Quote Originally Posted by Cander View Post
As a computer, I agree. But looking at this as a consumer appliance, this is actually a fairly nice little device. This is the stuff Bill Gates was talking about years ago. As far as multi tasking, I have a very strong suspicion it will come in the next major point release of the iPhone OS.
Even as a consumer appliance it is a joke. Lets look at how it can be perceived by a customer:

As an eBook reading device: It supports books, but what is the price of these books, and how big is the library of books for the device? I'd be interested in the Kindle if only for one reason - it is backed by Amazon, one of the largest online booksellers. I am bound to find a book that I like, a book that I never got round to reading, and/or the latest book release by any publisher.

As an internet browsing device: Again, it does the job well considering that the Safari app on the device is a straight port of the iPhone, but redone for the big screen (i.e. unique features of Safari found in Mac OS X will probably not be found in here like plugin support etc). But you have to consider this (for the US at least): If you can live with WiFi only, that is fine, but WiFi isn't everywhere, so 3G would be ideal. But that means having another monthy fee just for the privilege of having internet access. And in the US, the plan is with AT&T, who are currently having problems dealing with the 3G data coming from iPhone 3G(S) alone, let alone the iPad. If you have an iPhone or a smartphone that is capable with internet access and it currently has done the job for you so far, then you are better off sticking with a device that has internet and phone capabillities.

As a video playing device: It is nice that there is a feature to actually good use of the large screen, but 16GB is too small, especially when it comes to videos. Apple do provide more space, but then the price enters the really uncomfortable range for using the device for playing videos or watching HD films. Again, if you have an iPhone, this does the job for you, albeit in eye-strain-o-vision.

As a game console: I thought the idea of playing on the iPhone was unappealing due to lack of hardware buttons, but I can understand for some people that they may like the iPhone's game offerings. However, I can't say the same for a device that is 10". The games that are out for the thing are probably iPhone based apps, which means it probably isn't optimised for the thing. And anyways, lets look at the current gaming devices that will be out on the market:
PSP 3000: $170
PSP Go: $242
DS Lite: $130
DSi: $170
iPod Touch (8GB version): $184
iPhone 3G (8GB, with $30/month data plan): $99
iPad (Wifi only): $500.

Does that look appealing? Especially given the iPod Touch basically does everything the iPad does and looks better.

For working: If you are fine with working on a virtual keyboard, then you'll probably like the idea of the iPad. The problem is that it is basically a crippled version of the Mac OS X version, which if it were me, it would get to me a couple of months down the line. Not only that, but I tend to open up multiple documents at a time - and since this thing does not support multi-tasking (and I seriously doubt they will bring that in the next OS release. A feature like that I presume would take a whole change of the core OS, which could mean the apps from the App Store could no longer be backwards compatible - which is a big killer for the iPhone and its millions of apps), the lack of multi-tasking means I can't view my PDFs with my word documents as well as having my university's moodle site open to check what my lecturer has said about a certain question. Even still, the lack of physical keyboard makes the iWork a DOA app for me (I use the control. I appreciate not everyone works like this and/or can work absolutely fine with the iPad, but one has to remember the iWorks app isn't preinstalled on the laptop, and from what I've read, you will have to pay for each app (i.e. Word, Powerpoint, etc equivalents will have to be purchased seperately).

In all cases: If you want a specific feature, then $500 at least is a lot to ask for. If you are talking an all rounder, then the closest thing to this device (and I mean closest) is the iPod touch, which is $184. You are shelling out $316 for a bigger screen for apparently a better internet viewing experience, support for book reading with an unknown library database, a questionable work device, and a better video watching playback experience - and bear in mind the cheapest version doesn't even come with 3G, and if you do get the 3G option, that's another monthly payment being taken from your bank. I'm a student, and if I was forced to choose an Apple product to buy out of the iPhone, the iPod touch, or the iPad (and if shooting myself wasn't an option), then I'd go for the iPod touch simply because it is a smaller, more useful clone of the iPad.

Man I'm hungry from writing this much...