Apple: IPad "A magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price."

Total BS IMHO, neither revolutionary or at an unbelievable price (to the their customers at least), I'm a long time user of a small size old tablet from Nokia, N800. 4.3" 800x480, WiFig, no GPS, Bluetooth, USB type of device running some public domain Nokia modified OS, and now since two weeks a glorious new iPad 3G.

Here is my view of the iPad - I would return it in a NY minute if not for Apple's 10% restocking fee.

Here is why in random order:

a) the device is clumsy physically, using it at the desk is fine (with a stand of course) but on the couch, bed is really uncomfortable, no way to hold it conveniently. Going on a walk with it obviously forget it. For a session in the can fine though. N800 fine in all these situation. In fact 4.3 or 4.5 seem the optimum size for the device of this type. 10" is way too big, that's the picture frame size no computer tablet.

b) Greed. The device should cost somewhere between $299 and 499 for what it is worth it costs twice that much. N800 can be had now used for less $150. On Nokia I can have fully functional HP RPN calculator for free, on iPad this cost $30 bucks. N800 desktop OMweather gizmo has no equivalent on the iPad. No Torrent client either.

c) Unfinished OS, GUI, mono bluetooth headsets don't work (?), no printing, no bluetooth, WiFi or USB file exchange, strange small icons, no clear designation of app screens (how about 1,2,3 .. or custom names/titles?). N800 no printing either, but far, far more logical, user friendly GUI.

c1) N800 has excellent stereo speakers (quite a feat in such a small device), Apple offers crappy mono output in a much larger more powerful device.

d) mostly crappy expensive 3rd party software. If free typically overloaded with internet ads. Still trying to find a functional RSS reader (absolutely essential utility for a device of this type) comparable to "RSS feed reader" on my Nokia. Nothing so far. Besides Nokia browser automatically detects RSS links on visited pages and offer to enter them in the reader for you. No such thing on the iPod, manual labor the only option. No iPad rss reader can read standard rss data links files. Nokia's can.

e) had Skype, Gizmo and some really cheap international voip service (voidcheap) on my N800. Same thing on iPad (but with totally free US calling on Whistle). Was hoping for Google mail (voice, phone call essentially) chat and Google Voice (follow me type of service), no such luck they work on the iPad browser as much as they do on N800. That is they don't.

f) yeah N800 has full Flash support but I hate this Adobe Flash crap so much I don't miss very much on the iPad. This is however a pain in the *** sometimes.

g) did I mention multitasking! On N800 with its much inferior CPU I can listen to BBC radio and browse my mail at the same time, no such luxury on the iPod! This is positively weird.

So what is the iPad? Hugely expensive picture frame viewer IMHO, hugely expensive remote for your iTunes library and an exceptional internet loo browsing device. Little else I'm sorry to say.

Nokia needs to upgrade its n800/n900 to a better CPU, better resolution, slightly bigger screen 4.5" for example, add unlocked cellular radio, GPS, WiFi/n, better touch technology, drop those 13 buttons on it, keep their excellent speakers, better camera, lots of free functional s/w (forget games) and price it around $199.

I honestly believe that the reason why the N800 is still so great even today is because they were all "Made in Finland". I would pay good money for a 10" "Made in Finland" Maemo/MeeGo tablet.

good review - hearing from someones firsthand experience from both sides of the fence, certainly strengthens my argument with folks at my office who are going out of their way to buy these things. a years-old device with 1/5th the hardware capability is still functionally superior to this monolithic paperweight that might as well be gold plated. cheers!

I would like it to be a little smaller. Maybe what the Galaxy Tab has (including specs) and its weight.

it can be nANYTHING
so u better name ur thread as "Want new NXXX, burned out on iPad "

I still think the iPad was a step backwards from the Newton 2000/2100. Right size form factor, and was a pleasure to use

" What's this Mr. Jobs? Oh is it a stone ? You actually touched it??????
Let's take it and sell it for 900 $ !!! "
Next day, 4 billion people are in queue for buying the new revolutionary
Jobs tech piece...
Oh wait... everyone! Turn off your WiFi!

If the ipad 2 really is 7" with 3G voice then things will get very, very interesting.

a) This is not something about the ipad, but about ALL tablets, at least of similar size. We all knew that the ipad is not practical to put into your pocket.

b) Then why the wetab, with a much worse display, has a similar price? Both companies are playing with our money then ... the samsung, smaller and at a similar price as well ... curious.

c) Totally agree, the iOS of the ipad is still a beta and limited. I don't expect huge changes in the "limited" issue.

c1) Yes, and it hasn't any usb port as well. But the display/sensitivity is superb.

d) You are used to be in a world of free apps. But the world costs money. I'm going now for a coffee, and it's not free! So I don't have problems with paying for the apps, although I would prefer to have it opensource in exchange.

e) n800 should not have any beta OS currently. The ipad has. It is not fair to compare both situations. Do you have any doubt that skype will be implemented in the ipad?

f) Yes, let's hope the UE will do something about that in the near future.

g) November you'll have multitasking in the BETA software of the ipad. Not fair again. BUT, obviously we are all very proud of the multitask of our maemo devices.

So. The ipad is a gorgeous tablet, with 0 competitors at the present moment, a situation that comes from april/may. That's a big point. It is a fantastic device to browse internet, to read books, and to read pdf's.

At this moment, I am waiting for a good competitor (with meego), but I've already discarded wetab for its display, poor panel and (from what I've read) poor sensitivity. I mean, for the same price, worse hard. I'll continue waiting.

About your wishes (do you want a mobile or a tablet??), you want THAT product for 200$?? Where do you live???

why the WeTab has a much worse display?
WeTab: 11,6 inch capacitive touchscreen with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution
iPad 9,7 inch capacitive touchscreen with 1024 x 768 pixel resolution

if you're referring to the viewing angle problems, these are resolved and not present at the retail devices.
Poor sensitivity??? You never had a WeTab in your hands, did you?
What do you mean with poor panel?

Price point:
WeTab 3G with 32GB memory: 569,- EUR - source
iPad 3G with 32GB maemory: 699,- EUR - source

the iPad as inferior device (no proper Bluetooth, no USB, no HDMI are the biggest negatives in my opinion) costs 130,- EUR more than the WePad in which you can install FREE Linux applications