Apple has announced that it has sold two-million iPads in less than 60 days. Considering that the device is only (officially) available in certain countries, the number is extremely impressive. I expected the iPad to be tremendously successful, but this situation is different from the success of the iPod and iPhone. There were popular MP3 players before the iPod and popular smartphones before the iPhone. In both of those categories, Apple took things to another level be offering a refined and consumer-friendly experience. In the case of the iPad, Apple was the first company to bring tablet computing to the masses.
The iPad is just a fantastic device for media consumption. I know that a few of you had doubts about the iPad before its release. After seeing those sales figures, how do ya like ‘dem Apples?
I really am vexed on this…I can't decide if I should get one at the end of summer or wait until next edition? i think I will just get the wifi version.
@smartguy I'm pretty sure I can wait until the second gen. As much as I think it's a great device, it has enough limits that ultimately make it more luxurious than pragmatic.
Has anyone declared they will enter the market and challenge Apple yet? You know there have to be a few people out there looking at Apple's profits and getting jealous right now.
@Sandrock Several companies have had tablets in the works since last year. A lot of the competing tablets are based on Android, while some of them are based on MeeGo. Sony is making an Android tablet that could be interesting.
@Ray
Yeah the limitations do make it more luxury. Honestly one of my biggest hangups is that the device won't do playback in 16:9. i'm kinda over the app store bottleneck really. I have a laptop, so the iPad would merely be for economical browsing and battery life.
@Sandrock A bunch of Windows 7 tablets are being shown at Computex this week.
To quote Matt Damon: "Applesauce, bitch."
@ Smartguy;
Just wait for the next iteration. I'm sure it'll be better. Besides, I like to wait around a generation or two to see what the modding community can do with a cracked iPad.
-M
@iceman
are you playing the Marlins now?? lol.
Yeah, I think I will do my best to hold off. I hope they refresh it in January though. I don't want to wait til March or April. I'm such a tech buying whore though.
I just can't stand that this product is doing so well. I guess I just don't understand its usefulness. I tried it out and don't really like it. Nothing about it stands out as good or really bad, but I just have no use for it.
@slicky
engineering and battery life. No moving parts is a huge plus in the worlds of reliability and portability.
@SlickyFats
I agree, I have not really liked anything about it when I have used one and there is nothing really great about them in my opinion. The only use that I can think of using an iPad for is just to show off to people that I got one.
@SlickyFats, @bsukenyan It's extremely portable and convenient. The same way that I web browser or play a game on the iPhone/Android phone on the couch, in bed, in a coffeehouse, etc. I would with an iPad, except I'd have way more screen real estate. Think of it in terms of convenient media consumption.
@ Bsukenyan;
Agreed. I've already had two friends show me their iPad and it was primarily to show off. Don't get me wrong; it's pretty slick and eventually I'd like to have one, but I would like them to include a few features that would make it even better in future iterations (like a camera and a USB port). Right now, it really does seem like a big iPhone without the phone part. I have a MacBook and an iPhone and not enough disposable income, so I can wait.
@ Smartguy;
Yes, I'm playing the Marlins now. At the rate they are doing, I could probably beat the entire team by myself. (*groan*- I can't believe we are tied with the Mets and the Nationals). But no, since I am trying to knock off a few of the multiplayer achievements in Halo 3 and Modern Warfare 2, I didn't want to be switching icons back and forth so frequently, so instead, I am sporting the logo of my beloved Marlins in hopes that I can bring them good luck in kicking ass after the All-Star break (a.k.a.- When baseball games REALLY matter) and hopefully getting into the playoffs. I'll keep sporting the Fish until I decide what new game to play next. I think I've ruled out Braid since I don't have enough space on my HDD to download the whole game. Damn you, Microsoft!
-M
@Ray
I don't doubt the convenience, but my laptop was only $350 and has a little over a 2 hour battery life. The weight does not bother me at all, and I feel that it is very portable and convenient. The sleep mode disengages very quickly and I have a decent start-up time. I also understand the desire to play a small game quickly or in a coffeehouse per your example. I feel that if I want something small, quick and easy then I have my ipod touch, if I feel like having my book bag with me then I can pull out my laptop and do some casual browsing or game playing. The iPad can be very convenient I am sure, some people think it is more so than anything else on the market. I don't need it to show off (not insinuating that everyone who has one does that) and I don't need the mild convenience that people say it offers.
@Iceman
I also agree with that. I don't need a big iphone. Not that I am a mac user, I would think that an iPad would appeal to me much more if it was more Mac OS than iPhone OS.
@Iceman
Braid only took me a few hours to beat (except for the speed run achievement. beat the game in 45 minutes- VERY hard) but it was worth the money I spent on it. Not too difficult overall. If you can find room on your hdd I would recommend it.
I can care less about a lack of camera on this thing. I have never done a vid chat and probably never will.
@bsu
the ipad boasts 5x more battery life than your laptop, that's very nice. My MacBook gets 4-5 hours tops which isn't enough for a whole school day unless I am lucky enough to grab a seat by an outlet. Convenient browsing and game playing shouldn't be combined. I think the device is good for browsing, research, checking mail. I don't see myself gaming on the ipad.
@bsukenyan Like smartguy said, two hours vs. ten hours of battery life is nothing to scoff at.
@smartguy The lack of a camera is a pretty big deal for me. I'd love to use it as a portable blogging station, but I can snap photos or edit images on an iPad easily.
@Ray @Smartguy
Yes 10 hours is far superior to the 2 hours my laptop can boast.
However, I have barely ever found myself needing my laptop for more than that amount of time. And when I have it has only been for things that I could never do on an iPad. If I want to do something that I could do on the iPad for more than 2 hours than I can usually do that on my iPod touch just fine. I have not once felt I ever needed anything close to an iPad, which would make it an extreme luxury for me. In addition, most people that I see who are buying an iPad or talking about getting one here at school could do the exact same things easier on a laptop and get that for a cheaper price tag.
@bsukenyan Nobody "needs" an iPad. It's the same way you don't need your iPod Touch. Like I said before, it's best as a data consumption device. The things you say you can do on your laptop but can't do on an iPad probably have more to do with creation than consumption. The iPad is too limited as a creation device, which is why I don't have one (that and money). As far as consumption goes, it would be more enjoyable to watch movies, watch videos, do stupid social networking things, and browse the web on an iPad simply because of the screen size and instant on.
@Ray
Yes the things I am talking about more are creation based as opposed to consumption based. But I still make the argument that even consumption based activities work just fine on my laptop, if not better and more comfortable than I think the iPad is. I prefer doing consumption based activities on my laptop and using a keyboard, having a bigger screen size, etc. My laptop is cheaper and easy to use, it can be used for consumption and creation based activities…the iPad has a superior battery life, but still only is used for consumption activities, at its cheapest is $150 more expensive than my laptop. I just don't see why anyone would need an ipad over a laptop…the laptop seems to offer more capabilities for a cheaper price, and to me they offer similar convenience of use.
@bsukenyan Sure they work "fine" on a laptop, but explain to me how they work better and more comfortable than an iPad. For content consumption, you can comfortably use an iPad in more places and situations than a laptop.
I also don't understand why you're arguing laptop vs. iPad in the first place. They're different devices that serve different purposes.
@Ray
Yes the iPad might be the best tech consumption device, but why limit ourselves to consumption based only? When we are all asking for multi-tasking on the ipod touch and iphone, why not have multi-tasking between consumption and creation based applications? I just don't see how that is done on the iPad, but I do see that done on a laptop.
I want an iPad simply to use at school rather than my laptop. The battery life, the reduction in weight (13 inch unibody doesn't weight that much, but still!). I'm not sure if I can store excel and ppt files on the device though. Perhaps if I have the iWork apps I can. I just need to view really and perhaps tinker. It would be fine for this.
@BSU
I think mobile me is going to be free to ppl who have an apple account…..you will be able to use whatever is stored on your mobile account. The buzz makes it sound like Apple is fixing to jump head first into the cloud era.
@Ray
It's more than just laptop V iPad. I am more for the combo of laptop and ipod touch V iPad. I find the laptop more comfortable to use for typing or web browsing over the times that I have used an iPad to do some of the same things. It seems more awkward to me. I like how a laptop bends, folds, whatever you want to say. The screen can be adjusted for my comfort and the keyboard can be wherever I want it. The iPad has to be held in a specific way in order to be used and seen completely. Also, any place that I can use an iPad comfortably and not a laptop…whatever it is I need/want to do can wait until my laptop is available. Otherwise my ipod touch or phone (I only bring this in to play because I do not have an iphone) can do the job at that point if it is that important that it cannot wait.
@Smartguy
I really do not know anything about MobileMe, but free is always good.
@bsukenyan I'm not sure you're getting the point if you're bringing up devices that "can do the job at that point if it is that important that it cannot wait". It's a media consumption device. Does anyone have an urgent need for entertainment?
Comparing it to the iPod and iPhone is also unwise. The iPad is a first generation device that will surely get better with iteration.
You seem awfully angry about a device that's supposed to entertain you. Take a valium!
@Ray
I don't have any valium, just vicodin. It's not so much anger but frustration at what I feel to be a pretty useless device getting so much attention and hype and sales when I don't feel like it is great enough to be worthy of it all.
I am not necessarily trying to compare the iPad to iphone/ipod touch or a laptop separately, but together. I know that the need to combine devices like this is a luxury and where the market tends to go towards, and as time progresses it will seem like more of a necessity to have all of those devices in one. I just do not feel like I need/want this device at all right now. I feel like a laptop/ipod touch combo better suits the needs of a consumer instead of an iPad.
I am also positive that the next gens will get much better. If it goes away from an iphone OS towards more of a Mac OS then it will be extremely better next gen.
@bsu
What about the consumer who only looks at mail, reads articles, looks at naked ppl, and does some youtube? This device is perfect for them. No moving parts, so the reliability is there. Not too mention Apple will support the device with updates.
I see where you are coming from and I shared those sentiments when I first saw this thing…but I can see myself using it now.
@Smartguy
Then I would still say that a laptop could take care of those needs and having the option to use more applications if they so desired in the future.
If someone really wanted to buy an iPad for those purposes only then there is nothing else I could say other than it is there money, I just think that it would be a waste.
I do kind of see where you are coming from, but I could only see myself using a tablet if it had more of a stable OS than a souped up iphone OS and could do more that just consumption based activities.
@bsu
with consumption based activities and intro of the cloud….it is more or less like we are working on a server farm. We pull our (insert file type) and use it, edit, whatever and it is saved again on our profile in the cloud. So there is definitely work that can get done.
I think you are very frustrated or fixated with the lack of input options to that editing or usage of file types. There are thousands of apps on the app store so it isn't hard to find one that will suit your needs.
I'm just looking at it from the perspective that as long as you have an internet connection the device is a viable option as opposed to a low end laptop. I think the build quality is def better than something like a cheap compaq or toshiba. The laptop will easily out do the pad in a non internet environment if you have the files you need.
@bsukenyan You're missing an important segment that the iPad appeals to: people that can't use computers. While this is mostly an issue with older people or those that didn't have an opportunity to learn how to use them, this is still a sizable market. These people can do a lot with an iPad that the wouldn't be able to do on a laptop.
Also, the cost for a good laptop and an iPod Touch is more than an iPad. Netbooks aren't worth mentioning because of the veal processors. The A4 is better than the CPU in many netbooks.
@Smartguy
Valid points, but I don't think that the apps that are approved by Apple only are viable options to use instead of something like microsoft office and all that it entails (using those programs as the easiest and best examples for this situation). Those are common programs that I can easily use on a laptop anywhere, but not on an iPad. The same goes for image editors also.
@Ray
Yes that duo is a little more expensive than a single ipad. Going with the prices for the products that I have $350 for the laptop and $270 for the 32gb ipod touch. Total=$620. $120 more than the cheapest iPad. I feel that it is worth it to spend that extra $120 to have products that I like.
I do understand what you mean about the iPad appealing to people who are not computer savvy. However I will point to something that I have mentioned before, I do not like people glorifying the fact that they are not computer literate in this day and age. I do not remember when I actually posted that little rant but it might have been on a coffee talk. I know that there are tons of people who are not computer literate, but I don't feel that that is a good excuse for choosing a product that caters to people not understanding how a computer works and operates.
@bsukenyan So what's the alternative for those people? Learn how to use a computer or don't access that information?
@Ray
In a society where computers are everywhere I don't think it is too much to ask that people learn how to work a computer in addition to simple math, writing, reading and public speaking. I think that all of those other skills are pretty basic and commonly accepted as they should be. Learning how to use a computer properly if your desire is to own a computer seems like common sense to me.
“I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out.” -Bill Hicks. lol.
@Ray
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/stop-coddlin…
Found this article recently and thought it seemed to sum up what I was thinking pretty well. Do you have any relatives that are also journalists or use any aliases?? Ramon Padilla seemed like a little too much of a coincidence to me…haha!
@bsukenyan That's very Western of you. Computers can be very intimidating for people that didn't grow up with them. Learning how to use them isn't as simple as you make it seem either, especially countries with poor schools.
@Ray
Yes and my grandfather is very intimidated by doing math because he never went to college and did not do well in math in high school. But he went on to own a chain of local grocery stores in Indianapolis where he was forced to learn things like that.
My aunt is intimidated by writing properly because she never learned how to when she was young and now has terrible writing.
Neither of those things are necessarily simple at their ages (even though they are both considered a standard in childhood education), but with practice my grandfather got better at math because despite it being intimidating he tried and tried and got better at it. On the other hand, my aunt refuses to try to improve her handwriting and is still not very good at it. She is not considered very professional by anyone in my family and is teased mercilessly behind her back.
Western thinking, maybe. And I really do understand that many countries do not have the same opportunities as we have here in America, but specifically in America I would hold by my statements earlier. Change can be a scary thing to many people, but at some point adaptation is a necessity.
It's not bad at all. The device is good for what it is built for….using the internet. (insert flash joke here).
Personally it is a benefit to me and my skill sets if not everyone can use a computer. it gives me a leg up on my competition (which isn't very strong to begin with, I had to teach calculus 2 semesters ago….I think I am part of the last good generation).
We've had indoor plumbing, cars, and electricity running to houses for a very long time. I can use the water in my house, drive my truck, do simple P&M to my truck, and hook things up to an outlet. In no way am I capable of installing plumbing to my house, a major or even perhaps minor repair to my auto, nor running electricity or installing new outlets. I don't think that makes me less capable.
@bsukenyan Again, what’s your final point. Learn how to use a computer or don’t access the information? The iPad lets people that don’t know how to use a computer access so many resources. Why is that bad?
I can understand that this product has its uses for people who are not fully computer literate and do not want to/will not learn how to operate a regular computer. And it is not so much "bad" that they do not learn those things if that is what they choose- I am simply in opposition to people willingly keeping themselves in the dark about mostly simple operations which are done on a computer considering that computers are everywhere in this day and age.