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I think most of you folks have kind of missed the point of the ipad. If you want a netbook/notebook, buy one, this is not a replacement for those devices. This is a new device with a very different goal. For most people (read: people not like you that consider yourself... cough... elite power users), this device actually does replace their cheap windows based dell laptop they bought to keep in touch with the family or to browse the web. Unlike those devices, the iPad is actually something you can quickly turn on and start using right away without the endless windows updates and what not problems. Personally, for me, I would buy one simply for those times I'm watching the boob tube and need to lookup who that actor is in that latest episode of whatever show. It's a hell of a lot easier than messing with the iphone or waiting for my laptop to wake up.

Anyway, I bought one for the mom. She loves it, spends hours and hours doing stuff with it from playing solitaire, to organizing her bills, looking up stuff online and so on. Best thing about it is I don't get the daily call that something is wrong with her dell.

I think the general cynicism in these responses are simply jealousy of something they don't really understand. That is... people just want a device to do normal stuff that doesn't require months worth of wasted time and energy to keep running and secure. I'd give up a laptop for one, but I know what I'm buying and certainly wouldn't expect it to be the new incarnation of the n505.

There are always tech crazy idiots who will buy anything that has been advertised as the next big thing without even considering whether or not they have a use for it. This thing seems to have a lot of limitations and could cost a lot of money even if they gave it to you which I hear they will. I wouldn't even apply for one.

I would lime to say that I bought it on the premies that i could return it if not happy with a 15% restocking fee from Best Buy. It truly is an oversized iPod but it is so much moré. love that it handles all my calendar, to do, notes, features of my previos PDA, music in iTunes, reader (downloaded the kindle app) and all books from amazon kindle format for pc is now in my iPad. I got to watch instant movies from netflix. IBecause of 3G, I have been able to use it as a GPS. the instant on makes it incredibly easy to log on to email.
the size of the unit makes typing on the virtual keypad very enjoyable compared to iPod.
all the above have convinced me this unit is a keeper.

cons? It should come preloaded with software that did not require first connecting to a pc... Flat screen keyboard typing gets tiresome after a while. I also wish the screen was matte so it would not be so hard on the eyes in very bright situations.

I do not think you would regret owning one. I like spending the 30 dollars unlimited wireless on this rather than on a phone data plan.

For serious work, a pc is it.. For everything else entertainment and web related research, the iPad is a winner.

I own several pcs, MacBook pro, ASUS net books, and ipod touch. I think this is a keeper!

I still haven't seen one in the wild, and if I do I'll probably laugh at the guy holding it.

apple ipad tablet new tech deviced from apple i think this is new innovation for tech life sound good

www.allappleipad.info

The problem I see is that Apple is moving at the pace of a snail. Look at the iPad, look at the iPhone 4.0, look at the "updated" 13-inch MacBook pro.

I will give the iPad about 6 months until you will read articles that the iPad fails to gain ground. You really cannot do anything with it, in fact you can do many more things with the iPhone.

Powerful small netbooks are the way of the future. But the problem is, all the today's netbook designs are ugly (minus the Nokia Booklet 3G), and they refuse to put in 4GB RAM, dual-core Atoms and HD-playback chips (like the Broadcom Crystal HD) fearing that no one will buy laptops anymore. But once Intel will have enough pressure on it to allow more powerful netbooks, the iPad game will be officially over.

So this is an iphone that wont fit in my pocket?

no flash???? omgwtf is this 1998?

wasn't there a atom based tablet released a few months ago? i read something about it on this site. you should do a comparison review.

btw im using a netbook as my main pc atm and im not struggling at all. ive even been doing a little movie editing in 720p, yes its not ideal and if had anything with a bit more grunt it would be better.

All that shows is that you have more money than sense.

Different functionality? replace the word different with less and you're correct.

Get over yourself then you may realise what you are, someone who clearly buys into marketing, regardless of the company.

@PEWTER

No, the iPad has a different functionality. That's why I said get a laptop if that's what you need, don't bitch about something that doesn't meet your personal needs. BTW, anyone who uses the kiddie insult of 'fanboi' is just as ignorant as any person they're trying to insult.

For the record I have a WIN 7 desktop, Macbook pro, HTC Legend, iPhone and a Portege M700 convertible tablet.

What kind of 'fanboi' does that make me? A tech fanboi?

I still stand by my comment that netbooks are gimped.

As I clearly said, this was a better review but still had to have the obligatory 'dig' at the end. Trust me, I'll have a go at any biased crap whether it's Apple, Android on Windows.

You just can't see it though, with your knee jerk comments.

Honestly the best way to describe the iPad is a good idea that was horribly mismanaged. There are really countless ways to improve such a device but Apple being the greedy SOBs that they are felt more like making an overpriced supersized iPhone to further milk the poor unassuming consumers, who being too lazy to do proper market research before picking their electronics, have fallen prey to their pop culture status pieces in the past.

Put bluntly Apple has not made a revolutionary device since the day the company started and it's unlikely they ever will. I say that because while most companies that make quality products spend more money on R&D then advertising Apple instead waits for other people to come up with the ideas then spends more money on advertising then R&D with the goal being to essentially brainwash the untechie masses into thinking they actually have a superior product.

Design and software limitations? So the IPhone was let down by software limitations? Clearly not. This review is failing too acknowledge the massive interest people have shown in this device.
This is a design people want. No, it has no floppy disc. No mouse. No cd drive. No firewire. No webcam. Doesn't even come with a keyboard. The question is, do we really need those things to browse the web, look at pictures, write emails, read books, listen to music, watch movies, etc.? The answer gives itself. The only correct point in the article is the price. But time will tell if people are willing to pay the price for the features this device does well. The initial sales says yes.

Maybe in future it would be nice if you handed products to reviewers who hadn't decided that they hate the product in question before they've even laid their hands on it

You really hit the nail with your review. To own an iPad is indeed like owning your own personal Apple-shop.
In fact, the piece of software called "the web browser" holds more functionality than an iPad;
You can use "a web browser" to manage your mail, watch videos, play music, read books, etc...
No wonder Apple had to handicap its own web-browser on the iPad by removing Flash : if they hadn't they may have found all iPad users spend all their time in that single WebBrowsing application which would have been 'embarassing' because it would also make people understand that Apple's Apps aren't special at all.
Oh and btw. I own 2 Macs, an iMac and a MacBook Air, in case any of the Fanbois still believes people that diss Apple are , by definition, "PC's".

Your idea of a fair review is positive to Apple nothing else.

Expensive? How about compared to a £250 netbook which has more functionality?

You are the description of a fanboi, can't even see the obvious.

It makes no sense that I pay an arm and a kidney for a device that cannot run a program I choose or, in my case, I write! COBOL is my daily bread, but from time to time I write something in a more "human" language to use it on my netbook (such as... an application to keep the financial books of an association I'm part of). Now, should I buy an I-stuff, I would have to go through an approval process by those guys, only to see it turned down in the end. This is INSANE. When I buy a fridge, nobody tells me what I can and cannot put into it! And when I buy a device that can run programs, nobody tells me what I can run, download or browse, threatening to kill support if I "jailbreak" it: because, once I shell out the cash, the device IS MINE!

But then again, I guess I'm not nazi enough to appreciate the subtle cleverness of all this

Once you have an USB port people will expect it supports various devices, and drivers for those, that's simply something apple doesn't want, it's a locked down closed system and that's apple's 'thing', and apple's purposely selected audience is people that want to be controlled by steve jobs, if you aren't that person you should not try to be one.

OK Latif, that was a better review. I see you still bow to the INQ refusal to use the proper product name of iPad but hey ho, they're the ones paying £20 an article so call the shots.

With the positives it looked like you might head towards a more generous sum up and score, but no, 'White Elephant' and 5/10 (although, compared to what)?

Also, re the price. I'm staggered that you think £400 is expensive. Think about it, 'pundits' thought this thing would be over a grand, £400 is a spectacular entry price for the tech.

@Sam. Netbooks are gimped also. Get a laptop instead. The iPad does fit in between phone/laptop but if you need 'laptop' stuff, get a fecking laptop.

Mr. Jobs actually SAID in his speech recealing the iPad that it WAS better than a netbook(which he said as crap) and said it would be better then a laptop.
Ol' Stevie said the iPAD was better,,,,

It's not. It's so gimped it's a joke.

Gosh! At last I read a well written honest review about the magical ipad!
Are you not trembling in your shoes that Apple might not like what you have written?
Well done.

Apple never claimed the IPad was a Laptop replacement

its a device to consume media eg electronic Magazines, E-Books, E-papers, Music, Videos, etc

What a joker does the reviewer actually know anything what a numpty

Those who bought the iPad deserve to be called iDiots.