News - Apple iPad: the reviews are in

[crossy]

I think that focussing on the technology is the wrong thing to do as there really isn't that much to it as you say. The interface is what sets the iPad apart from the competition in all forms. Love it or hate it, it works very well.

That's a very accurate summation of the situation - however, I personally would want to wait until I get a "hands on" before I move from "meh!" to agreeing that this is the best UI improvement since the GUI was invented (as one US commentator has said)

I can't help thinking that irrespective of how good that UI really is, a device that's (rumoured to be) costing more than 500 UK beer vouchers isn't going to sell to more than the fecklessly fashionable. I find this strange because I would have thought Apple more savvy than to shackle the latest "greatest thing ever" with such a prohibitive price tag. Of course, if it's a lot less than 500 - say 300 - then I'll duly doff my metaphorical hat to another Cupertino-gestated tour de force...

... and probably get right in that queue to buy one.

[crossy]

I just can't see much use in something like this really. It's a smartphone with a bigger screen! But it's not a phone. It's a netbook with no keyboard? A laptop with no lid? Things like these are nice in theory, and maybe they do have a place, but not at the price point Apple wants for them.

Hear-hear!

It's another Apple fashion accessory, what next, the Apple iHat?

They've already done that - see http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04...dmount_patent/ (and yes I know it's probably an April Fool.)

Now, an Android based tablet for no more than £100? I'd consider that. Maybe. But I can't really see these things doing much more than my Hero really. I'm all for the all-in-one solution, so I'll stick with smartphones.

I can't help thinking that there's a missed opportunity to do something really jaw dropping. My hope was that they were going to do something like an "iPod Touch v4" that you could "dock" into a larger screen - say iPad sized. So when you wanted to have that eBook reader-like large screen then you just dock in. Do your reading, and then when you want to read that stuff on the train/bus etc then just undock and slip that little device in your pocket. A key part of this - of course - would be that the mini device would have to have the ability to automatically recognize the larger screen/resolution. And the docked device would be securely held in place. Heck, you could also combine the screen with an auxiliary battery (larger screen = more power draw) so the iPad "dock" could be used to extend the life of the core device. I use my current (1st Gen) Touch for eBook reading now, and I've had very little desire to have a larger screen - nice to have sure, but not something I'd want to pay a lot of money for.

Maybe there's a slot here for someone to - as you say - to do this kind of thinking with an open platform, Android, MeeGo, etc. In which case, put me down for one!

As I've said elsewhere - maybe this is the true value of the iPad - not as a product in itself, but as a way of getting people to discuss the ways forward for portable devices.

[0iD]

What I really want to see is a good-old HEXUS group test here with some of the competition go gauge objectively the positives and negatives of each platform.

However, I would dearly love to get my hands on an iPad or equivalent, because I'm a die-hard gadget fan.

I believe however, that it may well be a short lived format, quickly evolving into something more than it is now. As so often the case is with genre breaking tech such as this.

[TheAnimus]

The problem is for an iPad to be useful, it has to be large, but that makes its portability less.

You either need some kind of dual screen fold out thing going on, or you need one of them thar flexible screens we keep hearing about in prototype form.

Or you could say that a Sony Vaio P series is perfection already, so why try harder?

[Animus404]

It could be a handy around the house device, the sort of thing you replace all the magazines on your coffee table with. Personally, being more technically minded and hate the idea of not having a physical keybaord, I'd be more likely to buy something like this http://bit.ly/9MPsgk

[Sheridann]

Hello guys ...
All posts are really informative..

[kopite]

Android ipad style thing http://phandroid.com/2010/03/22/wepa...n-spec-battle/

[cjs150]

My take:

1. It is ugly - it reminds me of a cheap digital photo fram.

2. No multi-tasking is an absolute farce. So can I listen to music whilst typing an email or not. Or check my calendar whislt viewing an excel spreadsheet.

3. Everyone else has commented on lack of flash. Lets just say I have quicktime on my home pc and I cannot remember the last time I used it. Flash maybe a memory and cpu hog (and doomed to be replaced in the next 3-5 years) but until then I need it.

4. Why no USB port(s), simple to build in, would add a great deal to connectivity (cameras for example). Could it be because that would allow someone to connect a cheap USB keyboard rather than an overpriced apple version?

I really want something like the iPad, it is a perfect alternative to a laptop and/or ebook reader both for my daily commute (read the newspaper on it, do the crossword, maybe even some work) and for holidays (books, more books, newspaper). But lack of memory, no way of using an ebook reader etc makes this a very poor first version. Maybe best to wait until version 2 or 3 (bit like the iPhone then)

Yes I maybe a techie butI want to use this in a non techie way and currently it does not look like it is good enough

[borandi]

My take:

4. Why no USB port(s), simple to build in, would add a great deal to connectivity (cameras for example). Could it be because that would allow someone to connect a cheap USB keyboard rather than an overpriced apple version?

Makes it easier to add custom firmware. You know how apple are with using non-proprietary software /roll-eyes

[trumpington101]

This has lots of disadvantages and very few advantages over smart phones and netbooks. It can't replace either, and both are better suited to perfom most functions than the ipad is.

It is purely a fashion gadget, and I'm sure lots of people will buy one for this reason. I will stick to reading books on my hero and couch surfing on my netbook for now though.

[HSK]

This thing actually coming/is out? :-| I thought it was a joke/mad concept...