the iphone isn't great as a phone or a media player or a games device (the latter due to the istore). there are better phones with longer battery life. there are better media players with hi-res screens and video HDMI out. there are better handheld games consoles.

however, as a converged device with a good ecosystem and communication with its mother ship (a computer running itunes) it is unrivalled. Nokia's devices with the backing of ovi store and pcsuite could have kept up but nokia failed to get the user interface right (s60 cumbersome), pcsuite is crude, and the ovistore failed to provide great content.

most of the people here don't want such a locked-down appliance.

Now try to do it legally. I bet you can't.

To appreciate the value of the system, you have to put yourself on the content creator's shoes.

I read somewhere that Apple is trying to get the networks to drop their TV episode prices. There is even talk of a cable-like monthly subscription price where a bundle of shows/channels can be had for a single monthly uplift.

I never bought an iPod, although we did recently for our kids. In fact, aside from that, I don't think I've ever purchased original anything from Apple, although I've owned a number of second-hand macs over the years.

But I may break that taboo with this device. I've been a closet Apple fan and have used Macs off and on since mid 80's.

I want to casually read websites, books, newspapers, maybe flip through pics, watch some vids, from my couch, bed, or on my lap on the train/bus ride in to work. I want a handwriting note-taker. And, I want it to "just work" well, smoothly, and then have access to bunch of other attendant apps.

I'm a big keyboard guy (unix admin), but you really have to be committed to a certain frame of mind when you go to the keyboard.

There is another frame of mind, however, when you're simply reading, writing, and "exploring". It's one of deep introspection. This is the device for that. Any device that centers around a computer and keyboard does not take that other frame of mind into consideration, and that's why this device is appealing.

I think technologists are offended by this device, because it's not really for them. I mean, they can use it and enjoy it, but it's not a technologist's tinkerer hobby device, and that's why they don't like it.

iPods and iPhones were small enough to be relegated to an also-ran device. This is probably the first device that threatens the technologist's hold on computing devices, because people who just want to use computers as a means to an end can actually use this thing for most of their screen-time now (TV viewing and gaming aside, at least at first).

It's actually quite healthy for well-formed individuals, now that I think about it. It will probably encourage more book-reading and handwriting.

They should have placed mic and speaker closer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvgstPv8wj4

well i can confess that i have considered that joe sixpack would be better supplied by a typewrite with web access then a general computer.

but having it tied to exactly one service, where if that service goes down, or one want to switch, one need to toss the device and get a new one? sounds to me like the vary same activity that various other companies have gotten slapped around for in court before. Heck, apple have gotten called on the music lock-in vs ipods before.

The iPad could turn into the mind-mapping tablet I've been looking for. My N900 (a) doesn't have any mind-mapping programs, and (b) is too small for comfortable mind-mapping.

my opinion its pretty lame. im going with the hp slate.http://engadget.com/2010/01/26/hp-sl...eo-appearance/

I suddenly love my N900 more, I always loved it but now I love it more !!

I bought the N900 amidst the rumors of the Apple Tablet, I wasn't unsure to wait for it and stuff, But I still went ahead with the N900 (since it makes calls too, I knew Apple's wouldn't knowing how the company is). The iPad was just a disappointment !! No flash makes it a rubbish web experience not magical or anything !!

I'd rather get a netbook or the HP Slate !!

On the contrary my N900 will be just fine !!

Cheers
Jackie

Symbian^4 and Maemo 6 being source-compatible will be great, but this appears not to be the case. See the thread I started about this problem here: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=34686.

Now, consider what was said about apps compatibility between iPhone and iPod, virtually all iPhone apps will run on the iPad, and that taking advantage of iPads bigger screen will be easy.

True, iBeer will not fly on iPad, but what about iBeerTray?

"Hi, my name is Steve Jobs, the inventor of the iPhone. And this year my new invention is..... a BIGGER iPhone!"