Mac Lovers Left?

[WinJStar]

Anyone else as jazzed as I am about the new Ipad. Was at the Apple Store last night looking at demo. It is so on my list for $400 bucks..can't beat it.

Apple - iPad - Features - The best device for web, email, and photos.

[spaceboy761]

I hope that the iPad finds its market niche. My guess is that they're going after the e-reader market. It's risky, but it could really pay off.

[wabbit]

Prices start at $499 (fully loaded Wi-Fi and 3G model is $829) and if there are enough peeps who want what is basically a very big iPhone, then the iPad might just sell well. Otherwise, I suspect more peeps will opt for the small MacBook with AirPort ($999). The MacBook can do so much more than the iPad and users will not have to clean fingerprints off of the screen.

[bhestertx]

Hope you don't waste your money Jen... If anyone can explain how it is anything more than a glorified iPod touch or a dumbed down iPhone I'd appreciate an explanation of the reasoning.

I really can't see spending a minimum of $500 (the maxed out one with 3G will set you back $830) for a device like that.
You can buy one with 3G, but you can't use it as a phone. And if Apple is smart they'll never allow VoIP to be used on it since that would take away from their iPhone market.
OK, it will have the ability to create/modify documents and yes it has a larger keyboard, but it's still a touchscreen so it's not like you can set it down and rest your fingers on the keys. So I'm betting most people will be 1-fingering the keyboard or trying to type on it with their thumbs like on their phones. And yes you can buy a dock with a keyboard on it, but that doesn't do you much good as a mobile device you want to sit on your lap and work on. Now throw in the fact that it currently is not slated to support a mouse... So if you ARE sitting somewhere that you can dock it you still have to pick your hand up and use the screen to maneuver around a document.
It could possibly be a contender in the ereader world. But if and only if you can load up your already purchased ebooks. Apple hasn't said one way or the other yet and with the way they lock down all their other devices I'd be a little leery. If they don't then there will be a lot of pissed off people who know have to go out and repurchase the books (at a higher cost since, come on, it IS Apple) they'd already bought for the readers that they're replacing with the iPad.

Mind you, this opinion is coming from someone who was ready to buy one the second they became available. But after the relase of the specs and featuers I really sat down and looked at what it could and could not do.
The only niche it would fill for me would be a device that combines the music and app features of my iPod touch with the books of my ereader. If you can put your already purchased books on it then I can see it as a replacement for the reader especially since it's backlit, but remember that comes at the cost of battery life. But for me I use the touch more than the reader (since I actually can read books on it too) so on those days when I only want to slip the touch into my pocket and head out the door, do I instead want to be carrying around the iPad that's 3 times the size? Personally I don't.

I'd have to agree with the opinion that you'd be better off with a Macbook.

[WinJStar]

I have a macbook. I asked if i can play poker with itouch and they said u can do everything a normal mac can and they are preloading it with iworks. It won't hold Office, etc... I was told the loaded 3g was $629?

I'm a mac whore..... I'll be happy to test the waters. I am stuck with Verizon and therefore have not been able to get an Iphone. Boy oh boy do I want one of those.

[cellist]

I'm happy to let you try one first. I'm curious, but not $650 curious........yet.

[bhestertx]

I asked if i can play poker with itouch...

Did you mean iPad?

I'm about to purcahse a Macbook or MB Pro, although my reasons are completely geeky and money based and have nothing to do with a love of Apple products. I want to do some iPhone/iPod touch/iPad programming for the experience and maybe I'll make a few bucks from the App Store.

The iPad will be loaded with a version of iWork. From what I read it's not the complete application but should read any iWorks files. It will be similar to the way Microsoft releases MS Office for a cost and also release MS Works which comes free on most prebuilt, retail-purchased computers.

I'm surprised someone told you that you can do everything a normal Mac can do. That's not a true statement. The only applications you will be able to load onto an iPad are those you get through the App store just like the iPhone and touch. It's not a Macbook where you can go to a retail store, purchase a program, and go home and load it up. So unless someone develops an application that allows you to play poker online and releases it through the App store then you won't be able to. (Hmm... another app for me to work on )

I was very serious when I said that the iPad is either a glorified iPod touch or a dumbed down iPhone. It is NOT and will not be a laptop or even a netbook that you have complete control over, you are locked into what Apple or other developers release through the App store.

Oh, and the pricing is $499, $599, and $699 for the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB versions without 3G. The 3G option (which won't be available when they are first released, so you have to wait until late April) will add another $130 to each of those prices.

[WinJStar]

no, meant i touch - sorry... it has the touch screen capability that none of their laptops have.

[cellist]

Ok, Brian. You've convinced me. I'm going to just stay with my macbook pro. I freaking love it!

[WinJStar]

I figured we have a mac thread - why not go with it?

DO you all remember Spring Cleaning? I used it back on OS 9.

Is there some utility that is cheap or free to clean out old preferences and apps with all their crap?