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
@Leindurstit
Indeed. I thought exactly the same thing when I considered replacing my 14" TV with a 50" one. Good job I dodged that bullet...
@Kelmon LOL
I have to say I was a little excited upon hearing about an apple tablet. I was close in purchasing a tablet for my latest notebook. I decided against it since the touch features didn't add any daily useful functions.
I never purchased an apple computer but was curious to see if apple could make a the touch apsect of the tablet more useful. Needless to say that my I interest in purchasing my first apple computer upon realizing not only did it not come with a keyboard, but the fact it's not a full OS but a hybrid of an iPhone OS.
Posting from a highly satisfied iPhone 1g owner on T-Mobile.
Negative ghost rider, the wallet is full. And I want it to stay that way.
No.
- Sent from my HTC HD2
They overcharge per gb.
They GOUGE for a 3g card.
It's insulting.
And.. on a netbook, I can not only type!, but I have a built in LCD protector.
"No, I'm waiting for HP's Slate or some other Win7 device."
People are actually voting for this option? Are they nuts? Somehow I don't think people are being truthful. No one bought Tablet PCs in the past and they won't buy them in the future either since they will inevitably be rubbish. Bring on a proper Microsoft tablet, i.e. the Courier.
@Kelmon
I voted for that because it was the closest option to a Courier.
@Kelmon
I have a tablet PC.
And honestly, since I'm cheap, I will likely get one off of Ebay again, and just install Win7 on it.
Courier is interesting though.
@LAY
Interesting. Do you mind me asking why you bought a Tablet PC rather than a normal laptop? My problem with Tablet PCs is simply that the software running on them is designed to be interacted with by a mouse and keyboard so I think the touch interface is wasted.
@Kelmon
Tell me, what is the difference between "software designed to be interacted with a mouse" and the websites people will access with their iPads/iPhones? I'm being told it's the way the web is meant to be accessed by Jobs yet you're telling me anything designed with a mouse in mind is useless on it.
@Kelmon
"Interesting. Do you mind me asking why you bought a Tablet PC rather than a normal laptop?"
The biggest reason was that, after having a laptop, I found that working on things or browsing the internet, while reclining in a chair, was not comfortable. Also, I buy and resell vintage items as a side income and I wanted a device that I could walk around and use as naturally as a pen and paper, to scribble notes, and look things up on the internet.
"My problem with Tablet PCs is simply that the software running on them is designed to be interacted with by a mouse and keyboard so I think the touch interface is wasted."
Well a mouse only moves a pointer that is already on the screen, so the only difference is that, in my case, I'm using a pen to point to exactly where I want to go.
As for keyboards, I use the handwriting recognition feature on Windows, and rarely find myself needed to use the on screen keyboard. To access that, all I have to do is preform a simple "scribble" gesture on the screen.
Interacting with the software isnt really even an issue since using a thin stylus, as opposed to my fat fingers, results in precise pointing and selecting. I honestly see MS making the OS "finger friendly" as a real dumbing down, that will result in making the "experience" too simplistic for real work to take place.
@Tes
To be fair, that is a good point. One of the fundamental differences in interface design for devices like the iPad is that anything that is expected to be interacted with (i.e. pushed, dragged, whatever) needs to look like it is designed to be interacted with. You cannot rely, for example, on a cursor hovering over a widget so that it can change shape or display a prompt. In this respect you are absolutely correct that the web is not really touch-enabled. However, I expect that will change over coming years and in the meantime web designers will need to start considering that the user may be using a touch interface.
@LAY
OK, fair enough. While I am not a fan of styluses (theoretically I learned my lesson with my Palm V but then bought a Pocket PC) I can see why the Tablet PC fits your uses. However, I can't say that I agree that using fingers represents a "dumbing down" but rather it simply means that the interface of applications need to change. In some respects a stylus would indeed allow for more precise control but I also suspect that it is an incentive to try and pack more "stuff" in there and complicate things more than necessary. What I like about devices like the iPad is that they force developers to think about how someone would interact with their application via touch and how best it can take advantage of that. That can only be a good thing.
I will buy it when I get to play with it at a store.
@brown like dookie "A fool and his money are soon partying" :D
You know, when creating a poll like this one, you should also include a "no, not interested at all". Not everyone want to buy a tablet :P
@Atkins
What about people who don't want a tablet but want to see the results of the poll?
What about people who want to buy a NotionInk Adam (like me), which is an Android tablet?
What about the people who are waiting to see what the 2nd gen will bring?
Why can't Engadget ever have a "No, other" or "Maybe, other" option for their polls?
Can't afford it, iSuck :(
@brown like dookie They just wanted to try to "spread" the no... Probably predicting the extreme no'es that would deluge the site ;)
From now it is just 24,3% yes... That is such a low expectation for a device that was so much hyped here as the next jesus incarnation...
And be sure that the hardcore Apple guys voted first thing they saw.
I guess it is a fail compared to:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/01/nokia-asks-own-blog-readers-whats-their-favorite-part-of-the-x6/
I'll be getting one. I'm not pre-ordering though. I have enough games/software bought for my iPhone already that will be great while laying in bed, and I will read a few books here and there on it as well. Most likely it will replace my CULV laptop as my primary computing device while at home.
Where is my baseball bat? Please throw the ipad so that I can make it fly
@jfrschnell
iBat
No, thank you.
Already did.... at 7:30.
@Kie
I waited until 1:30
(had to, because I'm currently in the UK).
Just ordered three, one for me to keep for free after selling the other two on Ebay =D
*Gives the finger to years and years of Mediocre Windoze tablets from Microblows*
so many jealous PC fanboys in here
No, I wouldn't buy one. Who wants a big castrated iPhone?
@69camaroSS
I do! I do!
@69camaroSS
Well, considering how good I think the iPhone is, making the screen bigger for home use should be pretty great.
The fact that I've never met someone who wasn't in love with their iPhone makes me think that the customer satisfaction ratings for the iPad will be similarly high.
Some of the comments here make it sound like the iPhone/iPod are horrible devices that shackle and enslave their owners. The nerd world is so different than reality :)
@69camaroSS hahaha seems that more people want an HP slate than iPad
23.8% for hp slate and 22.9% for iPad :P
@Atkins
If you listened to the nerds, you'd think that the only purpose for a computer is to multitask. "Multitask what?" you might ask. Hulu and video chat of course!
To nerds, it's more about what you CAN do than what you actually do with your machine.
@ebgolfin
The reality is that the iPhone serves its purpose well. The iPad is a castrated iPhone with no camera or calling features. It's true purpose is an internet device, yet it doesn't play flash. Hmmmm. . . or an E-reader, yet it doesn't have a display that won't burn your eyes off. Hmmmm. . . seems it's not good at either of the things it is meant to do, unlike the iPhone which serves its purpose well. So, enjoy paying for content that is free already on the internet. I'll pass.
@ebgolfin
If the world listened to nerds, they'd realize they were victims of over-hyped marketing and cost-cutting decisions.
@69camaroSS
1. You're assuming that the only internet worthwhile is an internet full of Flash. With YouTube working on the iPad, and a Hulu app in the pipeline, you're going to have a hard time with that argument. With native apps, Flash games are pathetic by comparison. I've never missed Flash on my iPhone and I can't see why I would want it on the iPad.
2. Ahh, the video camera. Suddenly, video chat has become a killer app. Really? I don't know anyone who cares about or uses video chat. I love how it's now a dealbreaker for the people that never planned on buying an Apple product anyway.
@Mr w00t
There's a HUGE difference between people that put their money where their mouths are and people who say they're 'waiting' for a certain product to be released.
Doesn't meant they will buy the slate once it launches. Not at ALL
@ebgolfin
"1...With native apps, Flash games are pathetic by comparison. I've never missed Flash on my iPhone and I can't see why I would want it on the iPad."
Browsing the internet on "mobile" sites on a 3inch screen is vastly different than on a ten-inch screen, looking at actual websites that require flash to get to menu items, and view audio and video clips.
Now, if you are going to not miss Flash on a 10-inch screen, then why do you still run it on your normal desktop?
And why do you think the general public is going to tolerate not having it on a 400+ machine that is supposed to be running a normal web browser?
"2. Ahh, the video camera. Suddenly, video chat has become a killer app. Really? I don't know anyone who cares about or uses video chat. I love how it's now a dealbreaker for the people that never planned on buying an Apple product anyway.""
Ok, what was one of the TOP things people were hoping for before the iPad debuted?
A FRONT FACING CAMERA TO DO VIDEO CHAT
Now, of course, because it's not there, the completely predictable response:
"I don't know anyone who cares about or uses video chat."
is tossed...until Apple includes it in some later version, of which I can assure you it will be trumpeted as a GREAT thing!
@ebgolfin
Who said anything about video chat. How about just a camera. hmmmm. . . I'm out and about with my iPad and want to take a picture, so I have to pull a miniature replica out of my pocket of the device that is currently in my hands to take the picture. Doesn't that seem a bit absurd to you?
As far as Flash goes, you are a moron if you think an Internet experience without Flash equals one with Flash. If it's so unnecessary, then why is it supported in OSX? Flash is a lot more than just Hulu and games. Again, the iPad is suppose to give you the best internet experience available. FAILS!!!!
@69camaroSS
It's all just marketing hype, isn't it? Give me a break.
@LAY
Ahh, I was waiting for you. You love posting in here.
Anyway, on your assumption on me running Flash. I run it on Windows 7 but don't on Ubuntu. I don't notice unless I want to view YouTube. Sorry, I don't spend my internet time watching television or playing pathetic little time-wasting games.
The camera is stupid. If it had one, it would hardly ever get used. It's just something that it doesn't have, and hence it's fodder for people like you who want to point out shortcomings. I mean look, the guy above just said he wants to pull out his iPad to snap a picture. That is completely absurd. Do people pull netbooks out of their bags to snap photos? I've never seen such silliness but I'm sure there's some uber-nerd out there that has tried it.
@69camaroSS
I don't use OSX so I wouldn't know. The operating system doesn't provide the software support I need, and so I don't consider it. You shouldn't go around calling people morons, either.
I know it's hard for you to believe, but Flash just isn't a big concern for some people.
@ebgolfin
"Anyway, on your assumption on me running Flash. I run it on Windows 7 but don't on Ubuntu. I don't notice unless I want to view YouTube. Sorry, I don't spend my internet time watching television or playing pathetic little time-wasting games. "
Ok. Guess what? Lots of sites that do more than "play games" use flash in order for people to interact with them. Many times the Flash isnt in your face, but it is there.
"The camera is stupid. If it had one, it would hardly ever get used."
Ok, who are you again? How do you know this? Especially seeing it was Apple fans hoping to get one on there, and it again, was one of the top things people were wishing for. But again you got to just brush it off as inconsequential...until it's added later like copy & paste which I recall, was so "not needed" that the audience applauded wildly when it was finally announced.
" It's just something that it doesn't have, and hence it's fodder for people like you who want to point out shortcomings. I mean look, the guy above just said he wants to pull out his iPad to snap a picture. That is completely absurd. Do people pull netbooks out of their bags to snap photos?"
#1 this isnt a "netbook". It's supposed to be "halfway", right?
#2 Why shouldn't that be something you do with it? You expect people will just sit and read books on it. for $400 a camera (front or back) should have been a given. I wish my tablet had a built in camera just
"I've never seen such silliness but I'm sure there's some uber-nerd out there that has tried it. "
The old "I will brush off this as being a nerd thing in order to dismiss it" line.
@LAY
Again, I don't notice Flash being missing, so we must visit different sites.
I can't continue to argue with you about the camera thing. Yeah, Apple fans wanted to see a camera. Of course, there was no real distinction on whether it should go on the back or front - just that it had a camera. How about two cameras? You have some people that suddenly want to get into video chatting, or others that are going to whip it out and use it like a big cell phone camera. Nobody really knows how they'll use it, but boy that extra bullet point will look nice.
And yes, I will brush off some of this stuff as simply being too nerdy. That's the reality of the situation. Holding up tablets to take pictures is ridiculous.
@ebgolfin
Look, I understand that you can get by with a lot, but my whole point is that there is no good reason to put out a new product that doesn't have all these features. The tech is there, but Apple left it out to maintain profit margin and control content. So the consumer, you, suffer, unknowingly it seems, for no other reason than greed. You should be able to go to a website and get everything out of it. You shouldn't have to settle for a second thought work around experience, because Steve Jobs and company doesn't like Flash. Why is a computer company like Apple making decisions to control what you do on the internet? To make more money at the expense of your freedom, and to support that will lead to more manufacturer following suite.
@ebgolfin
"Do people pull netbooks out of their bags to snap photos? I've never seen such silliness but I'm sure there's some uber-nerd out there that has tried it. "
hehehehehhehe....n1n1n1n1n...!!!!
@ebgolfin
Obviously you do not live in the same century as I do. People take pics with their netbooks for blog post, Facebook pics, Myspace, etc... all the time.
@ebgolfin Well I want a camera, but not the end of the world... Still reserved my iPad...
Camera would make it better, but the reality is that some people want front facing (video chat) and others want rear facing (augmented reality). So unless Apple could add a camera that does both it might be better for if someone could build an attachment... I would just want it to be usable in any application that requires it... This would be possible btw since the GPS in the TomTom app can be used by any of the GPS apps.
Not buying one right now. I think the hardware + software package is a little weak right now for its price. I think its an interesting product and would be fun to own. I'm sure Apple will refresh the hardware in less than a year to make a more compelling price/functionality package.
I voted "No: I want a device that fits in my pocket. "