Are you going to buy an iPad?

[Big Albie]

I've been thinking about it since it looks neat. But, I can't help but feel like this is an oversized iPod Touch. The lack of Flash (and there's no indication that this will ever change) and no memory slots limits the utility of the iPad. Plus, if you're into e-reading, there's questions about standards since Apple has never been one for following them. It's likely that buying digital books won't be as easy as going to Amazon and create confusion for publishers if they need to reformat everything just for the iPad.

The best option would be to wait for the next generation of the device which will likely be cheaper and probably better.

[loneapple24]

How quickly do you think people will try to steal it if you buy an iPad on Day 1 of its release? I mean, look at how shiny and gorgeous it looks! If I can somehow procure the necessary Benjamins and purchase one, I probably would want to keep it at home most of the time. Problem is, how is that much better than my iPod Touch?

[Jim]

I'm not going to buy it... Maybe one for Hedin a a developer device, if we decide to make PalmHeroes for it.
As a user device, it sucks very hard... Just remember the stuff that drives you mad with the iphone (multitask, safari stupidity, etc.) - you'll get all the same with a bigger screen. So, you'll have a computer-sized screen with underdeveloped OS inside.

[fantasyphillip]

If I am able to afford it, of course i am!

[Matthew]

I'm not going to buy it until it at least has some of these features: Flash, front-facing camera,
multi-tasking, possibly OSX, larger memory.

[Aeaea]

I'm selling old junk off on eBay to finance it (my wife likes that idea). I can't believe anyone would wait for the second generation (if he/she actually wants an iPad). One will always be able to sell the first gen device (probably at half price or more) -- otherwise you end up deprived for a whole year with no iPad!

[Big Albie]

Well, it's clear that Flash will never be a part of the iPad since Steve Jobs basically called it useless software. The biggie is lack of multitasking, and that really defeats the purpose for many.

[simonpeter2]

We will have to wait and see, the reason I love the touch is it is handy, Ipad will be less handy, and if it is not a true laptop or netbook replacement I might not....

[shigzeo]

Flash - no, I don't think there is any way that Apple will support that proprietary format. HTML 5 (standards) will overtake it I hope as Flash is a horrid monopoly which Adobe have used since they got lucky years ago.

But as for standards, Apple are probably one of the few companies who work with standards. Safari is the most standards compliant browser out there, iTunes attacks standard file types: AAC, MP3, WAV. Apple do have proprietary ALAC, but it is based on AAC. The eReader in the iPad will be compatible with ePub - so I assume that old eBooks will also work. No one can say anything for certain yet, but I definitely foresee the iPad opening up the half-away computer market.

I've been thinking about it since it looks neat. But, I can't help but feel like this is an oversized iPod Touch. The lack of Flash (and there's no indication that this will ever change) and no memory slots limits the utility of the iPad. Plus, if you're into e-reading, there's questions about standards since Apple has never been one for following them. It's likely that buying digital books won't be as easy as going to Amazon and create confusion for publishers if they need to reformat everything just for the iPad.

The best option would be to wait for the next generation of the device which will likely be cheaper and probably better.

[madam_octa]

I'll probably get one for my parents, I personally have no use for an iPad