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What do you think of the iPad?

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I think the draconian business practices at Apple make companies like Microsoft seem angelic by comparison. As such you will never see me own an Apple product. So to answer the topic question, I don't think of the iPad at all.

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Well, 1800's people lived well, better than us perhaps, with no cell phones, faxes, internet, Iphones and Ipads. So, Ipad is not quintessential. But if I had to buy something right now, it would be the new Iphone AND an Ipad, to use in my work.

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Just another iphone that is too big to fit in your pocket. Cant wait for the new iphone to drop in price, hopefully, in 3 months just like what happened to the first iphone (i was out 20,000 for buying it on the first day because 3 months later it was offered for 0 yen!)

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Just a bigger iPhone/iPod.

Personally I do not have any use for it at the moment. I already have computers at home/work, have 24 hour access to internet. I also do not prefer to ready books, newspapers, etc... electronically. So I do not need it.

Besides, I really do not want to carry another electronic gadget with me. I have enough already.

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Not enough bells and whistles.

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dont know havent seen one, not in a rush to do so who knows if I will ever have an opinion on these & so many other gadgets that breed faster than rabbits

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A nicely-built and smooth-working waste of cash :) Not enough bells and whistles, like combinibento said.

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Good coffee mat.

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I'm still waiting on the iPad nano.

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it seem like a real handy device to me. but i don't like the way apple doing business. monopoly controlling everything, i even think M$ is less evil compare to apple today. i will wait for a device from the "Don't be evil" company.

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iphone is enough for me.

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At the moment it's just a case of: iGnore it until it iMpinges on my life, then maybe think about getting one.

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I can't even tell the diffrences between all these electronic gadgets.... iphone, ipad, iwhatever. No desire to own one.

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Fadamor - and you base your outburst on what? The iPad does have a niche market and for many people it is very useful. I am typing this on my iPod touch and I would like the keys to be bigger. The first generation of any new technology always comes with glitches and criticism, but it is a great thing and when the applications catch up and the glitches are sorted it will be even better.

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That is one my gripe with many of those electronic gadgets, Smart-phones, netbooks, etc.

Keybord size. Call me old-fashioned but I do prefer a full-sized keyboard. Plsu, if my Keyboard breaks I can replace it soonish with one for about 3000Yen, no need to send it in.

That is one of he reason why I don't think those gadgest like the Ipad will soon take over the serious office work, like software development, etc.

Great to carry an online-catalog around or use to run a demo.

Just my view.

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I have said this before watch out for Apple! They have a habit of turning on their most loyal customers.

I'm an EX Apple freak but been burned by them too many times in the past!

Now my daughter and her friends at her crazy "otaku" high school are working on an Ubuntu based pad that will probably make the I-pad look like an antique once they have finished they plan on posting the how to on the schools website and making the OS available through Ubuntu's regular site.

Lest see how it will fair!

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Except the screen size, it doesn't offer anything what a decent smartphone doesn't offer as well. But who wants to carry around such a beast all the time? On the other hand, what smartphones are missing, a decent keyboard, is not so much better on the iPad. For anything beyond occasional typing I strongly prefer a "real" keyboard. Between smartphones and sub note PCs, I'd think there is only a small niche market for the iPad, so the hype around this product is surprising. Now the whole industry seems to be jumping onto the bandwagon. Will they get burned?

The lack of important connectivity and they ugly way how Apple tries to lock you into their products would anyway make me look for an alternative from another vendor.

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I think it.s really good for people whose work is any type of marketing (web..etc), publicity...etc, but for normal users....its. a new iphone with a big screen, only that. I was using if for more than 2 hours...and i can.t find anything good. Price is really expensive, and i prefer buy a new computer more than buy an Ipod. But i.m really looking for iphone 4 release on 26th June.

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I think it's a great start- I think gen2 or 3 will really see the device mature and settle into its niche. As others have said, it needs more stuff. Have a look at the first ipods, and look at them now. It has a way to go yet.

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Oversized Ipad touch sold to millions through mass marketing brainwashing.

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See it got me, I mean oversized ipod touch.

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It's a giant iPhone... iMtired of iGoods from Apple...

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Just listened to a man who makes his living in social/new media marketing (and by 'a living' I mean he pulls in over $50,000 a month) say that the iPad is a godsend: smaller than a laptop but just as useful; with Skype he uses it as his phone; he uses it to demo products/services/how-to-lectures; he likes that he can print via his wireless printer; makes Keynote (powerpoint) presentations; does his numbers crunching (Excel) on it; watches movies, listens to audio, sends emails from it, and a variety of other things. All of which an iPod Touch can do (?) but with the bigger screen, the iPad is, eh, better.

He was talking to a man who makes 10 podcasts weekly and who tried to use the iPad as his podcast audio editor/capture tool - which didn't work so the second man thought it was just a big iPod Touch. They spoke at length and at the end I thought: I think I'll get me an iPad.

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@borcht : So you were listening to Steve Jobs? :)

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It seems to be very useful for business. It acts like a more convenient laptop. One can take this and search, display and edit much easier especially with presentations. But it seems a bit large to use for non-business applications that the iPhone is just as capable of doing. I won't need one until I start a business and can write off the purchase. Hopefully by then there will be something better/more powerful available.

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Fadamor - and you base your outburst on what? The iPad does have a niche market and for many people it is very useful. I am typing this on my iPod touch and I would like the keys to be bigger. The first generation of any new technology always comes with glitches and criticism, but it is a great thing and when the applications catch up and the glitches are sorted it will be even better.

First of all, I really wouldn't classify my post as an "outburst".

Second of all, where should I start on my criticism of Apple? There's the "you buy our equipment or none at all" philosophy; and of course there was the huge censorship of reports that their monitors were shipped with dark regions. When people started complaining about the monitors on Apple's support forum, Apple deleted the entire thread. It's actions and philosophies like those that cause me to label Apple as being worse than MS.

Third, I never said YOU shouldn't buy Apple products, only that I will never buy them and as such I never think about the iPad. You are certainly welcome to your own opinion of the brand, but you could have presented it here without criticizing my opinion of Apple.

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It's a pretty nice toy. Very smooth functionality, very noticeable speed increase from iphone or ipod touch, very easy on the eyes, relatively light, and easy to use. Great for any casual computer user, especially with 3g service.

That said, I am not getting one because it does not suit my personal needs. My ipod touch is well enough for me. I have a powerful laptop that, although heavier, is far more capable, faster, less limited, bigger screen, better controls (kb and mouse), and CHEAPER.

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jj1980 @borcht : So you were listening to Steve Jobs? :)

$50,000 a month? For Steve Jobs? Chickenfeed, my friend, chickenfeed. It was Bill Gates. ;)

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Interesting to see how many people have opinions on something they've never used.

Anyhow...I am not impressed by Apple's stranglehold on distribution. Not only have they (at least in Japan) clamped down on who can see their products online, but it even goes further. I bought the wife a Nano for her the other day at a big chain store starting with "Yo..." When making the purchase, I was trying to decide how many store point-card points I would get if i paid by credit card or cash. The sales assistant said that the purchase of all Apple products received a point reward which was something like a one-third of most other products in the store. I got points on the non-Apple Nano accessory kit we bought at the same time, but minimal points on the Apple Nano.

What gives?

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Just keep churning out new stuff people can impress their friends with...

A simple laptop and a simple mobile is all I use. Can do without them too, makes life a little harder though

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Some guy brought one into a club to...I guess impress everyone. I wasn't impressed, I'll stick to a netbook.

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I am amazed by all the comments relating to 'apple's stronghold'. Please explain to me how Windoze is any different. The iPad is an innovation and history proves people are scared of new products, thus enforcing all the negativity in this thread.

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I totally need it for my work. It eliminates the amount of documents I have to trudge around. Now I can show a nice presentation on the iPad and email it to my customers. My customers love not having to drag the paperwork back with them too.

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bobbafett.

And an old-fashioned laptop or netbook can't do the same?

Sorry, just find it strange when people say I "NEED" it or can't do without it. Why because we survived for years without the IPad doing the same stuff.

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I am amazed by all the comments relating to 'apple's stronghold'. Please explain to me how Windoze is any different.

I guess it was me you were referring to (I actually used 'stranglehold'). It wasn't Apple/Microsoft argument, and it needn't be. I bought my wife a Nano and I own an iPod Classic and iTouch (both of which I'm happy with and - on topic - the iTouch fulfills my needs so I won't be buying an iPad). So, we've contributed to Apple's income, and I'm not playing the Apple/Microsoft game.

What I was annoyed about was (1) a company determining where their products can be sold (although this can be seen in other businesses, but why STOP people from selling your product, unless it's just for company gain and (2) the reduction in "Yodo..." points for the purchase of an Apple product (which could possible be a "Yodo..." policy, but it strikes me that it has something to profit margins involving this company.

If there any are any equally relevant Microsoft comparisons in regards to who and how products can be sold by vendors, I would be interested in reading them.

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Sorry, just find it strange when people say I "NEED" it or can't do without it. Why because we survived for years without the IPad doing the same stuff

And I suppose you would be up for a business trip from Tokyo to Osaka by horse back too?

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I like the Ipad, it is a snazzy little product with a nice little interface. Played with one at Yodo...

But technology/featurewise it doesn't offer much to justify buying it at that price.

That is what I am saying, as for older equipment it don't become useless or obsolete the minute the newer model comes out.

If you like it be happy with it but, pls, tell me WHAT exactly elevates the Ipad over other computing devices(touch-screens are old tech now 20+yrs old).

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I agree with Zenny, it's a snazzy product. Apparently millions of others agree too, Apple's already sold over 2 million of them and they're expected to sell 7 million of them before the year's out.

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I am amazed by all the comments relating to 'apple's stronghold'. Please explain to me how Windoze is any different.

Easy. You can put Windows on any computer you want and Microsoft doesn't mind a bit as long as you paid for the license. Try including MacOS with any computer other than an Apple-manufactured product and watch how fast Apple issues a "cease and desist" order on your behind. Think I'm making it up? Think again: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9991572-56.html

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I used Apples for many years, one think that turned me of them is their iTunes app & store and how everything has to be done via it.

There are many Apple-fans also cursing iTunes.

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Just bought an I-pod. Not being a tech saavy, I am not thinking about the I-pad just yet. I do like its E-book capabilities....or what you may call it.

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ipad ftw!!! its a new stuff and its just ftw :D

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