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Ask HN: Did you order an iPad? Why or why not?

9 points by jaxn ↗ HN
Hey, it's the weekend and I didn't see this posted here yet.

I am holding off. Normally I would splurge, but I can't really afford it right now. Maybe this summer.

31 comments

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Roridge
Nope, because I just ordered a Nexus One instead :)
protomyth
Ordered one for work and will order the 3G version myself (need a couple of weeks to build back up the personal budget). Looking at it, I will probably add the Dock and a wireless keyboard. I am not too keen on their case and will probably just by a third part sleeve to protect it in my bag.

The big question for me is what to do about my "actual" computer. I am no longer sure I am going to buy a portable. I might actually buy and iMac or Power Mac. I am really looking at my traveling habits and if I can get by with the iPad.

jaxn
I wonder what it will be like using a keyboard without a mouse. Will there be keyboard shortcuts in mail so that you can burn through email without touching the screen? And then, at what point do you just end up with a laptop again.

I am trusting apple that this thing is meant to be used hands on.

protomyth
I get the feeling that someone will do a text editor that uses the keyboard only and if it has a built in e-mail, etc.

side note: I wonder how emacs would fair in the "no interpreted code"? Probably doesn't matter as anyone who would want to run it on an iPad probably would be a developer and could load it themselves.

jmarinez
At 8:48 AM I placed my order. I want to be able to tell others in the future, that I was one of the first to partake on the shift from laptops to tablets. There's no doubt that this or some other device like it, will replace laptops in the same way that the former replaced desktops.

The vision for computing that originated over 40 years ago may finally have a chance to come to fruition with these types of devices. The iPad will initiate this movement. Only time will tell.

jacquesm
> I want to be able to tell others in the future, that I was one of the first to partake on the shift from laptops to tablets.

You'd be partaking in the shift from laptops to tablets (assuming that will happen as radically as that) if you worked on developing a tablet or something like that.

Ordering a consumer device is nothing to tell your grandchildren about.

Personal achievement is.

jmarinez
> Ordering a consumer device is nothing to tell your grandchildren about.

While my personal achievements are aplenty, I would beg to differ. Au contraire. I can easily make the case that personal devices make a great impact on society as a whole. While the mere purchase of the device is nothing to brag about, recognizing its potential in history is. Refresh your Marshal Macluhan Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man or wait to buy it as an iBook. Or you can simply ask anyone who purchased one of the first Sony Walkmans, an Atari 2400 or even a Toyota Prius (not a gadget) if they felt that the deep in their minds, things were just not the same anymore.

Is the purchase an achievement? Probably not. A snapshot in time that deserves recognition? Absolutely.

jacquesm
You are purchasing a consumer device that will be made in the hundreds of thousands. That alone means that you are not 'special' in any way doing this.

The 'first' were the people that bought newtons back in the day.

The ipad, while (probably) executed very well does not break new ground beyond being a slick re-implementation of a number of ideas in a single package.

And it's a step backward in many ways when compared to a 'real' computer, it is basically your personal window in to the stuff that apple permits you to install.

Be the first to jailbreak the thing, program it to allow the making of voice calls or to put linux on it. That would merit remembering.

The people that built it can brag about that, those that buy it are merely early adopters of a second wave of devices like this. (or actually, a third if you count the amazon devices too).

Those who bought the first Sony walkmans do not go around telling people they did so, neither do those that bought an atari or a Toyota, at least not that I know of.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but if your achievements are plentiful then why not talk about those instead. This seems a really minor item on the list of things that a person could do in their lives. Just about as interesting as being one of the first people to buy a laptop or some model computer.

Just imagine, remember kids, one day, long ago, granddad bought an ipad. Versus, one day, long ago, granddad built a house or travelled the world or did a million of other really interesting things. Sure, plenty of people travel the world, and plenty of people build houses. But those are real experiences, this is just exchanging cash for a device that you haven't even tried yet.

Anyway, it seems that I'm not capable of getting my point across so I'll leave it at that.

switch
Actually, we build our own reality. So in the life of the OP him buying the iPad is more significant an event than SJ conceiving it or Apple making it.

Besides his grandkids would be far more interested in what he did and chose.

We are the stars of the movie of our lives. Unless we choose to make someone else the hero.

ScottWhigham
No, have an iPhone and no need/want of an ebook/reader/netbook thing
dillon
There are plenty of reasons why people should or shouldn't grab an iPad. If you have come to rely on MobileMe, which means you probably have a MacBook, iMac, and iPhone. Then an iPad would be great. I for one am more of a Google fanboy. I own a Droid Eris, I don't use Microsoft Office or iWork, I use Google Docs. I use Google Calendar, Reader and everything else Google. Therefore, there isn't any reason to buy an iPad. An Archos internet tablet is probably more suitable for me.
bazbamduck
I almost ordered one, and still really want one, but got cold feet when I failed to find evidence of a way to get my own (read: not through Apple's eBook store) eBooks on and off the thing without iTunes - I'm a Linux user.

Unless someone on HN happens to know whether it's possible to use the iPad's WiFi to move data or eBooks in particular?

I thought the iPad's web browser might work, but if Apple decides to restrict its download mechanism or not have the downloaded books show up in the eBook reader, that might be a problem.

I'm probably worrying too much, but I'd hate to end up with a ~$800 device (3G) I can't really use much for the primary purpose for which I wanted it in the first place.

protomyth
I think your kinda outa luck with iTunes. It seems iTunes is listed in the requirements. I wonder if iTunes works enough under WINE to use for syncing. It is stated on Apple's website that third-party ePub books could be synced to the iPad.
bazbamduck
I don't use it currently, but according to AppDB it has a spotty compatibility history, so I'm not sure.

I'm hesitant to rely on the "iTunes under WINE" method for fear of future updates breaking compatibility. I could dual boot, but that pushes the hassle to reward ratio a little too far for me personally.

I guess I'll take a wait and see on the iPad. Oh, well.

alanthonyc
I bought two - a fully loaded 3g one for myself and a wifi one "for my mom," which coincidentally, will not leave my possession until the 3g one arrives.

In the meantime, I'll be working on an app for it.

protomyth
It is important to do "burn-in" testing for parents. Wouldn't want to give them a defective unit. :)
mahmud
Make sure you also spend some money on a security detail for your mom, specially when traveling in the geek parts of town.
alanthonyc
I might put a tracking device on it. If someone steals it, I'll find him/her and try to recruit as a cofounder.
benologist
What kind of company are you cofounding exactly where your ideal partner steals iPads ....
jamesbritt
No. Have better uses for my money. Don't see what value it offers me.
coryl
My electronics priorities are:

1) new laptop

2) smartphone

3) iPad? The desire to own an iPad is a bit more of a luxury than a necessity at this moment.

martingordon
Originally ordered a 16GB 3G one but I pre-ordered a 16GB WiFi version in case I don't want to wait another couple of weeks for my first order to ship and I finally convince myself that I'll likely only use the 3G less than a handful of times over the year I have the iPad before I upgrade to the next one.
Aron
Sometimes I think Apple's product sales numbers are being maintained by the people that bought AAPL stock in the last few years.
jaxn
It would be neat if there was that sort of financial perpetual-motion. Oh wait, that would be like the financial services industry in the US for the past 10 years. It always comes crashing down eventually.
jacquesm
Not yet, maybe not ever. Until I come across a really compelling use case for one I probably won't buy one.

I also think that with stuff like this it is much better to let other people find out that first releases of pieces of hardware can have all kinds of issues.

If at all, then by the time the hype has worn off and I have had a chance to play with one for a bit, and after I've seen what the use is of a device like that.

I've never owned a PDA because I thought I didn't need one, use my cell phone to make voice calls with and as a camera, very rarely to browse the web.

I love technology but I can't get excited because of hype alone, I need to see it, play with it, think of stuff I can do with it that I can't do in another way.

I have a little 3G netbook that gives me as much or more functionality than what I can imagine I could do with an ipad.

keefe
I debated it, but instead I'm going to use the same money to buy a sony ereader and get an iphone when my contract runs up in a little bit here.
teeja
I'll wait to see if it turns out to be nothing more than a locked-down appliance,
loupgarou21
haven't ordered one myself, but my boss stated that he ordered three of them. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that I'll be getting one of the ones he ordered so I can evaluate it for our clients.
naner
No. I don't need one and I'm not going to develop for the platform.

Same reason I didn't get an iPhone or Droid.

I am pretty low-tech for a geek/programmer. Still, I'm nowhere near as low-tech as this dude: http://jason.rohrer.usesthis.com/ It is pretty impressive what he is able to accomplish.

morphir
I'm waiting for a similar (cheaper) device that runs android. I wont commit to apples tyranny.