Owen -
I'm surprised at how good the critter seems. My main concern is that
it doesn't have a camera, so skype would be somewhat disabled. But
that seems to be the only serious lack, and will likely be there for
future versions.
I think Apple will do well with this, despite my own personal
disappointment.
I had hoped mightily for a full OSX notebook... so am disappointed by
that.
Second to that, I had hoped for something I could buy to replace my
wife's geriatric 12" G4 which is barely (not quite actually) serving her
right now (Can't keep the ffing web browsers from crashing and can't
find a combination of browser and ??javascript?? that is stable anymore
and the slot-DVD player is finicky). She really only needs Web,
E-mail, iTunes and DVD playing.... but the iPad doesn't offer a DVD
player (nor any obvious way to connect one easily/properly). I'm sure
there is a way through "Family Share" to watch DVDs inserted into
another computer on a local net or a way to rip them down, but this
really doesn't fit my wife's use patterns and for all those here who are
married, you must know that thinking you can change one's spouses way of
doing things is the path to madness and marital discontent.
I had just been considering a portable DVD player (iLuv, Phillips 951,
...) with an iPhone dock... but the shortcoming there is the lack of
keyboard for the iPhone... maybe the iPad's needs for a bluetooth
keyboard will lead to the iPhone having the same feature?
Amazingly, the iPhone/Touch apps work with the iPad, in 2x mode. So
it starts out with a LOT of apps. The NYTimes app looks great! MLB
(baseball for folks not in the know) built an interactive view of
real-time games.
I think the NYT app would be her best friend. She already uses it on
her iPhone but naturally rails at the small screen.
Games are touch enabled, and use the positional controls as well. The
art program, Brushes, is really cool .. very Santa Fe.
Her second favorite iPhone app... I imagine she would appreciate it even
more with a bigger screen.
The stunt of a new SDK, that integrates both iPhone and iPad.
EASports has already converted many of their apps to the iPad.
And it works with a bluetooth keyboard, thereby being a "laptop" when
needed. That was my greatest concern. I can't believe I've watched
the keynote -- 1.5 hrs!
It is NOT just a laptop. The apps really are different. Homage made
to Kindle, then iBooks shown which is really killer. The iTunes is
now adding books to their media world.
And we need a convergence of standards in this arena... which seems to
always be confounded by the need for market
differentiation/penetration-resistance. Se La Vie.
Boy was I skeptical. But I've gotten in line, and will buy one asap!
And its the same cost as the large Kindle DX. If it gets the battery
life it claims (10 hrs) .. even 5 would be great for me. I sure hope
it can use Java for NetLogo! We'll see.
I'm doubtful that Java (or NetLogo) is going to be available here for
the same reasons as the iPhone... but maybe time will tell, maybe things
will evolve more quickly now.
Sure there's a lot to sneer at, but this is really yet another apple
game changer.
I agree that it is a game changer. Maybe not as significant/acute as
the iPod or then the iPhone/iPod-touch but something big nevertheless.
A Kindle with good web surfing/e-mail.
I haven't heard any other minor announcements (rumors of a red MacBook
to complement the Black and the White?)... or was it all iPad?
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