iPad

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Greenlizard0

It's got Apple's name and design on it, it'll still sell.

You bet it will. Given his reaction, I reckon Stephen Fry would have one if it cost 10x the price. I'm surprised he didn't break his Twitter exile to wax lyrical about it (or maybe he did).

Originally Posted by Desmo

We both browse at home too, usually over breakfast and then again in the evenings and sometimes in bed. The iPad would be useless over breakfast and in bed.

Breakfast is covered - thanks to the keyboard dock. Not so good in bed though.

Originally Posted by petemc

Seems that 4:3 is the aspect ratio of choice for digital compacts. 3:2 is DSLR. If I had to guess the screen design is due to digital photography.

In that case, they missed a trick - or did they? Why, oh why, didn't they integrate an SD card slot. It's not like it'll take much room, or weight. But oh no, you have to buy a camera accessory pack for that privilege.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted, but a lightweight laptop would suit me much better. Steve Jobs has a point about the current generation of Netbooks, but the future - who knows.

I think they should have called it the iMarmite. Seems to fit the bill quite nicely.

[petemc]

Originally Posted by Mark

Why, oh why, didn't they integrate an SD card slot.

Cos CF users would bitch

[Mark]

USB host port then. You have to buy the camera accessory pack for that, too.

[petemc]

It would be nice. Plugin camera. Import photos to iPhoto on iPad. Open Photoshop mobile and do some basic processing on the jpgs.

[Desmo]

Originally Posted by Mark

Breakfast is covered - thanks to the keyboard dock. Not so good in bed though.

So I need to buy something extra to make it do something I can already do with my laptop.

I know that every product isn't designed for everyone, but this seems to be designed for a very small market although it will sell well beyond what it should simply due to it being Apple.

[petemc]

Originally Posted by Desmo

So I need to buy something extra to make it do something I can already do with my laptop.

So you'd buy it and then go "I'm outraged! I have to buy this extra bit so it does exactly what I can already do with something else?"

Its not a laptop replacement. Its for those times when you don't want a laptop but want a bigger iPod Touch type device.

[LeperousDust]

Nah he's VERY wrong about current generation netbooks, i didn't think i would be able to but i didn't get a choice due to lack of funds, picked up my dell mini 10 for £208 and yes its obviously not as fast as my old laptop, but you know what it does everything i need. I can even *just* about get away with full 1080p with the core avc codec. GMA500 thankfully now has some decent driver support and is actually really showing its might. I can even run traktor pro on it! Although i wouldn't be using it properly with a netbook being honest. Only thing i hate about this netbook is 1Gb RAM, its a killer, but thats a hardware limitation imposed my Dell because they soldered the RAM in! Otherwise it would be *the* perfect netbook Even running my little Atom at 166 fsb instead of 133 right now barely even hot but its then synced nicely with my lovely poulsbo chipset

[LeperousDust]

Originally Posted by petemc

Its not a laptop replacement. Its for those times when you don't want a laptop but want a bigger iPod Touch type device.

Hahaha he should have sold it like that!

So guys when you feel you need a bigger ipod touch well we've got something just for you! Otherwise probably use a netbook or laptop

[Mark]

I'll be honest. I do see the space for it. It's the same space occupied by my two Archos devices - which I bought on a whim in my gadget buying days and rarely use. Admittedly the iPad can do a whole lot more thanks to the App Store, but then the latest Archos devices run Android. Go figure.

If the iPad does for the tablet form factor what the iPod did for MP3, I don't see that as a bad thing. Quite the opposite. In fact, being Apple, it probably will.

PS - we can get in to a war of words if you want. Steve Jobs was right, and nothing you've said changes that. Netbooks *are* cheap slow laptops running PC software. Of course, a bit of web browsing and email is all most people need - which is why they sold by the truckload. The iPad hits that spot too.

[G|mp]

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

Both of which have tiny screens which makes normal browsing ridiculously hard and film watching silly and book reading pointless.

Ridiculous and Silly are two words I would associate with sitting on a train with one of those in front of you

It is. A netbook/laptop is big chunky un-needed keyboard, if you don't need a laptop/netbook why get one over a tablet. Phone is to small and impractical.

I use my laptop downstairs, I use my PC upstairs, I use my mobile when I'm oot and aboot.

I would not like to take a 'slab' everywhere with me, which at the moment is exactly what that looks like to me :/