The iPad - Page 2

I could SO see that, with the lower screen being just like a Nintendo DS. Would welcome that, actually.

The things that puzzles me is that so many who are so into this device are into the potential moreso than anything else. Not the devices or apps that shipping, but "what it may one day become", which seems backwards to me. I hardly think Apple needs early adopter patronage to stick with this OS and device long enough for it to get wherever they want to take it. You'd be just as well off waiting for it to get there, then dropping your coin on what is sure to be a much more capable piece of kit.

But that's why so many of us are early adopters, eh? Cool convo.

I've already started dating myself, so I might as well take it there further.

While I want the publishing industry to do whatever it has to to survive, I would really miss and lament the loss of physical magazines. No matter how vivid or how many transition effects they throw on an electronic magazine, it just won't be the same as print for me. I remember Nick and I used to make magazine runs on Fridays or Tuesday (often at Joe Muggs because it was the closest Atlanta had to a real, live bookstand). It was great when you had 2-3 domestic movie magazines, 8 general music or entertainment magazines, and various SFX, guitar, video game pubs in between. Of course, the Internet put a countdown clock to oblivion on every monthly publication, so this couldn't last. But damn if it wasn't fun.

I feel much the same about books, but it's hard for me to find time to consume them in any form these days.

I'm sure if I grew up in the golden age of vinyl, I'd feel the same way about music. There really is something to the tactile aspect of consumption that makes it connect on a deeper, more resonant level. When its just zeroes and ones rendered in a monitor, it loses something. But if you've never formed that connection in the first place, you'd never know what you are missing.

Not necessarily a knock on the iPad, but I HATE when electronic magazines feel the need to add all these bells and whistles. Animated pages turning when you go to the next page. Page-turning sounds. Music playing in the background. Look, just give me a BACK and NEXT button and I'll be happy.

I'm interested to see how it compares to the Kindle. Obviously, it's going to get trounced in terms of readability in direct sunlight, but the iBook program does some things very fluidly that the kindle truly struggles with. (Here I am thinking of dictionary lookup). Since the kindle app will be available on the iPad as well, I won't really have to worry too much about dividing my collection, either.

Where are the comicbook nerds at?!

For me, the killer app is a mobile ,full color device capable of displaying comics and graphic novels. Checkout the panelfly and comiczeal 4 previews they got up. You'll be able to stuff thousands of comics onto one of these things and catch up on your X-men or sandmans or whatever, whereever you are.

And even at home, I find it uncomfortable to read comicbooks on my computer or laptop due to thier bulkiness and having to sit at a desk or upright somewhere else. With the ipad, I can see myself laying down on the sofa and comfortably digesting the adventures of Archie and jughead. For this, the 4:3 screen ratio and full color display makes the ipad perfect for comics.

And this thing surfs the web, plays music, displays pictures and magazines too? I'm there. I very anxiously await the UPS guy this saturday.

One interesting thing I'm noticing is that you almost have to be pre-sold on the concept. Watching disembodied hands manipulate it in the commercial makes it indistinguishable from iPhone or iPod Touch commercials, and playing with it in the Apple store, would likely produce a similar reaction.

But if you already have a scenario in mind like traveling alone with no luggage, laying on a couch reading comics or whatever....it makes all the sense in the world.

Even if I had that in mind, tho, you could get a feather light and way more capable MacBook Air with a bigger screen and faster processor used for about $800 on Craigslist these days. $700 if you're lucky. I'd rather go that route once we talk about spending $500 or more.

You're right micah, it's gotta hit you and have that lightbulb turn on.

For me, this will be my first apple product ever and when it was announced, I barely noticed the news. Big ipod I said, whatever. But then it hit me when I saw demos of the comicbook readers. I read comics now on my computers and my desk and keyboard feel in the way of things. I don't want a keyboard. I want a super lightweight...well pad!

Doesn't the new Iphone kinda kill the concept of the Ipad? If the leaked specs are accurate, that is.

Why? Because it will have the same A4 processor? The enhanced multitasking?

Whatever software enhancements are made to the iPhone will permeate over to the iPad as well.

The differentiator is the screen size.

The iPhone didn't kill the iPod Touch. Some people might want the tablet reader's function without having to agree to a multiple year raping session at the hands of AT&T.

Yup. The potential is driving the excitement, as it always does. I understand your needs are beyond what the device brings to the table.

I am fairly certain that in a year or two, iPad will branch into a family of devices (larger screens, slightly smaller, better screens, better memory, etc, etc). I like the idea of what the iPad can be for me. As a reformed comic nerd, the idea of having Simonson's entire Thor run, Byrne's FF run, Watchmen, Miracleman (j/k), etc on this single device is sorely tempting...but right now, just a promise. Add that to also sharing The Incredibles, The New World, Aliens, The Last of the Mohicans (random films I love), my twelve favorite South Parks and favorite season of The Wire, a few Seinfelds, and Gates of Fire, Team of Rivals, Turning the Sky Around, Leaves of Grass (books) and my 10 most favorite articles from NYT archives, as well as my music collection...all on something I can take to the park or reflect on the shitter with.

I do recognize this is something a laptop can do, but I also appreciate the ergonomics and ease Apple brings to the table. It is always going to be a tradeoff.

Hopefully, some other company will step up to the plate and force a competition. That will drive quality and pricing. I don't want content to drive the competition (like HD DVD and Blu Ray initially).

Still, excited for this device.

I'm with you on that one. In some cases, enhanced media could be useful or appropriate, but I think things are going to swing WAY overboard at first, and then settle into a comfortable usability zone. This will help publishers as well, as it's going to take a lot more time and money to create crazy moving versions of a mag than a standard one. And quite honestly I think you're right, that people just want the content to read and would rather pay less without all the bells and whistles; otherwise they'd watch a video or listen to a podcast or something.

This has certainly been apparent in the field of "motion comics", which I despise. Useless moves on still panels- so you're either ruining perfectly good still art or creating really shitty animation.

Of course, I'm the grognard who gets ticked off when I click on a story on CNN and find out it's a video instead of an article.

Wired seems to have put a lot of thought into their app, at least. It may not end up being the ideal format, but it's a lot less clumsy than I expect to see from many other publishers.

+1.

Netflix and ABC join the party!

Early reviews are uniformly strong. Wish I was getting mine on Saturday.

Also, for the comic readers: http://vimeo.com/10574358

I also hear they're simultaneously releasing a PS3 emulator in the marketplace to go with the iPad.











please note the date of my post

A really interesting article to come out yesterday from Appleinsider was this one about iPhoneOS4.0:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...interface.html

I'd never tell anyone to buy a device they aren't happy with it "as is" when they lay down their cash. But I've always thought that the iPad that we're getting this weekend was only half of the picture. OS4.0 was always going to enhance and expand it's capabilities.

So why did they announce it in January? Well, there was a time not too long ago when Apple had to only worry about juggling announcements for Macs and iPods, so they have a fair amount of leeway in regards to launch events- there was plenty of year to spare. Then came the iPhone; and in order to give each product update it's time in the sun, they had to spread them out across the year. Now the iPad as well...

So I think we might start seeing a more solidified product release cycle: iPads early in the year, iPhone OS SKD in March/April, iPhone in June/July, iPod in September, Macs in October/November.

It's funny, since Apple is so notorious for keeping plans secret. But they've got to spread these things out if each one is going to get it's press focus.

It's likely Apple's whole release cycle has been upset a bit by the iPad launch. The last two iPhone OS SDK events both happened in March of '08 and '09 respectively, so if developers are going to get the time they need to build and retool their apps for OS4.0 in time for the July release of the "iPhone HD", an SDK event is going to have to happen pretty quickly after Apple launches the iPad internationally.

Irony:

Ah yes, but you WOULD be able to watch this on the iPad, since Vimeo would sniff out that you were using it and display the HTML5 version, which is optional for desktop users.

IRONY BACK AT YOU DICKSON!

No flash needed for this, even bigger announcement: Marvel is coming in with their own app.

I'm surprised at the trajectory the buzz has taken wrt iPad. When announced, everyone seemed to be meh about it. Now the reviews are coming in and they're almost all positive and most people are at least curious if not wanting one outright. The app potential here is insanely high. One of these is far off in the distance for me, but I ever needed a netbook or laptop, I'd look into this first. Frankly, a new iPhone subsidized by Verizon is a lot more tempting.

Man, I have a bunch of Amazon credit and it's taking all my willpower not to use it towards one of these whenever they end up for purchase on Amazon.

I might buy the iPad, but I see it as a stepping stone to a better product that we should see on the market in 3 years or so: I think e-ink displays are the future. They're cheap on electricity and super-flat. They've built displays that are 1 mm thick and you can roll them up. Some have color, and video is being worked on.

My dream machine? A 2 page color, video e-ink display that you open like a book. Each "page" will be the size of a large magazine. Touch screens will allow you to press a button and have a keypad appear on one display. You'll be able to set it up like a current laptop or hang it on a wall like a TV. You don't even need the 2 displays to be separated in the middle: since e-ink screens can be folded rather easily, you could close it like a book without putting a "break" between the 2 pages. Think of a big 12" X 18" e-ink display when opened, fold it in half without worrying about damaging it, and close it like a book.It'll be half an inch thick when closed. Slightly bendable with maybe leather wrapped around the casing. Have full computing ability. A massive amount of flash memory, no hard drive. Built in speakers with earphone jack. Read book, newspapers, comics, magazines. Display websites, pictures, movies, maps.

A lot of it is probably the difference between seeing promotional material, and actually using it, I'm sure.

I also agree that this device is a stepping stone to the real amazing shit coming in the next few years.

I'm not sure I agree with you on that one. Whether e-Ink displays will become more full featured before LCD technology can become easier on the eyes and more battery efficient is a tough one to call.

But I do think you'll find more people right now who will be happier to read off an iPad than you will people who would do computing off an e-Ink display. If one technology has further to go than the other, it's e-Ink.

There was also the recent study that revealed that modern LCDs are essentially as easy on the eyes as E-ink. E-ink has some big advantages at the moment, but I don't expect them to last, as the Pixel Qi tech has already shown. (Read up on the Notion Ink android tablet that, as of today, appears to be vaporware again)

The Notion tablet looks cool, but I still want something bigger, with dual-screens. I think dual-screens are key to selling ebooks (wether or not they have full computing capability) to the masses. It would feel more natural.

Really cool article about the iPad, and travelling to Apple to meet with Steve Jobs, by the inimitable Stephen Fry: http://www.time.com/time/business/ar...976935,00.html

I'd probably be unable to resist this damn thing if it was available on Amazon. Wanting to avoid sales tax will help me avoid being an early adopter. As soon as it is though... (and why isn't it? Because they have a "competing" device? Can't imagine since they have "an app for that")

Been thinking I don't even want the 3G model. I've got an iPhone. I don't really want to pay another 30 bucks a month.

So, more likely I'll wait for the new iPhone and after that perhaps I'll consider or I'll just wait for the iPhone 2.

Its day 2 with this thing now and I love it. .cbr files lookn great on it as do regular books. This thing is the ultimate e-reader and is the perfect size for lugging around.

And it also does other things too! This morning, after waking, I grabbed it and checked email, replying to one, then the news, then chud and watched 2 parts of the AOTC review on youtube while reading through the thread. Then did a quick weather check before finally getting out of bed.

Did not have go to my desktop today yet. It definitely fulfills most of your computing needs.

The second they add a webcam to it, and enable multitasking (possibly through the new iPhone firmware), I'm there.

Apple mostly sold this through their site and stores. Amazon is getting it, just didn't have enough to spread around for the initial release.

I'm interested in how people feel about this thing a year from now. Like how it does much more than the Kindle, but seems like it would be a strain on the eyes for reading.

I absolutely enjoy my laptop. I find it's keyboard great, it's portability fantastic, it's functionality whether watching movies, listening to some of my 100gb of music, reading online comics, or surfing the net to be A+. Hell, it's A+ at doing them all at once if I want to be weird about it.

I enjoy all of this for less than a fully loaded iPad. I'm not shitting on the iPad. I'm sure it's got it's great little selling points here and there but I'm a value kind of guy and I see no actual value in the thing beyond being gadget happy.

And apparently it's terrible for reading iBooks in direct sunlight, something a kindle has no issues with. It'd be a shame to not be able to take your uber slick portable iPad to the park and read a book because the screen can't handle a beautiful day.

I love apple products. They're great and functional but there is always this value issue with them and the iPad seems to be the biggest offender yet.

Yeah, I do all that with a laptop.

Not much of an impediment, it seems. Was out with the wife and kiddo at a park Saturday, and there was a Dad there tapping and squinting at his iPad as his family played at the playground. I expect he was looking for a cloud cover app, but even Steve Jobs has his limitations.

Happened to be at a Best Buy on Saturday and got to try one out. Absolutely loved it. Don't have the cash right now, but this will replace my netbook.

During my 10 minutes with it (don't worry there was no one waiting behind me), they sold 5 to people opening Best Buy credit accounts. Can't get a better snapshot of American Consumerism right there.

As a pale blond dude who already had a melanoma removed when I was 30, I avoid the outdoors as much as possible. Glare wouldn't be much of an issue for me. I realize I may be in the minority, but I do 99% of my reading indoors. Also, reading a real book in bright sunlight can be pretty hard on the eyes too, depending on how white the paper is.

Still, I'm pretty sure I'm not buying a first generation iPad. My experience jumping on the iPhone bandwagon in generation one cured me of that need. I think.

Nick sure seems to dig his iPad, based on his Twitter comments. Hoping he'll chime in here with more detailed thoughts. I'm open to being persuaded.

And most new smartphones can do all or most of that as well.

Used one on Sunday evening, and I loved it. Nothing more to say until I get mine.

Apple announcing OS 4 on Thursday.

I used one this weekend, and I'll repeat what I twittered: Using an iPad is like using something from the future. Sadly it's office equipment of the future. There was something inherently sexy about the iPhone, and the iPad doesn't quite have that thing. Also, the size and weight are just this side of clumsy.

Jamais Cascio (Google him) said this on Twitter: "A thought about the iPad: in many ways, it's a retro-future artifact, a manifestation of a 1980s/1990s vision of the future. It's Cyberpunk."

It does have that feel.

It's best to think of it as a e-reader that does more rather than a laptop that does less. The value is in the form factor and ease of use. If you don't like the physical attributes of it, then the lack of features is really gonna sink it for you.

With the ipad, apple furthers splits the divide between tech geeks and tech ignorants with its closed, but easy to use UI. For me, this is my first apple product because I usually fall on the tech geek side. I'm aware of its failings, but in this case, I had a vision of its uses to me and so far, they've panned out. It's now my hope that it saves the comicbook industry and I think the marvel app is a good start on that road.

If I didn't already have a laptop I'd consider the Ipad, in that it seems to be able to do everything I need a laptop to do for about the same cost, or less, but then again, my computing needs are very very small.

We have a laptop and a netbook. To trade the netbook which I really only use for net-surfing and occasional videos for something more dedicated and get a top-of-the-line eReader and casual game machine, I'm all about it. Especially after taking a test run and seeing it could fulfill those purposes.

Also Chud.com looked pretty sweet on it. (Gettoworkonthatapp)

First site I went to as well. That and ESPN, and both looked fantastic.

I'm with you, Cassady. Bought a netbook early on, thinking it was just the thing I'd been looking for. It turned out to be pretty useless, unless one really likes 15 minute long boot-up processes.