Apple's done it again.
I must admit I was skeptical about this product until I got my hands on it. I played with it for a good 20 minutes at the Apple Store yesterday and still won't buy it just yet (more on that in a moment), but this device is amazing.
The size is just right, the weight is just right, and it feels good to hold. But that's not all. Consider this:
If the iPad was just for video, it would be remarkable. As I watched a movie, the stunning HD display was a sight to behold, let alone when you put it in your hands, set it on a table, or prop it up. All those mini DVD players on the market just took a major hit. This has Netflix and the huge movie offering of the iTunes stores too (rent or buy).
If the iPad was just for gaming, it would be fantastic. After trying a few games, I was blown away by the interface, ability to control movement seamlessly, plus the natural feel of holding the game as you play it: all remarkable. Not to mention the visual experience. It returns memories of the Gameboy for this old Nintendo fan and "wows" you for how far we've come.
If the iPad was just for touch-screen Internet browsing, it would be special. There are other products like this on the market, but the speed and ease of navigating this system with your fingers feels right. The thousands of apps already available (and of course many more to come) utilizing the Internet puts it in your hands in a whole new way. And the size of the iPad screams down to the iPhone: This is how touch-screen Internet browsing (and maps, as Dave Winer points out) should really work.
And of course, if the iPad was just for books, it would be revolutionary. And it is. While I don't own a Kindle, I've played with one before, I've even tried Barnes and Nobles' Nook, I've read books on my iPhone, and I've read books the traditional way. It's a whole new reading experience that nothing else comes close to.
But the fact that all of this is rolled into one device is absolutely mind-blowing. Not to mention the iPod built in, which by now is expected of course, but it is special in itself. People feel connected to music; it motivates them, it soothes them, it psyches them up. You can do that too with the iPad. And check your email, take notes, and do hundreds of more things thanks to the Apps store.
And to put something to rest: The Flash issue is overrated. It's Web developers and certain organizations flipping out that they're not compatible with the iPad, but realistically, there are so many other things you can do on this device, never mind Flash! Yes, it's a significant part of the Internet, but its applications are dying, and all Web sites that use it would be wise to move on. All of my favorites Web sites look just fine on the iPad. (And Facebook and Twitter.com both work great.)
So the iPad's lone flaw: its price.
Of course, it's a new Apple product and that will change over time, but you can't expect the masses to purchase this thing, plus the add-ons such as 3G, 3G monthly fees, a warranty, and most importantly (and adding up the quickest) -- the apps. These aren't your typical 99 cent apps. The good ones are going to cost you. And the iPad experience takes a huge hit without great apps.
It would be easy to get the $499 wireless device, yet still hit $1,000 when all is said and done (ironically what original price rumors were), and that's the low-end product. You could go crazy and pay a whole lot more. That money is probably better spent when you think long and hard about it, as great as the iPad is as a fun luxury to have.
So, even though this is a dream product in my eyes, I'm not buying one just yet. Either that price goes down, or Sling Media releases its iPad app so you can watch live television on it (its in the works), and that MIGHT put me over the edge - maybe.
If money's not a factor for you, yes, get it. For millions of Americans right now, the unemployed, the hurting, and for those paying back college loans such as myself and people struggling to make ends meet -- it's a tease. You're better off waiting.
But make no mistake about it: the iPad will be around for a while. Its impact on the future of personal computing, gaming and books will be significant.
This device is revolutionary, and it will shake up a few more industries just as the iPhone, iPod, and iTunes store did before it.
Well done, Apple.
UPDATE (4-11-10): OK, so after three visits to the Apple Store, I got an iPad. And I managed to do so well under my $1,000 estimate above.
It's still pricey and I wish it would be more affordable so everyone could get one, but my initial estimates of its cost were probably a bit harsh, as some noted in the comments.
Why I did it? Some helped convince me, but also I believe in this product, I really do believe it's the future of personal computing, and I believe in its potential as a productivity device. Now owning it, those beliefs have only grown stronger.
Follow Craig Kanalley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ckanal
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The iPad, with or without its flaws (and there are more than just one) is nothing like a netbook.
What I want to know is, how do you get from $500 to $1000 without upgrading beyond the low-end product? Are you buying $500 worth of apps or something?
--matt
Sarcasm aside, yeah, HP has been doing touchscreen computers for years. You know why no one cares? Because they're slow and not nearly as responsive or intuitive as the touchscreens people have gotten used to on their iPhones and iPod touches. HP stuck the touchscreen on almost as an afterthought, with no understanding of the environment a touchscreen creates, making it so that you rarely even have a use for the touchscreen on their computers. They have no app store, and are not backed with good customer service.
Calling the iPad an overgrown cell phone is like calling the Kindle an overgrown calculator. The iPad wasn't designed to make calls, and the Kindle wasn't designed to help you with your math homework.
Sure, a brand new Lexus could make some aspects of my life a bit more easier, convenient or at least more luxurious, but its not necessary. I don't buy any talk about the Ipad improving the way people do business either.
People said the Iphone would improve business. All I see the Iphone in business settings is waste company time because Iphone users are too busy playing with their lame apps. Overall, the Ipad is a stupid choice.
As to stock performance, here's a nice quote from an analyst who is bullish on the stock:
Wolf called the iPad "stunning", but said the real importance of the iPad launch lies in how Apple has immediately redefined the category for tablet computers and created a position for the company that goes beyond the computer industry.
"The iPad launch says less about the ultimate success of the iPad and more about the prominence of Apple in our culture," Wolf said, in a research note. "The iPad is a device that nobody needs, but everybody wants."
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/analysts-see-ipad-giving-a-lift-to-apples-stock-2010-04-05?siteid=rss&rss=1&mod=marketwatch
Translation: the stock price will rise in proportion to the demand for useless, expensive toys.
When I first bought my Mac a year and a half ago, a doctor friend of mind once said Macintoshes are for intelligent people and PCs are for the sheep.
At the time, I found her remark incredibly simplistic and crude, but as I read the comments from all those virus-addicted people, her comments make more and more sense to me. I have had few problems with my MacBook Pro and the ones I have had are all related to the running of Bill Gates software.
BTW, you can check out hundreds of stock analyst opinions on Seeking Alpha, along with their often animated comments sections!
As for Flash...it is TRULY a standard and will continue to be for a long time. Have any Flash haters heard of Facebook games or Worlds of Warcraft or other MMOGs that are Flash dependent and will continue to be?
I see the non-flash ability is all about forcing users of iPads and iPhones to purchase games and video content that created or modified for those devices (quicktime or...). Give me a touchscreen APPLE notebook that I can use photoshop, draw directly on, etc and you got a sale!
I have no doubt the iPad is a cool DEVICE, so what, big whoop? Hype has made Sarah Palin a star, and hype has made the iPad a "hit". Doesn't mean that there is much substance to either of them.
But, really, what's so revolutionary about black text on a white background?
No, it mustn't be, because this person is obviously not tech savoy (obviously if they are going for an apple product- "Oh, thats pretty"). To say that things like a lack of flash or the inability to multi-task is forgivable is ridiculous.
"Everything is perfect, even its mistakes and missing functions. it is the BEST thing the World has seen."
Play some indie music in the background and its a complete Apple commercial.
Give me air.
Look at the ipod nano 2008 vs 2010 version. 2010 version has Digital FM tuner, Video camera, built in speaker and microphone for the same cost of 2008.
I have a 2nd gen iPhone, and i had an iPod touch before the app store hit (and before I decided to switch to an iPhone). I've never had to upgrade my device to enjoy any of the new benefits offered from a new OS, and the options that are hardware based are very minimal. I'll probably have my 2nd gen until the day I decide I need more storage (I have 16 gig now).
#1. Flash doesn't matter. You obviously are out of touch here with so many full blown web applications being written in Flash, as well as the corporate web strategies being built around Flash, your position is a bit shaky. Best you rethink this one.
#2 The Price - Sorry little Craigy, u seem to be a bit moist behind the ears. Most corporate types waste this much every month in inefficiencies that the ipad may be able to address.
I'm in. Send mine today.
#1. I'm not saying Flash doesn't matter, and surely I can think of many, many awesome uses of Flash. But I feel it's a dying part of the Web and that will trend (in my opinion) will only speed up now that it's now on the iPad (and iPhone).
#2. I concede - THAT is a good point! When all is said and done, perhaps it IS a worthwhile investment. I just wish the add-on costs didn't add up so quickly for all the features on this device.
I'm so tempted to get one too... going to wait just a little longer to make sure I make an informed decision and get the right iPad.
HTML5 is coming in a big way. Every web browser, even IE, supports it now.
My hubby's a web programmer and he is constantly complaining about how much better HTML5 is from a programming perspective.
I have a question though... what add on features are you considering that brings the price from $500 to $1000?
You do not have to buy anything from Apple to put on your iPad.
This has nothing to do with money and everything to do with keeping things as simple and seamless as possible.
It does ALL those things! Mindblowing! A single computer that actually does more than one thing!
Greg: It's not a computer. It IS just a gadget. There's nothing wrong with gadgets, as long as they serve a purpose in your life. Even if it is just to take notes or play games or listen to music or whatever. I'm personally attracted to the iPad because I could combine the non-phone functionality of my iPhone with the e-reader capabilities of a Kindle, all wrapped in a touchscreen environment. This may seem silly to you, but the biggest reason for that attraction? Comic books. I would LOVE to read comic books on a Kindle-like device, without having to have a whole separate device just to read them.