One for the Apple lovers - iPad

[AC]

http://www.news.com.au/technology/ap...-1225824185688

Meet the iPad: Apple goes aggressive; $499 lowest price point.

AFTER months of rumours and speculation, Apple has unveiled its latest creation - a tablet computer called the iPad.

The device, which is expected to be available in Australia by June, looks like an oversized iPod Touch.

It runs iPhone apps, plus iPad apps (there will be a new category in the app store)



- SPECS: 9.7 inch IPS display, 0.5 inches thin, 1.5 pounds in weight.

- MEMORY SIZE: 16, 32, or 64 GB solid state hard drives

- CHIP: 1 GHz Apple A4 chip. It looks like they went in-house to build this thing.

- Wi-Fi: 802.11n

- BATTERY LIFE: 10 hours

- Includes Speaker, Microphone, 30-pin connector, Accelerometer, and compass

- New app: iBooks.

- Five of the biggest publishers in the world are part of this. Harper Collins, Penguin, and more.

VIDEO'S

YouTube- Apple iPad - First Release Video of the iPad - 27th Jan '10


YouTube- Apple iPad Video

[FalconXR6]

From a pricing point of view, this thing should appeal.

Being an A4 processor, what OS is this thing running ?

[cs123]

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

From a pricing point of view, this thing should appeal.

Being an A4 processor, what OS is this thing running ?

I'd imagine it would have to be running OSX. Interesting that apple are getting into making their own silicon.

I'm not too sure how this will fit into the market. I can see some possibilities bit the price point is close to a base macbook, plus you need a machine running itunes to sync, much like the iphone.

[ubute]

But.... I thought it was already being advertised 2 years ago....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjU0K8QPhs

[GS608]

it runs iphone os, it's exactly the same as an iphone without the call and sms function. not worth it at all imo

[Tuddy200]

Originally Posted by XR-CHIEF

it runs iphone os, it's exactly the same as an iphone without the call and sms function. not worth it at all imo

After looking after all the mobiles here at work including many iPhones, I have noticed at some point they seem to lose this function if they aren't handled like a feather, this is why I dub'd the iPhone "The phone that does everything, except make calls".

Now Apple has gone and actually made it for real.

[trippytaka]

I think these things will be brilliant for students... save you carrying around all those books, plus you have research notes with annotation etc.

The whole e-book reader explosion is great for writers who can't get a book deal and should make literature cheaper and more accessible to us all. BUT am I the only one who has a lump in their throat worrying about the future of books? I love books. I have a real attachment to them and just can't seem to enjoy reading on these things as much.

[cs123]

Originally Posted by trippytaka

I love books. I have a real attachment to them and just can't seem to enjoy reading on these things as much.

I have similar feelings about e-readers, I love the feel of a book and for a novel there is nothing better IMO. But for tech material electronic is great, searching for something is not possible in a book easily.

[trippytaka]

Originally Posted by cs123

I have similar feelings about e-readers, I love the feel of a book and for a novel there is nothing better IMO. But for tech material electronic is great, searching for something is not possible in a book easily.

These things will revolutionise the way our kids study. Imagine writing an essay with an iPad (or any e-reader) next to you... certainly beats my method - floor covered in 20-30 text books, with scores of Post-Its hanging out of the pages... not to mention trying to sift through the piles of highlighted photocopy pages on my desk. Far out, I don't miss those days!

[Rodp]

I don't think I'd buy something that sounded like a user friendly sanitary product. That's where I draw the line.

It does look freakin huge tho. :P

[charles_wif_xf]

OMG, a large iPod Touch, I can barely contain the "meh"...

[balthazarr]

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

From a pricing point of view, this thing should appeal.

Being an A4 processor, what OS is this thing running ?

I wouldn't hold your breath on decent pricing in Aus. Traditionally, Apple pricing in Australia is quite a bit higher than that of the US, even once the exchange rate is taken into consideration. Plus, add on an optional 3G data subscription (doubt we'll see anything like the USD $29.99 unlimited plan Apple have managed to get out of AT&T), and the pricing doesn't look that attractive.

Overall... meh. Just a giant iPhone without the ability to make calls. At least they could have put a forward facing camera on it so you can video conference.

[FalconXR6]

Originally Posted by balthazarr

I wouldn't hold your breath on decent pricing in Aus. Traditionally, Apple pricing in Australia is quite a bit higher than that of the US, even once the exchange rate is taken into consideration. Plus, add on an optional 3G data subscription (doubt we'll see anything like the USD $29.99 unlimited plan Apple have managed to get out of AT&T), and the pricing doesn't look that attractive.

Overall... meh. Just a giant iPhone without the ability to make calls. At least they could have put a forward facing camera on it so you can video conference.

Agreed.
The discrepancy between AUD and USD pricing from Apple is questionable.
I am actually looking at purchasing a 27" Quad Core Imac soon and will look at buying one from the States if the shipping is feasable.

[trippytaka]

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

Agreed.
The discrepancy between AUD and USD pricing from Apple is questionable.
I am actually looking at purchasing a 27" Quad Core Imac soon and will look at buying one from the States if the shipping is feasable.

And they even do it on iTunes, I was reading the other day! That's criminal.

[balthazarr]

Originally Posted by trippytaka

And they even do it on iTunes, I was reading the other day! That's criminal.

IMHO, iTunes is a different kettle of fish... the vast majority of the price is made up of royalty payments to the content providers. I suspect they charge different amounts for different regions.

[XR8GRL]

[TUF_302]

Originally Posted by XR8GRL

Was waiting for somehthing like that lol!!

[Rodp]

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by cs123

I'd imagine it would have to be running OSX. Interesting that apple are getting into making their own silicon.

I'm not too sure how this will fit into the market. I can see some possibilities bit the price point is close to a base macbook, plus you need a machine running itunes to sync, much like the iphone.

They used to make their own silicon with those PPC processors yes? Then they changed over to x86 arcitecture in like 2006 (same stuff used in PCs).

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by XCPWSF

They used to make their own silicon with those PPC processors yes? Then they changed over to x86 arcitecture in like 2006 (same stuff used in PCs).

This is incorrect.

Apple, together with Motorola and IBM were involved in something called the AIM Alliance, whereby they all chipped in and helped develop the PowerPC chips that were used in everything until about 2006, when they made the switch to Intel. Prior to the G5 Chip, the PPC CPUs were made by Motorola, yet the G5 was made by IBM. The only problem with the PPC CPUs was that they didn't scale as well as the equivalent Intel Chips.

In 2008, Apple bought a company called P.A Semiconductor. They were a company that Apple was rumoured to use instead of Intel back in 2005/2006. These are they guys that have made the A4 CPU used in the iPad. I won't be buying one - my iPod may have a crack in the screen, but the bloody thing won't die.

[XR8GRL]

Originally Posted by TUF_302

Was waiting for somehthing like that lol!!

:hihi: yeah, couldn't resist lol

[B&D Racing]

Apple is going to make a fortune...look at the numbers that Apple racked up from the App store in December...add the ipad to the equation and up the numbers

[elvisidal]

Originally Posted by Rodp

hahah that's tops!

The black edge of this is way way too big for it's size.

Won't be buying one.
You possibly could make calls with it using a headset and Skype app though.

[DJM83]

Woftam

[ORSM-XT]

[XWGT]

No USB
No memory card slot
No HDMI
No multitasking
No ibooks in Aus
No 3G in version 1
etc etc etc

Unfortunately it looks like the iNo or the iFail........

[fangq]

Originally Posted by cs123

I have similar feelings about e-readers, I love the feel of a book and for a novel there is nothing better IMO. But for tech material electronic is great, searching for something is not possible in a book easily.

I purchased a Kindle from Amazon about 3 weeks ago. Very impressed with it as an e reader. Ordering books is a breeze; only hassle is that stupid territorial copyright that prevents some downloads out of the US.
Steve

[AC]

Dont feel too let down guys, theres always other iProducts....

Check these out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mCCYLC-4xA

I was quite impressed

[AC]

Originally Posted by XWGT

No USB
No memory card slot
No HDMI
No multitasking
No ibooks in Aus
No 3G in version 1
etc etc etc

Unfortunately it looks like the iNo or the iFail........

As one person said to me: Once again apple produces flash not substance.

[LeadFoot81]

In spite of the oversights/missing things that require you to have/buy other apple products, products like the iPad will revolutionize the way reading material is distributed and will be a godsend for students. I wouldve loved something like the iPad when I was studying. Think of all the trees that will be saved!