Steve Jobs finally unveiled (here in San Francisco) Apple's latest gadget: the Apple iPAD !

Scroll near bottom of link to watch the video of Job's iPad announcement.

Scott

It's got potential and could be a Kindle killer? Maybe. Scott I'm at work so I have just read some scattered reports, my question is do you have purchase a data plan with the Wi-Fi only option or is a data plan required ?

Hi Steve. Not sure, but guessing a data plan is ONLY required if you opt for the 3G version of the iPad. Only time will tell if the iPad will rein over Kindle or not. Either way, it's great to finally see Apple come out with an 'all in one' Tablet PC/eReader/phone device promoting further competition & innovation in this area. I suspect this 'all in one' tablet device approach portends the demise of Freehand's MusicPad Pro Device.

Scott

And Scott, MUCH cheaper than I thought it would be...Looks good!!

On our news this morning they are saying $500 USD for the base model, which is quite reasonable.

Dennis

Scott,
I think you're on to something

Right Scott/ Steve, but of course the pad is a 12 inch screen. Maybe they will create an app that would be great on this ipad.

[This message has been edited by PraiseTheLord (edited 01-27-2010).]

I agree with that. But I think that there will continue to be a high end market for Music Pad Maestro with which you can view two full sized pages at once: http://www.wwbw.com/Freehand-Freehand-Musicpad-Maestro-Digital-Sheet-Music-Pad-241899-i1432347.wwbw.

Beakybird

Good gosh, that is highway robbery! $3600! That thing could probably be used as a teleprompter type lyric display on the floor, so the audience doesn't notice it. But at $3600? Hmmm...

Almost everything Apple ever released became MUCH better with the second or third version. iPod, MacBook, iMac, you name it...

To be honest, I think they are missing one VERY important feature that even their blasted iPod Nano has, let alone the iMac or MacBook Pro... A video camera! This would be the killer app, IMO. Video conferencing, the personal videophone, a personal journal recorder... With the 3G option, it's frame rate ought to be pretty spectacular.

Why did Apple miss this..? They obviously thought that video recording (even more so than audio recording, strangely), on the iPod Nano was a feature that everyone would appreciate. So why not the iPad?

I'm a big Mac fan, as most here know, but even I'm not tempted quite yet. Wait for the 2G or 3G version, IMO...

The only people that could afford it would be members of high paying orchestras, but there is no other product that I have seen that offers two full pages of electronic display.

Beakybird

I'm actually disappointed. The hype this thing has been getting and the 3D renders looked fantastic, but the actual device is very disappointing.

So basically it's just a big ass Apple iTouch which still doesn't have any multitasking ability, no flash, will only run apps from the store apps and worst of all, no camera in sight for video calling over skpye or other systems like that.

Regards
James

Actually the screen at 9.7 inches is significantly smaller than the musicpad which is 12.

How about a net book ($299), a 21" monitor ($120), and a pdf viewer (0$)?

Also the digital frames are increasing in size and coming down in price.

Regards,

Jerry

I'm with James. I don't see any value in this.., and I think they're overpriced for what they "don't have" when compared to netbooks that sell for much less.

What I also find shocking is the capacity sizes for the models. They're what.., 16GB/32GB/64GB. This new iPad is nothing more than a large iPod Touch.

You can buy an HP netbook at Walmart with a 1.66ghz proc., 1 gig ram, 10.1" monitor (wide screen), 160gig hard-drive, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Integrated web cam, 5 in 1 digital media reader, all for less than $300.

I've got the 3rd generation iPod touch.., and I don't see anything on this new iPad that would make me want it over my iPod.., nor anything on it that would drive me to choose it over a netbook.



[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 01-28-2010).]

oops (double post)

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 01-28-2010).]

Initial speculative rumor was that the Apple iPad might include an OLED Display. No such luck. Hopefully the 2nd gen IPad will.

That said, I'm interested in a comparison between these 3 emerging new screen display technologies:

1) Electronic Ink (E Ink) : ie: Amazon Kindle
2) OLED display ie: Motorola Droid & Google Nexus One cellphones
3) Super Twist Display (Tyros3?)

Which of these new display types deliver the best outdoor (in sunlight) viewability, and the widest viewing angle?

- Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 01-28-2010).]

here is another that uses a plastic screen:

http://www.plasticlogic.com/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8446959.stm

TWD


[This message has been edited by Tonewheeldude (edited 01-28-2010).]

The thing is, it's the APPS which will drive this thing's popularity...

When the iPhone first came out, I was aghast at how expensive it was for how little it did. But then after a few years of developers coming up with REALLY useful apps, it's now a must have piece of technology for many.

Wait and see. Firstly, for the iSight camera to be added, then to see what clever people can think of to make it do... Jobs redefined what we expect a phone to do for us. I would be very surprised if this device doesn't redefine what we expect a super slim, super sexy 1.5 lbs. tablet can do, too...

Yes it probably will improve generation by generation.

I'm thinking Apple (obviously, quite deliberately) didn't include any sort of Camera, so as to not steal potential sales away from their Macbooks - or hell, even their iMacs.

It seems to me, at that relatively low price point, if they added in Webcam/Video recording functionality (something that would extend to Skype and other apps) many people would be tempted to buy - an admittedly higher spec - version of this thing, and NOT the aforementioned Macbooks for instance.

They've got cameras in iPhones, and video cameras in iPod Nano's... I don't think Apple is too worried about losing sales on their home/office computer lines by including these on smaller, cheaper products.

It will come... I'm already seeing the lack of a video camera as one of the #1 things that Mac forums and websites are criticizing it for.

And, to repeat, NO Apple product has ever been great at launch. They are always more the product you actually NEED by 2G or 3G versions....

Give me a 12 inch version of this and I'd be the happiest man ever. http://www.archos.com/products/nb/archos_9/index.html?country=ie&lang=en

Regards
James

Look, if you are in the pit of a Philharmonic orchestra, the Music Pad Maestro 1) fits on a stand made for it, and with the tap of a foot or the tap of a finger, will advance one page forward. A digital frame doesn't have the page advance and search functions that a Music Pad Maestro would have. A net book has some problems too, including aesthetic problems and the potential that a violinist might bump into the keyboard as he's leaning forward to read the music.

I think the Maestro would be better if it had e-ink like the Kindle that doesn't strain the eyes as much as a LCD, especially if you spend hours each day reading music.

Beakybird

But iPhones and iNanos aren't of the same size or of the same level of functionality as a Macbook.

The iPad is much more in line size-wise and ability (and in the public's perception) as a Notebook/Laptop. Hence my reasoning.