Will you be getting an iPad?

I was looking forward to this device. Never expected it to be a larger size iPod touch. I was thinking of replacing my macbook with iPad. I don't want to buy too many devices, this device is not replacing anything, it is neither a good phone, nor a good netbook, not a good e-reader, one thing that it really is, is a compromise, and I don't like it.

Missing at least:

1. Magazines.
2. iBooks, surprise surprise it seems to be US only.
3. Plugin support for Safari. Approval process or not, those should be allowed.
4. Some basic functionality like S/MIME support for Mail.
5. Multitasking for 3rd party apps. I’m sure notifications are supported and they are great but they sure can’t replace multitasking in everything.
6. TV, still not available in the Finnish store.
7. Movies, ditto.

6 and 7 are not that important for iPad. I really don’t see why I would want to watch them on the move from some pad rather than on the big screen in my living room eating pop corn. But the two sure kill the 269,00 EUR Apple TV… so I’m not holding my breath for 1 and 2 either.

Honestly, if it won't be any more powerful than the iPhone, what's the point? If it had multi- tasking, I would consider. If Flash was there i would almost surely get one. But why invest that much money when all I'm gaining is a larger screen and an eBook reader?

Just a few thoughts and one observation to follow. Could Apple have squeezed a intel i5 or i7 into the iPad? Answer anyone? Did you notice how Steve Jobs deliberately scrolled to Flash content during the Safari demo and paused a few seconds so everyone could see. Why? Was he showing his stubborness, his ego or making a statement? Maybe he has an ace to pull in the next 2 months?Finally, if Apple say they are a Mobile Device specialist why have they omitted their standard earphones from the iPad package? Hopefully this is an oversight. The iPad heralds the eventual demise of the laptop. For the moment, as usual Apple has given us just enough new hardware and software as they needed too and left the rest to third parties.

I won't buy one untill apple includes a flash or media player. Also as a 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation iPhone owner I find it absolutely rediculous that apple won't allow for live streaming of tv without some kind of buffer on the iPhone. I kept hoping that with each new version apple would "grow up", but it seems that just ain't gonna happen. I don't see a 4th iPhone in my future.

v2.0 wishes
- I would really like to see an magsafe option for charging while using it in the sofa. The 30pin is to weak.
-Really need the camera and iChat functionallity.
-No doubt, multitasking
-Hopefully a better lock- and home screen with support for widgets
-Tether support for connecting to the tubes throug iPhone.
-GPS
-USB for connecting thumbdrives and 3rd party 4G devices
-A second connector on the side for using it landscape in docking
-Connection to existing Mac as second screen with Wacom functionallity.
-App that let me do light photoshop tasks. The ones int the apstore today is useless.

I''wait for the next gen, thanks. I'll stick to my iPad nano 3gs (iPhone), jailbraked for vital functionallity

Getting 64gig 3G iPad the first day it can be ordered.

Here is my opinion on the situation and this is going to be a bit winded... and sorry in advance about the tangents that will be included.

First, let me say that I'm using my 3rd Apple laptop in 4 years. I started on a 12" Powerbook G4 which was top of the line when I bought it. I decided I needed more power and resolution for high end apps like Photoshop. I upgraded to a Macbook with Intel Core 2 Duo. I kept it a year and decided I needed more dedicated graphics processing and more HD so I upgraded to a Macbook Pro 15" with 512mb video memory. I also own an iPod 2nd gen, 5th gen (120gb with video), shuffle (512mb i think), and first gen iPhone which was replaced recently by a 3GS. I also bought a Dell Mini 9 with OSX 10.5 on it but decided it couldn't do a lot of my daily tasks so it is a mini media machine.

I have converted my whole family and dozens of friends to Apple.

Now, a bit about me. I am a 26 year old with a career in marketing, web design, search engine marketing, photography, etc. I use my computer 12 hours a day 7 days a week. I travel quite a bit and lug my laptop and a slew of accessories with me. If I had an Apple that wasn't so big but was still quite functional, I'd be in heaven and I wouldn't have to drag my Macbook Pro with me everywhere (and I mean everywhere).

I was looking to the tablet to be a replacement for my laptop on the weekends. Not super powerful but sufficient. So I need to fire up Dreamweaver and edit some PHP or HTML or Photoshop to process a few images - a decent tablet could do that. Browsing the web, using iPhoto, uploading from a camera, printing, etc.

I would have no problem shelling out a grand or more for the ability to do this in a good package - that should have been the tablet.

The iPhone OS is fine but lets be honest, the app store is filled with total crap. Developers don't put out good apps because they can't make anything on them. I'd be happy to pay $5 or 10 on average for a good app but there are almost none. Instead, you have a crappy program that turns your iPhone into a flashlight. Most of the games suck and I don't want to have to turn my damn phone to control a race car. It isn't accurate or precise and just sucks.

The iTunes store is slow too. I don't want to have to wait 10 - 20 seconds for the page to load. What the hell causes it to take so long? We have broadband! Seriously!

The iPad is going to be a huge seller because it is cheap. Apple sold me out and you too. I don't care about cheap. I want functional. I'll pay for functional. I won't pay for something my iPhone can do - especially when my iPhone cost me more than the stupid iPad.

Not only that but I'm probably going to have to buy a bunch of apps again for the iPad. The only app I could see being good on it is Slingbox which I shelled out $30 for and can only use on WiFi. I'm about 99% sure Sling will charge another $30 for the iPad compatible version.

Now, on to my rant about the iPad itself.

This thing looks ok. Why the hell is it so cheap when I have to pay $700 for an iPhone 3GS? I feel like I got screwed on the iPhone. Why did Apple use AT&T and not multiple carriers? AT&T sucks. A lot! I pay over $100 a month now for 450 minutes and crappy data service. I have a Sprint card with unlimited bandwidth that I might use one hour per month. Why can't the iPad connect to your iPhone and leech bandwidth? It has bluetooth. AT&T is just a bunch of greedy bastards.

So now you have to pay $30 more on top of your already outrageous cell phone bill for a device that doesn't do much more than your iPhone. Well, less since it isn't a phone. I saw you can upload images to it from your camera with an adapter. I'm sure it will handle the 20MB raw files from my Nikon D700 real well. So much for ditching the laptop on the weekend.

Not only that but I'll now have to carry my laptop, the iPad, and my Kindle since I have a dozen or two books on it - and it has free internet for downloading books. Yah, I could sell my kindle but the battery lasts for like a year if I don't turn it on.

On to the battery - 10 hours for an e-book reader? Seriously - I hate having to charge my iPhone twice in a day b/c the 3GS or wifi kills the battery. I don't want to have to worry, "did I charge my iPad today so I can read 3 hours of a book".

Storage - come on!!! 64 GB is insulting. My flash drive has more memory than that. WTF! How about something legit like a terabyte. No expandable memory slots? HELLO!!! SD? It is a little slot - oh yah, I forgot - gotta keep the price at $499 - can't put good features in it or it will be too expensive.

Ports - no USB? WTF. Now when I travel I have to bring multiple charger bricks for my iPhone and iPad (not that I'm buying one but you get the idea). Or I

around 29min of the keynote Jobs says "iPod" instead of iPad...he knows he is stretching it

You really can't browse the Internet very well without Flash. I've seen all the little blue cubes (where Flash should be) on my iPhone that I ever want to see. Gimme Flash and I'm standing in line. No Flash, no ipad.