Comments on: Is the Apple iPad Really Worth It?

By: michelletripp

michelletripp — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:24:09 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Don!

I agree that it's a little premature for critics to pounce on the iPad before they've even touched one. You'd think from all the great things Apple has done in the past it would be clear the iPad is going to be something special. Even if it's not yet perfect.

That's really the foundation of this post… that regardless of the specs or "cost analysis," it's an Apple and that means it's going to be good. In case you want to see the annual cost of ownership in a sharp analysis, here's a great post: http://moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/article/a...

On another note, thanks for mentioning the GPS. I went back and clarified that it's Assisted GPS (only available if you're on wi-fi or 3G). There's been some debate on whether the iPad has "true" GPS. It appears it doesn't have a dedicated GPS chip. But then again neither does the iPhone and we do just fine with that.

Thanks again, Don… I appreciate the feedback!

By: Ksenia Coffman

Ksenia Coffman — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:10:55 +0000

The proof will really be in the pudding – i.e. sales, when it hits the market. For now I'm not convinced. But it may be for those who don't yet want a laptop, but need something bigger than a smartphone? Time will tell.

By: @dlorenzet

@dlorenzet — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:12:14 +0000

Michelle, I enjoyed your post and I share your optimism and enthusiasm for Apple. Isn't it amazing that so many tech journalists are criticizing the iPad but no one has actually used one yet?

Anyone can look at the spec sheet and criticize Apple for glaring feature set omissions. (BTW, It does have GPS.) But the most vocal techie journalists and critics are not Apple's target for the iPad. Apple designed it for consumers, for people who could care less about all the nuts and bolts of technology innovation but who really appreciate and will adopt en masse Apple's elegantly designed devices because they work intuitively and reliably.

John Gruber just wrote a piece on daring fireball that addresses this strength of Apple's as a consumer products company. (See http://daringfireball.net/2010/01/various_ipad_th... They don't build prototypes and show them at CES; they show products at Apple events that are real, that they have developed and brought to market when the time is right, that you can buy in 60 days.

Two things for sure: First, I am going to buy one in 90 days – I want a 3G model. And, second, right now we're only looking at the start of Apple's new product. To imagine how magical and innovative it will be you must stay tuned to see all the great new iPad enabled apps the developers will write for it between now and the time it sells at retail.