Thread: iPad

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SAN FRANCISCO – Apple Inc. will sell the newly unveiled tablet-style iPad starting at $499, a price tag far below the $1,000 that some analysts were expecting.

The iPad, which is larger in size but similar in design to Apple's popular iPhone, was billed by CEO Steve Jobs on Wednesday as "so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone."

Jobs, 54, a pancreatic cancer survivor who got a liver transplant during a 5 1/2-month medical leave last year, looked thin as he introduced the highly anticipated gadget, though he seemed to have more energy than he did at Apple's last event in September.

The iPad has a 9.7-inch touch screen, is a half-inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds and comes with 16, 32 or 64 gigabytes of flash memory storage. It comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity built in. Jobs said the device has a battery that lasts 10 hours and can sit for a month on standby without needing a charge.

The basic iPad models will cost $499, $599 and $699, depending on the storage size, when it comes out worldwide in March.

Apple will also sell a version with data plans from AT&T Inc. in the U.S.: $14.99 per month for 250 megabytes of data, or $29.99 for unlimited usage. Neither will require a long-term service contract.

Those 3G iPad models will cost more — $629, $729 and $829, depending on the amount of memory — and will be out in April. International cellular data details have not yet been announced.

Apple had kept its "latest creation" tightly under wraps until Wednesday's unveiling, though many analysts had correctly speculated that it would be a one-piece tablet computer with a big touch screen, larger than an iPhone but smaller than a laptop.

Raven Zachary, a contributing analyst with mobile researchers The 451 Group, considered the iPad a laptop replacement, especially because Apple is also selling a dock with a built-in keyboard.

But Forrester Research analyst James McQuivey said he doesn't believe the iPad added enough for consumers to justify buying yet another gadget, or to call this a new category of devices. In an e-mail, he criticized its lack of social features such as ways to share photos and home video and recommend books.

Sitting on stage in a cozy leather chair, Jobs demonstrated how the iPad is used for surfing the Web with Apple's Safari browser. The CEO typed an e-mail using an on-screen keyboard and flipped through photo albums by flicking his finger across the screen. He also showed off a new electronic book store and a book-reading interface that emulates the look of a paper book, putting the iPad in competition with Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle and other e-book readers.

Like iPods and the iPhone, the iPad can sync with Apple's Macintosh and Microsoft's Windows computers. Jobs said the iPad will also be better for playing games and watching video than either a laptop or a smart phone. Software coming with the iPad includes a calendar, maps, a video player and iPod software for playing music. All seem to have been slightly redesigned to take advantage of the iPad's bigger screen.

Tablet computers have existed for a decade, with little success. Jobs acknowledged Apple will have to work to convince consumers who already have smart phones and laptops that they need this gadget.

"In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks," Jobs said. "We think we've got the goods. We think we've done it."

Applications designed for the iPhone can run on the iPad. Apple is also releasing updated tools for software developers to help them build iPhone and iPad programs.

"We think it's going to be a whole 'nother gold rush for developers as they build applications for the iPad," said Scott Forstall, an iPhone software executive.

A new newspaper reader program from The New York Times and a game from Electronic Arts Inc. were also demonstrated during the event. The audience, which included many journalists and bloggers, clapped and even gave Jobs a standing ovation.

Shares in Apple rose $2.04, or 1 percent, to close Wednesday at $207.98. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company's shares have more than doubled over the past year, partly on anticipation of the tablet computer. Shares in Amazon rose $3.27, or 2.7 percent, to $122.75.

Just released earlier today, apple unveils the iPad(lulz). It's a tablet that looks like an iPhone. Thoughts, comments, whatever, post, post, post!

Not sure if there was already a thread made on this, but if there is one then it isn't in the right section.

seen it just now...

well, it's an oversized iPhone without the "Phone" part... nice gadget but not usefull..

Dumbed down computer minus a keyboard? Sigh, how lame. -.-

Originally Posted by ketaro Only Register Member Can See The Link/Image [Click here to register]

Dumbed down computer minus a keyboard? Sigh, how lame. -.-

actually theres a keyboard that comes with it, just gotta connect it, like how you gotta connect the cd drive for the macbook air.

interesting gadget.. but kinda too big to be carried around all the time...

As expected from Apple, the design are very sleek and innovative. I never have a laptop before so I think I may get this when they have a more stable build or at least later generation version The thing I hate the most about Apple portable products was that they never have a build in memory card slot. If you want more space then you have to pay a couple hundred more which is a big rip off if you ask me. $499 as a starter price is not bad at all xD

Waste of money and a pain in the butt to use not really worth it ... rather get an Iphone

Originally Posted by calaber Only Register Member Can See The Link/Image [Click here to register]

Waste of money and a pain in the butt to use not really worth it ... rather get an Iphone

I went to a local phone store today and guess what? the newest iphone with no contract costs like $850 LOL Now would you take a $499 ipad or a $850 iphone? xD

Originally Posted by SaKe Only Register Member Can See The Link/Image [Click here to register]

It just seems stupid to me.. I mean now days you can get a netbook, or use your smart phone, so why would anyone have any use at all for something like that?

These tablets have more business appeal then anything else I believe.

Its still pretty neat

when will they make Ipot???

lol but these doesn't seem to be useful well at least for now i think

Originally Posted by SaKe Only Register Member Can See The Link/Image [Click here to register]

I don't see how.. especially when most businesses just use laptops.

It would replace laptops. It's simpler and has a sleek futuristic design to it. A lot of businesses have tried to use other "tablet computers" but they all failed before, so apple decided to take over and make one that works.
It seems interesting, but a bit pricey for something thats not as useful as a laptop. Once these things become more useful and cheaper, I'll probably buy one instead of a laptop.

Originally Posted by King Only Register Member Can See The Link/Image [Click here to register]

I went to a local phone store today and guess what? the newest iphone with no contract costs like $850 LOL Now would you take a $499 ipad or a $850 iphone? xD

T.T iPhone hands down much more painless, less stuff to remember, more portable, and can still go online...I hate touch screen keypads though... but iPad also has it..