[Robo]

Are they actually going to call the 3G-capable models "iPad 3G"? God, I hope not.

[Moogs]

No Contract for the big f-ing Win! Nicely played. Auto-activate / cancel is sweet too.

[nikstar101]

They are unlocked!! So you can use any carrier (well GSM carrier).

[PB PM]

Originally Posted by BuonRotto no conract = excellent/ Two tiers, which should NOT be a surprise. Damn that AT&T, who is the only company mentioned with 3G, just as I suspected.

They said earlier this week that they had no plans to end the exclusive with AT&T, so why the surprise?

[screensaver400]

$499! I called it!

Originally Posted by screensaver400 Though we have no idea of the hardware, I think under some scenarios $499 unsubsidized could be feasible. We figure the cost of the iPhone parts is roughly $175, and they get $599 for each iPhone sold. But that's a proven hot product. If you take iPhone parts, add a larger high end screen ($100?) larger casing ($20?) faster electronics ($50?) and a larger battery ($30?), that brings us to $375. That leaves $125, which will be enhanced by the 30% cut from the App Store and, presumably, publishers. It's a far lower margin than the iPhone, but Apple already accepts a low margin with the Apple TV in an attempt to build a market. This all assumes the tablet is a larger and faster iPhone/iPod touch, only with a new interface, which I think is a reasonable assumption.

[BuonRotto]

Originally Posted by PB PM They said earlier this week that they had no plans to end the exclusive with AT&T, so why the surprise?

Sorry, misstated this the first time. I meant it should *not* be a surprise.

The unlocked thing is interesting. AT&T is trying to compete on price, or will people will pay 2x for decent service?

[torifile]

Does it multi-task?

[PB PM]

Originally Posted by torifile Huh? More for 3G?

He did say it was optional, so in Apple speak = more expensive.

[PB PM]

Keyboard dock!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Xaqtly]

A dock with an external keyboard!

[ezkcdude]

keyboard!!!

[evan]

keyboard dock!!>!>>!

[Robo]

Keyboard keyboard keyboard I am so buying one of these holy cow.

It's a little more iPhone-like than I thought, but it's cheaper, so that's okay.

I'm finally going to rid myself of my crappy POS HP netbook hurrah!

[ezkcdude]

I thought Jobs would never allow such a thing as a keyboard...

[psmith2.0]

This could be quite the product. It's kinda hitting a lot of the marks? A productivity/"real work" app, all the usual iPhone/iPod touch goodness, a keyboard option (oops...I missed that one!), 3G, etc.

ezkcdude, you don't have to make every post of yours a gloat, you know?

Here's a box of cookies...

I guess iSight/iChat is the one thing missing. Bummer. That would've made this a perfect communication/stay-in-touch device.

[PB PM]

The question is, is it a netbook killer? In my mind, YES!

[ezkcdude]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 This could be quite the product. It's kinda hitting a lot of the marks? A productivity/"real work" app, all the usual iPhone/iPod touch goodness, a keyboard option (oops...I missed that one!), 3G, etc. Ezkcdude, you don't have to make every post of yours a gloat, you know?

Hey, but I was right. It hits all the things *I* needed to justify getting it (which I will). Kindle, it was nice knowing you.

[Robo]

This might have just become my favorite Apple product. Ever. It's perfect for what I do.

They had me at "keyboard dock."

[scratt]

All my dreams came true!

[Moogs]

Originally Posted by PB PM The question is, is it a netbook killer? In my mind, YES!

[EDIT - sorry read that as "notebook" not netbook. The answer is yes, bigtime.]

[billybobsky]

oh, apple fanboys...

[Robo]

Originally Posted by scratt All my dreams came true!

But did you think them through?

/softerworld

[psmith2.0]

Yeah, I think they grabbed a lot of interest with iWork (puts it a bit closer to "real computer") and the keyboard dock thing.

It's like a cute little 10" iMac, if you want it to be.



It could totally be someone's sole computer, if they were a writter/blogger/casual user (didn't use Logic, Photoshop, etc.).

That's Apple's netbook. Their $499 portable (which is lower than I would've ever dreamed in a thousand years, honestly). That's the best part of this...the pricing.

[scratt]

The thing is, the device is nice, but it is all about the software again.....

.... and the keyboard dock!

[evan]

Originally Posted by Roboman This might have just become my favorite Apple product. Ever. It's perfect for what I do. They had me at "keyboard dock."

same, but i wonder how cumbersome that setup would be on a desk during class.

[PB PM]

Originally Posted by billybobsky oh, apple fanboys...

Why do you care anyway, you shouldn't waste money one devices like netbooks and iPads anyway, got to save the world.

[709]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 Keyboard dock...dammit, I owe 709 $5!

To be fair, I specifically stated there would not be a custom keyboard, so you're off the hook.

Holy shit though, huh?

[Robo]

Originally Posted by billybobsky oh, apple fanboys...

Apple made a 1.5lb replacement for my netbook that also happens to be a usable tablet when the keyboard is stowed. I don't have to be a fanboy to appreciate that.

The off-center home button is going to bother me, though.

[zsummers]

And in the shower this morning, I thought to myself: the secret is that Apple never compromises on price.

DAMN.

[BuonRotto]

Originally Posted by Roboman This might have just become my favorite Apple product. Ever. It's perfect for what I do. They had me at "keyboard dock."

so what you're saying is, it took you a while to warm up to it, huh? (about and hour anyway)

Robo: What off-center home button?