I think it looks cool, but with an ipod touch and a laptop, there's really no point for me to get one.
The whole point of distraction free writing, is not having any distractions. I'm talking about apps like Writeroom, Jer's Novel Writer etc. Toolbars and the possibility to change stuff like font and layout is actually elements that can distract from the writing process. Uh, yes growing up at the height of the 8-bit era I have certainly played my share of RTS games from Dune2 and on. I have however not found many RTS games on the iPhone that is really practical to play with the small screen. My point about the combination of iPad and RTS being a particularly potent combination is all about the interface: Players will be able to directly manipulate units etc. on the screen, not having to go through the abstraction of mouse/mouse-pointer. I think I've proven that it does not take a genius to come up with these ideas. This is frankly just of the top of my head. My initial reaction to the iPad was actually not unlike yours. I too felt that Apple could have gone further, made a more advanced interface etc. However, the more I think of it the more I'm convinced this will be stellar. The iPad has the potential to be the best platform for most apps where manipulating on-screen objects is the order of the day. Jef Raskin's ideas have been brought up by wiser people than me, and the iPad does seem like a perfect fit. As the iPad's central UI is simply used as a menu for starting applications each app will have to "transform" the device with a suitable interface of its own. We will see a lot of crap for sure (I'll probably participate in that respect) but we will also see a lot of new, truly innovative use of the touch-screen technology with interfaces that will help the user become more effective.
No you're post is a broken record. The iPad has no right to exist. What was it Steve Jobs said? "Netbooks have no right to exist, they are stupid and useless, now I'll tell you what isn't... the iPad!!! It does half as much for twice the price!!!! Yay Apple!!! Everyone will buy it because I'm telling you it IS REVOLUTIONARY!!!!!! IT HAZ A BIGGAH SKREEN!!!!" Or something to that effect. Which of course makes no sense. /rant
With this kind of insight I see no solution but to yield. Obviously you've figured it all out, sorry for wasting everyone's time. I will now erase the term iPad from my memory.
Lol! This discussion is getting just like those WinMo/iPhone discussions I love the freedom in smartphones (iPhone not included) but the iPhone has one GREAT feature. The shit works. Everything you get for it actually works! After many many years loving and hating my smartphones, -THAT IS a great selling point. Yes the iPad is an overpriced piece of junk. That is, untill it got 200 000 apps and games that actually works.
