I have to confess I took a leap this week and ordered an Apple iPad. I ordered one of the Wifi + 3G models along with a couple of accessories — iPad Dock, Dock connector to VGA Adapter, Case and Camera Connector.
Currently it’s estimated delivery for next week, May 11-15. We’ll see. :-)
Earl, Congrats! I’m lusting over one as well, 3G and potentially the keyboard dock, though that as a later thing. I’d love to hear your thoughts when it arrives.
Drew
Drew, thanks. I have one of Apple’s small flat bluetooth keyboards that should work with it. It just won’t have the special iPad function keys that the iPad keyboard is suppose to have. I’ll publish something on my thoughts after it arrives.
Earl, how many pages is the instruction manual? It’s got to be a bunch!
Steve, I imagine any manuals are on-line but if it’s anything like the iPod Touch it’s very intuitive to use and will require little instructions. There’s film of a two year old using it within just a few minutes so even I should be able to handle it. ;-)
Earl,
You techno Apple wannbe, LOL. You bet me to it. I’m still tossing around the idea of getting one. I mainly want it to more easily display photos to family and friends, but I also love have the net and email very close by at all times. I think I’ll wait a couple of months for them to work out the bugs. Male sure you report any bugs to Apple, so the new one will be ready for when I buy one. :-)
Alan
Alan, I’ve been a full fledged card-carrying Apple fan for some time — there’s six Apple computers in my house of different ages and types (not all being used,) plus an Apple-TV media device and a couple of iPods. I haven’t used a “Windoze” Computer for a long while, except on rare occasions.
It won’t take long for Apple to get the bugs worked out…they’re good about that. :-)
C’mon, Earl. Now who didn’t know that was going to happen? It was one of those … not a question of “if”, but “when”. :-) You are my technical guru friend!
What can I say? :-)
I’m with Paul, it was a matter of when not if. I admit to being interested in one since they first announced them but at this time the money will not allow me to get one. I have this gut feeling the time will come when I get one of the next generations of them. I’ve seen several on the aircraft as passengers are sure using them.
Yeah, it was a matter of time. When iPad first came out I decided to wait for the Wifi/3G models so I could have connection almost anywhere. The no contract $30/mth unlimited data 3G deal with AT&T was sweeter then I expected and pushed me right over the edge. I’ll mostly use Wifi, but if going on a trip I’ll activate the 3G for a month, at only 30 dollars, and then deactivate it again when I return.
I’ve thought about just the WiFi version and use my iPhone when I need the 3G. I did not know about the monthly deal.
I have had mine for about 2 weeks Earl. :-) (no 3G, just WiFi since I didn’t think I would be taking it out and about much when I already have my iPhone.)
It is a pretty darn cool device. Above most of all, and it is somewhat hard to describe, but it creates this “tangible” feeling to surfing web pages, media, and the net unlike with a laptop or desktop computer. Because everything is touch oriented, and you hold the thing in your hands, it gives a more interactive feel to the internet versus being separated by a mouse or keyboard.
Mark, I thought you’d be getting one fairly soon. Congratulations! I received a shipping notice that mine is due for delivery this Friday.
I’ve had an iPod Touch for a while so I can somewhat imagine the feel of the user interface, but I’m sure with a larger screen it’s a totally enhanced impression. I was talking with my son today and we were saying that some of the Star Trek type hand held devices were not that far away any longer. I wonder if one looked closeer at those devices on TV or the Movies if they would have an Apple Symbol on the back — the Apple iTricorder? ;-)
The bigger screen makes a tremendous difference, much more than I expected. I do surf on my iPhone a bit, but the size is in many ways a barrier between you and the content. With the larger screen, it feels like you are right there. I know some may balk at the analogy, but it is somewhat like having the internet in the format of a magazine. Thinner, lighter e-paper devices are probably not too far off in the future. Even some of the games, you feel more “inside” the game instead of just acting on an interface.
Mark, as if waiting for the delivery wasn’t already hard enough, now you’ve totally peaked my excitement about it! Where’s that darn FedEx guy at? ;-)