The new machine will run $499 to $829, depending on storage size and wireless connectivity and I think, in time, it will prove to be a huge hit. I think if I'd spent big money on a Kindle, which I almost did before Christmas, I'd be very upset.
But will this thing sell? I was shocked at the price point after hearing for weeks that this device would sit somewhere between $799 and $999. Still, until the public gets its hands on the thing -- and us journalists get to do some in-field testing -- we'll just not know what the audience will be.
But given the success of iPod and iPhone, I think this will be a similar hit. The iPad appears to do a lot of things well and will be more than enough computer for most people. I think the $499 model with 16 gigs of storage and no 3G built-in, will be the model most people go after. I'm just not sure how much people are going to take this out of the home daily.
It'll be great for people who travel alot. You'll have your "world" in your briefcase, your hotel, your spa.
From what I can see, this is a better e-reading experience than the Amazon device, and it does so much more. The New York Times app demoed on the unit bodes well for reading magazines and newspapers in their native formats on the screen.
Being able to sit on the couch or the patio and read a true digital magazine or paper will help separate this from even a good laptop computer or netbook.
And the games looked very pretty during the demonstration. I can see kids choosing something like this over a PlayStation 3, because of the portability factor throughout the house. Parents might like that as well, because it's a unit they would use, too.
Pictures and video showed the unit to be beautiful and viewing angles clear, especially from reports from those who've seen it. The unit has a 9.7 screen with a 3/4 inch bezel around it. It's not quite as big as a sheet of notebook paper, but it's a great device to take on an airplane or a trip. Apple says it has up to 10 hours of battery life.
This is the highly portable netbook that is slick, does a lot of things (probably) well, and to be honest, might be able to replace most people's desktop or laptop. You can run Apple's iWork suite of applications on it.
A stand and keyboard accessory will allow you to "dock" your iPad to create a true home workstation. One of big questions, typing on the machine, appears to be simple with a touchscreen keyboard about the same size as you'd encounter on an notebook.
A few nitpicks:
-- It's missing a camera on the front and back for portable video conferencing.
-- No multi-tasking.
-- 3G wireless from only AT&T (again). A lot of people hoped that Verizon would be a part of this thing. The good news is that the $14.99 and $29.99 wireless price points ($14.99 for 250 MB/month and $29.99 unlimited) are pre-pay. I thought AT&T might allow current iPhone users to tether their iPhones to iPad to share the $30 per month they already pay for data.
-- No TV subscriptions. The screen would've been great to match with a subscription service for network programming (which may be coming). This will only show movies downloaded from the iTunes store.
-- You know better versions are coming and the price will drift southward. iPad 2011 will probably add things like the camera that people wanted the first go round.
-- I almost wish a 3G contract was available so AT&T could subsidize the cost of the unit. Given that a $599 iPhone can go for $99 with a contract, the iPad could've been really affordable with a contract, though that contract price would've been higher than the current pricing.
12 comments:
Langston, I wish this thing had an outboard 3G connector via USB so I could run my Verizon card on it'
BUT I'm SOOOOO getting one!
Langston just watched video and read your comments. I think this is a game changer. I'm ordering asap
U are dead on about a contract option. That would've really put this device in a lot of hands. I'd pay a higher monthly, say 60, for an upfront price of $199.
"...sit on...the patio and read a true digital magazine or paper..." It's one thing to be in a darkened conference room, it'll be another outside in direct sunlight. Even if the surface is non-refelctive, there may be glare and readability outside could be tough. Would you take this to the beach instead of a paperback?
People will jump on this simply because it is an Apple i product. If there is a segment that should be worried, I would look at netbooks. This looks to do what netbooks do, but better and with style.
I look forward to watching how this plays out.
Meh. Not interested. Bruce is correct though, Apple will sell millions to the "hip" (i.e. fanboy) crowd.
Langston, are you joking about your assessment?
*No Multi-tasking
*No Flash support
*Closed Apple development environment
*Browser with limited HTML5
*No expandable storage
*No built-in camera
*No video conferencing
*No SMS
*No OLED
*Heavy
*Electronic Ink, like what's used in a Kindle, is much better for reading books than an LCD screen.
*Kids choosing this over a PS3 for gaming...Um, you can't be serious.
The price quoted doesn't inlcude any accesories, some of which should already be built-in (ie camera)
Bruce is correct, the only reason this will sell is because it's an Apple product and because the average consumer is too lazy to do a little research.
This is supposed to be better than a smartphone and a netbook/laptop, but fails in both areas.
Looks like a potential flop to me. There was too much to live up to. But the key flops are:
- No Multitasking!
- AT&T exclusive (for now). HELLO?!?
- Glaring LCD to read a book? No thanks. E-magazine sure. But not a book.
- ipod os.
I'm more impressed by the Lenovo U1.
But Apple will sell enough to make an iPad2.
Nice review Langston, pretty balanced unlike some Apple-maniacs out there posing as journalists shrilling, er, writing about this device, its' hard to know the truth from the mania. Can't wait for your hands-on, but I do agree some here. I think we have more "nitpicks" than you
No replaceable battery either. I'll wait for the Android/Google tablet.
OK, let's see. Succeed? Yes! Like iPod did? No! ant it's easy to determine why: one is for books, the other is for music! I definitely like e-books, but the iPad has so many things that make me not wanting to get it.
Nice article, Thanks
Car Games
I'm a journalism and I cover all about apple and this kind of gadgets, so Apple unveiled the iPad 2, the second generation of the device, at a March 2, 2011, press conference but they didn't add the upset roll.
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