As I walked into San Francisco's Yerbe Buena Center Wednesday for the Apple iPad unveiling, I pretty much expected Steve Jobs to announce a tablet computer optimized for video, web surfing, reading, music and game playing that runs iPhone applications. And that's exactly what I got. But I also expected something more. I expected to be delighted with some not-so-obvious features that would make me crave the device.
I was underwhelmed.
It's not that there's anything wrong with the iPad. It's a pretty good product with some nice features, but I don't agree with Steve Jobs' claim that it's "magical and revolutionary."
True, it can run any iPhone application but -- obviously -- so can an iPhone and an iPod touch. Had they called it the "iTouch-2" I would have considered it an excellent evolution to an already great product.
One thing I don't like about iPad apps is that, like the iPhone and iPod Touch, apps will have to be sanctioned by Apple. I would prefer to see an open platform like Windows or Mac that allows anyone to create an application. I can sort of understand controlling apps that run on a phone but not on general computing devices which, at the end-of-the-day is what the iPad will be competing with.
In announcing the iPad, Apple is trying to create a third category of devices somewhere in between a smartphone and a laptop but the problem with the iPad is that it doesn't do anything that you can't already do with a smartphone and a laptop. In terms of raw innovation I was actually more impressed with the IdeaPad U1 hybrid laptop that Lenovo introduced at CES. It's a traditional laptop with the ability to peel off the screen to use it as a tablet. They won't sell a lot but it is a radical design with two operating systems and user interfaces -- Windows 7 for laptop mode and another when it's used as a tablet.
Some bright spots
There were some bright spots. In addition to its ability to run any iPhone and iPod Touch application, Apple has released an iPad Software Developer Kit to encourage developers to create applications specifically designed for the device's larger screen. And Apple jump started development with its new iWork suite that lets you use the iPad for word processing, spreadsheets and to create and show presentations.
I'm also glad that Apple is releasing an external keyboard but I would have been happier if there were a USB port so users could use any keyboard or pointing device and plug in other industry standard accessories including external hard drives or at least thumb drives. It would also have been nice if the operating system allowed more than one application to run at a time - something that PC and Mac users have been able to do for years.
Cheaper than expected, but not cheap
Jobs made a big deal about the low price and, indeed the starting price of $499 is less than most people expected. But for that you get an iPad with only 16 gigabytes of storage and no 3G modem. If you want the fully decked out model, it will cost you $829. That's still less than the $999 some people expected, but for about $400 you can get a netbook that does everything the iPad does, albeit without the panache.
The one pleasant surprise of the day was Jobs' announcement that the 3G model will feature contract-free AT&T data plans that start at $14.99 for 250 megabytes a month or $29.99 for unlimited data. That unlimited plan is half the price of most other data plans. My hope is that Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile will counter by cutting the price of their data plans for other computing devices. My only worry is that if the iPad is a success, it could further overwhelm AT&T's already clogged data network.
Not a game changer
The iPhone was a revolutionary device because it was the first easy-to-use powerful computer that you can put in your pocket. But, even though it's a bit thinner and lighter than other personal computing devices, the iPad is far from pocket-sized. It's basically a laptop without a physical keyboard that runs iPhone apps. That makes it an interesting product but hardly one that will change the world.
I'm not saying the iPad will fail - there may indeed be a market for the device, but it's not a game changer.
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And it doesn't need ports to do any of that. Apple clearly believes the future is in the "cloud" anyway, and this machine banks on that just as the iMac banked on the end of the floppy era. It downloads all software and content from either the net or the computer it wasn't meant to replace.
Multi-tasking? iPhone OS 4.0. Bet on it.
Every time Apple puts something new out, people gripe about the "necessary" things it is missing. Apple did not make it for them. They are the customers whom full-size laptops are for. But I want my iPad.
http://www.snagajob.com/break-room/workplace-fun/ipad-cost.aspx
last I heard he is paid mostly in equity.
A real O/S. Camera(s) front/rear. They could have made it a quarter inch
thicker to add enough extra battery to run an embedded pico LED projector and really had a game changing product. We're all waiting for the promised 'convergence' of phone/computer/camera. The tech is sitting on the shelf waiting to be stitched together. We're all still waiting. Who is going to be the first to deliver? It could still be Apple, but the fact they ignored so many of us who wanted (at a freaking MINIMUM) a camera for Skype/Ichat doesn't make me confident they will get over their AppStore mentality anytime soon.
Enjoy.
It's not a geek's machine.
10 hours battery seems plenty. You will be able to plug in extra battery power just like iPhones can.
No camera for video chats is a crying shame! I hope it gets added before back-to-school!
Projector sounds like a good (great) accessory but not a requirement.
You do not seem to care about LAN games but I think that is what kids will be talking about this Xmas.
An HDMI port would allow HD video on a flat screen. I hope thy add that right away!
I have to agree about the "magical and revolutionary" hype. But Segway was a complete disaster. I don't see this things flopping. it's just not aimed at power using computer geeks.
No one else seems to have replicated the App Store model successfully.
And, whatever merits it may have, I would not feel confident with AT&T service.
The bottom line: It's just a giant iPod touch.
I'm a PC.
It's yet another statement from Apple that if you want any of their stuff, everything has to be done Their Way. Only their silly dock adapter will be the way in & out of the computer. It would only cost Apple a few bucks per iPad to include both USB and SD slots. But Apple has decided that helping you use a non-Apple accessory is less important than a pretty side view.
No removable battery? The vanity factor of a pristine back side, interrupted only by their logo, is judged to be more important than convenience for the consumer. So when there's a battery issue, you go back into the arms of Apple for help.
I admire much of what Apple has done since introducing the iMac--they've turned out a lot of elegant products which simplified and focused the computer biz on the right features. But every time they take two steps forward with innovation, they take a step back with proprietary limitations. Their rigid control over all manifestations of their products is far beyond anything Microsoft's ever done, but because of Apple's careful image management, they get a pass.
Their stuff is beautiful in a sense, but would be better if Apple could simultaneously innovate and get over themselves.
LOL
The PC free-for-all is all well and good until it causes you more down time than up time.
iTunes works with iPods better than any PC software works with any other MP3 player because the same company is making both of them. .
There is no finger pointing (you call MS then MS says call the software company) in the mac universe.
Most of us Apple users do not want to be IT specialists.
We just want to turn the thing on and watch it go.
As for DRM, well it's fairly easy to work around it.