What's so great about the iPad?

Everything. It's just... better. I like to say that the iPod touch is a smaller iPad, since it's basically that. The iPad has more features, compared to the iPod touch. The larger screen isn't a "just." It makes the iPad what it is. It's impossible for iWork to come to an iPod, since the screen is just too small. From what you said, it seems like you didn't try browsing the internet, otherwise you'd be raving about how amazing it was. Or watching videos, especially on Netflix. In the past week since I got my iPad, I've watched over 3 times as much video as I had for the entire year before, starting when the streaming service came out. And the battery is spectacular.

PS: I'm pretty sure there's already threads like this, and this should probably be in the Lounge.

 

I think you answered that yourself.

 

A generic Windows laptop that doesn't run Mac OS.

 

But I, personally, would much rather use an iPad to stream movies over WiFi than watch BluRay movies with a PC. Plus, costwise, which is more expensive, BluRay discs, or a $9 per month netflix subscription with unlimited streaming movies? Anyways, it's not supposed to replace a laptop, just complement it. For me though, it's pretty much replacing it.

 

I don't want to sound too much like a fanboy, but the iPad really is a revolutionary device (for me at least). For the past week I have pretty much ignored my macbookpro. Surfing the web on the ipad is by far the best browser experience I have ever had (I'm using it now). The fact that the battery lasts all day and then some makes it much more useful and mobile than any other option out there.

Some people will say it's just a big iPod touch. I can't get away with using an iPod touch as my only computer for a week. Can you? Apps like netnewswire, mlb at bat, and mail really show the difference between an iPod and iPad. Anyone on the fence about buying an iPad, I absolutely recommend it.

I really see this as the future for apple. The next time I buy a computer I am going to ditch the MacBook pro for a desktop. The iPad provides all I need and then some for any computing that I need to do on-the-go.

 

Saying the iPad is just a bigger iPod Touch is like saying a Ferrari is just a faster Geo.

 

I have a Macbook Pro, an Acer netbook, a 24" iMac plus a few PCs and my iPhone. Those are just my personal devices. So, there was no real reason to buy an iPad, especially not the 64gb model, but I did. I do spend more time on my iPhone than anything, and besides teaching online, and being a tech, actually working only for myself and also mostly online, I justified the purchase that way. Can I really do everything I need to? For teaching without Word? No, I can't but perhaps that will come. Logmein came out with a universal version of Ignition so I have connectivity to all remote clients...as long as I have wi-fi. In the end, I got this because out of all Apple's inventions, the iDevices have proven most useful to me on a personal and practical level. I'd never throw down the kind of coin I did on the MBP again just for the reasons you noted in your post - I can get the same for a whole lot less. But I love my games, and I love that iPhone. The iPad is just that and more (a little less, too, right now, in practical terms, but hey). It was worth it in games and email/ web, alone. No one really needs one, but depending on how much you got out of the other Apple portables, it's a dream! I guess there may be other similar products (JooJoo?) but with all the apps, etc. this was the only real choice for me. Still kind of falling into the toy category? Yes, but I'm sticking with "business expense" for now :0)

 

Ill give this one a go.. Seeing you borough the Generic PC vs Ipad discussion already.

While hardware does matter, Software is KING. Regardless of how great the hardware is or how under powered a system is if the software isn't there no one will buy the product it's a Shell and Software is the Soul.

The apps are the SOUL for the ipad. Once developers get full tools, and start learning how to maximize their products to take advantage of the iPad you will see night and day differences in software. Early releases are ports or quick mock ups based on an emulator and not real hardware.

Sure you can get Package X for a generic PC but an iPad version of that same package will likely be superior and taking advantage of the hardware on the iPad. With some many differences in Generic PC's apps are "Vanilla" because they need to work on all systems.

So the hardcore PC guru's will NEVER like the iPad it doesn't allow them their GOD status over the hardware. They are relegated to users and to them thats bad.

To Me I love it. I'm not a sheep, in fact I have a super dupper PC, I am an MSCE and a Cisco certified gearhead but know what? When I turn on the iPad for myself, my kids, or my wife were 100% sure that when we click those little icons the app will load quick and safe...allowing me to spend time with my family and not tracking down the cause of problems on a weekly basis, updating virus signatures and scans, and removing spyware.

It's all about person preference. The iPad isn't going to stop me from getting a PC but I have found myself using it for 60-70% of all my pc needs in the last two weeks.

Whats special about it is the software.. Has will and always shall be...

Until Android, Windows 7 Mobile, Or any other provider has a streamlined, universal software interface that mom, dad, and my grandparents can get their programs from without searching hundreds of websites the iPad will reign supreme.

Also I'm extremely interested in how this is going to play out for future PC's..

I can really see in short time OSX applications starting to appear on iTunes and installed the same way..

In fact I can see iTunes becoming a major feature of the OS in the future. All your content will be installed via itunes with apple getting a cut.

 

For people who say an iPad is a big iPod Touch:

A swimming pool is a big bathtub.
A window is a big peephole.
A house is a big shack.
A movie theater is a big TV.
A rollercoaster is a big slide. (Sort of)

Bigger (generally) means better.

 

I bought an iPad because my company developed two games for it (Addicus HD and Poptweets HD) and testing them on the device was a pressing concern for us.

After having it around the house for a week, I have to say I don't think I would buy it for myself if I wasn't developing for it. My wife is getting more out of it than I am, I think.

That being said, here's what I have found is so awesome about it:

- The screen is gorgeous. Our games look stunning on the iPad.

- Typing (on the landscape keyboard) is so much better than I had expected. I was expected typing to be a non-starter on this thing, especially after Steve Jobs' typo during the big demo in January. The typing is good enough for typing emails or long forum posts such as this one.

- Most of all: Safari. Having a fast browser just a touch away is invaluable. The other day I was booting up my macbook and while I was waiting for it to boot I picked up the iPad and starting reading news in the browser. That was a moment where it became clear what the iPad's purpose was.

 

Well said.

 

Laptops and tabletPCs are great; however, they're completely different types of devices that don't do any of the things the iPad does as well or as easily.

For me, the iPad fills a void in computing and consuming media. It definitely can improve in several areas as any first generation device can. Although, apps could have been much better on day one. But true to form, Jobs' paranoia and control issues handcuffed developers. It's also overly expensive. Although when the barrage of Android/Chrome tablets hit, prices should drop.

I wasn't going to buy one as the "it's just a blown up iTouch" argument won me, and I generally think Apple's turning into the stereotypical evil corporation that Microsoft was a decade ago and try to support them as little as possible. But the more I read the more I thought it could replace my netbook's functionality for work plus provide all of its primary media stuff in an amazing form factor with 12 hours of battery life. And it has.

Anyway, those are just my opinions and why it's working for me.

 

I think people who say the iPad is just a big iPhone and nothing else is completely missing the point of the device. It's not supposed to replace your laptop or iPod, it's a middle ground...but for me it's easily cutting away on how much I use the laptop big time for many tasks I normally would have fired up my MacBook Pro or Dell XPS laptop for.

The big screen is what makes it what it is. All the programs you have on the iPod Touch has been completely rewritten to the point it's more like a PC program than the ones you find on the iPhone, but much more intuitive and more fun to use. Instead of going to Firefox on one of my laptops to check the news, it's just much faster and more fun to launch Rueters on the iPad, or watch YouTube...the iPad app is simply sweet and fun to use, same with a lot of other apps design around the iPad. Programs that have come out now have shown what a big difference the iPad can make like Sky Walker for the iPad. In the end, it's about the better overall experience, and it's something the iPhone cannot provide in any means.

Sure there's going to be other slates coming up, heck there were slates before the iPad that failed to reach expectations. And I'll bet you anything the HP Slate being released later will do nicely but will nowhere be near the sales of the iPad, simply because I think HP is also missing the point of why most people would want a tablet computer. They don't want to have to deal with another PC and all the problems that incurs with it, such as viruses, incompatible hardware, longer boot times, etc. If they want that they can just get another laptop.

A lot of people want something quick, fast, and programs built around the slate specifically for the touchscreen. With the iPad, it's real quick to turn on, fast, and unlike a PC slate, all the apps are designed to work around the touchscreen and the system, so you get a ton of apps that are intuitive to use on the iPad. If it were a PC, this wouldn't be so at all. So instead of busting out another PC, it's just faster to turn on the iPad and not worry about a lot of PC stuff. The only other company I see getting the idea of tablet PCs is Microsoft with their upcoming Courier with an all new OS and programs built around the touch screen device.

So why am I impressed with the iPad? It's the experience of them system, the way the apps are made, it's fun to use, it's fast turn on, and much easier to carry around than a laptop. It gets most everything right and it's not a clunky PC. It's not supposed to replace my PC, but I'm finding that it is.

Damn, sorry didn't think I was typing this much.
*typed on Pages for iPad

 

Adam Engst:

 

I like the look of the iPad tons - but I am holding off for a few generations before I buy in just like I did for my iPod.

Whats disappointing about it for me is that it is running the iPhone OS - if it was running Snow Leopard, and had usb & firewire ports, it would be an instant buy for me.

However it would be an instant buy for me right now if there were a way to get it to sync up with recording software and act as a virtual mixing console with automation & "motorized faders".

As it sits - I am very impressed by it so far, but still wary of spending money on it. I mean I waited for a 3rd gen Ipod Touch and got rewarded, who's to say what the new ipad will come with hardware wise 2-3 years down the line.

 

I heard this somewhere (i'll try to find it...i think it was someone from WSJ? Idk...) that really summed it up for me. I tell this to everyone and then they understand that it IS NOT A BIG IPOD TOUCH. For anyone that says its a big ipod touch, they do not see the iPads full potential.

Anyway, someone said: "The iPad is not about what it can do, its all about how you can do it."

What it means is that, sure, you can easily go get a laptop and use that. But is a laptop lighter than an iPad? Probably not. Is it more portable? Probably not, depending on if its a netbook or not.

See, the iPad is more about having a more immerisive experience, and to be able to write up essays, make powerpoints, and even spreadsheets wherever you go. Its about being able to have the internet in your hands, and have books and other games at your fingertips.

 

It's all in the interface and how you plan to use the device. There's really no answer that suits everyone.

 

The iPad's not great. It's just better in some ways.

1. The graphics are a lot better. That is nice.

2. It's not too heavy for its weight.

3. It's easier to watch movies, surf the web, etc.

But it sucks in some ways:

1. It's not very portable.

2. It's either an oversized iTouch, or a dumb laptop.

3. No extra built in features the iTouch doesn't have. Camera, etc.

4. Playing Flick Fishing will make you look like a retard. "Don't throw that iPad!!!"