Steve Jobs all but confirms Apple Tablet

Well, about 4 hours away. IT will run a modified iphone OS, be a game changer for ebooks. More to come...

Confirmed - iPad. Looks like a 10" iPhone

Anyone look at that picture and think Job's has shrunk?

Color me underimpressed so far, BUT, my apple stock hopes it does really well.

Silly. I'm at loss for this one. It's an iphone laptop that is the size of a laptop? And it looses the functionability of an actual key board. Perhaps I'm missing something.

Pretty much what I expected in terms of a "miss", though even I thought it would have an embedded 3G chip that could be paired with a data-only plan for people on the go...

 

So far it's a non-multitasking, wifi-only, virtual-keyboard-having, large e-book reader. Or giant iPod Touch, take your pick. Either way a $500-class netbook outclasses it in many ways, surprised that they would put out what essentially is just a minimal entertainment device for the home.

 

Price hasn't been announced yet.

Silly. I'm at loss for this one. It's an iphone laptop that is the size of a laptop? And it looses the functionability of an actual key board. Perhaps I'm missing something.

On fox news they stated it has a 3g chipped and they are in talks with AT&T and Verizon right now for carriers. The nice part about this, is if this opens the relationship with Verizon, then I bet Verizon will finally get the IPhone. And when verizon gets the Iphone, i can only imagine what the earnings for Apple will be....

They just announced a $30/mo. data plan, which seems to imply it does have a 3G chip after all?

 

That would make it more appealing but it's still a tough sell behind a $500-or-less netbook for me thanks to the netbook's physical keyboard, ability to run flash (as well as a full OS of course), storage, and multitude of other benefits a netbook brings.

Pretty much what I expected in terms of a "miss", though even I thought it would have an embedded 3G chip that could be paired with a data-only plan for people on the go...

 

So far it's a non-multitasking, wifi-only, virtual-keyboard-having, large e-book reader. Or giant iPod Touch, take your pick. Either way a $500-class netbook outclasses it in many ways, surprised that they would put out what essentially is just a minimal entertainment device for the home.

 

Price hasn't been announced yet.

The iPad pricing starts at just $499. That's for a 16GB, non-3G model.

 

32GB $599 for and 64GB for $699 - and if you want a 3G model, it will cost an extra $130 - $629, $729, $829.

 

The iPad pricing starts at just $499. That's for a 16GB, non-3G model.

 

32GB $599 for and 64GB for $699 - and if you want a 3G model, it will cost an extra $130 - $629, $729, $829.

 

Thats a lot cheaper than the $1k plus that was speculated on CNBC and given the $30 rate plan, I am beginnig to see where suddenly there is a value propisition from a wireless/wifi/portability viewpoint. My question is can it operate strictly via wifi (i.e. wi-fi in home or office) without needing a plan. I can see people latching on to it just use in the kitchen or around the house vs. moving a lap top about. Sounds better than the initial report I caught, although prob. not for me.

The iPad pricing starts at just $499. That's for a 16GB, non-3G model.

 

32GB $599 for and 64GB for $699 - and if you want a 3G model, it will cost an extra $130 - $629, $729, $829.

 

Ah ok, it makes sense now. Apple wisely figured out that their bullshit mystique isn't worth hundreds of dollars more than equivalent (if not superior) technology that's already in the marketplace. $499 for a giant iPod Touch is ok, but the 3G models all should have been rounded down to just a $99 surchage instead of $129 (i.e. $599 instead of $629). They're probably leaving that buffer for future incentives/sales/whatever.

 

A $629 3G/Wifi-capable iPad with no forced data contract and 16GB of storage is somewhat competitive. It's not a homerun revolution as the iPhone or iPod were, but it will be a bigger revenue-generator than something like AppleTV or another smaller product line for them.

 

As an iPhone owner I don't feel a need to buy one, but can see where the market might exist for this at these price points.

Thats a lot cheaper than the $1k plus that was speculated on CNBC and given the $30 rate plan, I am beginnig to see where suddenly there is a value propisition from a wireless/wifi/portability viewpoint. My question is can it operate strictly via wifi (i.e. wi-fi in home or office) without needing a plan. I can see people latching on to it just use in the kitchen or around the house vs. moving a lap top about. Sounds better than the initial report I caught, although prob. not for me.

Should be able to use home WiFi without data plan. I can see the appeal for traveling, or casual around the home use. Viewing internet or video on the iPhone sucks, and sometimes a laptop is just too bulky to carry around. They'll sell a ton at $500 IMO.

No webcam is a bit of a bummer, would have been nice at those lofty prices to include the ability to video-conference as most laptops at those pricepoints are capable of.

 

The no-flash support is really a bitch, they have to fix that with this thing being so geared towards entertainment (flash games, flash movies, flash everything). Their rediculous dispute with Adobe is so 2008.

 

 

No webcam is a bit of a bummer, would have been nice at those lofty prices to include the ability to video-conference as most laptops at those pricepoints are capable of.

 

The no-flash support is really a bitch, they have to fix that with this thing being so geared towards entertainment (flash games, flash movies, flash everything). Their rediculous dispute with Adobe is so 2008.

Agreed. They need to pull their heads out and resolve that soon.

Well, that's it, the presentation has ended. I'm surprised, I thought there would be a surprise or two at the end (no DVR functions as rumored, or any other game-changing feature).

 

Good for what it is, but it's a bit of a niche market with the device's limitations. You'll still need a laptop if you're a student, you'll still need a full OS somewhere (OSX/Windows 7/Linux) for productivity or work reasons. It's not pocketable so you'll still need your iPod for mobile entertainment on the go, and you'll need that accessory keyboard of theirs for any extended typing that isn't totally uncomfortable (it has to be laid flat on a surface to type with any kind of accuracy or speed).

 

One thing they left out: Does it have GPS? It likely doesn't, which would be another strike. If owners could plop it down in the passenger seat of their car and use it in that capacity it would add some value.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_brief...e_jobs_stays_up

Can't believe they made the same mistake and went AT&T only on this thing...

 

but pricing is posted and it starts at $499 -- pretty amazing

 

http://www.ipadforums.net/showthread.php?t=90

but pricing is posted and it starts at $499 -- pretty amazing

 

http://www.ipadforums.net/showthread.php?t=90

 

Not for what it is. $499 spent on an open platform netbook with a full OS can go a long way...

 

I'd say it's a niche product that at most could be called competitive, but not superior, to dozens of other potential hardware options on the market. I do like the $29.99 data plan though, that is slightly superior to available options from major carriers via a plug-in wireless card or embedded 3G chip within a laptop/netbook.

:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

 

 

Would be killer for streaming porn though.

Would be killer for streaming porn though.

 

Unfortunately that's one of its weakest points versus a true netbook/laptop. Since Apple is in a pissing match with Adobe regarding flash, the major adult tube sites will not work on this device. YouTube only works on the iPhone through an Apple-provided app, unfortunately it's not likely there will be Apple apps for "xtube.com" or the other majorly popular free porn providers.

 

If I add up the price of the iPad package I would need, it comes out as follows:

 

$829 - iPad 64GB 3G (need 64GB because if this is a true entertainment device I'll need storage for all those downloaded DVD-rips/iTunes content/Music/etc. There is no other allowed expandable storage).

$75 - Keyboard/Dock (price isn't announced yet, I'm assuming it will around this price point).

$50 - "Camera Kit" (a connector that allows an SD card or other supported USB device to be connected to the iPad)

$25 - Kickstand Case (protector that can be turned into a makeshift handsfree stand)

 

$979 - TOTAL

 

So we're over $1000 with tax for a 64GB device. At that price point I have hundreds of competing netbooks/laptops to choose from, most of which offer far more robust operating systems with the ability to use MS Office (not possible on iPad), multitask streaming internet radio while I work in Word (not possible on iPad), enjoy streaming porn as the Doctor mentioned from the major free tube sites (not possible on iPad) and Skype with my family using VOIP (not possible on the iPad).

 

This is a niche device that has some merits in very specific areas. It definitely is nowhere near as mainstream as the iPhone, iPod Touch, or Mac line. And that's what shareholders were hoping for I think, a device that could take a tablet and make it as desireable (and justifiable as a purchase) as a more complete netbook/laptop.

 

Even Apple can't work miracles on the tablet front, I guess the tech is just too damn pricey to get everything we want out that form-factor just yet.

$499 is impressive considering it's a new apple product, but I still don't see it being anything other than a niche product. I and most others will still need a laptop. And for $600 you can get a pretty good laptop.

Unfortunately that's one of its weakest points versus a true netbook/laptop. Since Apple is in a pissing match with Adobe regarding flash, the major adult tube sites will not work on this device. YouTube only works on the iPhone through an Apple-provided app, unfortunately it's not likely there will be Apple apps for "xtube.com" or the other majorly popular free porn providers.

 

Wait...it can't stream porn? (order canceled)

 

 

I'm not going to lie, it is the coolest e-book reader on the planet! It COULD have been a good product. I see it as a 10" portable LCD with wifi. You had mentioned all of its weakpoints; I thought ichat would have been COOL, gps a plus, etc. Big fat flop for apple. I felt disappointed. I knew it was a flop when I woke up this morning, and there was still poverty, no sunshine and rainbows, and no million dollar bank account. DAMMIT Apple, I thought you were going to change the world with this one.

It definitely will be a hell of an e-book reader, the hands-on reports are saying that the way it displays pages have a shadow depth and real texture than no other e-reader comes close to. So that's good.

 

But then I remember it's a closed device that I will actually have to pay $12.99 per book to download in order to use it versus the open format of a generic laptop and the sadness sets in again...

 

Gizmodo's unintentially funny screen-caps from the presentation are killing me, lol:

 

Some more hands-on comments, this time from Engadget:

 

•It's not light. It feels pretty weighty in your hand.

 

•The screen is stunning, and it's 1024 x 768. Feels just like a huge iPhone in your hands.

 

•The speed of the CPU is something to be marveled at. It is blazingly fast from what we can tell. Webpages loaded up super fast, and scrolling was without a hiccup. Moving into and out of apps was a breeze. Everything flew.

 

•There's no multitasking at all. It's a real disappointment. All this power and very little you can do with it at once. No multitasking means no streaming Pandora when you're working in Pages... you can figure it out. It's a real setback for this device.

 

•The ebook implementation is about as close as you can get to reading without a stack of bound paper in your hand. The visual stuff really helps flesh out the experience. It may be just for show, but it counts here.

 

•No camera. None, nada. Zip. No video conferencing here folks. Hell, it doesn't have an SMS app!

 

•It's running iPhone OS 3.2.

 

•The keyboard is good, not great. Not quite as responsive as it looked in the demos.