iPad!

It's going to be released in 60 days (if the Keynote is on target) so that would suggest equal support for both iPod touch and iPhone re: Flash - that said, Flash is not supported in the browser by Safari - either on the desktop (to the best of my knowledge - mind you, I use Firefox on my Mac Pro and Macbook) or on the iPod Touch currently. Yes, there is some form of some sort of Flash (or is it?) via the YouTube app that comes with the Touch/Phone but definitely not browser enabled.

Flash is a plugin. There is one for Safari on the Mac, of course. Youtube on the iphone/tough does not use flash–the youtube videos are encoded as h.264 (a video codec). Youtube announced an agreement with apple as of the original iphone release to encode many videos in h.264 so they could play on the iphone. There's more story if you want it–html5 supports h.264 for embedded video, which will likely supplant flash once firefox supports h.264, which it doesn't now.
 
Not a compelling product in my mind
it certainly has uses and I'll likely get one to play with

on the bright side, it's a lot cheaper than a new M9 kit
 
I am very surprised at the lower than expected pricing of the iPad and think it has real potential to be a home run. From my point of view, a PDA is limited in everything it does, doer of much, master of none. A small lap top is great, but often over kill. I can't get connectivity in my office, so my Mac Book really sits at home and occasionally gets out, but not often. I agree with those who are not looking at the iPad as a computer, but a big iPod, a personal media partner (maybe I just coined a phrase?). I think it can excel for me. I would dump the PDA, give me a smaller, better reception cell phone. A phone built to be a phone first, not the all everything PDA. Remember when carrying a fat phone was a bad thing, now they are hip, and will make your hip sore if is hanging on your belt all day. From what I see, the iPad will do everything else that PDA tries to do, but can really do it, and do it well. If the 3G contracts are as reasonable as mentioned above, that is another winner, cheaper than the data plan on my current cell phone. I am not sold yet, but I may be pretty easily as I learn more about it.
 
Don't forget the cooking!

TOnight I made spiced meatballs from a Gordon Ramsay recipe in the TImes. I use my iPod touch, so I don't get breadcrumbs on the keyboard of my MacBook.

With an iPad, wow, I'd be cooking with gas. (Even though I am already cooking with gas.)
 
My sail is deflated a bit. 3G coverage is to be with AT&T, big boo. I won't/can't do business with such a poor provider. Let's face it, there are parts of CT which are rural, but you can't even get good signal with AT&T service in some of our cities. Forget my town, it isn't even on their map. Oh well, one check in the con column for me.
 
I am disappointed. It is just a bigger Iphone but won't be the device that can be used for travels to back-up and process pictures.
 
Ralph,

It's WiFi enabled but are you merely looking at it to be on some sort of 3G network?

That, to me at least, adds unnecessary expense - that said, you've mentioned rural areas, so I can sort of see if you're out in the sticks or such.

Cheers,
Dave
 
I am disappointed. It is just a bigger Iphone but won't be the device that can be used for travels to back-up and process pictures.
Not serious processing, no. But there is the Camera Connection Kit for back-up and display, and also a number of light editing applications for the iPhone.
 
My sail is deflated a bit. 3G coverage is to be with AT&T, big boo. I won't/can't do business with such a poor provider. Let's face it, there are parts of CT which are rural, but you can't even get good signal with AT&T service in some of our cities. Forget my town, it isn't even on their map. Oh well, one check in the con column for me.

I used to drive the big trucks, and AT&T was one of the few services which seemed to work everywhere, and I could also get good access in Canada and Mexico. My family has some property in the middle of nowhere in west Texas, and AT&T phones are the only ones which will function there.

That said, the iphone tends to have much poorer phone reception than other makes. I live in Japan now, and the iphone is popular here (it's trendier than Japanese phones, and less expensive), but many people have gotten rid of theirs because in many areas it's telephone is simply useless.
 
Ralph,

It's WiFi enabled but are you merely looking at it to be on some sort of 3G network?

That, to me at least, adds unnecessary expense - that said, you've mentioned rural areas, so I can sort of see if you're out in the sticks or such.

Cheers,
Dave

If you can get a WiFi signal I agree, the 3G is not necessary, but I think the be anywhere connectivity is a very appealing feature for this beast, and WiFi isn't everywhere.
 
Oh.. and regarding the name - as I said earlier while watching the keynote: "iPad" sounds too much like an Apple branded feminine hygiene product.

:D

Dave
I thought the same thing!
Brilliant!

I absolutely abhor their "i" naming convention. And "Pad?" You'd think the smart boys and girls in Cupertino would've come up with a name more fitting for the innovative device.

It's interesting that the iPhone is now trendy in Japan. When it came out I heard it got a very chilly reception there. I have a heck of a time with it in my apartment. I moved here last July and for some reason I get horrible reception in my building. CNET has a new feature that shows tested reception from all the major providers on a tower-to-tower basis and I just happen to be in one of the only bad spots for many blocks. I think it's because the elevated subway is between me and the tower. I have complained a few times but reception has never improved.
 
It truly is a new category of device. I have to agree with the classification of personal, it fits. It does not replace a computer as it's not multi-tasking. Someday it might be but for a while it's not. Interesting thing is that they did not go with an ARM processor, they did it in house. Perhaps they purchased the rights to the ARM design and extended it. It allows them to keep the cost way down. CPUs are still a large percentage of the cost of parts.

Much nicer to see the days work on one back at the room.

B2 (;->
 
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