[ruexperienced]

Don't know if you all have heard but Apple will be making a pretty big announcement here today regarding a brand new technology they are calling the iPad or iSlate or iTablet.

Found this list on the web and I think it's spot on :

20 Things I Already Know About Apple's Ultra-Hyped iTablet/iSlate/iPad


1. It will make you want one.

2. It will be missing something "essential".

3. It will have one really surprising feature.

4. It will singlehandedly re-monetize some waning industry.

5. It will be Time Magazine's device of the year.

6. It will have a short battery life.

7. It will standardize at least one technology.

8. Steve Ballmer will say it's too expensive and too limiting.

9. Companies will start playing catch-up. Their products will all be deemed "iTablet/iSlate/iPad killers"

10. All other similar products will be compared to it in their reviews.

11. At least one major critic will hate it on principle alone, then he will actually try it for a week.
It will become his main machine and he will write a story on his transition to the device.

12. People will sarcastically say that it does everything including making you coffee. This will somehow never get old.

13. At least one company will make an absolutely ridiculous and useless peripheral for it.

14. A group of people will say they're waiting until it has "x" feature before they buy one. It will get that feature.
They still won't buy it.

15. Almost all cases for the device will be way too expensive.

16. It will somehow be used in the military.

17. You'll eventually get over it's name.

18. Analysts will claim that it bridges the iPhone to Mac gap, thus helping the "halo" effect, without any evidence.

19. Early adopters will be heart broken when v2 of the product comes out.

20. People will say Apple did an upgrade of the device too quickly. Steve Jobs will tell them to get over it.



(Hat tip: The Doghouse Diaries)

http://www.thedoghousediaries.com/

[mr dragon]

That all sounds pretty spot on to me as well. Though there's another- there will ALWAYS be at least one journalist who hates everything about Apple, who will do a review banging on endlessly about the 'cult' of Apple (as if all Apple users are lemmings and have just bought into a shiny facile 'image' or 'brand') whilst trying to find incy wincy 'faults' with the product and then massively conflate them. They wont change their view, they'll just keep doing the same 'review' every time an Apple product is released.

I've been reading about the tablet technology for a while Sean, though I haven't really kept up with the Apple release. I knew it was sometime this week. Be interesting to see if it's what it's been hyped to be.

[mr dragon]

I watched the Newsnight report on it last night. They gave it the thumbs up, though I thought it was amusing, though strange, they got Stephen Fry to give the report on it from the expo....?

The only thing they did speculate on was the 'third' device issue. Ie it's not a phone or a normal computer, and the size- you're not going to put the thing in your back pocket, and if you're traveling on business you bring your lap top with you anyway. I might be wrong but I don't think that's going to be an issue with creating a market for the device in the future- as it's the way things will probably go anyway. I noticed Jobs used an online newspaper website to open up the demonstration, which I thought was interesting. Print versions of 'newspapers' are probably going to disappear in the future as they're not really making any money any more. More people will be down loading print media onto something portable while they're out of the house. I'm also guessing we're looking at what a future portable 'laptop' computer may look like.

[Persephone]

Hi There,

I also think it is a new interesting computer as a game-computer. I have the iPhone which is great to play computer games on as well, and when I saw a demo about the iPad - where someone played a racing game on - I thought to myself: wow, that's even better than the iPhone, because it is even bigger but you use it the same way.

I think you are right D to say we are looking at the new laptop.

A while back when I was in the hospital, the doctor had a touch screen in his office desk, showing the results of some tests to me. Thought it was amazing, instead of looking at his screen of a PC that you would normally see. It kind of worked the same as the iPad, only more simpler.

I compare the iPad as a huge iPhone. It seems to work the same. And believe me, I couldn’t live without iPhone anymore (having my 3rd now).

[mr dragon]

P made an interesting point. I was reading some public comments following a review of the device today. I clocked a load of people whining about it, saying how they didn't 'get it'- ie why do 'we' need a 'larger' thing that isn't a 'computer' but isn't as good as an iPhone just to 'read' emails on or play games with etc etc, that you can't fit in your pocket. They just don't 'get' it- it's the same every bloody time! However, someone also pointed out that Doctors are already starting to use 'tablet' style technology as they walk around in hospitals (for reference to each patient etc- and gathering or presenting data directly on the spot)- and I could extrapolate that whole 'potential' even further. The tablet technology is so unbelievably 'ripe' for so many work applications- from a person working in a warehouse walking around referencing and using the information in storage whilst also connected directly up to a main database (instead of a traditional notepad- or a written inventory), to a lawyer working on the go who needs to access information quickly, to a person wandering around their house/ business and wants to read emails quickly- but doesn't want to be by their pc all the time, to so many military applications (as Sean indirectly noted- in what he pasted), it goes on and on in the work place, to an architect or a salesman on the road giving presentations to clients, and so forth, even to a photographer like me- in the future a photographer wont have to go through all the palava of creating a printed portfolio when they actually finally go and see a client- they'll just do the presentation on a tablet instead- without all the hassle (and expense) of having everything printed and presented formally, or having to fire up their laptop to do it through some package like Powerpoint. Right now it may have it's limitations- but as always that will change very quickly. I think it's feckin' genius! You can also read (or actually write) books, newspapers or magazines on it as well, on the way to and from work, etc etc etc....

Once again, Apple is well ahead of the curve. But then again, what's new in the last ten years or so eh

In friendly homage to Eddie- insert your comments here:

[Persephone]

P made an interesting point. I was reading some public comments following a review of the device today. I clocked a load of people whining about it, saying how they didn't 'get it'- ie why do 'we' need a 'larger' thing that isn't a 'computer' but isn't as good as an iPhone just to 'read' emails on or play games with etc etc, that you can't fit in your pocket. They just don't 'get' it- it's the same every bloody time! However, someone also pointed out that Doctors are already starting to use 'tablet' style technology as they walk around in hospitals (for reference to each patient etc- and gathering or presenting data directly on the spot)- and I could extrapolate that whole 'potential' even further. The tablet technology is so unbelievably 'ripe' for so many work applications- from a person working in a warehouse walking around referencing and using the information in storage whilst also connected directly up to a main database (instead of a traditional notepad- or a written inventory), to a lawyer working on the go who needs to access information quickly, to a person wandering around their house/ business and wants to read emails quickly- but doesn't want to be by their pc all the time, to so many military applications (as Sean indirectly noted- in what he pasted), it goes on and on in the work place, to an architect or a salesman on the road giving presentations to clients, and so forth, even to a photographer like me- in the future a photographer wont have to go through all the palava of creating a printed portfolio when they actually finally go and see a client- they'll just do the presentation on a tablet instead- without all the hassle (and expense) of having everything printed and presented formally, or having to fire up their laptop to do it through some package like Powerpoint. Right now it may have it's limitations- but as always that will change very quickly. I think it's feckin' genius! You can also read (or actually write) books, newspapers or magazines on it as well, on the way to and from work, etc etc etc....

Once again, Apple is well ahead of the curve. But then again, what's new in the last ten years or so eh

I totally agree with you. The way you describe it, is my vision of the iPad as well. In a way, I also compare it to an iMac, only smaller. The iMac only exist of one screen, you buy the keyboard with it as you know. The iPad works the same, only without keyboard because it is one huge touchscreen.

As I said, the iPhone works amazing (in my humble opinion). Since the beginning of last year I'm a proud user of a Macbook (thanks to you! (and also to Sean/PRT)) and 'fan' of Apple products. I said to one of my friends the other day who was asking about my experience with it, that buying my Macbook was the best investment I've made in recent years. I have not one little doubt about the purchase!

Especially since I have both (the iPhone and the Macbook) I'm positively amazed by the technology of it. I use both for everything, every little aspect of my life (from grocery notes to birthday reminder, agenda, iPod, iTunes, TomTom, work, e-mail, photo camera, radio, internet surfing when I need train schedules, ...etc.etc.. Anything. And the fun part is, the Mac and Phone and synchronizing in a way that all latest information is ALWAYS stored on both, I never have to delete/change/or have an eye on either the machines. I'm sold on Apple products. I already have a wish-list at the Apple store :)

Spoiler:

And I have taken your advice: never ever walk into an Apple store with your creditcard on you

Right now I don't have to urge to buy an iPad (I have other items on my wish-list first), because it doesn't add anything for me at this particular moment but I do see this is the future. A next step for what is coming. It is a great way for representation for instance, when you go see clients as you said. Of course you can take your laptop with you (a normal one) but the same is to say for phones. Of course you can still use a telephone cell on the street (although I hardly see any these days anymore) but easier it is to use a mobile. Yes, you can still have a satellite on your roof, but easier it is to have digital television. And of course you can still do the laundry by hand, it is easier to use a washingmachine, etc. etc. I think people are just jealous sometimes about Apple products. The are so negative about it UNTIL they start USING it.

Also, since Apple is going to manifest him/herself on the game market I heard, I think we're looking at the future game computer. No separate Xbox/Playstation,Wii, but a portable all in one, that you can use for for internet, phone, e-mail and what so ever in the future as well. I real "all-in-one" portable game computer. I suppose standards will be made so you can use it as a television screen if you prefer to playing some games with a joystick. I'm just guessing, but this is the road they are taking in my opinion. And they are way ahead of the game.

[kitchenwitch]

This is from a MadTV skit in 2005.

[SilverMiniCooperS]

O-M-G!!!!!

[Persephone]

[mr dragon]

Lol. There was some speculation, I read a while back, about whether calling it an 'iPad' was a good idea- someone joked that women might get confused. I guess all this 'i' stuff makes people iMad.