a real computer.

All geeks always say that new things and inventions which aren’t complicated are bad. More buttons, more possibilities are way more interesting than things people can just use and enjoy.
If all the geeks from the past would have continued using the keyboard only and refusing to use a mouse, we would have been rescued from them long ago.
We don’t learn from history as they say, but these people never even have heard of history.
Too busy enjoying there newest, fastest and most complicated machines I suppose…….

fred, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:49 pm

I think it will do well once some killer video games hit it…I am glad it plays the ipod/iphone games from the app store as the little screen of the iphone doesnt quite do it for me when gaming….a nice little kit for cruising the web in bed as well…499 is fair price too.

While the geek in me doent much care for some of the items left out of the device, I am hopeful an OS update will unlock multitasking in the future. I grade this machine as a B-

Dave, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Do geeks even need laptops? The speed most the time at home or work on a desktop. Of course they don’t need something mobile and on-the-go because they themselves are rarely on-the-go. For those of us in big cities using mass transit this is PERFECT. Unfortunately most Americans still drive their cars every morning. I’m sure there will be a car mod within hours of the iPad’s release.

TV, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:53 pm

@Mike

The iPad is a 9 inch “Mug Me!” sign. For your own safety, please do not use this on public transportation.

commuter, on January 27th, 2010 at 7:56 pm

@me:
Window-lovers say that the mac doesn’t allow enough control over your computer?
Ever seen a normal windows user and asking about his/her control over soft- and hardware?
They leave everything to Microsoft and others, they allow total control over their computer to the big companies, not even deleting their cookies or asking themselves why there has to be installed something like an update for a program they never use.
They just say “yes” or, worse, they don’t even know something is being installed on their private computer.

Speaking about control…..

fred, on January 27th, 2010 at 8:03 pm

This will be all the computer my Mum will ever need, and she will be able to use it.

Excellent article: right on the money. And the tablet will replace my laptop on overseas trips. The laptop is fine for work and home travel but it becomes cumbersome for long haul flights with security, customs, taxis etc etc. And because the tablet comes with a keyboard, unlike the iPhone I can do real work on it in my hotel room. Sync the files to the cloud via DropBox! And I’m done.

Denis Evans, on January 27th, 2010 at 8:05 pm

I will be buying one. The 849.00 one with 3G and Wifi. And no, I am not illiterate. I have 3 PC’s even one still running Win 3.1 just for kicks. I have 3 Macs, 4 ipods and 2 iphones and a Lifedrive (from my earlier days). I even have a blog devoted to the Lifedrive.

So why am I buying one? Simple. I need an e-Book reader but I also want something that may be used for browsing. I don’t want to lug my MBP around and watching movies on my iPhone or iPod Touch is not really the same. This device, with its non contractual obligations is perfect for me when I am traveling. I can read journal articles and articles prepared in PDF, without having to email myself ie. Kindle. I can use other eBook readers and not be confined to Amazon’s, especially for Public Domain titles. The 64 gigabyte version is definitely for A/V. Call this the ultimate e-Book reader. I really believe that this will change a lot of things. For starters, I won’t need to purchase an inferior Netbook, which i find completely useless for anything useful. With this, I can Sync to DropBox as I do with my iPhone and do other things.

This really is a bridge device and I will definitely be buying one. Oh yes, I consider myself a uber-Geek. As far as I’m concerned too many on the gadget sites have set themselves up for failure from day one, with their ridiculous assumptions and stupid attempts at “outing” the device. Has anyone thought about COST CONTROLS With all of the things that they are requesting? Or the engineering required to keep the device thin and sleek? Cameras/OSX/GPS/INTEL PROCESSOR COMPARISONS all ridiculous suggestions thus far.

Just be happy that at least one company is still innovating. Additionally, iPad 2 may prove to be something that will give the super uber-geeks their desires. Until then, just be satisfied with the current game changer.

LIFEDRIVEDOC, on January 27th, 2010 at 8:21 pm

i have a 27 inch imac and only need to be able to read my email, look up restaurant reviews and the like when I’m on the road. watching videos and having music is a plus. My brother said he was going to buy me a kindle for my birthday but hey, I got that on the ipad so he’s getting me a giftcard to pay that much of the cost.
it works for me. won’t for most. but that’s why there’s still a whole lineup of macbooks. and with all the geeks at home, release lines will be short. so WIN

Charli, on January 27th, 2010 at 8:40 pm

I admit, I am having a hard time going back-and-forth with this iPad. NUMBER ONE: WHAT is up with the name. I was live-chatting with a bunch of other Apple folks at the MacStories blog and we were thinking of potential names for the tablet. I will admit, no matter HOW stupid all our ideas sounded, NONE were as dumb as the name Apple chose. GAH-RO-OSS! It’s just wrong, man. It’s just wrong!!

I am really torn though. As an Apple Fanatic, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the tablet, simply because I LOVE LOVE LOVE Apple and feel as a devoted fan that I can do no less than LOVE LOVE LOOOVVVVE it.

But then my common sense and wisdom kicks my geekdom out of the way and I think “How on earth am I going to use that thing? And for $500? I’d rather put that towards an iPhone. Seriously. It looks awkward to hold, annoying to have to look down all the time.

But then it’s Apple, and like all things Apple, it’s beautiful. So can I do no less than what I do with all Apple products? I don’t know. I feel obligated to really like it, but common sense is telling me it’s just another feel-good unecessary Apple thing. But then it’s the first touch-screen computer. So it’s a foot in the door to the future I suppose.

alyssa, on January 27th, 2010 at 8:56 pm

But it isn’t a computer. And it isn’t a mobile device. It just falls awkwardly in the middle: It does what an Iphone does with a screen the size of a computer.

If it had more basic features (like multitasking, FLASH, a better text-entry system, etc.) it would be a useful product. But as it stands, it’s in a very grey area that is unexplored for a reason.

And my last gripe: BIG BEZEL.

But on the Kudos side: iWork, iPhoto and Price.



Bejn, on January 27th, 2010 at 9:05 pm

I will get one even though I will miss the camera option. And about that multitasking: Apple needs to have something left to improve it with when the sales sinks in a bit.

And for the geeks: tough luck. Besides that the geeks can be happy as it is not aimed at them. For them there are plenty of other options.

I will buy the stand and card reader asap too.

mark, on January 27th, 2010 at 9:40 pm

With a camera and iChat this would be perfect for my 82 year old mother. She won’t sit at the computer that I set up for her and answer emails or web surf or even chat but with this if she could just sit in her chair and hold it, it would work. But no camera means no seeing the grandkids. Therefore, there’s no point.

Maybe generation 2.

Hal Summers, on January 27th, 2010 at 10:53 pm

I can see how an innovative “dock” can act not just as a charging station, but the dock could also double as a Hard Drive storage, the dock could also be an I/O by having a card slot, etc.

Why would you ‘need’ a Mac/PC? The iPad clearly has iTunes in it. Using any WiFi connection, it should be able to connect to the App Store and download/purchase/install software on its own. Sounds to me that it can be used as a standalone device.

Mattzook, on January 27th, 2010 at 11:13 pm

It is a standalone device. It’s just assumed that most folks will have some sort of traditional computer at home.

Also, who gives a rip about Flash? Honestly. The more I work with Flash, the more I hate it. It slows down my webpages and 90% of it is used for terrible ads that I block on my desktop anyway. I’m working to rid my life of Flash and I don’t miss it – ever.

I think a camera is in the works, and I think that the SDK will allow developers to use the 30-Pin Connector and connect peripherals to achieve all kinds of added functionality.

Now, what I really want to know is if this device will be Bonjour-equipped for printing (long-missed on iPhone) and networking and, to that end, if it will have a portion of the disk space that will be allotted to file storage and recovery. In short: is there a Finder?? That is the one thing that I *really* wish my iPhone had. I want to use it as a flash drive.

$0.02

Conrad, on January 27th, 2010 at 11:57 pm

Why multitasking? Two reasons: 1) fast task switching; 2) Communicating processes. I don’t think this kind of product needs (2). It’s when you have a server with many requests and updates coming in at once, and must make sure two competing processes don’t interact in such a way to get corrupted data. This is actually a hard problem.

For (1) – programs and data are persistently stored in flash memory, much faster than getting stuff off disk – performance depends on how close to the processor you keep your data. Flash is a little further away than main memory, but much closer than disk.

Most programs on the iPhone save their last state, so if you swap to another program and back you continue from where you left off. Main memory in these devices is necessarily small (that limitation might be removed in a few years). So the more you load into memory, the more your performance deteriorates (thrashing) – it is most likely better to just have one application loaded and performing well.

Task swaps between flash and main memory is most likely to be fast (OK, I’ll wait for the benchmarks). Thus in theory, you have the kind of multitasking that just about every desktop user uses. (2) is really for servers where applications are dependent and interact with one another – for this go and buy a real OS X machine or even OS X server – Mac Mini Server is really cheap. I don’t see that this kind of carry-round device is intended for such high-end computing applications.

Thus I don’t see why people are bleating about no multi tasking – you really do have it. I expect that task swapping will be sufficiently fast. So multitasking is being given far more weight than it’s worth. This really is a machine for content browsing and viewing, not for content creation. But most people only want to view and do ad hoc messaging, and no multitasking is fine for that, but as I have said, it really is multitasking.

Ian Joyner, on January 28th, 2010 at 12:02 am

This article perfectly sums up my thoughts on the iPad – geeks (like most of us commenting here) too often can’t see past the end of their own noses. While we’re naturally vociferous about technology and our opinions on it, Apple are fully aware that we’re just a vocal minority. When they sell the idea of “a computer for the rest of us” – that’s not US they’re talking about!

I can most definitely see myself getting one of these for my (dear, but technologically illiterate) Mum and/or my niece as a way to reduce the tech support burden on myself. And there are millions of other people out there who don’t give a rat’s arse about multi-tasking or Flash or the friggin’ name any of the other geek gripes being thrown out there. They just want a device that they can use without needing to take an evening-study class and on that front, I think Apple may well have delivered the goods again.

Gary, on January 28th, 2010 at 12:26 am

Prediction: around early March, Apple will finally release iPhone OS 4.0, and then Steve will come out and say:

“Dear stupid wankers: FYI, the iPad will soon be shipping, and since we just released iPhone OS 4.0, we will install it into every shipping iPad. Therefore all you wankers and crybabies spilled all your useless tears perpetuating that the iPad would lack multi-tasking. Save your tears. 4.0 will allow that multi-tasking, not just on the iPad but also on the iPhone. We didn’t mention OS 4.0 back in January, because we didn’t want to rush out 4.0 before we were done with it. Well, now it’s golden and ready. Now, hand me your credit cards, and give me 50 push-ups!”

Mattzook, on January 28th, 2010 at 12:36 am

Very nice article, I must say.

I am on the positive side of this product, but of course still with my worries about it. I feel that what it’s lacking in features can be changed in the future, for example. Last years keynote for iPhone os 3.0 they introudced accesories powered and controlled by iPhone through the 30-pin connector. Perhaps this will allow for things like a clip on camera or gps locator (by connecting iPhone) multitasking and refreshed home screen will come with software updates in the near future, I’m sure of it. So I’m more anxious for the future than scared of what’s going to kill my newly purchased iPad.

For those of you dissapointed it isn’t running off of mac os x haven’t you ever heard of iremote or any similar VPN mac controlling software? The only issue I found with these apps are choppy 3g service (snappy on wifi) and too small of a screen. I can just see myself now sitting back on the couch running my mac mini on my ipad over wifi and the device will act as display, mouse, and keyboard. As well as with one touch of a button I can be back on my iPhone os and playing Activision’s Nazi zombies on my upscaled ipad screen.

I wonder if the ipad was designed as a “personal” device or a family device. Will this device contain a user login screen for household usage. And since it doesn’t contain a cd drive would it be possible to utilize the remote disk features that macs do. It be awsome to pop a DVD in my mini and stream over that 802.11n wifi to my ipad.

I believe that the ipad is one step above an iPhone and one step below a mac. I also think that the multiple media features are so streamlined that now when I need to do some web surfing and I pull out my iPhone to surf so I don’t have to round up my mouse keyboard and boot up my computer, I can now lunge for the ipad I have sitting on it nice dock displaying pictures and zoom across the web faster than ever before without straining my eyes.

In conclusion, I’ll keep my CPU extensive and multitasking havoc activites to my desktop based mac, and use my newly purchased iPad as my multimedia veiwer. And my iPhone will acctually become a phone again. Perhaps maybe I’ll take up reading again if it saves me room on my shelf and a trip to the book store. I do however believe apple has now got they’re family together and will try to tie the features of their three main devices together in harmony, but for now if your looking for a mac buy a mac.

Jeff, on January 28th, 2010 at 12:48 am

I still don’t understand how “the rest of us” are going to accept a product that has no usb ports and no flash.

Roberto, on January 28th, 2010 at 1:27 am

I said, The iPad will be SLATED. And sure enough. I’ve never seen so much bile dredged up on the Net for an Apple product. Part of it is the aggregate of the Apple-haters plus the seemingly universal disappointment among Macheads.

I had actually stopped reading the rumors a while back; it became too much. On TV, they were attacking Apple for the “hype”, which was unfair since Apple hadn’t even confirmed a product. It was the rumor-mill on the web that had been the problem, and as was wisely said elsewhere, NO product Apple presented could possibly have met expectations that high.

As Joseph said above, there was a terrible silence when people saw what it turned out to be: a giant iPod touch, with fewer of its icons which immediately suggested less capability, and below, a OSX-like dock, again seemingly light-featured.

But Apple was in a corporate way “positioning” a product, between its mobile and its laptops, and there it sits comfortably. Even Apple fans need to ramp it down, and realise Steve is not going to be able to pull a rabbit from a hat every time.

Steve’s delivery gave the sense that something extraordinary was coming, and it never quite did… this might have been a better tone: “Good morning everybody. We at Apple have been working real hard.. but no matter how much we worked, we knew we just couldn’t meet what people out there are expecting. What we at Apple want to do is simple to state: We want to open up the possibility of another, middle way of doing things… with potential for both software and hardware, and not necessarily from us. What you are gonna see will look like a giant iPod, but we call it the ‘iPad’… and we think it is the start of something huge, and here it is…”

I think the presentation should have made less of the touchy web thing, because we all got wowed with that 3 years ago, and started with the iBook (and potential Kindle-killer) and the delivery from publishing up front… “But this is so much more than an eReader ~ it does many of the things you know us for, but bigger and better. And faster.”

The iPad might be the start of a new ecosystem for Apple, but it won’t do so well, I fear. Problems will come when these smooth things slip and get damaged. It could be a rerun of the Newton.

But hey! Apple are a great company. They make beautiful stuff. Where is OSX going? And what are they cooking-up for the next iPhone?

iFanboy, on January 28th, 2010 at 2:17 am

No Flash is a big deal! Your wife might not know what that means, but she will definatly see all the empty spaces on when browsing websites, trying to play back video, flash-games on facebook etc..

kayoone, on January 28th, 2010 at 2:22 am

I understand the philosophy behind what Apple is doing. But I still think that some basic components (camera, USB, for example) are the sorts of thing that even beginners would expect to have.

It would be nice if they released a Pro version, but I doubt that’ll happen. For the moment, I’m not sure I’ll be buying one of these. A colleague has a MacBook Pro on sale for under €1,000 – that looks far more exciting to me right now.

Tom, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:03 am

It’s a Version 1.0 of a new Apple hardware format.

It’s kinda like looking at the very First Generation iPhone. Technically not fantastic. But it sold boatloads anyways. And the feature enhancements of subsequent versions (model 3G and 3GS) cemented it as a blockbuster market success.

I would not write off the iPad in the long term. From a strategic standpoint, I think the critical thing to look at is the SECOND GENERATION iPad, and see if Apple listens to its customers and incorporates the most-desired features that people (I guess Geeks are people too) really clamored for.

Mattzook, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:35 am

This is totally the right product for my brother, sister, mother, father and possibly even grandmother. Not sure if it suits me yet, but I think I will grow into liking it once it is available in Europe.

Oskar, on January 28th, 2010 at 3:50 am

So I’ve heard that not only will novels be on sale in the ibookstore but college text books as well. Nobody thinks that consolidating all those heavy books into one device, than being able to simply plug into your keyboard dock and type notes on your notepad and then sync to you mac at home is going to be a fail? As well as any child with an older or cheapeR laptop with the argument of my brand new 2grand MacBook pro will help me do so much better in school will most likely win the battle when they drop the price to 500.

I think this will be a hit with anyone under 25 who goes to college or even the kids who do nothing but sit at home and surf websites and YouTube videos while listening to music, which I imagine that you’ll be able to multitask as far as listen to music while doing other things, because that’s a standard with iPhone. I fall under the second category and nothing will turn me against my descion to take the half I’ve saved for a MacBook pro already and turn it into a nice tasty ipad in 2 months time.

Jeff, on January 28th, 2010 at 4:29 am

Apple invites us to THINK DIFFERENT… Remember? The iPad is the computer for the rest of us. Like many of you have mentioned this device is a great product for non geeks, seniors and many others who never really cared about a PC before…. iPad is easy, with a great UI, and with tons of features to enter the digital age we are in… But also for the tech cravers we are it is something special… Because its touch interface is opening new perspectives in human interaction with the machine and it is likely in that direction that we are going… Despite all the critics, Apple once more has opened the door to an innovative concept that will surely reshape our machine for the next decade. Look how the iPhone has attracted the competition to the touch technology. Certainly it has flaws but it has more potential and this is what will make the difference.
I have question though: the iPad doesn’t seem to be “PC independent” You still need a computer to fill it with content, synchronize it and back it up… How my mother will use it if she has no Mac or PC?

Poivre, on January 28th, 2010 at 4:45 am

Now I have finally had time to watch the Keynote thru. Kindle, you are dead.
Geek knockers: you have no idea where this product is aimed. Stick to Linux – in your caves. You will have more capability more functionality more….
But it simply doesn’t matter. For the mass market…. the iPad will work. Even for people who have never owned a computer. It’s an appliance. Exactly like the first Mac was supposed to be. This is the ultimate consumer Mac.

Denis Evans, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:15 am

You can download apps and iTunes stuff directly onto the iPad (just like an iPhone). But it will be handy to help set the thing up from a Mac in the first place. Then just regular maintenance. But FAR less frequently than before!!! —- Worn out parent support!

Denis Evans, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:20 am

Historically Geeks have never liked UI simplification. They feel job insecurity – they are just protecting themselves. Its not just newspapers and publishers who are in danger. In a certain sense so are many geeky jobs – app support. So geeks if you want job security: stop howling against Apple simplicity, go get a job in network support. It’s that simple.

Denis Evans, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:25 am

@ Poivre:
“the iPad doesn’t seem to be “PC independent” You still need a computer to fill it with content, synchronize it and back it up… How my mother will use it if she has no Mac or PC?”

That’s wrong. The iPad is a stand-alone product, I found out after I did more research on the Apple website. The iPad has its own iTunes and App Store (and iBooks Store) application portal, which means it can purchase/download new apps on its own, without the need for a Mac/PC to mediate. You do need an existing broadband connection at home to take advantage of the WiFi. And even if you do not have broadband internet at home… uhhh… just walk down to the nearest Starbucks or any place that gives out free WiFi internet connections, and there is your free internet connection.

Mattzook, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:29 am

I am a mountaineer. When we go into the mountains we sacrifice all sorts of functionality for weight (fast and light). The iPad is no different. So you heavyweight geeks get out of the way. You’re irrelevant anyway.
Fast and light is all that matters to most of us – especially mountaineers. Get rid of flab.

Denis Evans, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:41 am

Yes u can use the iPad barefoot – without Mac or PC support. However certain adim tasks will be easier with a Mac PC host.

Denis Evans, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:45 am

Given that “the geeks” who are criticising it are mainly the same ones that were hyping it into the sky, I’m not surprised. If it had had the features they demanded (and, in some cases, reported it definitely would have), it would cost $4000 and weigh 15lbs.

Ian Betteridge, on January 28th, 2010 at 7:14 am

I think the same people that are saying that iPad sucks for having a movile OS are the people who never bought a Win Tablet that had a Full featured OS. Will they buy the new tablets with Windows 7? I really doubt it.

Time will tell.

AkiraTeam, on January 28th, 2010 at 8:43 am

@Mattzook

Yes I understand that you can purchase your music, and all the rest… But you will still need a mac to download your photos… Sure you can have them emailed to you. But still… And what about backup? Nevertheless I am sure that third party accessories and the next evolution of this GREAT product will fill in the gaps…. Check this link as they are already finding creative ways to use it: http://photojojo.tumblr.com/post/357115406/6-possibilities-that-the-ipad-opens-up-for
This is what I call a creative way to welcome the innovation…

Poivre, on January 28th, 2010 at 9:30 am

As a teacher-in-training, I really see the benefits that something like the iPad could bring to the classroom. In fact, my first thoughts upon seeing a video of the device were “Wow! I wish I could get my hands on 20 of those things to teach a lesson.”

Alas, that’s probably a pipe dream, but a nice one, right? I want to pick one up just to see what I could do with it and how I could possibly enhance a child’s education with one.

Nicole, on January 28th, 2010 at 9:59 am

I think most “geeks” lack a feel for visual aesthetics and have very little artistic inclination. They don’t know what is visual pleasing, and fall back to features and statistics.
It must be sad to be like that.

J, on January 28th, 2010 at 10:01 am

I’ll be buying one to take apart, but I think I will be able to use it a lot , a few business apps and this thing could replace a lot of stuff, even in the music industry and who knows what else, could be limitless. I can see a lot of people dropping them

iPod Fix It, on January 28th, 2010 at 10:33 am

I find it funny how there are both blind defenders and haters of the iPad. I don’t care what they call it. If it is a good product for the price I’d consider it. Not sure what this Geek vs non-geek argument is, but this device is not under $500, it starts at $629 for the 3G version.

The screen is indeed gorgeous, but what does it really do for my $600 that my iphone, macbook or ipod touch can’t? I really do like Apple products, but I’m also not foolish enough to buy version 1.0 of any of their products. History has taught me to wait for the next version before diving in. You should be all wiser as well by now. Version 2.0 will usually cheaper and more advanced than the first version, and probably only months away.

I’m sorry, all of the defenders that say this is great for dad without a computer are still high on the apple smokesceen that you fail to realize its short comings as a standalone. My dad loves movies, has a huge collection of dvds and blurays. If I get him an ipad, how does he watch them? he can’t. He’ll have to re-purchase them in the itunes store or buy another mac at home and convert his collection. Wouldn’t it be easier to have a player built-in? If he’s got to have another computer for this, then why don’t I just get him a macbook then?

Yes this device is better than a kindle overall, but at triple the price. If the ipad played blu-ray discs, had more memory, I’d be first in line. The camera is not make or break for me, but it is true many of use expect that to be standard already.

As it stands I already have a macbook, and iphone and an ipod, (Yes I told you I like Apple products)and this device really doesn’t do anything these other devices can do already. I wish this device could replace all of those devices but it can’t and that is why I’m not buying into the hype?

MaxDVD, on January 28th, 2010 at 11:27 am

First off, I’m planning on buying one. $500 for a portable device with a nearly 10 inch screen, 10 hour battery life, and it only weighs 1.5 pounds (not to mention having iWork)? That’s significantly better than having to cart my laptop around, which cost $1500 new (with accessories), has a screen that’s only slightly larger, has at best a 5 hour battery life, and weighs 5.1 pounds.

I don’t really care about the lack of system access (besides, I do like that it prevents third-party code from actively messing with other apps [input managers on the OS X side, toolbars, etc. on the Windows side]), and judging from the SDK, the device seems somewhat more open (shared file directory, for instance). Also, It does have USB support (and SD card support) through the Camera connectivity kit advertised on the bottom of Apple’s iPad page.

It doesn’t have multitasking, but with the significant speed improvement over the iPhone 3GS, apps will open faster. Besides, I strongly suspect that we’ll see multitasking in 4.0 and that the reason we haven’t seen it yet is the same one behind the lack of copy/paste on the original iPhone (i.e. Apple is still working out a UI for it).

Lastly, Flash needs to die a fast death. Forgetting its horrible memory and optimization issues, its numerous security problems, and its widespread use in annoying ads, video can be served using HTML5 (which Safari supports), and Flash games can be recompiled into iPhone games using the latest version of Adobe’s Flash development tools. Not to mention the fact that websites done in Flash often use widgets that look native (native buttons, menus, even links) but do not behave like native widgets (i.e. you can’t open a Flash link in a new tab!) and the fact that Flash dominance puts a significant portion of the web in danger of being at the control of Adobe, and Adobe can’t really portray itself in any sort of positive light.

Daniel, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:10 pm

RE the computer-disinterested, I have one question about that.

I don’t think it’s trivial for them to learn the cabling procedures for, and getting an adapter for, the USB connector function so they can ’sync’ the files with their computer in getting files off (and sometimes on).

Otherwise, yah, it’s beautiful. I think it should be made clearer what ‘optional’ items need to be bought and the cost.

The lack of multitasking capability IS, for me, a limiter but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t get one for couch web fever if I ever see a good-sized introductory sales price. I know, dream on. Otherwise, I am quite set with what I have and enjoying them.

anieb, on January 28th, 2010 at 5:49 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R2Q74×1GLU

exs120, on January 28th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

It’ll be hated by geeks initially, but then it will be jail broken and then geeks will buy it in droves.

KenseiDave, on January 29th, 2010 at 6:17 pm

I don’t get it, what did people expect? Ok, it doesn’t have a camera so you still have to use your laptop/desktop to ichat. Oh no. Yeah, only 64GB of space, if you got more space you would be complaining about the prices. Not running the full-blown OSX, trust me, you want it that way, the point is simplicity and efficiency. You can’t simply and efficiently run a full blown OS on something that small, yet. Look, I have a MBP and an iPhone and I will still be getting one and here is why…It’s all about replacing devices right? What did iPhone do? It gave me the best smartphone in the world along with the best iPod in the world. Plus it gives me a camera, not top end but enough for what I need on the fly. Now what about iPad, what does it replace, what roles can it play? How about a portable dvd player? Now you can play movies on a screen bigger than the typical portable dvd player. Don’t have to carry dvds around with it. And it will last longer. For those of you that think that this approach enslaves you to use iTunes…you are an idiot, most movies come with digital editions and this is only going to take off. So there is one thing, you can’t tell me that watching movies on the iPad would be far better than the iPhone. Digital picture frame, there you go, you have one, one that works better then the others and you can easily take with you. eBook reader, yes it is better than the kindle and here is why. People talk about battery life, ok the kindle wins there, but are you telling me you are going to be reading more than 10 hours without plugging it in at all? What does the iPad do better? You can read it in the dark, in bed with the wife trying to sleep. You have color. You can take the iPad farther than the kindle, this could be the first time newspapers and magazines on devices like this really makes sense. You can even insert mini-movies, not just color pictures. It can serve as your portable gaming device. If I have to explain to you why this will be the best portable gaming device in the world than you are retarded. So there are things it can replace. It also to an extent can replace my laptop, because lets face it mostly what I do is surf the net, email, and enjoy iTunes content. iPad has all that in a lighter form factor that won’t cook my lap and is easier to take wherever with me. If I need to do something, I got iWork. Alright, I am done typing, I will just finish by saying if you don’t understand the point, don’t get one, that is fine, enjoy crappy netbooks or whatever you use to do the things I just mentioned. I will be happy with my iPad even though it doesn’t cure cancer.

Matt, on January 31st, 2010 at 10:35 am

the iPad is a consumer product – it isn’t intended for geeks

Kevin Cassidy, on February 2nd, 2010 at 5:20 pm

You said “The iPad is the first computer for people who are completely computer illiterate — and there’s millions of them.”

The trouble is, though the iPad will probably be much easier to use than a conventional computer, there is still a lot of old-school computer infrastructure that needs to exist for a person to really make use of it.

Things like cable modems and wireless routers, and networked printers. And because this thing is tied so closely to iTunes, some kind of a “mothership” conventional computer is needed to host it.

So any thought of just sending one of these to an computer-illiterate relative or friend and having them just start using it without considerable support is still a fantasy.

Apple still has a lot of work to do to achieve their vision of “a computer for the rest of us”. First, they need to make it possible for the iPad to be completely functional without syncing with a host computer. That means moving iTunes to “the cloud”, and making MobileMe a free service. Second, they need to keep pushing the telecommunications carriers to provide wireless coverage everywhere at a reasonable cost.

Larry P., on February 7th, 2010 at 2:44 pm

Hard keyboard? WTF. A hard keyboard would ruin the iPhone (the phone all other smartphone developers aspire to achieve). It’s a tablet, it has a keyboard that shows up virtually when you need it. This is the future.

Do the geeks also want a phone jack for dial-up as well…NO!

Peter, on February 10th, 2010 at 6:29 pm

Add your comment