still no flash support geez, just get a laptop, unless you must have a touch screen, and the u need the weight savings, Laptop does more.
Agreed. Its a pitty that this device won’t be running snow leopard. That plus a removable battery, its 2 lb weight, and the ability to run parallels would have pretty much knocked all of the current netbooks on their asses.
So it looks like Apple is going to repeat the Newton fiasco by having this device run the iPhone OS. It’s nothing more than a glorified Kindle.
It’s going to support iWork. Seems like a possible choice for folks who want a really mobile computer to handle light everyday tasks. I can already imagine taking my scoresheets, etc. and putting them into Numbers, using this thing in classes…
The biggest question for me will be the soft keyboard. Not a days goes by without thoughts of crushing my iPhone with a rock because of idiosyncrasies with the stupid keyboard. They get so wrapped up in “thin” that they forget how many people would happily accept another 0.5" for a snap out physical keyboard.
Since the mid-1980s, I’ve owned a Dell. 2 Hewlett Packards, a Compaq, and an IBM PC. I use my computer for pretty much the same thing as 95% of the users out there–exchanging email, surfing the web, word processing, digital photography and maybe a little gaming. That said, every PC I’ve owned was a pain in the ass to keep up and running and bug-free.
Four years ago, I bought an iMac and have never experienced a single glitch–zero, nada, nothing. For what I use a computer for, it has performed flawlessly. Ditto for my iPod purchased around the same time.
I’m using a Dell laptop for my wireless computer around the house and it never fails to lock up or some such shit every time I use it. I’ll give Apple 3 months to work out the bugs in this new iPad and then you can sign me up.
Before anybody says it, I’ll concede that anecdotal evidence from a sample size of one doesn’t mean shit–unless you’re the one. In my limited experience, Apple makes some pretty good shit and it works well for me.
$499?
This thing is going to take over the damn world at that price!
AT&T 29.99 month unlimited data – prepaid, no contract
unlocked so can use any carrier with new GSM microSIM
device starts at $499
I have no info but would bet that since it has BT it should work with a BT keyboard
from the macworld feed
"11:18 PT - DM: At $499 a lot of people can afford an iPad. $499 for 16GB is the base model. For 32GB it’s $100 more, for another $100 you get 64GB of storage. The 3G models cost an extra $130 to build in radios. $629, $729, $829. These are the six models. The most expensive model is just $829. Unbelievable price.
11:20 PT - DM: When can you get your hands on one? 60 days, worldwide availability. Another 30 days to get 3G models through approval process, so about 90 days for 3G models. Soon you will be able to get an iPad in your hands for just $499.
"
Just showed a keyboard dock
I am pretty blown away.
The price is shockingly low (everyone expected $1k starting).
Better yet, the 3G deal is very very smart. Apple knows people don’t want to stare down at another monthly bill for wireless. Baking in the no-contract, onboard activation, pre-paid, $30 unlimited use deal is simply brilliant.
Hey Bushmaster - THIS is how you launch a fucking hotly anticipated product. You shock people with how much better it is compared to their wildest expectations, not disappoint them with how it didn’t even live up to their lowest expectations…
This is where I think computing is heading to a large degree, although I think what we’ll really wind up with is something more like an iPhone with a built-in projector.
Imagine being able to come home and dock your iPhone in a cradle that holds it steady to project a “screen” on a flat surface on your desk. Bluetooth connection to a keyboard and mouse, wireless connection to something like a NAS, and 3g internet. As camera phone resolution improves (I think some makers are up over 5mp already?) you’ll eliminate that device as well and there will be no need to muck around with SD cards and such.
If the iPad (sounds like a fucking feminine hygiene product) comes with a cradle that I can hook an external HD and larger screen to, and run it like a normal computer at a desk, I might consider one. That is EXACTLY how I use my netbook at home right now.
Here here!
It’s $14.99 per month for 250MB and $29.99 per month for unlimited. You still would have a monthly bill. I’m not impressed that they stayed with AT&T for the 3G.
so when can I order one?
They said availability is 60/90 days wifi/wifi+3g. But hopefully they stick it in the Apple Store so you can order one soon 
They want one piece of HW for the world and AT&T is the largest most compatible US carrier that uses standard 3G services. Verizon etc use different basically US-only tech
You know, Apple kinda already did that a LONG time ago with something called the Power Book Duo. The computer was a small laptop, just a bit bigger than a Netbook (and shockingly tiny back in the day) and it slid into a desktop dock. On the dock was a larger hard drive, floppy, expansion cards and beefier video.
www.apple.com now features the iPad when you go to it and when you click the pic you get another page which has a “notify me when available to order” link
Yes, and many people do something similar now with laptops and docks, but I think we’ll get to a point where we’re doing it with phones.
The portable wireless telephone (cell phone) has already replaced the wristwatch, the camera, the date book/calendar, the little black book… I think we’ll reach a point where it replaces the laptop, desktop, and tablet PC as well. maybe even the monitor if they can get projector tech small & robust enough.
How is AT&T 3G in other markets? My brother is in Seattle and HATES the 3G network with all the dropped calls and congestion. I hear the Bay area is brutal. Will it get worse with this device? Probably.
Ok the price sold me. I was afraid it was going to be computer priced with iphone specs. But it meets everything right in the middle. I think I will pick up a 32gig non 3G version.