Apple introduces the iPad

January 27, 2010, 11:07am PST | Length: 00:03:40
At an Apple press event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the iPad. The new mobile device is a half-inch thin and weighs 1.5 pounds. It's powered with a 1GHz Apple A4 chip and comes with 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The new device plays movies, music, TV shows, and acts as an e-reader. It will cost $499 for the 16GB version.

Transcript

Apple introduces the iPad

>> We would like to show it to you today for the first time and we call it the iPad.

Applause

>> So...

Applause

>> Let me show it to you now. This is what it looks like. I happen to have one right here and that is what it looks like, very thin, and it fits like this.

Applause

>> So...

Applause

>> Just to give you a little overview. It is very thin and you can change the background screen, the home screen to personalize it any way you want. People put their own photos on it I am sure, but we shipped a few and you can make it anything you want.

Pause

>> And what this device does is extraordinary. You can browse the web with it. It is the best browsing experience you've ever had. It is phenomenal to see a whole webpage right in front of you and you can manipulate with your fingers. It is unbelievably great. Way better than a laptop, way better than a smartphone and you can turn iPad any way you want, up, down, sideways, it automatically adjusts however you want to use it. And again, to see the whole web page is phenomenal. Right there holding the Internet in your hand. It's an incredible experience. Phenomenal for mail, want to focus in on a message, you can that, see your inbox. Again, just turn iPad sideways, get a different view on your mail, push the Compose window, a keyboard pops-up that's almost life size. It is a dream to type on. For photos, your albums are showing a stacks of photos, your albums or events, you can unfold them, look at all your photos, flip through them, got some great slide shows built in, it is a wonderful way to share your photos with friends and family. Built-in a calendar, you can see your month's activities or your day's activities, and everything in between. Built in a great address book for your contacts, have a great maps application which works with Google backend, show you maps, satellite views, zooming on things. iPad is an awesome way to enjoy your music collection and of course we have the iTunes Store built right into the iPad, so you can discover music, you can purchase it, movies, TV shows, podcasts, iTunes University, everything built right into the iPad. YouTube, you can watch YouTube on it including YouTube in high def now. They have got a lot of high def video. And of course it is awesome to watch TV shows and movies on it. So, that gives you a little overview of what the iPad can do.

==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====

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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
woodapple 20th Aug
It's good that they have thought about that. It was about time they did something. Thanks for sharing. Great input, thanks for all the interesting opinions, etc. Hopefully the site will attract more people. | Swiss Ger Backpack
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Problems so far...
Narg Updated - 27th Jan 2010
$499 is NOT agressive. $299 would be agressive. Especially without a front facing camera!

Bezel is to big around screen.

Resolution is probably too low.

Not 16x9

No SD card slot! BIG PROBLEM! sad

No USB port.

No mention yet of Flash support in browser!

I think I'll stick with my netbook for now...
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bluetooth stereo headset
jmpgolfer 27th Jan 2010
Does it have the capability for a bluetooth stereo
headset? The iphone is lacking this capability.
big negative for me.
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There's are more no's than that
T1Oracle 27th Jan 2010
No multi-tasking
No physical keyboard in a laptop sized device
No removable battery
No PC apps
...

I'm, sure this list will grow with time. :\
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
vivcraske 27th Jan 2010
I love it!

I think the iPad will do for eBooks what the iPod did for MP3s.

And I know two ways that the iPad is going to revolutionise how small businesses make money. I've just blogged a quick couple of thoughts about it - http://tinyurl.com/yc8av4v

What do you reckon?

Viv
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Umm... No.
lengs928 27th Jan 2010
What's so good about this device? The battery would be awful -- certainly nowhere near the eBook readers already out there that can last for days without needing to be recharged. And manipulating a webpage with your fingers (in lieu of a mouse) is incredibly infuriating to do. This is a terrible idea. I hope the members of the Apple cult eventually come around.
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It's a giant iPhone or iPad with the same OS installed. How revolutionary is that? NOT!!! ...and big isn't better when you have a device that has no protection for the screen like a laptop. Tablets in general have failed to reach the general public like net books. Mainly because of price and at $600 that isn't going to change.

This are for a niche market and won't sell guaranteed!!! ...unless they get below $300!

Cheap Netbooks are on the way from Google with their own 4G WiMax towers going on the roof of Walmarts Nationwide. You'll be hooked up instantly as you walk out the door. Believe it or not all people want to do is browse the web, make calls on Google Voice, dock it in their car to follow Google Mags and use the Cloud productively! grin
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So wait, the iPad is new because....what?
rs_jr Updated - 27th Jan 2010
So, from watching the video stream on Twit.tv, I don't understand how any of this is innovative. Just a couple of weeks ago (@ CES), people were announcing Touch-enabled Slate (i.e., the screen is removable) Netbooks...

So, if I take one of those (running Windows 7, not sure if there is a Linux equivalent on the Touch-enabled front) and I add iTunes or Zune for that fact, plus any Windows/Linux App that runs on a Netbook... then isn't that the same thing?

I mean the whole App-Store part is interesting, but a netbook has an App-Store too...it's called Best Buy, Amazon.com, Steam, etc.

And, when I want to get some real work done, I can put the Slate PC back into the dock and I have a netbook. The iPad can do that as well, with the keyboard dock, but....it's an underpowered Slate-based netbook...

What am I missing here (assuming that I don't care if it's a Mac, a Windows 7-based, or Linux-based..assuming it exist, touch-enabled machine)?

Edit
I forgot that I have to also add the Kindle PC application and to plug my cell phone (or Cell USB device) when I am mobile.

Oh, and my netbook has a camera the ability to hook USB-based peripherals, an actual wired connection (as well as wireless) if I want...
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Don't you understand? It doesn't matter
NonZealot 27th Jan 2010
People listed many perfectly valid reasons why the
iPhone v1 sucked but Apple sold millions of them.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter how much the iPad
sucks or how much better 5 year old devices are.
Ultimately, Apple's profits are all that matter.
The iPad will bring in the big bucks. Therefore,
the iPad is great.
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I guess....
rs_jr 27th Jan 2010
Maybe you are right, because it doesn't make any logical sense...to me, that is...

Ok, I will go back and stand near the flock (by the rest of the sheep) so that the herdsmen (IT Pundants and Apple, for the sake of Apple fans) don't notice that I am just not following the flock anymore.
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yep...
antbos55 27th Jan 2010
looks like an oversized ipod touch...
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Didn't you hear Steve...
UncleBubba 27th Jan 2010
"This is a magical device, at a breakthrough price."

It's Magical!!! It'll magically start sucking $499 out of peoples wallets!

Looks to me like the iSlab is a slightly enhanced, giant$500 iPod Touch. STILL no multitasking.
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Netbook
Ashtonian 27th Jan 2010
This is the second time netbooks have been given a bad rap.
My Acer Aspire One rocks for $299
I got another for $379 with WXGA because I wanted slighty more resolution.

iPad = iPhone but bigger
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re: Netbook
Epomerantz 3rd Apr 2010
I agree netbooks are a lot better and can do way more than tablets for about a fraction of the price. I am running linux (Mandriva) on my little netbook and besides the physical size, I feel like I have like 8gb RAM and a grade A GPU. Whatever the OS, it isn't quite as bad as people say it is (actually I love the keyboard more than anything, it makes me look like a speed daemon. The screen is a little small but now it just seems like other monitors are just too big. IDK I am in the process of converting my desktops as servers and leave myself a 15-inch laptop and a netbook. The best computers I could ever ask for.
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Bingo
Lester Young 27th Jan 2010
The removable screen slate is the true innovation that optimizes functionality of the netbook form factor. The iPad seems to combine the disadvantages of smartphone and netbook form factors. Carrying around a screen that size without protection is going to be a problem.
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Another world conquest ala GINGER!
kd5auq 27th Jan 2010
sad
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
lengs928 27th Jan 2010
Ridiculous. And the battery probably lasts a full 20 minutes before needing recharging. *rolls eyes* These die-hard Apple fans are just getting delusional.
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lol
Monkeypox 27th Jan 2010
Nice to see the ZD-Net Apple haters out in full force today.
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Heh...
lengs928 27th Jan 2010
I used to love Apple, but eventually realized their products were just shiny overpriced garbage. I recently switched from iPhone to Nexus One and haven't looked back since. Now it's so nice to be able to make calls without them being dropped, and to use a phone that doesn't freeze up.
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But how absorbant is it?
NonZealot 27th Jan 2010
iPad: for all your feminine hygiene needs.
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All of them?
Lester Young Updated - 27th Jan 2010
Not unless it has iDouche. Still beats the CrunchPad, though.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
maddiexo 27th Jan 2010
does the iPad have wireless on it????
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
maddiexo 27th Jan 2010
does this have wireless on it???
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Looks like a big iPod Touch
overtheedge2 27th Jan 2010
I don't see any type of word processing programs. Looks like nothing more than a big iPod Touch to me.
The amount of hype was phenomenal. This is a product for which an average use has much better choices. The Win7 tablets and slates provide far better capabilities and many of them provide a choice of 3G networks. They allow both multitouch and stylus input and do great handwriting recognition.

I think that the technical press should re-examine the publicity it provides to Apple. It dismissed better tablets and gave Apple a publicity boost that no corporation should have
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I would guess, that in a day or two, the beer-goggles will wear off of the tech-pundents, and they wills start to ask some questions about this one...

Not that I am not saying that it's not a nice looking device, but it's not innovative, inexpensive, or a differentiator in the market.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
Fatesrider 27th Jan 2010
THIS is what all the hype was about? A glorified iPod? That's not a tablet, it's a $500.00 (minimum) waste of money. It has an extremely limited use for the price. It can't even do all the functions of the refurbished Motion Computing slate I bought last year for less money (I use it for art work and graphics design) - and that slate will do everything the Apple will do, only better.

I hope every IT/Tech pundit who predicted that Apple would create a paradigm shift in how slates would be used are eating their articles.
It looks like MadTV did a spoof called "iPad" that is pretty funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lskbO1k9VO0
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Required viewing (nt)
Lester Young 27th Jan 2010
.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
alekso Updated - 27th Jan 2010
Frankly, my dear, iDont'tgiveadamn
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It's AppleTV all over again.
bhartman36 27th Jan 2010
I just don't see anything special about the iPad. I wouldn't necessarily say it was hastily thrown together, but it certainly seems as if Apple released the iPad under pressure to capitalize on the "Apple tablet" hype machine.

Yes, it's a pretty device, but it's an over-sized iPhone or iPod Touch (depending on whether or not you buy into the 3G).

Here are the points I think the iPad fails on:

1) No full OS. Sorry, but putting a phone OS on a device this size is just silly. The lack of a full-featured OS means that they have a harder time arguing that this is a substantial upgrade from netbooks, and that it's better than PC tablets.

2) No removable battery. I think Apple has a genuine fetish about this. How can you ship a computer without a rechargeable battery? Does Apple really expect people to ship the computer back when the battery gives up the ghost?

3) Charging for 3G service. If they want to compete with the Kindle, this is a bad idea. One of the advantages that Amazon has is that they don't charge for cell service, so books can be delivered free of charge. Add in the cost of service, and the price advantage that the iPad enjoys over the Kindle disappears quickly. In a similar vein, when they were going over the publishers, one notable omission was Random House. Penguin is an imprint of Random House, but Random House proper is not mentioned. (This is important, because Random House is a huge publisher.)

4) No e-ink. Again, this is essential if they wanted to compete against the Kindle.

With these factors combined, it's hard to see what niche the iPad fills. It's underpowered compared to netbooks or tablets, and yet it's not a great ebook reader, either. So just what is the target market?
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
mike@... 27th Jan 2010
As usual, excellent visual execution and UI design
from Apple. Otherwise nothing terribly extraordinary
about this thing.
Unless you are bought into the iTunes/Appstore paradigm, then this is a very limited function
keyboardless netbook. Nothing more.
I give it less than 30 days before a major vendor
announces an Android powered slate that replicates 90%
of the functionality seen here, is more open, and is
priced more aggressively.
The iPhone was a true watershed moment in mobile
communications history, and it took along time for
vendors to come up with a credible response. Not the
same here. The will be copied and perhaps superseded
by competitors in less than a year, and definitely
before iPad 2.0 arrives.
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I hadn't even thought of the possibility of Google releasing an Android version of this thing. There's no reason that they couldn't, but I am not sure that Google will see the revenue potential of such a device.

I just don't see Apple selling many of these things, but only time will tell.
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It's not on Android, but...
bhartman36 27th Jan 2010
...Archos has already released a tablet that has this one beat. The Archos 9 PCTablet does everything this can do (because it's got Windows 7), plus it's got HD video and a webcam. all for $550.

I'm just not impressed.
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Archos missing 1 key feature
NonZealot 27th Jan 2010
The Apple Logo. Ergo, it sucks.
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Yeah, no kidding.
bhartman36 27th Jan 2010
If it had an Apple logo, suddenly it would be the Best. Device. Ever! happy

The Archos 9 isn't a perfect device, by any means. Personally, I would prefer it had built-in cell capability, and that it ran Linux, rather than Windows 7 Starter. But it's closer to what a tablet should be than what Apple's produced.
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Re: Android?
jntowers 27th Jan 2010
Would it run Android or Chrome OS? Hmm...
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The answer to that is "No."
bhartman36 27th Jan 2010
One of Apple's more annoying habits is locking their hardware down so that you can't run other OS's on it. I would no more expect to be able to run Chrome OS or Android on the iPad as I would expect to be able to run them on the iPhone.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
lthrwolftx 27th Jan 2010
this is going to be apples biggest flop since the newton
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
lthrwolftx 27th Jan 2010
and that ipod GUI you use, you can thank Microsoft

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/apple-blunder-gives-gates-ipod-royalty-502710.html

don't get me wrong, a company that steals others designs and software(BSD) and claims innovation is just a company out of fresh ideas. HEY THERE MAC FANBOYS!!!!

X86, I figured even Steve couldn't be that stupid for long
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
casshan2085@... 27th Jan 2010
It amazes me the limitations in the foresight of many
individuals. The simple potential of the concept of the
device foreshadows unprecedented changes in the way we
conduct our everyday affairs. I can assure you that when I
purchase mine I plan on using it as the platform for most
of what I do with my music art and books. It is simply
beautiful innovation at its best. If companies are stealing
ideas the no 1 question is where are the other Ipads? I
challenge anyone to show me a device out there right now
with as stable an OS and as ready to use by the
individual,in any way they see fit... I rest my case.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
casshan2085@... 27th Jan 2010
..so wait..you're telling me that on your phone and your
netbook you have some serious multitasking capabilities?
The Ipad battery has a 10 hour lifespan on one charge and
is more energy efficient than any netbook out there. Now
lets recap: its NOT a phone and it is NOT a laptop.ANd its
300 times better than a netbook from purely a quality
perspective. Now from purely a business perspective Apple
wasnt trying to "reinvent" there current product line....but
to ADD a new category of product that does a few "KEY"
things better than either a phone or laptop. IF you want to
multitask (at this point thats what the laptop is for,..for
now......) BUt just be patient Im sure your multitasking
prayers will be answered ....KEEp your eye on the 'I' PAD
baby....
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
casshan2085@... 27th Jan 2010
...just wait and see.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
casshan2085@... 27th Jan 2010
I think everyone is missing the "bigger" picture. This thing
will change the way we do everything. YOu cant base new
technology on old technology . Its yet to be see.n but I see
this as a new beginning of being able to integrate MOST of
what you need into one device. BUt whose to say that you
wont be able to link your peripherals to this thing in new
ways possibly even wirelessly . I mean why bother with
TEchnology anyway if your gonna be one of those guys
who says "well we used to do it by hand back in the
day"...Growth is painful but I think eventually people will
come around. if we are patient your gonna see some
amazing apps and the way we integrate the device into our
everyday work and play.ie. midi
controllers,remotes,canvases,game boards,game and
general media interaction.....etc.etc....the possibilites are
endless .....its a blank "SlatE"
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
casshan2085@... 27th Jan 2010
dont forget your virus protection....strap up baby.!I could
definitely live wihtout Windows. LEts stop looking through
the windows and step outside...Been windows free 4 years
and counting. btw I dont own use or endorse the iphone
because I think I agree its ridiculoulsy priced for what you
get..but I really believe the Ipod touch was just a testing
ground for this thing....
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
Rickyc111 27th Jan 2010
Interesting, but I'd like it more if it was smaller, about the size of a deck of playing cards so that I could carry it in my pocket, and if it could make phone calls...then they might really have a hit on their hands....
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Getting my 65-year old tech-illiterate mom her first computer puts the fear of god into me. Mac/PC/Linux, I would instantly become a 24/7 support hotline. The whole experience would be a nightmare.

Though she doesn't know it yet, she would love email, web, IM, and an e-reader.

The iPad seems like just the thing, and the $14.99/month won't hurt too bad considering she'll no longer need to buy tabloids or crossword puzzles.

It will take some arm-twisting, but I'll bribe her with the possibility of seeing the grandkids over video chat.

I'm thinking she could learn it herself, and I'll just sit back and take the praise.

Disagree? Post your reply for a better alternative for my mom. I'm all ears.
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A better alternative...
bhartman36 29th Jan 2010
The iPad seems like just the thing, and the $14.99/month won't hurt too bad considering she'll no longer need to buy tabloids or crossword puzzles.

It will take some arm-twisting, but I'll bribe her with the possibility of seeing the grandkids over video chat.


If you decide to get her the iPad, I think you're going to have to adjust your expectations.

1) If you can find the kinds of tabloids she reads in e-book format, they're probably not going to be free. I'm guessing that Apple will be pushing subscription services -- hard.

2) You can forget about video chat right now. The iPad doesn't do video chat. For one thing, it's got no webcam.

3) I didn't notice anything about IM in the announcement. Assuming that some form of IM comes in with the App Store, she'll need the optional dock for typing. Using a virtual keyboard isn't the best solution for IM'ing, especially for someone who's not tech savvy.

You can have your mother do all of this and more, if you buy her a netbook PC for ~ 300. Yes, you'll have to do a little user training, but don't kid yourself: You'd be doing that with the iPad, too. You'd just be doing it on different issues.

And the advantage of using a netbook over the iPad for your mom is that you could set it up so you could take over her machine remotely if she had any problems. You couldn't do that with an iPad.

One more advantage: You'll make the, "Can I do 'X'?" questions go a lot more smoothly. When you set up a computer for someone, the invariable question you get is, "Can I do...?". With an iPad, the answer to that will (mostly) be "No.", because it doesn't support the same kinds of software you'd find on a PC or a Mac running OS X.

Generally, I've found that it's better to steer someone towards as much computing power as they can afford, rather than as little as you can get away with, because invariably, once they get out there, their curiosity about other technologies (e.g., videoconferencing, in your case), gets the best of them.
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A little user training? You don't know my mom.

And you misinterpreted my comment about the tabloids/crosswords. I'm saying with the wealth of sites like TMZ, Perez and the like, the need for gossip will be filled for free without resorting to supermarket rags.

The video-conf though...Yeah, ouch. I was shocked to read no webcam solution after I posted. This *WILL* prolly be a dealbreaker.

Thinking more about lack of webcam...Apple must've omitted this intentionally coz the cam would just shoot your nosehairs with the ipad on your lap.

I gotta think that on launch they'll roll out a cool little tilting webcam that plugs into the multipin...And pair it with Skype? I'm reaching, aren't I. Wishful thinking.

But no sell on the netbook. In no time flat, she'll have accidentally moved all the icons around, infected it with malware, enlarged the taskbar to half the screen, you name it. And I ain't dealing with that.

Yep, she needs as few features as possible...And that's the iPad.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
zandie0 29th Jan 2010
hope the battery lasts long enough
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Apple does a superb job both on the hardware front, and the software front. Just from speculation of this iPad device, I would either call it a joke or a yawn, they seem to be repeating themselves in hopes for the same boom as the itouch/iphone. big or small, fat or thin, heavy or light, I am still not convinced tablets have much if any use. Here is an idea for a revolutionary product: make the laptop an open standard so people can modify the machine the way it works for them, Thinkpad is still the most revolutionary in my book. iTouch/iPhone cashed in a good prize too. I am starting to wonder about the difference between need and want. Here's the most revolutionary product: a book called 'If you Give a Mouse a Cookie'. Just my 2 sense.
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RE: Apple introduces the iPad
woodapple 20th Aug
It's good that they have thought about that. It was about time they did something. Thanks for sharing. Great input, thanks for all the interesting opinions, etc. Hopefully the site will attract more people. | Swiss Ger Backpack

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