While price was probably an issue, I don't myself think that it was the main one in Apple's decision to keep the physical interfaces to a minimum. Apple likes to promote itself as the company whose devices just work, and if they had USB ports on the iPad then there would immediately be thousands of things that wouldn't work with it. By making sure that all input comes in wirelessly (where you have one set of expectations) or through the dock (where they have full control), Apple has a better chance of making sure that everything "Just Works".
The same issues crop up (albeit to a lesser degree) with regards to the lack of a memory card slot. SD cards are used for more things than just photo files now, and many files that you could have on the card wouldn't work on the iPad. Also, how would you manage those files? The way things work right now, each app is in charge of its own content. Games on the Wii manage files in a similar way, and while the Wii does have a SD slot, managing files between the Wii and an SD card is cumbersome. Apple could likely improve on this, but they probably made the call that users would mostly be willing to wait until they sync with their computer, something that they will regularly do anyway. > From: "phartz...@gmail.com" <phartz...@gmail.com> > Subject: Re: You Saw the Demo? Are you impressed? > > .... > Personally, I think that Apple decided to make this new device > devoid of popular interfaces in order to be able to offer the iPad for > $499 as opposed to a higher price that was anticipated by most > potential consumers of the product. > > Steve ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
