So what did you guys think of the iPad?  I thought it’s just a really big iPod Touch.  I mean, everything that the iPad can do, the iPod can do too, just smaller.  The iPad can hold hundreds of books!  Well, so can the iPod Touch.  You can surf the web with it! Well, the iPod can too.  In fact, go to the iPad’s feature page on Apple.com and it reads just like an iPod.  Really, that’s it?  No video conferencing (or more importantly, no camera)?  No pressure-sensitive touchscreen? (That would make the Brushes program worth something)  No GPS? (That makes the compass functionality kinda worthless)

What Apple did do is polish that thing like crazy.  From the way the user interacts with photos and book pages, etc is all pretty slick.  But, again, do I really need that when my iPod Touch is adequate enough?  And the thing can fit in my pocket where I need a bag for the iPad.

I dunno, what do you guys think?  (Will I get ANY responses?!

Can’t afford an iPhone, can’t afford this. Only use for a tablet I have is as a cheap cintiq.

I think it’s sort of neat… and might eventually get one… since it would replace like 95% of the stuff I do on my computer when I’m not working. Sure the iPod touch does everything but smaller… and that’s sort of the point… the touch is too small to be a “home use” device, no matter how awesome it is on the road I use my MBP at home because I love a bigger screen.

BUT.

I don’t agree with Apple, it’s not really better at anything than either the iPhone or the MBP… it’s just more “convenient” for couch surfing. It still can’t beat my 1920x1200 17” display and real keyboard on the MBP ... it’s just better for sinking down in the sofa casually snuffing away on the web.

I would rather get one for use with my digital cameras on the road, especially if they release an Aperture light for it… because it would be way more portable than my MBP and still better for such a task than an iPhone/iPod that can basically only act as storage space.

The pricing is actually decent. I’ll give them that…. and that’s probably the only reason I haven’t discarded the idea of getting one in the future completely yet.

It’s another convergence device. I can think of a few examples where I’d love a bigger screen than the iPhone, but without lugging around my laptop. Lots of productivity uses for this I think. Not to mention books, but what about magazines? Also thinking about LAN gaming on this thing. By version 2 or 3 and perhaps a small price drop, it will probably hit its stride. By comparison the first iPhone was lacking in numerous features until the iPhone 3G came along, even more recently the 3G price drop to $99….

gorilla, it does have GPS on the 3G model made for cellular connectivity. But as you pointed out I also think its biggest flaw is the lack of, at the very least, a front-facing camera. Forget a camera on the back like the iPhone has; seems to be much too big to point and shoot pictures with. Got smaller and better cameras for that. However, there is absolutely no reason why this thing (which is almost entirely suited for Wi-fi) shouldn’t have the front facing camera and an iChat app for video conferencing. I’d love to see a Skype video app for the iPad. It appears almost perfect for that as it is for reading a book, etc. It’s such a damn shame. Perhaps someone will make a third-party camera to connect to it until Apple decides they “overlooked” this feature and adds it into version 2.

Jim - well, sorta. The 3G version has AGPS, which is not actual GPS… more like handicapped GPS.  Although some devices that have AGPS still have an actual GPS (wha?!).  I haven’t read anywhere that says the iPad’s AGPS contains an actual GPS or not.  So, it could have an actual GPS… but we won’t know for another 57 days.

I dunno… I’d like one, but a couple of things really irk me.  You absolutely must do one of two things to type on this thing: either use your lap or drop $70 for a stupid keyboard dock.  Setting this thing on a table and typing with the on-screen kb seems impossible with the curved back.  What the hell is with that?  Granted they didn’t mention if you could use an Apple Bluetooth keyboard with it… I’m guessing “not” is the answer though.

And the main screen is horrible.  That icon management may work for the iPhone and Touch, but on a huge screen like that, it seems like a complete waste of space.  There has to be a better way to access applications than the stupid “there it is” method.  And why can’t you have some freakin’ widgets on that main screen?!  I mean, really!  Apple goes through all that trouble to rip of Konfabulator and they don’t even bother to bring it over to the iPad.

This is a perfect example of “never buy first version of anything”.  Hopefully iPad2 has more unique features than “it’s bigger than an iPhone”.

I think it’ll do aight.