iPad has Launched

[go4reward]

Will anyone of you get one when it comes out?

[go4reward]

It is only $499 for the wi-fi model, wow!

[BAEVentures]

Figured I might pick one up just for movies, books, and web browsing while sitting in front of the TV. I am disappointed that it is not a full fledged Mac OS. All I really see it as at the moment is a glorified iPhone, which I already have. It is really no different except that the screen is 9" instead of 3.5". Also, it is worthwhile to note that Amazon's prices of kindle books are about 30% cheaper than the iBookStore Apple is now displaying. A good alternative though would be to DL the Amazon Kindle App that exists for the iPhone and I'm sure will be updated for the iPad.

BAEVentures

[go4reward]

Yes, it is a bigger iPhone/iTouch without the phone, but with data on 3G. I wish it has the ability to expand more storage, ie USB port (if needed). Price looks decent as compared to other laptops. iPad is the device sits in between iPhone and notebook. That explains why it has no MAC OS.

[foofiter]

I won't get one. It is a glorified iPod touch that doesn't fit in my pocket.

The iPod touch and iPhone have limitations on web pages, such as no flash support, that render it useless on some websites. Same is true with iPad.

Don't get me wrong I love Apple and own a Macbook Pro, Mac Mini, iPod Classic, and iPhone. I just don't think this will be very useful to a lot of high end users. It's a neat toy but has limits to it's usefulness.

- Foo

[go4reward]

It is the Apple's answer to netbook at the price less than $500. If you have the money, notebook is the way to go.

[BAEVentures]

Apple is really marketing the iPad toward the magazine, newspaper, and book market. I think they have some bright ideas, but at $499 price tag for base model, I just don't see it taking off the way they want it to.

The main difference between the iPad and most netbooks, is that the iPad does not have a fully functioning MacOSx like my MacAir... It is the same OS as used on my iPhone which makes it pale in comparison the full blown OS on most netbooks (inability to multi-task, etc).

If you are an avid reader, I could see it as being a nice alternative to buying books, newspapers, and magazines, and for someone like my father who spends 4-6 hours a day reading and doing investment research, could wind up being a very handy tool. For us average folk though, I don't see it as being of much use at all. I still might pick one up just to mess with it, but doubt I will keep it more than a month.

BAEVentures

[go4reward]

Yes, it is multi-funtional Kindle and iTouch. It has better processing power than netbook, but it has limited capability. If you need just internet access and media player, it is not that bad. Unfortunately it does not support the full standard of flash, it means some contents on certain websites cannot be seen fully.

The iPad carries a very fat margin of close to 50% for Apple.

[BAEVentures]

Aye it is their first product manufactured completely in house aside from the 3G chip if you go for the AT&T compatible version. Very high margin. They actually purchased PA Semi in April 2008 for 278 million and founded the first Apple branded CPU which is making its debut in the iPad. Pretty much the same CPU as in the iPhone, however, re-designed since the buyout of PA Semi so that it actually is branded as an Apple CPU.

BAEVentures

[go4reward]

Maybe they will name their MAC to be iMac. Just to be consistent with the brand.

[BAEVentures]

They have an iMac.

http://www.apple.com/imac/

BAEVentures

[go4reward]

Is iMac another name for its desktop? No brand name with the "i" for Apple laptop yet?

[BAEVentures]

Yeah the iMac is the desktop. MacBook is the trademark name for their laptops, ie MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air.

BAEVentures

[foofiter]

Years ago they had the iBook which became the MacBook more recently.

- Foo

[go4reward]

Maybe they should keep the iBook name to be consistent with the "i" brand.