If I had a buck for every time people have cynically referred to the iPad as a "giant iPod Touch," I'd be able to buy one for every member of my family. I like the idea of a giant iPod Touch. I want to play games, surf the web, read a book, listen to music, and watch videos. That's it. I don't need to do actual "work" on any portable device. I just want a device for entertainment, and the iPad is designed for that very purpose. Why don't people get that? It's for entertainment. Everyone seems to focus on what the iPad doesn't do. It doesn't allow for multi-tasking. It doesn't have Flash. It doesn't have a camera. It also doesn't clean my bathroom. What is does do is entertainment, and I am guessing it's going to do that really well! If people need a device that has functions other than what the iPad offers, stop whining and buy a laptop!
+1 - my sentiments exactly. I have lots of apps, have spent hundreds of dollars, a huge music and movie collection - and a wife that likes to go to bed early - so I can't watch TV in my room - solution- iPad and a nice set of headphones...
YES. I want a bigger iPod Touch. Portability won't be an issue -- I'll just drop it into my handbag. It's about the same size as my makeup kit. In fact, I think the women will probably be taking the plunge faster than the men. Guys are concerned about it not fitting into their shirt pockets. But gals carry handbags all the time, so it's not a problem. Plus, they don't like squinting, so a bigger screen is welcome. What am I going to use it for that I can't do on my iPod Touch? 1) Play Hidden Object games (the current iPhone versions require you to pinch and zoom all the time, since the actual game resolution is larger than the iPhone screen. Problem resolved with an iPad). 2) Read my Zinio magazines (books work fine on iPhones, but magazines cannot be easily resized. You have to pinch and zoom to see the photos and read the articles). 3) View sheet music (the iPad is perfect for this. Imagine setting it on the piano stand and accessing your whole sheet music library from there. I have some sheet music on my iPhone, but the notes are simply too small). 4) Paint and sketch (I love drawing on my iPod Touch, but the canvas size is limiting. With the iPad, it'll be like having a Wacom tablet. But unlike the Wacom, you can take it anywhere and paint scenery on location). 5) Watch movies and TV shows (can't argue that this is going to be one of the major advantages of a bigger screen!). I can't wait. Want one now.
Wow. I'm a pianist and I completely overlooked this point - I'm getting an iPad regardless, but I keep coming across more and more pros.
There are already several sheet music providers committed to developing for the iPad: http://www.musicnotes.com/ipad/ http://www.iphonesheetmusic.com/ http://www.etudeapp.com/ And on a side note, those piano apps (e.g. Virtuoso Piano) are going to benefit from the iPad screen too. We'll be able to see more than one octave a time now (wheee!). The drum apps will be more fun too -- we can play congos with hands now instead of just thumbs.
