Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Doesn't it make more sense if the iPad were a type of docking station for your existing iPhone / iPod Touch? Rather than reinstalling and duplicating apps you already have on your iPhone. Given that its functionality doesn't go that much more beyond the iPhone.

So when you get home, you just dock into the iPad for large screen iPhone usage.. this I would consider buying, and should make it a lot cheaper too.

My dad and brother actually came up with this idea before the launch.. doh!

That's a pretty cool idea.

I am an avid apple user, the iPad seems underpowered and not really a laptop replacement but a larger iTouch or iPhone. You cannot run full applications like Lightroom, PS or many other applications I like to have on a portable device. I would pay the extra and get a 13" MB or the 15"MBP which is what I use for the road. I was wanting to like it, I really was but for the cost with the 3g and 64gb SSD not what I was expecting. For all the details see here, http://www.apple.com/ipad/ I own both a MBP 17" and 15" MBP, and an iPhone, so I like Apple but this I think they really underpowered it and 64GB SSD seems way to small for any real use, more of a web browser with some apps but not programs and it doesn't run flash, how many people here have flash on their websites, you cannot even show clients your website from it or many cannot. If people can find a use for it wonderful but I just have a USB 3g stick for my 15" MBP and it is an actual computer unlike this iPad. If I am shooting an album cover (CD cover for you younger folks) and I want to do a quick mock up it is of no use to me and I can think of a many other uses that I need that it can not perform. I am sure it will finds its market but as photographers I really see it as nothing more than a toy. I thought it was going to be a full fledged computer, not an oversized iTouch. This is just based on my needs, others may find it very useful and when anyone gets one and uses if for a while I would be interested to see how they find it. I could get into HTML5 which Apple is pushing along with many others that may do away with Flash but they are not even close yet. Flash will be a dominant player for websites for the foreseeable future.

PS: No multitasking, so each time you want to do anything you need to close one app to use another, what was apple thinking?

What Apple was thinking was simple. Bigger iPod touch for eBook reading and Media Playback with enhanced computing capabilities (IE iWork)

What the hype was built into was a Tablet, which Apple isn't dumb enough to do given that a Tablet just isn't a mass-market item.

Don't think of the iPad as a notebook or desktop replacement etc. It's a media/internet/information appliance.

I think the term "personal media appliance/assistant" would be more appropriate.

It will change the way we use, think and distribute electronic media. It's not doing anything new, but it's combining many technologies in a way that works, or works better than they do now.

I have the Newton, original Palm Pilot, pocket PC and various later models, mp3/video players, GPS that can do everything.... etc, and some do some things a lot better than my iPhone, but it's the way it combines, and uses all these technologies that's not just cobbled together.

Will I buy the 1st version of the iPad? Not likely, but I'll very likely be using the 2nd or 3rd generation of it when the prices come down more, and the applications get even better.

I can see myself surfing on the iPad instead of my dad's ACER netbook while I'm slouching on the couch or laying on the bed. I hated the keyboard on the netbook and almost never uses it while surfing online (who doesn't bookmark their sites these days?). Plus, the ability to poke the screen anywhere beats the idea of running my finger around the trackpad anytime. Plus, the keyboard makes the netbook in a stupid "L" shape that I can't even hold it with one hand in any orientation.

Sure, the iPad's a "bigger iPhone/iPod Touch", but it's not even remotely enjoyable to surf on the dinky 3.5" screen. I found myself pinchzooming most of the time while browsing on my 3G iPhone.

Rather than me summarizing everything, read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_PC

Tablet PC's of varying shapes, sizes and capabilities have been widely available to the mass consumer market for years. This does not include more purpose-built devices like the Archos tablets. Aside from the marketing hype, I don't see that much about the iPad that is different from existing, available products. There are some advantages, but also quite a number of drawbacks. So if all of a sudden people have this "need" for a tablet, where did that come from? Was there some coincidence that all these people woke up on January 27 and decided "Y'know what's missing in my life? A tablet!" If there was truly a desire for a tablet, why didn't they buy one before? They've been available for years.

Therefore, I contend (as I said in my epic Facebook status ) that there is no real technological breakthrough with the iPad. Again, the biggest push comes from all the hype surrounding it, that Apple has passively encouraged (if not actively cultivated) over the years. Then when it is finally reveals, no matter how mediocre the device, Steve Jobs can spin it as the must-have device of the year.

I hear people make ridiculous comments like "Yeah, but none of the other tablets have app stores!" or "Yeah, but where's the content delivery system for those other tablets?". Uh, people, have you just gone stupid? The very concept of a monopolized "app store" is an Apple invention, and they have convinced you that you need one. Do you remember how we used to get software on our computers? You could, in many cases, download them from any web site! There was no opaque approval process, no single company acting as a gatekeeper to what you can and cannot run on your computer. And as for "content delivery"... I wonder what it is my web browser's been doing for the past 20 years or so? Oh right... delivering content.

If you remove all the hype surrounding the product and consider the iPad (and associated services) on technical and functional merits alone, it is not nearly as amazing as people's reactions might indicate. It's very easy to jump on the happy bandwagon and go along for the ride. I have friends who are giddy with excitement, wondering when they can get their hands on one. They're not sure exactly why they need one, they just lust after one. And once they have it, they will find all sorts of ways of justifying their purchase so they will stay happy. Because nobody wants to be sad.


Hindsight is 20/20... I thought the Newton was a revolutionary device at the time. The problem I have with overhyped marketing machines like Apple is not so much the products themselves, but with the disingenuity in that marketing. Didn't Apple (via mouthpiece Jobs) promise a desktop-like web browsing experience with the first iPhone? And did they not promise it again with the iPad? No Flash? No Java? How many years have passed? And yet the fanbois will say "Well, *I* don't miss Flash at all on my iPhone!" and "Well, lack of Flash doesn't seem to have hurt iPhone sales, so it must not be important!"

Do you remember Steve Jobs claiming that "people don't read anymore", and that is why e-readers like the Kindle will never catch on? Now Apple is touting the iPad as a better e-reader than the Kindle, and that functionality was a major portion of the demo earlier this week. Did the general computing public, in the past two years, suddenly become bookworms?

The answer, of course, is "no". The only thing that has changed is Apple's stance. Sure, every company will make announcements and give soundbites that support their line of business. The problem here is that Apple's cult-like following will actually believe what comes out of Steve Jobs' mouth, without really questioning it. They follow their leader on blind faith. To me, that is both dangerous and disheartening. This is just one of many examples where Apple disparages some technology or feature their products don't have, then months or years later when they do add it, they conveniently forget history and now position that very same technology or feature as a must-have addition to one's lifestyle.

Apple's marketing effectiveness is legendary. I just wish more people would take the time to critically assess what they are saying, and think for themselves instead of being spoonfed the hype.

I would agree.
The same could be said for all the detractors of this product before they read the specs, hold one, use one, and realize that the thing is not meant to be a "tablet pc" (or a PC period)

Cheers,
Dave

Brian:

iPad != TabletPC. It's a purpose-built device more like the Archos, or more appropriately a Kindle crossed with a iPod Touch. You (and many others) keep trying to stuff the iPad into the wrong paradigm because of more than a decade of 'Tablet PCs are going to redefine computing Real Soon Now' hype that we've been spoonfed in the computer industry. The iPad is a peripheral, not a system and Apple is being very clear about that.

Apple isn't reinventing the Tablet PC, it's reinventing the eBook Reader and doing it more right than Amazon or Sony did by making it a capable media player as well as an eBook reader and adding some extra utility computing features as well.

This page describes the limitations of the iPad visually:
http://www.nu.nl/sevensheaven/999801/popup.html

There's a big difference in price between Sony's ereader and the iPad, but obviously the iPad is feature-rich. Time will tell who really wins, but with one publishing company dropping Amazon and going to Apple (most likely), I don't think Apple will have any issue selling this.

Frankly, I rather read a paper sitting back in a chair, coffee in hand and leafing through actual paper.

My problem with the iPad is value vs functionality. I own an HP Mini 311 with nVidia Ion graphics chipset, 250 gb hard drive and 2 gb of ram. This laptop/netbook cost me 479.99 and can run any program I wish including CS3 and AutoCAD 2009 LT. If HP or any other manufacturer eliminated the keyboard and added a touch screen the cost of manufacture would only increase by $20-50 and I would have the same device without the limitations of a purpose built OS. I understand all the Apple fans defending the iPad by saying it's not supposed to be a computer, just a media device. But if that is case then it should be about half the price. And before anybody thinks I'm just an apple hater, HP has made the same blunder with their forthcoming 'tablet'. The iPad is either a media device priced like a tablet, or a tablet with 90% of it's flexibility/usability stripped away at the factory. I agree that all these 'tablets' will mostly be used to consume media and browse the web, but wait until all the big boys release their devices. HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, Asus and many more are all planning on releasing real tablets this year and most (if not all) will be fully functioning COMPUTERS for less money, rendering the iPad an overpriced, oversized, apple status symbol.

Plus you don't have to stress if you spill the coffee on the paper - just go buy a new one @ $2 tops

Cheers,
Dave

Not if they were to add a multi touch IPS display.

The Book of Jobs

LOL. I saw that on a cover of a magazine today.

Only one thought comes through my mind....

No Bloody Flash!

..ugg...yes, some don't like Flash, yes, Apple definitely do not like Flash but until a real alternative (that is embraced by the industry) comes around, I would rather have Apple give in a little and let it live in the iPad if they really want a device that can surf the web properly. If not, unless you only have specific sites you go to, it's not a full internet browsing device. Just too many sites won't work.

great great phenominal awesome great beautiful......

http://hardocp.com/news/2010/02/01/ipad ... 0_seconds/

That was great, beautiful...phenomenal!

some one is not happy with the ipad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_EcybyLJS8

I like this picture.

how many times can you milk the same clip?

sooo funny!

So ..... looks like May 28th is going to be the big day of the IPAD release in Canada.

I am still having a hard time trying to figure out if the ipad is anything I'd ever consider getting... I guess I'll have to check one out in the apple store sometime next month after the hoopla of the release.

Played with one the other day, i would say it's the ultimate surfing device at home vs using a laptop instead. Weight isn't too heavy. Colours on the screen is gorgeous along with the viewing angle, and response to finger gestures is spot on. Viewing photos (zooming in, moving to the next photo and such), snappy.

Would I buy one? Maybe a used one, price is pretty high for a surfing toy which is what I would use it for.

We got in just over a dozen units and a couple 3G ones as well about 3wks ago. They're pretty cool that's for sure but what irks me that some websites don't work. The weight gets to you after a while if you're holding it in your hands for some time (had to configure them for our work network). They're very responsive! I was expecting iphone type speeds so that was impressive. The screen is really nice as Tanner pointed out. Not too many native iPad apps and videos out for it but it is slowly building. Gives a whole new level to those driving sim games on the ipad since you can hold the unit like a steering wheel.

I wouldn't run out and get one right away but maybe second generation for sure.

My boss picked up the 3G version and did the SIM card (from his iPhone) mod and now works on his 3G ipad.

that's probably because Apple doesn't do Flash.

I'm not sure why people are comparing the iPad with a Tablet PC, because its not meant to replace the Tablet PC or netbook. Its simply a content consumption device or simply a bigger iPod Touch. There is certainly a market for such device, but its not for everyone.

I still have the 1st Gen iPod Touch and use it daily to do light surfing, check emails, and play netcasts all over the house. Which probably covers 95% of what I do on the web. However, having to pinch and expand the content is a little frustrating, which is where the iPad comes in. If I need to do anything else, I pickup the laptop.

I think the key feature of the iPad is simplicity of the OS and long battery life. Its so easy to use, just about anyone can pick it up and start using it. There isn't a tablet pc out today that can match its simplicity and precise touchscreen.

My only gripe would be what others have mentioned: multitasking, lack of profiles, no flash, lack of VPN support, and no USB port to plug in my wireless stick. Which is why I'm holding off to see what HP does with the Slate. There are rumors its been delayed to run on HP/Palms webOS.

Time will tell how the iPad will do, but in just a few weeks after launch, it has claimed .03% of all internet traffic! With these numbers, it will drive developers to HTML5 and who knows what will happen to flash.

The iPad is not meant to be a multi user environment if I read the above right regarding to "profiles". As for VPN, there is VPN support. The iPad will support various kinds of VPN such as PPTP and Cisco's IPSec protocol. Of course no support for Nortel VPN but that's a different thing entirely. Multitasking or whatever multitasking method that Apple is planning to use, is coming.

Oh the HP Slate - that product has been canceled. With HP's recent acquisition of Palm for their WebOS, there might be something coming from HP later this year. In the end, if anybody is willing to go up against Apple, it has to be just as good and just as sexy. The Slate is nothing more than a tablet missing a physical keyboard. And the processor it had and using Windows 7, it's not going to be as snappy as the iPad in terms of user experience.

The thing I dislike about Apple recently, especially about how they talk about using open standards but they go and lock down their devices and restrict what one can run on these devices. Yes they may be two different things but it just seems to be yin and yang to me.