[DUG] Apple iPad - OT

[Jolyon Smith]

> for a large chunk of the population it could replace 
> laptop/desktop.  Many people just use computers for 
> web/email and some casual gaming.

... and managing their music collection, organizing/uploading photos, videos
etc etc ...

If people only wanted a device for the limited things you suggest, then in
the days even before email/the web etc were things that people might do at
home on a PC, the *home*computer* would never have been supplanted by the
IBM PC.


As for the iPad itself, anything that requires more than trivial text input
(like, emailing, naming/tagging/describing photos etc) is going to be
unbearable on an iPad unless you attach a keyboard (sold separately) and a
"mount"/stand (also sold separately) to hold it at an angle whist you type,
at which point you've negated the mobile appeal and added to the cost.

The "middle space" is defined by "devices not adequately equipped for
general purpose use, but not small enough to be carried in your pocket or
used handheld for decent periods".

There *is* a "space" defined by such devices, that's for sure.  But is there
any real *use* for such devices?

At the price point likely to be hit by the iPad, it's not going to be much
more expensive to "step-up" to a device that does everything an iPad can
*and more*.


But yes, the iPad will sell in droves.

Just as Avatar has sold a metric bucket-load of tickets despite the
overwhelming view being that the story is pedestrian, obvious and in many
ways boring, but YOU HAVE TO SEE IT COS IT'S SOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOL !!! WOOT
!!!!!


Colour me unconvinced.

(coming soon the "Google tablet" ... even COOLER THAN AN IPAD!!!  Cos it's
like, ya know, an iPhone which is like, WAY COOL **AND** IT'S GOOGLE, which
is like, ya know, even WAY WAY COOLERER!)

(and yes, it'll be WAY COOLER even if, technically, it actually sucks, cos
Google don't do evil <pant> <pant> <drool>)