Very interesting comments on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/maggieshiels/2010/01/the_morning_after_the_tablet.html

The overwhelming majority of comments are very negative along one or more of the following themes:

1) It's a big iPod Touch - so what?

2) Are you really going to carry it around with you?

3) Another means for Apple to rip off consumers. Expensive and still tied to the App$tore.

4) iPad has sanitary towel connotations.

5) It has no camera(s).

6) It doesn't do multi-tasking.

7) It doesn't support Flash.

8) What can it do that my PC/Mac or Netbook can't?

It's an interesting reminder that we, on this forum, represent a very select slice of public opinion (though if all those who commented aren't interested in gadgetry, what are they doing on that web page in the first place? wink ).

I think that, these days, the world has so few experiences of technology that "just works", and so much experience of the mundane and frustrating, the automatic response is cynicism even when something wonderful shows up. That and the human pre-disposition against change and anything unfamiliar. I like to think that I'm beyond that: I jest not, I've been waiting for something like the iPad for twenty years, ever since I first saw the first attempts at electronic organisers (e.g. Psion) and flawed, but visionary, products like Apple's Newton.

I thought the statistic that Apple has now sold more than a quarter of a *billion* iPods (including iPhones) was astounding. This is the retort to the nay-sayers.

Another thing was that, when I watched Steve Job's keynote speech and the "iPad video", I was struck how the Apple corporate culture is so loaded with the mindset that the world works on the affluent Western ("American executive") consumer model (no offense intended). I think this is how many corporations in the US think, but I'm not going to criticize a company that has both vision and the ability to deliver on that vision spectacularly. The question on Apple's (and every other CE company's) impact on the environment isn't for this thread or forum.

Anyway, I've got some comments on the iPad:

1) I think it *is* a large iPod Touch; but that's the point, and the iPad is the first device to bring everything together in a single product. It is also the first "tablet" which is designed not to be used with a stylus and which is multi-touch.

2) Whilst some executive types will carry one around, I think that most iPads will find use in the living room, on the sofa, in front of a TV or music system. It seems the most obvious use case to me. An iPad will be a much more comfortable device to browse with on a sofa than a laptop with a touch pad.

3) I wonder how many people will actually use it as an iPod if it stays in the home?

4) Lack of Flash support is interesting. Obviously it could be added, but you don't lose out on iPlayer and YouTube. I wonder if Apple really is trying to kill off Flash? A pain that the CBeebies games won't work though!

5) If you want to multi-task, work at a desk with your computer.

6) As no stranger to the existance of Crestrons and other very expensive kit, $500 seems pretty cheap for a media control unit which will be a joy to use), that has a great browser, that I can do email on (typing with both hands), that I can access this forum on, that I can play games on, that my daughter can learn on, that I can view and share my photos on (in either portrait or landscape orientation) without humping my laptop about, that I can run any existing iPhone app on, etc., etc.

In short, I'm completely sold.

Roon Developer and ex-moderator of this Forum
I am #25 in the HH1 photo of fame.