The iPad is on its way, what do you guys think?

[psic]

I don't mean to start a thread about the hardware aspects of the iPad (i.e., lack of USB), but I'm wondering if anyone here is considering buying an iPad?

While I'm a Linux user all the way (run Gentoo on one box and Ubuntu on two others), this is because I consider Linux the best tool for the job. That said, while riding the bus today, this story (a bit of a user scenario?) popped into my head (I really did spend most of the bus ride reading Tolkien, though ). I'm really considering buying an iPad because it seems like the perfect tool for a job - that is, reading e-books, magazines, comics and watching videos (not to mention web surfing).

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see something like this running Linux, especially with something like the Netbook remix user interface (which I use on my EEE PC). But I don't see any devices like this in the near future. Yes, we'll probably get a hacked device with some form of Linux on it, but this is one device which I'd like for it to 'just work'. I don't mind hacking around on my PC with Gentoo, but this is why the other 2 computers run Ubuntu - because it just works.

Your thoughts? Any iPad (or other similar tablet) buyers out there?

[coopstah13]

there are a whole slew of these coming out that will be running android and will be much cheaper

[Qiuness]

oh dear... i think not!... i mean you can have a screen folding laptop that does way more!

iPAD=oversized phone

[psic]

oh dear... i think not!... i mean you can have a screen folding laptop that does way more!

iPAD=oversized phone

I already do - but it's not nearly as useful as a tablet PC for surfing while holding it in my lap (or reading, or whatever). I'm also considering an e-Reader, but I'd miss the color screen, along with everything else which a tablet would offer.

As for the Android tablets, they might be quite good - but I kind of doubt that the UI will be as good as the one on the iPad. Also, I don't know when we'll see any of them here in Europe. I wonder if it will be easy to install say Ubuntu on an android tablet? Hmmm... I think this might be a very good choice - though I've read reviews of the Archos 5 tablet which runs Android and it seems like it needs quite a bit of tinkering for it to work like you want it to.

Does anyone know of any other Android tablets coming out soon?

[darkrose0510]

mmm, multitouch patent violations in the iPad/iPhone/iPod... Apple sued over multitouch patent | Circuit Breaker - CNET News

[GNU-Fan]

I don't mean to start a thread about the hardware aspects of the iPad (i.e., lack of USB), but I'm wondering if anyone here is considering buying an iPad?

I'm certainly not. The iPad is pretty much the complete antithesis of what I consider a computer

[psic]

I'm certainly not. The iPad is pretty much the complete antithesis of what I consider a computer

True, but then, I don't consider it a computer - more of an appliance

[techieMoe]

I'm not getting one. I have an iPhone already; I don't need a bigger one. Anything I can't do on my iPhone I do on my laptop. I'm not this product's target audience, clearly. I'm just ready for the damned thing to get released so the media can move on to something else.

[psic]

I'm not getting one. I have an iPhone already; I don't need a bigger one. Anything I can't do on my iPhone I do on my laptop. I'm not this product's target audience, clearly. I'm just ready for the damned thing to get released so the media can move on to something else.

Funny, I've half decided that if I won't buy a tablet yet, I'll probably be buying an iPod touch. I figure it would handle the same tasks as a tablet while up and about (obviously, when at home, I use a normal desktop computer).

As for the media frenzy, a few sites have made versions without iPad news (Engadget, to name just one)

[ryokimball]

I'm still waiting to build my ever-elusive hack-toy
But no, I'm not planning on buying an iPad (but if I won't complain if I get one somehow, either)