iPad Reviews
May 21st, 2010 at 9:31 AM EST | by inu846W
When I last wrote about the iPad — on the eve of its introduction by Apple — I was pretty much dead on in my speculation. I don’t say that to pat myself on the back — the writing was pretty much on the wall by then. No, I bring it up in order to mention what I missed. I said that even if the iPad turned out to be exactly what I envisioned, it would still be missing that “killer feature” — the ineffable something that would make it irresistible; something that would fill a need I didn’t even know existed yet. What I didn’t realize then — or for weeks after the iPad became a reality for that matter — was that I had identified that killer feature in the very same article in which I sought it.
Here’s what I said back then:
“That’s what I believe Apple’s going to unveil tomorrow….a whole new category of multi-purpose computing device. Heck, even take out the computing part from that description. To have the mass-market appeal that Apple will insist on in order to bring a device to market…it’s got to be something that isn’t perceived as a ‘computer,’ just like the iPod and iPhone aren’t perceived as computers.”
Read more: MacObserver.com
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May 20th, 2010 at 1:05 PM EST | by inu846W
A pair of new surveys from ChangeWave show that demand for the iPad has grown since the device hit the market in early April, while 91 percent of those who already bought one are satisfied with their purchase.
The results of the two surveys conducted in May were revealed Thursday by ChangeWave. One polled 3,174 consumers to measure future demand for the iPad, while a second survey of 153 new iPad owners set out to discover their impressions of the device.
In the larger study of general consumers, 7 percent of respondents said they are "very likely" to buy an iPad, while another 13 percent said they are "somewhat likely." That’s the highest level of consumer interest ChangeWave has seen in the iPad to date.
In February, a previous survey from the same company found that 4 percent of respondents were "very likely" to buy, and 9 percent said they were "somewhat likely." While those numbers were lower than the current totals, they were also higher than the pre-release demand for the iPhone based on a 2007 survey.
Among those polled in ChangeWave’s May survey, 245 identified themselves as currently owning an e-reader. Among those, 62 percent currently have an Amazon Kindle, versus 16 percent for the iPad — just weeks after the hardware’s release.
A major change from the February survey came in the form of content read on e-readers. The introduction of the iPad resulted in spikes of newspaper, magazine and blog reading on portable e-readers. Both online newspaper and magazine reading were up 7 percent, while blogs increased 1 percent.
Read more: AppleInsider.com
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May 19th, 2010 at 9:34 AM EST | by inu846W
Once developers truly get what the iPad is about, watch out
by Andy Ihnatko, Macworld.com
The iPad itself is nothing but a support system for its software. Years ago, a company — I think it was Exidy — tried to sell software as just a plastic bag full of electrons but they encountered considerable consumer resistance. Ever since then, no company has been so bold as to try to sell apps without some sort of computer out there for it to run on.
And the iPad is certainly the single most software-focused computer on the market. Apple emphatically makes this point with every step of the iPad’s design: it’s a picture frame for software. And like a real picture frame, if you take notice of the frame instead of the software then something’s definitely gone wrong somewhere. Either you’ve got a gaudy picture frame or you’ve got deathly dull kids who will probably make their living designing tax forms or standing outside telling people where they can’t park their cars.
The iPad has been available for a few weeks now and I’m disappointed to find that one of my predictions seems to be coming true: the iPad won’t truly be “out” for another few months, when developers have finally had enough time with a real iPad in their hands to design true iPad-focused apps. Most of the freshman class seem to be either embiggened editions of iPhone hits or apps that bear the fingerprints of mouse-and-keyboard user interface design.
Read more: MacWorld.com
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May 13th, 2010 at 7:58 AM EST | by inu846W
Apple is advertising the iPad in a new spot that breaks from previous iPod an iPhone product ads to present the new device as magical and revolutionary.
The new spot, which Apple today posted to YouTube, asks “What is iPad?”
It then portrays users interacting with the thin new tablet, noting that it is “thin, beautiful, goes anywhere, and lasts all day.”
Read more: AppleInsider.com
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May 10th, 2010 at 6:49 AM EST | by inu846W
So, now that both versions of the iPad are out and available, it’s probably time to ask the question: does a device like this replace another computer, or is it an entirely new category? Back during the announcement, Jobs was adamant that it was definitely a netbook replacement (“Netbooks aren’t better than anything,” he said then), but could it even replace notebook computers? According to a new survey, 44% of iPad purchasers say they won’t be buying a notebook because of the device. That’s not the only computing category taking a hit, either. The same survey found that 41% said they didn’t need an iPod touch because of the iPad, and 27% said they wouldn’t even need a desktop computer.
Now, obviously a survey is a temporary screenshot of people who have just spent $500 on a computer. Just because people say they won’t need a new computer in a few years doesn’t mean that they won’t. Likewise, netbook sales are supposedly dropping off already. After reaching a high last year, they crashed in January after the announcement and then again when the iPad released. The statistics student in us points out that cause doesn’t necessarily imply effect, though (and sure enough, the iPad wasn’t actually announced until 17 days after the NPD data citing the netbook drop in interest). This is early, early research, and the actual effect the iPad will have on other markets isn’t clear yet.
Read more: TUAW.com
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May 7th, 2010 at 5:19 PM EST | by inu846W
Still searching for that perfect Mother’s Day gift for your mom or wife? Why not get her an iPad?
Buy Mom a computer? You’re kidding me, right? The iPad’s versatility lends itself to some computer-like comparisons. And a natural response to this would be: "Who would want a computer for a Mother’s Day gift? That’s tacky." This would be similar to Al Bundy buying Peggy a bowling ball, only because he wanted it for himself.
Except that it isn’t just a computer. As a consumption device, the iPad can also be seen as an appliance. No matter where you put it, it doesn’t seem too out of place, and blends in with its surroundings well. This versatility, coupled with its ease-of-use, could make it an ideal gift for mom.
Now getting an iPad alone would be tacky. There’s little thought behind it. Why not go the extra mile and customize an iPad for her? This will take some legwork, however. But who cares. This is for Mom, right?
Buying the iPad
First things first: buying the iPad. Sure, you can get one from your local Apple store, but why not try to save yourself a couple of bucks and get a used one? After all, you’ll need to open the box to customize it anyway, so she won’t know — and shouldn’t care — if you bought it used or new.
In the past week, I’ve seen a noticeable flow of WiFi-only iPads up for sale on Craigslist, as many are being displaced by 3G iPads. Because the WiFi-only iPad has only been in the market for roughly a month, and because its use is more wear and tear prohibitive than say, an iPhone, you’ll likely find many an iPad in very good condition. And if it comes with original packaging, great. If not, don’t sweat it. It’s what’s inside that counts most.
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