The iPad and why I will be buying one....

[fleetfootmike]

So...

It doesn't have Flash. It doesn't have a camera. It doesn't appear to have USB. It doesn't multitask.

And I'll still be buying one. :D

But then, I'm not in the habit of buying things because of what they don't have,

So, why?

Basically, because the potential of what's effectively a multitouch sheet of virtual paper has me drooling in anticipation. If (and I'm sure they will) the world's iPad app devs get their thinking caps on, how's about:

- Virtual control surface for Logic Pro - http://www.folabs.com/ already have their ProRemote working, apparently
- Virtual gameboard - chess, backgammon, Settlers of Cataan
- Virtual RPG combat area - see what these folks did with Microsoft Surface
- Keynote presenter prompter/remote (using the existing iPad Keynote app)
- Digital music stand (with page turn footswitch if someone can figure out how!)
- eBook reader

The possibilities are endless, if you use your imagination....

Comments

[stevieannie.livejournal.com]

If we suddenly come into a large amount of money, we would buy one purely for the digital music pad aspect.

However, it seems unlikely in the face of our budget. But still - one can appreciate, yes?

[plaid-dragon.livejournal.com]

Didn't you just buy a tablet to use as a digital music stand in the summer?

I hadn't thought of using it instead of a real board for board games. I can just about see that working. To me it is still just an iPod Touch that won't fit in a pocket though.

[demoneyes.livejournal.com]

"Next from Apple: The Pocket iPad"

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/28/its_like_a_tiny_ipad/

:-)

[plaid-dragon.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that, it amused me very much. Almost as much as the commentors who didn't "get" it.

[plaid-dragon.livejournal.com]

You know how a bunch of people have been saying it sounds like the name of a feminine product?

[me-sarah-jones.livejournal.com]

Talked to Jordi about it, his main concern was that is has a different light/dark system than for example Kindle, so for reading books, it's less easy on the eyes... Your thoughts?
<3
Renée (who so would like to have one >;) )

[adrianclark.livejournal.com]

Not just control surface for a DAW, but also for any number of modular/modelling synths. Something like Berma would be a joy to use with a multi-touch interface. And for photo/graphics processing, if an app such as Lightroom could be modified to suit the interface.

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

Bluetooth connection for a foot-switch?

That would work with other stuff, it shouldn't need to be iPad-specific, and it's such an obvious idea.

[qb-fox.livejournal.com]

Let us know how it goes.

I'm thinking, sometime in the future, of getting one.

I like my phone for being able to do everything (it runs Windows Mobile), but I'm constantly frustrated by the tiny screen size.

Carrying one of these, with my phone diverted to it over IP, means I'd only use a phone for social outings; for work and other general travelling about I'd take the iPad.

I think I've been waiting for one of these since I first used a Palm Pilot.

[grey-lady.livejournal.com]

I tend to spend so much time switching between applications that I think I'll hold out for a multitasking version. But it does look nice.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Its a cool piece of kit if you have things you can find it will be ideal for (like your list), and there's always the ooh shiny aspect, I'm still grumpy about Apple marketing it as the be all and end all of portable gizmo things - I like keyboards and flash! :)

Will look forward to hearing about it, mind :)

[oreouk.livejournal.com]

And the race is on! Current hot contenders - Mike, Debbie, Gwen, Smac - which one will get there first? Watch LJ for the next thrilling instalment.....

It appeals to me more as a sign of what's to come - I think at the moment I'm happy with my go-everywhere iPod Touch, but this next step on the path to the future is still pleasing. This attitude will in no way prevent me from wanting to play with other peoples' iPads, of course!

[tarkrai.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know I won't win this race. :) But I'm definitely getting one. :)

We want the next version

[sexybass.livejournal.com]

Debbie and Sue and I are waiting for the WiFi version. I like the idea of using it as a music book. A little concerned about the the memory (64G) I think and I guess you can't hooh up an external storage device if it doesn't have a USB port.

[ewx.livejournal.com]

It doesn't have Flash.

Good. The sooner and more horribly Flash dies, the better.

Agreed that “it doesn't have XYZ” are somewhat second-rate complaints. (Some of them might change in future hardware or software versions anyway...)

[rickbooth.livejournal.com]

Flash'll die right after HTML does, I reckon.

[occams_pyramid]

But can you mod it?

[filklore-on-lj.livejournal.com]

They're going to need a bigger blender...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRr7N7A4Wc0

[rickbooth.livejournal.com]

If that multitouch sheet of paper were connected to a proper computer, that'd be cool. Version 2 or 3 maybe will be.

As it is, it's pretty much a toy - resolution (apparently deliberately) just too low for HD video so as not to undercut the laptop market, and all the omissions you mentioned. Too big and too expensive for an ebook, and not as good a display as the dedicated ebooks *for that purpose*. Not a good web-browsing solution (for 500 bucks at least) - no flash guarantees that. And I just don't understand why it doesn't have a camera - for heavily mobile Skype users, that could have been an *actual application*.

Sure, the faithful will find ways to use a stretched iPod touch, and it will be a fun toy. But genuinely useful?

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Would you really put a $500 (probably 500 pounds as well) device with a glass screen on a music stand? At least with a conventional notebook/laptop/netbook I can put it on a table with the screen up so that I can read it, and it's reasonably secure, but seeing how often music stands get knocked I wouldn't put anything breakable on it.

(The same goes for eBook readers, but if I were to take them places I'd actually want to use them there would also be more chance of theft. Lose one book and the replacement is possibly 10 quid, lose the reader and it's an order of magnitude more. Bring the price down to "throwaway" levels and I'll consider it...)

Now a 'tablet' type display for a PC (of whatever flavour), big enough to actually play board games on (A3 at least), would be useful indeed. And because it would be in the house I'd be willing to pay more. Bring back those computer games built into the table...

[plaid-dragon.livejournal.com]

I use an ebook reader a lot, for work, for holidays, travelling on the train. I agree it's not "throwaway" money but for me the convenience is worth the risk. About the only place I don't use it is reading in the bath! Theft isn't too big a concern since it fits in my bag easily and I'm not going to leave that lying around unattended with or without the ebook.

I wouldn't buy the iPad for reading ebooks though, I would imagine that would be like reading on a computer screen or the PDA, which is a lot less comfortable on the eyes than e-ink. For me, the e-ink is close enough to reading a real book that I have been known to try to turn the book page.

[tfabris.livejournal.com]

I also thought of the virtual songbook possibility for the iPad, then looked at its specs and realized it was too small for what I'd need.

[agentrayevyn.livejournal.com]

Digital sheetmusic!! How did I not think of that? I would LOVE to have digital sheetmusic -- consolidate all of my shelves of books into a computer. Yes, yes, YES. You have a winner there.

I was considering one as a more durable notetaker than a laptop for post-grad/med school if I go that route.