Are they actually selling more of the Touchpad? Even at $149 that would be a great buy...made even better when people get Android running smoothly on them.
There are cheaper 3G Android based tablets. As far as access on-the-go, most people don't NEED to check their email a million times a day. If the tablet would be used for school (netbook would make much more sense) solid WiFi is there. As far as on the road, sure...I guess 3G is nice if you actually have coverage and want to pay for the service. If there were no data caps and there wasn't much of an added cost (to the tablet AND service) it would make sense if you need it.
Tablets that I've looked at would be for wasting time with media. Wouldn't need the 3G version of anything and wouldn't want to spend $500+ for a name when I can get one that has better specs for less money. Apple makes quality products but so do many other companies, they just don't market the brand as hardcore.
The iPad is designed as a device for the consumption of media: movies, music, games, websites, etc. It is not designed to take the place of a computer, but does complement it nicely.
I disagree with the statement that it is a threat to netbooks. The netbook and the iPad serve two completely different niches. However, most people buy a netbook (or an iPad) for the wrong reasons, which feeds into that myth.
You could have gotten an Android based tablet with similar accessories that welcomes flash...for less money (especially the silly people that get the 3g versions of the iPad).
Where does this whole "more powerful" bit come from? Apple force feed you that line and you digest it? It is what it is, a toy. They are both in different markets. Laptops and netbooks are for production while Ipads are for personal enjoyment.
That is true. Would be decent hardware to run Android on.
FWIW, the Ipad2 is not capable of doing anything more than a quality cell phone can do.
My only gripe about the ipad is the lack of flash, that does stink and can be annoying at times. However one negative is not enough to outweigh everything else.
Buy a Hp Touchpad while they are almost giving them away. $149 for 32GB version, it has email, angry birds, MP3 player, plays porn flash vids, online chatting, web browser, all WiFi...can't beat WebOS.
You can beat WebOS since they are canning it. Lol
Why can't an iPad replace a netbook? Aside from flash, what else can a netbook do an iPad can't? Every netbook I've ever played is slow and sluggish, same with my mom's netbook, and my iPad has better graphics.
Ignorance
I never said it couldn't replace a netbook. I said they serve different purposes. For example, an ipad would be completely unsuitable for me in my job since I wouldn't be able to manage any of my switches and routers with it, much less my servers. You may find it perfectly usable. That said, I'm responding to this post on a ipad and find it works just fine for that task.
The Android based tablets have been trying to play catchup to Apple since they first launched the product. It always seems to be that way with Apple though, they innovate, others just copy their ideas. MP3 players, smart phones, tablets, etc. They made those things more mainstream.
A lot of the more popular android tablets are very close to if not the same price as the Apple equivalent. Asus, Acer, HTC, Motorola, etc are all in the ball park price wise but none are even close in aftermarket support, a network as large as itunes, nearly the number of apps, etc.
None of those others have OEM hardware integrated into new cars to interface with them. That is the benefit of the iPad. It is compatible with everything. Not only that but the battery life, much like the android vs iphone, is far greater with the apple. I have an HTC EVO and while I do like it, I am lucky to get 12 hours on it and that is not even using it all the time, just normal daily activity.
I am not an Apple fanboi. I have never owned any other Apple product and never have had any real desire to. Never owned even an ipod. But for what it is the iPad is better than any of its competition imo.
My only gripe about the ipad is the lack of flash, that does stink and can be annoying at times. However one negative is not enough to outweigh everything else.
Just like your comment above. Where is the answer to the question? What makes it more powerful than a laptop or even a high quality cell phone for that matter? I was curious to your opinion, not your sarcastic remarks. It has a slow processor, weak camera, lack of I/O and very limited memory. Wow, that really sounds awesome to me.
Also, I have played with one before. They are cool in their own right but I was not impressed. And I also agree with Scutter as far as it not being practical for my work.
As far as using a tablet in the car...there isn't a single person on the face of the planet that needs this. Also, it is great that in your opinion the iPad is the best of the best but that isn't how a handful of tech blogs and mags see things. If people that review electronics as part of their job don't agree, I'll probably go more with the person talking up aspects that don't have to do with plugging into my car.
If you really want I can do a side by side with the iPad 2 and a product $100 or more cheaper and show that it is as good or better than the iPad 2. Did it last week with a laptop and MacBook and showed the exact specs minus display for around a $900 difference. Specs are out there...people should research and decide what they "need" instead of taking opinions from people they "know" on a forum as something other than an opinion.
If you want to compare with the Asus Transformer, the Asus comes out cheaper (Asus is about $150 less, shipped) with pretty similar specs (a little heavier and a 2 second delay on the camera) and better battery life. There are plenty of apps for Android. If you have issues finding an app that you can use, the issue is with the user.
Caleb, I've used the original iPad and unless there have been some serious upgrades...not that impressed (at least not enough to drop that kind of cash). As far as the iPad 2 being able to do anything an Android tablet can do, if you mean not running flash or costing more...sure. As far as the iPad 2 being much better than any Android based tablet on the market, the only things I can find that are current blogs or articles are written by admitted Apple FanBois (and even some of them are trying to qualify their "facts"). Being better than a netbook isn't too difficult as most are pretty basic to fit a specific need, cheap and functionality for a decent amount of "basic" applications.
I say buy what you want. If you want to spend more on a similar product so you can have a trendy name, go with Apple. If you want something that will function as well (or better), do your research.
@sepe....
There's reason I waited for the original iPad to go on sale...if OP really wanted an iPad, I would tell him to find an iPad 1 on sale somewhere or wait for iPad 3 that rumored to go on sale this fall
As a media consumption device they are perfect. I use mine almost exclusively in my bedroom for reading, watching movies etc. If it is after 10PM and I am posting, it is probably me posting from my iPad.......naked
Well that makes all the difference in the world since some of the cheaper ones I'm seeing right now are around $375 shipped. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer (much better specs than the original iPad) can be found for $375 shipped, many vendors are under $400 with free shipping or with shipping and insurance added. I did see on autorader.com where someone was selling a Yugo for $5,000 and a fairly late model (2000+) econo-box with actual features (pick your flavor, transmission, whatever) with under 100,000 miles for $5,100...maybe I'll go with the Yugo since it is slightly cheaper and old technology.
Pics or it didn't happen.
$400 for my 64gb iPad...hell no was I going to pass it up. The price difference between iPad and iPad 2 isn't worth it, maybe iPad vs iPad 3