iPad debut = meh.
Today’s mysterious product release from Apple was the less-than-mysterious tablet which Apple named iPad rather than iSlate or iTablet or otherwise. The iPad has been rumored for quite some time with specs leaking around the internet and speculation over the name, websites willing to pay top dollar for pictures of the technology prior to its release and an Apple lawyer sending a cease and desist letter, seemingly confirming suspicions about Apple’s release.
Yesterday, an educational publishing house executive accidentally slipped on air what Apple’s secret announcement for today would be and that in fact, the iPhone OS touch tablet would come loaded with text books, cutting down on college textbook costs, indicating that a primary function of the iPad is ebook reading.
The upside, the downside and more of the downside
As Steve Jobs spoke today about the “magical and revolutionary” iPad, Twitter lit up with people asking if it was magical enough to come with a unicorn and if it was so revolutionary that it would cuddle with them at night or clean their houses. Secondly, the iPad got flack for its name as people responded by asking when the “iTampon” companion gadget was coming out and if the iPad comes with wings (and those are the clean comments). It has been a trending topic on Twitter since the announcement and yes, it already has a satirical take on FailBlog as seen to the left.
The bright spot in the announcement is that the consumer product is not at the $1000 mark as it was suspected it would be, rather half of that, with the release price set at $499 per unit. The complaints are rolling in, however, that a separate data plan must be purchased for this device, seemingly doubling some peoples’ bills if they carry an iPhone and an iPad.
Apple has already run into problems however, as Fujitsu Ltd. filed a trademark application for the name “iPad” in 2003, according to DailyMail UK. Now, Apple has 33 days to submit evidence to the US Patent and Trademark Office that is it the rightful owner of the iPad name in the U.S. Apple has already filed successful applications to hold the trademark in Canada, Europe and Hong Kong.
Some are excited about the potential for this tablet and this year will be filled with talk of companies that are or are not adapting, but I’m not convinced that bleeding edge adoption is the way with this technology…
With little fanfare, confirmation that a core function is for ebook reading, and a trademark issue already under way, will Apple meet its sales goal for the new iPad and will it really be so “magical” that it will revolutionize technology as we know it? It will be great blog fodder and will be adopted by some of the hardcore Mac cult followers, but as revealed today, it’s not really a game changer, it’s more of a blip just akin to a cell phone announcement or a new esignature company- cool, great, but doubtful to be globally adopted in this giant sea of options.
Jason Sandquist
January 28, 2010 at 12:29 am
It looks slick but for now it’s just a glorified iPhone IMO. Thinking I might hold off until the next generation or more features that might provide useful. No multi-tasking, no USB, no flash… meh is spot on.
Don’t get me wrong, the device has lots of potential.
Lani Rosales
January 28, 2010 at 12:47 am
That’s the exact phrase we were using in conversation a few months back when the whispers begin. I don’t prefer to use first gen, it’s like buying the first year of a new car model- you’re the guinea pig. Small technology, fine. Anything in the Mac price range, no thanks.
Ruthmarie Hicks
January 28, 2010 at 12:37 am
I love the look and feel and definitely think the next generation will be totally AWESOME. But I’m not ready to fork up yet. Eventually though – I waaaaannnt ooooonne! But I’m a sucker for Macs…so pay no attention to my fan-girl like response.
Lani Rosales
January 28, 2010 at 12:49 am
oh good gravy, ruthmarie! 😉 we think it will be EXTREMELY useful at some point, but its functionality is sooo lacking so far that we’re more than underwhelmed- this product must have been rushed or really is an ebook reader, because we would expect this out of Microsoft, but an incomplete product out of Apple?
WIll
January 28, 2010 at 2:36 am
A big iPod Touch and with all the hallmarks of the new Apple experience. Locked in, locked down, and far too limited. But boy, it sure looks pretty. It is a great consumer device with an emphasis on consumer. Produce? Sure, you can… but not too much as we don’t want this eating into our macbook sales. Apple missed a big mark here.
What’s missing?
No SD card slot (yes, a lame dongle is available).
16GB which is far too small at $499… you’ll really want 64GB. But no expandable memory.
No Camera! What?!? What about skype/ichat?
No file system… and really only truly syncs with apple computers (for iphoto at least) but still no file management.
No USB (yes, another lame dongle attachment will work.
No pen ability… so no signing contracts but you can fingerpaint.
No Flash
AND No Multitasking!
OK… my bets are that the last one gets taken care of sooner rather than later… but all the same there are so many great PCs coming out with all of those functions… and the wife just ordered her EEE PC1005PE with 14hours of battery life, 250GB HD, and no lockdowns for $368 on Amazon. Got a real, fully functional PC for half the price.
Apple: What were you thinking?
BTW: I’ll probably get an iPad but it won’t be until they address all of those issues I outlined above.
Lani Rosales
January 28, 2010 at 9:14 am
Will, I’m with you, I just can’t see investing ANY money until at least multitasking is an option which to me is a huge oversight and to Benn a way for them to not hurt their MacBook sales. Either way, my wallet’s closed on this one.
I believe an Apple competitor will come out with a more functional, less sexy (aka “magical”) tablet that will compete despite being made fun of by the MacCult. THAT is probably the product I’ll jump on- the one that learns from Mac’s mistakes.
Benn Rosales
January 28, 2010 at 9:23 am
Crunchpad did it better.
Sorry, but this thing sucks.
MIssy Caulk
January 28, 2010 at 9:29 am
I watched the video on Apple twice. I kept wondering if I had not got the Kindle DX at Christmas would I have waited?
It will do so much more. I love reading on the Kindle but haven’t learned all the features yet, but email would have been nice.
I will watch and wait.
I was hoping the announcements would have included the iPhone now being unlocked to other networks. (((sigh)))
Cathy
January 28, 2010 at 9:54 am
I’m not overwhelmed by it (but I never am by Apple products) however it’ll sell…. a lot. The iPhone had a lot of complaints/issues in its first run, but people still lined up to get it. Yeah, there are things missing, yes the name is ridiculous, but people are still going be waiting in line to get one. It’s kinda cute though…. and I hear it makes espresso and reads your mind…..
Aaron M. Clay
January 28, 2010 at 12:59 pm
UGH! I’m so unimpressed with Apple and this iPad. I can’t think of one person who I would suggest this to. To thick, to square and no camera plus multi-touch is till regulated to pinch and zoom. BORING!
I can tell this a “Professional” audience which I think would absolutely ignore this product but I’m sorry, the netBook audience might pass it by too. “Let me listen to this interwebs radio and check my email…DOH!”
Fail. FAIL FAIL. I would rather have 6 hours of battery life and be able to watch Hulu and listen to pandora.
APPS In the middle with letterboxing. I don’t think so.
JayPapasan
January 28, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I’m gonna go against the grain here. So let me qualify my remarks: I’ve been wanted an e-reader for a while for trips and leisure time, so my yardstick has nothing to do with business (aside from travel).
I like that the iPad seems to have a better user interface for what is fast becoming a multitouch world (can’t believe you have to push a button to turn the page on Kindle). You’d expect nothing less from Apple. I can also see this replacing our portable DVD player and possibly a hand-held game system (like the DS my 5-year old dreams about). Currently, our kids claim both our iPhones to play games as often as they can. The iPad looks to be an elegant one-stop shop for movies, games and, when the adults can pry it away, reading a book or two.
I don’t see it replacing our laptop. Despite a torrent of complaints, I don’t think the iPad (or even the iPhone) was intended for business use. Like the iPhone, it may do a few work tasks in a pinch, but that’s hardly it’s purpose. Email is a nice to have and will probably be a lot more comfortable that my current iPhone experience with Mail. 3G? Whatever. With an iPhone in my pocket I can’t imagine shelling out $30/month when Wifi is ubiquitous and free. If I found myself stuck in an airport charging for a WiFi connection, it seems like you could download a movie or book to your iPhone and sync up via Bluetooth. Far from perfect, but it’s a solution that would keep my wallet intact.
So from my leisure perspective, it looks like a solid portable three-in-one (movies, books and games) entertainment device. A bit spendy but then again, it’s an Apple product.
I got a chance to chat up someone who has played with an iPad at Cupertino last fall. He claimed the book reading experience made him apathetic about his Kindle. I work in PC office but my domicile has been a Mac home est 1990. So I’m a fan but a reasonable one (I think). I won’t preorder an iPad. I want to see one for myself. I’ve traditionally bought the second of third generation of all my Apple products. Probably will on the iPad, as well. I successfully waited for the iPhone because I was a prisoner of Sprint…No such barriers this time.
Thomas A. B. Johnson
January 29, 2010 at 12:20 pm
So, can we get one for free from AT&T for a 2 year $30 data plan?
Ruthmarie Hicks
January 30, 2010 at 12:25 am
Like Jay, I tend to buy into the second- third generation of any new product. Functionality tends to increase over time. But I don’t think its meant to replace the laptop – even if it did – you would be several incarnations away from that.
I think some were expecting too much.
Melanie Wyne
January 31, 2010 at 11:35 am
I’m admittedly a mac fan but I’m with Lani and others, from a gadget perspective my initial reaction was meh…I’ll wait for a 2nd or 3rd generation. I did that with my iphone but I am now a crazed fangirl. But the policy wonk in me sees something potentially much more interesting on the horizon. Convergence. Is this a computer with broadband connection or a beefed up iphone? From a policy perspective it will make a difference. At a minimum, it points to the notion that regulating based on technology platform will continue to cause problems as devices continue to converge.
Lani Rosales
January 31, 2010 at 11:45 am
Melanie, I share your sentiment- ultimately it will alter technology but right now, it’s not “magical.” I think SNL said it best last night: “This week, Apple released a thing that does stuff that its other stuff already does.”
Roland Estrada
June 13, 2012 at 8:39 pm
It sucks being wrong.
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