In short: I want one. I was skeptical at first, maybe even a bit standoffish. But once I saw the word processor functionality, the handy keyboard dock, and the price ($499 base, $599 for the one I’d want), I was sold. For a guy who does a lot of writing and jotting on the go, this just makes so much sense. In fact, this could be an excellent home computer for about 90 per cent of users- folks who just need a web/media browser. The brilliance of this thing is that it hits the most lucrative emerging computing market – those who use it for entertainment and recreation – so squarely, it’s like a tactical nuclear strike.
I’m getting a bit fanboyish, so I’ll stop before I drool all over my lame, so-last-year, physical keyboard.
As usual, Gizmodo has a nice round up of all the details. I also enjoy MightyGodKing‘s take.
If you have money to burn, this video will make you want one, too.
While I still want one, I’m bummed by the lack of videocamera and multitasking. I like to IM while I’m surfing the web on my couch/toilet.
as a musician who uses an iphone and has seen all sorts of very cool synth/samper/sequencer apps, this type of technology gets me reaaaaaal excited. Having a touch interface at that price, with a screen that size, and with ANYONE ANYWHERE able to design crazy applications, I’ll buy one just to use it as a fully functional musical and customizable instrument.
I was so excited I spelled sampler wrong.
My biggest gripe, more than anything else, is hard drive. One thing netbooks still have is a reasonable hard drive size. I don’t know about other people, but if I were hoping to replace my laptop with this, then it would be impossible. It might even fly if there were USB 2.0 somewhere on this thing so that I could attach an external hard drive but again, there isn’t.
As usual, I’ll when for the 2nd generation of the device…as anyone should do with Apple products.
One last thing…I get that they’re not going to embed flash due to their love affair with HTML 5, but what the hell are we supposed to do in the mean time??
My two cents. I will, probably without a doubt, get the 2nd gen one that will clearly have USB.
Paul: this one has an option USB dongle for attaching cameras, perhaps it can be used for external storage in the future.
THat’s interest – I spent most of my day yesterday reading about people complaining about the iPad (although Slate was very positive).
I can see its uses, but the pricing seems way out of line, particularly given the small storage space. This isn’t like an iPod, you’re not going to have all your movies on the go. For the price of a 64 gig 3G iPad you could have 2 netbooks and a GSM phone. Of course, high prices have never seemed to hurt Apple before.
Ah yes, classic first gen Apple…always to be avoided.
http://bbsimg.ngfiles.com/1/20688000/ngbbs4b613cd53425b.jpg
Still, it is hindered by Apple’s lock-down business model. I would like to feel like I own it and can do what I want with it rather than feeling like I’m borrowing a gadget that Mr. Jobs has total control over.
While I actually do like the look of the hardware itself, I feel there are too many downfalls to give it any attention over a standard windows or linux netbook. Yes it still wins over the average e-reader, but not over a netbook.
Here are a list of bummers…
Lack of USB ports (you can’t plug a usb key into it, big bummer!)
Drive space (not enough)
Flash is still important on the web. (even if people don’t like flash, it’s a pain when flash fails to show up.)
No built in keyboard
No camera
The device does not show up like an external drive, so no dragging and dropping files on the thing. (you need to use apple apps to sync content to the thing)
No multi-tasking, (with a screen of that resolution there should be a way of running several apps side by side.)
The list continues if you want to get really nitpicky.
Here are a list of wins…
For people that want an e-reader with a few extra features it’s a good contender
It has the typical Apple cool factor (Partly because it is shiny and partly because it’s not super cheap)
There are tons of apps for the thing. (But you are limited to Apple approved apps)