Think different? iThink not!

Steve Jobs, Apple CEO and snazzy dresser, unveiled the newest "must-have" gadget today - the iPad. Here's thoughts on it by Courier Copy Editor and self-proclaimed "giddy Apple dork" Nabil Shaheen...

The masses of media types, bloggers and the cult of Apple fans all converged upon San Francisco today for the unveiling of what Apple called its “latest creation.” And with that, the worst kept secret was revealed — Apple was getting into the tablet computer market.

Apple’s latest and greatest invention eliminated the need for a physical keyboard, wires or desire to hold a dirty, grimy newspaper or book to be able to read it.

Wait, didn’t the innovative company do all that nearly three years ago with the back-to-back releases of the iPhone and iPod Touch?

As a card-carrying member of the media I was looking forward to this afternoon’s major announcement because of the fact that 1) it’s a pretty major story and 2) allegedly it was the quick-and-forever fix to all our problems in the newspaper and magazine business.

As a giddy Apple dork, I looked forward to hearing what product the company’s CEO, Steven P. Jobs, would brilliantly market as a “need” and not just a “want.”

It had all the usual makings of previous releases with the mystery appeal of what the product is and how the workaholic black turtleneck and jeans clad chairman would sell his “latest creation.”

Unfortunately, all the hype was met with a long, heavy, disappointing sigh. Though the presentation was met with a raucous applause and a standing ovation, I’m not sure it was warranted for what is basically an giant iPod Touch.

The iPad can be used for the thousands of available apps and comes with photo and video editing software, Internet and e-mail access, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more all on a 9.7-inch screen that weighs 1.5 pounds and is one-half inch thick.

There’s pretty much nothing it can do that an iPod Touch or any smartphone cannot.

Are you as underwhelmed as I am? Are you asking yourself if it’s worth the $499 price tag if it costs more than a netbook and can do none of the computing things netbooks can?

Perhaps the hype was overwhelming, perhaps the pressure is on for an innovative company that has revolutionized our consumption habits or maybe technology, for the moment, has hit a plateau. But whatever it was, fair or unfair, it led to a very disappointing announcement today the result of which can be heard among Apple fans and investors alike.

Apple and its Macintosh offshoots have previously changed the game in desktop computers, laptop computers, Mp3 players, music consumption and mobile phones among other things. Obviously, with the iPad (and I didn’t even get to address the name choice!) they can now compete in the tablet market. I just thought this, like previous announcements, was going to be a game-changer. And, regardless of price, it doesn’t look like the tablet game has been changed today and no “wants” were turned into “needs” by any means.

- Nabil

For AP Video of the iPad's unveiling, click here.

What do you think? Excited by the prospect of the iPad or just kinda' let down after all the hype?

Comments

[Jim]

As a certified PC guy I can say that this is as underwhelming to me as most things Apple comes out with. Apple was an innovative company that has taken the same road Bose took in audio... they've simply become an over-hyped market machine that is more about image than content. But - they do have great commercials... as that great philosopher Aggasi said, "Image is everything..."

[Nikki Lein]

I personally think the iPad is cool but why would i need or even want it. This new invention does show that technology is changing but i wouldnt choose it to personally have with me. I can stick with the iPod touch because it is small and easy to carry around and the iPad is like a mini laptop.

Though i would not want to own one i still think it is overwhelming in the fact on how our technology has increased.

[Linsey Maughan]

Nabil,

As your fellow Apple fanatic in the newsroom, I thought you and I would agree on this. I am smitten with the iPad!

I've never used an iPhone or iPod Touch, so maybe that makes all of the iPad's features less familiar, and thus more intriguing, to me. But did you watch the video of the iPad on Apple.com? Amazing!

http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video

If I could get Microsoft Word on the iPad, I might be able to categorize this as a necessity for me.

[Pedro]

Personally, I am not impressed by the invention of the iPad. If the iPod and the iPhone were not yet invented, I would think that it is pretty unique. However, since they have already been invented and have been out on the market for a couple years, I am not excited about it nor willing to go out and buy it. With my understanding of it, it is basically an over-sized iPod. I believe that it would be more wise to buy the iPhone, because you can do everything on it that you could on the iPad plus have a cellular phone with it.

[Sara]

I am not a big computer whiz but can manage the things I need it for. I do however think that the way technology changes so quickly it blows my mind the amount of money people spend to have the latest gadget, that within a few months will no longer be the "in" thing, pay to have. It just seems like a waste of money to me to pay these ridiculous amounts of money when especially now in the wake of the Haiti earthquake, people could put their money to better use than some technological toy.

[Sav]

I think the Ipad is a mediocre product, compared to Apple’s potential. Apple tries too hard to make releases frequent and although the idea is something to definitely work with; I think Apple could have produced a much more noteworthy product. I find the idea more appealing than the actual product. I can see where someone who is an Apple virgin could get giddy over the idea of the Ipad. However, one who has owned an Apple product prior to this new edition to the Apple family will recognize many features that are already available to them.

I say all of this, yet it will probably make it on my Christmas list this year.

[Holly Johnston]

The iPad seems all right...it just seems as if its a copy of all the other touch things that have come out. I think its even a step back, because it's huge! Very dissapionting.

[Preston Smith]

I think the ipad is cool, band the next step in technology. Although I do like the ipad I would never want one because I have no use for it.