Apple iPad

[ak]

Apple has put an end to weeks of speculation by unveiling its tablet device, which it has called the iPad. -- BBC News

More here.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/yU6isGR3PaM&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/yU6isGR3PaM&rel=1</a>

[ozzylogic]

Everything you need to know about it:

http://i.gizmodo.com/5458292/apple-ipad-everything-you-need-to-know?skyline=true&s=i

Sounds like another expensive Apple gimmick.

[fizz]

And I used to think Microsoft was the big gimmicky marketing company. Apple's lame strategy (based on perhaps the best example of a combo of branding, exploitation of brand loyalty and precise positioning/packaging) seems to be getting into the game very late (tablet PC's, which is what the iPad essentially is, have been around for almost a decade now) but to do with in way that makes the product desirable (not just feature wise, which this crap product misses, but also design wise). Expect every yuppie to be walking the streets of Dubai soon with one of these, even while they are on the brink of dying of hunger because of their expanding credit card bills.

[ak]

At that price point -- $499 for basic, $899 for robust 3G version -- the iPad, at this stage, will be for early adopters only. But expect Apple to lower the prices in the next 6-9 months, and it will be just in time for a slight economic recovery and mass adoption.

This is an upgrade to the Apple iPod Touch, and even though the iPad is not "revolutionary" per se, it will sell like hotcakes (in good time) and change the way we use portable devices. It will happen.

Also, I don't think it is gimmicky but a really shrewd move on Apple's part. Tablet PCs have been around for 10 years, but only a company like Apple can make them hot. Amazon must be really feeling the heat; but they still have the leg up with their $299 basic Kindle which pleases spenders and gives them access to millions of books. Apple will eventually crack their market, key word being "eventually."

[kaytee]

Also, I don't think it is gimmicky but a really shrewd move on Apple's part. Tablet PCs have been around for 10 years, but only a company like Apple can make them hot. Amazon must be really feeling the heat; but they still have the leg up with their $299 basic Kindle which pleases spenders and gives them access to millions of books. Apple will eventually crack their market, key word being "eventually."

Agree with AK, that is what business is, you just need to do things better than the other guy to succeed and Apple is doing just that with Tablet PC.

They have launched iBooks to compete with Amazon's Kindle too.

I wont be too excited about the iPad EDGE coz apparently it doesnt have a normal SIM card slot, instead they are using something called the MicroSim, which clearly will not be launched here in Dubai.

[animatedude]

the more i think about it the more i think this is just for Book readers but Apple want it to be for everything...and seeing how games were popular on their iPhones they made games for this too.this will kill amazon kindle for sure but why should i get this when i can get a reliable for everything Macbook Air which i can do multitasking with?

there will much much improved iPads down the line.

[animatedude]

http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/blog/2010/01/how-will-the-ipad-change-education/

[madali]

I think this is crap, but then what i do I know. I thought the Ipod was crap and I thought the Iphone was crap but people dont care about cheaper alternatives and comparing features, they like to go "ooooh, look I can turn the phone sideways and the photo rotates" and after the consumers buy it in mass, the other better alternatives start copying Apple designs, so that in a year or two, you feel embarrassed, because you had been defending products that now look like cheap Apple knock-offs.

But still fuck this useless, unneeded product. The only reason I'd want this if it was 50 dollars, so I could buy one and have it lying around the house so I could check the web while Im taking a shit or something.

[ak]

For hardcore book lovers, Kindle is probably still a better buy because it has a cheaper price point, and it uses eInk technology is very easy on the eyes.

[animatedude]

i think it would be much better if Apple marketed this as a book reader only.then let ppl find out that you can actually do other things with it like play video games and surf the net..

[ak]

iPad is shipping soon. You can get one within 60 days.

Here's a good overview of the specs and availability: http://dubaiinformer.com/2010/01/the-apple-ipad-is-here-with-photos-videos

[animatedude]

30 days? huh? i thought they said it's 60 days for the Wifi only models and 90 days for the Wifi+3G.

[ak]

I've revised my post -- you are right.

[animatedude]

i don't know based on what ppl say $499 is a low price! no it's not a low price...there's nothing to compare to the iPad,the closest thing is the amazon kindle which is much cheaper.

[ak]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wx449r1vhos&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Wx449r1vhos&rel=1</a>