After years of rumor and speculation, Apple's now taking orders for its
iPad tablet. And now that cash money is involved we'll finally see if Apple has a success on its hands by filling the void between smartphones and netbooks/laptops -- something Microsoft and its hoard of vendors just haven't been able to muster. Today's order is delivered on
April 3rd (in the US) for free and orders are limited to two per customer. But rather than wait for analysts and Apple's financial reports to tell the tale, let's get a jump on things with an informal poll: are you ordering the iPad?
Did you order the iPad?| Yes, I'm just like that. | 14349 (18.7%) |
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| Not yet, I want to see what OS 4.0 will offer first. | 21873 (28.5%) |
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| No, I'm waiting for HP's Slate or some other Win7 device. | 19168 (25.0%) |
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| No, I'm holding out for a Chrome OS tablet. | 8990 (11.7%) |
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| What's an iPad? | 12259 (16.0%) |
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posted March 12th 2010 8:30AM
Click bait. Doh!
@etwashoo
This one is going to blow up real good.
@etwashoo
where is the "f*** that" option?
@etwashoo
Mine's already on eBay
@etwashoo
I preordered 2.
1 for my mom
2 for my twin siblings.
Hopefully OS 4.0 or a future one will allow multitasking.
Either way though I'm sure they'll enjoy the crap out of it.
@wack
Or even the option called, "No, I'm holding out for a tablet that looks like it'll actually do something a netbook can't." Engadget's poll options are just the worst.
@TheLionOfAzzalle Don't old your breath on the multi-tasking thing. I own a 3g iPhone and I can tell you that when it's searching for email in the background my phone practically comes to a dead stop. If that's any indication of their ability to multi-task, I'll stick with using only one app at a time. I would however be nice if you could pause an application instead of having to restart it though.
I will not be purchasing an iPad because I don't really understand how it would fit into my life. I have a laptop that sits on the table next to the couch, a desktop across the room, and an iPhone that's always in my pocket.
@TheLionOfAzzalle
I preordered 2.
1 for my mom
2 for my twin siblings
1+2=2?
@etwashoo
I'm embarrassed to be part of species so uneducated that at least 2,000 of it's members have pre-ordered this absolute piece of junk.
@think before you react
Sorry my bad. I was original only getting 2. Changed my mind after seeing the news about books and the new interactive way they're going to be presenting them.
I think it will be a wondeful device.
And no I'm not going to hold my breath for Apple to release multitasking.
Apple will do it when it's goddamn ready to. They don't exist to serve the Apple Haters.
@etwashoo catering to customers - look at the comments on this thread compared to the others. Business smarts.
I'm on the edge. I'd like a good pdf reader, the e-ink readers are too slow and have no color, and so the purported snappy performance is a plus. However I'd want to have multiple pdfs open at once and be able to jump back and forth between them, so unless some multitasking rolls out I'll have to pass.
The other thing that makes me hesitant is that I want a larger screen. The iPad is one of the larger screens being released this year, but I'd like to ultimately see a 14" screen. Once I can get a an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper shown to scale then I'll eagerly slap my money down.
@wack
where is the "No" option...
@etwashoo
I don't understand. Everyone properly bashes the iPad, yet when the "survey" runs, the Apple products are always in the lead. Where do these votes come from?
@TheLionOfAzzalle Why don't you get them an iPhone. At least they'll be able to call you.
@reader1
I agreed with the first two statements.
But the third statement, "It's basically the opposite of 9-11," is outrageous.
Now, as I follow engadget regularly, I'm familiar with your name and that you make some funny and stupid comments. Your third statement was not funny and entirely stupid. A tragedy such as 9/11 should not be held with disrespect and should only ever be compared, if ever, with other tragedies like the bombing of the U.S. Embassy.
I understand the polar opposite idea you were trying to convey, but I have to say, it did not work well, and reminded me of something I wish never happened to ANYONE in ANY COUNTRY.
@reader1 I almost reported you because down-voting you wasn't bad enough.
@Sean Connery Well, those of us who prefer the "NO" option haven't been able to vote yet. That's "NO" engadget. It seems like the only people singing the praises of this giant iPod touch are the media. Do you think they have a vested interest in the success of this product? Lol. March on lemmings.
@Sean Connery
49 to 51 against.
And that's if you give all of the "wait" folks to the "yes".
35.3 to 64.8 against if you split the wait folks evenly.
@Sean Connery We didn't feel the need to defend a product?
@LAY
Difference is 90% of the yes will probably an ipad. Whereas, 5% of those who say they are waiting for win 7 and Android will ever buy any product. That's really the crux of the matter.
I bet if you did a survey for the iPhone you'd get around 5% yes and 70% yes for windows and android. But we all know that's not what happens. In the end the 5% ends up bring more buyers than the 70%. The ipad numbers are very high for Apple. Almost seems too high to me.
@munchies We are all just ashamed that you found your way online.
@etwashoo
I like how the "No" selection is broken up into several categories, in order to not make it look so bad for the iPad. A simple yes/no would have it at 80% saying no.
@munchies
I'm embarrassed by the lack of education of some commentators. FYI:
its = possesive pronoun
it's = contraction for it is or it has
@wack Seriously, I still don't see the need for this "thing" between a smartphone and a netbook. It's as pointless as a St. Patricks Day card.
@CtrlBurn Yeah. Where is the option for holding out for a Tegra 2 tablet like the Notion Ink Adam?!
Currently, I have just a smartphone, no laptop. So the iPad was looking sweet at first but I'm not looking to get a laptop as well if I were to buy one of these. I want this to be my laptop/smartphone/etc. Really, I've been using a iTouch for sometime now so I've gotten use to the "operating in one app at a time" thing so thats no problem. It just would have been really nice if this thing had a damn camera, front facing to be exact. I would have dropped $500 easily. Now I'll just have to look out next year to see what they release....which is a long ass time...
@dfreeindy This isn't true! I have a 3GS, and I see absolutely no drop in performance surfing the internet or using any other app even when downloading movies or songs. Maybe something is wrong with your 3GS, but it multi-tasks great.
@jaffreywali
"Difference is 90% of the yes will probably an ipad. Whereas, 5% of those who say they are waiting for win 7 and Android will ever buy any product. That's really the crux of the matter."
That is such illogical nonsense, it doesnt even warrant a further correction.
@harpy You don't need multitasking- well- *that* kind of multitasking to view multiple PDFs :) You just need an app written that does that, and that's a pretty easy one to write.
@dfreeindy yes but is the ipad using a beefier processor, does it have more ram etc. that would change the game on the multitasking.
also, thank you for a valid and polite argument against your choice to buy one. I'm not a fanboy but I have been very irritated by all the 'it's a piece of crap, you are idiots' going around. It might fit some folks lives, be worth the cost etc. If it is great. They will have fun. It doesn't fit for you and you stated that. And only that. No judgement on anyone else.
That said, I'm not ordering until I can see one. I have a nephew that it might work for when the family travels and such. He's 10 and very responsible so I'm not worried about a high risk of accident. But I need to see the size and weight and UI to see if it would drive him crazy cause he's a little ADD and will get bored if it's too hard, too heavy etc.
@Mack Stone I predict that you are right.... maybe.
@TonyMontana2367 Same here. Come and get it Apple fanboys before they sell out of pre-orders.
Rumor has it, there will only be 300k at launch day. So good luck...
@Sean Connery
The one's that are most vocal tend to be the minority. Isn't that how it always goes?
@Sean Connery
They come from folks that Cant afford to Purchase them so Of course they will Put it down.. Kinda Like I'll take My Chevy Malibu any day over one of those Inferior Mercedes Vehicles..
@think before you react
2+2=KFC
@jaleman
Because the question is if you are going to get the iPad. Why would 'yes' require sub-categories?
No, however should have several options because they want to know why you say no.
Duh!
@wack
I was thinking the same thing, or just a simple "NO" option would be fine.
@Sean Connery
Dunno 007, maybe it has something to do with this:
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_tops_consumer_reports_customer_service_survey/
@CtrlBurn
This is a tablet agnostic comment.
Here's something a netbook can't do with it's pissy little screen.
Be useful in portrait mode so you CAN work with a page of text and not just a paragraph.
Any tablet can do that.
Here's another, not get closed or be hanging out dangerously on your hand when moving from one office to another. Tablets keep working and are carried like a folder.
Here's another since tablets from the days of yore. They don't have puny trackpads that barely fit a finger with button placement all askew to try and cram it all in when the teeny screen closes like a dolls house. Nah tablets let you use the whole device.
Tablets also do one other thing heaps better than any netbook. Bust your elbow after hanging on to the stupid thing for hours every day so you can use it. An intended side effect is non-warranty screen damage repairs making a pretty packet after sale for the builder.
Heh, just to you know, provide balanced commentry.
@TonyMontana2367 LOL
@TheLionOfAzzalle Why was his comment down-ranked? Too many Apple haters on here.
@TonyMontana2367 you gone learn about ordering stuff on ebay you gonna get a maxi pad with an i symbol on it
@Sean Connery
Do you realize that the poll shows that 80% of voters are not going to order the product in its current state?
That looks like rejection to me, though to be fair the ipad looks like a fun thing to play around with. But for productivity AND fun give me the courier.
@Charlik I have a Plam Pre that has roughly the same specs as the iPhone 3GS and it multi-tasks just fine.
The problem isn't the hardware, it's the OS. I don't know why Apple doesn't want you to multi-task, but until they do, you won't. It's typical of Apple's locked-down, total-control approach to everything.
Why can't you use a bluetooth keyboard with an iPhone (without jailbreaking it)? Because for some reason Apple doesn't want you to, even though the hardware is more than capable. That's my whole problem with their approach. They want you to use their devices they way THEY want you to use them, not the way YOU want to use them.
Say what you want about Microsoft (and believe me I have no love for them), but at least they offer you choices about how to use your hardware.
@Nicnac
If the question is "Are you getting an iPad?" then there are no subcategories needed at all. This is my point, entirely. A yes/no question should ONLY have yes or no as options. Any added categories are usually used to dilute the results. IF the pollster was interested in the reason for a no answer (and one can argue that there is just as much value in looking at the reasons for a yes answer as well), this should be done in a follow-up question.
Duh!
@TheLionOfAzzalle
you suck ass
@dfreeindy
uhm u too can haz 3gs..... Just sayin.. It's a world of difference
@wack
Yeah. I would have chosen "I think a pad is a terrible form factor." I still don't get what is good about slapping a screen as an input method. For my phone, voice input works better. For my computer, the keyboard and mouse are quite efficient. Poking at the screen with either device is sub-par. A device built around that UI seems silly, to me.
@wack how about the "i have no intention of buying a tablet" option?