Apple announces the iPad

[radhak]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/20...-the-world.ars

... looks much like an oversized iPhone. It features an interface that essentially a hybrid between Mac OS X and iPhone OS. In addition to browsing the web, included applications also give users access to iTunes media, including HD video content, calendars, photos, contacts, and more. The built-in e-mail client also looks like a hybrid between Mail on the Mac and Mail on the iPhone. Text entry is done with a large, on-screen QWERTY keyboard, which seemed very responsive during Jobs' demo.

The iPad hardware itself is built using a custom Apple-designed chip dubbed the "A4," running at 1GHz. It also has a beautiful 9.7" IPS LCD display with full multi-touch input. It also packs in 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, accelerometer, compass, speaker, microphone, 30-pin dock connector, and between 16 and 64 gigabytes of storage, as well as a 10 hour battery capable of a full month of standby time. All of that hardware in contained in a case that is just half an inch thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds.

Let the frenzy begin all over again...

[radhak]

If you have the time on hand, and the inclination, much more info on the live blog by PCWorld : http://www.pcworld.com/article/18739...ml?tk=rel_news

See a lot of stuff displayed that could easily get into the 'cool' territory... or not!

[BrazosJake]

I hear you can buy it on the Apple Credit card, the "iPaid".

[pelligrini]

I thought an iPad was an apartment for hardcore Apple users?

It does look pretty cool. I've been wanting to get a Tablet-PC for a while. I hope this will create a resurgence in the Tablet-PC market.

[crokett]

Hmm... from the article I gather they are trying to create a market for this. That is oft a risky proposition.

[cabinetman]

I hope LOML doesn't get wind of this.
.

[jussi]

Another monthly service for 3G???!? I would have been tempted if not for that. They should have made it capable of tethering.

I'm guessing they're going after the Kindle and other e-book readers. As of now the Kindles gives you free internet access.

[scmhogg]

I think Apple is continuing their mistake of linking with ATT. I won't have an iphone or an ipad until they change. ATT is just a negative to me.

Steve

[Richard in Smithville]

Mad TV has already done it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Exyt2LD9o

[Nil]

I wonder if they'll have a version with wings? Seriously, who thinks of these names?

[Copper]

I'd almost give it a second thought. I'm an Apple user and the technology is cool (hopefully just a head start). However, they're touting this as the best way to surf the web and then they leave out Flash capabilities. It seems like half the content on the web uses Flash. It is quite typical that Apple releases something as advanced as this and then leaves out something that seems almost essential to its purpose. I'll get along just fine without it for now. Seems like a pretty slim market for this product.

[leehljp]

I thought an iPad was an apartment for hardcore Apple users?

If they come out with a larger version, will it be called the "Maxi-pad"? I personally am not fond of the "iPad" name itself.

On the other hand, my daughter loves e-books and this is a must have for her. For me, I know that many newspapers are dire straights; but national news does not give coverage like local news or local want ads / classifieds. My hometown paper has started charging for internet access to anything other than the front page. NYT is going that direction, WSJ is thinking of it and once this starts, localized and specialty news will follow suit. I can see some newspaper and bookstores offering the iPad at half price with a two year subscription to their newspaper, or with the purchase of an ebook a month over 2 years. I think Apple is hoping for this.

I hate carrying around and using a high powered laptop as my newspaper. While I made fun of the name, I would love to have a 12 inch size as my morning newspaper. I like my morning newspaper . . and that is dying out!

[crokett]

I wonder if they'll have a version with wings? Seriously, who thinks of these names?

I thought the same thing today. Seriously, I would get a netbook or tablet PC before this if I wanted something smaller and lighter than my laptop. I guess I need an actual computer to do actual work.

[dkerfoot]

Why would I want a giant iPhone? I personally see this as a dead end. Too big to be handy, too limited to replace a real computer.

[pierhogunn2]

okay, IPAD, neat Idea,
no flash . . . why? adobe has gone out of their way to make flash for mobile deviced... oh that's right, apple doesn't like run time engines or virtual machines...

no multitasking. . . huh? seriously, you mean that I can't run pandora, and safari, or a chat program at the same time?

no front facing camera... really? why not?

no sd card, or micro-sd card slot... you have to be kidding me

You can have any color that you want, as long as it's black...

I was hoping to be excited about this new tablet, but sadly not... I get almost all of these features and more from my 2 year old smart phone... except the front facing camera ( that's sprint's fault not HTC's)

steve, go back to the drawing board