Is the Apple IPad Going to Gain Much Support

Since they came out for windows-based tablets, I have been fascinated and wanted one, but they have been way out of my price range. Starting around $1400 compared to a laptop starting around $600, the ability write on the screen just isn't worth that much. Functionally the tablets do nothing more than a regular laptop but for twice the cost. So, I never bought one but I had a girlfriend who has one. It has been good for her to have for school so she can write on the powerpoint slides rather than just type the notes or have to print everything out. That's really about the only thing tablets are better for than laptops. And generally, her tablet always felt kind of flimsy. I was always afraid the rotating mechanism would fall apart but she never had problems with it.

I've never been one to jump on the bandwagon and buy new technology right away, even though as an electrical engineer, I'm supposed to be interested in such things. I am interested, but I realize that just looking and critiquing and waiting until a more significant change comes along before upgrading. A year ago I finally got an iPhone, which has been incredibly handy. That really was a major step up in technology. Having the internet available in your hand any time is big. Having one device that fit into your pocket that serves as a phone, computer, and mp3 player - revolutionary.

Enough of the iPhone. We're here to figure out if the iPad is revolutionary enough to make it big. The iPad comes in at 1.5 pounds and slightly cheaper and only slightly smaller than most laptops. But what does it do for $500. Well, they have flash drives starting at 16GB, tiny compared to modern laptop standards, and a 1GHz processor. Most laptops are much faster than that now but 1GHz is plenty adequate for the casual internet and word processing user. The iPads are all equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and some come with 3G capability and an option to subscribe to a wireless 3G network for access nearly anywhere.

Basically, this seems like a glorified iTouch. The screen is large enough that you don't have to be constantly scrolling and zooming in and out. But to me, everything that doesn't fit in a pocket but fits in a bag is about the same. It doesn't make much difference to me carrying around a 1.5lb laptop instead of a 4lb one. It seems the iPad won't have the power to do much heavy-duty gaming or software developing. It's just the next in a line of Apple products designed to make more money. It's another device people don't need but think they need because it looks cool and is a cheaper, but still fully functional and equally cool Apple laptop.

So, the coolness factor of the iPad is still way up there for the touch screen and thin-ness of a laptop and for being an Apple product. The price at $499 is comparable to laptop PC's and far less than Apple laptops, which will help gain a lot of customers. But I don't see the iPad being very successful. Previous tablets were unsuccessful and there isn't a whole lot different about the iPad. Still yet, I may consider an iPad for my next laptop in a year or two.