iPad

[Ollie]

And unpacking pics!

What's the big deal with unpacking pics and vids? We already know what it looks like, does seeing it coming out of a box really add anything?

[PVB]

And unpacking pics!

What's the big deal with unpacking pics and vids? We already know what it looks like, does seeing it coming out of a box really add anything?

To those of us without one, yes.

We can look at the pics and imagine it's us doing the unpacking.

Edit:

Here's the post where I unpacked my Touch:

http://www.yakyak.org/viewtopic.php?p=1212380#p1212380

[VNVObit]

And unpacking pics!

What's the big deal with unpacking pics and vids? We already know what it looks like, does seeing it coming out of a box really add anything?

It's the burlesque of tech

@GeeZa & Dave lucky sods!

[Cloudane]

Hearing this thing about it being heavy quite a bit. Oh well, I'm sure it'll make up for it

[matt]

My mate in the USA went out for a jog and missed the UPS man, so I've got to wait an extra couple of days for mine to start it's journey across the pond... Gah!

Still, bought some iPad Apps in preperation.

matt

[Dave]

Been using this thing all day. Well, my bro grabbed a hold of it for a good four hours and wouldn't let go. Basterd.

It's just an awesome delight to use. I was unsure when it was first announced. Oh yeah, just a large iPod touch. Who cares. Well, it's a lot more than that really. It's like comparing a Nintendo DS to a PS3 or Xbox 360. They all play games, but the experience on a DS can never match what you have with a console hooked up to a big screen.

I don't want to use my laptop to browse the web anymore. I never want to read books/PDFs on my laptop again either. This thing can just follow you around. If you're sitting in a bean bag chair, or a couch, or lying in bed naked (cough cough), it just fits so much more naturually than a laptop does. At least that's my initial impression.

Definitely try one out whenever you can. I didn't experience the switch between CLI and mouse-driven GUI's, but I believe it's at least partially as epic in terms of technological advancement.

Oh yeah, it's nothing like Tablet PCs. Those were just Windows with touch slapped on them. This isn't OS X with slapped on touch. It's in it's own league entirely. In fact, this runs OS X under the hood? You never could have guessed.

[Dave]

Hearing this thing about it being heavy quite a bit. Oh well, I'm sure it'll make up for it

It's noticeably heavier than a Kindle 2. About 2x or 3x the weight I'd estimate. I find wanting to rest it in my lap or legs when reading. When playing games (racing ones where it becomes a steering wheel) I didn't notice the weight as much just due to the stimulation from the game, I suspect.

Not sure how prolonged play would feel. I've always felt these iPhone/iPod Touch, and now ipad games, are mostly "snack sized" meant for quick play. Maybe 1 minute on the short end, 20 minutes on the long end, and most fitting in the 5-10 min range, per play session.

[GeeZa]

This is indeed, it. You know, *it*. The device we all hoped was possible but nobody ever quite got right. It could be Jobs' pinnacle. Close, if not, perfect.

Battery life is amazing, finally no real worrying about shit going blank after two hours. This is so important, so critical. It's also noiseless, heatless and robustly built. I've been using it as a laptop all day and it's basically better. I'm not missing a mouse and Im not missing a keyboard. Love Safari in portrait mode, so so cool, and pinch zooming is lightning fast, faster than the 3GS. Tab switching is so rapid it's practically sci-fi.

Thus far the native apps Ive tried have been superb and the iPad store was remarkably well stocked for a launch. Buidling on the iPhone apps was a smart smart move. Heck even my VNC app scaled up properly. And as for video (esp. Netflix), this thing works as advertised, despite the wonky aspect ratio. Just watched Match of the Day and it was like having my own little portable flat screen telly. Comics look drop-dead fantastic.

Games. It's going to slay. The PSP Go is fucked. Nintendo beginning to look stupid. If only Bungie had kept Halo an Apple exclusive....

Geometry Wars shows the way, fast, pretty, well controlled and often spectacular. Strategy and RPGs are going to be immense on here. Wesnoth scaled up is better than the iPhone and Civ Rev looks like the real deal. That's quite apart from the welcome return of smaller innovative arcade style gaming. It's going to explode.

Yeah it's a bit heavy, and it requires a powerful USB port to charge (it won't charge from my Intel MacBook). There's a few niggles and quirks, but nothing important.

Bottom line is that it's so good. And it's just the start. What the fuck are we going to see 12 or 24 months from now?

[melbourne]

This is indeed, it. You know, *it*. The device we all hoped was possible but nobody ever quite got right. It could be Jobs' pinnacle. Close, if not, perfect.

Battery life is amazing, finally no real worrying about shit going blank after two hours. This is so important, so critical. It's also noiseless, heatless and robustly built. I've been using it as a laptop all day and it's basically better. I'm not missing a mouse and Im not missing a keyboard. Love Safari in portrait mode, so so cool, and pinch zooming is lightning fast, faster than the 3GS. Tab switching is so rapid it's practically sci-fi.

Thus far the native apps Ive tried have been superb and the iPad store was remarkably well stocked for a launch. Buidling on the iPhone apps was a smart smart move. Heck even my VNC app scaled up properly. And as for video (esp. Netflix), this thing works as advertised, despite the wonky aspect ratio. Just watched Match of the Day and it was like having my own little portable flat screen telly. Comics look drop-dead fantastic.

Games. It's going to slay. The PSP Go is fucked. Nintendo beginning to look stupid. If only Bungie had kept Halo an Apple exclusive....

Geometry Wars shows the way, fast, pretty, well controlled and often spectacular. Strategy and RPGs are going to be immense on here. Wesnoth scaled up is better than the iPhone and Civ Rev looks like the real deal. That's quite apart from the welcome return of smaller innovative arcade style gaming. It's going to explode.

Yeah it's a bit heavy, and it requires a powerful USB port to charge (it won't charge from my Intel MacBook). There's a few niggles and quirks, but nothing important.

Bottom line is that it's so good. And it's just the start. What the fuck are we going to see 12 or 24 months from now?

Bloody hell that is one rave review , I hate one company so infecting my life.My infection will consist of macbook pro , imac,iphone and now ipad. I couldnt be happier with my tech !
Is Civ rev worth the upgrade from the iphone version ? If so sid will be getting more of my money again.
We need pics Gezza !

[piku]

iFixit have one, and they've taken it apart...

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad-Teardown/2183/4

[Cloudane]

Heatless it may be, but I bet someone will still develop a sodding "portable heater" app and make millions from it.

Of course, some group of little snots has decided to smash one to bits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGUppxoJ ... r_embedded

[piku]

Heatless it may be, but I bet someone will still develop a sodding "portable heater" app and make millions from it.

How about a portable hotplate app? It could have multiple types of hotplate graphics to choose from - Halogen hob, inductive hob, gas burners, crappy ceramic hotplate.

Someone make this please, it'd sell...

[PVB]

Geometry Wars shows the way, fast, pretty, well controlled and often spectacular.

Yeah it's a bit heavy, and it requires a powerful USB port to charge (it won't charge from my Intel MacBook).

Questions:

How does GW play? You have your finger on the screen? If so, doesn't that block your vision somewhat?

Powerful USB to charge?

If my PC didn't have the right ports, how else am I going to charge it?

Ta muchly for the review.

[RiK]

If my PC didn't have the right ports, how else am I going to charge it?

With the supplied charger?

[RiK]

How does GW play? You have your finger on the screen? If so, doesn't that block your vision somewhat?