The Apple IPAD- Initial Reaction.

Before I comment, first take a look at the latest Apple Sexy Thing yourself:


Slashdot Hands on:


WEBSITE:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/

Technical Specs

Display

* 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
* 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
* Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
* Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

Wireless and Cellular
Wi-Fi model

* Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
* Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Wi-Fi + 3G model

* UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
* GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
* Data only2
* Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
* Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology

Location

* Wi-Fi
* Digital compass
* Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
* Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

In the Box

* iPad
* Dock connector to USB cable
* 10W Power Adapter
* Documentation

Environmental Status Report

iPad embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

* Arsenic-free display glass
* BFR-free
* Mercury-free LCD display
* PVC-free
* Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure

Capacity3

* 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor

* 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

Sensors

* Accelerometer
* Ambient light sensor

Audio Playback

* Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
* Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
* User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video

* Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
* H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

Mail attachment support

* Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Languages

* Language support for English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian
* Keyboard support for English (US) English (UK), French (France, Canada), German, Japanese (QWERTY), Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting and Pinyin), Russian
* Dictionary support for English (US), English (UK), French, French (Canadian), French (Swiss), German, Japanese, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Simplified Chinese (Handwriting, Pinyin), Russian

Accessibility

* Support for playback of closed-captioned content
* VoiceOver screen reader
* Full-screen zoom magnification
* White on black
* Mono audio

Battery and Power4

* Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
* Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
* Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

Input and Output

* Dock connector
* 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
* Built-in speakers
* Microphone
* SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

External buttons and controls

* On/Off, Sleep/wake
* Mute
* Volume up/down
* Home

Mac system requirements

* Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
* Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
* iTunes 9.0 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
* iTunes Store account
* Internet access

Windows system requirements

* PC with USB 2.0 port
* Windows 7, Windows Vista; Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
* iTunes 9.0 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
* iTunes Store account
* Internet access

Environmental requirements

* Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
* Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)
* Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
* Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)

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Now for my Honest Opinion.

Well, you know why the NETBOOK Market flew? Because the netbook is a trimmed down version of Laptop the will allow you to do EVERYTHING ON IT on it. Now on the IPAD, it seems you can't. It's just a "GO BIGGY" size version of the itouch/Iphone minus the Camera. It can do everything my iphone can do on a bigger screen. The good thing about it though is you get to buy accessories for it that will make it more useful. A USB port to allow you to connect your digital camera directly to it to transfer photos. An SD adapter to allow you to transfer Photos (hopefully data as well) to you I-PAD. A keyboard and mouse because I don't really know how you can use the touch screen keyboard on that huge thing unless I was as big as Shaquil O Neil.

Looking at everyone's usual daily gadget arsenal, where will this device fit in? If you have your iphone or itouch with you + you regular Laptop or Netbook, where will this baby fit in? It will be extra baggage. You mite bring it around for awhile for bragging rights but eventually, it will get stuck at home or at the office.

1 GHZ?? Cmon, netboooks are already going Dual Core Atoms @ 1.6GHZ. The new HTC HD2 and Googles Nexus One, which are mobile phones which already have the 1GHZ snapdragon processor.

No Multi tasking? No Camera, No Optical Drive Slot, ... Hmmmmm.

NO MICROPHONE
- Wow, adding voice call or doing internet calls would have been a very welcome addition too and mite even increase sales for this device. What were they thinking?

Well, it's not all that bad, it might still work for specific tasked jobs. Before it was release, I heard Apple was meeting with medical execs to have the IPAD as a tool for hospitals, replacing patient charts. It think this device would be perfect for that. High battery life, thin and light. Clear Pictures and Videos for the doctors to review, with the right customized medical software, This will be perfect for the JOB.

Imagine DHL having you sign your delivery document with this.

For the HOME, I think this would also work best as an EBOOK reader that can do more than just read EBOOKs. But in the end, that is where it will stay at, at Home.

I already have my iphone and an Itouch for portability and it can do everything the I-PAD can do. I just hope it will allow me to sync between my Iphone and my Ipad without the need of a PC.

Putting 128Gig of hard space would have increase the purchase value of this device, right now you can already buy an itouch with 64gig.


Who will buy it?
- Well I think Mac Junkies will definitely line up for this as they do with every MAC release. People who don't have a netbook will surely try this out. But For those people who already have a desktop at home, a laptop for work, and an Iphone, I doubt they will be there for the first Generation IPAD.

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No Optical drive
No USB Port
No Microphone
No Camera
No Flash
No Multi Tasking
No Free Keyboard Dock
No Data Expansion Slot

I think this device deserves a Singapore-Type "NO" T-shirt Design :-)

Still, it is super sexy.
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Well overall, it is a sexy device. Right now I just do not know YET how it will fit in my life. I may not buy one but I wouldn't mind having one if someone gave it to me ;-) *HINT*

That's about it for now!