Reading reviews... - No multitasking so you can't do things like IM while playing a game. - No flash so browsing the internet is much better on a laptop. - It isn't as good as an Ebook reader because you can't get the brightness to look like say the Kindle which is easy on the eyes. Lots of reviews are saying you just don't want to stare at it reading it for too long, like you can other devices. - Locked into Itunes, can't get apps from anywhere else. - Can't print directly. - No cam so you can't webcam over the internet. - Really because it is locked into the Ipod and Iphone trio, it wont ever do more than Ipod games. - No inbuilt GPS - 3G extra is mad expensive compared to the alternatives you can get on a laptop. - The borders are so large that games can control more clumsy because there is such a big area from your thumbs to the screen. - Locked into Apple formats which means no FLAC or AVI - Locked into the crappy Ipod and Iphone version of Youtube which has the worst search features. etc etc. So really it is just a larger Ipod and even lacks many features of an Iphone. So why not just wait for the Iphone HD or whatever? It'll sure to have more features and a bigger screen.... unless Apple decide to make it less powerful than the Ipad on purpose, so it makes the Ipad look like the bigger, more powerful device to get. That would be really lame and probably ruin any chances of me upgrading to a new Iphone. It doesn't have any of the functionality of a Laptop of the same price. You can't install programs from websites and most importantly there is no flash support which makes 90% of internet browsing a pain. You wouldn't want to do any business on it or type anything up because the touch screen just isn't as good a proper laptop. You may argue why not use the keyboard with the Ipad... why not just get a laptop then? Infact a Laptop is more convenient because you flick it open and the Ipad you'd have to set the whole keyboard thing up and have a desk. On top of that you need a case for the Ipad anyways and it is so big it loses all the portability. So my question is why have an Ipad when you could have a smaller laptop which is barely any bigger and has more functionality? You're not gonna want to read books off it, you're not going to use it for business or browse the internet because it has no flash. Games on it aren't even that good when you compare them to a Laptop, they're basically just glorified flash games. You're not gonna listen to music from it because there is an Iphone or Ipod you can fit in your pocket. You're not gonna want to watch movies off it when it isn't even 1080 and a laptop is, plus a laptop supports formats other than MP4. you can download VLC on a laptop and use all these filters and download subs easily from it. So really many people who own an Ipad will have an Iphone. So why not just stick with your Iphone and use a Laptop? You'll look like less of a idiot than carrying an Ipad and an Iphone, like some weird Austin Powers Mini me thing. You'll have more functionality with the Laptop... I for one am gonna hold out for the Iphone HD and if Apple haven't put infra-red or a flash for the camera by then. If they haven't supported flash player and multitasking as well, then I'm just going to move to HTC with Windows 7 mobile. Which will support all these things and they're putting Xbox live on it so it'll have better gaming support. Apple better pull their finger out and realize what the people want.
I like my iPad because It eases off the battery on my iPhone and it offers full sized web pages for me to browse on my bed. I would never tell anyone to run outnand buy one now because it's an early adopter device right now. I've already bought my first iBook because I'm loving the elegant interface it provides over the kindle app. Embedded dictionary, wiki search, and custom animations or narrations for if the author decides to include them. The tradeoff is that it's locked onto ipads and doesn't provide white text on a black background which is a bit easier on the eyes.
I don't understand how it can replace an ipod touch? It's not exactly portable which means you cant use it as a portable mp3 player. And if you have forgotten, this is what the ipod touch was orginialy designed to be and is still it's main feature
Well, it was jailbroken by the iPhone Dev Team in about 24 hours, so when they make an installer app (like Cydia), you can fix the closed app store. And maybe, just maybe, put windows 7 on it?
Ipad has a few issues for sure. I too wont by this first generation. In my mind there was no gap between a smart phone and a laptop. If they made this thing more like a gamer laptop for windows while having the functionality of the original ipod touch OS(Sorry this is vague idea), I would have bought one for each member of my family. I also worry about the trend Apple is taking with the Ipad. You litterally have to purchase $400 worth of things to make it function more like a laptop. 64GB with no ability to use anything else is max? Yes its a SSD(I think so), however Apple could not have made a small dock to switch out memory? Of course they could have. Much easier than they could with a touch or phone. Lack of USB ports is a hardware thing, but it reminds me of the old days of M$ making sure that you have to use THEIR software products only. Its like Apple is trying to create a stronger and stronger cage to hold their users in than M$ ever did. I love my ipod touch, and I can defend it against most any hand held gaming/browser system out there. My PsP is collecting dust, and my DS is the wife's who always wants to borrow my touch on her long train trips here in Japan. However, I cant help it with this ipad. Its Jack of all.. yet master of very little. If someone bought an ipad(300,000 sold already) they may be the type to defend it even if it has a lot of short commings. Some people are like that. And some will have valid points against your argument as well. However, I think in my OPINION the Ipad 1st gen will be skipped by me and my friends for now. Remeber criticism is a good thing when we state the exact problems in order to build solutions. AKA Constructive
You think you should wait until all of your hopes and dreams come bundled in a package worthy of getting rather than (possibly) the best piece of hardware ever made and distributed to apple? Alright then....
http://forums.toucharcade.com/images/editor/color.gif 256MB is not enough ram for even a "go-between" in this day and age. What's sad about the iPad is that not even a pro-level virtual instrument can be loaded and used on the thing, which would be one ideal application for a device that size. If it could utilize virtual ram, and had with flash storage (enough for conveniently swapping 1-2 dvd's worth of piano layer samples, for example), then one could do all sorts of sound stuff on a budget with the iPad. One irony is that way back when macs were getting flac for being too slow for the buck compared to pc's, the former were still widely regarded as ideal for audio editing and music production; now that there is a speedy keyboard-less apple device with the perfect UI for many types of production, it is hobbled by its meager ram, i/o options, and storage - not to mention that having a device this powerful not be able to at least boot OS 9, or older OS X apps, is just plain wasteful.
The amount of system memory the device has is entirely irrelevant to the end user. The reason Apple has gotten so far away from the typical PC packaging listing complete system specs on their mobile devices is it flat out doesn't matter. Everything on the App Store just works, and that's the important part. My parents were entirely captivated by the iPad yesterday, and spent close to four hours playing with it before I was finally like "OK seriously I'm taking my toy and going home now." They told me they ordered a 3G iPad about 10 minutes after I left. They don't even know what RAM is.
If everything on the App Store works, it is because Apple (usually) only approves products that work. What you're effectively saying is that any application incapable of running on an iPad due to its meager specs would not be approved anyway. Sure, that's one strategy for making a new system seem more versatile than it practically is. If your parents (or grandparents) didn't know what multitasking was, would that mean it was a less valuable feature? Seriously, please tell me you're joking. The last time I checked, Apple was not marketing the iPad as merely a "new toy" to anyone's parents.
I wouldn't necessarily say skip the iPad. You need to have a good idea of why you're buying it. I spent some time with it this weekend, and while it is essentially a king-sized iTouch, it does offer a good degree of computing flexibility. If you're interested in using this as a tool for school in terms of taking notes or doing research via the Web, the iPad is ideal for that. Reading books and magazines (outside of direct sunlight) is another use. Think of it as an extension of your PC or laptop, and if you're ok with that, then buy the iPad. Ironic or not, I would almost say that gaming should be the last consideration on your list. I wouldn't suggest you buy the iPad if your sole intent is to play games. If you want to play games, don't expect console quality. And, you'd be much better off carrying your iPhone or iTouch if you want true portability. Having played a few games on the iPad, I wouldn't want to play for long periods of time. It's a much bigger device where touch and accelerometer controls work well, but aren't conducive for extended play. Keep in mind that games have a much higher price point for the iPad, and most of the games right now are basically enlarged versions of their iPhone/iTouch originals. From the initial estimates, most of the most popular downloads not surprisingly right now are ebooks, movies/TV shows and music and not games. I hope most devs didn't put all or most of their resources behind gaming because the iPad isn't getting the same level of traction in terms of gaming at least right now. Also, I plan to pick up the 3g version later this month as well (of course, I'll be picking up the Google tablet whenever that arrives this summer) so keep that in mind as well. If you plan to work outside of your office or anywhere outside beyond wifi, then having 3g connectability may be useful. If you have an iPod Touch, you know it can be a gamble to rely on outside wifi. The iPad is not perfect and I don't buy Apple's marketing that this is a missing link in any way. Anyone who does needs to take a step back and get some perspective. But the iPad is a good device for what it is if you understand why you're buying it.
